It has grown into one of the most independent and thriving organisations, having a great impact on our community. Sister Sukaina Fazal founded it on request by a few parents; she was helped by Brother Hussein Fazal. The Saturday classes were held initially at a small flat on Gipsy Lane with just five students. As the number of students grew, the classes were moved to Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre
and around early 1999 Sister Meimuna Walji joined the workshop. Following this, the workshop grew to nearly 70 students with a devoted and committed team of teachers. The Stanmore Sunday Madressa syllabus was adopted, and Sharikatul Hussain established the teaching of Tareekh, Fiqh, Akhlaq and Quran. As the workshop continued to thrive, we were approached by Leicester Jamaat to move the workshop to Husseini Mosque at Loughbrough Road but by 2005, the workshop had grown to over a 100 students and moved in April to occupy a larger premises at Catherine Junior School with the help of Leicester complimentary schools trust. By around 2010, the teaching of GCSE Islamic Studies was introduced and implemented. In November 2011, Catherine Junior school were expanding their school premises to accommodate more under privileged children and therefore the Workshop had to once again search for newer premises. Sadly, Sharikatul Hussain also lost the services of Sister Meimuna Walji. After a most difficult and trying period of searching, Sharikatul Hussain Saturday Workshop finally relocated to its current venue on the 21st April 2012 at the Beaumont Leys Secondary School Leicester. Alhamdullilah the school has better facilities than all its predecessors. There are 16 classrooms in total with smart board facilities in every class. There are separate prayer facilities for boys and girls as well as an ample parking space, not forgetting the vast grounds for playing football as well as the use of the sports hall. Following several requests from parents, the Workshop now also has its own mini bus service as well. Today this Saturday workshop is still excelling, taking pride in having over thirty teachers, and over a hundred children. It has its own website where teachers can have access to syllabus, other resources and submit lesson plans and examination results online. Teachers are a great asset to the workshop and without our team today we would not have reached where we are. Nevertheless, we are still in need of more teachers as we continue to prosper. Our achievements so far include the following:
Introduction and standardisation of assessments, GCSE religious studies and a complete reform of the Quran syllabus. Every year the workshop holds an annual parent teacher presentation where the children and teachers are rewarded with trophies in recognition for their hard work. Furthermore the workshop also organises an annual Eid program, Muharram blood donations and an annual fundraising BBQ, and heavily subsidies at least one outing a year. Our aim is to always keep the children of the workshop at the forefront of our minds, whilst we continuously develop ways in making their Madressa/Workshop experience a good and lasting one.
