Guest Blog by Ms H Hinde Deputy Headteacher Greenbank High School
Greenbank High School was honoured to host its first Community Iftar, welcoming over 140 guests from across Southport and beyond.
This special event brought together students, families, staff, and members of the wider community to celebrate Ramadan, share a meal, and strengthen the bonds that connect people of all backgrounds.
The evening featured a heartfelt speech from the Southport Mosque’s Imam, Ibrahim Hussein, who thanked everyone for attending and expressed his gratitude to Greenbank High School for hosting.
He spoke about the importance of community events in bringing people together, highlighting how sharing and unity are at the heart of Ramadan.
An Iftar is the evening meal with which Muslims end their daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan. Each day at sunset, families and communities come together to break their fast, often beginning with dates and water, followed by a shared meal.
A particularly moving moment was the call to prayer, led by a student from Birkdale High School.
Students from Greenbank and Birkdale worked together to greet guests, show them around, and support with service of dates and water as families broke fast together at 6.26pm as the sun set.
After prayers led by Southport Mosque’s Imam, a meal was served to all guests who ate together in the school hall, which had been decorated with flowers and candles to mark the occasion.
After the meal, Greenbank students thanked guests for joining the celebration. Their words of appreciation captured the spirit of the evening and reinforced the significance of coming together as a community.
Students from a huge number of Southport schools attended, including secondaries Greenbank, Stanley, Birkdale, Meols Cop, and Christ The King, and Range High School in Formby, and primary schools Kew Woods, Norwood, Bishop David Shepperd, Bedford Primary in Bootle.
Support for the event came from Southport Learning Trust and Greenbank’s PTA, whose generosity helped make the occasion possible.
A special mention goes to Year 11 students and parents, who prepared a range of delicious desserts including a sweet bread filled with dates to share, adding a personal and thoughtful touch to the meal.
Sincere thanks also go to local restaurant, The Kasturi, on Eastbank Street, which provided the food, and whose wonderful family team played such a key role in setting up and providing delicious food for the event. Guests were treated to samosa, spiced chicken legs, onion bhaji, spiced vegetable rice and a warming chicken curry. Their incredible help and generosity contributed to the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the evening.
From the opening prayers to breaking the fast, the event was filled with togetherness, reflection, and joy. This meaningful gathering was a testament to the diversity and unity within Greenbank High School, Southport Learning Trust, and the wider community. It was a special occasion that brought people together in celebration and understanding, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended.
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