LONDON: Muslim-led grassroots organizations are delivering life-saving interventions for young people while saving the UK taxpayer an estimated £30 million ($40.3 million) a year, according to a report released this week.
The study by the Equi thinktank, “Tackling Youth Violence: The Impact of Muslim-Led Organisations,” comes during a 141 percent rise in knife-related teenage deaths and growing concern over youth violence across the country.
It is the first report of its kind to quantify the social and economic value of faith-led youth work, examining seven Muslim-run initiatives operating in the UK, from London to Edinburgh.
Together, they reach more than 45,000 young people each year and deliver a return on investment of 5.3 to 1, with cost savings linked to reduced criminal justice involvement, improved mental health outcomes, higher educational attainment and lower reoffending rates.
One case study highlights the story of Yusuf, a teenager excluded from school and caught in a cycle of violence.
