Empowering Communities Since 1995

Since 1995, we have been running a free educational support for children under 18, that has significantly increased their confidence to engage with education. We receive reports from parents and from schools about improved achievement of young people who attend our homework club, and there is confidence that our intervention makes a significant positive difference. We run group sessions 3 times a week, bringing together 15-20 young people per session. In addition, we support 20 young people per week with booster support in addition to the normal supplementary schoolwork. The Homework Club continues throughout the year, giving young people consistent ongoing support until their targets are achieved. 

Holiday Activities and Food: We offer a holiday club in partnership with Camden Youth Services and Camden Young Foundation, to provide fun activities and healthy food during school holidays. This reaches 50 young people for 2 days per week, over 2 weeks. Activities include visits to museums and zoos, sport or competitive educational events, and classes on nutrition and healthy cooking/ eating. 

This project provides football coaching for BAME women and girls (aged 14-25) and builds leadership, confidence, assertiveness, and independence. There are 15 regular participants who attend weekly sessions. Apart from football coaching, they can also get support to achieve professional coaching qualifications. This activity is helping diversify the sport in response to the success of England’s Lionesses.

This is one of our core and longest-standing projects, in which we offer support for families through surgeries and casework. We offer in-depth advice on welfare rights and housing, helping users to submit housing applications, appeal against evictions, complete universal credit applications, etc. We also signpost them to legal and health experts where we cannot directly help. As access to welfare is increasingly done through digital platforms, we skill up and assist service users to navigate the digital world. Where needed, we also help to overcome the language barrier, for instance by accompanying users to meetings with housing providers, translating letters from authorities, etc.

This project aims to empower young people through sports, steering them away from risky and/ or criminal activities and towards meaningful employment and apprenticeships. We receive referrals of young people from the Metropolitan Police, Camden Safety Net and the Violence Reduction Unit, and we in turn refer young people to these agencies where we believe their interventions would be helpful. Further, we support parents to spot early signs of risky behaviour, grooming, and drug and knife crime, giving them the confidence and skills to support their children effectively towards better life choices

This project offers 1:1 support for victims of VAWG, working with 5-10 women and girls per week. We also offer monthly workshops for groups of women, reaching 30-40 women per month. In Camden, we lead the campaign to end Female Genital Mutilation, collaborating with the community to raise awareness, for instance through community events and school programs. We advocate to strengthen government policies to eliminate FGM, and we train enforcement agencies on intelligence-led and culturally sensitive ways to implement anti-FGM policies effectively.

BSCC Health Programs

BSCC (British Somali Community Centre) runs various health-related programs to

improve the physical and mental wellbeing of the local Somali and wider BAME communities. These programs aim to tackle health inequalities, raise awareness, and provide culturally sensitive support. These programs have made a significant contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of the local community. By offering culturally sensitive, accessible services, they have fostered trust, empowered individuals, and enhanced overall community health.

The Mandeeq Mental Health Project: Mental health is often a taboo subject in the Somali community. This project breaks down barriers, encourages open dialogue, and offers much-needed emotional support. focuses on providing mental health support tailored to the Somali and wider BAME community. It includes peer support, workshops, one-to-one help, and referrals to professional services. Thus, aiming to reduce stigma around mental health.

Increase awareness and understanding of mental wellbeing.

Provide accessible support in a culturally appropriate manner.

Encourage early intervention and prevent mental health crises.

Positive Impact:

Improved mental health literacy.

Increased community engagement in mental health services.

Reduction in isolation and stress, especially among women and youth.

2. General Health and Wellbeing Program

This program promotes healthy lifestyles through activities like fitness classes,

nutrition advice, and health screenings. It is aimed at preventing chronic illnesses

such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Many in the Somali community face barriers in accessing mainstream health services due to language, cultural

differences, or lack of awareness. This program offers familiar, trusted, and local

support. So far we have seen Increased physical activity, especially among women, better health outcomes through early detection and lifestyle changes and Stronger sense of community through group activities.

 Promote physical activity and healthy eating habits.

 Provide regular health checks and education.

 Support individuals in managing chronic conditions.

3. Health Campaigns and workshops

BSCC runs targeted health awareness campaigns on key health issues such as

COVID-19, MMR vaccination, cancer screening, mental health, and women’s health. These campaigns aim to raise awareness, combat misinformation, and promote the use of NHS and public health services. A notable focus has been addressing MMR vaccine hesitancy, particularly misconceptions linking the vaccine to autism. Through culturally sensitive outreach and expert input—including from a Somali doctor—the campaign effectively challenged misinformation and reassured parents. These efforts have helped close the information gap, empower individuals to make informed health decisions, increase vaccination uptake, boost participation in cancer screening, and build trust in healthcare systems.