STEPS

Paving the way for the leaders of tomorrow…! For Year 7 to Year 11 children

About the Programme

The programme is comprised of a series of workshops set to inspire young change-makers through a faith-based approach to community activism and spirituality.

The Curriculum

Experienced professionals and volunteers have worked together to develop the Faith Inspire Leadership model that is quintessentially built on Islamic vision, values, qualities and actions. This programme seeks to empower individuals to navigate this model and units within it, culminating in a more well-rounded individual with a better understanding of various leadership models driven by the Quran and teachings of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

The Expectation

The young person joining the programme will begin to build confidence in their own ability and develop new skills, ranging from public speaking to finding new and innovative solutions to complex problems. We understand that it can be nerve-racking at first, hence the need to attend regular sessions that will help foster all-important team building skills, culminating in a leadership residential trip away filled with fun activities and challenges. This programme is just the start, as it will assist individuals to build and work on local projects, from organising and delivering high-profile events to providing food to the poor and needy, whilst at the same time building their resilience to life’s challenges.

The Service

Delivered by a pool of facilitators and guest speakers with decades of experience in youth and community work, including contributions from specialists in their respective fields.

The participants will have the opportunity to learn event-management skills by organising our annual iftar event where their families and our members will be in attendance. They will also undergo a sponsored hike to learn about fundraising, experience the physical trial of a mountain climb, and to help raise funds for future youth programmes.

Excursions will be organised to get a better feel and understanding of concepts that have been covered in class, and further explore ideas and themes in real-life settings.

Recognising the achievement of participants with awards that will be presented at the end of the programme with celebrations involving friends, family and the wider community on successfully completing this first part of the journey and starting the next chapter with Faith Inspire.

The £200 fee, what will it cover and why?

The cost of the programme is £300+ without accounting for the countless hours from the organisers and facilitator.

The remainder of the funds will be subsidised by Faith Inspire, from the members contribution, Launch Good Ramadan Campaign and those raised by previous Steps cohort.

The £200 will cover the following:

●        Setpember 2023 to July 2024 programme

●        Refreshments at every session (snacks and drinks)

●        Faith Inspire welcome pack

●        Classroom and venue hire

●        Transport to fundraising challenge including refreshments

●        The three-day residential cost that includes

●        Transports from London to residential centre (out of London)

●        Accommodations (room share)

●        Three meals a day (breakfast, Lunch, and dinner)

●        Activity centre cost, like archery, high ropes and more

●        Celebration dinner and certificates

For those that are struggling to make the full or partial payment, we ask you to write to us via email for committee consideration for a waiver. This will be discussed on a case by case basis. Due to limited funds the committees decision will be final.

The Locations

The selected venues can be easily accessed by public transport and have a space to drop off and collect children. They are also central to the area and easy to locate. The classrooms themselves will be in an enclosed space, away from public access, and have access to facilities and a space large enough for group work and prayer.

Southwark

Starting Saturday 30th September 2023 | Weekly

Address: ARK Walworth Academy

Shorncliff Roadd, SE1 5UJ

Barking

Starting Sunday 1st October 2023 | Weekly

Address: Barking Learning Centre

2 Town Square Barking Learning Centre, Barking IG11 7NB

The Details

A 11-month programme consisting of 2-hour sessions each week

In person in the classroom, learning environment and external venues.

Time: 11am – 1pm weekly sessions with breaks at half-term

Open to all young people aged between Year 7 to Year 11 (boys and girls)

£200 fee for the year – £50 + Eventbrite admin fee will be required at registration now and further payment instruction will be provided at the start of the programme.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have two children, is there a discount for that?

The programme has been heavily subsidised, and along with regular sessions, it also includes a weekend residential, so unfortunately we are unable to offer any further discount for additional children.

We can, however, offer further subsidies to those unable to afford the full price. We welcome you to email us at FaithInspireYouth@gmail.com and we will review each case on its merit.

Is there segregation in the classroom?

There is no physical barrier segregating the boys and girls in the classrooms, although they will be seated separately. We expect students to learn and develop the required Islamic etiquette when interacting and engaging with the opposite gender, this will assist them in their current situation at school and/or later in higher education or career. The course aims to instil the values of modesty, good Islamic manners in this regard. Our team of facilitators consists of brothers and sisters as well as people of knowledge who will be leading each of the sessions so they will ensure boys and girls abide by Islamic rules.

During the residential (weekend away) each gender will have their own dormitory and any physical activity will only be with their respective gender, to enable greater participation of physical activity. More details will be provided closer to the time of the residential.

Are the sessions held during school half-term breaks?

To ensure young people have a natural break, we have decided not to deliver sessions during half-term breaks, allowing students to spend quality time at home with their families.

We will be following the respective local authority academic calendar. Timetable will be provided for the year, at the start of the session to parents.

There are excursions and trips. When will they take place and will you cover transport and lunch ?

