Community
London (Somali diaspora)
London holds 62.4% of the 176,645 people in England and Wales who identified as Somali in Census 2021, about 110,000 people (derived from the ONS share).
Who lives there
London holds 62.4% of the 176,645 people in England and Wales who identified as Somali in Census 2021, about 110,000 people (derived from the ONS share). Brent alone holds 6.6% of all Somalis in England and Wales, about 11,700 (derived) ONS Census 2021. Nationally 48.2% are under 21; 43.1% were born in Somalia and 43.5% in England ONS.
Work and money
National Somali figures, ages 16 to 64: 34.1% employed, 8.5% self-employed, 10.3% unemployed, 47.1% inactive (21.7% are students). 72.0% rent social housing, 58.8% are overcrowded, 1.7% own with a mortgage. 40.7% of those aged 30+ have no qualifications ONS. In Tower Hamlets the Somali economic activity rate was 47% against 67% for all residents, and 63% of Somali council tenancies were in rent arrears Task Force.
Who serves the community
Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority; 32 borough councils (housing, schools, social care); Jobcentre Plus; NHS GPs; the Metropolitan Police. Community groups named by Tower Hamlets: Ocean Somali Community Association, Raaxo, Urban Adventure Space, Women's Health and Family Services Task Force. No armed-group presence. UK law bans any funds to al-Shabaab (proscribed group).
What the community faces now
- Census 2021: more than half of Somali households overcrowded; nearly three in four in social housing ONS.
- 2015 to 2018: Tower Hamlets grants to Somali-led groups fell 65%; online housing bidding hard to use; Somali pupils excluded more often; few Somali staff in services Task Force.
- Same report: lonely women, khat use, young men in the justice system.
Top needs
- Paid work and skills (here and at home). 2. A trusted, transparent way to send help home. 3. Youth futures and identity (exclusions, justice system). 4. Women's and elders' isolation; memory being lost. 5. Records and documents for families.
Sources
- ONS Census 2021 · ons.gov.uk
- Task Force · towerhamlets.gov.uk
Gathered in our research record “Community profiles”. Wikipedia is used only as a backup.
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