Raised of £1,000,000 target
For the hands that weathered a desperate journey here
Praying Britain would provide safety and relief from fear
Be the hand of solace for the new refugee
Provide hope, relief and urgent sanctuary
For a husband, father and son locked away
She raises her hands alone at night to pray
Be the hand of giving for the family left behind
Let your comfort and compassion be what they find
For the trembling hands of the abused, terrified mother
Destitute and facing a future that brings dread like no other
Be the hand on her shoulder providing safety and care
To show her this Ramadhan and beyond, her community is there
For the hands that once gripped prison bars alone
Far from family carrying an anguish unknown
Be the hand of mercy stretched wide and giving
To remind our brother this life is worth living
For the grieving hands of the woman left with an orphan child
Isolated, impoverished years have gone by since her daughter last smiled
Be the hands to embrace this household crying out in heartache
This Ramadhan, be the firm handhold that will never break
"The example of brothers for the sake of Allah is like that of the hand and the eye - if the eye weeps, the hand wipes away its tears, and if the hand is in pain, the eye weeps for it."
(Imam ash-Shafi'i, Hilyatul-Awliya')
Ramadhan will be welcomed with joy in many homes. But for too many in our community, it will be met with quiet, involuntary tears.
Whilst we look forwardto the bustling family iftars, followed by tranquil nights of sweet worship, for the many unseen around us, Ramadhan arrives bittersweet – filled with the silence of absent loved ones.
This Ramadhan, we invite you to look close to home and outstretch your hand of giving to those desperately reaching out for relief.
This is not a distant crisis. It is the hidden reality on our doorstep.
- More than 15 million people in the UK – and almost half of British Muslims - are living in poverty.
- Nearly 3 in 10 British Muslims struggled to afford at least one household bill this year.
- 1 in 12 went hungry and were forced to skip meals - including working adults.
- 43% relied on borrowing money, credit cards or loans just to cover everyday costs.
- And Muslim women are carrying the heaviest burden - 51% live on an absolute low income - over three times the national average. They are significantly more likely to struggle with bills, more than twice as likely to use food banks, and report a net financial outlook four times worse than men.
These are not people overseas. These are our neighbours.
The Prophet ﷺ instructed that zakah should be taken from a community and given to those within it.
And yet - while 80% of British Muslims pay their zakah, nearly half send it exclusively abroad.
Meanwhile, right here in Britain, over 1,200 households registered with Embrace in just one year - families facing poverty, trauma, displacement and isolation.
The heartbreaking reality is that we cannot help most of them. Not because the need is not real - but because we do not have the funds.
This Ramadhan, you can change that.
From the newly arrived asylum seeker surviving on £9 a week to the family shattered by their loved one missing from the iftar table. From the lonely elderly uncle unable to fend for himself to the woman crying into her pillow, broken by domestic violence, be the hand that dries their tears and supports them into a stronger future this Ramadhan and beyond.
We believe in interventions that do more than relieve a moment – those which yield lasting, effective change.
From trauma counselling to food in the fridge. From stabilising a home to rebuilding confidence and job skills. From crisis to dignity.
This Ramadhan, outstretch your hand to grip those who have lost their footing.
Remove the tightness of stigma and shame of struggle and replace it with the handhold of relief and comfort.
"The most beloved deed to Allah is to make a Muslim happy, or remove one of his troubles, or forgive his debt, or feed his hunger. That I walk with a brother regarding a need is more beloved to me than that I seclude myself in this mosque in Madinah for a month.”
(at-Tabarani)
This Ramadan, remove the anxiety of not having enough to make meals for Suhoor and Iftar. Food vouchers allow families to look beyond hunger so they can embrace the month to the fullest. 13.6% of UK households - more than 7.2m people - experienced moderate or severe food insecurity this year.
Asylum seekers survive on just £9 a week and are barred from working - often without proper access to kitchen facilities - making even basic meals difficult to afford or prepare.
Relieve the worry of an empty cupboard. Provide nourishment, dignity and peace of mind this Ramadhan.
“I cannot describe the profound impact your gift card had on me, which you gave me to buy food from the supermarket, had on me. It may seem like a small thing to others, but for me, it was a lifeline at a time when life was closing in on me. The days dragged on in heavy silence, and I was living on very little, trying to balance hunger with the crushing weight of debt. Your help eased this burden and gave me a small chance to breathe, to feel that someone saw my suffering without me having to say a word. The card was not just a means of making purchases, but a humanitarian message saying: "You are not alone.” Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will never forget this gesture as long as I live.”
For many, the loss of clothing is the loss of dignity. Asylum seekers living on just £9 a week arrive with nothing but what they are wearing — no coat for winter, no decent shoes, often not even basic underwear. Families placed into empty accommodation cannot afford warm layers for their children, let alone new clothes for Eid. Men released from prison step out still wearing the same worn clothing from inside, unable to afford even fresh socks or underwear. Some sisters feel too ashamed to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in prayer, lacking modest clothing to enter the mosque with confidence.
Clothe a person with dignity. Provide the essentials that restore warmth, confidence, and the ability to celebrate Eid and return to worship without shame.
“I'm not asking for much. You can come and see what I'm wearing; I only have two pieces of clothing. I swear, I'm freezing when I go out for a walk. I don't even have shoes. I just need your help. Honestly, I don't even have underwear.”
