GLASGOW CENTRAL MOSQUE SURVEY

Transcription

1 GLASGOW CENTRAL MOSQUE SURVEY December 2015 In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful I heard the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) say: If Allah puts anyone in the position of authority over the affairs of the Muslims, and he secludes himself [from them], not fulfilling their needs, wants, and poverty, Allah will keep Himself away from him, not fulfilling his need, want and poverty. Abu Maryam al-azdi Introduction In the interests of listening to the people we serve, the management of Glasgow Central Mosque (GCM) decided to create a questionnaire to ascertain the opinions and feelings of the Muslims of Glasgow with a view to improving all aspects of the mosque and strengthening our relationships with worshippers and the greater community. This is the first comprehensive feedback exercise ever undertaken in the almost 30 year history of Glasgow Central Mosque. To this end we produced a survey with the following questions: 1) What are your positive experiences of the mosque? 2) What are your negative experiences of the mosque? 3) How can we improve the mosque facilities? 4) How can we improve the mosque services? 5) Do you feel welcome at the mosque? 6) What do you think the role of Glasgow Central Mosque should be? 7) Do you have any other comments to make? 8) How often do you visit the mosque? 2015 Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 1

2 Responses We also asked responders to tell us their ages and genders as well as asking if they would like to volunteer at the mosque or become a member. The survey was placed online and promoted using facebook, whatsapp, the Glasgow Central Mosque website and various other social media avenues as well as word of mouth in order to maximise its reach. We were overwhelmed with over a hundred responses, 119 to be exact, many with very detailed answers and specific suggestions for how we can improve the mosque, as well as a few thanking us for doing a good job. In contrast to our concerns that the online format may create some selection bias, the responders were in fact from a wide variety of ages and backgrounds as well as an almost equal number of male and female responders Female Male 5 0 Under Figure 1: Number of respondents by age groups Pray occasionally at GCM Pray weekly at GCM Female Male Pray daily at GCM Figure 2: Frequency of respondent s mosque attendance 2015 Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 2

3 Methodology We decided to strip the raw data and group it into three columns: Positives, Negatives and Suggested Improvements, under the following headings based on the high numbers of comments received on each of the following subjects: A) Leadership (Management, Caretakers and Attitudes) B) Prayer services (the Imams, the Prayer Hall, Janaza, Jummah and Eid) C) Mosque building D) Car park facilities E) Wudu and toilet facilities F) Education services (Regular classes, Talks and Events) G) Funeral services H) Social spaces (Friday food, Function Hall and Meetings) I) Marginalised (Poverty Relief, Refugees and the Homeless) J) New Muslims K) Different ability (Disabled) L) Mothers with Young Children M) Elderly N) Children O) Ladies P) Youth Q) Community services R) Communications (Publicity and Promotion) S) Relations (with Public, Community and other Muslims) Once these columns were populated with data we set about organising this into associated subjects and summarising our findings as below, basically turning raw data from the Muslims of Glasgow into an informative, enlightening and eye-opening report. All of the results were analysed in a slow and time consuming process in order to make sure that every single opinion was taken into account. No shortcuts were taken at any stage of the process, which is why it has taken such a long time to compile the report. We also asked the data analysts not to sugar-coat any aspect of the report and as a result it will not make easy reading for some, especially the management itself, but we feel that we have to be true to the responders, and reflect the opinions of the people who really matter, with 100% accuracy. In the interests of moving forward and being true to the Islamic principles of constant evolution and improvement of faults, rather than looking backwards or simply criticising without solution, it was decided that Negative comments would be used to create further suggestions for Improvement Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 3

