The British Muslim Trust has launched a new helpline service in the wake of increased anti-Muslim hate in the UK. The helpline will be used to support victims to help them report their experiences in a safe environment.
The helpline is available via multiple channels for victims of anti-Muslim hate to report incidents. The helpline can be accessed via:
Phone – free of charge from any phone, operating between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00p.m.
Website form – designed with three steps and mostly non-required fields for easy completion.
Email, SMS, WhatsApp, and live chat (victims can use these services at any
time, and a member of the team will provide follow-up on the following day).
All calls are handled by Muslim staff to ensure there is a cultural and religious understanding of the context of these incidents. BMT has already started to support victims, ranging from women and girls being targeted, to attacks on mosques.
Who are the British Muslim Trust?
The British Muslim Trust (BMT) was selected as the recipient of the government’s Combatting Hate Against Muslims Fund, a key initiative to address the rise in anti-Muslim hatred across the country.
BMT is using government funding to develop this robust reporting system that will capture both online and offline incidents of anti-Muslim hatred, including those that may go unreported to the police. It will also enable the organisation to provide direct support to victims, raise awareness of what constitutes a hate crime, and encourage greater reporting from affected communities.