Midaye Somali Development Network

Who we are

Midaye was set up in 2002 by women from the local community. It is still, predominantly, a women-led and run organisation. Although still small (we have 17 paid staff), we have grown rapidly over the past 5 years: we have developed partnerships with local authorities, NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups, and other charities, and we have become known for our innovative community work on FGM, chronic health, and educational underachievement. We are valued contributors to local and national policy and academic research in our areas of work.

Despite our growth, we have retained our deep community links with some of the most marginalised groups in London. Our work supports multiply excluded members of the BME communities in Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Hammersmith and Fulham. We are now developing our work bringing small grassroots organisations together in response to local need, building capacity and delivering services with these partners.

We provide information, outreach, training, mentoring and/or support for a wide range of issues, including: health (physical, emotional and mental health), education, FGM, domestic violence and other issues. We also run supplementary schools for children and provide outreach to families needing parenting support. We offer befriending services for older people and empowerment programmes for women. We work across all these areas using an advocacy model. Our activities empower and support the most marginalised members of our communities; helping individuals to help themselves and have the knowledge to improve their life in a meaningful way.