Syed Ahmed Shah Trust

Charity 1148756

www.syedahmedshahtrust.co.uk

Overview

Summary

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

The Syed Ahmed Shah Trust appears to be developing a mosque-centred civic hub in Stechford that combines religious practice, education and community participation with wider social aims. Its role is distinctive in linking Sufi-oriented Islamic learning and forums for women, young people and equality with an explicit commitment to interfaith relations, diversity and poverty relief, including activity beyond its immediate locality. The available evidence suggests an organisation seeking to use faith infrastructure as a platform for both community belonging and broader social contribution.

See observations

Operational geography

Sources:ONSCivic AtlasAI-assisted

Coverage: International

Operational areas:

    Evidence and reasoning
    Supporting evidence
    Remaining uncertainties
    • There is no sufficiently current, location-specific evidence confirming that the trust presently delivers services, runs activities or maintains a physical site in any Birmingham ward.
    • The trust's charitable objects identify Stechford and surrounding neighbourhoods as an intended beneficiary area, but this is constitutional purpose rather than evidence of current delivery. It therefore does not justify recording Yardley West and Stechford as a current operational area.
    • The Charity Commission currently lists Birmingham City among the places where the charity operates, but does not identify Birmingham sites, projects, delivery locations or partner organisations.
    • The Charity Commission records that the charity does not own or lease land or property; this weakens any inference that its stated mosque and community-centre aim resulted in a current Birmingham facility.
    • The charity's reporting is substantially overdue, with the latest recorded financial data for the year ended 31 December 2019. Its present operational activity, including its stated international work, cannot be verified through recent statutory reporting.
    • No material partnerships extending the trust's operational reach within Birmingham were evidenced by the sources consulted.
    Additional evidence needed
    • A current annual report, trustees' report or Charity Commission annual return specifying activities and delivery locations in Birmingham.
    • Current official project, event or service information identifying any Birmingham venue, ward or neighbourhood where the trust operates.
    • Confirmation from the trust of whether it currently runs, uses or hires a mosque, community centre or other delivery venue in Stechford or elsewhere in Birmingham.
    • Evidence from named official partner organisations of any active Birmingham-based delivery arrangements.

    Areas of work

    Source:Charity Commission
    • Education/training
    • Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity
    • Religious Activities
    • The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

    Who they help

    Source:Charity Commission
    • Children/young People
    • Elderly/old People
    • People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
    • The General Public/mankind

    How they help

    Source:Charity Commission
    • Provides Advocacy/advice/information
    • Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
    • Provides Services

    Discoveries involving this organisation

    The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.

    Observations

    Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

    • A mosque is conceived as civic infrastructure

      The Trust appears to treat the proposed mosque and community centre as more than a place of worship: it may be intended as a shared base for education, discussion, advice and community development.

      Why it matters

      This helps position the Trust as a potential neighbourhood institution with a role in local connection and participation, rather than solely a religious provider.

      Show evidence

      • “The Trust aims to establish a mosque and community centre to improve residents' conditions of life.”

        Source:Charity Commission

      • “Activities include youth education, discussion forums, equality forums and women only forums.”

        Source:Organisation

      • “The charity provides buildings, facilities or open space, services, and advocacy, advice or information.”

        Source:Charity Commission

    • Faith identity and bridge-building are held together

      The Trust appears to have a defined Islamic, specifically Sufi-oriented, identity while also presenting religious harmony, equality and diversity as central public-benefit purposes.

      Why it matters

      This suggests it could be an important bridge between a particular faith community and wider local relationships, though evidence of actual partnerships is not yet available.

      Show evidence

      • “Activities include propagation of Sufism and religious arts.”

        Source:Organisation

      • “The Trust promotes religious harmony by fostering better relations between different ethnic and religious groups.”

        Source:Charity Commission

      • “The Trust promotes equality and diversity for public benefit.”

        Source:Charity Commission

    • The Trust spans local belonging and transnational solidarity

      Its focus appears to extend beyond Stechford: alongside local community development, it may mobilise support for poverty and financial hardship in Pakistan.

      Why it matters

      This wider orientation may shape its networks, fundraising priorities and the communities who see the Trust as relevant.

      Show evidence

      • “The Trust benefits the Muslim community of Stechford, Birmingham and surrounding neighbourhoods.”

        Source:Charity Commission

      • “The Trust may collect funds for charitable purposes including the prevention or relief of poverty and financial hardship in, but not limited to, Pakistan.”

        Source:Charity Commission

      Remaining uncertainties

    • Whether the mosque and community centre are operational, planned or already providing activities.
    • Which local groups attend or benefit from the forums, education and advice activities.
    • Whether religious-harmony aims have led to sustained partnerships with other organisations or faith communities.

      Additional evidence needed

    • Recent annual reports, accounts or activity reports showing services delivered, participant numbers and funding allocation.
    • Information on premises, local partners, referral relationships and examples of interfaith or equality activity.
    • Evidence on how poverty-relief funds are raised, distributed and balanced with local work.
    Charity Commission profile
    Source:Charity Commission

    Activities

    Youth Education Discussion Forums Equality Forums Women Only Forums Religious Arts Propagation of Sufism Establishing Islamic Educational Facilities

    Charity objects

    1. TO FURTHER OR BENEFIT THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY OF STECHFORD, BIRMINGHAM AS WELL AS THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBOURHOODS BY ESTABLISHING A MOSQUE AND COMMUNITY CENTRE WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS. 2. TO ADVANCE WITHOUT PREJUDICE THE RELIGION OF ISLAM, PARTICULARLY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY BY ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A MOSQUE AND PROMOTING RELIGIOUS HARMONY FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT BY FOSTERING BETTER RELATIONS BETWEEN DIFFERENT ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS. 3. THE PROMOTION OF EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT. 4. TO APPEAL FOR AND COLLECT FUNDS SOLELY FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES AND IN PARTICULAR FOR THE PREVENTION OR RELIEF OF POVERTY AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIP IN, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PAKISTAN. 5. TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES, SO AS TO DEVELOP THEIR CAPABILITIES THAT THEY MAY GROW TO FULL MATURITY AS INDIVIDUALS AND MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.