The Next Level Growth Lab
Building Stronger Organisations for Stronger Communities
British Muslim institutions are at the heart of our communities. They provide vital services, preserve our identity, and shape the next generation. But to truly fulfil that potential, our organisations need to be well governed, resilient, and built to last.
That is why the Muslim Council of Britain, as part of its Vision 2050, is committed to investing in the people and organisations that make our community thrive. The Next Level Growth Lab is one of the most tangible expressions of that commitment, a national capacity building programme designed to raise the bar for Muslim institutions across the UK.
What is the Next Level Growth Lab?
The Next Level Growth Lab is a hands-on capacity building roadshow, travelling to communities across the country to deliver practical, expert led workshops that make a real and lasting difference.
Whether you lead a mosque, run a community organisation, or sit on a trustee board, this programme is designed for you. We believe that when our institutions are strong, our entire community is stronger.
You will leave equipped to:
- Strengthen the skills and confidence of your organisation
- Improve your governance and safeguarding practices
- Build long term sustainability so your work can keep growing, and
- Deliver even higher quality services to the people who depend on you.
Workshop Programme
Each event will begin with a 1 hour practical safeguarding session designed for all organisations. This will go beyond theory and include a simulation exercise to help identify safeguarding gaps within organisations. Participants will leave with practical tools and an action plan to strengthen safeguarding within their institutions. The workshop you select will be 2 hours, it will be engaging and practical.
An Investment Worth Making
Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, we have been able to make the Next Level Growth Lab accessible to as many organisations as possible. General admission is just £20 per workshop, which includes a free one-hour safeguarding session as part of the programme.
*We believe cost should never be a barrier to building a stronger community. If you are finding it difficult to make the payment and would like to attend, please get in touch with us at [email protected] to discuss a subsidised place.
**MCB affiliates receive an exclusive discounted rate of £10 per workshop.
Birmingham | Sunday 7th June | 10.30am – 2pm
Heal with Knowledge. Respond with Faith. Support with Compassion.
Trauma is all around us — but how do we understand and respond to it through both a psychological and Islamic lens? This workshop brings together clinical insight and prophetic wisdom to equip you with practical, faith-sensitive tools for the people you serve.
You will walk away with: A clear understanding of key trauma definitions including PTSD and fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses, knowledge of how trauma affects the brain, body, emotions, and behaviour, and a faith-sensitive, practical approach to trauma response — including grounding techniques and Islamic perspectives on healing.
Perfect for: Qualified therapists, counsellors, and mental health professionals, as well as wider professionals across all sectors who work with people affected by trauma.
Inspirited Minds A UK Muslim mental health charity providing faith-sensitive and culturally sensitive support, training, workshops, events, and resources. Inspirited Minds works to improve awareness, reduce stigma, and increase access to mental health support across Muslim communities nationwide.
Powered by: Inspirited Minds
Birmingham | Sunday 7th June | 10.30am – 2pm
Build for Today. Endure for Generations. Give Once. Impact Forever. Secure Your Mosque’s Future through Waqf.
Mosques and community organisations are the backbone of Muslim life in Britain — but too many are one fundraiser away from crisis. This workshop reintroduces one of Islam’s most powerful tools for lasting impact and shows you exactly how to apply it today.
You will walk away with: A foundational understanding of waqf and its relevance for mosques and community organisations in the UK today, practical models and approaches to establishing or supporting waqf for long-term sustainability, and clear insight into governance, partnership opportunities, and your next steps for working with National Waqf.
Perfect for: Mosque trustees, charity leaders, community group representatives, and third sector organisations seeking to strengthen governance, financial sustainability, and long-term community impact.
Practitioners: Wahid Azizi — Trustee & Head of Investments, National Waqf
(London & Birmingham) A qualified financial adviser, engineer, and Head of Investment at a family office, Wahid brings over a decade of experience in Shariah-compliant investing and public equity markets. He manages investments for several charities, speaks regularly on Islamic finance and governance, and is actively involved in community development — delivering the Sabeel Programme and serving as a khateeb.
