A Very Merry Muslim Christmas December 2017 All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims A Very Merry Muslim Christmas appgbritishmuslims.org facebook.com/APPGBritMuslims @APPGBritMuslims A Very Merry Muslim Christmas A Very Merry Muslim Christmas The APPG pays tribute to the thousands Abida Malik and Louis Carserides, of of faith based charities, volunteer groups Bridge Institute, for a focus group held and community organisations in the UK in Nottingham for the purposes of this who perform invaluable acts of charity inquiry by the APPG. in our local communities; not often The statistics reproduced in this recognised but never forgotten by those report have been provided by the charities touched by acts of kindness. in their submissions to the APPG. The APPG acknowledges the work of This report was made possible by its staff, Hayyan Bhabha, Gulsum Aytac, generous support from Penny Appeal, Muhbeen Hussain and Arman Musafir for World Federation of KSIMC and the Aziz their hard work organising the evidence Foundation. We thank them all for their sessions and in compiling this summary support. The views expressed in this report. report do not necessarily reflect the views The APPG would also like to of the funders. acknowledge the kind support of Dr This is not an official publication of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It has not been approved by either House or its committees. All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed in this report are those of the group. A Very Merry Muslim Christmas A Very Merry Muslim Christmas Foreword oo often, Muslim charities our British Muslim communities which come to our attention because are not considered ‘newsworthy’, which of negative media coverage are not given due credit, and which of governance issues or bad all too easily slip into the background practice among a handful of because too little of it is captured Tindividuals working in the charity sector, and disseminated by British Muslim or, because of latent fears about charities charities themselves. While charity being abused for terrorism financing, giving is a pillar of faith, so is observing even though evidence assembled by the humility. Muslims quietly go about Charities Commission recognises the charity giving in a way that is consistent near non-existent level of threat of such with the emphasis in Islam on discretion; abuse in the sector. What is less well of ‘giving charity so that the left hand appreciated, and rarely celebrated, is the does not know what the right hand gives’, fantastic range of work done by Muslim but this is a story which needs to be told charities in the UK which evoke the very and we want to be the ones to tell it. Let best of our British Muslim communities: us celebrate the benefits of a multi-faith a commitment to giving to those less society, where people from different fortunate than themselves, a desire faith traditions focus their charitable to help those in need, a willingness to activities on helping their neighbours in volunteer time, professionalism and towns and cities across the UK. extend friendship to those who are We are a stronger society, a simply in need of a warm embrace, a more vibrant, diverse and thriving friendly face and/or a place to go for a society because of the many different free hot meal. contributions made to our lives and the lives of others by the Muslim charitable sector. What we hear even less about is the ‘Muslim We have been touched by the evidence presented to Merry Christmas’. The soup kitchens, the food us and humbled by the breadth banks, the Christmas dinners, the New Year of support given to vulnerable, clean up – work Muslim charities will be busy marginalised and dispossessed groups by British Muslim doing during the Christmas period. charities. We have the privilege of presenting some of their work here while a full report on The untold story of British Muslim our findings will be released in the New charities is what the APPG on British Year. Muslims wants to highlight in this British Muslim charities haven’t summary report, drawing on oral and received the kind of attention they written evidence presented to the group deserve. At this time of year, when during hearings held in Parliament in Muslim charities are working alongside November. We want to showcase some many other faith based charities to of the amazing initiatives developed spread good cheer, peace on earth and and delivered by Muslim charities, and goodwill to all we hope our preliminary to counter the negative stereotypes findings highlights and celebrates their which mask and distort so much of work. A very Merry Muslim Christmas the wonderful work they do in local to all! communities. In this season of peace and goodwill Anna Soubry and Wes Streeting, to all, the APPG on British Muslims co-chairs of the APPG wanted to refocus attention on aspects of on British Muslims. 5 Grenfell Tower Health Homelessness Prisoners Response Blood Donation Grenfell Muslim Response Unit Total Assisted Over 300,000 Over 400 People IUS Imam Hussain Assisted Blood Donation Campaign Over £140,000 Financial assistance was provided. 