As Islamophobia awareness month begins, Islamic Relief UK is calling on the UK Gov to make sure they ‘Don’t Let it Slide’
Charity Islamic Relief UK is calling on the government to take more stringent measures in tackling Islamophobia and protect UK Muslims. Islamic Relief is asking for:
Practical guidance and consistent implementation
Better evidence and monitoring
Meaningful participation of Muslim communities and independent experts in designing and assessing policy
The charity’s call comes at a crucial point in time, as racism towards Muslims has intensified to worrying levels. Police-recorded anti-Muslim hate crime increased by 15% over the last year, with Muslims being the victim of 46% of all religious hate crimes, more than any other group.
The charity itself has also been a target of Islamophobia, as it has been forced to deal with online abuse and misinformation targeted against it in recent years.
According to the British Muslim Trust, one Mosque was attacked every five days over the last year, and incidents involving serious harm, arson or violence rose from 3.7% to 19.6%.
Mosques in the UK serve not only as religious centres but also as vital community services for people of all faiths and none, providing foodbanks, clothes banks, support for the homeless, support for domestic abuse victims and other crucial services. These critical services are put at risk for ordinary citizens as a result of the increase in Islamophobic attacks.
Earlier this year the UK government introduced a definition of Anti-Muslim Hostility, covering prejudicial stereotyping, criminal acts and unlawful discrimination. However, it did not alter any existing laws.
“Islamic Relief UK has welcomed this as an important first step but is now calling on the government to continue advancing this work so Islamophobia can be stamped out wherever possible.
Zia Salik, interim director, Islamic Relief UK says “For too long Islamophobia has not been taken seriously enough.
“Over the last few years, we’ve seen explosions in anti-Muslim and anti-migrant violence in the summers as rioters sought to cause harm, our Mosques have been targeted by violent attacks and arson, while the media turned a blind eye, and online Islamophobia and hatred has run out of control.
“The communities we work with don’t feel safe, our UK programmes work that helps the UK’s most vulnerable has been impeded and our own staff have been targeted online.
“Earlier this year the government made an important first step with its anti-Muslim hatred definition, but it’s time to go further. UK Muslims need to be properly protected from discrimination and potential harm.”
Campaign to deter knife crime in London knife crime hotspots to appear over billboards, digital advertising, and social media across Westminster and Croydon
Criminals in two London hotspots are being warned of a step-up in police action in a new Home Office knife crime campaign launching today.
The ‘No Place for Knives’ campaign will be piloted in parts of Westminster and Croydon, with adverts appearing at tube stations, bus stops and on social media – as well as a mural at Boxpark Croydon.
They will raise awareness of increased police activity, including, smarter metal detection, rapid response e-bikes, extra foot patrols and live facial recognition. The campaign is also being piloted in Birmingham city centre.
Developed by the Home Office with police and local authorities, the campaign targets those most at risk of committing knife crime.
These areas, along with 16 other boroughs in Greater London, have received over £8.1 million of funding through the Home Office’s Knife Crime Concentrations Fund to roll out targeted interventions to tackle knife crime. As well as the enforcement measures featured in the campaign adverts, it also covers prevention approaches such as youth outreach and visible local safety patrols in busy night-time economy areas.
Recent figures show knife crime has fallen 11% since the General Election, while knife-related homicides have fallen by 25% and knife-enabled robbery is down by 18%. In London, knife crime has fallen by 14% over the same period, while knife-related homicides have fallen by 34% and knife-enabled robbery is down by 19%.
Policing and Crime Minister Sarah Jones said: “Everyone in Westminster and Croydon deserves to feel safe on their streets. We know that hearing of knife crime incidents happening in your city can have the opposite effect and we want to stop that.
“We’re working with police to target knife crime where it causes the greatest harm, using intelligence and cutting-edge technology to make our communities safer.
‘No Place for Knives’ sends a clear message: action is being taken and we will not accept people putting young lives and our communities at risk.”
The campaign forms part of the Government’s wider mission to halve knife crime in a decade, combining tougher enforcement with prevention and early intervention to protect young people and make communities safer.
Commander Pete Stevens of the Metropolitan Police said: “We know the devastating impact knife crime has – not just on families who have lost loved ones but on entire communities. Our officers work tirelessly to combat this senseless violence, proactively directing our resources towards the people who pose the most risk.
“These tactics are working. In the last financial year knife-enabled crime fell by 14.9 per cent across London and over the last five years the number of people hospitalised after being attacked with a sharp weapon has fallen by 29 per cent.
