The Light Islamic Centre, a community-led project with the slogan “More than just a place to pray”, is set to become the first Islamic centre in North Newcastle. Designed to serve a growing Muslim population in areas such as Gosforth, Great Park, Kingston Park, Wideopen, Killingworth, Ponteland and Cramlington, the centre will offer prayer space, education, youth programmes and social initiatives for over 500 families.
The proposed site covers one acre and will include a two-storey facility with dedicated areas for daily and Jummah prayers, Islamic classes, women’s groups, a gym and lounge space, multipurpose hall, kitchen and dining space, outdoor garden area and 36 on-site parking spaces. It is intended to serve as a vibrant community hub, not only for spiritual worship but also for connection, wellbeing and growth.
Imran Mohammad, 44, the project lead and a resident of Great Park, said: “This is the very first Islamic centre that is going to be built. And this is not just for prayers… It will be a centre where people can come together from different walks of life.”
The project is being led by a diverse group of local Muslim men and women, including NHS consultants and business owners to schoolteachers and retired pensioners. Many of those behind the project have long been involved in organising prayers, classes and community services in the area.
With an estimated 5,000 Muslims living in the North Newcastle area, the absence of a local Islamic centre has been long left. The locals have tried to secure a property for prayer, education and community life.
The centre’s vision extends beyond religious functions. There are plans to host interfaith and community events to foster community integration and provide a welcoming environment for all North Newcastle residents.
While the project has received significant support, Mohammad said: “With the South Asian community, in particular, with the Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi – the zeal has been a little bit… not that much.
“We are trying to get them on board. There’s a lot of South Asian families in that area and I know in Gosforth there’s a lot of Pakistani families; they will definitely benefit a lot from it.”
Mumtaz Fez, 73, a retired pensioner of Pakistani background who has lived in Gosforth since 1996, has long searched for a place where Muslim children in North Newcastle can take part in meaningful activities and be steered away from trouble.
He said: “We want a community sector, not just a mosque. Hopefully it will be useful, not only for Muslims but for the wider community – to remove the barrier between the communities.”
Female volunteers have played a particularly active role. Not only in raising funds but also
in shaping the vision of what a truly inclusive Islamic centre should look like.
Mohima Khan, 27, from Gosforth, has been heavily involved in the fundraising. She said: “As a woman, I know how important it is to have spaced where we feel seen, supported and spiritually uplifted.
“We need a space that’s built with women in mind from the start and not just added on later.”
From organising food sales to mobilising support through local events. Khan added: “It’s important to recognise the highly qualified, hardworking and influential sisters we have amongst us.
“Their contribution goes far beyond fundraising – it’s about the energy, unity and belief they bring to the vision of The Light Islamic Centre. I want young girls to walk into the centre and feel a sense of pride and safety.
“A space where they don’t have to question whether they belong, where they can come to pray, learn, connect and grow.”
Dr Mohammed Dessoky, 45, who lives in Great Park and has been one of the key figures behind the centre’s educational and religious outreach. As an imam and father of young children, he understands firsthand the gaps families face in the area.
He said: “I’ve spent years building educational programmes for our youth teaching children their faith, their values, and their place in society. But we’ve been doing all this from borrowed halls and temporary spaces.
“When my own children were younger, I had to drive them across the city just to attend a Qur’an class. Now I see young families here facing the same struggle.”
He believes that The Light Islamic Centre will provide more than just bricks and
mortar. It will offer a sense of permanence, identity and belonging.
Dessoky said: “This project… isn’t just about a building. It’s about giving our community a home… a place where children grow up confident in who they are.
“A place where neighbours meet, where prayers echo daily, and where our elderly can walk to the mosque instead of staying isolated. It’s time we rooted ourselves here, visibly and proudly, as part of this city’s future.”
Addressing the next generation, he continued: “You are the answer to the prayers we make today. We’re laying these bricks with you in mind so you never feel like a stranger in your own home, so you grow up grounded in faith and purpose.
“This centre is your right, your responsibility, and your inheritance. May it be the place where your hearts find peace, your minds are nourished, and your friendships last a lifetime.”
With a fundraising target of £1 million by 11 July 2025, the group is planning a series of events in the coming months to help reach their goal. More information, including ways to donate or get involved, can be found on their official website.