All activity sessions, excursions and trips will be covered by Faith Inspire and we aim to notify parents via email with at least two weeks advance notice. We will ensure risk assessments are carried out and trained facilitators manage the travel and food.

In some instances, such as the excursions, transport may be left to the parents

My children have allergies and/or medical conditions, is this taken into consideration?

Please let us know via email of any allergies or medical conditions. We will try our best to accommodate the students’ needs. If however, we are unable to, we shall be in touch.

My child has special educational needs and requires support?

We are unfortunately not in a position to support children with SEN, as this requires a specialist to be with us during all of the sessions. We are unable to cover the cost of this on this occasion, but it is something we shall endeavour to work on in the future.

Do we need to pick up our child from the centre or can they leave when the session ends?

It is the responsibility of the parents to decide how best the child gets home, we would not be able to stay longer than 15 minutes at the premises after the session ends if we are waiting for a parent, otherwise we will have no choice but to ask the student to leave the premises.

Is there a parents WhatsApp group?

Parents will be notified of any changes via email, however we will create a parents group only to communicate Faith inspire course matters strictly. This is optional for parents to join, and details will be shared upon registration. The Whatsapp group is for parents only and no students are allowed.

What if my child misbehaves?

We will give a warning to students who misbehave, however, with any incident deemed to be serious, we shall endeavour to arrange a meeting with the student and parents to discuss the best way forward.

My child does not wish to participate any longer on the programme, how should this be managed?

Please inform us at the earliest convenience, and we would be happy to discuss what we can do to better accommodate the student’s needs.

Can parents accompany the child for the weekend residential trip?

Due to safeguarding issues and well-being and development of the child, unfortunately parents are not allowed at the residential or at the sessions.

We welcome suggestions or any enquiries on the details of the events we hold. For further information or any concerns, please email us at faithinspireyouth@gmail.com or call/text 0748 321 5770 and we’ll get back to you within 2-3 days.

Review of Steps 2021-2022

It’s been an amazing year for the cohort and first Steps programme – the innovative Muslim Youth development programme.

30 young people graduated on July 16 2022, stating the programme in October with regular weekly commitments.

The parents and faith inspire are proud of the cohort’s achievements, which includes

  • Regular attendance and participation on the sessions
  • Growing sunflower from seeds for months, with a winner receiving a prize for the tallest.
  • Organising a faith inspire members Iftar gathering at the atrium venue with over 200 people, in attendance were families to wider community members. The participants planned, prepared and hosted the event all playing a part to make this a success.
  • Attended a weekend of leadership residential in Leicester, Islamic Foundation where participants competed in mini-Olympics to an enterprise team challenge.
  • At the residential activity centre took part in raft building, high ropes, archery and more. For most, it was new activities and life skills and experience.
  • Hiked Snowdonia, the tallest peak in Wales whisky raising over £12,000 for Faith Inspire youth programmes. The highest fundraiser raised an astonishing £2,000 and winning an IPad
  • Presented a 7min presentation on their learning and on leadership at the end of the programme, and confidently presented to their peers due to regular public speaking training and engagement of the sessions.

All the participants and their families were present at the award ceremonies, to receive the certificate from the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain Zara Mohammad.

We wish to thank the parents, the supporters and more importantly the young people in putting their trust in Faith Inspire, its members and volunteers who delivered an amazing programme.

Review of Steps 2022-2023

Alhamdulillah, Faith Inspire delivered the STEPS programme for a second year. Another 30 young people graduated the programme on July 8, 2023, committing to a year of weekly sessions starting in September 2022.

Faith Inspire and the parents are proud of the cohort’s achievements, which include:

  • Regularly attending and participating in sessions
  • Attending a weekend residential at Kingswood in Kent, where they took part in various activities such as laser tag, archery, a campfire and watched the World Cup Final.
  • Organising the annual member’s iftar for the 200+ Faith Inspire members and their own families, covering every element from venue viewing and selection, to hosting and running panels on the night.
  • Participating in a fundraising challenge with prizes being awarded to first, second and third place on the fundraising leaderboard. The highest fundraiser raised an incredible £2,300, winning an iPad, and the total raised was over £13,000 which will be invested back into the Faith Inspire youth programmes.
  • Going on a day trip to Brecon Beacons in Wales and hiking along the Pen Y Fan hiking trail, braving the cold, rain, and ice for a lifechanging and unforgettable experience alongside their friends
  • Presenting a 5-minute presentation on what they learnt, what they loved and how they plan to become effective leaders in their local communities, all in front of their peers after public speaking training.

All the participants joined us for the graduation ceremony, sharing their testimony of the programme and receiving certificates from the deputy secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, Maswood Ahmed.

We wish to thank the parents, the supporters and more importantly the young people in putting their trust in Faith Inspire, its members and volunteers who delivered an amazing programme.