About us

Light In The Darkness is a community Interest company (LITD C.I.C.) that seeks to bring light, hope, and succor to society’s downtrodden.

LITD C.I.C is a support organisation set up to support marginalised families in Greater Manchester.

We find vulnerable people in our community who aren’t currently accessing the support that they need. We provide one to one, person-centred family interventions and entirely tailored to the needs of the individual or family. This could include:-

Counselling
Coaching
Helping with daily tasks for those who are overwhelmed
We provide food bank and clothing where required
We provide a culturally appropriate food bank (needed because global majority beneficiaries were often provided with basics that they do not eat) – We are in talks with an African chef to build on this work.
We provide a safe bridge between individuals/families and the statutory service where there are sometimes cultural and other barriers that are often preventing adequate interaction between statutory services and the service user
LITD provides a peer support service to accompany beneficiaries to appointments to smooth the relationship between both parties that will enable the service user to access what they need in an equitable way, without misunderstandings on both sides

We are partnered with a psychologist who works with children and adults.

If the statutory services functioned as intended, our work would not be necessary.

Unfortunately, families and individuals are often only accessing these services when they are in crisis point.

We have been operating since 2017 and know that vulnerable people are often treated differently and unfairly sometimes due to lack of resources but also often due to cultural norms and institutional prejudices within the big health and social care, educational and criminal justice institutions that goes unchallenged.

We have a number of case studies that explain the seriousness of situations where people are unfairly represented or treated which are resulting in real people out there in Manchester who are not attending school because of breakdown of communications following serious incidents that have not been dealt with, children and parents attempting to take their own lives, families who are in grave danger because their home is in such poor condition, young people facing hate crime on a daily basis and not been taken seriously alongside numerous people facing mental health crisis because they are stuck in a system that does not enable progression simply because they are treated as a ‘case’ rather than as a human that needs support across a few sectors but those sectors do not talk to each other resulting in families falling through gaps.

Experience tells us that individuals within these statutory services are reluctant to be faced with evidence of clear breaches of duties of care, so there is no acknowledgment of a problem, animosity into dealing with the root causes of issues and reluctance to collaborate. This is difficult to hear but it is happening on a daily basis and anyone who is seen to be challenging the system is labelled as being ‘difficult’.

The Support

What’s the Need?

LITD CIC works with vulnerable people, largely from Global Majority communities who are experiencing poor mental and physical health due to trauma, oppression and poverty.

They are valued by society by their weaknesses and not their strengths. LITD CIC offers a strength based recovery plan. The strengths and needs of the people we work with is untapped.

These are the most vulnerable people in society, with lived experience of overcoming great challenges but have relapsed. Many of them come from professional backgrounds and have great practical skills to offer. However, these people are oppressed, silenced and have lost their confidence.

The purpose of the project is to aid recovery by tapping into their existing skills that enables them to move forward. However, while doing this, we recognise that they face many challenges and hardships including poverty, oppression, racism and personal and family mental and physical health challenges.

The intended Impact

Reduced social isolation.
Enabling a sense of purpose
Recovery and aspiration raising
Opportunity for the development of skills for employment (where beneficiaries legal status enables them to work)
Development of soft skills for those who aren’t able to work, e.g. punctuality, commitment etc
Celebration of culture
Income generation to sustain support activities through the CIC
For the advocacy work, supporting vulnerable people to navigate systems where they are often not treated equitably

Light In The Darkness (LITD C.I.C.)

Light In The Darkness is a Community Interest Company (LITD C.I.C.) dedicated to bringing light, hope, and support to society’s most vulnerable individuals.

As a support organization based in Greater Manchester, we work with marginalized families and individuals who are struggling to access the help they need. Through tailored, person-centered interventions, we empower those facing hardship by providing practical, emotional, and advocacy support.

Our Approach

We identify and assist individuals and families who are not receiving the vital support they require. Our interventions are completely personalized, ensuring that every service user receives care suited to their unique needs. Our support includes:

Counseling – Professional emotional and psychological support.
Coaching – Helping individuals build confidence and resilience.
Practical Assistance – Supporting those who feel overwhelmed by daily tasks.
Essential Aid – Providing food banks, clothing, and other necessities.
Culturally Appropriate Food Bank – Addressing a gap in traditional food aid services by ensuring that recipients receive familiar and suitable food items. We are currently collaborating with an African chef to expand this initiative.
Bridging the Gap – Acting as a cultural and practical liaison between individuals/families and statutory services, helping overcome barriers to engagement.
Peer Support & Advocacy – Accompanying beneficiaries to important appointments, ensuring their voices are heard and that they receive fair treatment.

We are also partnered with a psychologist who provides specialized support for both children and adults.

Why Our Work Is Essential

In an ideal system, statutory services would function as intended, ensuring that all individuals receive the support they need before reaching a crisis point. However, the reality is starkly different. Many families and individuals only access these services when they are already in extreme distress.

Since our establishment in 2017, we have witnessed firsthand how vulnerable people are often treated unfairly—not only due to a lack of resources but also because of systemic biases and institutional prejudices within healthcare, social services, education, and the criminal justice system. These issues often go unchallenged, leaving those in need without the necessary support.

The Reality on the Ground

We have numerous case studies highlighting the severity of these challenges, including:

Children unable to attend school due to unresolved incidents and communication breakdowns.
Parents and children experiencing suicidal thoughts due to neglect and lack of intervention.
Families living in hazardous housing conditions that put them at grave risk.
Young people subjected to daily hate crimes, yet their experiences are dismissed.
Individuals facing mental health crises, stuck in bureaucratic systems that fail to address their needs holistically.

One of the greatest challenges is that statutory services often resist accountability. Evidence of clear breaches in duty of care is frequently ignored, and there is a reluctance to acknowledge systemic failures. Those who advocate for change are often dismissed as "difficult" rather than being welcomed as partners in finding solutions.

Our Support Model

The Need

LITD C.I.C. primarily works with vulnerable individuals from Global Majority communities who are experiencing poor mental and physical health due to trauma, systemic oppression, and poverty.

Too often, society defines these individuals by their struggles rather than recognizing their strengths. At LITD, we take a strength-based approach to recovery, acknowledging the potential, skills, and resilience of those we support.

Many of our service users have faced extraordinary challenges, yet they possess untapped talents and valuable life experiences. Some come from professional backgrounds and have practical skills to offer, but systemic barriers have left them silenced, oppressed, and lacking confidence.

Our Purpose

Our project aims to aid recovery by helping individuals reconnect with their skills, rebuild their confidence, and move forward in life. However, we recognize that this journey is not easy, as they continue to face barriers such as:

Poverty and financial hardship
Systemic oppression and racism
Mental and physical health challenges (both personal and familial)

Through our holistic approach, we support individuals in overcoming these challenges while empowering them to build a future filled with hope and opportunity.

Intended Impact

Our work is designed to create lasting, meaningful change by:

Reducing social isolation and fostering a sense of belonging.
Restoring a sense of purpose in individuals who have lost hope.
Supporting recovery and raising aspirations for a better future.
Developing employment skills, where legal status permits work.
Enhancing soft skills such as punctuality, commitment, and accountability.
Celebrating culture and embracing diversity within our support network.
Generating income to sustain our community initiatives through the CIC model.
Advocating for fairness, ensuring that vulnerable individuals are treated equitably within statutory services.

At LITD, we believe that every person deserves dignity, support, and the opportunity to thrive. Through our work, we are committed to making that belief a reality.