Urgent help
If you're struggling right now, you're not alone. This page points UK Muslims to real, practical help: hardship grants, food banks, and free, confidential support.
We connect you with regulated debt advisers. We are not a lender.
The organisations below help people in financial hardship across the UK. Halal Debt Solutions is an educational service: we signpost you to them; we don't provide the funds ourselves, and each has its own eligibility criteria. If you're not sure where to start, a free, no-judgement callback is always here for you.
Need help today?
If you cannot afford food or essentials right now, these can help quickly.
Food banks (Trussell Trust)
Find your nearest food bank for emergency food parcels. You usually need a referral, which Citizens Advice or your council can arrange quickly.
Find a food bankNational Zakat Foundation (NZF)
One-off Zakat hardship grants (typically £280-£1,870) for eligible UK Muslims who cannot afford essentials such as food or rent and council-tax arrears. No repayment required.
Apply for a grantAl-Mizan Charitable Trust
The UK's first Muslim grant-funder. Provides small grants or interest-free loans (up to around £500) for people facing financial hardship, of any faith.
Visit Al-MizanZakat & Muslim hardship funds
Faith-based support funded by zakat and sadaqah for Muslims in need.
Ansar Finance
A Manchester-based UK registered charity (1156023) that has been lending interest-free since 1994, and which also runs a zakat and hardship fund for Muslims in hardship who meet their zakat criteria. It is separate from their loans and is aimed at people who cannot take on repayments. Their page does not spell out whether that help has to be paid back, so ask them directly before you rely on it. They say applications currently take around two to four weeks to look at, so it is worth starting early rather than leaving it. If things cannot wait that long, the free help higher up this page moves faster.
Visit Ansar FinanceIslamic Relief UK
Zakat-funded support for Muslims facing hardship in the UK, alongside their wider relief work.
Learn moreYour local mosque
Many mosques have a zakat or hardship committee that can help discreetly and quickly. It is always worth asking at your local masjid.
Ask at your local masjid.
Free, confidential debt help
Regulated and trusted services that give free debt advice: you never have to pay for this.
StepChange
Free debt advice and, where suitable, managed debt plans. One of the UK's largest debt charities.
Get debt adviceCitizens Advice
Free help with debt, benefits, food-bank referrals and more, in person and online.
Get helpCost-of-living & wider help
Grants and schemes that can ease pressure on food, energy and essentials.
Household Support Fund
Your local council may offer grants for food, energy and essentials through the Household Support Fund. Contact your council to check.
Find your councilTurn2us
A free tool to check which grants and benefits you may be entitled to, plus a grants search.
Check for grantsIf you're in crisis right now
If things feel overwhelming, please reach out. These lines are free and confidential.
Muslim Youth Helpline
Faith-sensitive, confidential support for young Muslims, by phone and online chat.
Get supportWant to talk it through first?
Sometimes it helps just to talk. We offer a free, confidential, no-judgement chat about your situation through an Islamic lens, and can connect you with an FCA-authorised debt adviser.
Request my free callbackFree, confidential and judgement-free; the regulated advice comes from the FCA-authorised adviser we connect you with.