Many congratulations and a BIG Thank you to the community, supporters and volunteers for helping WEC’s success in attracting people from all backgrounds, as a sign of its continuing viability as a magnet for community integration, to be recognized at the national level by winning the prestigious 2012 Scottish Minority Ethnic Achievement “Spotlight” Award – a national award that “recognises organisations or individuals who have demonstrated exceptional standards in promoting race equality, diversity and inclusion”.
Historic Achievement
Alhamdulillah! Another Historic Achievement for the East Renfrewshire and Glasgow Muslim community!
Congratulations to the East Renfrewshire (ER) and Glasgow Muslim Community…By the grace of the Almighty, the new ER Muslim Cemetery acquired from the ER Council, is now fully operational!
The WEC Trustees, Volunteers, and East Renfrewshire Muslim community are deeply indebted to East Renfrewshire Council, particularly Council Leader, Councillor Jim Fletcher, all ER Councillors and elected representatives, including our local MP, Rt Hon Jim Murphy MP, and local MSP, Ken Macintosh, for supporting our community’s acquisition of much needed Cemetery space in Cathcart/Lynn Cemetery, for nearly 2,000 lairs.
As highlighted previously in the local media (http://www.glasgowsouthandeastwoodextra.co.uk/news/local-headlines/helping-the-community-1-2913019 ), for the first time in the history of Glasgow and East Renfrewshire (ER) Muslim community residents, the ER Council has invested £169,000 (from its capital programme) to develop new Cemetery space for the local Muslim community, creating nearly 2,000 burial spaces, alhamdulillah!
Leader of ER Council, Jim Fletcher, commented: “On behalf of East Renfrewshire Council, I would like to congratulate the local Muslim community for now being able to bury their loved ones closer to their homes. I would also like to thank WEC Trustees, Mr Muhammad Rashid and Professor Amir Hussain, for their proposal on behalf of the community, which the Council has been pleased to support.”
“Following their new proposal, I am delighted to give further good news of the Council approving £40,000 in its capital programme to refurbish the car park below Burns Grove, with WEC covering any balance of the costs. This will benefit WEC community users and the local Schools. I am also delighted to note WEC plans an extension in the near future”.
Photograph: Handover Ceremony at entrance of Cathcart Cemetery (March 2015)
Right: Map showing new Muslim Cemetery layout
Middle: (Middle) WEC Representatives, Mr Muhammad Rashid and Haji Rafique Choudhry, accompanied by invited Glasgow Central Mosque (GCM) Representative, Mr Maqbul Rasul, and local elected politicians: Leader of ER Council, Jim Fletcher, local MP Rt Hon Jim Murphy, and local MSP Ken Macintosh.
Left: WEC and GCM Representatives at the newly developed ER Muslim Cemetery site (with first graves dug up in the background)
In the absence of local funeral prayer services in East Renfrewshire (which WEC plans to address through a future extension of the existing WEC community building), WEC has decided to partner with GCM for managing burials in the new Muslim Cemetery Section, for the benefit of the local Muslim community.
For more information, contact WEC on: admin@woodfarmeducationcentre.org.uk,
or, for arranging a burial, contact GCM on: 0141 429 3132 /
Testimonials from our visitors
"I visited Woodfarm Education Centre on Welcoming Ramadhan. Great, warm welcome, instructive and patient. Always best to get some of your knowledge from the source, not from the media. It is also a beautifully managed building."
"The centre is amazing , the ambiance is soothing , it's an excellent place sports activities, education and peace."
"Love the welcoming manners by volunteers. Very nice activities hall and huge car park. Excellent work"