Welcome to Issue 3 of Connect. Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for supporting ‘Connect’ as an initiative and I invite others to join us in our work. Our distribution list is increasing almost on a daily basis and we would like to extend an invitation to anyone that wants to keep abreast of developments and emerging practice in this field to contact us. I have often been asked about how ‘Connect’ is funded. Connect is an initiative funded entirely by Muslim Youth Skills and does not receive funding from anywhere. Revenue is usually generated from projects who pay an administration fee to be featured in Connect (if they can afford that) and individuals and organisations who advertise. We would therefore encourage individuals and organisations to advertise in this newsletter to help sustain this initiative. If you like the work we do and would like to help contribute to its success, please get in touch. 

We have got some great projects in this issue highlighting some excellent examples of current practice. Much is written about the issues that affect young Muslims, but rarely do they get the opportunity to contribute to ‘setting the agenda’ for themselves. The Muslim Teenager event, organised by the Young Muslims UK gave them just that. Many young Muslims attended consultative workshops in two areas across London, to share their thoughts and opinions on matters important to them, butcrucially, proposing some of the things that they would like to see happen in any future work with them. 

Celebrating the tireless work done by organisations to empower young Muslims is something that is increasingly being recognised. The Youth Committee of the Muslim Council of Britain held its Young Muslims Beacons Award, to present prestigious awards to three organisations, out of the many projects  which poured in from all over the country. 

I am sure that you will remember this line from a famous all time favourite movie of mine ‘wax on, wax off’’ (answers on a post card please). The CKI School of Martial Arts not only helps young people to practice this fine art of waxing, but also endeavours to help young people achieve good morals, etiquette and respect for others. The club has won many international awards, setting very high standards for others to follow. 

In this issues we are also introducing ‘In-Focus’. This section will look at the life and times of the unsung heroes, who provide invaluable services within our communities. Abida Rafiq, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, talks to Connect about some of her work. 

This issue has part 2 of  'Muslim Youth Work' by Sadek Hamid of Chester University and we also provide details of a new study: ‘Police - Community Engagement and Partnership for Countering Terrorism’ that sheds light on police-community partnerships for countering terrorism, from the perspective of police practitioners and members of Muslim communities. I hope you enjoy this issue and I welcome your views and suggestions. I hope that insha’Allah (God willing) we can continue to help bring the 'Muslim Youth Work community together'.

Tafazal Mohammad

Managing Director

Muslim Youth Skills

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