OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE, EDUCATE AND INSPIRE

Transcription

1 Annual Review 2017

2 2 The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre Contents Foreword Executive Summary Religious Services Education and Training Social Welfare Community Cohesion Public Relations Fundraising Premises OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE, EDUCATE AND INSPIRE

3 Annual Report Chairman s Foreword It is surely from the great blessings of Allah that the East London Mosque Trust (ELMT) continues to welcoming thousands of worshippers and visitors, and serve the communities of London and beyond. We are deeply grateful for the continued generosity of supporters, the dedication of volunteers and staff, and for the growing recognition of our achievements. We have seen wonderful progress in our full-time schools, with stronger results and praise from Ofsted. Our part-time educational projects cater for many children and adults, improving their understanding of Islam, and helping them to become better members of society. Our challenge is not only to maintain standards, but continuously to improve. We perhaps shouldn t be surprised that the charitable giving of our congregation has reached new heights, with many good causes benefiting from the regular collections here. The same is true for their support for this Mosque; this year we have seen our income increase, and our expenditure decrease, whilst continuing to deliver all our services. This is allowing us gradually to repay our debt. We continue to play an important role in challenging extremism, especially Islamophobia, working with others not only in the Muslim community, but from other faiths and beyond. The promotion of tolerance and understanding is a perfect match for the ideals of Islam and the aspirations of British society, and the ELMT rightly prioritises this work. As always, we give thanks to Almighty Allah, Whose blessings and favour are the reason for all our successes; may He forgive our shortcomings, and grant us even more blessings and success in the future. Muhammad Habibur Rahman Chairman

4 4 The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre Executive Summary The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre continues to offer a wide range of services from its modern facilities. Lectures delivered from the Mosque reach many thousands of people in the UK and around the world; our Friday sermons are broadcast through social media, adhan radio, Mixlr, YouTube, our website, and on Muslim TV channels. The total footfall for congregational prayers increased slightly in 2016, to just over 1.69 million. A public satisfaction survey showed around 95% of respondents are satisfied with religious services. Ramadan was as busy as last year, despite fears in the community of a backlash following the terrorist attacks in London and Manchester. Both our full time schools, the London East Academy (LEA) and Al Mizan School, met all required Ofsted standards and achieved good academic results. The LEA was inspected by Ofsted and awarded a Good grade in all areas. Al Mizan School became co-educational in September Around 1000 children benefit from evening and weekend schools. Our Imams provided religious advice and support through their regular surgeries. This year we organised special training for the Imams on professional ethics and guidelines for Imams delivering pastoral care and advice services. Other supported projects provide social welfare services in the area of free legal advice, marriage introduction, ESOL classes, employment support, etc. The Maryam Centre Counselling Service offers confidential space for women to express thoughts and feelings on a whole range of issues, including emotional issues such as depression and anxiety, and relationship issues such as bereavement, separation and abuse. Pro Bono in the LMC hosted a well-received event on forced marriage in the Maryam Centre on the issue of capacity. Despite our financial needs, we continue to facilitate collections for other UK registered charities. This reporting year broke previous records by a huge margin, with a total of 286,384 collected! We continue to work for the common good with other civil society organisations. We engaged with the local authority and Police to reassure the community following an increase in Islamophobia after the Brexit vote in We held 3 open days during the year, also the MCB-led Visit My Mosque Day which attracted more than 700 visitors. We had a very successful visit by HRH Princess Anne with a delegation from Common Purpose. The Synagogue building acquired in 2015 has been refurbished and leased to the National Zakat Foundation for around 4 years. The archives project completed its new archive strong room. A launch of the project is planned for November 2017 with the Mayor of London. The trustees recruited a Chief Executive Officer, due to start in October 2017, with the current Executive Director set to become the Director of Finance & Community Engagement. We pray to Allah (swt) that He grants us the ability to continue to improve the services we are providing for the benefit of our community and of wider society. Ayub Khan Honorary Secretary

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6 6 The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre Religious Services Prayer Facilities The Mosque is open for all congregational prayers every day of the year, with an average weekly footfall of over 29,000, rising to over 62,000 in Ramadan. More than 5,000 people attend the weekly Friday prayers, reaching over 7,000 at its peak. The Mosque has British Sign Language interpretation for the Friday and Eid sermons, available on screens through most of the complex. Funerals London s oldest and busiest Muslim funeral service, Taslim funerals, is an independent company that has a mortuary in the basement of the Maryam Centre. The Mosque facilitates funeral prayers, after which coffins are accompanied by families to a cemetery for burial. There were funeral prayers for 607 people from April 2016 to March 2017.

