Muslim Youth Alliance

Here’s to strong women. “May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.” At Muslim Youth Alliance, we don’t just celebrate women—we actively work to empower them. We don’t just like to talk about empowering women—we make it happen. Too often, the voices of young Muslim women, even within our own communities, are overlooked. We’re here to change that. ? 75% of our work is dedicated to empowering Muslim girls and women. ? Female-only spaces with female-led support teams—because real inclusion means removing every barrier. ? Over 200 girls and women given access to fully funded residentials and nights away in just one month. ? A leadership team that’s 75% female, led by a female founder. ? Supporting girls from some of the most disadvantaged communities—because talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t. Empowerment isn’t just a word—it’s action. And we’re here to make sure every young Muslim woman gets the space, support, and opportunity she deserves. This International Women's Day, we reaffirm our commitment to uplifting and empowering Muslim women, ensuring they are seen, heard, and given the opportunities they deserve. #IWD2025 #MuslimWomen #EmpoweredWomenEmpowerWomen #BreakingBarriers #WomenSupportingWomen

Today is the first #Jummah of Ramadan so we thought we would share some funding that is often overlooked. It’s ideal for larger scale projects of community improvement. ?? Need Funding for Sustainability & Community Projects? Check out ENTRUST! ?? If your organisation is working on an environmental, sustainability, or community improvement project, ENTRUST is the regulator of the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) and can help you access funding from landfill operators across the UK. ? ?? How to Check Your Eligibility ?? Location Requirement: Projects must usually be within 10 miles of an active landfill site ?? Types of Projects Funded: Environmental conservation, public amenities, biodiversity projects, parks, and community spaces ?? Check if your project is eligible here: https://lnkd.in/e6JsfDpV ? ?? How to Apply for LCF Funding 1?? Confirm Your Project is Eligible – Use the ENTRUST checker to verify location and project type 2?? Find an Approved Funder – ENTRUST provides a list of landfill operators offering grants 3?? Register Your Project – Applications must be approved before funding can be awarded 4?? Submit Your Proposal – Follow the specific requirements of the funder you choose 5?? Project Approval & Implementation – Once approved, funding is provided to carry out your project ?? Step-by-step guide to applying: https://lnkd.in/eq-gSR7B ? ?? How Much Can You Apply For? ?? Funding Amounts: Varies by funder, but grants can range from ￡2,000 to ￡100,000+ depending on the project ?? Types of Grants: Small-scale community improvements to major environmental restoration projects ? ?? What’s Been Funded Before? ? Community gardens & green spaces ? Playgrounds and outdoor education areas ? Wildlife conservation and reforestation projects ? Restoration of historic buildings and public spaces ? Cycle paths, park trails, and accessibility improvements ?? See past funded projects: https://lnkd.in/ebH865aZ ? ?? If you’re working on a project that improves the environment or enhances community spaces, ENTRUST is the place to start! ?? Check your eligibility and apply here: https://lnkd.in/e6JsfDpV ?? Tag a group that could benefit from this funding! Let’s build greener, more sustainable communities together! ?? #Sustainability #EnvironmentalFunding #CommunityGrants #GreenProjects #OutdoorEducation #Nature #YouthOrganisations

Really pleased to be partnering with Muslim Tech Fest as one of the community partners. We will be attending the event and think now more than ever we have a space at night events like this on how we utilise tech to support our future generations. Now more than ever we need to harness the power of tech to support the youth sector to allow it to grow, empowered and sustainable. But also to add young people on to the agenda. Ensuring they are given access and opportunities that the tech world can offer them. Join us in 2025 as we build a movement of change

Day 3 of Ramadan: Breaking Barriers in Agriculture ???? The agricultural sector is one of the most unrepresentative industries in the UK, but the AgriFuture Scholarship Programme by NFU (National Farmers' Union) is working to change that. Last month, we attended the NFU STEAM Conference at STEAMhouse and were inspired by the drive to make agriculture more reflective of UK society. This scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for young people from diverse communities to gain hands-on experience and access to a sector that has traditionally lacked representation. The goal? 100 young people in 5 years—creating a pipeline of future talent and ensuring that the next generation of agricultural professionals is more inclusive and diverse. If you or someone you know is interested, applications are open now! ?? Apply here: https://lnkd.in/ejDe5iJS Josh Payne Jennie Devine

