Faith Matters was commissioned by the Department of Communities and Local Government to undertake a review of chaplaincy services within Muslim communities in the United Kingdom. Faith Matters undertook a detailed review of organisations, chaplaincy training providers and Muslim theological institutions in order to find out about the developing profession of chaplaincy for Muslim communities. The detailed findings of a year long work can be found through this report and it outlines the development of pastoral services within different sectors:

DCLG commissioned Faith Matters to promote and show good practice within different sectors who were employing Muslim chaplains. A generic guideline on standards for the recruitment of Muslim chaplains was produced for those sectors and institutions who may require such a resource.

The guidelines could not be more prescient than it is now. Chaplaincy development with Muslim chaplains is developing and guidelines on good practice can only support chaplaincy development. Some sectors in the UK are well developed in the provision of Muslim chaplaincy whilst others are not so well developed and the guidelines would also promote existing best practice.

Link to Chaplains Report

This is a report that outlines the views of Muslim chaplains, sector leaders and Muslim communities as well as other faith communities on faith leadership. This work was undertaken over a 7 month period and took in a number of key organisations that work with Muslim and other faith communities. This is a unique report that looks at the provision of chaplaincy and pastoral care services within the following sectors: The NHS, Higher and Further Education sectors and the Prison Service.

The report also outlines the growing chaplaincy and pastoral skills base that is growing within Muslim communities and this is a mechanism through which all faiths can support people when they are going through traumatic or turbulent periods in their lives.

DCLG commissioned Faith Matters to promote and show good practice within different professional sectors that were employing Muslim chaplains. A generic guideline on standards for the recruitment of Muslim chaplains was produced for those sectors and institutions which may require such a resource.

The guidelines could not be more prescient than it is now. Chaplaincy development with Muslim chaplains is developing and guidelines on good practice can only support chaplaincy development. Some sectors in the UK are well developed in the provision of Muslim chaplaincy whilst others are not so well developed and the guidelines, it is hoped, will also promote existing best practice.

It should also be noted that chaplains are key workers in institutions like schools, further education colleges, prisons, hospitals and in the courts service. They are a resource and first point of contact for many vulnerable people and are therefore essential individuals providing pastoral care to such people.

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