Unable to heat their homes, keep up with mortgages and rental payments or maintain a healthy varied diet, they’re struggling to support themselves and their families.
At Islamic Relief UK, we recognise the increasing needs of communities at home. We’re working with a range of national and local partners to reach the most vulnerable in the UK and build resilience against poverty to ensure that no one goes hungry, cold or neglected.
Crisis: Creating Routes out of Homelessness
Islamic Relief has partnered with one of the UK’s largest charitable organisation supporting homeless populations in an increasingly vulnerable landscape. Supporting Crisis’ project Routes of out Homelessness which will commence in February 2019, we’re working to assist homeless and vulnerably housed people in East London. Recognising the increased vulnerabilities of women without homes of their own, 25% of the people being supported in this project will be women in need of crucial support.
This scheme aims to improve their financial security and welfare of vulnerable people across Tower Hamlets by providing a range of key support including:
- One-to-one progression coaching: Offering key support on areas such as interview techniques and task-focussed action planning
- Learning for skills and employment: Providing training in a range of areas including ICT, literacy and ESOL
- Mental health and wellbeing services to improve confidence and self-esteem: Hosting workshops and groups on key areas including anxiety, stress management and mindfulness
- Employment services: Developing skills through CV writing assistance, arranging mock-interviews and providing advice on volunteering placements
The project assists people aged 16 and over through a self-referral system and both outreach and network-based partnerships with local social welfare organisations and hostels. By working across these core areas, young people and adults will be able to work their way into safer housing, employment and lead physically, socially, psychologically and economically safer and more prosperous lives.
Sufra NW London: St Raphael’s Edible Garden
In the London borough of Brent, poverty is at an all-time high. On St. Raphael’s Estate for example, over 43% of children are affected by poverty, with the area holding some of the lowest levels of educational attainment.
With the wider impact of deprivation aggravating racial tensions and the area’s reputation for gang violence and anti-social behaviour, the community is suffering. That’s why Islamic Relief has teamed up with Sufra NW London and their newest project: St. Raphael’s Edible Food Garden. Working in the most deprived area of Brent, this food growing project provides an outdoor community space that invests in the skills development, employability, health and wellbeing of local people, whilst improving the appearance of the estate and challenging its notorious reputation for gang-related violence and anti-social behaviour.
Aiming to bring locals from financial crisis to economic stability and social inclusion, the project is working to create and maintain a landmark site to help:
- Instil pride in the community and respect for the environment
- Deliver a year-round programme of outdoor activities to encourage community cohesion and help build informal support networks
- Improve health and wellbeing by reducing isolation and encouraging healthy eating
- Create micro-businesses and employment opportunities for vulnerable people with little prospect of finding work in mainstream opportunities
The garden works to provide a critical regular supply of fresh fruit, vegetables, free range eggs, jam and honey for Sufra’s food bank and ensure that communities are better supported socially and economically through improved support networks and community bonding.