A voluntary organization representing mosques across Bolton has received the King’s MBE Award for businesses in recognition of its voluntary services in the community.

Over the past 25 years, the Bolton Council of Mosques, also known as BCOM, has been offering services like funeral assistance, free counselling and DBS checks, as well as other services.

“The main reason is we are a volunteer organization, under one umbrella, we represent the interests of all of the mosques in Bolton,” said Imteyaz Ali, secretary of BCOM.

“We work closely with the local authority, GMP, the judicial services, the hospital and various other agencies in aspects of community cohesion.”

“The organization has been going from strength to strength over 25 years, and this award could not have been possible without the help of our dedicated volunteers,” he said.

Mr. Imteyaz Ali continued: “We are thankful to our partners, if it wasn’t for our working relationship, then we wouldn’t be able to provide these services. We are also thankful to our mosques and everyone in the wider community who support us.”

The King’s Awards for Voluntary Service is for outstanding achievement by UK voluntary groups – they are the highest official awards in the country for voluntary groups and are equivalent to an MBE, and they are awarded for life.

Of Bolton’s approximate 280,000 population, 12% are members of the Muslim faith. The growing community is served by 28 mosques across the town.

An estimated 6,000 pupils attend Madrasa schools at Bolton Mosques today.

Source: Bolton News