Muslim Community Association Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony – celebrating outstanding contribution by individuals for their service and solidarity with British Muslims

Musleh Faradhi, former school headteacher and the current President of the Muslim Community Association (MCA) congratulated honorees at the Muslim Community Service Awards (MCSA) and Gala Dinner, held today at the London Muslim Centre. Faradhi said, “each and every one of you have set an incredible example of what it means to take care of one’s neighbours and people around us. Your dedication and contribution have helped improved the lives of many Muslims in the UK. You have all shown a commitment to promoting community cohesion and integration; more importantly you have been tackling the poison of Islamophobia that blights the lives of so many Muslims.”

Talking about the aims of the MCSA, Faradhi added, “today we are here to recognise your outstanding contribution and dedication which is a cause of celebration for us all.  The MCSA is unique in that it seeks to celebrate the contributions of those who have helped and supported Muslim communities, to improve their conditions and quality of life.”

As a grassroots organisation, MCA hopes that issuing awards to individuals for contribution and support to the Muslim community will help bring communities together. Following a rigorous nomination process, finalists for the MCSA 2023 were shortlisted, which included outstanding individuals that have made significant contributions to the British Muslim community. The winners and runners up in different categories are:

Community Cohesion

1^st place: Leon Silver

2^nd place: Dinny (Denis) Hawes

Community Engagement

1^st place:: Late Neil Jamieson

2^nd place: Sister Christine Frost

Education and Development

1^st place: Peter Oborne

2^nd place: Katie Marshall

Community Welfare

1^st place: Vaughan Thomas

2^nd place: Reverend Prebendary Alan Green

Justice and Equality

1^st place:  Baroness Chakrabarti

2^nd place: Dominic Grieve KC

The winners in each category were presented with a trophy and cheque of £2,000 for their chosen charity, and second place received a trophy.

The event was attended by over 300 guests, including notable figures Councillor Mayum Miah, Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets; Mike Stonard, Leader of Norwich Council; Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow; Apsana Begum, MP for Poplar and Limehouse; and Zara Mohammad, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain. [End].

Notes to Editors:

1. The Muslim Community Association (MCA) is a community organisation whose values are enshrined in the Qur’an and the Prophetic Traditions. It charts a balanced message, the Middle Path (al-wasatiya) understanding of Islam and its members are guided by the spiritual teachings, ideals and moral values that emanate from their faith. It works to bring about a spiritual, moral and social renewal based on faith-based values.
2. The Muslim Community Service Awards (MCSA) is a project of the MCA which works to identify and recognise the contributions of individuals in the community for their outstanding contribution and support rendered to the Muslim community.
3. Media and other queries, contact Syed Tofael Hussain on 07780 924 984, [email protected]