Who We Are

CSO is a national second tier organisation set up for the Somali Voluntary and Community Sectors to assist as an umbrella organisation. It aims to provide a collective voice for the Somali Community in the UK in areas of Health & Wellbeing, Criminal Justice, Education, Poverty Reduction and Economic empowerment. We have over 200 members across the UK, including 40 Somali led Mosques.

We were set up by Somali community leaders in 2010, with the support of City Bridge Trust and Trust for London, to address the specific and varied needs of the Somali diaspora and organisations working with this much misunderstood community.

Our primary aims are to: improve the quality of services provided by member VCOs, through capacity building support, including via training and business surgeries; to provide a true picture of the diverse Somali community, its needs, aspirations and achievements, through publication of research; to influence policy to ensure the voice and interests of Somalis are represented, through campaign and policy work. We also provide leadership training to help address the deficit and to ensure Somalis take up places around decision-making tables, influence policy and laws.