A network of British Muslim Charities working for social good at home and abroad - Muslim Charities Forum
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
A network of British Muslim Charities working for social good at home and abroad
Prophet Muhammad PBUH said “Whosoever directs a person to do good, will have a reward similar to the one who does that good”
Foreword from the CEO
For more than 10 years since its inception in 2007, MCF has worked to support British Muslim
charities to access the skills, tools, information and networks they need to maximise the
effectiveness of their work and improve the lives of people around the world.
The British Muslim charity sector has grown considerably over the last decade, especially in the
most recent years.
We estimate that in 2018 there are more than one hundred Muslim charities registered in the
UK, which work internationally in more than 80 countries and regions in need around the
world. Supported by the generosity of the British Muslim public (which have consistently
shown to be Britain’s top charity givers), this sector collectively raises around £450M a
year—with a seasonal peak we estimate at around £80-85M during the holy month of
Ramadan.
In addition, recent years have witnessed the emergence of a significant number of Muslim
charities working in the UK on range of social welfare issues—such as poverty, community
development, and Islamophobia.
Taken together, these trends and developments highlight the great role that UK Muslim
charities are playing for social good at home and abroad.
However, in order to fully capitalise on this potential and in light of an increasingly challenging
operating environment, it is now more important than ever for British Muslim charities to be
working together, and to be expressing the collective achievements of the sector to donors,
supporters and critics. And MCF provides a unique platform to do just that.
In order to develop a new strategy through which reinvigorating and redirecting our efforts, in
2017 we conducted an internal review which comprised a wide-ranging consultation with
trustees, CEOs, staff from MCF’s members, and external stakeholders and experts. The findings
of the review have informed our new strategy, which is summarised in this booklet,
In presenting our new strategy, we are conscious that
our work, efforts and achievements are collective in
their nature. For this reason, I would like to thank
previous and current staff and the MCF’s trustees for
their dedication, commitment and support of MCF. I
would also like to thank the numerous partners and
external stakeholders who continue to work with us to
improve the effectiveness of the British Muslim
charitable sector, and to nurture a constructive
operating environment. And, last but not least, I would
like to thank MCF’s current and upcoming members, Fadi Itani
for their support and trust: our determination to CEO, Muslim Charities Forum
support British Muslim charities to contribute to social
good is stronger than ever.
1
About us
We are the UK network for British Muslim charities working for social good in the
UK and abroad.
Through our network, we aim to collectively build a more accountable, transparent
and efficient British Muslim charitable sector, in order to improve our ability—both
as individual organisations and as a sector—to contribute to a more just and
sustainable world.
When we think about the future and the potential of British Muslim charities,
we see ourselves at the forefront in ensuring a truly connected sector that places at
its core the values of humanity, accountability, transparency, effectiveness and
excellence.
“There is immense value in
having a representative body”
2
About us
Our Vision
To see British Muslim charities making the biggest difference they can towards a
more just and sustainable world.
Our Mission
To enable British Muslim charities to become more effective and reach their full
potential.
Our Values
The MCF network consists of a diverse membership, reflecting the diversity found
among British Muslim communities. Despite this diversity, we are united by values
that are rooted in our shared faith of Islam, which are:
Humanity. We believe that all human beings are created equally and with
the same God-given dignity: serving humankind — regardless of their
differences — is one of the most noble actions any person can undertake.
Accountability. We believe that all resources are made available by God in
the form of trust: we are ‘trustees’ of the resources at our disposal and we
are accountable to the people we serve, the public, regulatory bodies and
ultimately to God for our actions.
Transparency. Our shared faith encourages us to be truthful and reliable,
and to keep records of our interactions. Therefore, we are committed to
be clear and open about our policies, our resources, and our impact.
Effectiveness. Our shared faith encourages us to be productive and to
avoid wastefulness. Therefore, we are committed to conduct efficient
allocation of resources and to monitor our performance.
