Muslim Youth Helpline

Muslim Youth Helpline
Founded August 2001
Founder Mohammed Sadiq Mamdani
Type Organization
Registration no. 1108354
Focus Social issues within the Muslim Youth
Location
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
 Masuma Rahim
Abdul Hakim
Website www.myh.org.uk

Muslim Youth Helpline (often abbreviated as MYH) is a national award-winning charity helpline that provides free and confidential faith and culturally sensitive support services targeted at vulnerable young people in the United Kingdom.[1] Muslim Youth Helpline has stated that it does not propagate any religious or political beliefs and seeks only to provide relief to and improve the social condition of vulnerable young people in the UK.

History

2001-2003: Foundation

MYH was founded in August 2001 by Mohammed Sadiq Mamdani, who at the time was 18, in response to the social problems endured by Muslim youth in the UK. It was at college that Mohammed first realised the extent of isolation that today's young Muslims experience; while problems such as drug misuse, depression and sexuality are issues common among many young people, he believed that young Muslims often need advice that takes into account broader religious and social contexts.[2] In 2003, Dr Furqan Taher got involved with MYH. She joined as one of the first helpline volunteers while she was a student studying medicine in London. She is now a GP Registrar in London and joined the Board of Trustees in 2011.

2004-2008: Recognition and expansion

By 2004, MYH has expanded nationwide and is the only telephone helpline of its kind in the UK; it now also runs a befriending scheme through which volunteers meet up with young Muslims on a social basis or provide practical help such as accompanying them to job centres, or helping fill in application forms whenever friendly guidance is needed.

2005-2012: Campaigns and Advocacy

In 2004, MYH released a Prison Campaign on muslimyouth.net and was called ‘Behind Bars’. After the huge success of the initial campaign it was adopted by MYH as an annual campaign. Every year MYH sends out thousands of Eid gift packs to Muslim prisoners in youth offending institutes and prisons across the country. In 2005 they launched its ‘Doing a Runner’ campaign to raise awareness within the community of the many young Muslims who run away from home, and may at various times in their life find themselves vulnerable, alone and homeless. The campaign concluded with ‘2 Dayz of Street Life’, an event involving members of the public who stayed in shelters and on the streets for two days to experience what a homeless person may go through. In February 2006 MYH was awarded with the CSV Award for the ‘Most Heart Warming Project’ of its kind.[3]

2013-present

Saleha Islam joined MYH as CEO in 2013. She has over 25 years of experience of working in social services and the third sector developing and delivering services to vulnerable children and families across the UK. Prior to this post she worked at the NSPCC in several managerial positions including Children's Services Manager for the Asian Child protection Helpline. Mamdani had also founded the organisation with an annual dinner, which takes place once a year on May. In May 2014, special guests included Jemima Khan, Asad Ahmed, Mishal Husain amongst others.[4]

Awards and Accreditation

Award credits acquirred from the official website.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Muslim Youth Helpline About Us (Accessed: 27 November 2014)
  2. ↑ Mohammed Mamdani: Article on why he created MYH. (25 May 2006)
  3. ↑ Campaigns and Advocacy of MYH 2005-2006 (Accessed: November, 2014)
  4. ↑ Special guests of MYH Annual Dinner (2014)
  5. ↑ Awards and Accreditation 'MYH (Accessed: 27 Nov, 2014
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