Islam is not just about rituals and religious worship but rather an all-embracing Deen (way of life). It believes in the development of strong communities and families for a healthy and prosperous society. Therefore Muslims can never be isolationist or segregate themselves. They should be part and parcel of the society they live in, and have a duty to make things better

Community development is a broad term applied to how civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals work to improve various aspects of local communities. Community development seeks to empower individuals and groups of people by providing them with the skills they need to bring about change in their own communities.

Any person or group can be involved in community work. Many people are already involved in some way or another, for example helping out with a local clean up, volunteering in organising an event, taking part in local consultation forum or lobbying MPs or councillors to change something in your neighbourhood. These are just some types of community work.

The type of community projects you can do depends on the needs you have identified, what your facilities can cater for and how innovative or creative you can be. Here are some examples:

• Summer play schemes
• Health and fitness
• Sports
• Arts and crafts
• Crochet
• Mother and toddler group
• Education
• Counselling
• Interfaith visits
• Day care
• Drop in for the elderly

Partnership working is the current ‘in thing’ in community regeneration. The government national strategy for neighbourhood renewal has given local authorities new responsibilities (through the Local Government Act 2000). They must consult and involve the faith community and the black, minority and ethnic communities in developing their Community Strategies. Therefore mosques and mosque councils can contribute to the health of their local areas and the well-being of people who live in them.