Muslim Council of Britain

What Muslim Council of Britain does

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) is an independent, cross-sectarian, democratic civil society organisation established in 1997 following a multi-year consultation process led by NICMU from April 1994. Headquartered at 5 Brayford Square, London, MCB operates as the UK's largest Muslim umbrella body, representing over 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities, schools, and professional networks. The organisation serves British Muslim communities across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, with a programmatic remit spanning policy advocacy, capacity building, research, and community engagement. Leadership is elected by the General Assembly of member delegates, with Office Bearers serving voluntarily and a separately registered MCB Charitable Foundation (Charity No. 1084651) channelling fundraising for exclusively charitable activities.

MCB's product surface is service- and content-led rather than technology-led. Core offerings include the mcb.org.uk digital platform and monthly newsletter, community and corporate membership programmes, the Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM) for media accountability, and strategic initiatives such as Vision 2050, Visit My Mosque, the Next Level Growth Lab roadshow, the Women in Mosques Development Programme, the National Listening Exercise, Media Training Services, the Welcoming Refugees Initiative, the Sustainability and Climate Change programme, and the Hungry for Change campaign. Research outputs include the British Muslims in Numbers census analysis, the 2021 Census 'Striving for Fairness' briefing, the Our Shared British Future integration report, and CfMM media coverage reports. The underlying technology stack is conventional web publishing (WordPress-style CMS, email newsletter via Mailchimp) with no proprietary AI, API, or mobile products; there is no native mobile app.

The business model is membership- and grant-funded rather than commercial. Revenue is derived from membership fees (Full Members from £89/year graded by turnover; Friends of MCB from £5/month; Corporate Members from £25/month; Observer tier free), individual and corporate donations (including through the MCBCF endowment), project-specific grants and sponsorships from foundations such as Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, National Zakat Foundation, and Aghosh UK, and fees from workshops and events (£10-£25 per workshop, with some free media training). Go-to-market is community-led: grassroots connection, affiliate referrals, events, online registration, and direct policy engagement with government.

Name

Muslim Council of Britain

Legal name

The Muslim Council of Britain

Website

https://mcb.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Muslim Council of Britain is an independent, democratic umbrella body representing over 500 affiliated UK mosques, charities, schools, and community organisations, delivering advocacy, capacity-building programmes, research, and media monitoring for British Muslims.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Advocacy and Religious Organisation Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (813110), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interfaith & Ecumenical Councils and Dialogue Organizations (BPAGAJAJ), Refugee Camp Coordination & Management (CCCM) (BPADAHAC)

Keywords

• Community advocacy services
• Muslim umbrella body
• Civil society organization
• Interfaith engagement
• Membership association

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Core administrative expenses are funded by membership fees from community members (Full Members pay from £89/year based on organizational turnover), individual supporters (Friends of MCB from £5/month), and corporate members (from £25/month).
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: Donations are received from individuals and grant-giving organisations. The MCB Charitable Foundation (MCBCF), an independent entity registered with the Charity Commission, builds a capital fund through which charitable activities are supported.
3. Project-Specific Grants and Sponsorship: MCB runs projects to raise capability of British Muslim communities. All MCB projects self-fundraise through sponsorship, donations or grants. Projects include the Next Level Growth Lab capacity building programme.
4. Event and Workshop Fees: Training events, conferences and workshops generate revenue. General admission to Growth Lab workshops is £20 per workshop (£10 for affiliates). Some trainings like Introduction to Media Monitoring are free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) is the UK's largest Muslim umbrella body, providing community advocacy, representation, and capacity-building services to over 500 affiliated national, regional, and local organisations, mosques, charities, and schools. Its core offering centres on uniting British Muslims through collective advocacy on issues such as Islamophobia and integration, empowering member organisations via training workshops and resources (including The Next Level Growth Lab, Media Training Services, and the Women in Mosques Development Programme), and serving communities through initiatives like Visit My Mosque, Welcoming Refugees, and Sustainability programmes.