4 GLASGOW CENTRAL MOSQUE SURVEY YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS A: Leadership (Management, Caretakers and Attitudes) We received a large number of comments relating to the mosque management and the perception of responders to the running of the mosque, the attitudes of its caretakers and staff, and the atmosphere of the mosque itself for visitors. We also received many suggested improvements for consideration. Mosque Staff and Volunteers: i) Need to be professional, considerate, trustworthy, experienced and abide by a code of conduct. ii) Should have interpersonal skills, be able to converse in English and be sensitive when dealing with people who are in difficulty. Their roles should be advertised and interviews held. iii) Need to be clearly visible to visitors; suggestions include ID badges and uniform. iv) The mosque should have a Community Relations Person who can represent the mosque in the wider community. v) The mosque should try to implement an anti-bullying policy. (i - vi, based on 35 comments.) vi) Staff and volunteers should be commended for being helpful (based on 11 comments) and being welcoming (based on 47 comments) and should keep up the good work. The Management Committee should: i) Be congratulated for conducting the first ever feedback survey (based on 12 comments). ii) Be more representative and inclusive, with strong emphasis on the need for females to be members of the management committee and the inclusion of youth and younger members (based on 32 comments) Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 4

5 iii) Include more new management and helpful volunteers to take the mosque forward (based on 27 comments). iv) Demonstrate trust and transparency in how donations are spent, who is being paid a wage and how work is tendered (based on 19 comments). v) Address its management disagreements in private as these are damaging the mosque s reputation (based on 14 comments). vi) Involve the Imams more in the organisation s decision making processes. vii) Enhance accountability by publishing quarterly bulletin newsletters detailing money received and spent. The Mosque Reception should: i) Be manned by staff who are helpful and can speak fluent English. ii) Display an Organisation Chart detailing who s who in the mosque. iii) Have the mosque s Aims and Objectives visible for all to see. iv) Have a clearly detailed Complaints Handling Procedure. v) Have a Suggestion Box. B: Prayer (the Imams, the Prayer Hall, Janaza, Jummah and Eid) This section covers the aspects of the prayer itself: facilities, Imams, timings of prayers and special prayers such as Funerals, Jummah and Eid. The Main Prayer Hall: i) Are good, simple, peaceful and comfortable (based on 32 comments). ii) Are clean (8 comments) but the carpet is worn and should be changed (based on 7 comments). iii) Should have more space for women (based on 5 comments). iv) Are overcrowded on Fridays. v) Should continue to open late and have an open door policy. vi) Suffers from a lack of prayer room etiquettes. vii) Should have bags for shoes. viii) Has a great audio system. The Imams: i) Are great, and helpful (based on 8 comments). ii) Should be more available to help people, it should be easier to arrange a meeting with them, should consider having weekly or monthly open days where people (Muslims and non-muslims) can meet and get to know them and should consider responding to ed questions (based on 10 comments) Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 5

6 iii) Should consider an increase in their number as three are not enough and a Female Shaikh should be made available to answer questions for ladies. iv) Their role should be clarified and they should try to engage more with the community on social issues rather than 'just leading prayers'. v) Must be bilingual. vi) Should try to explain one verse of the Quran or have a short reminder after every prayer. vii) Student Imams should try to retain some humility. Janazah Prayers: i) There should be an explanation to the congregation what they are praying and how they can find out more. ii) Zohar (and Jummah) prayers should finish promptly with no hadith or other longwinded reminders when there is a funeral waiting to take place. Jummah prayers: i) English (and not Urdu) should be the primary language for the Jummah khutbah, as well as for all mosque services, answering phones, posters and literature (based on 28 comments). ii) Jummah prayers don t start on time and run too late which causes problems with people getting back to work (based on 9 comments). iii) The Khutbah is not engaging or relevant enough and misses the real issues and practical message of Islam, e.g. the role of husband and wife, how to find a spouse etc. iv) The management should not be allowed to address the congregation after Jummah until after the duaas as people are in a hurry to leave. Ramadhan / Eid prayers: i) The start of Ramadhan and the day of Eid should be the same in the whole of Glasgow and we should liaise closely with other mosques including Shia mosques when making decisions (based on 8 comments). ii) Should continue to be free iftari and sehri for men and women (based on 7 comments). iii) Tarawee prayers are well organised and 'Second Tarawee prayers' should be continued as they are popular. iv) People should not be dismissed too easily from taking part in Itikaf and perhaps the mosque could consider charging people for participating in Itikaf. v) Multiple Eid times are very popular and should continue Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 6

