Ilays

Founded in 2004, we are a charity with a mission to help BAME communities and new arrivals in West London reach their full potential. We provide a range of services to help local residents overcome barriers to social inclusion and, ultimately, try to build a diverse, inclusive and supportive Hounslow community. Back in 2004, we saw that many of our brothers and sisters who arrived from Somalia and elsewhere were struggling to cope in the UK. Making the transition can be tough, and we recognised that migrants, refugees and asylum seekers were in danger of feeling excluded, isolated or ignored. We felt something could be done to help them. So we set up Ilays. Our mission is to help BAME communities and new arrivals in West London to reach their full potential. We want people to feel comfortable and – above all – happy in their lives here. We think it’s vital that they can overcome any barriers to social inclusion, and can think of themselves as totally equal to people who were born and raised in the UK. Our services include employment training, mental health support, English and Sewing classes, sports events, citizenship workshops, vocational training opportunities, job support, general advice, information, guidance and practical support.