Ashton Central Mosque supports 56 families through community action programme

A new partnership between Ashton Central Mosque and the National Zakat Foundation (NZF) has delivered vital financial support to dozens of local families, helping ease hardship through a pioneering model of hyper-local charitable giving.

In just one month, the mosque, acting as an official Community Zakat Hub, has distributed £7,900 in Zakat to 56 Muslim families across Ashton-under-Lyne. The initiative forms part of NZF’s nationwide Community Zakat in Action programme, designed to ensure Zakat reaches those who need it most, right where they live.

Unlike traditional models that rely solely on online applications, the Community Zakat Hub enables people facing immediate financial difficulties to seek help face-to-face at their local mosque. The personalised, community-centred approach has been warmly received, with many expressing gratitude for the compassion and dignity they experienced.

One recipient shared: “This initiative is very helpful, and the entire process was detailed. All concerns were heard completely, and help was provided as necessary. Thank you so much.”

Another said: “Thank you for your kind treatment of me and your concern. You were at the peak of ethics. May Allah reward you for all the good you have provided.”

Dr Sohail Hanif, CEO of the National Zakat Foundation, said the programme strengthens community bonds while making charitable support more accessible: “Our Community Zakat in Action works to strengthen local connections across the UK and focuses on localised distribution of Zakat through community-based hubs. This empowers grassroots organisations such as mosques, charities, and community centres to provide swift, dignified support to Muslims in need.”

He added that decentralising the process makes it easier for those who may struggle with online systems, while also helping them connect with other community services: “Local distribution fosters faith and community spirit. When people receive Zakat from their local mosque, they also discover wider support available to them, enriching their well-being. It encourages stronger ties, mutual support, and a shared sense of responsibility.

“Importantly, the personal approach allows Zakat to be distributed both faster and in a more dignified manner.”

Dr Sohail Hanif became CEO of NZF in 2021. He previously served as BA Manager and Lecturer at Cambridge Muslim College and was NZF’s Head of Research and Development from 2015–17. He has taught Islamic law and Qur’anic studies in academic and traditional settings and holds a PhD from the University of Oxford. His doctoral thesis on Islamic legal epistemology won the 2019 British Association for Islamic Studies prize.