7 C: Mosque building We received many comments on the Mosque building itself, the grounds, kitchen and other facilities and the atmosphere of the mosque. This is a brief summary of responses. Main Building: i) Is well maintained and has good facilities (based on 21 comments). ii) The No Shoes on Carpet sign is good but doesn t seem to be adhered to and shoes look horrible scattered everywhere. iii) The location of the mosque is excellent but needs to be fully utilised. iv) Recent repairs to the heating and wudu areas have been appreciated. v) Some responders felt that the main reception area was intimidating to enter (5 comments). vi) The mosque heating needs to be cranked up during the winter. vii) The Basement could be tidied up. viii) The Dome of the mosque may require refurbishment. ix) Fire emergency drills could be conducted more regularly. x) A few responders felt that some people seem to take advantage of free facilities. xi) Some suggested inviting local artists and/or calligraphers to help with décor in the prayer hall and elsewhere around the mosque. Atmosphere: i) Most responders felt that the mosque was a Peaceful, Relaxed place. Grounds: i) Most responders felt that the mosque had a nice garden, although some did comment that there should be more green space with an area for kids to play in, or a Picnic area on the grass. Others queried whether a professional gardener should be employed. ii) Responders felt that all smoking on Mosque premises should be banned. iii) Some suggestions for improving the grounds and access were: Car and Pedestrian gates on main road should have a sign where to enter. The side gate should be open at the rear of the mosque in order to make it purely a one way system. A new pedestrian access point from Ballater street, walking along the Function Hall to the mosque. Taking down the wall between the Function Hall and the mosque in the parking lot. Cycle stands. An outdoor bin near south side gate entrance to courtyard 2015 Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 7

8 Function Hall, Community Hall and Kitchens: i) Some responders felt that the Mosque was not fully utilised: ii) iii) iv) the Function Hall should be used for more than just weddings. perhaps hosting regular funding events to finance improvements. having an online or electronic booking system for events in the Hall rather than having to visit the office. Others felt that the Function Hall was not attractive, lacked a decent speaker system, projector, etc. and was too expensive to hire. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to refurbish it and bring it up to newer specifications in order to justify a higher cost. It was also noted that the Kitchen area in the Function Hall needs to be kept cleaner. It was again mentioned that some people seem to be taking advantage of free facilities. It is unclear how true this is but may be worth investigating. D: Car park facilities The Car Parking facilities received an extraordinary amount of comments and seems to be a major bone of contention so it was decided to give this subject its own section in the report. Parking and Exiting: i) The Car Park Team were well thought of on the whole (based on 14 comments) although a couple of responders did complain about car park staff being rude to them. However this seemed to be the exception rather than the rule. ii) Many responders were angry about bad parking by mosque members, double parking, misuse of the disabled area and general bad behaviour in the car park, and wondered whether the mosque needs to be firmer or have punishments in place for this kind of thing (based on 11 comments). iii) There were many recommendations for a true one way system through the mosque to prevent jams, although this would perhaps require improvement of the rear exit (based on 20 comments.) iv) It was also suggested that Traffic Light timing could be extended at certain times (Jummah, Eid) to let people out of the car park quicker. Use of the Car Park and Revenue: i) The majority of responders felt that using the car park to generate revenue for the mosque outside of prayer times was a good idea, but some people felt that 2015 Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 8

9 as a result there was not enough space for Muslims to park for prayers, especially at busy times such as Jummah, funerals or Eid. ii) Some responders felt that the parking area was of an inadequate size and there should be an overflow Parking arrangement nearby, perhaps with a shuttle bus running between the two sites. iii) Others suggested that the mosque build a Multi-storey car park for space and for revenue generation (based on 6 comments). iv) There were a few suggestions that the Mosque should charge everyone for parking. v) Some responders wondered whether the mosque should restrict parking to those with more than two passengers (not including the disabled) to encourage car sharing. vi) It was also noted that sometimes non-muslims get stuck in the car park, especially on Fridays, especially if the car park gate has been closed. A solution should be sought for this. Perhaps there could be more than one exit, or a priority exit for those paying for parking facilities. E: Wudu and toilet facilities The wudu and toilet facilities were obviously very important to most responders due to the requirements for ablutions before prayers. From your comments: i) Although some respondents agreed that the Wudu area was clean (based on 8 comments), the overwhelming majority of responders felt that the wudu and toilet facilities were poor: Too small and overcrowded. Badly designed, especially for an increasing population size. Taps should be modern sensor ones to prevent wastage of water. Lack of notices. Poor hand dryers. No liquid soap. No fans or ventilation. No underfloor heating. No toilet attendant, especially at busy times. Comments were particularly scathing with regards the Ladies wudu area. (Based on 35 comments.) 2015 Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 9

