Leeds restaurant owner's bid to help curb loneliness during Covid pandemic
A Leeds restaurant owner has launched a crowdfunding campaign to buy a 'natter bench' to help people suffering from loneliness during the pandemic.
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Zulfi Hussain, who runs Deeva Indian restaurant in Farsley, has started the GoFundMe appeal, which has so far raised £75 towards a £2,000 target to provide the bench in Farsley.
Mr Hussain said: "The 'natter bench' will help support residents experiencing loneliness and isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond by providing them a safe space to meet and chat. This will undoubtedly help them with their health and well being."
In 2020 Mr Hussain sourced 400,000 pairs of gloves and 600 face visors and donated the PPE equipment to NHS hospitals in Leeds and Bradford.
His restaurant has supplied more than 800 free meals to NHS staff since the pandemic started.
Mr Hussain said: "We wanted to treat NHS staff who are under pressure. The feedback has been amazing."
And he has provided more than 200 food parcels to local people in need during the pandemic.
Mr Hussain said he is trying to remain positive.
He said: "The first lockdown wasn't so bad. We very quickly turned ourselves from a quality restaurant to a restaurant quality takeaway. That helped, although we did have a downturn.
"The more recent restrictions and lockdown is definitely hurting us, because people can't come out and people have less money to spend.
"We are struggling and we have had to furlough some of our staff, but we are trying to keep positive."
Mr Hussain said the takeaway is currently open from 5pm to 10pm every day.
He said: "It is very tough. We have seen a massive drop in our takings. We are barely meeting our costs and on some nights we make losses."
Mr Hussain said the restaurant, which was established more than 10 years ago, was thriving before the pandemic hit.
He said: "What hurts us most is the uncertainty, not knowing when we are going to return to some sort of normality.
"It is very difficult to know how to plan and what to plan. We will bounce back, but it will take a long, long time."
Mr Hussain is appealing for anybody who can help support the fundraising campaign for the 'natter bench' to contact him via email at [email protected]
Click here to donate to the 'natter bench' appeal.