“We will continue to target violent criminals who threaten our communities. Every knife removed and every suspect arrested has the potential to prevent serious harm or save a life.”
Mick Duthie, Director of Operations at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “We know that knife crime can have devastating consequences for individuals, families and communities.
I”f someone has information about knife carrying violence but is worried about being identified, our charity provides a way to speak up completely anonymously.
“By sharing information, communities can help prevent harm, protect young people and contribute to safer neighbourhoods.”
Patrick Green, CEO of Hackney-based Ben Kinsella Trust said: “Every young person deserves to feel safe without feeling the need to carry a knife. We therefore welcome the Home Office’s ‘No Place for Knives’ campaign and its contribution to the wider effort to reduce knife crime and protect young lives.
“A particular strength of ‘No Place for Knives’ is that it has drawn on young people’s input during its development. Young people understand better than anyone the pressures, anxieties and misconceptions that can lead to knife carrying.
“By listening to young people and reflecting their experiences in the campaign, the Home Office has created a stronger and more authentic platform for encouraging safer choices and preventing violence.”
To celebrate the Autumn Internationals, Duddingston Golf Club is hosting an exclusive evening with Scottish rugby legends Greig Laidlaw & Johnnie Beattie, taking place on Thursday, 26th November 2026.
Rugby fans across Edinburgh are invited to join former Scotland Captain and British & Irish Lion Greig Laidlaw, alongside former Scotland international Johnnie Beattie, for what promises to be a fantastic evening of rugby stories, entertainment, great food, and good company.
The two Scottish rugby legends will take the stage for a relaxed Q&A session. Attendees will be treated to firsthand accounts of their experiences representing Scotland, an exclusive look at life behind the scenes in international rugby, and memorable moments from their storied careers.
The evening will also offer guests the unique opportunity to put their own questions directly to Greig and Johnnie.
Niall Watson, General Manager of Duddingston Golf Club, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome two true icons of Scottish rugby to Duddingston Golf Club.
“Greig and Johnnie have given fans so many incredible memories over the years, and hearing their behind-the-scenes stories during the Autumn Internationals will be a real treat. This event is a fantastic opportunity for our community and local rugby fans to come together for an unforgettable evening of top-tier entertainment and hospitality.”
Alongside the rugby conversation, attendees will enjoy food provided by Duddingston’s catering partners, Greens Catering. Guests will have ample time to enjoy a drink, socialise, and network with fellow partners and guests in the club’s welcoming atmosphere.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, 26th November 2026
Time: 6.00pm – 10.30pm
Venue: Duddingston Golf Club, Edinburgh
Ticket Cost: £40 per person
To reserve your places, contact gm@duddingstongolf.co.uk, confirming the number of tickets you would like.Places will be limited, so we would encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment.
Located just 10 minutes from Edinburgh city centre, Duddingston Golf Club remains a must-play for visitors and a cherished home for its members.
The #iWill Festival of Social Action is the #iWill Movement’s annual flagship campaign – three days of youth-led events, place-based celebration and national social action, taking place every November.
Formerly known as #iWill Week, the festival brings together young people, organisations and communities across the UK to celebrate the power of youth social action.
Wednesday 18th November: Organise
Wednesday is young people’s day. As #iWill Ambassadors come together and celebrate, we’re inviting everyone to reflect on why young people organising, building connections, finding their place, and creating change together, is more important than ever.
Thursday 19th November: Unite
Organisations and partners day. An online working session for the people and organisations who believe in young people’s power to lead change – and want to go further in embedding that belief in their work. Expect honest conversation, practical thinking, and the chance to connect with others on the same journey.
Friday 20th November: Act
Everyone’s day. A national social action call-out – for individuals, schools, youth groups, communities and organisations across the UK. On Friday 20th November, young people across the UK are taking action on something they care about — big or small, planned or spontaneous — photographing it, filming it, writing about it, and sharing it using #iWillFest.
If you work with or alongside schools, youth groups or community organisations, this is your moment.
Our free Act Day pack gives facilitators everything they need to run a session with young people on the day – a session plan, social action ideas, and ready-made social media templates so their voices travel further than the room.
Police Scotland has released images of a man they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries into an incident in Edinburgh on London Road around 1.25am on Sunday, 27 September 2026.
The man is described as white, 30 to 35 years old, 5ft 10in tall, with dark short hair.
He was wearing a white dress shirt and a kilt.
Detective Constable Scott Wilson said: “Extensive enquiries remain ongoing into this incident, and we are looking to speak to the man in the images as part of our enquiries.
“I’m appealing for anyone who recognises the man, or the man himself, to please get in touch.