10 F: Education services (Regular classes, Talks and Events) Many responders cited a lack of relevance, variety and availability of educational classes, talks and events hosted by the mosque. These are some of the recommendations: Classes: i) Although many responders were happy with the regular classes on the basics of Islam for kids and adults (based on 11 comments), they also wanted a better variety of subjects and more talks and classes by scholars of different madhabs, on tazkiyah, tafseer, tajweed, group work and Arabic classes (based on 7 comments). ii) Many people feel that although the children s Quran classes are regular and reliable, the mosque is not listening to the public in regards to what classes are required; there are not enough classes for adults or in English which are relevant or address the topics which people are interested in (based on 11 comments). iii) There is also an obvious demand for more classes for adults as well as females and children. These are not restricted only to religious subjects but also to Urdu and Arabic language classes and arts & crafts classes for ladies. These may also include motivational or self-help classes for people with depression, anxiety or bereavement. iv) It was also suggested that the Imams have weekly or monthly open days where the public can meet and get to know them better. v) Other people wanted the Library to remain open at all times, vi) And for transport to be made available for madrasa kids. Talks and events: i) There were many comments about there being a lack of variety of speakers and talks and these not being reflective or including: Community Needs, eg. teaching people about burial rights. Different Sects and Madhabs. All Age Groups, eg. Q&A sessions for the young. English Language, eg. inviting younger scholars to give talks and involving ISOCS (university Islamic societies). Current Affairs, eg. tackling extremism. Social Issues, eg. Outreach for the vulnerable or alone. (Based on 31 comments.) ii) It was suggested that there should be a Forum for suggesting topics to be covered in talks and a Schedule of Events to be available in advance and/or news announcements and/or a timetable on the wall. This could also be incorporated 2015 Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 10

11 on the internet and social media as well as talks and recordings being available online (based on 12 comments). iii) It is believed that Domestic abuse and other socially relevant issues have been largely ignored and should be tackled in talks and lectures (based on 10 comments). iv) There should be more Islamic talks for women as there is a perceived lack of female friendly events. All talks should also be held in the large hall so that ladies can get better access and visibility of the speaker and engage in the discussion (6 comments). v) Lectures and talks should be held all year round and internationally renowned scholars and speakers should be invited (based on 5 comments). vi) The mosque should promote education on taboo subjects such as drugs, abortion, homosexuality, suicide and domestic abuse (5 comments). G: Funeral services As one of the basic social functions of the Mosque, many responders had comments to make about the Funeral Services available: i) Although some people thought that the Funeral Services and Announcements are good (based on 5 comments), the following improvements were suggested: Funeral arrangements need to be more professional. We need to educate people about the etiquettes surrounding death and burial rites. The facilities for non-muslims to attend Islamic funerals for their friends are embarrassingly poor. There should be permanent male and female staff for ghusl (ritual washing) of the dead body. Staff should behave in a more caring manner when dealing with the dead body. The Funeral room is untidy. The Hearse is too old. The volunteers and management should receive Interpersonal skills training to teach them how to deal with people who have just lost a loved one. Funeral condolences should be in the community hall rather than homes. There should be a Funeral costs saving scheme / annual payment plan and a breakdown of funeral costs should be made available. (Based on 22 comments.) ii) iii) It was suggested that Funeral Prayers be explained to the congregation in more detail and they be advised where to get more information if required. Some responders also asked for Maps or directions to be provided to get to cemeteries for burials Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 11

