Acting as advisor and supervisor of the research, Dr Samantha May partnered with the Muslim Charity Forum to produce a report which picks up on aspects of her previous research the link between Muslim charities and national security, as well as the link between these charities and neoliberalism.
The report focuses on the disproportionate negative effects of banks de-risking policies on Muslim-led charities in the UK. De-risking by banks is a result of two separate but intertwining effects of financial counter-terror policies and the 2008 financial crisis. The impacts on Muslim-led charities are multiple but include: financial exclusions; increased insecurity; diversion of resources; delayed transfer of funds; and the loss of life as receivers of humanitarian aid are denied or delayed vital life-sustaining resources.
In line with the University of Aberdeen’s goals of inclusion and powering change for better lives, the report aims to bring awareness of the negative and disproportionate impacts of diverse policies on Muslim-led charities and offers tangible recommendations to mitigate against harm to charities, donors and end recipients for social justice and humanitarian goals. Dr May's work with the Muslim Charity Forum is aligned with the School of Social Science's goal of creating concrete positive impact beyond academia and amplifying the voices of minority communities within the UK.
Dr May recently discussed the report on an episode of the podcast “Community Policy.” Listen to it here.