The Senior's Needs Assessment Report at Milton Keynes

As part of Dr Husein Jiwa’s vision for the seniors of our community, CoEJ embarked upon a Seniors Needs
Assessment to address their strengths and needs.
The outcome from this initiative will empower CoEJ to protect, enhance and plan for the growing population
of our seniors.

Over 300 seniors attended the event and there was a lot of positive energy and enthusiasm within the room.

The introduction to the programme was followed by the welcome speech from the Gents section.

Then individual ladies and men’s workshops were carried out addressing the key issue of examining the
needs of our seniors in different phases.

Three groups were formed of different years, 1970,1990 and 2010 to ascertain what it was like for the
Seniors during these years and as a follow up to look at changes if any have arisen through these years.

The seniors were given full opportunity to air their views and contribute with any positive suggestions
that they had. It was very good to see a lot of interaction creating opportunities of motivation and stimulation.

What was also evident and was confirmed that this was a very first opportunity that was facilitated for the
seniors giving them a sense of worth and a feeling of being valued by the community at large.

Overall the common needs that emerged over the day was for our seniors to feel independent by being
able to live in houses that are near our centres and would cater for their needs including meals for the day: Housing Complex

Fear of losing the mother tongue was expressed and also the urgency of learning computer skills in
order to keep up with technology: Education for Seniors

CoEJ to approach grassroots and engage with the seniors.

To Promote Majlis’s and Duas with translations in Urdu and Gujarati.

Finally, the day was really appreciated, as this was the first time such a format had been used and a day
dedicated to hearing the needs of our seniors from various jamaats.

Various comments were received:

‘’Overjoyed by the gathering and lively company. Pray to Allah(swt) that our community progresses with sincerity’’.

‘’I think the gathering was a very good idea. We got to see and meet ladies from other jamaats.
The speeches by the ladies were very good and self-explanatory- we wish to get together again’’.

‘’The feeling was lovely and met other Jamaat senior citizens ladies. Our needs were heard’’.

‘’Some senior chapters are addressing issues at their local level only. We should look at regional levels
also to ascertain if these issues are common or not’’.

‘’Senior Citizens should be assisted financially. Events and trips should be subsidised for them’’.

‘’COEJ should listen to individual Jamaat senior citizen member’s grievances and assist where possible.
This they should do through visiting each senior citizens chapter. Also COEJ should request each chapter
Jamaat to appoint a representative for their seniors to deal with the seniors problems’’.

‘’A BIG thank you for being given an opportunity to have an open face to face discussion and air the views of the seniors.
This is first of its kind and we should have regular discussions’’.

‘’The seniors should access facilities and funds provided by their local authorities’’.

‘’Seniors are not listened to in our Jamaats’’

‘’We should not put the cart before the horse. CoEJ and WF should discuss with individual Jamaats’’.

The day ended with lots of duas from our seniors and hope for World Federation and COEJ to
assist them in their difficulties and easing their problems.

The host Jamaat was thanked and was asked to convey the message to the committee members.

1970's Group	1990's Group	2010's Group
Respect of Elders was more prevalent	Unemployment problems	Illnesses more apparent: is it because of less active and more stress
Difficulties in adopting about Health Care & Medications	Low wages and salaries	On many medications.
White collar job prospects not available or open to us and only labour work available	The lack of religious centres	In Comparison to 1960's where there were no immigration restrictions NOW major problems & restrictions
Lack of the availability of Halaal food	Fleeing from Somalia were in Dire straits but Community gave help & Support	Prevalent discrimination
Freedom of practicing own religion. No restrictions	Migrated From Portugal to retire and be with family	Islam phobia hyped up by the media. Ignorance and Bigotry and not able to accept the mod cons
Segregation	Unaware of the existence of Seniors Citizens Groups	Apathy and not ready to accept good available facilities
Housing prospects OK	Community not very organised	Should accept to learn more at any age
Transport problems	Lack of madressa's in most places	No need to feel sorry for oneself
Expulsion from Uganda	Non existence of Islamphobia then	Lack of respect for elders and everyone in general. Akhlaaq on the decrease. Not utilising own knowledge
Lack of awareness prevalent	The formation of large Muslim population in one or many areas	Barrier to new language - ENGLISH
Most of the cooking too place on coal fuelled apparatus	Availability of Halaal foods & more accessible Muslims hotels and restaurants	The ability and capacity of owning and speaking in several languages if promoted appropriately without hindrance
House help with domestic hands	Self sustained	Lack of religious knowledge
Move to UK	Communities started to organise and format	Language gap - loss of mother tongue
Forced migration - left homes and money	Stanmore became the pioneers of the senior citizen group	Need to leave a legacy to our children
Families lived together and the mother inlaw was instrumental in sharing the work facility at home	More home ownerships	Acceptance of immorality
Education access only if able to afford	Social Gatherings for thos in Africa	Less social life
Generation Contact	Crime rates were down	Transport problems to centres can Jamaats facilitate
	Communication was limited	Holidays abroad - can this be looked into
	Not many had knowledge of using telephones	Disability facilities - our centres should address this
	Much younger in age	Build computer skills - Jamaat level
	Did not own mobiles	English support classes in mosques
		Need of councillors - to share problems and be able to talk to
		Volunteers for shopping aids