12 H: Social spaces (Friday food, Function Hall and Meetings) The new service of providing food after Jummah Prayers seems to have proved very popular with an overwhelming number of positive comments. Many respondents also suggested improvements for the Function Hall and there were many comments relating to the importance of the mosque as a social and community meeting place. Food after Friday Prayers: The vast majority of people felt that the food was good quality, affordable and a good social experience, giving them the chance to chat to friends and meet other muslims as they ate (based on 15 comments). Others suggested improvements: i) The food should be less oily and there should be an attempt to make it more healthy. ii) It should be packaged better or pre-packed to avoid wastage. iii) It should be free. iv) A food stall on the riverside could save people time. v) A small partition may be a good idea to give ladies more privacy. Function and Community Halls: Suggested improvements for these: i) The Function hall should be refurbished and made more attractive, upgraded to include a better speaker system, projector etc. for a wider range of functions, and for more than just weddings. If it was more utilised this could bring the hire costs down as some people felt these were too expensive. ii) Some respondents complained about the difficulty involved in booking the Function Hall and wondered why this was not an electronic system which could be booked online and instead required a physical visit to the office. iii) The existing community hall could be redesigned and used for Day Care purposes for an ever-expanding elderly population. Meeting spaces: Some suggestions: i) There should be a permanent café or restaurant serving hot food at meal times, for people to socialise in, which could be used by males and females (segregated), and be open to non-muslims to raise funds for the mosque (based on 12 comments). An example given was of the Mosque Kitchen at Edinburgh Central Mosque Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 12

13 ii) There should be a space for people to meet and discuss ideas, kick off projects etc and somewhere for the youth to socialise (based on 5 comments). iii) There should be a quality Bookstore, especially for English books (5 comments). iv) Snack and drink vending machines and a free water dispenser should be made available for visitors to the mosque, especially out of hours. v) A Muslim history archive and display should have permanent residence in the mosque, especially non-muslim visitors and School Tours. vi) Regular Coffee mornings should be held to raise funds for the mosque and to promote socialising between different ethnic groups (especially ladies). I: Marginalised (Poverty Relief, Refugees and the Homeless) Although it was recognised by many responders that the Mosque does good work with the Food Bank and in promoting asylum seeker and refugee issues, there were suggestions that the Mosque: i) Should consider English language classes for asylum seekers/refugees. ii) Should have a Registration service liaising with refugees and providing emergency relief donations where required. iii) Could be better at supporting the Homeless, possibly providing a Soup Kitchen once a week. iv) Could set up or sponsor a Homeless Centre, not necessarily on site. v) Should make Asylum Seekers, Refugees and the Homeless feel more welcome in the mosque. vi) Could invite volunteers from these groups and support them to get qualifications. J: New Muslims New Muslims are joining the fold of Islam at a faster rate than ever before and the vast majority of comments on this subject re-emphasised that these people must be better supported. It was felt by many responders that: i) There is not enough support for New Muslims. ii) The mosque doesn t feel safe for New Muslims (including men) and should be more welcoming Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 13

14 iii) iv) The mosque should run a Revert/New Muslim Support Service, possibly with a register of New Muslims and a Buddy System helping people to link with other people as well as families in the same situation as themselves to help with support and guidance. Educational Classes should be held for New Muslims aimed at teaching the basics of the religion, how to perform prayers etc. At the very least, the Mosque should liaise with or help with the funding for other groups already providing similar services for New Muslims. (i - iv, based on 15 comments.) K: Different ability (Disabled) Disabled people are an integral part of our community and most responders felt that: i) There should be increased disabled parking spaces and facilities. ii) Better disabled access to the mosque including ramps and a lift for disabled females. iii) The Mosque should be more welcoming towards Disabled people. (i - iii, based on 17 comments.) L: Mothers with Young Children Despite a minority of people complaining about young children making too much noise during prayer times, and some mothers complaining that they were being turned away and not made welcome, the vast majority of responders made positive suggestions as to how the mosque experience could be improved for all concerned: i) Giving women with young children priority parking. ii) Having a reserved area near the entrance of the prayer hall. iii) Improved baby changing facilities. iv) A private breastfeeding area. v) A Mother and toddler crèche with toys. vi) Child care staff and facilities for working mothers. vii) Clubs or classes including swimming and exercise classes for mothers and toddlers. (i - vii, based on 37 comments.) 2015 Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 14

