1st October marks the start of Black History Month (BHM). The MCB’s Proudly Muslim & Black project has been listening to a wide variety of Black Muslim-led organisations since early 2019 to better understand how to tackle racism, intolerance and other anti-Black attitudes that exist within British Muslim communities.
This October we're excited to be delivering an anti-racism conference with workshops on a range of topics delivered by expert facilitators from across Black Muslim communities in the UK, as well as other exciting initiatives. Watch this space for more information.
Operation Vaccination
Operation Vaccination is a campaign to increase awareness in Muslim communities about the importance of getting a flu vaccination this winter 2020-21.
Flu affects our immune system, making it easier for us to contract other infections, like COVID-19 or pneumonia, and can make other long-term illnesses worse. With Muslim communities having higher mortality rates of COVID-19 than any other faith group, flu threatens to further impact the health of our communities.
Differently Abled Muslims: What Support is Available?
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 15% of the world’s population has a disability.
There are several UK Muslim-led organisations and campaigns providing support and advice for British Muslims living with a disability. Many also offer advice on making your mosque, madrasa or community centre more accessible for differently abled Muslim adults and children. Check-out the summary graphic or find out more by visiting www.mcb.org.uk/disability.
CfMM's "How the British Media Reports Terrorism" Panel Discussion
On the 29th of September, Centre for Media Monitoring held a successful discussion with a distinguished panel of leading security editors, correspondents and experts on its latest report “How The British Media Reports Terrorism”. Chaired by Channel 4’s presenter Jon Snow, the discussion included topics such as:
Why are attacks by Muslims more readily described as “terrorism”?
Why are White Supremacists more likely to be called “lone wolves”?
And how can the media be more consistent?
Here’s what some of the panellists said:
Jon Snow: "This report is incredibly important. We need to read and inwardly digest and be very wary of how we as journalists behave. There is a residual, underlying behaviour which is very well illustrated in this report. I'm uplifted by this report, by its clarity."
Rohit Kachroo: "One of the values of this report is the dozens and dozens of examples, which helps back up the claims on issues that we see but can't prove, when we go to editors. This document is a credible piece of research to contribute and even change the conversation"
Lizzie Dearden: "The report is a concrete evidence base to help take to editors and encourage adopting some (if not all) of the recommendations."
Open House London x MCB: Faith Buildings during Lockdown: Dynamic or Dormant?
As part of the Open House London festival, the Muslim Council of Britain hosted an online panel discussion exploring how different faith buildings and their congregations have adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic and what role have faith buildings and their architecture played in the evolution of worship.
We were joined by Revd Sally Massey (St Paul's Bayswater and Kensington United Reformed Churches), Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg (New North London Synagogue), Sufia Alam (East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre) and our chair, Hassan Joudi, Deputy Secretary General of the MCB.
Open House London is an annual festival celebrating the architecture and urban landscape of London.
As we are seeing a continuing surge in cases in Britain in the last few weeks, its essential our Muslim communities are prepared for the second wave and the challenges we will be facing this winter. The MCB will be restarting regular community briefing sessions, starting on:
Tuesday, 6th October from 5:30pm - 6:45pm.
Join our panelists in learning how to best protect ourselves and our communities who will be discussing:
We have created a template Jumu'ah Khutbah (Friday sermon) about the second wave of COVID-19, and how we can best keep our families and loved ones safe.
To view template Friday sermons on other topics, please visit here.
Our Mosques Our Future: 27 - 29 November
This year's Our Mosques Our Future conference will be taking place online, 27-29 November 2020, on the theme #BeyondCOVID.
The Call for Contributions is currently open until 12 October. Proposals are invited on a range of topics, from The Digital Mosque and Online Fundraising, to Mental Health and Mosque Leadership & Governance During Uncertain Times
The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) is conducting an online talk on Cancer Screening in Community Centres and Mosques across the country this October - November 2020.
This campaign aims to raise awareness around the National Cancer Screening Programmes for breast, bowel and cervical cancer in the UK and their importance.
Adoption Friday is the UK's biggest day for raising awareness about adoption within the Muslim community. It will be launched on 16th October to coincide with Black History Month and National Adoption Week (12 – 18 October). Click here if you would like to register for Adoption Friday.
A briefing with CEO My Adoption Family, Shadim Hussain, will also be held on 6th October, 10am - 12pm. To book your place on the Zoom call, please register.
The Canary Wharf Chaplaincy team is now expanding the Muslim Chaplaincy provision, by recruiting a part-time Muslim Chaplain Trainee to work alongside the current Muslim Chaplain, Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra. The successful candidate must have a minimum of three years' experience as an imam or equivalent and be self-motivated.
Email the Chaplaincy Office Manager, Jane Tappenden ([email protected]), to request for application forms and job description.
Closing date for applications: 16th October 2020
Interviews will be in the week beginning 2nd November 2020
For full job description, please click here (PDF).
Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Faith-Based Leadership in University of Birmingham
This programme will launch in December 2020. Applications are scheduled to be opened in late September 2020. Click here to find out more about the MPA programme.
If you are applying for the MPA and are working for an English organisation, you may under some circumstances be eligible to apply to take the programme as a Degree Apprenticeship (DA). Click here for the guidance to apply for funding for this apprenticeship.
