Muslims Support Disadvantaged Young People Through Volunteering

In Islam, the concept of charity, known as Sadaqah, refers to voluntary acts of kindness meant to seek blessings, purify wealth, and demonstrate compassion for the needy.

Sadaqah can take various forms, including giving money, donating goods, providing services, volunteering, and offering assistance. Therefore, Sadaqah holds significant importance in the faith.

Volunteering as a Form of Sadaqah

Volunteering is a charitable act through which people offer their time, skills, or resources to improve the lives of others without expecting any material gain. While not explicitly mentioned as a religious duty, volunteering is highly encouraged in Islam as a form of charitable action and a means of fulfilling one’s moral and social responsibilities.

Muslims are encouraged to volunteer their time and resources to help those in need, regardless of the beneficiaries’ background. Volunteering can take various forms, such as providing assistance, donating goods, offering services, or actively participating in community projects and initiatives.

Muslims are encouraged to engage in voluntary acts of charity beyond the obligatory Zakat, which is believed to have immense spiritual rewards. Volunteering in Islam is seen as a way to put one’s faith into action and embody the values of compassion, justice, and service. It is considered an opportunity to serve humanity, contribute to the well-being of society, and earn rewards from Allah.

Why Volunteer as a Tutor

Tutors provide additional academic support to young people to help them perform better in school. Tutoring is a tangible and effective intervention to help pupils progress academically, realise their full potential, and increase their life chances. 

An Economic Endowment Fund research indicates that tuition can add as much as five months’ progress to a young person’s schooling. But the reality is that many low-income families cannot afford private tuition, creating a gap that Action Tutoring is trying to close.

Action Tutoring is an education charity that engages volunteers to provide high-quality, structured English and maths tutoring to disadvantaged children who cannot afford the cost of private tuition. 

Volunteers support underperforming pupils through either in-person or online tutoring for one hour a week to increase their subject knowledge, confidence, and learning skills. The charity works in partnership with state schools across England and the majority of pupils supported are eligible for Free School Meals.

Benefits of Volunteering

Islamic teachings emphasise the importance of nurturing and guiding the younger generation. Muslims believe in the concept of community and collective responsibility, where everyone has a role to play in ensuring the well-being and development of society as a whole. Volunteering to support young people aligns with this principle and allows Muslims to contribute positively to their community.

Investing in the education, well-being, and character development of young people is considered an act of sadaqah jariyah (ongoing charity) in Islam. By imparting knowledge, skills, and positive values to the youth, we can have a lasting impact on their lives and contribute to their future success.

Young people are the future leaders, innovators, and contributors to society. Empowering young people through mentorship, education, and guidance can lead to a more prosperous and harmonious society.

Islam places a strong emphasis on justice and social equity. Unfortunately, many young people face various challenges, including poverty, lack of access to education, discrimination, and social exclusion. By volunteering to support young people, we can help address these inequalities and work towards a more just society where all individuals have equal opportunities to thrive.

The Impact of Tutoring Support

Action Tutoring’s data shows that pupils who also attended tutoring sessions in Year 10 were 27% more likely to pass their maths GCSE at the end of Year 11 than others who did not receive Action Tutoring’s support.

Independent evaluation of the National Tutoring Programme for the year 2020–21 also shows that pupils who attended a higher number of tutoring sessions were associated with better scores in English in primary schools and better grades for Year 11s in maths and English.

Building a Better Future

As a volunteer, you play a significant role in shaping the outcome of young people. We partner with schools with a diverse pupil population in communities where access to high-quality tutoring may be limited.

It is important that we work with tutors from different backgrounds to reflect the diversity of the communities we work within. For instance, our tutoring programme in Ladypool Primary, Birmingham, supports a high number of Muslim pupils to help them achieve academically.

Volunteer tutors support pupils for at least one hour each week. Action Tutoring provides training and resources to help tutors to provide the needed support. No previous teaching experience is required.

By investing in the well-being and development of children through tutoring, we can play an active role in shaping a brighter future for generations to come.

Interested in volunteering?

Join us to make more impact as a volunteer.

We will provide all the support and training to enable you to help underperforming pupils who need it the most.