15 M: Elderly Respect and support for our Elders is of paramount importance in Islam and the following suggestions are from your feedback: i) The mosque should make the Elderly feel more welcome. ii) The Elderly Day Care Centre should be reintroduced. iii) There should be lift access for elderly ladies. iv) Clubs or classes aimed at the elderly should be introduced. (i - iv, based on 20 comments.) N: Children There were some negative comments about children being disruptive and being allowed to run wild, and some mothers complained that they felt that their children were not welcome in the mosque and had nothing to do there (based on 10 comments). However, children are the future of the mosque and most responders realised that they should be made welcome and encouraged to attend the mosque as well as giving them something to do whilst there. Some suggestions from your comments: i) There should be a play area in the garden, which could be extended for this purpose, and possibly a Kids Club and Islamic cartoons or games for children (based on 10 comments). ii) There could be separate prayer areas in the main halls for children and their parents in order to minimise disruption (based on 6 comments). iii) There should be more family orientated events for families with children. iv) The mosque should host more Eid events and celebrations for kids to associate Islam with joy at a young age. v) There should be more interesting and entertaining classes for children to encourage their love for the mosque at an early age. vi) vii) An Islamic nursery could be started as well as a crèche. School visits should always have someone with fluent English and be engaging, with plenty of snacks and refreshments Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 15

16 O: Ladies Female worshippers are the fastest growing section of the mosque and a vitally important part of any Islamic community, as the wives and mothers of a new generation of Muslims. There were many positive and negative comments about and by the ladies, summarised below. Mosque atmosphere: i) Ladies don t feel welcome in the mosque and feel intimidated. They think they should be made to feel more welcome. ii) Part of this is the perception that they are thought of as second class citizens by men, especially those in charge. iii) Another reason is that younger women felt that older women bossed them about and were rude to them. iv) They also felt that there should be a respite area in the mosque outside the main prayer hall where they can socialise. (i - iv, based on 36 comments.) v) Female responders felt strongly that there should be more classes and clubs for women, not only Islamic ones but also arts & crafts and domestic issues. vi) Many felt it was a fundamental part of the mosque s job to teach and keep reminding men to respect and treat women well. Management and volunteers: i) Most female responders were outraged that there were no women on the management committee and felt that female staff and volunteers were not encouraged. ii) It was felt that there was not enough information available for sisters who wanted to get involved with mosque politics or mosque events. iii) Many felt that the mosque should employ some ladies as stewards to deal with female worshippers at busy times. Mosque reception: i) Many responders commented on the need for a female staff member to be based at the main reception to deal with ladies questions and issues, especially those who feel uncomfortable dealing with men Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 16

17 Prayer area: i) Some responders felt that the Ladies Prayer Area was good with a nice atmosphere (based on 5 comments) but unfortunately these were a tiny minority. The vast majority of comments pertained to improvements that could be made. ii) The prayer area needs to be bigger as it is too small for the numbers of ladies attending, too crowded and not suitable (based on 19 comments). iii) There should be air conditioning and heating facilities in the ladies prayer area iv) and it should be cleaner (based on 6 comments). There should be stewards in the ladies prayer area, especially at busy times (based on 6 comments). v) There should be a TV screen in the prayer area so that ladies can see what s going on and for events it would be helpful to see the speaker to avoid confusion and to allow questions to be asked. Access and Car Park: i) There should be better access for ladies rather than just the fire exit, and there should be lift access for elderly or disabled ladies to get to the prayer area or it should be relocated to the ground floor (based on 13 comments). ii) The ladies entrance is too crowded and it is inappropriate for it to be so close to the men s entrance (based on 7 comments). iii) Car park entry from the mosque should be separate for men and ladies as men surround the small gateway and area outside reception (based on 5 comments). Regular classes, talks and events: i) All talks should be held in a bigger hall so that ladies can get better access to and visibility of the speaker and engage in the discussion. A TV screen would be helpful to avoid confusion and to allow questions to be asked. ii) There are not enough female friendly events or Islamic talks for women (based on 5 comments). iii) Sports/exercise classes for ladies are hugely neglected, as well as non-islamic courses such as arts & crafts, etc. (based on 14 comments) Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 17

