New Roots was established in 2014 as a grassroots organisation led by Shaykh Sjaad Hussain and Nazia Hanif. The organisation aims to provide a variety of services for the Birmingham Muslim community through innovative and interactive classes, projects, seminars and events. We began with a series of very successful children’s holiday clubs. The aim of these clubs was to inculcate a deep understanding and love for Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him). We identified that many mosques and madrassas in the past had not effectively taught children about the beauty of Islam. Therefore, we aimed to allow children to explore the tenants of Islam in a very engaging and interactive way.

As our journey progressed, we came to the realisation that New Roots has the potential to branch out and begin other projects alongside the children’s clubs. We identified a major part of the community which appeared to be highly neglected. Across Birmingham there seemed to be a growing number of classes and clubs for younger children, as well as many classes for adults. However, we identified a complete lack of services and attention given towards teenagers. Thus in 2016 we piloted our Open Circle initiative for young people aged 11-16. After much success, Open Circle at present caters for up to 60 teenagers from various backgrounds on a weekly basis. We now have a large, dynamic and dedicated team of skilled volunteers who want to make a difference through serving their community.