Vote Team BLUE
Election on Sunday 15th December 2024
Bilal Farooq
Standing for Chairman
Imran Tahir
Standing for Secretary
Adnan Khan
Standing for Treasurer
Omar Ilyas
Standing for Executive Member
Shiyamin Mohamed
Standing for Executive Member
Yahaya Alawoki
Standing for Executive Member
Waqar Ahmad
Standing for Executive Member
Building a stronger community together
Our top priority is simple: we want to build a future where every member of this community feels supported and has an attachment to our mosque.
Important Information
📍 Gravesend Central Mosque, Albion Terrace, Gravesend DA12 2SX
📅 Sunday 15th December 2024
⏰ 8:00AM - 7:30PM
What To Bring:
🪪 Valid Photo ID (e.g. Passport, Driving Licence)
🏠 Proof of Address (dated within the last 6 months): Driving License, Utility Bill, NHS Letter, HMRC Letter etc.
Meet Our Team
Bilal Farooq - Standing for Chairman
Bilal Farooq has had the privilege of serving as Chairman for the past three years, working collaboratively to achieve significant milestones. These include organising Eid in the Park with Shah Jalal Mosque, hosting Taste Ramadan and the Interfaith Walk, running sports clubs for our young people, and representing the Gravesham community at events such as the Million March for Palestine.
An active member of the Gravesend and Dartford Muslim Association since 2012, Bilal has consistently worked to foster unity and inclusivity within the community. Under his leadership, initiatives have strengthened interfaith dialogue, supported local causes, and engaged members of all ages.
If re-elected, Bilal aims to further involve youth through workshops, fresh initiatives, and sub-committees, while continuing to prioritise interfaith collaboration and community development. His focus remains on working together to build a stronger, more inclusive future for all.
Imran Tahir - Standing for Secretary
Imran has been a member of the committee for 3 years and has made significant contributions. This year alone, he has claimed gift aid on behalf of the mosque, been part of the education committee and arranged security guards for the mosque.
Professionally, Imran is an economist at a leading research institute. He holds degrees from the LSE and UCL and is currently completing his PhD in economics. Imran has presented his research to the government and civil service and has been featured on the BBC and in the Financial Times.
More important than his CV, Imran is driven by a sincere desire to work tirelessly to advance our community.
Adnan Khan - Standing for Treasurer
Adnan Khan is a qualified chartered accountant with over 30 years of experience, which makes him perfect for the role of treasurer.
He performed Itikaf at our mosque in 2022 and ever since has been closely associated with the mosque ever since.
Adnan is an active volunteer with a charity called Future Frontiers, which provides mentoring to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
He plans to bring career coaching programmes to the local community. Adnan is committed to using his extensive experience in governance and leadership, gained in five countries, to serve the Muslim community in Gravesend.
Omar Ilyas - Standing for Executive Member
Omar works in international business development. He is currently leading the expansion of the Creams dessert franchise in the Middle East.
He has worked internationally and is fluent in several languages, including Arabic.
Recently moved to Gravesend, Omar’s children attend the madrasah and he is passionate about serving our community.
He wants to lead outreach programmes that will strengthen interfaith relations in Gravesham.
Shiyamin Mohamed - Standing for Executive Member
Shiyamin has founded and served as President of Sokians UK for 12 years (a UK-registered charity that helps disadvantaged children in Sri Lanka).
Professionally, he is an ICT technical leader working across government, and he has even worked for the United Nations.
Shiyamin already does a lot for our community - he has been a tireless volunteer with the GDMA children's football club and has been running the GDMA men's badminton club for 3 years.
Yahaya Alawoki - Standing for Executive Member
Yahaya brings over a decade of experience in retail management and commercial analysis.
He is passionate about community service and was a volunteer in his previous local mosque in Plymouth where he helped with cleaning and maintenance.
One of Yahaya’s main goals is to encourage Islamic education and tilawat among our youth.
He wants to create an inclusive environment for everyone at the mosque.
Waqar Ahmad - Standing for Executive Member
Born and raised in Gravesend, Waqar has a long connection with the mosque.
As a software developer for an international law firm, he will use this expertise to develop the mosque’s IT infrastructure.
Waqar aims to empower youth involvement and contribute to the mosque’s charitable efforts, ensuring the community continues to grow and make a positive impact.
Campaign Videos
Opening statement from Bilal Farooq
Team Blue Message
Imran Tahir - Standing for Secretary
Adnan Khan - Standing for Treasurer
Omar Ilyas - Standing for Executive Member
Shiyamin Mohamed - Standing for Executive Member
Yahaya Alawoki - Standing for Executive Member
Waqar Ahmad - Standing for Executive Member
Our Track Record
What we delivered under Bilal's Leadership
🌳 Eid in the Park
We became Kent's first mosque to organize Eid in the Park, uniting Gravesend Central and Shah Jalal Mosques.
