Volunteers from the Islamic Education Centre and MA Mission in Bolton teamed up to celebrate the true spirit of Ramadan.

The first initiative saw the team of volunteers distributing free food to passers-by in the town centre.  

The group packed and handed out freshly cooked biryani and water to shoppers outside the Market Hall. 

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The group also engaged with local businesses in town and offered free lunches to the workers. 

Faiz said, “Ramadan is a month of giving and doing good for others.  We wanted to do something good for the community and engage with the locals. 

"The whole day has been amazing and we’ve had a terrific response.  We will definitely look to do more events like this throughout the year.”

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Passers-by welcomed the gifts, with several expressing their appreciation towards the initiative.

By 2pm all 250 portions of food were distributed and an amazing community spirit was shared.

Kieran Anders said, “Thanks for the amazing biryani yesterday.  You’re doing a great thing! ”

Danny Roberts said, “I met these guys at the weekend – what genuine, amazing people! The Biryani was great but the high 5 was better!”

Crompton Community Get Together with Flavours of Ramadan

The team then reconvened at the MA Mission Community Centre and mosque on Halliwell Road, Bolton for the second Annual Crompton Community Iftaar.

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The event was also part of the ‘Great Get Together’ organised in memory of Jo Cox MP.  In the weeks leading up to the event, members of the local community were handed invites to attend the breaking of the fast.

The event was aimed at promoting peace, love and harmony and highlighting Jo Cox’s message that ‘we have more in common than that which divides us’.

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Over 120 members of the community from all backgrounds and walks of life accepted the invitation and enjoyed the friendly and relaxed atmosphere. 

They were given a tour of the former church, which had been converted into a mosque two years ago.

All the visitors commented on how beautiful the mosque was and were impressed by the fact that the character of the building had been maintained. 

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“It feels really peaceful in here,” said Simon Hunt (a former teacher at Devonshire Road Primary School, Heaton). 
 
Reverend Rodger Petch (St Paul’s and St Thomas’s Church, Halliwell) also attended and was very positive about the whole evening.  

He spoke with the local Imams and volunteers and expressed his desire to work closely with M A Mission to bring about better community relations.

It was also Councillor Champak Mistry’s first visit to M A Mission. 

The guests gathered in the upstairs community hall and a one minute silence was held in memory of all the victims of terror and the Grenfell tower fire. 

The guests were then addressed by a range of speakers who highlighted key messages about coming together to get to know one another, breaking down barriers of ignorance and reiterating Jo Cox’s message that we have more in common than that which divides us.  

All the speakers condemned the terror attacks and stated categorically that terrorism has no religion.

Speakers included, Mufti Mohammed Ayyoob Ashrafi – Chief Imam MA Mission Bolton; Shaheen Sameja – Crompton and Halliwell Neighbourhood Development Manager; Cllr Linda Thomas – Deputy Leader Bolton Council; Cllr Bilkis Ismail – Crompton Councillor; Sheikh Imran – Qualified Youth Worker and Chaplain at HMP; Chan Palmer – Strategic Officer Bolton Interfaith Council; Imam Adil Shehzad – Religious leader and Imam at Makkah Mosque, Bolton

After the speeches everyone was invited into the prayer hall to partake in the breaking of the fast and watched as worshippers offered the sunset prayers.  

The organisers are grateful to Ambition for Ageing who supported the event and also to the volunteers who worked tirelessly and selflessly to ensure the event was a huge success.  

M A Mission hopes to organise monthly coffee mornings and other similar events throughout the year to build on the success of this gathering.