Day 2 of Ramadan & #WorldWildlifeDay – time to talk about young people & nature. Islam teaches us to be stewards of the earth, yet young people from Muslim & ethnic minority communities don’t feel a connection to nature and are rarely present in outdoor spaces. The impact? ?? A disconnect from nature and the outdoors ?? A lack of representation in environmental & agricultural sectors ?? Fewer opportunities to see themselves in these spaces Over February half term, we: ? Took 48 girls from Birmingham & Burton on a 2-night residential with Field Studies Council ? Funded by #AdventuresAwayFromHome (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) ? For many, it was their first time away from home & into nature ? The excitement of experiencing outdoor adventures & environmental activities firsthand was incredible and has left a profound impact (see the testimony from Huda aged 12 below) Recent discussions with: ? NFU (National Farmers' Union) ? Field Studies Council ? Lancashire Wildlife Trust … have reinforced what we already know – these sectors are overwhelmingly unrepresentative but there is this desire to change. To change this, we need: ?? More than just talk – real stepping stones ?? National-level action with communities at the table ?? Opportunities for young people to feel a true connection to nature This shift needs to be long-term & meaningful. Let’s make it happen together. ????

Need funding for minibuses or travel costs for youth groups? ???? This Ramadan we are on a mission to really live up to the idea of community and sharing opportunity far and wide. So every day of Ramadan we will be sharing ideas for funding, other ideas to empower communities. ???? Transport costs are often a huge barrier for youth groups, especially those working with disadvantaged communities. But there are some great funding pots out there to help! Here are some options to check out: ?? The Trusthouse charitable Foundation ?? Up to ￡100,000 ?? Rolling applications ?? https://lnkd.in/e4irG-q ?? Drapers charitable fund (Greater London-focused) ?? Up to ￡25,000 ?? No set deadlines – reviewed throughout the year ?? https://lnkd.in/dJ2Wuf7e ?? Variety, the Children’s Charity – Youth Club Grants ?? Varies ?? Open year-round ?? https://lnkd.in/dRrawmBw ?? Kent County Council – Community Transport Grant (Kent-based groups) ?? Varies ?? Deadlines announced periodically ?? https://lnkd.in/dvjE2eEz ?? The Robertson Trust – Transport Grants (Scotland) ?? Varies ?? Open year-round ?? https://lnkd.in/eskk9hRf ?? Clothworkers’ Foundation – Open Grants Programme ?? Varies (capital funding, including vehicles) ?? Applications accepted year-round ?? https://lnkd.in/e-7Ut4sp If you run a youth group and transport is a challenge, these are worth looking into! ?? If you know of any other funding pots, drop them in the comments. Let’s make it easier for young people to access opportunities! #Funding #YouthWork #TransportGrants #LevelingThePlayingField

Ramadan Mubarak! As the blessed month begins, Muslims across the world will be observing Ramadan—fasting during daylight hours, reflecting, and giving back to their communities. But as we enter this time of renewal, it’s important to acknowledge the realities facing the Muslim community in the UK today: ?? 40% of Muslims in England live in the most deprived fifth of local authority districts—482,000 more than in 2011. ?? Employment disparities persist, with just over 50% of working-age Muslims in employment, the lowest among all faith groups. ?? Housing inequality is stark—nearly 1 in 3 Muslims live in overcrowded housing compared to just 8.4% of the general public. ?? Mental health outcomes are deeply concerning—only 2.6% of Muslims who receive support finish their treatment. ?? A young and growing population—1 in 12 schoolchildren is Muslim, and the median age of Muslims in the UK is just 27. These statistics highlight the urgent need for strategic investment in Muslim youth—not as a challenge but as a national asset. A thriving, well-supported generation will shape the future workforce, leadership, and contributions of this country. Yet, Muslim youth work remains piecemeal. Ramadan reminds us of our collective responsibility—to build better pathways, create opportunities, and ensure no community is left behind. Let’s use this month not just for reflection, but for action. What steps can we take to empower young people and level the playing field? #RamadanMubarak #MuslimYouth #Equity #Inclusion #OpportunityForAll

?? Funding Alert: Adventure & Activity Days Grant – Closes Friday! ?? Gavin Fernie-Jones from Re-Action Collective shared this and looks a great pot of funding to get more young people outdoors! If you’re a grassroots non-profit looking to get people outdoors and active, this grant could be for you. ?? Name of Fund: #itsgreatoutthere Grants ?? Closing Date: Friday, 28th February 2025 (11:59 PM CET) ?? Who Can Apply: Non-profit organizations across Europe ?? How Much? Up to €5,000 (+ potential extra support in kind) ?? What Can You Apply For? Projects that: ? Get inactive people moving outdoors ? Include at least 150 minutes of outdoor activity per day ? Provide a safe environment with outdoor professionals ? Have environmental education elements ??How to apply: https://lnkd.in/eMrirtNK Don’t sit on this—applications close this Friday! ???? #FundingOpportunities #OutdoorAdventure #GetActive

