At St Mungo’s, we recognise the importance of Ramadan for our Muslim clients and colleagues. The recently concluded holy month is a time of fasting, reflection, and community, but it can also bring challenges for people experiencing homelessness. That’s why we take thoughtful steps to ensure our services are inclusive, supportive, and responsive to the needs of those observing Ramadan each year. This article explores how we support Muslim clients and colleagues during Ramadan.
Providing nutritious meals for Iftar and Suhoor
Fasting from dawn until sunset means that access to suitable food at the right times is essential. Some of our services receive food donations that include halal meals, and during Ramadan, we adjust meal schedules to ensure clients have access to food after fasting at sunset (Iftar).
Supporting colleagues observing Ramadan
Many of our Muslim colleagues also observed Ramadan, and we strived to create a workplace to support this :
- Offering flexible working arrangements where possible.
- Providing prayer spaces where feasible.
- Avoiding scheduling key meetings or events at times that clash with Iftar.
- Removing communal food from shared spaces out of respect for those fasting.
A colleague Yewande, when asked about her experience working as a colleague observing Ramadan, said:
What is your experience working as a colleague observing Ramadan? Have any adjustments been made, such as flexible working hours or additional break allowances?
My experience working while observing Ramadan has been overwhelmingly positive, thanks to the understanding and support from my colleagues. There’s been a noticeable effort to ensure workloads are distributed thoughtfully, preventing anyone from feeling overwhelmed during fasting hours.
One of the most helpful adjustments has been the introduction of flexible break times. This allows staff to split their breaks, making it easier to rest or align time off with Iftar, (the meal that breaks the fast). Additionally, the service I work in offers flexibility with start and finish times, allowing those observing Ramadan to adjust their schedules. While I haven’t personally needed to use this option, I appreciate the thoughtfulness behind it. It’s encouraging to see how small, considerate adjustments can create a more supportive environment, helping everyone feel valued especially during such an important time.
One of our frontline workers also shared his experience during the fasting:
How have you found working during Ramadan? Have you had any adjustments made to your work to support you?
I’ve had a lovely experience fasting during Ramadan while working at St Mungo’s. It’s a part of my life, and I’ve learned to integrate it into my work. In terms of religious inclusivity, one important aspect of my Muslim life is the need for prayer (salah), which requires a designated space. When I first joined the team, there wasn’t a dedicated space available. However, accommodation was made by putting up a sign in one of the assessment rooms for dual use, both for assessments and prayers.
How can St Mungo’s improve its approach to religious inclusivity, not just for Ramadan but year-round.
As for how St Mungo’s can improve its approach to religious inclusivity, I think it would be helpful to provide clear communication and understanding around flexible working arrangements during periods like Ramadan (if incorporated).
Additionally, ensuring that spaces for prayer are consistently available year-round across the different services (as was the case at the head office, which I found useful during my training there) would be a great step forward.
Creating inclusive and supportive environments
For many Muslim clients, Ramadan is about more than just fasting—it’s a time for prayer, reflection, and connection. We work to ensure our accommodation and support services are as accommodating as possible.
We spoke with Becky, a service manager at one of our assessment hubs about the support they were offering to clients:
How does your service support Muslim clients during Ramadan, especially those who are fasting? Do you offer any guidance or resources to help clients observe Ramadan while experiencing homelessness?
As a fast-paced, rapid move on service we encourage clients to go on viewings and attend assessments regularly as is the nature of how we work. However, it’s important we have an awareness of clients of the Islamic faith and those observing Ramadan and fasting during this time. This is a team effort, and the team ensure that all staff are aware of clients who observe the Islamic faith so that we can amend our ways of working. The team will check the time suitability of an assessment or viewing and work as flexibly as possible. Sometimes, staff will mention times of the day when certain clients have expressed, they’re better positioned to join for meetings or key working sessions, and we’ll always do our best to support this.
This year, we also provided dates on our reception. These were placed out just before Iftar for clients to take away ready to consume when they break their fast. We obtained the Ramadan prayer timetable from our local Islamic Centre noting what time clients would be breaking their fast. The team printed & laminated the prayer timetable and placed this on reception – this was not only as reference for the clients observing Ramadan, but to also educate other clients and staff. We also provided some simplified information about Ramadan to provide a little insight into the Islamic faith, such as learning about the significance of offering dates during this time.
We also put up Ramadan (and later, Eid) decorations in the reception area which are visible just as you come into the front entrance to the hub. This was to show and raise awareness and to display our respect for the Islamic faith – we felt this was especially important for someone new coming into the hub, who may be mid-fasting and may be concerned about how they would practice or be welcomed at our service.
How do you handle situations where a client’s health or well-being might be at risk due to fasting?
We are a 24-hour service, and our handover system between shifts is smooth so any concerns about any clients would ideally be raised and shared early on. We also understand that adults make their own decisions around how they choose to respect their faith, and how they engage with Ramadan. However, if we were concerned about someone we would be sure to speak to them, encourage that they visit their GP. Finally, we would also try to prioritise something suitable for them when food donations come in – ensuring that there is something suitable that is ready for a client to eat immediately they are able to break their fast (including the dates!).
Are there specific challenges your team faces in supporting Muslim clients during Ramadan? How have you addressed them?
The team manage it very well. The team is very aware of our clients and also of our move-on targets as a rapid move on service. As a manager, it’s important to reiterate to the team that in these circumstances we can find ways to be a little more flexible such as scheduling meetings or appointments at a time when a client can meaningfully engage.
We always champion inclusivity in Mungo’s, and I’m fortunate to be part of a team that mirrors this very naturally.
As for our Muslim colleagues, where possible we try to be flexible with a staff member’s work schedule; considering work time and breaking fast. If a staff member wants to make an adjustment with their break time or start and finish time, we pay attention to that and factor in where we can. We also check in with them regularly to ensure that they are doing okay. These are our own little ways of supporting our colleagues as much as we support our clients.
A sector-wide approach to best practice
We are always looking to improve our approach and learn from others in the homelessness sector. Some organisations have implemented additional initiatives, such as offering specific Ramadan training for staff or partnering with local mosques to provide more direct support. By engaging in sector-wide conversations, we ensure we’re offering the best possible care to our clients.
Balancing inclusion and addressing challenges
While we celebrate diversity and inclusion, we also acknowledge the challenges that come with addressing race-related hate online and in person. St Mungo’s is committed to tackling discrimination and fostering an inclusive environment where all clients feel safe and respected. Alongside sharing positive stories of inclusion, we are actively working on broader strategies to challenge hate and misinformation.
Building awareness and community support
By increasing internal awareness of how different services support clients during Ramadan, we can continue to improve. We regularly gather feedback from staff and clients, ensuring our approach remains thoughtful and effective.
Ramadan is a time of compassion, community, and resilience. At St Mungo’s, we are proud to support our Muslim clients and colleagues, ensuring that they feel respected, included, and cared for throughout the holy month.
Would you like to learn more about how we support our clients? Visit our website to explore our work and find out how you can get involved. You can also read more about us here.