Powered by: National Waqf
Birmingham | Sunday 7th June | 10.30am – 2pm
Online | Saturday 13 June | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Stop Missing Out. Start Getting Funded.
Too many brilliant Muslim-led organisations are doing vital work but struggling to access the funding they deserve. This workshop gives you the practical tools and insider knowledge to change that.
You will walk away with: A clear understanding of what it means to be funder-ready and how funders assess organisations, the ability to identify and address key gaps in your governance, structure, and positioning, and a stronger, sharper case for support to improve your chances of funding success.
Perfect for: Community organisations, mosques, and grassroots groups ready to access funding with confidence and secure sustainable income for lasting impact.
Practitioner: Sayed Alkadiri — All Ways Network
Chief Executive of All Ways Network, a national organisation supporting Muslim-led charities and community groups to become funder-ready and access sustainable funding. With senior leadership experience across the non-profit sector, Sayed specialises in strategy, fundraising, and capacity building — helping grassroots organisations strengthen their impact and long-term sustainability.
Powered by: All Ways Network
Birmingham | Sunday 7th June | 10.30am – 2pm
Online | Saturday 13 June | 10:00am – 12:00pm
When the Camera Turns to You — Will You Be Ready?
Every Muslim organisation is one headline away from a crisis. Whether it’s a safeguarding concern, a controversial statement, or a story taken out of context — the media will not wait for you to prepare. This session gives you the tools, strategy, and confidence to take control of the narrative before someone else does.
You will walk away with: A practical crisis communications plan to help you respond quickly and protect your organisation’s reputation, the knowledge to identify and prepare the right spokesperson to deliver clear, controlled messaging under pressure, and hands-on tools to navigate media interviews, shape your narrative, and maximise your impact when it matters most.
Perfect for: Anyone with a public-facing role in a Muslim organisation — including leaders, communications leads, spokespeople, and volunteers — who wants to be better prepared to handle media scrutiny and protect their organisation’s reputation.
Let’s make sure our story is told on our terms.
Practitioner: Rizwana Hamid — Centre for Media Monitoring
Director and Advocacy Lead of the Centre for Media Monitoring, Rizwana brings over 30 years’ experience as a journalist and filmmaker for the BBC and international broadcasters across News, Current Affairs, Documentaries, and Religious Programming. She now leads CfMM’s work to ensure fair, accurate, and responsible media coverage of Muslims and Islam in the UK — holding outlets to account and challenging bias at the highest level.
Powered by: Centre for Media Monitoring
Online | Saturday 13 June | 10:00am – 12:00pm
The Shahada Is Just the Beginning. What Comes Next?
Every year, thousands of people embrace Islam in the UK — and too many of them are left to navigate that journey alone. The welcome is warm, but the systems are often missing. Mental health, relationships, belonging, family breakdown, isolation — these are the realities many converts and reverts face, and our communities must be ready to respond.
You will walk away with: A clear understanding of the systems your organisation needs to provide meaningful, joined-up support for converts and reverts, practical examples of good practice you can adapt for your own context, and the tools to contribute to shaping a programme that addresses every dimension of a convert or revert’s experience — from the moment of shahada to the end of life.
Perfect for: Mosque leaders, community organisations, volunteers, and anyone involved in welcoming or supporting converts and reverts to Islam — whether you are just starting out or looking to strengthen what you already offer.
Practitioner: Simon Penfound — Convert Muslim Foundation
CEO of Convert Muslim Foundation and a convert to Islam for over 20 years, Simon brings more than three decades of experience in business development and management consulting. He now channels that expertise into building partnerships, increasing impact, and ensuring CMF’s programmes genuinely meet the needs of those they serve — from the moment of shahada to the end of life.
Powered by: Convert Muslim Foundation
