Volunteers Week 1st – 7th June – get involved!

As we move into a new month, Volunteers Week kicks off, running from the 1^st – 7^th June.

This annual celebration highlights the volunteering efforts of people up and down the UK who devote time and energy for good causes in their community.

For many charities, both grassroots and larger NGOs, volunteers are an essential lifeline that help to deliver outreach services. From one-to-one support to event organisation or back-office support, volunteers fundraise and support vital fundraising that enable charities to meet an array of needs for all communities.

Charitable giving is a huge part of Islamic faith and as such, there exists withing the UK a large Muslim-led charity community, including a huge volunteer workforce. Sadaqah (voluntary giving) forms a fundamental part of Islam and can take any form, whether monetary or by physical and emotional help. The concept of ‘doing good’ for others is rooted in many Qur’anic ayat and ahadith.

None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself” [Sahih Al Bani 7384]

In times of crisis:

During the Covid19 pandemic and UK lockdowns, the Muslim community came forward in large numbers, mobilising to spring up support to meet immediate and emergency needs of all people.  From food banks to mental health support, Muslim-led groups were empowered by large numbers of volunteers of all backgrounds who responded to the crisis. At other moments of crisis and on a day-to-day basis, the number of volunteers estimated to be involved in the sector is around 30,000.

Our recent 2022 report ‘Bridges of Hope’ published in June 2022, looked at the effect of the pandemic recovery and the Cost of Living crisis on Muslim-led charities. We found that of the 450 + organisations in the UK, 42% have no paid staff and that most charities have on average 68 volunteers who help to uphold their activities.  

A day in the life of a volunteer:

This Volunteers Week we are highlighting the efforts and experiences of volunteers within charities around the UK. Be sure to keep up to date and learn more about volunteer work via our social media channels.

Within the MCF office, our team have been embracing the volunteer spirit. Baris Varli, National Emergency and Members Engagement Coordinator, visited The Open Kitchen in Hounslow to spend the day and get involved. The Open Kitchen is a Muslim Hands community kitchen that feeds local people hot meals and provides food to rough sleepers, low-income families and refugees. Open all year round, it serves hundreds of people a day who are struggling against food poverty.

“ Witnessing volunteering, in action, is a truly extraordinary experience. During our visit to the Muslim Hands Open Kitchen project in Hounslow, we saw this in-action. Community hubs, like soup kitchens, display the best of a community – regardless of the location and social perception.

On the front end you see volunteers welcoming people to the centre, giving them hugs and asking them “How are you? How’s the family? Do you need anything else?” This might seem not seem like much, but to a person who has recently become homeless, lost their job, or going through rehab, it could be life changing. This was exactly what happened during our visit to Hounslow; when a local attendee walked in, and brother Ehsan gave them a big hug and welcomed them. They were served great food with grace and kindness (genuinely – we also tried the food and it was amazing!) – and then given a pack to take home to his family. 

These hubs and their volunteers are like a micro-community within a larger one. They support one and other, look after each other. The volunteers who make this all possible and their efforts must be celebrated, including the managers and assistants. Unfortunately, volunteers can sometimes be forgotten or taken advantage of for their good intentions, and this is something that needs to change. As a voluntary and charity sector we should continue to recognise, reward and value the vital contribution that volunteers make each day and week to communities across the UK.”

– Baris, Muslim Charities Forum

Volunteering your time, even a few hours a month, can provide a worthy and sociable experience that can make a huge impact. It’s also a great way to expand your skills and gain new opportunities. If you are interested in volunteering with a charity, take a look at our Charity Directory, visit Gov.UK or get in touch with us at info@muslimcharitiesforum.org.uk