Trafford Somali community was formed in 1998 by a
small group of Somalis who settled in the area after they fled from the war tone
Somalia and came to Trafford as refugees and became the first Somali refugees to
settle in Old Trafford in the Borough Council of Trafford.
It was initially knows
as Old Trafford Somali Group and a year later became Trafford Somali Community
Association when the number of members increased significantly not only in Old
Trafford but the whole of the borough.
The
Association was officially launched on 9th November 2001 by the mayor
of Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council in Old Trafford Community Centre in Old
Trafford. It was attended by councillors including the ward councillor Andrea
Jones, Cllr. Michael, and Cllr. Whistenet and some of the council’s senior
staff and The community leaders. During the early stages
of its establishment the community received advice from Mr Bernard Selby the
councils Community Initiative Manager at the time.
The Idea of
starting this community came as a result of the increasing needs and concerns of
the members. They asked for volunteers to start advice sessions and few were
put together as a result. Officials were then elected, the chairman Mr Abdullahi
Shariff, V/Chair Mr Ahmed Shaffi, Secretary Mr. Mohamed A. Mohamed and Treasurer
Mrs Aisha Ismail. The main issues of the community at the time were housing,
translation and interpretation, cultural barriers, Isolation, Marginalisation,
Welfare advice, children under achieving at school due to the difference between
educational and language difference between Somalia and UK.
The time the
community started approximate number of community members were about 60 but the
current membership is approximately 400 of which majority are families.
The
Association has a constitution and all structural components that are required
by the law to make up an association.