Excellence. Our shared faith encourages us to strive for excellence in all
that we do. Therefore, we are committed to operate in a legal, ethical, and
professional way, doing things with sincere intentions and in the best,
most correct, and most complete manner.
“There’s an inherent humanitarianism in our faith”
[Dr Hany El-Banna, Founder of MCF] 3
MCF Strategy 2018-2021
We support
We support MCF members and their staff by providing a set of services to enhance
their capabilities and help them to respond to a rapidly evolving environment—so
that they can strengthen their accountability to stakeholders, improve their
efficiency and have greater impact.
Our activities in this area are aimed at helping members to build or strengthen:
good governance;
inspiring leadership;
robust organisational systems and policies;
awareness of emerging opportunities and challenges, and ability to respond
appropriately.
We connect
Networks are among the most powerful assets of MCF and its members: as a source
of knowledge, experience and skills, they enable debating issues, sharing
knowledge, mobilising resources and delivering impact.
Our activities in this area are aimed at:
nurturing productive relationships among our members
strengthening the relationship of MCF and its members with a wide range of
external stakeholders, such as policymakers, governmental bodies,
membership organisations/networks, and research institutions
We represent
In an increasingly challenging operating environment, it is important for British
Muslim charities to develop and project a data-driven, self-confident, collective
voice - one that is heard and genuinely considered in the big debates that are
important to them.
Our activities in this area are aimed at:
aggregating thinking and experiences of the British Muslim charity sector
acting as a showcase for MCF members projecting a joint voice for the
British Muslim charity sector
“Cooperate with one another in good deeds...”
[Quran 5:2] 4
Member services
We Support with We Connect with We Represent, so
free and affordable access to unique our collective voice
opportunities for networking contributes to an increased
organisational and opportunities within recognition within the British
individual development our membership and (Muslim and wider) charitable
and growth the wider charitable sector; contributing and
sector engaging in debates
At MCF, one of the many benefits of membership is rooted in being part of a large
representative body whereby things can be achieved which would otherwise not
be possible alone. Members’ benefits include:
Visibility: As members of the only UK network for British Muslim charities working
for the social good at home and abroad, MCF members enjoy increased
recognition within the UK’s Muslim and wider charitable sector.
Influence: MCF listens to the needs and challenges of its members, and provides a
voice for them on advocacy platforms that are difficult to access as a single
organisation.
Networking: Through its events and social networks, MCF offers free access to
networking and partnerships opportunities within the British Muslim and wider
charitable sector.
Training: Members have discounted access to a wide variety of training events
specifically tailored to the needs of British Muslim charities, facilitated by MCF and
delivered by skilled professionals who are experts in their field.
Knowledge-exchange: Members have free access to MCF’s member-led working
groups and to a range of resources MCF shares and signposts through its website
and social media.
Representation: Representation: full members can appoint up to 6 Trustees (50%
of MCF’s Board); ordinary members can appoint up to 3 Trustees (25% of MCF’s
Board). The remaining 3 Co-opted Trustees (25% of the Board) are appointed by
existing Trustees (MCF’s Co-opted Trustees are independent Board members and
are not affiliated with any MCF members).
“We need to speak with one voice – MCF has
allowed us to do that”
[MCF member feedback] 5
Our members have access to
MCF supports our members with the right tools and opportunities to develop and
increase their impact.
We produce briefings and research papers, create networking opportunities, and
coordinate specialist working groups (e.g. on Finance & Compliance and
Programmes.)
Additional forums are created to respond to crisis situations, media challenges,
safeguarding and other topical and important matters.
We provide members with:
Access to our online Knowledge Bank which contains an extensive database
of information, guidance and documents supporting our member
organisations, as well as shared policies and procedures from member
organisations.
Access to policy and regulation consultations to allow members to directly
influence policy decisions as a large representative body, which are normally
difficult to access as a single voice.
Advertise job vacancies, events and services on our website to connect new
talent in the sector and development opportunities to build the skill set of
existing staff.
