Oldham Mosques Council was created with a core mission to provide a unified voice for Oldham’s mosques. Its founding aims included supporting Muslim communities to articulate their concerns, address shared strategic challenges, and foster constructive relationships with other faith groups and partner agencies in a safe and collaborative environment.
Between 2022 and 2023, the Oldham Mosques Council undertook a comprehensive review and revision of its constitution to ensure it reflected contemporary governance standards and the evolving needs of the community. Following this process, an Executive Committee was unanimously elected in June 2023 for a three-year term. Since its appointment, the Committee has continued to advance the strategic and operational work of the Mosques Council.
Mosques have evolved significantly over the years, transitioning from modest terraced properties to more suitable and purpose-built facilities. However, a number of smaller Mosques continue to operate from premises that require substantial improvement.
Mosques are typically overseen by volunteer-led management committees who shoulder a wide range of responsibilities. They must navigate complex legislative requirements, contribute to safeguarding and counter-extremism efforts, strengthen community cohesion, and ensure that their facilities remain safe and welcoming spaces for people to practise their faith.
Most Mosques are self-funded and rely heavily on voluntary donations from their congregations. As a result, they are continually exploring ways to increase and diversify their income in order to remain sustainable. The contribution of volunteers is indispensable; without their ongoing commitment, many Mosques would face serious challenges in maintaining day-to-day operations.