Creating Opportunities, Changing Narratives When we started this project, our aim was simple—to provide opportunities to communities that have been marginalised, underfunded, and overlooked for decades. Yet, even within the Muslim community, some face additional hardships, particularly Black Muslim youth. The statistics are stark: ?? Only 31.9% of Black boys achieve five GCSE A-C grades, compared to a national average of 51.9% ?? There are twice as many Black men in prison as there are in university ?? Black children are twice as likely to grow up in poverty ?? Black pupils’ exclusion rates treble in some areas The barriers are real. But so is the power of opportunity. We met Asha Rage completely by chance 18 months ago and were in awe of the work she and the others leads have achieved at Dream Chasers supporting over 1,000 young boys and girls in one of the most disadvantaged communities in the UK—yet, until we supported them to access a funded residential last year, they had never been on a residential together. Last weekend, 24 boys from Dream Chasers Youth Group attended a residential supported by the YHA (England & Wales) Breaks Fund and it was the first time away from home for many. The impact was immediate. New experiences. New perspectives. A shift in what they believe is possible. We cannot change all the barriers overnight, but we can change the narrative for young people—one opportunity at a time. Who else is ready to create real change ????

?? Funding Alert: Grants for Youth Trips & Equipment! ?? In the run up to #Ramadan we are on a mission to help make organisations supporting young people work better! So this weeks funding rounds up funding for trips, outdoor experiences, or equipment for young people? 1?? TRIP FUNDING ?????? ?? The Henry Smith Charity – Holiday Grants | ￡500 - ￡2,750 | Trips (1-7 days) for disadvantaged children under 13 ?? Deadline: Rolling | ?? Apply: https://lnkd.in/evb3h2bK ?? Hargreaves Foundation | No set limit | Educational & recreational trips (sports, outdoor learning) ?? Deadline: Ongoing | ?? Apply: https://lnkd.in/e_wCwxux ?? The Ironmongers' Company??| Up to ￡10,000 | Educational & skills-based trips for disadvantaged under 25s ?? Deadline: Quarterly | ?? Apply: https://lnkd.in/gpyZixc ?? UK Community Foundations | Varies | Community-driven projects, incl. group trips ?? Deadline: Varies | ?? Find funding: https://lnkd.in/d-UEKJ2 ?? Jack Petchey Foundation – Educational Visits | Up to ￡1,200 | School & youth group trips (London & Essex) ?? Deadline: Rolling | ?? Apply: https://lnkd.in/d_wWTkHm ?? EVOLVE Advice – Get Out! Grant | ￡500 | Outdoor learning & educational visits ?? Deadline: Rolling | ?? Apply: https://lnkd.in/dFNNBWcU ?? Alpkit Foundation | Up to ￡500 | Hiking, climbing, outdoor activities ?? Deadline: Monthly | ?? Apply: https://lnkd.in/ekM3tWGs ?? Leslie Sell Charitable Trust – Scouts & Guides | Varies | UK & international trips, camps, jamborees ?? Deadline: Rolling | ?? Apply: https://lnkd.in/eCAfrsRu 2?? EQUIPMENT FUNDING ??????? ?? Airport Community Funds ? (For youth/community groups near airports) ??? Manchester (￡3,000) ?? Apply: https://lnkd.in/ehm3a7qf ??? Gatwick (Varies) ?? Apply: https://gact.org.uk/ ??? Heathrow (￡25,000) ?? Apply: https://lnkd.in/eaRdsbCk ??? London City (￡300-￡3,000) ?? Apply: https://lnkd.in/e5fcgy82 ??? Edinburgh (￡7,000) ?? Apply: https://lnkd.in/dGGgZWp ?? Asda Foundation – Empowering Local Communities | Up to ￡1,500 | Equipment, venue hire & activities ?? Deadline: Quarterly | ?? Apply: https://lnkd.in/e3dB3kkJ ?? Tesco Stronger Starts | Varies | Equipment & transport for youth activities ?? Deadline: Rolling | ?? Apply: https://lnkd.in/e57W8rKD ??Let’s make these trips happen! ??? ?? Tag a youth leader or organisation who might benefit! #YouthFunding #CommunityGrants #EducationalTrips #OutdoorLearning #FundingOpportunities