7 March 2018
Programme launched to support upcoming female leaders into trustee and managerial roles
Mosques across the UK are being urged to recruit more women into trustee and managerial roles by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) at an event today on 7 March marking International Women’s Day.
The event sees the launch of the ‘Women in Mosques Development Programme’, a 6-month pilot training and mentoring programme designed to support talented upcoming female leaders navigate their way through the boardrooms of mosques and other third sector organisations.
While many mosques have diverse trustee and management boards, many also have few or no women involved in management, with the MCB office regularly receiving emails of complaints. Moreover, research by the Charity Commission last year also reveals that men outnumber women in all charity trustee boards in general by two to one.
Speaking at the event Harun Khan, MCB Secretary-General, will say, “Whilst the under representation of women in mosque management has been acknowledged for some time, it’s time that more tangible action is taken to ensure women are given equal and fair access in all aspects of mosque life.”
Zara Mohammed, MCB Assistant Secretary General said, “International Women’s Day has now become a reminder of the courage and great achievements of women in the past and present. As MCB we hope to continue supporting our communities to do just this.”
The ‘Women in Mosques Development Programme’ will assign upcoming female leaders with a mentor, arrange visits to best practice mosques and third sector organisations, as well as provide media and Charity Commission training.
“I hope this and other initiatives like it result in more opportunities for women within our societies and organisations,” said Tahira Muhammad from Edinburgh Central Mosque.
Mujidat Mebude, Education Officer from Old Kent Road Mosque said, “My mosque values women and is open to all women from different backgrounds. Mobilising and training young women is vitally important to help develop beneficial services that our mosques provide across the country.”
The ‘Women in Mosques Development Programme’ will run between July and December 2018. Applicants can apply online by 30 April at www.mcb.org.uk/women-in-mosques
This pilot programme is one of a number of initiatives planned by the Muslim Council of Britain in 2018 and beyond to support capacity building of Muslim communities. It will be reviewed following completion and there are plans to launch a similar programme open to men in the near future.
The initiative also comes after the Muslim Council of Britain recently launched ‘Better Mosques: A Community Consultation’ – a nationwide consultation where anyone is welcome to submit their ideas on how mosques can become better in Britain today. To find out more visit www.ourmosquesourfuture.org.uk/consultation
[ENDS]
Notes to Editors:
1. The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK’s largest Muslim umbrella body with over 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and schools.
2. The MCB also recently facilitated the fourth consecutive Visit My Mosque Day in February 2018, which saw over 200 mosques across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland opening their doors to their neighbours of all faiths and none under the theme Open Doors, Open Mosques, Open Communities.
3. Read Harun Khan’s full speech.
4. For further information please contact:
The Muslim Council of Britain
PO Box 57330
London
E1 2WJ
Tel: 0845 26 26 786
Fax: 0207 247 7079
[email protected]
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