Bolton, UK – The UK Islamic Mission (UKIM) with Greater Manchester Citizens have officially launched broad-based community organising in the borough. On the 18th October, in a beautifully decorated local hall, we brought together over 50 community members from across Bolton where we committed to organising together for the common good.

The day began with a heartfelt recitation of the Holy Qur’an by a member of the FITYA Youth, setting a powerful and spiritual tone for the programme. This was followed by a series of testimonies from community members across Bolton to highlight the importance of organising together.

We heard from UKIM leaders, Abdullah Awad, Trustee of FITYA and former President of the Islamic Society at the University of Manchester (ISOC), and youth leaders who took part in Khizra Mosque's Youth Leadership Programme. Baasil, Noora, and Adeela from Khizra Mosque, Manchester, delivered powerful testimonies about their experiences of community organising over the last 12 months. Zainab, a new member from Bolton, spoke passionately about her experiences of the recent Regional Youth Assembly, and her excitement for the new Youth Leadership Programme we are running in Bolton.

Throughout the event, participants engaged in meaningful discussions, connected with one another, and shared their excitement for the upcoming workshops and leadership sessions. Our community organising will focus on bringing together people from all across Bolton. If you are interested in getting involved, please get in touch.

This launch marks the beginning of an exciting journey to build leaders in Bolton and beyond, who will be using organising together to shape the future of their local communities.

Syed Imam, UKIM Bolton