{{Short description|Islamic organization based in the United Kingdom}} {{Infobox organization | name = Islamic Help | image = | caption = | founder = | type = International NGO | founded = 2003 | headquarters = Birmingham, UK | coordinates = | origins = | key_people = Chair of Trustees: Sultan Fiaz Hassan <ref name="one">{{cite web|url=https://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1160490|title=Islamic Help}}</ref> | region_served = Worldwide | products = | services = | focus = Poverty reduction, disaster resilience, education, healthcare, sustainable livelihoods | mission = | method = | income = £6.2 million (2018)<ref name="one"/> | disbursements = £5.38 million<ref name="one"/> | expenses = £870,000<ref name="one"/> | endowment = | num_volunteers = | num_employees = | num_members = | subsid = | owner = | former_name = | website = {{URL|islamichelp.org.uk/}} | dissolved = | footnotes = }} '''Islamic Help''' is a UK based charity that was founded in 2003 and works both internationally and within the UK. According to their registration with the UK Charity Commission, “Islamic Help provides humanitarian assistance all around the world. Support is also provided to the needy, widows, victims of emergency natural/manmade disasters and homelessness in the UK”.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Charity overview|url = http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1100259&SubsidiaryNumber=0|access-date = 2015-10-01}}</ref> Islamic help characterizes itself by its ability to inspire, motivate, and mobilize young individuals wishing to provide assistance to disaster stricken communities.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = Who We Are|url = https://www.islamichelp.org.uk/who-we-are/|website = Islamic Help|access-date = 2015-10-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.charity-charities.org/UK-charities/Birmingham-ENG-1668758.html|title=Birmingham England U K charities guide find a charity to donate or volunteer for child elderly homeless organizations and more.|website=www.charity-charities.org|access-date=2018-06-06}}</ref>

The organization is a member of the Muslim Charities Forum, which serves as an umbrella organization for multiple UK-based Muslim charitable organizations and has been criticized for its member's extremist ties, allegations which extend to Islamic Help and which have been refuted by the charity.

==Background== Islamic Help was founded in 2003 by young individuals in a grassroots initiative to provide assistance following natural disasters. Shortly after the organization's creation, they were able to provide disaster relief after the Pacific Ocean tsunami, the Bam earthquake, and the Pakistan earthquake.<ref name=":0" />

Islamic Help has worked in more than 20 countries and has multiple offices worldwide in Birmingham, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tanzania, Gaza, Yemen, Jordan and Australia.<ref name=":0" />

The charity is based in the UK and has its UK office in Balsall Heath, Birmingham.

==Activities and Projects== Islamic Help carries out a wide variety of projects worldwide.

In March 2012, the organization started the Eco Village, a three-year project in Tanzania which will create a community for orphans.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Environment|url = https://www.islamichelp.org.uk/what-we-do/development-projects/environment/|website = Islamic Help|access-date = 2015-10-01}}</ref> Islamic Help also runs a sponsorship program for helping orphans in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Orphans|url = https://www.islamichelp.org.uk/what-we-do/development-projects/orphans/|website = Islamic Help|access-date = 2015-10-01}}</ref> Islamic Help has helped to build water pumps and solar powered wells water deprived countries, particularly in Tanzania, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Water Projects|url = https://www.islamichelp.org.uk/what-we-do/development-projects/environment/eco-village/water-projects/|access-date = 2015-10-01|archive-date = 2016-03-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070850/https://www.islamichelp.org.uk/what-we-do/development-projects/environment/eco-village/water-projects/|url-status = dead}}</ref> The organization also has a sponsorship program for sponsoring a well or water pump in one of the three countries.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Water and Sanitation|url = https://www.islamichelp.org.uk/what-we-do/development-projects/water-and-sanitation/|website = Islamic Help|access-date = 2015-10-01}}</ref>

They have engaged in efforts for women's empowerment, teaching them skills that make them more independent and self-sufficient. One such initiative was teaching impoverished women about beekeeping allowing them to have a sustainable livelihood.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Empowerment of Women|url = https://www.islamichelp.org.uk/what-we-do/development-projects/environment/empowerment-of-women/|access-date = 2015-10-01}}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

Islamic Help also has initiatives in the UK focusing on food aid and nutrition, cleanup jobs, and assistance for the homeless.<ref>{{Cite web|title = UK Based Projects|url = https://www.islamichelp.org.uk/what-we-do/uk-based-projects/|website = Islamic Help|access-date = 2015-10-01}}</ref>

Since 2017 Islamic Help has been working directly with Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, raising money and distributing supplies.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/thousands-raised-for-burma-refugees-1-8152564|title=Thousands raised for Burma refugees|access-date=2018-06-06|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.islamichelp.org.uk/emergencies/rohingya/|title=Rohingya Emergency Appeal|work=Islamic Help|access-date=2018-06-06|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

The Islamic Health Birth Campaign helps pregnant Syrian refugees living in Jordan with access to healthcare services, food, clothing and sanitary items.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news/15317111.Student_midwives_are_taking_on_a_marathon_around_London_hospitals_to_help_mothers_in_crisis/|title=Student midwives are taking on a marathon around London hospitals to help mothers in crisis|website=Wimbledon Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-06-06}}</ref>

==Controversy== Islamic Help is one of several members of the Muslim Charities Forum that has alleged extremist ties. In early 2015, Muslim Charities Forum was stripped of a grant from the UK government due to their alleged extremist ties. Islamic Help also lost state funding for English language courses following an event to which they invited a speaker with extremist views. A spokesman for Islamic Help said the individual had not been publicly named by the Government and it had not received any notification from the Government about any individual/s or event/s of concern. He said they had asked the Government whether there was a publicly available list of so-called extremist speakers, and what criteria were used to determine this, and had been told none existed. The spokesman stated "We utterly refute any accusations of being linked to or of playing any part in promoting extremist views or extremism."<ref>{{Cite web|title = Muslim charity stripped of state funding over extremism fears|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/11337846/Muslim-charity-stripped-of-state-funding-over-extremism-fears.html|access-date = 2015-10-01|website = The Telegraph}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations== In January 2015, Islamic Help was nominated for the Charity of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards.<ref name="asianimage">{{cite news |url=http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/business/11745550.British_Muslim_Awards_2015_finalists_unveiled/|title=British Muslim Awards 2015 finalists unveiled|publisher=Asian Image|date=23 January 2015|access-date=1 August 2015}}</ref> In February 2016, it was awarded the Charity of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards.<ref name="asianworldnews">{{cite news|url=http://www.asianworldnews.co.uk/business/british-muslim-awards-2016/|title=British Muslim Awards 2016|publisher=Asian World|date=17 February 2016|access-date=1 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421220433/http://asianworldnews.co.uk/business/british-muslim-awards-2016/|archive-date=21 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The organization was featured in Academy Award-winning documentary "Saving Face" about the work that the charity does in helping victims of Pakistani acid attacks.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/balsall-heath-charity-islamic-help-179703|title=Balsall Heath charity Islamic Help documentary is favourite to win Oscar|last=Gibbons|first=Brett|date=2012-02-24|work=birminghammail|access-date=2018-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-17177353|title=Charity-inspired film wins Oscar|date=2012-02-27|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-06-06|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|https://www.islamichelp.org.uk/}}

Category:2003 establishments in England Category:Islamic charities based in the United Kingdom Category:Islamic organizations established in 2003