The Gloucester Muslim Welfare Association has been awarded the Queens award for Voluntary Service 2016. Dame Janet Trotter presents the award at a ceremony at the Gloucester City Council offices (Photo: Gloucester Muslim Welfare Association)

Elham Asaad Buaras

The group that built the first mosque in Gloucester and assists with the quick burials for Muslims was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Gloucester Muslim Welfare Association (GMWA) was awarded for five decades of community work, including building the first mosque (Masjid e Noor Spiritual Light) in Gloucester South West and Wales in 1983.

GMWA was formally presented with the Award by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, Dame Janet Trotter on September 27 at the Civic Suite Council Chamber, North Warehouse.

The Association also assisted the wider community during the 2007 floods when over 100 of its volunteers helped provide clean water to the homes of elderly and vulnerable they also assisted in the floods crisis in Somerset and South Cumbria 2014/2015

GMWA also joined the Helping the Hospital League of Friends, with equipment needs for Gloucester Royal Hospital.

The Association is one of 193 charities to receive the prestigious award this year.

In a statement to The Muslim News GMWA President, Yakub Patel, spoke of his delight at the recognition. “Thoroughly deserved by the many devoted and hardworking members of the Association who give an incredible amount of time and energy to enable the extensive work in the Community,” he said.

The Association provides a unique service to the community taking full responsibilities of ensuring that the burial can take place as quickly as possible and that all legal formalities are taken care of.

GMWA Bereavement Administrator, Ismail Mehter, told The Muslim News, “The success of this service would not have been possible without the vital work of all our volunteers who unselfishly give up their time again and again at a moment notice for the benefit of the bereaved family. This award is testament to their hard work and dedication.”