When our founder and CEO, Warda Mohamed, arrived in the UK as a refugee from Somalia in the early 1990s with her mother, she embraced the ideals of the 'model minority' while balancing the responsibilities of being the eldest daughter in an immigrant family. Growing up in West London, she was determined to succeed. Through her education, she achieved the dream of many immigrants who come to the UK—finding a job in corporate Britain.
However, the journey wasn’t easy— as she faced persistent sexual harassment, Islamophobia, and racism in the workplace, which ultimately led to a mental health breakdown. In hindsight, Warda realised that several unaddressed childhood traumas got her to that point.
If Warda had accessed therapeutic support at an early age, she would have been able to deal with her issues more effectively. This highlights the preventable nature of childhood trauma and the importance of proactive measures. Every child has the right to support services that can prevent and address these traumas. Warda's story is a powerful testament to the need for these services and the difference they can make in a child's life.
Warda Mohamed - Founder & CEO
After 12 years of working in various roles across different organisations, Warda founded Lasting Support Services with a team of professionals who, like her, had similar lived experiences. Her goal was to make sure that people who grew up like her could navigate complex systems so that their voices were heard.
Our mission is to create better support services that address safeguarding and therapeutic interventions for vulnerable young people, especially when it comes to complex and culturally sensitive issues. Lasting Support Services aims to provide the support the next generation deserves and the guidance they need.
Our mission is to create better support services that address safeguarding and therapeutic interventions for vulnerable young people, especially when it comes to complex and culturally sensitive issues. Lasting Support Services aims to provide the support the next generation deserves and the guidance they need.
What sets our team apart is our diversity and experience. Like Warda, each team member brings their own lived experiences to the table, making them experts in the complex safeguarding issues we address. We unite people from diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and experiences, creating a well-rounded team to assist the most vulnerable and shape policies to improve outcomes for all young people in this unfair and unbalanced world. Your start in this life should not determine its end.
In 2024, we took a significant step forward by launching our charitable foundation. This foundation allows us to offer direct services to children and families, a crucial aspect of our mission. The insights and lessons we learn from our training and sitting on governmental advisory boards directly inform the development of services towards those who need them.
A portion of all our earnings goes toward supporting the foundation, helping it grow, and continuing to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. This foundation is a beacon of hope for the future, ensuring that our work will continue to have a lasting impact.