7 Annual Report The Mosque has talks every day of the week to help people learn about their religion, in English, Somali, Bengali and Arabic. Ramadan 1438 AH (2017) Ramadan was from late May to late June. The special congregational prayers every night (Tarawih) began at 11pm and finished at around 1am. Over 258,000 people prayed in congregation during Ramadan! The Mosque partnered with Human Appeal to provide over 100,000 bottles of water during the month. On average every day over 540 people enjoyed a free Iftar meal for the breaking of the fast. Over 300 people applied for the 100 Itikaf places (seclusion in the Mosque in the last 10 days of Ramadan). Religious Teaching The Mosque has talks every day of the week to help people learn about their religion, in English, Somali, Bengali and Arabic. Every year in the month before Hajj there are training seminars for pilgrims in English and Bangla for those about to perform this important pillar of Islam. Internet Broadcasting and Adhan Radio ELM services are broadcast through Mixlr, which allows people to listen using computers and smartphones; as of 31 August 2017 the ELM had totalled over 11,564,000 listens! The local community continues to benefit from special digital radios that receive broadcasts of the adhan, khutbah and talks. Eid 15,000 to 18,000 people attend the special prayers on the Eid mornings, so five congregational prayers were held on each of Eid al-adha and Eid al-fitr.

8 8 The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre Education and Training Al Mizan and London East Academy Al-Mizan is our full-time primary school, now co-educational; the London East Academy (LEA) is a full-time secondary school for boys. The schools are run by a single governing body and headteacher. Both schools continue to make significant improvements, and meet all the independent school standards. Ofsted made a further visit to Al Mizan in October 2016, and judged the school to have met all standards. Inspectors found that Al Mizan pupils make expected or better age-related progress in the subjects examined by the inspection. They also stated that the leaders and governors have created a strong safeguarding ethos in the school and praised the leadership team and governors. In July 2017 Ofsted returned to the LEA for a full inspection and judged it to be Good in all categories. The LEA followed this by achieving 96% A* C in GCSE, including English and Maths.

9 Annual Report In July 2017 Ofsted returned to the LEA for a full inspection and judged it to be Good in all categories. The LEA followed this by achieving 96% A* C in GCSE ELM Evening Madrasah The ELM Evening Madrasah has 9 classes and a student roll of 164. The Madrasah follows a structured syllabus. A full independent review of the Madrasah was commissioned to check all aspects of the institution, then produced a report with suggestions for strengthening the Madrasah. The Governing Body will now create an action plan based on the report. Saturday Islamic School The Saturday Islamic School caters for nearly 900 girls and boys across five branches in Tower Hamlets. The school has continued its partnership with the Adult Education Section of the Local Authority to enter students for GCSE. The school has introduced subject leaders with the aim of supporting teaching across branches. It has also trialled open days and is beginning to make better use of social media for communication. SIS is aiming to launch a new website, which has been built by an ex-student. Services for Deaf Children and Adults Al-Isharah, a charity that provides deaf friendly services for deaf Muslims, has an office on the 4th floor of the LMC. In addition, the ELMT provides a room in the LMC for Friday and Saturday Islamic classes. The Friday class is aimed at deaf adults, the Saturday class for deaf children. The Friday khutbah at ELM continues with fully qualified interpreters. Al-Isharah also provides interpreters for key events like Eid and high-profile lectures. Al-Isharah started a new monthly Islamic lecture series at ELM in November 2016.

10 10 The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre Rainbow House Rainbow House s services at the London Muslim Centre include full-time, morning and afternoon part-time pre-schools sessions, Arabic language clubs, Qur an for mums, and an evening madrasah. With all of its sessions running at full capacity every day of the week, nearly 200 children and their families are benefiting from its services across all its sites. Library The library operates from Monday to Thursday PM, and on Friday PM, with seasonal adjustment around the prayer times. The library has over 7,000 books, mainly in English and Arabic, but includes over 800 books in Bangla and almost 500 for children, and computers with internet access and Microsoft Office, available for library users without charge. The library currently houses the archive room, but this will be relocated. Somali Development Association (aka Ar-Rawdah Institute) The Somali Development Association (SDA) has several projects and services, including group workshops and seminars on social ills in the community, youth activities, events, family engagement, after school supplementary classes, and charity events. The SDA has developed its charitable and humanitarian projects for the needy people of Somalia, particularly in the educational sector. The SDA funds primary schools where most of the beneficiaries are orphans. North African Community Association (NACA) NACA aims to serve the Muslim community as a whole through education, by enhancing spirituality in all generations, and encouraging Muslim youth to adopt Islamic values. Its Al-Qalam Madrasah caters for children between the ages of There are currently just over 200 students enrolled and benefiting from the education and mentoring system. NACA also gives family advice and organises youth circles.

