Lord Sheikh has agreed to be a patron of the READ Foundation. The READ (Rural Education and Development) Foundation is a not-for-profit civil society organisation which implements quality educational and welfare projects, primarily enhancing opportunity and life skills for underprivileged children and orphans in Pakistan. Lord Sheikh spoke at a dinner organised by the READ Foundation asking people to make donations for this worthwhie cause. He made a donation to the charity on the night and urged the attendees to contribute a suitable sum to the Foundation.

Lord Sheikh, who has previously been a visiting university lecturer, strongly expressed the value of education and he emphasised that education is the key to future success. He also appealed to the parents of Muslim children in the UK to take an active interest in their children’s education as he felt that parental involvement is important for the advancement of their children.