Product overview

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) operates as a unified advocacy and community empowerment organization rather than a technology product company. The MCB's portfolio consists of its primary digital platform (mcb.org.uk) serving as the central hub for all activities, community membership programs (Community, Corporate, and Friend tiers), the Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM) for media accountability, and strategic initiatives including Vision 2050. The organization produces authoritative research reports on British Muslims including the 2021 Census Striving for Fairness report, British Muslims in Numbers census analysis, and media coverage monitoring reports. Additional offerings include the Women in Mosques Development Programme, The Next Level Growth Lab capacity-building roadshow, Visit My Mosque initiative, National Listening Exercise, Media Training Services, Mosque Security Preparedness Framework, Sustainability and Climate Change program, and the Welcoming Refugees initiative. The MCB also publishes a monthly newsletter and hate crime reporting resources. These products and services collectively serve to unite, empower, and serve British Muslim communities through advocacy, research, capacity building, and community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vision 2050: A structured set of aspirations aimed at transforming British Muslim communities and the Muslim Council of Britain that serves them, built on three pillars: Unite, Empower, and Serve.
• Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM)
• MCB Charitable Foundation (MCBCF)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 member organisations representing British Muslim communities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• The Muslim Council of Britain Charitable Foundation (MCBCF)coreOthers · 1 January 2025Independent entity registered with the Charity Commission. Its aim is to build a capital fund through which activities of the MCB that are exclusively charitable can be supported. Fundraising for MCB's charitable activities is managed through this foundation.
• Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCB's dedicated centre that monitors media coverage of Muslims and Islam. Has published reports including 'British Media's Coverage of Muslims and Islam (2018-2020)' and 'Media Reporting on Palestine 2021'. Provides media monitoring training and complaints handling services.
• Islamic ReliefmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the pilot launch of the Women in Mosques Development Programme in 2018-19 and again in 2019-20. Programme designed to accelerate development of upcoming female leaders to become mosque trustees, committee members and centre managers.
• Muslim AidmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsored the 'Our Shared Future: Muslims and Integration in the UK' report and its launch in Parliament. Their UK programmes including The Big Food Drive in partnership with Crisis to feed the homeless and Interfaith Projects are noted as models for society.
• Inspirited MindsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK Muslim mental health charity providing faith-sensitive and culturally sensitive support. Delivered 'Understanding Trauma: An Islamic Approach' workshop at Growth Lab. Works to improve awareness, reduce stigma, and increase access to mental health support across Muslim communities.
• National WaqfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivered 'Building Sustainable Mosques & Community Organisations through Waqf' workshop at Growth Lab. Provides practical models for establishing or supporting waqf (endowment) for long-term organisational sustainability.
• All Ways NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organisation supporting Muslim-led charities and community groups to become funder-ready and access sustainable funding. Delivered 'Becoming Funder-Ready' workshop at Growth Lab.
• Convert Muslim FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivered 'How Do We Care for Converts and Reverts' workshop at Growth Lab. Provides support for converts and reverts to Islam from the moment of shahada to the end of life.
• Mercy Mission UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with MCB in 2018-19 on a joint project to guide and recruit more mosques and Muslim-led organisations to become Community Sponsors of refugees.
• Citizens UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCB continues to support Citizens UK's Sponsor Refugees project. Citizens UK provides Community Sponsorship Portal and training resources for mosques and organisations to sponsor refugee families.
• Together with RefugeesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCB supports the Together with Refugees coalition, working towards more just and compassionate refugee policies in the UK.
• IFEES (Islamic Food and Nutrition Sciences)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in sustainability initiatives including plastic-free iftar guidelines and eco-mosque practices.
• The City CircleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with MCB for Eco-Mosques seminar in January 2020 to provide guidance on eco-friendly mosque practices.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB): UK national body representing mosques and imams, particularly Sunni institutions. Direct peer to MCB in the Muslim representative landscape, competing for the same affiliated mosques and government interlocutor role.
• Citizens UK: UK community-organising alliance of civil society institutions including faith groups. Comparable to MCB in running grassroots civic campaigns (e.g., refugee sponsorship) and federating member organisations for collective advocacy — and is explicitly a partner of MCB.
• Hindu Council UK: National umbrella body representing Hindu communities in the UK. Directly comparable to MCB as a faith-based representative organisation engaging government on community issues, coordinating affiliated temples and cultural bodies, and advocating for its constituency.
• Network of Sikh Organisations (NSO): UK umbrella body coordinating Sikh gurdwaras and organisations on policy, education, and community affairs. Comparable to MCB in operating as a federated faith-network advocating with government and delivering community programmes.
• Interfaith Council for Wales / Inter Faith Network UK: UK-wide interfaith coordinating body linking faith communities including mosques, churches, and temples. Comparable to MCB in convening religious institutions, running national events (faith-week equivalents), and providing member services.
• Tell MAMA: UK NGO monitoring and reporting anti-Muslim hate incidents. Closely comparable to MCB's Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM) — both produce reports on Islamophobia and media coverage of Muslims, and both engage regulators.

Broad incumbents

• Church of England: Established national ecclesiastical governance body with parishes, schools, and formal state interface. Comparable as a much larger incumbent of the same 'denominational governance' category that BPAGAJAB classifies MCB within.
• Methodist Church in Britain: Cross-connexion Methodist governance body coordinating chapels, schools, and community programmes across the UK. Comparable to MCB in operating as a federated religious membership organisation delivering capacity-building and advocacy.

Others

• Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust: Major UK progressive funder that has funded MCB's National Listening Exercise. Listed as a peer because as a funder-of-MCB it shapes MCB's strategic direction and is a key counterpart in the MCB ecosystem.
• Islamic Relief UK: Major UK Muslim humanitarian charity and partner on MCB's Women in Mosques Development Programme. A leading institutional counterpart with overlapping donor base, programming themes, and constituency engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/muslimcouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/muslimcouncilofbritain
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/muslim-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Muslim Council of Britain