11 Annual Report The library has over 7,000 books, mainly in English and Arabic, but includes over 800 books in Bangla and almost 500 for children Jibreel Institute The Jibreel Institute has continued to increase courses and classes this year, targeting a wide spectrum of students across London and beyond. Courses are delivered by experts and scholars noted for their specialisation and track record of teaching, in subjects such as Arabic language and Islamic finance. Whilst most of courses and classes are held at the London Muslim Centre, some are held in outside venues such as at the Queen Mary University of London. Courses are attended by a wide variety of students, including lawyers, interfaith leaders, academics, policy-makers and guests from abroad. London Iqra Institute The London Iqra Institute provides supplementary teaching for children aged 6 and above in Bengali, Arabic language and religious studies. Students gain competence in reading, writing and understanding the Arabic language. At the same time the focus is to develop pupils morally and spiritually to be good Muslims and British citizens. The London Iqra Institute also provides parenting skills sessions. Junior Muslim Circle (JMC) The JMC holds regular programmes every Sunday for boys aged Activities includes social, educational and recreational. It has a good relationship with parents and the members are attend regularly. JMC ensures that programmes implement the Every Child Matters (ECM) five outcomes.

12 12 The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre Social Welfare Help, Advice and Counselling The Mosque deals with many people seeking advice and guidance on religious matters from its Imams, on issues such as marriage, mental issues, inheritance, family and business matters. The high demand from the public for advice sessions with our Imams is one of the most taxing parts of their work. The ELMT operates a booking system throughout the week, and keeps some slots available for people who need urgent advice. Imams also give advice over the phone. Jamiat-ul-Muslimin Jamiat-ul-Muslimin (JM) is a volunteering body, led by a committee of the ELMT. It provides stewards for Fridays, Ramadan and Eid, and handles collections. JM supports itikaf, Hajj training and fundraising. JM had customer service and security training, particularly after the Islamophobic attacks on Mosques. JM supports disabled users, and arrangements for funeral prayers, especially the viewing of the deceased. It currently has 94 members.

13 Annual Report This was by far the best ever year collecting for external UK registered charities, with a total of 286,384 raised in this period Islamic Marriage The Imams performed 326 nikah (Islamic marriage) attestations this year; this is the religious ceremony, which is separate from the civil marriage which couples are advised to undertake at their local Registry Office. Our Imams also advise individuals, couples and families on issues relating to getting married. Charity Collections This was by far the best ever year collecting for external UK registered charities, with a total of 286,384 raised in this period an average of over 5,500 per week! More than half was collected in Ramadan. The collections are split fairly evenly between charitable causes in the UK and overseas. Pro Bono in the LMC Pro Bono in the LMC (PBLMC) is a free legal advice service, run by volunteer practising barristers, solicitors and Cilex executives. Where PBLMC is not able to assist they can to signpost to other legal help providers. This service is available to those who are unable to afford or obtain legal aid. Al-Ihsan Marriage & Family Advice Service (AIMFAS) AIMFAS offers social and religious services to help Muslim men and women find suitable marriage partners, as well other services such as advice and training. This year AIMFAS developed its user friendly website so members can more easily find potential suitable spouses through the online filtering system. In both matchmaking and finalising, members follow a standard procedure to comply Shariah principles and English law. There are 750 online clients, 450 through the office. Marriage training was given to 350 people.

14 14 The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre Maryam Women s Services (MWS) Maryam Women s Services provides information, advice and guidance for women. Based on the second floor of the Maryam Centre, the front-desk staff provide a safe and supportive environment for women to attend not only the prayers but many other educational and empowerment programmes that take place throughout the year. A team of dedicated staff facilitate the 28 user groups that run various free educational programmes for women at all levels. These include Arabic language classes, Qur an Tajweed and Hifz classes. A Tours & Visits Facilitator provides structured tours for schools, liaising closely with teachers to support curriculum work. School visits are provided on request. The New Muslim circle provides a curriculum of support for new Muslim women. As well as participation in the Shahadah service, new Muslims are supported through a mentoring programme. Counselling service The Maryam Centre Counselling Service provides counselling delivered by three qualified counsellors. It offers confidential space for women to express thoughts and feelings. Women use this service to talk about a whole range of issues, including emotional issues such as depression and anxiety, and relationship issues such as bereavement, separation and abuse. Health Workshops A series of workshops were held at the Maryam Centre which included: oral health awareness, diabetes awareness during Ramadan, mental health awareness, tobacco cessation awareness, and giving blood awareness sessions. Health trainers from Stifford Centre provided body conditioning classes for women in the Maryam Centre, a very popular exercise class that older women enjoyed attending. Coffee Mornings at the MC Coffee mornings were arranged after discovering a growing number of women who attend the prayers are lonely and need support with a wide range of issues. It provided opportunities to invite partners to come and raise awareness on some issues affecting women in our community: Blind Aid, Fostering and Adoption Unit, Tobacco Cessation; and Health Trainers. Staff raised 160 for Macmillan Cancer Support by holding a coffee morning with information about Macmillan s work. Conference: Islamophobia This timely conference, in partnership with Women of Faith (Kobiety Wiary), was held amid increasing reports of Islamaphobic attacks on Muslim women both in Britain and Europe, and the banning of hijab and burkinis. Conference: domestic violence and equality before the law Held in partnership with the Joseph Interfaith Foundation and Imams against Domestic Abuse, this conference