“Anyone with information can contact us by phoning 101 and quoting incident number 0295 of Sunday, 27 September. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and provide information anonymously.”
Julia Bradbury and Gemma Hunt will take pupils on a virtual journey to one of the most extraordinary places on Earth, in a special live event delivered in partnership with Dynamic Earth and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).
WWF is inviting primary schools and young people to embark on an exciting journey to the frozen wilderness of Antarctica through a free live online lesson as part of its ‘Happy By Nature’ programme, hosted by Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh’s only science centre and planetarium.
Taking place on Tuesday 10 November at 2pm, Antarctica Live! will bring the wonders of the world’s southernmost continent directly into classrooms, inspiring children to discover more about nature, wildlife and the people working to understand and protect our planet.
The event is live and will link up to scientists working at BAS’s Rothera and Bird Island Research Stations, some 10,000 kms away from the UK.
Hosted by journalist and TV presenter Julia Bradbury and Gemma Hunt, CBeebies presenter and author, the special live event will be broadcast online from Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh.
Featured locations include the science centre’s iconic Polar Gallery. Created in collaboration with the British Antarctic Survey, the lesson brings together expertise in science, education and engagement to give pupils an exciting insight into one of the planet’s most extreme environments.
Pupils will explore Antarctica’s icy climate, discover the remarkable ways penguins have adapted to survive in challenging conditions, and have a chance to hear from people working on the continent today. The lesson aims to spark curiosity about the natural world and encourage children to build a lasting connection with nature.
Dynamic Earth is proud to partner with WWF and the British Antarctic Survey to bring this unique learning experience to schools, contributing its expertise in science communication and learning engagement to help make Antarctica’s extraordinary environment accessible to young audiences.
Conor Ellis, Director of Learning and Engagement at Dynamic Earth, said:“We’re incredibly proud to be partnering with WWF and the British Antarctic Survey on Antarctica Live! This collaboration brings together our shared passion for inspiring curiosity about the natural world and helping young people understand the science behind our changing planet.
“At Dynamic Earth, we believe that engaging, accessible experiences can make a real difference in how children connect with nature and the world around them.
“Being involved in this activity gives us an exciting opportunity to bring Antarctica into classrooms, introduce pupils to the remarkable wildlife and environments found there, and inspire the next generation to ask questions, explore and care for our planet.”
Jon Turner, Head of Schools & Education at WWF, said:“We’re thrilled to be bringing the wonders of Antarctica directly into classrooms through this special live lesson, and we’re incredibly grateful to Julia Bradbury, Gemma Hunt, Dynamic Earth and the British Antarctic Survey for helping to make it possible.
“Giving primary school children the chance to explore one of the most extraordinary and remote places on Earth is a fantastic way to spark curiosity and build a lasting connection with nature. Antarctica plays a vital role in the health of our planet, yet it remains a place many young people know little about.
“This live lesson brings its incredible wildlife, landscapes and science to life in a way that’s engaging, accessible and inspiring, helping children better understand why protecting our natural world matters.”
Athena Dinar from British Antarctic Survey, said:“Inspiring the next generation to discover Antarctica is an important part of British Antarctic Survey’s mission.
“By sharing the science, technology and teamwork behind our research and operations, we can help young people understand why Antarctica matters, how it influences our planet, and the vital role research plays in tackling global challenges.
“Antarctica Live! is a fantastic opportunity to bring the excitement of polar science into classrooms, spark curiosity and encourage young people to explore the world around them.”
Antarctica Live! is part of WWF’s Happy By Nature programme, which is designed to bring a daily dose of nature into primary school pupils’ lives, helping them develop curiosity, connection and care for the natural world.
Through free educational experiences such as this live lesson, WWF aims to make nature accessible and engaging for children and support schools to bring environmental learning to life.
The lesson is aimed at pupils aged 7–11, but learners of all stages are welcome to take part.
Event details
What:Antarctica Live! – a free live online lesson for schools
When: Tuesday 10 November 2026, at 2pm
Where: Hosted and streamed live from Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh. Schools and young people can join online, with a joining link sent to registered schools before the event.
Presenters: Julia Bradbury and Gemma Hunt
Created in collaboration with: British Antarctic Survey
Who can attend: Primarily aimed at pupils aged 7–11, but open to learners of all stages
Registration: Sign-ups must be completed by a teacher or school staff member aged 18 or over. This event is for schools only.
Schools are encouraged to take part in this free opportunity to bring Antarctica into the classroom and inspire the next generation to discover, value and care for the natural world.
