MEET THE TEAM
Mohsin Hashmi
Director & Co Founder
Mohsin helped set up The Lantern Initiative in 2015 and is involved with coordinating retreats and events. He is currently completing his Masters in Religion and Education with his thesis focussing on mental health amongst adolescents, and is also studying the Arabic language at the Arabica Institute.
Mohsin is a Tutor for Quran and Islamic Studies, and has been working on various educational projects with Islamic Home Tuition (IHT) over the last several years. He began his Islamic studies in 2007 with Shaykh Samir an-Nass in the UK and has since studied the sciences with a number of scholars.
Director & Co Founder
Mohsin helped set up The Lantern Initiative in 2015 and is involved with coordinating retreats and events. He is currently completing his Masters in Religion and Education with his thesis focussing on mental health amongst adolescents, and is also studying the Arabic language at the Arabica Institute.
Mohsin is a Tutor for Quran and Islamic Studies, and has been working on various educational projects with Islamic Home Tuition (IHT) over the last several years. He began his Islamic studies in 2007 with Shaykh Samir an-Nass in the UK and has since studied the sciences with a number of scholars.
Safura Houghton
Managing Director & Co Founder
Safura helped set up The Lantern Initiative in 2015 and leads the team on the various ongoing projects as well as coordinating our perinatal mental health support services for women. She is a Chaplain for HM Prison service, providing Spiritual Counselling and Pastoral Care.
Hana Sayeed
Director
Hana aka “Malika Speaks” is a Spoken Word artist who uses her platform to create awareness around mental health. She has a degree in International Politics and is pursuing her career as a social researcher.
She is passionate about using the power of communication and expression in helping people heal within themselves and build bridges with each other. Hana supports us with organising and hosting events.
Director
Hana aka “Malika Speaks” is a Spoken Word artist who uses her platform to create awareness around mental health. She has a degree in International Politics and is pursuing her career as a social researcher.
She is passionate about using the power of communication and expression in helping people heal within themselves and build bridges with each other. Hana supports us with organising and hosting events.
Zainab Ahmed
Community Engagement
Zainab studied Psychology at the University of Manchester. She is incredibly passionate about mental health and wellbeing, and during her final study year she trained to become a peer mentor with the charity Mind. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing and going for walks.
Zainab supports us with event management and facilitates our drop in sessions. She is also Community Engagement Lead for our NHS-funded projects.
Community Engagement
Zainab studied Psychology at the University of Manchester. She is incredibly passionate about mental health and wellbeing, and during her final study year she trained to become a peer mentor with the charity Mind. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing and going for walks.
Zainab supports us with event management and facilitates our drop in sessions. She is also Community Engagement Lead for our NHS-funded projects.
Masooma Malik
Events & Social Media
Masooma has a degree in English from the University of Nottingham.
She has a keen interest in poetry, literature, and community advocacy. She volunteers with The Lantern Initiative by supporting with events, delivering workshops in schools and working on aspects of our social media.
Events & Social Media
Masooma has a degree in English from the University of Nottingham.
She has a keen interest in poetry, literature, and community advocacy. She volunteers with The Lantern Initiative by supporting with events, delivering workshops in schools and working on aspects of our social media.
Aneesa Kulsoom
Educational Mental Health Practitioner
Aneesa is a qualified Educational Mental Health Practitioner with a BSc in Psychology. She is currently working with the Peterborough Mental Health Support Team (NHS) to improve the wellbeing of children and young people in schools and their families. Aneesa has also worked as a Psychological Wellbeing Telecoach for the NHS First Response Service. Aneesa is passionate about working in the local South Asian and Muslim community to eradicate the stigma surrounding mental illness. She also works in the community to empower individuals to seek support and aid them on their journey to recovery. In her own time, she enjoys reading, gaining knowledge, exploring and spending time with family and friends.
Aneesa supports us with planning and hosting events.
Educational Mental Health Practitioner
Aneesa is a qualified Educational Mental Health Practitioner with a BSc in Psychology. She is currently working with the Peterborough Mental Health Support Team (NHS) to improve the wellbeing of children and young people in schools and their families. Aneesa has also worked as a Psychological Wellbeing Telecoach for the NHS First Response Service. Aneesa is passionate about working in the local South Asian and Muslim community to eradicate the stigma surrounding mental illness. She also works in the community to empower individuals to seek support and aid them on their journey to recovery. In her own time, she enjoys reading, gaining knowledge, exploring and spending time with family and friends.
Aneesa supports us with planning and hosting events.
Dr Aaliyah Shaikh
Research Consultant & Speaker
Aaliyah is an Honorary Research Fellow at City, University of London. She graduated from University of Cambridge with an MEd in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Child and Adolescent) and is a certified clinical trauma therapist with a special interest in attachment and dissociation. She has a PhD in Health Psychology from City, University of London, her thesis explored British Muslims' experiences of the perinatal period. Aaliyah founded and co-leads the decolonising health & psychology research study group in the School of Health & Psychological Sciences. She is a Research Psychologist whose interests include: Muslims’ experiences of mental distress, Islamically rooted psychology, decolonial and Islamically informed research, unseen disabilities and chronic illness, intergenerational trauma, adverse childhood experiences and drawing on the Islamic tradition for healing particularly through the rich stories of the Prophets. Aaliyah has trained in and studied psychodynamic, integrative, trauma informed, and Islamic approaches to therapy and psychology.
Aaliyah Supports our research projects and has spoken at some of our Healing Minds events. She provides specialist advice on various aspects of our work and is also a co author on our landmark report ‘Muslim Mental Health Matters.’
Research Consultant & Speaker
Aaliyah is an Honorary Research Fellow at City, University of London. She graduated from University of Cambridge with an MEd in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Child and Adolescent) and is a certified clinical trauma therapist with a special interest in attachment and dissociation. She has a PhD in Health Psychology from City, University of London, her thesis explored British Muslims' experiences of the perinatal period. Aaliyah founded and co-leads the decolonising health & psychology research study group in the School of Health & Psychological Sciences. She is a Research Psychologist whose interests include: Muslims’ experiences of mental distress, Islamically rooted psychology, decolonial and Islamically informed research, unseen disabilities and chronic illness, intergenerational trauma, adverse childhood experiences and drawing on the Islamic tradition for healing particularly through the rich stories of the Prophets. Aaliyah has trained in and studied psychodynamic, integrative, trauma informed, and Islamic approaches to therapy and psychology.
Aaliyah Supports our research projects and has spoken at some of our Healing Minds events. She provides specialist advice on various aspects of our work and is also a co author on our landmark report ‘Muslim Mental Health Matters.’