15 Annual Report addressed the issue of domestic violence, the issues facing both Muslim and Jewish women and the supporting role of the community Shariah courts and Beth Din courts. The panel presentation was chaired Mehri Niknam from the Joseph Interfaith Foundation, and included Imam Abdullah Hasan, Sufia Alam, and Barrister Mizan Abdul Rouf. Conference: capacity to consent This conference examined concerns raised in the family courts about forced marriages of adults with disabilities. It was chaired by Lord Justice McFarlen from the Royal Courts of Justice, and convened by barrister Mizan Abdul Rouf of Pro Bono in the LMC. The conference bought together parents, carers, social workers and psychotherapists who work with young adults with disabilities. Clare Renton QC, a member of the force marriage commission, shared some of the cases that went through the courts. There was a powerful message from our Imam, Shaykh Abdul Qayum, that there is no place for forced marriage in Islam. Dr Qazi Anwar Kabir, a clinical psychologist, and Mujib Nasir from the Tower Hamlets Community Learning & Disability Service, gave detailed insights into their work with young adults in assessing their capacity and the challenges families face. Jo Richler from the Judith Trust and Lutfa Khan from Respond shared perspectives from the Jewish community and communities outside Tower Hamlets. Mend Mums programme by Mytime Active A partnership project delivered by multidisciplinary healthcare practitioners, including nutritionists and dietitians, providing free healthy lifestyle initiatives to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles to children, young people and new mums. Modules offered: Obesity the Whole Picture and Raising the Issue of Weight; Nutritional Guidelines; Cooking on a Budget; Active Health; Delivering Physical Activity; and Active Playtimes in Schools.

16 16 The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre Community Cohesion Open Days and Interfaith Dinner The Islam Awareness Project (IAP) organised 4 exhibitions and open days at the East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre, with over 1000 visitors attending. A monthly tea & tour for the general public attracted over 500 in total. Over 200 people from of other faith communities attended the IAP Annual Dinner on 12 July 2017 at the London Muslim Centre, in order to build better relationships and improve understanding of Islam and Muslims

17 Annual Report More than 3,000 visitors were welcomed and introduced to the work of the East London Mosque and provided with an insight into Islam and Muslims. Baraka Khan Visitor Gallery The Baraka Khan Visitor Gallery is a unique space for hosting visitors, as well as delivering accredited courses on Islam to professionals. The gallery has proved a great success for providing a space for non-muslims to feel welcome without feeling like they are disrupting regular services. The gallery is used when non-muslims come for funerals, allowing them to pay their respects and observe the dignity of Muslim prayers, including the funeral prayer. Educational Tours and Visits This has been a very successful year for tours and visits, hosting 158 school and adult groups, as well as unplanned group visits of tourists from different countries visiting London. More than 3,000 visitors were welcomed and introduced to the work of the East London Mosque and provided with an insight into Islam and Muslims. Visiting the East London Mosque has become increasingly popular with schools teaching Islam as part of the curriculum. Indeed, the ELMT couldn t satisfy all demand as many dates were fully booked. Cultural and Diversity Courses This is the second year providing these courses. There is now an alumni network of over 140 professionals from teaching, social services and policy backgrounds, all working to improve their knowledge and skills in Islam. Two new courses have been added, and are awaiting CPD accreditation: How to deliver a Mosque Tour and a Muslim Orientation Course

18 18 The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre Special Events HRH Princess Anne The ELMT was delighted to host HRH Princess Anne along with 12 senior leaders from the Commonwealth to participate in the Commonwealth Study Conference (CSC) Leadership Programme, on 9 May It provided an opportunity for the participants to collaborate to tackle challenges that businesses, governments and society face today, and build the global relationships needed by the leaders of tomorrow. The Princess Royal met with Trustees who explained the history of the Mosque, and discussed the challenges and opportunities of the Mosque in the largest Muslim community in Britain. Srebrenica 22nd Memorial Anniversary The ELMT marked the 22nd Srebrenica Memorial Day on14 July The event featured a variety of speakers who offered insight into the Srebrenica massacre, including: Shaykh Ramadan Yaqoob, the Grand Mufti of Lithuania; Martin Bell, an award-winning veteran reporter who covered the war in Bosnia; Dr Eric Gordy, a senior lecturer at University College London; Dr Waqar Azmi OBE, the chairman of Remembering Srebrenica; Munira Subašić, President of Mothers of Srebrenica; and others.was packed to the brim with people who had travelled even from afar to hear his lecture

19 Annual Report Notable Visitors Nouman Ali Khan Nouman Ali Khan, international speaker and orator who has built a reputation for delivering informative and engaging talks within the Muslim community, visited the East London Mosque twice in 2017, in January and March. At both events, the entire Mosque was packed to the brim with people who had travelled even from afar to hear his lecture Sir Michael Barber Sir Michael Barber was hosted at the East London Mosque s Maryam Centre for a programme looking at Execution & Delivery into the Charity Sector. This event was delivered in partnership with Fajr Capital. Many professionals from the third sector attended the event and were able to obtain signed copies of Sir Michael Barber s new book. Jon Snow (Channel 4 News) Legendary broadcaster, Jon Snow, visited the East London Mosque in February He had been invited to the Mosque to learn about its history and activities. Jon was given a tour of the Mosque and had the opportunity to visit the archives.

