2022-03-31-accounts - The Convert Muslim Foundation

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Convert Muslim Foundation News update and

Congratulations for the Blessed month of RAMADAN

RESETTLEMENT & REHABILITATION

In the height of the Covid pandemic, and during a brief lull in the lockdown restrictions in October 2020, the CMF held a weekend programme based around the plight of the alarming numbers of Muslims in UK prisons and, more importantly for CMF as an organisation that supports those who convert to Islam, what support can be provided to the growing numbers of prisoners who Convert to Islam while serving both short and long-term prison sentences. The attached report was published and, together with other research, will form the backdrop to a series of on-line meetings with stakeholders to establish collaborative initiatives that will address the concerns highlighted.

Cover of the report and pdf file for download and reading
Pull a quote from the file –
Photos and excerpt videos from the event

RESEARCH & PUBICATONS

The Convert Muslim Foundation and the Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK, University of Cardif have signed an MOU to conduct research within the field of British Muslim Studies, specifically on the subject of Muslim converts in Britain. Our hope is that this unique area of research, that of leadership roles of Muslim converts in a broad range of social and religious spheres and their contribution to the ‘indigenisation’ of Islam in Britain, will add value to the existing body of research on Conversion to Islam and conversion narratives. Interviews for this post-doctoral research will begin shortly with a research timescale of three years in duration.

Post-Doctoral Research Project – Job Description …. Please refer to Cardif University and Convert Muslim Foundation websites in March of this year for full details of this post for Researcher - Grade 6: www.convertmuslimfoundation.org.uk www.cardif.ac.uk

Memorandum of Understanding This collaborative agreement was made on Date: 21.10.2021

CONVERT CARE WEBSITE

The Convert Muslim Foundation, having conducted a national mapping exercise of those Muslim Organisation’s and individual who provide convert care, have established a new and innovative website: www.convertcare.org

The website provides new Muslims, and those interested in Islam, easy access to registered convert care providers. Each be contacted directly to get the support required towards meeting short and long term needs. For more information, please check out our NEW website: www.convertcare.org

Convert Muslim Foundation continues to direct those who contact them on a daily basis to their nearest convert care facility and assist them towards finding suitable guidance and support. If, having checked out this website you know of a facility that does not appear there, please do kindly get in touch and let us know: info@convertmuslimfoundation.org.uk

QATAR ARABIC SCHOLARSHIPS

The Convert Muslim Foundation continues to work with its colleagues at Qatar University who have nominated CMF as being one of the organisations selected as a beneficiary of the award of one annual scholarship to their Arabic Program for Non-native Speakers (ANNS) for the Academic year 2022/2023. Our current scholarship student, convert to Islam Irina, is already mid-way through the academic year 2021/2022 while the newly nominated student, Emily, is already working through the scholarship application process for the academic year 2022/2023. This is a truly wonderful opportunity which each student places tremendous value and for which CMF are hugely grateful. Our current student Irina had this to say about her first semester:

BEING MUSLIM

The CMF were fortunate to receive a kind donation of £500 with a request it be used to purchase a suitable book that would form part of an ideal reading list or Gift Pack for those new to Islam. Based on consultation, 50 copies of ‘Being Muslim: A Practical Guide’ by Dr Asad Tarsin were purchased and delivered FREE to 5 Convert Care facilitators in packs of 10. These included New Beginnings, Cambridge New Muslims, City Retreat Leicester, Edinburgh New Muslims with others posted out to individual New Muslims around the UK. The CMF have placed an order for 500 copies of this title, Being Muslim, for FREE distribution to prisons all over the UK and, though these have been delayed due to COVID and shipping issues with the USA, we remain confident that we can and will deliver, God Willing.

Book Cover image

SEERAH UMRAH TOUR for Converts to Islam – ‘In the Footsteps of Muhammed’ SAW

This unique programme, just completed, was a collaborative initiative between Dometours International and the Convert Muslim Foundation The aim of the tour was that those taking part would not only have the blessed opportunity to perform Umrah but would also be emersed in the Seerah – the history of early Islam, the life of Rasul SAW and the events that surrounded this truly unique period in our collective identity as Muslims. Walking tours of the immediate areas surrounding the Haram in Makkah and Madinah, walking in the footsteps of Rasul SAW to Quba Mosque which he did most Saturday mornings after Fajr Salah, bus tours to significant Mosques, museums and places of interest were included in the programme.

Such an event is of vital importance to converts to Islam who have found that visiting the sacred sites and performing the pilgrimages, both Hajj and Umrah, to be a grounding experience that helped them find their spiritual home.

