The Salik Project UK - From Addiction to Recovery

My name is Mustafa, and together with a few family members, I’ve founded The Salik Project UK in memory of two people who profoundly shaped our lives.

I have witnessed first hand how addiction and severe mental health issues can devastate families—particularly in South Asian communities. Some homes lack even the most basic essentials—furniture, white goods, or enough food—and the children’s school needs often go unmet. Families pour everything they have into helping—travelling long distances, financially and emotionally exhausted—but despite their efforts, lives are still tragically cut short.

My father, Abdul Hameed Salik, quietly served the Rochdale community in the 1990s with compassion and dignity. This foundation is rooted in both the struggles of those fighting addiction and my father’s passion for service as well as people we have personally lost.

After over a decade of supporting vulnerable individuals and working in the charity sector, I’ve learned this: addiction is tough, and it affects entire families. Behind every person trying to recover is someone else holding the weight—children, siblings, parents, partners, friends—who give everything they have, often while struggling themselves.

In South Asian communities especially, addiction is often hidden behind closed doors. The fear of shame and stigma keeps many families from seeking the support they need, leaving them isolated and without help. We want to change that.

The Salik Project UK exists to support both people in recovery and the families who stand by them. We aim to break down the barriers of stigma by providing safe, culturally sensitive spaces for families to talk, heal, and get the help they need. We also act as a bridge between South Asian communities and mainstream services—raising awareness through education and training, and connecting individuals to essential services that can support their recovery journey.

We offer small, practical grants to individuals in recovery—covering essentials like beds, fridges, food, and school uniforms. Just as importantly, we support those who support someone in recovery—easing their financial and emotional burden so that both they and the person they care for can breathe, reset, and focus on healing.

When the support network is cared for, the person in recovery stands a much better chance of staying on the path.

We’re currently registering as a CIC , and we’re already partnering with local organisations in Rochdale and Greater Manchester. Our diverse team of advisors and directors bring decades of lived and professional experience in community work, and we already have families waiting for our support.

Your donation will help us provide:

Support for children caring for parents in recovery through well-being activities

If we can ease the burden on families in our community, then the pain we’ve endured will not be in vain. This charity is a way to turn our experience as family into something beneficial for families enduring a similar struggle —and we need your help to grow it.

Every donation matters, and all of it will be focused on local, targeted support in partnership with grassroots organisations in the Greater Manchester area.

And if you can’t give right now, please share this message. You might help us reach someone who can.

With gratitude,

The Salik Family

The Salik Project UK