20 20 The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre Public Relations National Visit My Mosque Day Over 700 visitors were welcomed for the national Visit My Mosque Day. The initiative, led by the Muslim Council of Britain, saw 150 Mosques and Islamic Centres across the country open their doors to the public. At the Mosque visitors were provided with guided tours, as they learned more about Islam and how Muslims practise their faith as they enjoyed tea and cakes. A short video presentation showed the rich and diverse history of the Mosque, while the Mosque s Archive Team displayed historical artefacts for guests to see. Throughout the day there was a steady stream of visitors who were able to see the prayer halls, live prayers, ablution areas and even the Mosque s beehive. This year s theme at the Mosque and Centre highlighted efforts to support local causes, with information stalls from MADE (a local NGO), Richard House Children s Hospice, Providence Row and Eden Care. One London Press Conference After the London Bridge attack on 3 Jun 2017, the ELMT convened a major press conference, titled One London, One Community, where faith and civil society leaders spoke out against the terrible attack. The Mosque s chairman expressed his condolences for the innocent lives lost and made the Mosque s stance against terrorism absolutely clear. The Rt Revd Adrian Newman, Bishop of Stepney, Mehri Niknam, Executive Director of the Joseph Interfaith Foundation, Catriona Robertson, Director of the Christian-Muslim Forum and Oliver McTernan, Director of Forward Thinking, also expressed their support for the Muslim community in opposing terrorism.

21 Annual Report Over 700 visitors were welcomed for the national Visit My Mosque Day Big Food Drive The Mosque in partnership with Muslim Aid co-organised the Big Food Drive. The campaign sought to raise one tonne of food for London s homeless during the cold month of December. Launched on a Friday, it was immensely popular, with the Mosque congregation donating over ten tonnes of food. Students from the London East Academy also took part, getting parents to donate to the cause and then buying food from supermarkets with that money. Local businesses also donated dried and tin food in bulk. Manchester Vigil The ELMT co-organised a solidarity vigil in the wake of the Manchester terrorist attack on 26 May 2017 with the United East End. Under the borough s No Place for Hate banner, community leaders and politicians came together in solidarity with the people of Manchester at Altab Ali Park. Website and social networks The Mosque s website is regularly updated with information, event listings, audio downloads, announcements and advertisements. The Mosque s website received 1,766,209 user visits for the period of 10th August 2016 to 10th August 2017, for a total of 7.5 million user sessions. 77.4% of that traffic was returning visitors. The Mosque s Facebook page has 286,119 likes, and is regularly updated with information on fundraising activities, notices and media statements. The Mosque s Twitter use has seen positive growth since last year, with 7,476 users following the ELMT account. The Mosque s YouTube channel has had 1,308,325 video views, with 7,769 subscribers. Confronting Far-Right Extremism Extremist far-right group Britain First continued its provocations in Tower Hamlets, seeking to target the East London Mosque. Showing no sensitivity at all, its leader turned up to film a video at the front of the Mosque on the day of the tragic Grenfell Tower fire, whilst inside efforts were underway to lend support to the victims of the fire. The Mosque s staff acted quickly in response, ensuring accurate reports backed by video footage were put in the public domain. As a result of far-right extremism, the Mosque regularly receives hate mail and abuse on social media. All incidents are catalogued and reported to the Police.

22 22 The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre Working with other organisations for a better society for all The Mosque continues to build strong alliances and work in partnership for common goals, especially tackling the rise in anti-muslim bigotry, but also social justice, fairer wages for all, and creating safe havens in our communities for those in distress, amongst many others. Some of the organisations we work with include: Faiths Forum for London Joseph Interfaith Foundation Imams & Rabbis Council Citizens UK TELCO Stand up to Racism United Against Fascism (UAF) TELCO, London Citizens and Citizens UK The ELMT is a founding member (started in 1996) of The East London Communities Organisation (TELCO), which is a chapter of London Citizens. The main objective is to work for the common good. The ELMT hosted a delegates assembly of TELCO comprising 300 organised citizens from Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Barking and Dagenham. In November 2016, TELCO celebrated its 20th anniversary. The ELMT participated in the planning and delivery of the event, with around 1000 participants. Tower Hamlets Interfaith Forum The ELMT is a member of Tower Hamlets Interfaith Forum, which provides a platform for different faith groups to discuss issues of common interest. The forum held discussions on faith hate crimes and other issues related to faith communities in Tower Hamlets. Partner Organisations The ELMT is supported by the local members of the Muslim Community Association, Faith Inspire and other community organisations, particularly during major religious occasions and fundraising initiatives, e.g. Ramadan, Eid, Muslim Charity Run, etc. National Imams and Rabbis Council The National Imams and Rabbis Council, initiated by the Joseph Interfaith Foundation (JIF), plays a vital role in bringing together qualified Rabbis, Imams, professionals and academics to develop productive projects with a specialised methodology and realistic outlook. The Executive Director and the Imams attended meetings throughout the year to help promote better Jewish-Muslim cooperation. There was a solidarity gathering held in St John s Wood synagogue attended by ELMT representatives. This year the Council again undertook a joint visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina to mark the annual Remembering Srebrenica ; the Rabbis and Imams saw what hatred and discrimination based on race or religion could do, a reminder of the importance of their own work in promoting understanding and respect between people.

