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.”

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “The report is going to the City Administration Committee for approval this Thursday and the recommendations implemented if agreed by elected members.

“This has been a comprehensive, robust, open, and transparent process that has resulted in more than £43 million of grant funding with potentially 193 awards across the city to help our citizens and communities most in need.

“This is a major investment in the third sector and organisations who will deliver a variety of support across the five main themes of the GCF – supporting children, young people and families, promoting culture and creativity, developing community infrastructure, improving health and wellbeing and challenging violence against women and girls.

“A total of 463 applications were received totalling almost £150m – applying for over 70% more money than the value of the grant funding available.

“A comprehensive process of assessment of the applications was undertaken, involving input from strategic officer leads across the council family – including Glasgow Life, HSCP, Education, NRS, Financial Inclusion and Economic Development.

“All applications were also reviewed to ensure a local perspective contributed to the decisions being made.”

She added: “We know that organisations who have not been recommended for grant funding will be disappointed, and officers will be offering feedback and meaningful support around capacity building and assistance to identify other funding sources.

“This has been made available to groups throughout the GCF funding period – with specialist help offered in the way of workshops and bespoke support to help organisations to become future proof.

“As with all grant funding, there are never any guarantees that organisations which had previously received funding will automatically have that funding renewed and groups should factor this into business models.

“Unfortunately, we have a limited pot of money, and we need to use the resources of the council – especially during these challenging financial times – in the most supportive and effective way to meet the needs of Glaswegians and our communities.”