Media representation providing a united voice for issues affecting Muslim
NGO’s and their beneficiaries, as a united representative body.
Vote at the MCF’s AGM, as a democratic
organisation our members decide
how the organisation is governed and
appoint the board of trustees at MCF’s
annual AGM.
“We joined [MCF] to increase our capacity, the
capacity of our sector and the advocacy that we do”
[MCF member feedback] 6
What we have done
For over a decade we have worked to provide a helping hand to organisations,
trustees and staff of British Muslim charitable organisations. Since its foundation in
2007 MCF’s membership has more than tripled. The diversity among members has
also increased, with smaller NGOs joining MCF, with members serving both
international and domestic programmes.
Some of our activities have included;
Public meetings in the House of Commons
Safeguarding event with LSE
Training on Sphere Standards
Unified Zakat-ul-Fitr
Workshops and seminars with partners including the Charity Commission,
International Committee of the Red Cross, CAFOD, BWB and others.
Advocacy Events
Risk management seminar
Conference on ‘Islam and the humanitarian sector’ in association with
the ICRC
Defamation Law workshop, run in association with BWB
Millennium Development Goals and SDG’s conference
Muslim charity and civil society leader’s delegation to
European Commission in Brussels
Evidence giving for the protection of the charities bill
Reports with ODI, LSE and contributions made to the
World Humanitarian Summit on diaspora groups.
Founding members of the Muslim Climate Action coalition
“Each of us brings different skill sets and experience, capacity and
perspectives to the table, and together we form a humanitarian
ecosystem that values diversity over uniformity and collaboration
over non-cooperation. For this, we should all be proud…The Muslim
Charities Forum (MCF) exemplifies this type of collaboration.”
[Stephen O’Brien Former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator 2017]
The membership network so far
Our diverse network includes both well established and smaller developing NGOs.
Internationally, MCF members serve millions of people in need who live in poor or
disaster-stricken regions around the globe. In the UK, MCF members respond to
local crises and promote social welfare and greater cohesion by working with local
communities.
Our members
“United under MCF we are able to deliver much more
than by acting alone…ARF acknowledges the role and
work MCF does as the leader of a forum of committed
and dedicated charities that serve humanity in the
forgotten hostilities and abandoned disasters.”
[African Relief Fund, MCF member]
8“Since its foundation the Muslim Charity Forum has done superb work acting for and coordinating Muslim NGOs in Britain through their growth, shared learning, and collaboration” [MCF Patron Sir Stephen Bubb, former Chief Executive of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisation (ACEVO)]
Join us
MCF membership is now open to all registered British Muslim charities that are
active in the UK on a broader range of social welfare issues.
All MCF members must be registered with the Charity Commission for England
and Wales, the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, or the Office of the
Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).
Whilst MCF recognises that British Muslim charities include a variety of
organisations (e.g. Mosques; Muslim Cultural Centres; etc.), only those that run or
support projects in the UK or abroad which have one or more of the following
purposes are eligible for MCF membership:
the advancement of health or saving of lives
the prevention or relief of poverty
overseas aid/famine relief
sustainable development
environment/climate change
training & community development
human rights/religious or racial harmony
disability
education
To request an application form or to find out more about how to become a
member, call us on 0203 096 1983 or email info@muslimcharitiesforum.org.uk
“Since its foundation, the Muslim Charities Forum has
made great strides in raising the profile of the sector
and in guiding the development and accountability of
Muslim charities in the UK.”
[Islamic Relief UK, Founding Member]
10“It’s [MCF] a force for unity, that unifies the sector.”
[MCF Member feedback]
12Join us Call us to find out more about how to 020 3096 1983 become a member info@muslimcharitiesforum.org.uk
6 Whitehorse Mews, 37 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7QD 020 3096 1983 info@muslimcharitiesforum.org.uk www.muslimcharitiesforum.org.uk @muslimcharities Charity Reg. Number: 1166149
You can also read
