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Young people's discussions focus on social media during their meeting with the Muslim Council of Britain

British Muslim organization with a significant presence in the UK, led by Dr Wajid Akhter, pays a visit to Stratford as part of a country-wide town hall tour.

, and ASMedia

2025 September 2 . 6:39 PM

2 min read

Young people's discussion focuses on social media platforms during a meeting with the Muslim... — Young people's discussion focuses on social media platforms during a meeting with the Muslim Council of Britain

In a town hall meeting organised by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) in Stratford, east London, around 25 participants gathered to discuss the key concerns affecting young British Muslims. The meeting, which was one of a series of "listening events" staged by the MCB across the UK, brought together an intergenerational dialogue, with participants evenly split between young people and older community members.

The discussion covered a range of topics, including Islamophobia, education, financial security, community cohesion, and youth futures. One significant concern raised during these discussions was the need for better support and professionalization within mosques, particularly around roles like counseling, safeguarding, and youth work. It was noted that many volunteer roles require more formal education and training to be sustainable and effective.

Another issue highlighted was the gap in skills needed for ongoing management and governance within mosques. While older generations have successfully expanded mosque facilities, there is a need for the necessary skills to manage and govern these facilities effectively. To address this gap, initiatives like leadership and operations training programs, including an MBA in mosque management, have been proposed.

The MCB is planning to use insights from these listening events to shape future work and improve engagement with Muslim youth. Practical efforts include better training for mosque volunteers and leaders, expanding educational opportunities, addressing issues such as Islamophobia, and creating new regional hubs to support community needs across the UK.

During the small group discussions, Shaba Ali, a youth worker, expressed concerns about recruiting volunteers and maintaining a community amid the cost of living crisis and cuts to public services. Ali also stated that previous events organized by charities or local authorities often fail to follow up on what was discussed.

Hanif, the event's chair and MCB regional lead, found the event inspiring. Hanif's long-term aim for the MCB is to drive lasting change and ensure support, advocacy, and opportunities for those in need. The next step, according to Hanif, is to identify key issues, pinpoint the most pressing ones, and source solutions.

The town hall meeting was the eighth aimed at young people, according to Hanif. Social media was named as both an opportunity and a threat by participants. The MCB is currently running a town hall tour for Dr Wajid Akhter, the current secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, to meet communities across the UK. The Hawaa Network, a Muslim women's charity, was also mentioned by an older participant during the meeting.

In summary, the town hall meeting highlighted challenges of discrimination, education, and mosque leadership capacity, with solutions focusing on youth engagement, professional training, and strategic development within the Muslim community in Britain. The MCB aims to use the insights gained from these meetings to drive lasting change and support young British Muslims in the future.