Women group tackles isolation in UK Muslim community
A grassroots initiative empowers Muslim women in Leicester to combat loneliness through faith, fitness, and community
LEICESTER (MNTV) – Under the morning sun in a Leicester park, a group of women gather around Ayesha Acharya for their weekly run.
While it might look like any fitness group, these sessions are lifelines for women battling isolation.
Acharya, 56, leads health and wellbeing initiatives for Sisters4Islam, a grassroots organization supporting Muslim women in Leicester, home to one of the U.K.’s largest Muslim populations.
According to a report by U.K.-based news outlet Hyphen, many participants face cultural stigmas around mental health, language barriers, and caregiving responsibilities, making community engagement difficult.
“I’ve experienced anxiety and loneliness myself,” says Acharya. A survivor of honour-based violence, she credits running with helping her manage trauma.
“I never thought I could run, but Sisters4Islam supported me. This is my way of giving back,” she said to Hyphen.
Loneliness, described by the WHO as a global health crisis, is a significant issue for the U.K. Muslim communities.
Factors like discrimination, economic deprivation, and isolation heighten its impact, according to a 2024 report by thinktank Equi.
The report highlights links between loneliness, deteriorating mental health, and increased risks of stress-related illnesses.
Founded in 2009 as a safe space for women to connect, Sisters4Islam now offers day trips, children’s summer schemes, pamper evenings, and a nine-week running programme.
For many participants, the programme is about more than physical activity.
One woman, recovering from years of emotional abuse, found strength in Acharya’s guidance.
“Sometimes she could tell my energy was low, not from exhaustion but from something deeper. Talking to her helped me put words to my feelings,” she said.
Another participant, cancer survivor Allia Amjad, joined the group in 2023 after remission.
Inspired by the sessions, she created the At-Taqwa Cancer Support Group, which earned her a 2024 British Muslim Award nomination.
“Being around people who understand makes all the difference,” Amjad said to Hyphen.
Sisters4Islam’s approach underscores the need for faith-informed mental health support.
A 2023 report by the Centre for Mental Health stressed the importance of NHS collaboration with community groups to address inequalities faced by Muslim patients.
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