This year’s Umrah took place from 10[th] – 20[th] February, Next years Umrah is already under discussion! PHOTOS of UMRAH

ZAKAT DISTRIBUTION

The Convert Muslim Foundation distributed the sum of £5,000 in amounts of up to £250 to needy converts to Islam who requested financial support. The funds were kindly donated by well-wishers, particularly those who wish to revive the category of Zakat mentioned in the Qur’an, AlMu'allafatuQulubuhum – the support of those who have converted to Islam. We would like to express our very sincere thanks to the kindness of the donors and hope that they will reap the rewards of this as a Sadaqa Jariyah in this life and in the next.

UPCOMING PROJECTS AND EVENTS

FAITHFUL COMPANIONS

Upon taking the huge step to accept Islam take Shahada, one thing is for certain, their life will never be the same again. Unfortunately, many people are not prepared for the changes that will take place making their journey in Islam painful instead of pleasing and chaotic instead of calming. This is where the help of a companion is invaluable.

The goal of this project is to create a robust method to connect new Muslims with a suitable companion, who can sensitively guide them to advance their faith and knowledge without judgement and in safe space.

While there are already examples of mentoring for New Muslims in existence the Faithful Companions project aims to bring more structure through setting standards and parameters, providing training and guidance to those wishing to mentor so that there is a greater understanding of what it is New Muslims need and how to achieve this in sha Allah.

Watch this space for details of this in the coming months.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

As collaborators with Cardiff Universities Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK and with respect to CMF’s Health and Wellbeing project we would like to draw attention to a FREE online course – Understanding Muslim Mental Health – Please do take advantage of this opportunity so that Convert Care facilitators arrive at a fuller understanding of mental health and are better equipped to address its efects within the convert Muslim community. Course begins in May 2022. Please follow the link:

htps://www.cardif.ac.uk/news/view/2591956-free-online-course-exploring-mental-health-inmuslim-communites

Monthly Fiqh Seminar with scholars

Providing regular opportunities to directly access knowledgeable scholars on particular topics of note for converts.

ONGOING ANNUAL EVENTS

Ramadan Retreat

This annual event has had to be an on-line Zoom initiative for the past two years. Fortunately, this year we are able to have a gathering in person for which we are thrilled and delighted. However, this means that attendance will be higher than usual and of course there will be a huge demand on accommodation which may be bolstered by providing information on local hotels and B&B’s. We will do our very best to facilitate attendance for everyone who wants to join us. The event will take place on the weekend of 22[nd] – 24[th] April 2022 at the Markfield Conference Centre, LE67 9SY.

UPCOMING EVENTS - planned for the future include Radio Ramadan ; New to Islam Residential Weekends ; Oral Histories Project, Collaborative Seminars with Convert Care Providers and ‘Caravan of Converts’ events – the first of which we hope to hold in the June of 2022.

NEW TEAM MEMBER

We are pleased to announce our newest team member and a valued member of staf, Ms Kerry Mannan , to the position of Executive Officer. A convert of 16 years, mum of 2 teenagers, as well as 5 years of experience in the field of New Muslim Support Kerry joined CMF in July of 2021.

In the course of time, we hope to add new and innovative staf members to our existing team as we continue to grow and develop the organisation and launch the many projects we have in the pipeline. If you have a passion and energy for this work and have particular skills you feel you can bring to the table, please do get in touch with us at info@convertmuslimfoundaton.org.uk

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS

We would like to sincerely thank all of you, our funders, who feel that our work is deserving of your support. There are no words that can suitably express our gratitude. We hope that this overview of the work done and what we have yet to accomplish will compel you to continue your kind generosity towards supporting those intending to and have already committed to Islam and their continued support and wellbeing. Thank you and may Allah bless you.

The Convert Muslim Foundation (Registered charity, number 1187573) Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

Page	Contents
2 - 5	Trustees’ annual report
6	Independent examiner’s report
7	Receipts & payments account
8	Statement of assets & liabilities
9	Notes to the accounts

The Convert Muslim Foundation Trustees’ annual report for the year ended 31 March 2022

Full name The Convert Muslim Foundation

Organisation type Charitable incorporated organisation

Registered charity number 1187573

Principal address

45 Oakfield Avenue, Leicester, LE67 9WH

Trustees

Andrew Barson, Chair Benjamin Abu Ismail Zoe Hibell Warren Clementson Sariya Cheruvallil

Independent examiner

John O’Brien, employee of Community Accounting Plus, Units 1 & 2 North West, 41 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GL

Governance and management

The charity is operated under the rules of its constitution adopted 24 January 2020.

