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Nour

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Our Story,
Mission & Values

Our Story

Nour was born from a simple but powerful recognition: survivors from minoritised communities were being failed by the community and services.

In 2011, two Muslim women who were university students noticed something troubling. The assumptions made about who experiences abuse and the narratives around abuse in minoritised communities were impacting the ability of survivors to come forward. If survivors do not feel that support services will understand their culture, faith, family dynamics and pressures, they are less likely to ask for help

They saw women staying silent, not because they didn’t want help, but because they feared they wouldn’t be understood. So they created Nour.

Nour : is an Arabic word meaning ‘light’. For survivors of abuse, the experience can feel like being in the dark, alone, disconnected, unsure where to turn. We exist as a healing light, to illuminate pathways beyond trauma and abuse

What started as two students with a vision has grown into an organisation led by and for women from minoritised communities, bringing together lived experience, professional expertise, and deep cultural understanding.

Our Mission

We exist as a healing light, illuminating pathways beyond trauma and abuse.

We walk alongside adult survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and childhood abuse, offering free, confidential support that is both trauma-responsive and culturally attuned. While we have specialist expertise in supporting people from Muslim and other minoritised communities, our services welcome all adult survivors across the UK.

But our mission reaches beyond individual healing. We’re committed to transforming the systems and narratives that enable abuse to happen. We educate communities, challenge harmful beliefs, work with faith and community leaders, and campaign for a world where violence against women and girls becomes unthinkable.

Because you deserve support now. And future generations deserve a world where abuse doesn't happen in the first place.

Our mission is rooted in social justice and anti-oppressive principles. We don’t just help survivors navigate unjust systems, we actively work to change those systems. We stand against racism, Islamophobia, poverty, discrimination, and all forms of oppression that compound the trauma of abuse.

We believe in communities free from violence, where everyone can live with dignity, safety, and hope.

Our Values: How We Work Every Day

Deeply Relational

We believe in the power of human connection. Abuse isolates. We reconnect. Our approach is about building genuine, trusting relationships. You’re not a case number, you’re a person deserving of authentic connection and care.

Trauma-Responsive

We understand these ripples. We go at your pace, with deep compassion, recognising that some days are harder than others. We guide you with how to navigate the trauma, and to find what works for your own healing journey.

Culturally Attuned

We don’t just tolerate difference, we value it. We understand that your culture, faith and identity aren’t obstacles to healing. They’re part of who you are. You shouldn’t have to exhaust yourself explaining your background before you can talk about your trauma.

Always Compassionate

Compassion isn’t something we aim for, it’s woven into everything we do. Empathy, warmth and understanding are at the very core of how we work with you

Collaborative

Your voice matters. We work with you, not for you. We learn from your lived experience to shape our services and support.

Anti-Oppressive

We recognise that abuse doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Racism, poverty, discrimination and systemic inequality all play a part. We actively challenge these oppressive systems in our work and stand against all forms of injustice.

Committed to Social Justice

We don’t just focus on individual healing. We work toward a vision of communities free from violence, where everyone can live with dignity and safety.