Often the invisible wounds are the hardest the heal. Allow a person to work through their trauma, pain and past so they can free themselves of the shackles weighing them down. Counselling sessions will be targeted, effective and culturally-sensitive.
The time, distance and emotional labour of prison visits are often too much for struggling mothers to manage. Allow children to see their father and a wife to see her husband for a brief, but essential moment of family communion.
The average distance for a prison visit in the UK is a staggering 120 miles, and over 40% of prisoners are held more than 50 miles from home, making visits costly, exhausting, and often emotionally overwhelming. For families without a car, the trip becomes near impossible -remote locations, patchy public transport, and financial constraints shut the door on connection. Embrace’s Prison Visit Scheme steps in to bridge the distance. Our incredible volunteer drivers offer their time, cars, and compassion - sometimes covering hundreds of miles per journey, with mileage reimbursements averaging £190.
“Nobody can ever know how it feels to be in our shoes…I live my life with a shattered heart for years with no end in sight…I grieve the loss of a father who’s still alive, locked away, isolated and deteriorating by the day. Alhamdulillah, it’s been such a relief… I can’t remember the last time I felt so relaxed and rested after a visit. We don't realise how mentally and strenuous the visit and drive can be on us. May Allah elevate you in this life and the next. These are the families you bring relief to. These are the hearts you get du'as from.”
With rising cost-of-living pressures and escalating rents, housing has become one of the greatest sources of anxiety for families already on the edge. Universal Credit rarely covers rent in full - and it does not cover the first month’s rent or the deposit. For many, that shortfall is the difference between stability and eviction. Refugees are particularly vulnerable, often placed at immediate risk of homelessness with no savings and no safety net. Women are bearing the brunt of the housing crisis - with single mothers forming 60% of adults in temporary accommodation.
Provide the comfort of secure shelter for those who desperately need stability at their weakest hour.
“We were forced to flee our home and move between countries. We experienced a period of homelessness upon arriving in the UK, and although we now have temporary accommodation, we are still struggling to meet basic living needs. We are lacking essential household items. We are still trying to settle after years of war, displacement and hardship.”
A roof alone is not a home. Families are often moved into bare accommodation, facing their first winter in the UK without carpets, without beds, without even a cooker to prepare a hot meal. No fridge. No washing machine. No mattresses or bedding for their children. No basic crockery or pans to cook and eat together.
Provide the essentials that make survival possible. For £750, furnish a home with the basic appliances and comforts a family needs to rebuild their lives with warmth, stability and dignity.
”There were times I cried silently, feeling helpless. SubhanAllah, now I have found your support. The furniture you provided has restored my hope, peace, and sense of comfort. It reminds me of the beauty of the Muslim heart and the kindness of people. I sincerely pray for you, for every child you have made happy by supporting their needs, and for every act of goodness you have done. BarakAllahu feekum for everything you do, and may Allah continue to help you support more families in need, just as you have supported me.”
The pressure of debt is crippling for families already unable to cover their basic needs. It means sleepless nights, unopened letters, and the constant fear of enforcement.
43% of British Muslims have relied on credit cards, family loans, or borrowing simply to survive. For refugees, the burden is often far greater - thousands owed for perilous journeys, visas, and flights to reunite with family, with creditor issuing threats to secure repayments.
Remove this stress for a family by lifting the shadow of debt for those who urgently need reprieve.
“I faced council tax arrears, gas and electricity arrears, credit card debt, causing severe distress. The constant pressure of debt, fear of enforcement action, has had a serious impact on my mental health. I struggled to sleep, cannot concentrate, and often felt overwhelmed and hopeless. I was at breaking point. I am honestly overwhelmed and in tears. I make sincere duʿāʾ for you, your organisation, and every donor for lifting such a heavy burden from my shoulders. This payment has removed the immediate threat of court action and bailiffs and has brought immense relief to my family and me. I truly mean this from my heart: if Allah ever grants me ease and wealth, your organisation will be one I support without hesitation. JazakAllahu khayran again for standing by me and my family at our most difficult time. You have lifted a burden that was breaking me.”
Adversity in life not only removes financial security, breaks down relationships and support structures, but it can erase all hope for a better future ahead. Our grants for education and skills training, careers guidance and long-term mentorship is the most effective way of ensuring lasting change to uplift an entire household for decades.
“As someone who came to the UK alone, starting from zero, it’s easy to feel lost. But your organisation came from heaven... providing real help, not just words… giving me a foundation step to a bright future. Your kind support across so many areas of my life gave me the strength to stand confidently in society - without feeling broken inside or less than others. I am grateful for everything but I can only offer my sincere words at the moment to return your favour.”
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“The Prophet (ﷺ) was the most generous of all the people, and he used to become more generous in Ramadhan when Jibreel met him….more generous than the fast wind…”
(al-Bukhari)
schedule your sadaqah
£101,195
Food Vouchers
£89,908
Clothing
£20,817
Furniture &
Appliances
£11,893
Rent
£16,700
Qurbani
(112kg to 180 homes)
£11,391
Tuition &
Education
£5,086
Utilities
£2,653
Prison Visits
& Transport
£2,177
Debt Relief
£2,046
Maintenance
& Repairs
£2,294
Miscellaneous Aid