16% Over 3,000 hot meals were served. Increase in homelessness All from one charitable service provider Over 1,000 emergency calls were taken. across the UK since 2016 Over 30 people were provided emergency 720 shelter. blood donations in 2016 Lead almost 50 funeral services. Overall Food Distribution Equivalent to Over 300,000 2,160 5,040 Team Orange Food packs / Hot meals Adults Children Penny appeal were one of the first charities Since 2006: Total Donations - 3,408 on the ground to support the victims and families affected by the Grenfell Tower. InTouch Foundation Provided Equivalent to: 10,224 adults & 23,856 infants Over two consecutive days at the Westway Trust’ Sports and Fitness Centre, which was quickly established as a refuge, information 200k 500k hub and volunteer centre in collaboration Meals Drinks 32% with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Everyone Active, British Red Cross, Expected increase in among others. blood donations 2017 Almost 6,000 Provided Winter Warmer packs, Provided by Al-Mizan Trust, Clinical Support Over 300 Muslim Aid and Penny Appeal Hot Meals Muslim Doctors Palmers Association Green Mosque Over 100 Over 250 2015 - 2016 Large Blankets Food Parcels National Zakat Foundation Aim to provide care In the last 2 years for people with no Donation for supported housing delivered free fixed abode, who health checks, would otherwise find it advice and life difficult to access NHS. Muslim Aid Over 350k support training Invested in an in the UK. Ambulance Yearly cost of Over £177,000 Ambulance: 500 up to £30K was raised by Muslim Aid in response to the People were Grenfell Tower Fire provided free Human Appeal Extensive clinical Distributions Towards health checks volunteer base of Grants Provided over 300 Immediate Cash Assistance Partnered with One Roof Leicester Food Provisions to pilot a multi-faith night shelter 1000 clinicians Resettlement Support project that rotates around seven People were Funeral Services places of worship, for ten rough provided free Voluntary team sleeprs each night. health advice includes: The Muslim Doctors’ Paramedics Following consultation with various Association is General Practitioners / stakeholders, the project is now hosted by currently working Hospital Doctors the National Zakat Foundation and is now on a smartphone Nurses funded by four amazing charities, NZF app to improve itself, Islamic Relief Aid, all of whom are access to high Pharmacists committed to the vision of GMRU. quality antenatal Emergency Responders care for pregnant refugee women Prisoners Social Support Women & Children Total Assisted Prisoner Rehabilitation Project Food Banks Housing 234% Increase in Muslim prison Al-Mizan Trust Partnered with: Beta National Zakat Foundation of the total population 1997 - 2015 Charitable Trust, Islamic Unity Society & Zakat distributed Salam Centre to create Sufra NW London Almost Muslim Aid aims to reduce the Over £100,000 re-offending rate through structured Invested in core costs mentoring and opportunity placements 25% - 35% utilising trained and skilled volunteers. Over 14,000 Went towards women projects such People provided food aid as housing services over 4 years To date, 170 mentors have Muslim Aid been recruited and referred Collaborated with Sufra NW London. 27 to prison chaplains for They also provided hot meals to the beds were also provided training and pairing, and the elderly & the homeless. for vulnerable women expenditure on the project Projected that 250 vulnerable people will benefit from the initiative has almost reached £50,000. UKEFF 2016 Aims to reduce street homelessness by 50% among service users Over £17,000 Salma: Food Bank Was provided for income loss and General Welfare Fund Provided food to 7,000 people temporary relocation, victims of abuse, women groups, young children. Food item donation Al-Mizan Trust awards grants to Open door policy meet recipients’ individual needs. Warehouse open Mon-Fri Al-Mizan Trust Prisoners are but one beneficiary. 400 Provided mother & baby kits Grant Size Human Appeal 400 £50+ Deaf world project Back to school backpacks Small 60 Hard of hearing young people support 2014 - 2015 £200+ Appox 45.4% Medium Manchester Arena Attack of the general welfare fund was awarded to women & children £500+ 22 Over £25,000 Large Victims Supported Raised Adoption & Fostering Programme Human Appeal Total Donation 2016 Grants Provided Penny Appeal Over £19.2m Held over 30 adoption & fostering events Over 200 Cost: 2014 - 2015 £100,000 Funded Applicants Over 300 Adoption & Fostering applications assessed Over 40 Applications provided to service users Cost: £250,000 (Supported by DFE) Key points Impact of Muslim charitable works are Some of the larger Muslim charities difficult to estimate given the number of are recalibrating their distribution of Muslim charities, their vast range of work, charitable funds to commit more money and the low priority given to documenting to domestic projects and services.