23 Annual Report Information stalls The London Muslim Centre concourse is an ideal place to disseminate important information to the community through information stalls. The ELMT hosted and supported the following campaigns and initiatives: NHS - Muslims Give Blood NHS - Stop Tobacco Project NHS - Diabetic & Health Screening NHS - AAA Screening (Abdominal-Aortic-Aneurysm) Explore Learning - English & Maths classes for ages 7-14 Macmillan Cancer Support Cancer Research UK Osmani Trust - Healthy Futures LBTH - Domestic Violence Awareness London Metropolitan Police - Young Cadets London Metropolitan Police Community Safety Stop Hate Crime London Metropolitan Police - Charity Fraud LBTH - Growth & Economic Development Social Action for Health Common purposes Stroke Association UK Muslim Aid Job centre plus Tension Monitoring Group (TMG) The ELMT regularly attended TMG meetings organised by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Emergency TMG meetings were held with the Police to re-implement protocols, which were used during the heightened tensions after the terrorist attacks in London. The Police also implemented, as part of their renewed partnership with key community organisations, a procedure to keep key stakeholders informed of major incidents in the borough. Richard House Children s Hospice The Mosque has a longstanding relationship with Richard House Children s Hospice, and is renewing efforts to help raise awareness of palliative care for end of life services. The demand for sustaining the service really depends on the goodwill of the community and its generous supporters. The ELM aims to mark the achievements at the next Dying Matters week by organising a series of small get-togethers and coffee groups, and a conference with keynote speaker Lynda Thomas (CEO of Macmillan Cancer Support) to help raise champions from the community to continue the much needed services. Faith Regen Foundation (FRF) FRF delivered Domestic Violence a concern for all, until May 2017, for women who have been affected by domestic abuse. The project was a great success, with very positive feedback from the women on how the service helped their confidence, stress levels and access to other professional help. This was supported by a sermon at the Mosque on tackling domestic violence. The Faith and Community Leaders Management and Leadership (FCLT) programme is an initiative to improve the services that mosques provide to the public, making them more professional. The project builds their capacity so they are better able to effectively deliver projects and services to their communities and can play a stronger role in regeneration. FRF delivered a unique and innovative programme, entitled Creative English, developed by Faith Action and Queen Mary University. The programme teaches English in an interactive way to those most in need in society. The programme ran from the LMC and Maryam Centre. Tower Hamlets SACRE The East London Mosque has been a member of the Tower Hamlets Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) since 2015, a statutory body set up by the Local Authority whose remit includes collective worship and religious education in local maintained schools. It recently took part in approving a new RE syllabus that is more inclusive. The SACRE is looking to bring in the Ambassadors of Faith and Belief to schools to improving learning for pupils, a unique platform of connecting faith insiders with places of worship. Providence Row A new relationship has been created to tackle the problem of homelessness. During the winter period there is an increase in people sleeping during daylight hours at the Mosque. Many lack basic hygiene and are in need of medical attention. Providence Row has proposed to hold a satellite service at the LMC so that staff and worshippers can refer rough sleepers to the service to access immediate support of care and shelter.

24 24 The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre Fundraising Born to Die. What s Your Legacy? This inspirational event, held on Saturday 10 Dec 2016 at the Maryam Centre and London Muslim Centre, featured a talk by international guest speaker Shaykh Dr Yasir Qadhi (USA). Tickets completely sold out. Shaykh Yasir explained how to leave the best legacy behind and the fundamentals of leaving a legacy that will bear fruits for years to come. He also spoke about how to raise righteous children, how to give more in charity, and the Prophet s legacy. Over 900 men and women attended this event, raising over 4,626 for the Trust through ticket sales. Another 45,000 was pledged for the charity Human Appeal s winter campaign.