📚 Huge improvements to GDMA Madrasah
Advancing Islamic education, GDMA Madrasah now serves 60+ students.
🏆 Children's and Adult's Sports Club
Established a children’s football club, free cricket coaching, and 5-a-side football and badminton for adults.
🕊 Protests against burning of the Qur’an
Standing united against hate and defending our faith.
🔨 Building compliances certificates
Obtained building compliance certificate covering last two decades
- 🏠 Purchase of residence for Imam
- ♀️ Creation of women’s committee
- 👴 Regular social activities for senior citizens
- 🎓 Careers day for young people
- 🛡 Arranged Security Guards for Mosque
Our Vision
📘 Education: learning for all
Education is central to our community’s strength. We will expand learning opportunities, ensuring access to education for everyone.
- Tafsir and Fiqh classes in English: These new classes will help us all (especially our young people) connect more deeply with our faith.
- Women’s classes: Regular tajweed classes and Islamic courses for women during the day to provide opportunities for our sisters.
- Classes for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN): We’ll provide dedicated classes to support children with SEN.
🌸 Sister’s activities: a mosque for everyone
We’ve set up a women’s sub-committee to organise events for sisters, but there’s more to do to make every sister feel part of the mosque.
- An expanded women’s committee: Including women from different nationalities to ensure everyone feels represented.
- Workshops and social events: Educational and social gatherings to help sisters get involved, learn, and connect.
- Tea and coffee mornings for elderly women: Regular time for our elderly sisters to meet, chat, and feel part of the community.
🌴 Senior citizens: supporting our elders
Our elders should never feel isolated or lonely. The mosque should be a place for them to come together to pray and socialise.
- Bringing elders togther: We will continue to run meetings after Jummah and more socialising opportunities for our elders.
- Wellbeing classes: In collaboration with The Grand and the charity Involve, we will offer free exercise and lifestyle classes for our elders.
- Health check-ups: Regular sessions to monitor blood pressure and provide basic health advice with local health professionals.
🌟 Youth Engagement: empowering the next generation
Our young people are the future of our community, and we’re dedicated to empowering them with a voice and opportunities to lead. We’ve already started sports groups for young people and will do even more to support and guide them.
- Youth committee: Establish a youth committee to give young people a platform in decision-making and a say in the mosque.
- Expanded summer activities: Build on our existing sports groups by organising regular activities during the summer holidays.
- Leadership Development: Introduce workshops and mentoring programmes to help our youth build essential skills and prepare for future roles within the community.
🛠 Upgrading and expanding our mosque
Our mosque is the heart of our community, and we need a space that can serve everyone comfortably. We are committed to enhancing our current facilities to better meet the needs of our congregation.
- New minarets: Add minarets to beautify our mosque’s exterior.
- Upgraded Wudhu Area: Improve the wudhu facilities for both men and women, making them more accessible and accommodating.
- New carpets in the basement: Replace old carpets to create a more comfortable prayer space in the basement.
🕌 Building a new mosque for the future
Our community is expanding and we need a larger mosque. We’re committed to working toward a purpose-built mosque in Gravesend that will serve us and future generations.
- The process is underway: We have already begun the process of submitting applications to the council and will continue to lobby.
- A larger prayer space in Gravesend: The new mosque will provide significantly more capacity to accommodate our community.
- Additional facilities: This will include a multi-purpose hall to provide opportunities for sports and other events.
Gravesham Funeral Fund
Team Blue's Funeral Fund Promise
When a loved one passes away, families not only face emotional heartbreak but also significant financial pressure. Funeral costs can be over £6,000 and these expenses are rising.
One of our key pledges is the Gravesham Funeral Fund, which will support families during the most difficult times in their lives. The fund will be available to all Muslims in Gravesham, not just those who attend the Gravesend mosque.
How will the Funeral Fund work?
Members will pay a small yearly contribution, which will cover the full cost of a funeral. This means that families won’t need to worry about financial stress during an already challenging time.
What if I choose burial abroad?
We know some families may want to bury loved ones abroad. In these cases, the fund will provide financial assistance towards those costs.
What makes our pledge different?
Some teams may promise similar schemes, but we’ve already done the groundwork to make sure this fund will work effectively and have the team in place to deliver this ambitious project.
Have you started already?
Yes, we’ve already made a start. We’ve looked at how similar funeral funds work in other areas to learn what has been successful. We’re also working with accountants and actuaries to design this Fund.
What’s next?
We will put together a clear written proposal to share with the community. We’ll ask for feedback to make sure it works for everyone. After that, we’ll launch the fund with a simple and transparent plan.
The Gravesham Funeral Fund will offer real help to families when they need it most.
Manifesto
