Amina – The Muslim Women’s Helpline is a confidential information, advice and listening ear service for women from all across Scotland. Our helpline operators speak a wide variety of languages including English, Urdu, Punjabi, Arabic, Bangla, Farsi and Swahili. We use Language Line for on-line interpreting hence catering for all language groups.
During the annual period of 2004 the helpline took 447 calls, 262 of these calls taken being from different clients. As recorded, the average length of a call was 40 minutes and 33% of calls were with regards to marital issues including domestic abuse, making it the single largest call category.
In 2005 we received nearly 800 calls, and the average length of call was 20 minutes in which, again, the largest call category was marital issues – including domestic abuse.
Other matters arising on the helpline have varied from racial harassment, relationship, shariah, mental health, immigration, leisure, housing social isolation, education and health.
Over late 2004 to date major accomplishments have included the establishment of a freephone number 0808 801 0301 and the initiation of helpline satellite bases in Dundee and Edinburgh, this supported through good partnership links made elsewhere with various agencies, both statutory and voluntary organisations across Scotland from the Scottish Borders to Fife, Aberdeen and the Highlands.
All the above would not have been possible without the support of Scottish Executive and hence an enormous thanks to the Scottish Executive for all the financial support received to date, allowing the helpline to grow and escalate from strength to strength.
You can now also email helpline@mwrc.org.uk
Remember our Freephone Helpline number is 0808 801 0301 and this is open everyday of the week Monday to Friday from 9.30am – 5.00pm.