25 Annual Report Cyclists taking part in the Mosque s successful Ride 4 Your Mosque event for a second year running raised a total of 8,156 ELM Legacy Tour - Umrah to Makkah & Madinah The Mosque organised its first ever spiritual and historical tour of Makkah and Madinah during the Easter break. This new service from the Mosque had been much requested in the past. Our participants enjoyed the 5-star package, guided tours & Ziyarah of historical places, and especially educational lectures by our own Imam, Shaykh Abdul Qayum, who accompanied the group of forty people throughout. Insha Allah, the success of this trip will mean the Mosque will organise more tours in the future. Ride 4 Your Mosque 2017 Cyclists taking part in the Mosque s successful Ride 4 Your Mosque event for a second year running raised a total of 8,156. The event, held on Saturday 29 April 2017, saw 17 eager cyclists take up the challenge of cycling 36 miles from the East London Mosque to Box Hill, Surrey. Hope & Knowledge, a local charity that helps out with many charitable projects, helped organise training sessions and provided volunteers, and assisted the Ride 4 Your Mosque event on the day. Qur anic Healing for the Heart A special event was held on Friday 27 January 2017 with renowned speaker Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan, who delivered a lecture from the mimbar on how the Qur an can help heal our heart. Thousands of brothers, sisters, young and old attended, filling the Mosque and Centre to capacity. This was a free event, but raised 9,934 in donations.

26 26 The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre ELM bookstall The ELM bookstall, situated in the ELM foyer, provides essential Islamic books and recordings of the Mosque s tafsirs, khutbahs and other talks. Alhambra Donors Wall The Alhambra Donors Wall is a permanent feature of the Mosque, situated along the wall of the Maryam Centre main Fieldgate Street entrance and along the link corridor. Since the launch of this initiative in 2008 it has raised over 2.5million. There are still a few tiles left. Standing Order Campaign The objective of this campaign is to increase the regular monthly income of the Mosque by encouraging donors to give standing orders. It also provides an opportunity to create a lasting relationship with donors and improve awareness with the general public about making the Mosque debt free. Easy Fundraising (online shopping) This initiative, launched in November 2015, allows people to raise funds for the East London Mosque when they shop online. Whenever people make an online purchase from one of nearly 3,000 retailers on board, the retailer passes a small donation to the Mosque. So far there are 366 supporters raising funds.

27 Annual Report Contactless Donation Terminals A new way to make a fast donation using contactless cards or phones was introduced in June Using new technology, terminals at exit points allow people to make a donation in just 2 seconds initially this has been set at 3. The ELMT has also purchased more PDQ terminals for card donations, as they are becoming more popular on Fridays and in Ramadan. ELM Website Advertising Since allowing charities and businesses to advertise on the website, the ELMT has received an overwhelming number of requests, with many on the waiting list. With over 7 million views, it gives the opportunity for companies to promote themselves to the Muslim community of London and beyond. ELM Charity Packages The Mosque introduced a new pilot initiative, Charity Packages that provide Muslim charities a unique combination of opportunities to raise funds at the Mosque and to promote their charity causes, providing benefit for both for the Mosque and the charities. Ramadan 2017 This year there were two fundraising TV appeals. For the first time the Mosque had a live appeal on Eman Channel, broadcast from the Visitor Centre. The Mosque also appealed live on Channel S. As usual, there was a special appeal on the 27th night of Ramadan. Altogether in Ramadan, including Eid-al Fitr, 339,852 was raised in donations and pledges Eid-ul Adha 2016 & 2017 A large number of worshippers attend our Eid prayers from all over London and beyond, so this is another big fundraising occasion. After each of the five jama ah, appeals are made to public. Friday Collections The East London Mosque caters for one of the largest congregations in London, with an average of over 5,000 worshippers, both male and female, attending Jumu ah prayer each week. After the prayer volunteers collect donations at each exit point.

28 28 The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre Premises Beehives The ELMT has several beehives, looked after with great dedicated by husband and wife team Khalil and Salma. Most are on the LMC roof, but there is a special observation hive in the 1st floor link area giving wonderful views to the public. This year during the summer months the observation beehive has been split into two, as part of managing the colony, giving more for visitors to see. This is very popular with school groups and the many visitors who come to the Mosque. ELMT Archives The Mosque has a rich collection of historical documents dating back to The new strong room was completed in March, with donations from local businesses and kind contributions from the Mosque. It is now ready for archive material to be deposited there. It has ample capacity for expansion, and is set to be the first repository for British-Muslim heritage in the UK. This project is important for Islam in the UK, enabling Muslims to appreciate their roots and the struggles of past generations. An aim is to promote learning and scholarship by providing access for researchers and students to historical documents, and to engage the non-muslim community in promoting cultural heritage dialogue and understanding. The reading room service on Saturday is still open to students, researchers and scholars. It is the aim of the ASG to link the history and social sciences departments with the ELMT Archives. There has been an increase in use of this service. It was a particular interest for the Princess Royal on her recent visit. The ASG are planning a launch of the official inauguration of the steering group in November, hoping to invite prominent dignitaries that share an interest in the archives collection. Projects and User Groups of ELMT The three buildings of the ELMT are regularly used by the following projects and user groups. Al-Ihsan Marriage & Advice Service Al-Isharah Deaf Muslim Project Al Mizan School ELM Evening Madrasah Faith Regen Foundation Islam Awareness Project Jibreel Institute Junior Muslim Circle London Iqra Institute London East Academy Maryam Women s Services Muslim Community Association Muslim Youth Network Muslimaat UK North African Community Association Pro Bono in the LMC Rainbow House Play Group Saturday Islamic School Society of Bangladeshi Students & Professionals Somali Development Association Tower Hamlets Council of Mosques The College Forum The Youth Forum The Survey of London featured the archival history of the East London Mosque, and the ASG anticipate further collections from the community.

