Youth and family development

DEAF WORLD: YOUNG LEADERS PROGRAMME

Young people with hearing impairments (HI) face many specific challenges throughout their lives, such as accessing the right educational support, social isolation and a higher risk of depression and anxiety. For hearing impaired youth within Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities in particular, there are major gaps in opportunities for social and personal development.

At Islamic Relief, we believe that everyone should have the means and support to thrive and build a bright future. That’s why we’ve partnered with Deaf World to support their dedicated youth leadership programme. Facilitated by youth workers and deaf facilitators together with qualified interpreters, the project supports young people’s personal development.

This programme helps young people to increase their own sense of self-esteem and tackles social isolation by increasing their opportunities to make friends, whilst crucially helping participants to build communication skills and develop a strong sense of leadership.

THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION: SCOUTING FOR MUSLIMS

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 6.3% 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 we’re supporting The Scout Association to create 36 new Scouting sections to reach a total of 540 young Muslims across the UK.

Young Muslims involved in the Scout movement are gaining a wide-range of skills and experience which are crucial in helping to build the capacity of local communities to create positive change focussed on adventure, leadership, skills for life (school, work and social life), wellbeing, connectedness and citizenship.

APPROACHABLE PARENTING: 5 PILLARS OF 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: Dedicating oneself to overcoming difficulties
• Positive relationships: Strengthening family bonds and developing positive permanent relationships

In partnership with Islamic Relief, Approachable Parenting has established trainers and free programmes in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Bradford to serve parents with children between the ages of 4-11 years.

Providing 1:1 support for families who are facing complex issues, the project also refers clients on to local services, develops peer support networks for parents/guardians and trains teens in physical and mental health.