Lessons from West Bowling Youth Initiative: Then, now and the future

This report focuses on identifying ‘what works’ in engaging young British Muslim Pakistani men. There is a great deal of media and policy attention given to Muslim communities in Britain. Yet the debates about community cohesion, citizenship and belonging within policy often fail to address the complexities of male Muslim identities and their everyday experiences. Lessons from West Bowling Youth Initiative addresses this, through an in-depth exploration of the work of one grassroots organisation located in West Bowling, Bradford. The report highlights: the impact made by the WBYI in building social capital, developing active citizenship, encouraging participation in neighbourhood life and increasing awareness; the need for sustainability and flexibility in effective engagement with young British Muslim Pakistani men; the importance of building trusting relationships with local communities; the effectiveness of capitalising on local talent and local networks for meeting community needs; the potential of creative arts informed project work.