Working in London since 2020, the charity combines help with immediate costs, advice in Somali and free IT training for single mothers and their families.
Helping Hooyos, which supports single mothers and their children facing financial hardship, was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 2 October 2026, under number 1219892.
Hooyo is the Somali word for mother. The charity works to relieve poverty and advance education among single mothers, their children and others facing hardship, in the UK and in Somalia. It says it supported 604 people in 2025.
The House of Commons Library reports that 41% of children growing up with a single parent in the UK were in relative poverty after housing costs in 2024/25.
Helping Hooyos deals with an immediate crisis and the longer route out of hardship in the same place. A mother facing a funeral bill or a disconnection notice can get help with the cost, alongside advice on housing, utilities and debt, and help with forms and appointments where language is a barrier. Unemployed parents can take free IT training towards the CompTIA A+ qualification, or one-to-one coaching in computer skills, CVs and job searching. Support is available in Somali.
Children from single-parent families can join weekend football and activity sessions. Older and disabled people can get help booking GP and hospital appointments and accessing care.
Helping Hooyos was co-founded in 2020 by Warda Mohamed Hadi and Abdulaziz Isaq, Somali community leaders in London who understand the barriers single mothers in their community face, from language and unfamiliar systems to the stigma of asking for help. Both serve as trustees, alongside Omar Mohamed Hassan.
“Most of the mothers who come to us are dealing with several problems at once. A bill they cannot pay, a letter they cannot read, and no time to look for better work. Helping one problem at a time does not get a family out of hardship. Helping with all of them together can,” said Abdulaziz Isaq, co-founder of Helping Hooyos.
In Somalia, the charity plans to work locally and provide food, essential items and school materials to families headed by single mothers.
Services in the UK are delivered in London and the surrounding area, in community centres and places of worship, with sessions at weekends and flexible times to fit around work and childcare. People can refer themselves, or be referred by local organisations and community networks.
Helping Hooyos is looking to work with organisations supporting families facing hardship in London. Details are at helpinghooyos.org.
Helping Hooyos is a registered charity in England and Wales, number 1219892, registered on 2 October 2026.
