They want an inquiry into how decisions are made

Leading Muslim-led voluntary sector groups are demanding an inquiry into why they have been shut out of a major fund – for the second time.

Amina Muslim Women’s Resource Centre, Al-Meezan, Boots and Beards and Sufi Festivals have not been recommended for funding in the Glasgow Communities Fund (GCF) 2026–2029 cycle.

This mirrors the 2023–2026 round, where no Muslim-led organisation was approved, despite submitting applications they say aligned with GCF priorities: health and wellbeing, culture and creativity, and tackling violence against women and girls.

Three of them – excluding Amina - have now endorsed a letter of complaint to Glasgow City Council’s (GCC) chief executive and are demanding an “independent equity audit” of GCF assessments and decisions.

The GCF was introduced by GCC in October 2020 and provides three-year funding to community and third sector organisations to deliver a diverse range of projects at a city-wide and local level. 

It is worth up to £55 million over the course of its three years and the next cycle is due to begin in April 2026.

Amina, which tackles violence against women and girls, had applied for £462,837, Al-Meezan, which promotes education, applied for £317,609, Boots and Beards, which promotes health and wellbeing, was looking for £425,242 and Sufi Festival, a cultural group, was looking for £375,356.

The groups say not funding Muslim-led charities “perpetuates exclusion”, when the funding sought represents only a small fraction of the total available.

As well as demanding an inquiry, the groups want “transparent, disaggregated reporting of funding outcomes by protected characteristics and geography”.

Tariq Mahmood, chair of Sufi Festival, said: “This is now a pattern, not an anomaly. Our services are culturally competent, trusted, and directly address GCF priorities. Repeated exclusion raises serious questions about fairness and the robustness of equality safeguards.”

Glasgow hosts Scotland’s largest Muslim population — around 48,766 people or 7.9% of residents, concentrated in areas of high deprivation such as Pollokshields and Govanhill.

Community leaders warn that “excluding trusted providers undermines support for survivors of domestic abuse, family wellbeing, and cultural participation”.

Mahmood said: “Equity is a statutory and moral imperative. We stand ready to work with the council to rebuild trust and deliver for Glasgow’s communities.”

Glasgow City Council has been asked for comment.