30/09/2026
*JMIC Opens Its Doors to Bring Slough’s Communities and Civic Leaders Together*
*25/09/26*: *Jamia Masjid & Islamic Centre (JMIC) Slough welcomed 100 guests from across Slough’s civic and community landscape for its Visit My Mosque event on Friday 25 September* — bringing together people and organisations united by a shared commitment to serving the Slough town and its communities.
The evening brought representatives from local government, wider health sector, Thames Valley Police, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, voluntary organisations, and faith institutions under one roof. In addition to the opportunity to visit JMIC, the event showcased the growing role the mosque plays as a community anchor institution and the breadth of partnerships, services and initiatives it is delivering across Slough.
From faith and spiritual services, health and wellbeing, youth development and education to community safety, charitable support and civic engagement, guests heard how JMIC is using its reach and trusted position within the community to connect residents with services, strengthen partnerships and respond to local need.
Speaking on behalf of JMIC, *Umar Ansari,* Secretary, said:
_“At a time when identity, race and religion are increasingly being weaponised to divide communities, our response must not be to retreat behind closed doors. We must open our doors wider. JMIC wants to demonstrate the positive contribution mosques can make by bringing people together, building trust and working collectively for wider benefit of the town.”_
*Shaista Khan,* JMIC Trustee, then brought that message to life by highlighting the breadth of services JMIC now provides for men, women, children, young people and families. She spoke about the Mosque’s expanding work across education, youth development, health and wellbeing, community support and engagement, and JMIC’s ambition to ensure its facilities and programmes continue to evolve alongside the changing needs of the community.
A central theme throughout the evening was trust — how institutions earn it, how communities sustain it and why meaningful relationships matter.
Assistant Commissioner *Dennis Murray* Thames Valley Police spoke about the importance of fairness and strengthening transparency, accountability and public confidence in policing. Drawing on the national work he is leading in this area, he reflected on the importance of police services listening to communities, building meaningful relationships and ensuring that trust is earned.
Concluding the speaker contributions, *Dr Arshad Jarral*, Founding Chairman of the Thames Valley East Council of Mosques, highlighted the pivotal role that mosques and other faith institutions play within modern civic society. He reflected on how places of worship increasingly operate as trusted community spaces — supporting residents, strengthening cohesion and working alongside public services well beyond their traditional religious functions.
Dr Jarral also called for stronger and more responsive support from local and central government to protect places of worship, including simpler access to available security funding.
The evening also created an important space for partners to connect, exchange ideas and explore where stronger collaboration could make a practical difference to communities across Slough.
For JMIC, Visit My Mosque represents something bigger than a single event. It reflects a clear commitment to being open, outward-facing and actively engaged in the civic life of the town — confident in its Islamic identity and equally committed to working alongside people of all faiths and backgrounds for universal benefit.
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*JMIC Slough*
www.jmicslough.org
