Frequently Asked Questions

Why We Are Starting This Initiative

Our community has outgrown the current masjid on New Street (Al Birr). It has served us for over 30 years, but it is a small, ageing facility that can accommodate around 150 people and offers no space for women for Jumu’ah or Taraweeh. It currently provides only the basic daily prayers, with no plans from the existing management to expand, adapt, or move forward.

As the Muslim population continues to grow—especially families and young people—we believe the community now needs a forward-thinking, future-proof Masjid and Community Centre that reflects the needs of the current and next generation.

As the current Masjid was unable to expand their facility and services to meet the growing needs of the community, we decided to take the initiative and begin working towards a long-term solutionAs a result, a small group of us decided to take the initiative and begin working towards a long-term solution.

What We Have Done So Far

• Established independent Jumu’ah prayers: Since February 2024, we have been holding Jumu’ah prayers every Friday at 1:15pm at Heathcote Community Centre for both men and women, which has been well attended and successful.
• Registered a new charity: We have formally set up a registered charity, with a clear constitution that is available for review.
• Opened a charity bank account: The charity has an official bank account with multiple signatories in place for transparency and governance.
• Property research completed: We have explored local properties. Purchasing a suitable building or land will cost £600,000 – £1 million. Running costs are estimated at £100,000 per year. We cannot realistically make offers unless we have most of the purchase funds already secured.

What We Are Trying to Build

Our aim is to establish an inclusive Masjid and Community Centre that serves men, women, children, families, and the wider community.

Currently Available

What We Aim to Introduce

Full details are available on our GiveBrite page.

Our Phased Approach

We understand that this is a long-term project. Communities don’t build institutions overnight. For example, the local Sikh community raised £11 million over 30 years to establish their Gurdwara.

We realistically expect this project to take at least 12 months to reach our initial £500,000 target.

Governance & Inspiration

We have carefully studied and drawn inspiration from well-established and respected institutions, including:

• Green Lane Masjid
• Ar-Rahmah Trust
• Kokni Masjid