Westholme School hosts first ever community Iftar to celebrate Ramadan

Westholme welcomed more than 50 guests to its inaugural community Iftar – the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during Ramadan.

The event, held in the dining hall, brought together students, families, staff and members of the wider community to celebrate diversity, foster understanding, and share a special evening of food and faith.

Children have also kindly donated a wide range of games, toys, books, crafts and stationery for a variety of age groups, that will be distributed to Muslim youngsters in Blackburn and Darwen.

The Iftar was initiated by Principal, Mr Taylor, as part of the school’s ongoing commitment to inclusion and cultural understanding. The aim was to give non-Muslim students, staff and families the opportunity to experience Iftar, while creating a space for Muslim students and families to feel valued and celebrated during a poignant time in the Muslim faith.

Guests were invited to break their fast together with traditional dates, fruit and water, followed by a meal of chicken or vegetable curry, rice and naan, provided by Westholme’s catering partner Thomas Franks. This included members of Westholme staff who took part, pictured below with Miss Hamid who helped to organise the initiative.

A prayer space was made available, and younger children enjoyed dedicated activities during the evening. Profits from the ticketed event totaling £200 were donated to the Secret Sheikh project supported by the school this Ramadan.

“The Iftar was great – it was good to see a lot of people coming together for the school’s first organised Iftar,” said Faris Taj, Year 7. “It meant a lot that some staff even fasted that day to understand what Muslims go through. I’ve never heard of non-Muslims doing that.”

Fellow student and Iftar attendee, Khadijah Issa, 16, said: “The event was a wholesome experience with a lovely atmosphere. It felt really authentic. Mr Taylor’s words during his welcome were from the heart – about appreciating diversity and understanding each other in our Westholme family and beyond.”

Thanks to overwhelmingly positive feedback, the school now plans to make the Iftar an annual event. It’s just one of the ways Westholme is encouraging interfaith understanding and creating a school culture where everyone feels seen, heard and respected.

Mr Taylor said: “Hosting our first Iftar was a meaningful moment for our school. It gave us the chance to come together in a spirit of respect and reflection, and to celebrate the diversity that enriches our community. The warmth and connection in the room spoke for itself and I’m already looking forward to making the event even bigger next year.”