29 Annual Report Historical Timeline Events Bookings Our facilities are popular for weddings, conference, seminars, and other hires. Managing the diverse use is very challenging. It means balancing the needs of the schools, internal user groups and worshippers in Ramadan with the necessity to generate income to pay for the running of the Mosque complex. Many organisations have discovered we provide an ideal venue for conferences, seminars, meetings, launches and exhibitions. ELMT Tenants AIC World Ltd Al-Isharah Al-Ihsan Marriage & Advice Service Arabian Nites Baraka Eatery Blackstone Business Hub Council of Mosques in Tower Hamlets Eastern Accounts Faith Regen UK Haji Taslim Funerals Hayaa Fitness Islamic Forum Trust Kuddus Solicitors London Iqra Institute (London Education Trust) Media Mohol & Amanah Europe Muslim Aid Our Choice Pro Bono in the LMC Rainbow House Reconcile Smartx7 Limited Sunnah Circumcision Trust Global 1910: On the 9th of November 1910, the Right Honourable Syed Ameer Ali arranged a meeting at the Ritz Hotel under the Chairmanship of the His Highness Sir Sultan Mohammad Shah Aga Khan III. The meeting resolved to establish a fund for the purpose of building a Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre in London. 1940: Three houses purchased for the Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre on Commercial Road. 1941: Official opening of the East London Mosque. The Jumu ah prayer was lead by His Excellency Sheikh Hafiz Wahba, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia. 1975: The Greater London Council (GLC) under compulsory purchase order acquired the three buildings in Commercial Road and in return provided land and temporary buildings on Whitechapel Road, London E : The foundation stone of the East London Mosque was laid, following a generous donation by HRH King Fahd of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 1985: The official opening of the newly built East London Mosque by Shaykh Abdullah bin Subail, Imam of Masjidul Haram, Makkah on Friday 12th July : East London Mosque raised 600,000 from the local community to buy the adjacent disused land to develop its extension programme. 2000: The land was officially purchased and planning began in earnest to build the extension programme to house much needed community facilities. 2002: ELM acquires full planning permission for the extension programme titled the London Muslim Centre from the Local Council. 2004: Opening of the London Muslim Centre, 11th June 2004, where over 15,000 people congregated to pray with Shaykh Abdur Rahman as-sudais, Imam of Makkah. 2006: Establishment of employment and training projects. 2008: Planning, design and consultation for the proposed new development of the East London Mosque (phase 2). 2009: Shaykh Abdur Rahman as-sudais, Imam of Masjidul Haram, Makkah leads groundbreaking ceremony in August This marks the expansion of the Mosque and women s facilities, with the building of the Maryam Centre. 2010: Centenary celebrations marking 100 years of the East London Mosque Trust. 2011: During Ramadan 2011, the Maryam Centre is 50% complete. 2013: The new Maryam Centre opens to the public in time for Ramadan, greatly expanding the facilities, especially for women. 2015: The Mosque acquires the Synagogue building next door for 1.5m with plans to redevelop it for community use.

30 30 The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre Financial Statement Incoming resources Unrestricted Restricted Total Total 2016 Voluntary income 1,068, ,932 1,547,428 1,646,960 Activities for generating funds 289, , ,157 Investment income 887, , ,612 Income from charitable activities - 899, , ,176 Other incoming resources 74,421-74,421 61,857 Total incoming resources 2,320,291 1,378,057 3,698,348 3,641,762 Resources expended Cost of generating voluntary income 53,246-53,246 44,434 Fundraising costs 123, , ,766 Investment costs 287, , ,773 Charitable activities costs 708,610 1,041,223 1,749,833 1,861,563 Support and governance costs 623, , ,589 Total resources expended 1,795,819 1,041,883 2,837,702 2,958,125 Board of Trustees 1. Muhammad Habibur Rahman, Chairman 2. Ayub Khan, Secretary 3. Mohammed Abdul Malik, Treasurer 4. Muhammad Siddique, Vice-Chairman 5. Abdul-Hayee Murshad 6. Mohammed Abdur Rahim Kamaly 7. Muhammad Abdul Bari 8. Rahela Choudhury 9. Shafiur Rahman 10. Sirajul Islam 11. Aman Ali 12. Mahera Ruby 13. Mazhar Baqaullah Khan 14. Sayeda Anzumara Begum 15. Sirajul Islam (Hira)

31 Annual Report

32 32 The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre Whitechapel Road, London E1 1JQ, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) Fax: +44 (0) Website: THE EAST LONDON MOSQUE TRUST IS A CHARITY ( ) AND A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE (468317) REGISTERED IN ENGLAND & WALES REGISTERED OFFICE: WHITECHAPEL ROAD, LONDON E1 1JQ