MCB Affiliates

The MCB is ever-ready and enthusiastic to work with any organisation on matters of common concern. Naturally, we would encourage joining MCB as a member to ensure they have a voice within MCB and cement the relationship of mutual enrichment. Nevertheless, the MCB understands that some organisations are unable or cannot afford to join. The MCB Membership Committee is responsible for working to increase the number of members, particularly from under-represented communities. Britain is a unique melting pot for Muslims coming from diverse cultures and backgrounds. The MCB’s vision has never been to duplicate, supplant or belittle existing work or to seek to become the sole rallying point, thus reducing the wealth and diversity of the community to a single national body. It endeavours to promote good practice throughout the community and coordinate work where it can add the most value.

No. Member organisations remain independent entities, but gain a voice on how the MCB is run and can take advantage of the membership benefits. Member organisations abide by their own constitution (or standing orders or bye-laws), and where appropriate, any regulatory frameworks e.g. Charity Commission, Community Interest Company (CIC) etc. Therefore, MCB does not dictate how member organisations run their own affairs. In fact, the opposite is true – being a member gives your organisation and its leadership team a voice in MCB’s internal structures and policy-making, meaning the MCB leadership team are duty-bound to consider your views when making decisions. Another example is the MCB itself, which prides itself on being an independent entity, but which chooses to be a member of the Religious Education Council, the National Interfaith Network and the Association of Chairs, in order to have a say on how those organisations are run and benefit from their membership benefits.

Membership of the Muslim Council of Britain is open to any UK-based Muslim-led organisation. No organisation is eligible for membership unless its own membership is open to those who profess the Muslim faith. Members are pledged to subscribe to MCB’s ethos of seeking the common good and be of service to all, whether Muslim or from other or no faith backgrounds. There are three membership status – local/specialist, regional and national:

• Local or Specialist – a mosques, Islamic centre, charity, school or professional network or an institution with a specialist expertise or focus.
• Regional – a organisation with represents or has several member bodies in one or more adjacent towns, cities or counties, or an association (e.g. Council of Mosques) operating within a single town, city or county;
• National – an organisation which represents or has several member bodies across the UK;

The MCB defines 12 regional zones and strives to ensure an even distribution of members within each zone

The MCB’s core administrative expenses are funded entirely by affiliation fees from members, as well as donations from individuals and grant-giving organisations. Donations are also received by the MCB Charitable Foundation (MCBCF), an independent entity registered with the Charity Commission. It’s aim it to build a capital fund through which activities of the MCB that are exclusively charitable can be supported. The MCB also runs projects to raise the capability of British Muslim communities and to widen good practice. All MCB projects self-fundraise through sponsorship, donations or grants, and MCB does not have a central ‘pot’ of money to fund internal or externally-led projects.

For almost 20 years, the Muslim Council of Britain published a list of all organisations affiliated to it. However, with the rise of Islamophobia, it has become apparent that these organisations have subsequently become a target of hostility, affecting the very physical security of these organisations and the communities participating. For this reason, we have taken the difficult decisions of discontinuing with this practise. However, the membership list is shared with affiliates themselves at the Muslim Council of Britain's Annual General Meeting and those wishing to become affiliates (after completing due diligence checks).