18 P: Youth It is so important to remember that the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Most of the responders in the survey acknowledged this fact and felt that we should try to: i) Welcome them to the mosque and give them more responsibility (based on 15 comments). ii) iii) Help youngsters to find things to do as there is often not much going on for them. This could include: Recreational facilities, a sports hall, exercise classes. Clubs, Islamic and Social. Open forum Q&A sessions with the Imams. Young scholars from other mosques to address topical issues such as tackling extremism and relevant adult issues e.g. how to be Muslim and still be cool. Provide better Islamic education. (ii and iii, based on 37 comments.) iv) Set up a youth committee and youth groups with more involvement in mosque affairs and in wider community projects (based on 16 comments). v) Engage with University Islamic Societies to host more youth orientated events. Q: Community services The Mosque is essentially the heart of the Muslim Community in Glasgow and as such should provide the life blood to all of the Community Services which keep us alive. These are some of the Community Services which responders thought the mosque should be involved in: Social: i) A Marriage match-making service (based on 8 comments). ii) Legal or advocacy support (based on 6 comments). iii) A Muslim Directory of professionals and business services. iv) Kurbani distribution. v) An education programme for non-muslims. vi) Black magic victim support Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 18

19 Health: i) A circumcision service for babies. ii) Health, physical, spiritual and mental support. iii) Counselling for those with anxiety and depression, or after bereavement. R: Communications (Publicity and Promotion) Communication is the essential backbone on which every successful orgnisation is built. This is a summary of the most important topics raised on this subject. Engagement: People seemed happy that the mosque was slowly becoming more progressive and were delighted that this feedback process had been initiated showing a change of mindset and a more forward facing approach (based on 13 comments). However the following improvements were suggested: i) Responses to queries on the website should improve and the website in general could do with upgrading. ii) s and phones should be answered more professionally. iii) The mosque should engage in more community projects. iv) There should be a help desk for newcomers or visitors to the mosque. v) The mosque should try to provide more talks and events for non-muslims to find out more about Islam. vi) There should be better avenues of information sharing, including how to volunteer and help in the mosque. It seems to be particularly difficult for sisters to find information about volunteering. Communication: i) English and not Urdu should be the primary language of Mosque services, staff answering phones, posters and literature (based on 28 comments) and it should be less Pakistani-centred generally (based on 8 comments). ii) People have been impressed with the Hadiths on the walls and the improved and Social Media updates and channels of communication which the mosque has using for promotion of events and services (based on 34 comments). iii) It would be useful to have a physical notice board with Jobs, a Schedule of Lectures, News announcements and a Timetable of events on the wall at reception, and a virtual equivalent on the website (based on 14 comments) Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 19

20 iv) A Welcome sign for the front gate would make the mosque more inviting for visitors and there should be more signposting of information regarding Mosque services inside the mosque itself (based on 10 comments). v) The aims and objectives of the mosque should be clearly displayed. vi) Weekly income and collections notices and a Quarterly bulletin newsletter would be appreciated. vii) Maps to get to cemeteries should be provided after Funerals. Accessibility: i) A Mobile app would be popular as well as SMS notifications. ii) There should be an Online booking form for the Function Hall. iii) Talks and recordings of lectures should be made available online. Publicity and promotion: The mosque should: i) Be publicising its work more. ii) Be careful with social media, especially the mosque s facebook page, not allowing too much negativity to be played out on it or for it to be hijacked by people with agendas. iii) Try to encourage more fundraising events, especially if this helps to finance improvements. iv) Try to remain neutral instead of letting politics affect its decisions, especially its perceived Saudi bias. v) Give more responsibility to the youth. S: Relations (with Public, Community and other Muslims) Most responders were happy with the mosque s engagement with the public, the wider community and other Muslim organisations. They were very positive about the: i) Food poverty initiative, ii) Mosque tours, iii) Open doors days, iv) Islam awareness week, and v) Health awareness day. (i - v, based on 27 comments.) 2015 Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 20

