Al-Mizan Charitable Trust

Al-Mizan Charitable Trust (AMCT) is a Muslim-run charity that supports vulnerable families and individuals living in poverty across the United Kingdom,[4] regardless of their faith or cultural background.[5]

"Al-Mizan" redirects here. For other uses, see Mizan (disambiguation).

Al-Mizan Charitable Trust
Updated logo as of 2014
FoundedOctober, 2011
FounderMohammed Sadiq Mamdani[1]
TypeOrganisation
Registration no.7228603
FocusPoverty in the United Kingdom, Homelessness, Debt
Location
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
Judith Pfeiffer[2]
Roger Chester
Imam Sikander Pathan
Chris Hewer
Ali Orr[3]
Websitewww.almizantrust.org.uk

History

Beginnings: 2011-2012

Al-Mizan Charitable Trust was founded in October 2011 by Mohammed Sadiq Mamdani, a social entrepreneur, who founded other charities including Muslim Youth Helpline, Ansar Youth Project and most recently Sufra.[6] Al-Mizan Charitable Trust is the UK's first Muslim grant-funder that supports individuals living in poverty, regardless of their faith or cultural background. Every month, the Trust receives more than 40 applications for financial support, of which only half of eligible applications can be supported with a grant or interest-free loan of up to £500. Although the Trust prioritises applications which provide long-term benefit, rising poverty and unemployment has forced the charity to consider funding more and more applications for basic household and subsistence costs.[7]

Future: 2013-present

Over the next 3 years, the Trust has prioritised two areas of need: food poverty and the rehabilitation of prisoners and ex-offenders. To this end, Al-Mizan Charitable Trust is developing food banks and subsidised kitchens. They aim for these food banks and kitchens to be "localised, sustainable and grassroots driven." They are also and launching new funding streams aimed at improving the opportunities of ex-offenders through skills development, training and access to employment.[5]

Activities

The main activity of Al-Mizan Charitable Trust is to distribute grants of up to £500 to people in crisis.[8] The grants they distribute to poor families are used to buy items like mattresses and school uniforms.[9] They also distribute food to poor families struggling to afford the cost of food, distributing approximately 1,000 food packets during the month of Ramadan in 2015.[4]

Al-Mizan Charitable Trust is the parent organization of Sufra, a food bank in London. During its first six months in operation, Sufra handed out food to 20-40 families each week, feeding approximately 3,000 people.[8]

Aims

Al-Mizan Charitable Trust has prioritised five aims of its organisation.[10]

  • To promote and campaign for social justice, in all its forms, across the UK;
  • To deliver a fair and accountable system of grant-giving, based on individual need and circumstances;
  • To respond effectively to changing social, economic and political trends in the UK by directing funds towards the most deprived individuals and, where appropriate, with creativity and innovation;
  • To adhere to all recognised good practice models and quality standard measures;
  • To develop a culture of sustainable and responsible charitable giving, ensuring the rights of both the donor and the beneficiary.

References
  1. "Staff and Volunteers of Al-Mizan Charitable Trust". www.almizantrust.org.uk. 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  2. Al-Mizan: Board of Advisors
  3. Al-Mizan: Board of Trustees
  4. Bari, Muhammad Abdul (2 July 2015). "British Muslims in the spirit of Ramadan". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  5. Home>Explore>About Us Almizantrust.org.uk: About Us (Accessed 08-10-14)
  6. "Mohammed Sadiq Mamdani on LinkedIn". LinkedIn. 2013. Archived from the original on September 23, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  7. "Al-Mizan Charitable Trust on CharityChoiceUK". LinkedIn.com. 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  8. Forrest, Adam (2 April 2014). "Muslim groups are putting their faith in food banks to help tackle poverty". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  9. Khan, Hiba (23 December 2016). "This is what Muslims will be doing in your community this Christmas". The Independent. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  10. "Al-Mizan Charitable Trust's Aims and Objectives". almizantrust.org.uk. 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2014.


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