About Us

SAAFI CIC:

SAAFI has been founded and is led by Somali-origin professionals with a combined experience of over 40 years in complex emergencies, rehabilitation, and long-term community development activities in the Horn region. We have worked with international organizations, the UN, local organisations, and governments in the UK, Yemen, and several countries in the Horn of Africa.

Mission:

SAAFI is a community-based organisation in Brent, founded and led by British-Somali mothers, with the aim to assist each other and their children in achieving positive integration.

SAAFI extends its services to all communities where English is not their first language, with the following aims and objectives:

  1. Providing advice, information, and guidance to ethnic communities, particularly women and children, whose first language is not English.

  2. Promoting the welfare and positive integration of refugees and migrants through training and workshops.

  3. Facilitating access to support for refugees and migrants, especially single parents and their children, to aid their integration into the country.

  4. Increasing awareness among socially excluded communities, mainly women, about employment and self-employment opportunities and ensuring their representation in decision-making processes.

Main Goal:

The overarching goal of SAAFI is to establish the first-ever Migrant Women’s Center in Brent, offering a range of training and workshops, as well as connecting individuals to other organizations and providing a communal meeting space.

Main Activities before the Covid-19 outbreak:

  1. Providing advice, information, and guidance to all communities in Brent. SAAFI is a member of BACN (Brent Advice and Community Network).

  2. Youth mentoring and coaching at Round Wood Youth Centre and Harlesden Library.

  3. Engaging in heritage and cultural activities, including curating exhibitions on the lives of Somalis in Brent (2014) and Somalis in WW1 (2018/19). Additionally, we are a leading Somali organization in Brent libraries, providing workshops on Somali traditional craft-making.

  4. Offering pre-level English classes for all communities at The Yellow in Wembley, aimed at building their confidence and communication skills.

During the Covid Outbreak:

COMMUNITY HEALTH CONNECTOR:

  • SAAFI received funding from CNWLNHS in December 2020 to establish the first full-time health connector.

  • The initiative aimed to address health inequalities faced by hard-to-reach and disadvantaged BAME communities in Brent.

  • Over 500 individuals received one-to-one support and signposting to community-based services, including assistance with non-medical issues and access to emergency food and mental health support.

  • The success of the program has earned the trust of the community, establishing SAAFI as a valuable asset in the fight against health disparities.

  • Health Educators:

    • In collaboration with Brent Carers and four other voluntary sector organisations, SAAFI recruited 3 Health Educators from June 2021 to November 2021.

    • The educators played a crucial role in promoting healthy lifestyles, facilitating access to suitable health support, and raising awareness about health inequalities in the local community.

    • They engaged in 1400 interactions through health education events, workshops, and presentations, both face-to-face and digitally, ensuring valuable information reached a broader audience.

EMERGENCY SUPPORT:

  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, SAAFI provided essential emergency support services to the community in Brent, particularly Church End and Harlesden.

  • Within the first two weeks of lockdown, SAAFI received 151 emergency calls from vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, seeking reassurance and assistance during a challenging period.

  • Emergency assistance programs were set up to address immediate needs, including shopping, medication collection, food aid, and emotional and mental health support.

  • Vulnerable older people living alone with underlying health conditions, many of whom were existing clients of SAAFI's older people's support project, received specialized assistance during the pandemic.

  • Collaboration with local councils, mutual aid groups, and voluntary sector organisations allowed for the sharing of resources and client referrals, ensuring a more comprehensive support system.

  • Engaging 14 young volunteers who spoke various local languages enhanced communication and support for the diverse community.

  • Distribution of PPE and health messages in different languages through shops, religious places, and community centers helped disseminate critical information effectively.

  • SAAFI ensured its staff and volunteers were well-informed and trained in infection control to prioritise everyone's safety.

  • The pandemic resulted in a significant increase in workload, with a 400% rise compared to a normal year, as SAAFI continued to support those affected by job losses, homelessness, and mental health issues.

  • SAAFI remained steadfast in providing practical advice, emergency provisions, and ongoing support to the community, especially the vulnerable individuals and families in Brent, during the challenging time of the pandemic.

The year 2022:

Women’s Mental Health and Well-being Workshops:

  • Starting from February 2022, SAAFI initiated a series of 6 thematic workshops and consultations specifically tailored for women from the community.

  • The workshops aimed to address mental health issues and provide guidance on seeking help and support.

  • Attendance averaged 54 women per session, and future workshops are planned to continue after Ramadan in May at the Unity Centre in Church Road.