The CMF is an equal opportunities organisation (and employer) that aims to have a diverse mix of skills and backgrounds amongst staff and the members of the Board of Trustees that reflects the diverse community we work with. These values guide the process of selecting new Trustees to the organisation. A document reflecting our values and the role of Trustees is available to all those expressing an interest in the organisation. The CMF has opted to openly advertise positions of Trusteeship amongst its members so that interested parties to make application. A full CV together with details of why an individual feels they have the desire, experience and expertise to be a Trustee is requested. Our Trustee outline is provided and an interview is arranged for selection to proceed.

Objectives and activities

In general terms, The CMF aims to advance the Islamic religion in the United Kingdom for the benefit of the public through the holding of prayer meetings, lectures, public celebration of religious festivals, and producing and/or distributing literature on the Islamic religion to enlighten others about the Islamic religion, specifically (but not exclusively) with the needs of converts and their families in mind.

The charity also looks to advance the education of the wider public in the United Kingdom in the subjects of Islam and of conversion to Islam. We aim to promote

The Convert Muslim Foundation

research in these subject areas for the public benefit and to publish the relevant results.

Public benefit statement

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit, 'Charities and Public Benefit'.

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit

The CMF in the last year has planned several projects to reach our objectives, including (but not restricted to);

Support for Converts to Islam, their families and other relevant persons, including pastoral support, signposting and financial support (charity and scholarships).
The CMF looks to further expand the scope of our support offer to converts with the ‘Faithful companions’ a scheme that will offer peer support through volunteers.
The CMF holds numerous events/activities such as the annual Ramadan Retreat for converts to Islam and their families.
The CMF have attended and hosted events to raise the profile of the charity and to promote awareness of the need for Convert support, such as an event to promote best practice.
Two major pieces of academic research in exploring the practical, social and religious difficulties experienced in the hope to assist in supporting converts pre/post release from prison.
Set up social media pages as well as designing a website, Convert Care - https://www.convertcare.org dedicated to further supporting the wider convert community to promote a positive view of Islam.

Summary of the main achievements during the period

The pandemic and the fact that we had to leave our office and work from home has somewhat delayed the progress of many planned objectives of the CMF for 2021/22. However, despite this the CMF has managed to make headway in beginning to achieve its objectives and goals. A full review of CMF projects can be found in the directors’ report to the AGM which allowed us the opportunity to review all of our aims and objectives and to regroup and re-strategise our aims and objectives after the long period of lockdown, but to summarise:

The CMF provided support to those who have embraced Islam or are interested in the faith.
The CMF has reduced the isolation, stigma and difficulties often associated with conversion, experienced by converts and their non-Muslim families.
The CMF gives the opportunity to reflect spiritually and socially engage and promote positive mental health and wellbeing.
The CMF promotes a wider awareness of the need for Convert support.
Supporting converts pre/post release from prison.
Promotes a positive view of Islam.

The Convert Muslim Foundation

We have sought to liaise and network with stakeholders and individuals keen to work with the organisation in achieving our goals, focused on creating a robust organisational and management infrastructure, policy development and expanded consultations with the convert community in terms of its future plans.

Exploring and understanding conversion to Islam in prison and the needs of ex- convict converts was a priority project this year and the CMF continues to make progress in this area, having held conferences and establishing a steering group with the intention of forming a national development plan to offer training to individuals, Islamic organisations and Mosques as to how to welcome 'Returning Citizens' back into the community in the hope of preventing reoffending and creating opportunities for work.

The CMF has progressed with establishing key relationships with academic institutions leading to a research programme looking at the role of converts in positions of leadership and in developing a ‘British Islam’ - indigenising the faith in Britain. The research plan commenced in early 2021 and is expected to conclude in 2025.

Collaborative work was undertaken to complete the first mapping exercise of all convert support available in the UK, which in turn has now been utilised to create the first convert care website, able to signpost converts to local support. https:www.convertcare.co.uk

Other projects that have been created this year include an oral histories project for which an award of funding has been approved and a plan to capture the experiences of Black Converts in the UK.

The charity’s policy on reserves

Given that the CMF is currently still in its early years of development it is already looking at sustainability for the future in terms of utilising a mix of volunteer recruitment and producing a portfolio of chargeable services (e.g. training) as well as fundraising initiatives.

Currently CMF’s income is mainly through the generosity of supporters and is modest in its size and makeup. In this light, financial decisions are currently made to reflect what we can afford and what consitutes good value for money spent. We currently have a healthy reserve (particularly needed in these uncertain times) which we plan to utilise for our future projects.

We hope to create a future financial plan that will consider current and future developments of the organisation and the degree and level of work proposed. By the time of our third AGM in March 2023 the CMF hopes to have a reasonable assessment of what its ‘baseline’ running cost will be, alongside more detailed cost projections of the various projects currently on going (such as maintenance of the convert care website). A detailed Project Proposal and Buisness Case for each proposed initiative has been drawn up for this purpose and is completed for every project CMF wish to consider taking forward.

