Youth and Family Development | Our Work In The UK

We work with a range of local partners to ensure that children and their families are on the path towards a bright future.

With a particular focus on children from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds, we are addressing crucial social, cultural and economic issues affecting vulnerable children and families.

Refugee Action: Supporting Reunited Families

For people seeking asylum in the UK, accessing services can be incredibly challenging due to a range of bureaucratic, financial and linguistic barriers. With a new environment and often a new language and little or no access to financial assistance other than asylum support – which is minimal and out of reach for many people, accessing help can be challenging. What’s more, with limited time to find accommodation upon being granted permanent status, life can be incredibly emotionally, financially and socially draining.

At Islamic Relief UK, we’re committed to supporting families and asylum-seeking communities here in the UK close to home. That’s why, in partnership with Refugee Action, we’re enabling children seeking asylum who have been reunited with their families in the UK to access critical support. The project offers key immigration advice and practical support, working to ensure that children seeking asylum have their essential needs met to live safely and to be able to rebuild their lives here in the UK. Dedicated advice and assistance covers homelessness support, interpreting services, immigration and integration support through the provision of opportunities to network and socialise.

For children separated from their families, this project offers a crucial lifeline. When Munira* from Iran sought help for example, she was aged just 16 years old and had been separated from her mother Asma* for over 18 months. Neither mother nor daughter could understand that Munira would have to continue to pursue her asylum claim in the UK once her claim was transferred. Thanks to the advice service provided by Refugee Action, the family received critical advice on their case. Munira and Asma were referred to a solicitor and accompanied to their first appointment to offer support and interpreting services.

As a result of the guidance Asma and Munira received, they realised the importance of keeping in touch with the solicitor and attending all appointments. What’s more, the project has supported Asma in applying for a bank account, universal credit and a driving licence, helping the family to build a good level of financial and social wellbeing.

*Names have been changed to protect the identity of Munira and her family

Find out more

Islamic Relief works with a range of partners to respond to support children and their families here in the UK. Find out more about our other UK progammes below:

Helping Further: Supporting Children at Risk of Destitution

Since 2015, we’ve partnered with The Children’s Society (Birmingham) to help reduce the number of children and young people at risk of destitution. We’ve specifically targeted those at high risk of acute poverty due to their immigration status.

We‘ve helped vulnerable young people and their families to find critical and safe accommodation, financial support and social services assistance by providing:

Advocacy and Referral Support: Appointment-based advocacy and legal advice casework has helped families to understand their rights and entitlements in the UK
Immigration Drop In: The Free Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner weekly immigration drop-in service has been providing crucial advice and signposting support
Meet and Greet: Weekly meet and greet sessions work to offer social and recreational activities for children

In addition to providing direct support and referrals to pro-bono legal support, the project has also been raising crucial awareness around the needs of families with no access to public funds by contributing to relevant statutory service reviews and campaigning around the issues of destitution.

Alhamdulillah, the programme has already supported over 2,800 children and will continue to support more to create brighter, more stable futures for as many children as possible.

The Scout Association: Cultivating Citizenship

Scouting provides a powerful platform for young people to develop into well rounded, pro-social citizens who celebrate difference and are curious about the faiths, beliefs and attitudes of others. However, whilst young Muslims make up 7.2% of the UK population, they account for only 0.05% of young people in Scouting.

At Islamic Relief, we’re passionate about supporting active citizenship and inclusion. That’s why from February 2019 onwards, we’ll be supporting The Scout Association to create 36 new Scouting sections to reach a total of 540 young Muslims across the UK.

As a result of this work, these young people will gain a wide range of skills and benefits including:

Adventure: Becoming more physically active, increasing knowledge of how to live a healthy lifestyle and developing increased courage to tackle challenging activities
Leadership: Learning to be more responsible and trustworthy, working in a team, taking initiative and acting as a role model to help others make a positive difference
Skills for Life: Developing enhanced problem solving skills, becoming more independent, learning to communicate effectively and developing a range of practical and contemporary skills for school, work and social life
Wellbeing: Gaining a greater sense of perseverance, determination and self-esteem, alongside a deeper understanding and confidence in their own beliefs and attitudes
Connectedness: Developing more meaningful friendships and relationships and learning to care more about other people, showing respect and trust, including those from backgrounds different to their own
Citizenship: Playing an active role in their community and striving to consider themselves local, national and international citizens

Young Muslims involved in the Scout movement will gain a wide-range of skills and experience which will be crucial in helping to build the capacity of local communities to create positive change.

Scouts make a promise to “help other people” and we predict lots of positive changes ahead Insha’Allah!

Approachable Parenting: Inclusive Parenting

Approachable Parenting is an award-winning organisation which provides parenting courses and parent-coaching to Muslim families, in addition to accredited training Developed by Muslim clinical psychologists and parenting experts, their “Five Pillars of Parenting” programme is built within an Islamic framework, focusing on:

Character: Identifying the importance of good character, morals, personality, and behaviour
Knowledge: Learning new skills and strategies and acting on this knowledge
Action: Putting learning into practice to achieve results
Steadfastness: Dedication to overcoming difficulties
Positive relationships: Strengthening family bonds and developing positive permanent relationships

Learning methods include didactic teaching, role play and practitioner as well as video demonstration to enhance the skills and knowledge of the parents which directly impacts upon the positive development of the family structure.

In partnership with Islamic Relief, established trainers and free programmes are now in place in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Bradford for parents with children between the ages 4-11 years.