Practical support. Lasting opportunity.
The Sabbir Karim Foundation supports vulnerable individuals, families and young people across the UK and Bangladesh, providing practical help during difficult times and creating opportunities for a more secure future.
Founded by Sabbir Karim, the Foundation’s work brings together free healthcare, food programmes, cancer patient support, hardship assistance and youth development through grassroots sport.
It also provides one-off interventions to help families break the cycle of poverty and small-scale microfinance support to help individuals start or rebuild sustainable livelihoods.
Our purpose is simple: to turn compassion into action, create opportunity and strengthen communities.
Immediate help can make a difficult situation more manageable.
Lasting support can help someone move forward.
The Foundation works towards both: responding to urgent needs while supporting health, independence and opportunity. This may mean helping a family with essentials, supporting a patient’s treatment costs, enabling someone to rebuild a livelihood or giving a young person the chance to participate in sport.
We provide Ramadan food packages and essential supplies to families experiencing poverty and financial pressure. These programmes help households meet immediate needs during periods of hardship.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, charitable efforts also provided food, PPE, financial assistance and essential support to vulnerable families in Bangladesh.
Unexpected illness, loss of income and financial difficulties can leave families struggling to meet everyday costs.
The Foundation provides targeted financial assistance and one-off interventions designed to address immediate difficulties and help families move towards greater stability.
Small-scale microfinance support helps individuals start or rebuild income-generating activities, with the aim of strengthening their ability to support themselves and their families.
The Foundation’s work includes support for communities facing emergencies and natural disasters, including flood relief in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Sabbir’s wider charitable efforts have also supported people affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy and NHS staff, frontline workers and vulnerable residents during COVID-19.
A cancer diagnosis can place considerable emotional and financial pressure on a household. The Foundation provides financial assistance to patients and families facing the costs of illness, treatment and everyday living.
The Foundation funds free medical camps, consultations and medicines in Bangladesh through the SN Free Primary Health Care Trust, helping disadvantaged patients access essential primary care.
We support football, cricket and grassroots sporting initiatives that encourage healthy lifestyles, teamwork, discipline and confidence.
Our involvement includes tournament sponsorship, sports kits and support for young players and referees. By creating opportunities to participate, these initiatives strengthen community connections and offer positive activities for young people.
Supporting patients who might otherwise go without care
The SN Free Primary Health Care Trust was established in March 2023 as an initiative of the Sabbir Karim Foundation in Ekatuna, Maulvibazar, Bangladesh.
Funded by the Foundation, its free treatment centre and community medical camps provide:
Free clinic on the 16th of every month, alongside outreach camps serving surrounding communities.
Building confidence, belonging and opportunity
For more than six years, Sabbir has supported youth development through cricket, football and community sport, with a particular focus on Maulvibazar.
This work encourages participation and healthy lifestyles while helping young people develop skills, friendships and a sense of responsibility. It aims to provide constructive alternatives to involvement in crime, drugs and antisocial behaviour.
Support includes involvement with the Cricket Players Association of 6 No. Ekatuna Union (CPA-U6) and title sponsorship of its Mega T-20 Cricket Tournament.
These events bring players, organisers and supporters together, providing a platform for local talent and encouraging community participation.
Sabbir’s involvement includes his role as Patron of Sylhet United Football Club, alongside support for local football competitions, including the BAFFU Cup.
Assistance for sports kits, young players and referees helps sustain the people and resources that grassroots sport depends on.
Sabbir has also supported the Ekatuna Union stadium initiative, a sports infrastructure project with a stated overall value of BDT 5 crore.
The project aims to create lasting facilities for youth sport and wider community use.
Support also covers tournaments, grassroots clubs and longer-term community sporting infrastructure.
Making a difference in the UK and Bangladesh
These figures reflect the work of the Sabbir Karim Foundation alongside Sabbir Karim’s wider charitable, humanitarian and community initiatives. They cover different programmes and periods; some beneficiaries may overlap.
| Area | Impact |
|---|---|
| Community service | More than 30 years of charitable, humanitarian and community involvement by Sabbir Karim. |
| Free healthcare | 7,535+ people reached through healthcare programmes in Bangladesh. |
| Medical camps | 43 free medical camps delivered through the SN Free Primary Health Care Trust. |
| Regular healthcare access | A free clinic held on the 16th of every month. |
| Youth and community development | 5,210+ young people and community members reached through sport and community initiatives. |
| Sustained sports support | More than six years of support for cricket, football and grassroots participation. |
| Kits, players and referees | 200+ sports kits, referees and young players supported. |
| (UK) NHS and frontline meals | 1,000+ meals provided during COVID-19, including support for staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital and UCL Hospitals. |
| (UK) Grenfell response | Around 400 people supported with food, essential supplies and practical assistance, including affected residents, families and emergency responders. |
| Hardship assistance | 500+ individuals and families supported through financial assistance and initiatives encouraging greater independence. |
Alongside the Foundation’s programmes, Sabbir’s wider charitable work has included support for organisations such as Anna Freud, Hopscotch Women’s Centre and Action Against Hunger.
These activities reflect a continuing commitment to people facing hardship, bringing together personal involvement, fundraising and community support.
Help create the next opportunity
Your support can help provide food for a family, fund a patient’s medical care, support a livelihood or give a young person the opportunity to take part in sport.
Contribute towards healthcare, food programmes, hardship assistance or youth development.
Help sustain a medical camp, community programme or grassroots sporting event.
Work with us to respond to local needs and extend practical support to more people.
Visit the Sabbir Karim Foundation website to find out more and get involved.