How tinned fruit from Blackburn save lives abroad

It is customary for Muslims break their fasts with dates at sunset

A company that sells tins of dates during Ramadan said it has raised millions of pounds to help people in need abroad.

The Date Project, in Blackburn, sources the fruit from Jordan and sells it around the north-west of England.The £5m raised nationally by the project over the last 10 years has paid for 20 million loaves of bread and 150,000 litres of water daily organisers said.

Dates are traditionally eaten by Muslims when they break their Ramadan fasts at sunset.

Su leads a team for the Date Project in Blackburn

Date Project team leader Su said the scheme- which has around 400 volunteers in the North West and 2500 nationally - "supports a range of causes", with the money raised this year going to help people in Gaza, Yemen and Syria

"It can be for displacements of people in war-torn areas, it can be for orphans.

"It can also be for facilities for water, getting aid on ground for bread and for a lot of basic needs."

The project has a team of 400 volunteers across the North West

Also known as the month of the Quran, Ramadan is when Prophet Muhammad started receiving divine revelation of the scripture.

This continued over a 23-year period in 7th Century Arabia, according to Islamic beliefs.

Muslims mark the month by fasting to increase mindfulness of God and gratitude.

Customer Avess Ahmed said buying from the charity is rewarding and satisfying.

"We take things for granted every single day," he said.

"Some of the basics like water, food, electricity or nice office.

"There are people in the world that are not as lucky as us.

"So if we know that the proceeds are going to them, it's rewarding and satisfying."

Beelal Sidat said One of the five pillars of Islam is charity

Customer and former volunteer Beelal Sidat said that date tins help people focus on giving.

"One of the five pillars of Islam is charity and it's a time when people increase their giving," he said.

"So this is one way we can do it, knowing that this organisation will help us achieve that."

Word has also spread about The Date Project beyond the Muslim community.

Blackburn Business owner, Phil Ainsworth said: "The more I read about the charity and the more I read about what its doing during the month or Ramadan, the more I felt that it would be something really good to be involved in."