The Convert Muslim Foundation

Other than protecting baseline costs, it is the firm intention of the staff and trustees of the CMF to ensure the charity is able to carry out as much work as is possible and needed to complete objectives with appropriate levels of expenditure to match.

The CMF will only give grants if the organisation or individual requesting is using funds that are in line with our aims and objectives and where a detailed application can be clearly seen to be so.

As we present to the public some of the projects being worked upon now and our future vision, the CMF hopes to attract a greater degree of funding that will put us in a position to reach a stable financial position. At that point and, where the Trustees deem appropriate and necessary, the intention will be in a position to create reserve funding where it is considered appropriate to the future development and best interests of the CMF.

Risks are that we may not attract funding for projects we intend to initiate from funders we will approach to financially support such projects; current funding from generous donors may dry up due to cost of living and the need for each to budget carefully given rising utility, rent and mortgage costs; raising salaries in line with inflation will put a strain on funding - in other words the concerns that are being expresses right across the private and public sector and the squeeze everyone is experiencing at this time.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:

Signed ___ Date ___ Andrew Barson, Trustee

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of The Convert Muslim Foundation for the year ended 31 March 2022

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Convert Muslim Foundation (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2022.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed ___ Date ______

John O’Brien MSc, FAIA, FCCA, FCIE Employee of Community Accounting Plus

The Convert Muslim Foundation Receipts & payments account for the year ended 31 March 2022

*2021* £ Note Receipts 6800 Opening transfer 2 45291 Donations 2 - Activities - Sundry receipts 52091 Total receipts Payments 282 Activities & events 12000 Consultancy fees 1444 Technical support 72 Website, phone & postage - Donations paid - Professional fees - Travel - Printing & stationery - Sundry payments 13798 Total payments 38293 Net receipts/(payments) - Cash funds at start of this period 38293 Cash funds at end of this period	*2022* £ - 67398 2970 250
	70618
	1777 11087 - 3255 1000 540 463 516 898
	19536
	51082 38293
	89375

The Convert Muslim Foundation Statement of assets and liabilities at 31 March 2022

*2021* £ Cash assets Note 38293 Bank accounts 38293 Liabilities (540) Creditors 3 (540)	*2022* £ 89375 89375
	(552)
	(552)

These financial statements are accepted on behalf of the charity by:

Signed ____ Date _____ Andrew Barson, Trustee

The Convert Muslim Foundation Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022

1. Receipts & payments accounts

Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of money received and money spent during the period and a list of assets and liabilities at the end of the period. Usually, cash received and cash spent will include transactions through bank accounts and cash in hand.

2. Grants & donations

The opening transfer in the previous period represents cash at bank held at the date of registration accumulated within the previously unregistered association.

All donations received in the period were personal donations.

3. Creditors

£ Professional fees (552) (552)

4. Trustees’ remuneration

Trustees received no expenses, remuneration or benefits in this period.

5. Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in this period.

6. Glossary of terms

Creditors: These are amounts owed by the charity, but not paid during the accounting period.

Tho Convert Muslim Foundatlon Statement of assets and Ilabilitles at 31 March 2022 2021 Cash assets 38293 Bard( accounts 38293 89375 89375 Llabllhles Creditors 540 540 552 552 These financial statements are accepted on behalf of the charity by: Signed Andrew Barson, Trustee Date

The Convert Musllm Foundatlon Other than protecting baseline costs. It is the fimi intentlon of the staff and trustees of Ihe CMF to ensure the charity is able to carry out as much work as is possible and needed to complete objectives with appropriate levels of expendlture to match. The CMF wi51 only give grants K the organisalbn or individual requesting is using funds that are in line with our aims and objectives and where a detsiled application can be dearly seen to be 80. As we present to the public some of the projects being worked upon now and our future vision, the CMF hopes to attract a greater degree of funding that will put us in a position to reach a stable financial position. At that point and, where the Trustees deem appropriate and necessary, the intention will be in a position to create reserrfe funding where it is considered appropriate to the future development and best interests of the CMF. Risks are that we may not attract funding for projects we intend to initiate from fijnders we will approach to financially support such projects. current funding from generous donors may dry up due lo cost of living and the need for each to budget carefully given rising utilty, rent and mortgage costs. raising salaries in line with infiation will put a strain on funding - in other words the concems that are belng expresses rtght across the prtvate and public sector and the squeeze everyone is experfencing at this time. Slgned on behalf of the charity's trustees: Slgn6d Andrew Barson, Trustee Date