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** Message from the Secretary General
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Asalaam alaikum,
Between Downing Street and the Treasury is a small nondescript entrance to the Churchill War Rooms. These were the underground headquarters of the British Government during WW2. One thing that always stood out to me was that they were completed on the day that war was declared.
The level of future planning and foresight exhibited in the fight against the forces of fascism is often breathtaking - from the Battle of Britain to the code-breakers of Bletchley Park.
It is safe to say that preparing for the future is not a feature of Muslim society or organisations and yet, it was the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who said, “There is no wisdom equal to good planning.” [Sunan Bayhaqi]
We must revive this sunnah, not just out of love for our master but also out of the need for self-preservation. The MCB is organising regional resilience dinners where invited guests won’t just be given food to raise their cholesterol, but emergency scenarios that will test their resolve.
Our challenges have evolved, our community has changed and therefore, so must our ability to deal with them. Let us hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. (If you would like to attend you regional resilience dinner, please email
[email protected])
Dr Wajid Akhter
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** Opportunities
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The Muslim Council of Britain is excited to launch today our Visionary Leadership Programmes.
A CALL TO PURPOSE, A CALL TO VISION.
Your launchpad to leadership awaits. This is more than a volunteer programme; it's your launch into leadership, your chance to elevate your voice, and your opportunity to make an impact that echoes far beyond your region. The countdown has begun. Are you ready to rise? Sign up now www.mcb.org/visionary
“Let there be a group among you who call others to goodness, encourage what is good, and forbid what is evil - it is they who will be successful.” (Qur’an 3:104)
There comes a moment in every generation when a people are called to rise and to carry a responsibility greater than themselves. A moment when shoulders must bear the weight of hope, duty, and renewal. That moment is now. As British Muslims, we stand at a defining crossroads. On one side, we face the harsh realities of our time - the rise of Islamophobia, widening health inequalities, the cost-of-living crisis and the deep roots of structural racism.
On the other, we see stories of triumph entrepreneurs shaping industries, leaders guiding communities, civil servants influencing policy, athletes breaking barriers and artists redefining culture. Between struggle and success lies our challenge and our opportunity. The tension of these two truths calls for direction, vision, and purpose.
This programme is where the journey begins: the first step in our Vision 2050. A bold, faith-inspired movement towards a future where British Muslim communities are united in purpose, empowered in voice, and integral to the fabric of British society - flourishing in faith, contributing to the common good and inspiring positive change across the nation.
Programme Eligibility
* Age Category: 18–30 years old
* Duration: January – September 2026 (9 months)
* Remuneration: Voluntary, Unpaid (travel and refreshments covered)
* Commitment: Approx. 5 hours per week
* Format: Online (via Zoom) and in-person sessions in London
* Placements: 2 per region (14 positions total across the UK)
* Regions: Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, North of England, Midlands, London, South, and West of England
* Applications Open: 18th November 2025
* Deadline: Wednesday 10th December midnight
* Interviews: December 2025 (online)
APPLY NOW: Deadline 10th December
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The Next Level
Rewriting History, Rethinking Ourselves
As part of our Next Level Webinar Series, this three-part journey invites us to explore how stories shape identity, belonging, and collective memory. Through powerful books and conversations with leading Muslim thinkers and writers, we’ll challenge dominant narratives, uncover forgotten histories, and reimagine who we are and who we can become.
We’ll be joined by Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, whose Tangled in Terror: Uprooting Islamophobia exposes how Islamophobia is woven into our systems and invites us to imagine liberation beyond it; Tharik Hussain, author of Muslim Europe: A Journey in Search of a Fourteen Hundred Year History, who traces the deep and often overlooked Islamic heritage of Europe; and Yassmin Abdel-Magied, whose Talking About a Revolution explores race, gender, belonging, and identity with unflinching honesty and hope.
Join us each Thursday in December for an evening of thought, reflection, and transformation – Register now ([link removed])
Register Here ([link removed])
Miqdaad Versi from MCB will also be speaking at the upcoming Labour Muslim Network conference titled Muslims in Britain: Our Political Future, taking place on Saturday 6th December 2025 in Westminster, London.
This major conference will be the largest Muslim political gathering in the UK in over a decade. More than 200 Labour members, activists, councillors, MPs, academics, and community leaders will come together to explore how we can strengthen representation, tackle discrimination, and build a confident and united political future for Muslim communities across Britain
Read more ([link removed])
** Public Affairs & Press Coverage
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MCB participated in the Forward Thinking Parliamentary Roundtable on Countering Islamophobia and Extremism with Baroness Patricia Morrison and will engage at the follow up roundtable on next steps for government to take action on these issues.
MCB hosted a series of community consultation roundtables on the upcoming Islamophobia definition that Ministers are yet to reveal, we are working with key community organisations who work on the frontlines of Islamophobia to develop key messages and developed a roadmap for the months ahead.
MCB wrote and published an statement ([link removed]) on the need for a more humane approach after the new asylum and policy reforms were announced by the Home Secretary which will negatively impact asylum seekers, see statement here.
We published this statement ([link removed]) on the increasing violations of the ceasefire by the Israeli government in the West Bank and called for international leaders to urge for Israel to be held to account. We also wrote to the Archbishop of York ([link removed]) to commend him on the bold truth he spoke about the genocidal acts committed following his visit to Palestine recently.
Our budget statement announcement can also be found here. ([link removed])
** Welcome to our new family of members
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A community-led collective serving the growing Muslim population in the Fermanagh-Omagh region. Our mission is to support Muslims, engage with our neighbours, and contribute to the wider community across Northern Ireland.
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Founded in 2016, the Muslim Leadership Foundation began as a group of young Muslim activists inspired by their experiences in the student movement.
United by a shared vision, they set out to nurture a new generation of leaders grounded in justice, compassion, and integrity—leaders equipped to contribute meaningfully to society and serve with purpose.
** Grants & Funding
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For projects improving the lives of deaf children & families.
Supports poverty relief & community wellbeing initiatives.
The Boring Fund helps small non-profit organisations (based in the UK) cover a bit of the boring costs that keep them running.
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