The MCB team was delighted to visit Muslim communities and long-standing affiliates in West-Yorkshire, on the hottest days in the UK. The purpose of these engagements was to get a better understanding of the work that is happening locally, strengthen relationships, and gain feedback that can help support the development of the MCB strategy moving forward.
The team was delighted to meet the management team at Shipley Islamic and Education centre, with thanks to NC member Br Goyas Khan for facilitating the meeting. We learned of the work the Mosque was doing to increase outreach with wider communities and provide space for women and young people. We also got to see their andalusian-style garden.
It was a real pleasure to meet with Dr Nabeel Al-Ramadhani, CEO of the Human Relief Foundation, and founding member of the MCB. Dr Nabeel shared his reflections on the growing need for Muslim communities is to create long-term and sustainable planning, especially to better support young people. He shared the work of HRF in building homes and providing urgent relief to those in need across the world. Dr Nabeel is also the chairman of Doha mosque, showed us the football pitch the mosque had created for young people.
Secretary General, Zara Mohammed and ASG, Dr Shahzad Amin met with the Council for Mosques Bradford, Chair – Cllr Imran Khan and fellow board members. The meeting was hosted at the City Hall with Council Leader, Susan Hinchcliffe. It was excellent to learn how the organisation had facilitated community partnership to ensure swift burials and the opportunities planned ahead with #Bradford CityOfCulture award. We look forward to working together on initiatives on safeguarding and sharing good practice for mosques.
SG Zara enjoyed a visit to Feversham High School, meeting the teaching team and learning more about this centre for learning and excellence. The SG has a special session with the school year 10 & 11 girls on being a young leader and dealing with issues of confidence. We thank the school for great visit and wish the young people success with their exams.
Among other visits, we met with Sharing Voices mental health charity that shared their work in creating more awareness and support for sevices in Mosques, as well as delivering key training. We joined the Mercy Mission team at Bradford University to share a session with refugee entrepenuers on leadeship, We met with the CEO and Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Bradford college. It was interested to learn some of the challenges young people feel in attaining apprenticeships and concern of islamophobia.
Appendix
- Bradford Council for Mosques
- Shipley Mosque/Queens road Bradford
- Human Relief Foundation / Doha Mosque
- Dar Ul Qumma (new mosque)
- Bradford college
- Markaz
- Bradford Grand Mosque
- Feversham School
- Sharing Voices – mental health charity
- Mercy Mission – Refugee session
- Leeds Grand Mosque