Foyzul Hoque London Borough of Tower

Hamlets

Muslim Children’s Safeguarding Co-Ordinator

020 7364 3412

• ‘Despite the decline of religion in British Society, the Policy Studies Institute survey showed that religion was more central to the lives of ethnic minority groups than to the white community. Asian Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus saw religion as very important..’

• SSI Report 2000 ‘Excellence not Excuses’ (3.14)

Partnership work with the Muslim Communities• 36.4% of residents in Tower Hamlets

classified themselves as Muslim. Making it the largest concentration of Muslim population in the country.

• The largest ethnic group is Bangladeshi • 50% plus of all children in the Borough

are Bangladeshi

» (2001 census)

Partnership work between Council of Mosques and Children’s Social Care• In 2002 after the publication of the

Home Office Report ‘Choice by Right’ a report on forced marriages, a multi agency steering committee was formed.

• Protocol for social care staff dealing with cases of forced marriages.

• Seminar for Imams in the Borough to raise awareness of forced marriages.

Cont…

• 2003 Conference for Imams on raising their awareness on child protection issues. As a result Imams were able to give sermons to their congregation at Friday prayers

• Contributed to the local authority being awarded Beacon status for community cohesion in 2003.

The Working with Muslim Families subgroup• Consists of representative from Council

of Mosques and officers form Local Authority and Health.

• Muslim Children’s Safeguarding Co-ordinator since 2005.– Association of Islamic Teachers– Child Protection and safeguarding children

training for some 300 imams and Islamic teachers

Muslim Children’s Safeguarding Co-ordinator cont….

– 7 madrassahs (independent full-time religious schools)

– 32 of the 45 Mosques registered with Council of Mosques. Reviewing their child protection policies, providing training and raising awareness of safeguarding issues within the mosques including Private Fostering.

– Muslim Council of Britain – MCR (Ramadan Radio).

• Since 2005 a series of seminars initially called ‘Beginning the Dialogue’ but now called ‘Continuing the Dialogue’. To date the following have been organised:

– In addition seminar on Domestic Violence was organised for Imams of the Borough in partnership with the Association of Islamic Teachers.

Adoption and Adoption and FosteringFosteringSelf HarmSelf Harm

DisabilitiesDisabilitiesMental HealthMental Health

Child Mental HealthChild Mental HealthDomestic ViolenceDomestic Violence

Islamic CounsellingIslamic Counselling

Young Women in Young Women in Tower HamletsTower Hamlets

WWMF sub-group

Parental Mental IllnessParental Mental IllnessSupporting Women as ParentsSupporting Women as Parents

Drugs & Alcohol MisuseDrugs & Alcohol Misuse

WWMF cont…• In April 2008 Mosque and Madrassah

handbook on safeguarding children was launched.

• Enhanced CRB checks paid for by the borough (100 in total)

• Workshops in the Mosques and Schools Developing links to engage Somali Muslim Community.

Future Work

• Islamic-centered counselling for Muslim Families in the Borough

• Group work with perpetrators of Domestic Violence

• Leaflets for parents - advice on choosing Islamic teachers to teach children’s Arabic at home (private tutors)