Collection GB 0074 LMA/4496 - MUSLIM WOMEN'S HELPLINE

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 LMA/4496

Title

MUSLIM WOMEN'S HELPLINE

Date(s)

  • 1989-2007 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

1 linear metre

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The idea of setting up the Muslim Women's Helpline was originally proposed by a group of approximately 8 Muslim women at a conference for Muslim women held at the Islamic Cultural Centre in 1987. They were extremely concerned about the difficulties/problems being faced by Muslim women, e.g. marital problems, depression, loneliness, generation gap difficulties between parents and children brought up in the UK. These women then formed a committee which first met at City University in December 1987. Imelda Ryan (who had five years experience with the Samaritans) was asked to lead the group which would work on setting up the Helpline. The Helpline acquired office space in November 1988 (through the generosity of Yusuf Islam who donated a ground floor room in one of his properties), and relocated to new office premises in North London in October 1991. The helpline began receiving calls in February 1989.

In addition to its works as a listening and counselling service, the Muslim Women's Helpline also produced a quarterly newsletter, 'ASK' (A Small Kindness) and contributes to discussions and debates in the Muslim community and in the mainstream on social issues. This has in the past included organising conferences, attending exhibitions and even staging plays. It was a member of the Telephone Helplines Association and affiliated to the Muslim Council of Britain.

Archival history

GB 0074 LMA/4496 1989-2007 Collection 1 linear metre Muslim Women's Helpline

The idea of setting up the Muslim Women's Helpline was originally proposed by a group of approximately 8 Muslim women at a conference for Muslim women held at the Islamic Cultural Centre in 1987. They were extremely concerned about the difficulties/problems being faced by Muslim women, e.g. marital problems, depression, loneliness, generation gap difficulties between parents and children brought up in the UK. These women then formed a committee which first met at City University in December 1987. Imelda Ryan (who had five years experience with the Samaritans) was asked to lead the group which would work on setting up the Helpline. The Helpline acquired office space in November 1988 (through the generosity of Yusuf Islam who donated a ground floor room in one of his properties), and relocated to new office premises in North London in October 1991. The helpline began receiving calls in February 1989.

In addition to its works as a listening and counselling service, the Muslim Women's Helpline also produced a quarterly newsletter, 'ASK' (A Small Kindness) and contributes to discussions and debates in the Muslim community and in the mainstream on social issues. This has in the past included organising conferences, attending exhibitions and even staging plays. It was a member of the Telephone Helplines Association and affiliated to the Muslim Council of Britain.

Records gifted to the Archive in 2007.

Records of the Muslim Women's Helpline, including minutes; annual reports; legal papers; financial records; press cuttings; fundraising material; papers relating to marriage guidance; publications; items relating to events; and audio-visual material.

LMA/4496/A: Administrative and Financial; LMA/4496/B: Publicity Material.

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Copyright to these records rests with the City of London.

English

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

June to August 2010. Rights of special groups Muslims Religious groups Moslems Family Family environment Family disorganization Women Sex Sex distribution Organizations Associations Charitable organisations Charities Charities administration Social work Counselling Hotlines (counselling) Information sources Documents Charity records Charity accounts Muslim Women's Helpline London England UK Western Europe Europe Nonprofit organizations

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Records gifted to the Archive in 2007.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the Muslim Women's Helpline, including minutes; annual reports; legal papers; financial records; press cuttings; fundraising material; papers relating to marriage guidance; publications; items relating to events; and audio-visual material.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

LMA/4496/A: Administrative and Financial; LMA/4496/B: Publicity Material.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright to these records rests with the City of London.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area