The Charity Commission has published an update on its inquiries
into Dudley Central Mosque and Muslim Community Centre and The
Muslim Community Centre and Mosque 1977.
Following years of regulatory concerns and uncertainty over the
management of a local mosque in Dudley, the charity regulator for
England and Wales has merged two disputing charities to run the
premises as one organisation.
The regulator has also set out how the interim trustees appointed
to Dudley Mosque and Community Centre are to hold elections.
Trustees have been given a clearer framework to appoint future
trustees and admit members to the new charity, offering a
transparent way for members of the community to be involved in
the charity moving forward.
The Charity Commission is using its legal powers, to merge
unregistered charity, Muslim Community Centre and Mosque 1977,
with Dudley
Central Mosque and Muslim Community Centre. The regulator has
taken action in a bid to resolve confusion around which charity
is responsible for the mosque and its day to day management.
To date, the existence of two charities, both with complicated
structures, has exacerbated a dispute between involved parties.
The regulator continues to encourage parties to mediate, as talks
previously had not progressed in part due to the complexity of
this case.
The Commission has created a new Governing Document to enable the
newly combined charity to operate effectively, an unprecedented
use of its powers which have not been applied in this way for
over 20 years.
The new Governing Document, which incorporates workable parts
from each charity's existing governing documents, sets out rules
on how the charity should run in line with charity law and the
Commission's guidance. It will guide elected trustees on matters
such as decision-making, minute-taking, roles and
responsibilities, and membership at the charity. All charities
require a clear and workable governing document to ensure they
can operate effectively and deliver for their beneficiaries.
Background
The Commission launched an inquiry into Dudley Central Mosque and
Muslim Community Centre in July 2022 over repeated failure to
meet its accounting requirements, despite previous regulatory
engagement.
In April 2025, the Commission opened a separate inquiry into the
Muslim Community Centre and Mosque 1977 over concerns that the
dispute between the two organisations posed a risk to charity
property.
Both inquiries remain ongoing.
Notes to editors:
-
More information on
the scope of the inquiry into the Muslim Community Centre and
Mosque 1977: Charity Commission
launches inquiry into Dudley Mosque - GOV.UK
-
More information on
the scope of the inquiry into Dudley Central Mosque and Muslim
Community Centre: Charity Commission
launches inquiry into Dudley Mosque - GOV.UK
- It is the Commission's policy, after it has concluded an
inquiry, to publish a report detailing the issues examined, any
action taken, and the inquiry's outcomes.
- The Commission has applied its powers to make a scheme under
s 79 (2) of the Charities Act 2011. It is extremely rare for the
Commission to use this power and does so only in the most complex
of cases.