21 They were also pleased with the mosque s involvement in: i) Working with the local community, ii) Portraying a positive image of the mosque for the local community, iii) Being the focal point for the community. (i - iii, based on 11 comments.) There were also a few suggestions for improvement: Public relations: The Mosque should: i) Have a Welcome sign for the front gate which would make the mosque more inviting for visitors (based on 6 comments). ii) Set up a media committee to respond to negative coverage of Islam in the media and serve as the first point of contact for the press and a first responder, becoming in time the Voice of Muslims in Glasgow. iii) Consider employing a Public relations person to eventually improve the image of Muslims in Scotland and show the public the difference between us and extremists. iv) Have Islamic literature and other reading materials at the entrance and provide Islamic books to non-muslims for free. Community relations: The Mosque should: i) Open up the post-jummah lunch to non-muslims and this should perhaps be run more as a business in order to maximise funds raised. ii) Try to recruit greater numbers of committed people to volunteer their time. iii) Try to engage better with the wider community including non-muslims and people from all ethnic backgrounds and all walks of life, reflecting the diverse local community. iv) Foster a stronger sense of unity and community spirit. Muslim relations: The Mosque should: i) Be welcoming to Muslims of all sects and backgrounds to try to bring all Muslims together and create harmony in the Ummah. ii) Engage with other local and national mosques regardless of schools of thought Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 21

22 GLASGOW CENTRAL MOSQUE SURVEY OUR DREAM In addition to your responses above, we asked you to share your thoughts on what the role of the mosque should be. After reviewing all the feedback we feel there are three interconnecting threads that bind all your comments and suggestion. These are: i) To create a welcoming place for Our Lord s remembrance ii) Filled with compassionate and professional people, iii) Helping to provide relevant and representative services to make the community proud. To create a welcoming place for Our Lord s remembrance: i) A peaceful place of prayer and worship (based on 18 comments). ii) An inclusive place where non-muslims, new Muslims and born Muslims all feel welcome and can learn about Islam (based on 17 comments). iii) A friendly place spreading Islam s message of peace and love. Filled with compassionate and professional people: i) Supporting anyone in need and providing a safe haven (based on 13 comments). ii) Educating people in tazkiyah or good etiquettes and showing Muslims in a good light (9 comments). iii) Working with other mosques for the greater good. iv) A place of virtuous behaviour full of good role models. v) Guiding and training the new generation for this life and the next. Helping to provide relevant and representative services to make the community proud: i) A place we can be proud of at the heart of the community and serving as an Islamic and social hub (based on 42 comments). ii) Representative of all Muslims in Glasgow, uniting all sects and bringing unity for the observance of Eid (based on 29 comments) Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 22

23 iii) A place of knowledge, education and learning (based on 15 comments). iv) Somewhere questions will be answered (based on 10 comments). v) Guiding the youth, creating a Think Tank and creating the future leaders for the Muslims of Glasgow (based on 10 comments). vi) Supporting charities, social enterprise and with Links to other faiths (based on 9 comments). vii) Providing schooling for children from qualified teachers and Imams and funeral services in order to build a bridge between our community and our city. These three interconnecting threads perhaps summarise what the role of the mosque should be: To create a welcoming place for Our Lord s remembrance with compassionate and professional people helping to provide relevant and representative services to make the community proud. Contact us / Help us The community will reap what it sows. To make a meaningful and lasting change we must change ourselves. We can create a mosque we are all proud of if we work together. We have waited long enough; we can achieve this right now with your help. If you want to help, have any further feedback, or wish to get in touch for any reason, please us at info@centralmosque.co.uk Glasgow Central Mosque 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 9TA 23