A MOSQUE in Bridgwater that has won a £2,500 council handout says it will welcome everyone and provide support to young people.

The Islamic Cultural Centre was given the money by Sedgemoor District Council towards refurbishments, furniture and catering equipment at its new premises in Friarn Street – the former Quaker meeting hall (pictured).

The newly-formed group is one of several community groups to benefit from a total of £20,000 in grants from the council.

Secretary Karim Miah said: “The building is now a new mosque where we can pray and we are helping young people by providing them with support and education. It's open to anyone, not just the Muslim community of Bridgwater.

"We have to make people understand were are Muslims here for worship – we’re not going to hurt anyone.

“The Quakers sold their building because they felt it was too big for their group and wasn’t being used well enough. The premises will be open to all to go and see what happens and learn about the group. They will also invite schools to visit and learn about the Muslim culture.

The chairman of Sedgemoor Council’s grants committee, John Swayne, said: “We have a duty to support all cultures and religions in Bridgwater and we give grants to groups which are providing a service to the community.

“They want people to come in and realise that all religions have rogue members and they wanted a base to invite people in to integrate fully into the community.”

During the application for the maximum grant of £2,500 from the council, the grants committee questioned the group on what changes would be made to the old Quaker building and how it would be used to further integrate Muslims into the Bridgwater community.

Cllr Swayne said that assurances were given the only seating and carpets would be replaced and that English as well as Arabic would be taught at the centre.

He added that the committee does check up on grant recipients to make sure that the money is being spent in the way that it was intended.

In recent weeks, the centre has fallen victim to graffiti as word of the new centre spreads.

Cllr Swayne said: “They have had one or two problems but the police have been involved and, to be honest, I would be surprised if there weren’t problems. The committee was fully aware of the fact that this was a building for Quakers.”

Other religious groups also received the maximum amount of funding the committee is able to award with Cannington United Reformed Church also awarded £2,500 to replace their heating boiler and the Holy Cross Church, Middlezoy, will receive £2,500 to help with costs the second phase of improvements in the church to allow greater use by the public.