An Islamic charity has acquired the Grade II-listed former public library building in Nelson.

The purchase was made possible with assistance from Barclays Bank.

The Old Library, based on Booth Street, dates back to the early 1900s, and was a library until 1974 when it became offices for the newly-formed Pendle Council.

The undisclosed commercial mortgage from Barclays, coupled with significant donations from the local Shia community, has enabled the charity to buy the building while at the same time significantly reduce its monthly outgoings. 

IMAM Organisation UK was set up in June 2016 to focus on ‘educating Muslim youths in morals and manners, promoting understanding, respect, tolerance and cultural cohesion’
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The charity said the acquisition will benefit the education of hundreds of students among the growing Shia community of 250 families. 

IMAM Organisation UK is made up of a team of volunteers, led by founders Maulana Syed Najamul Hassan Naqvi and his wife Alimah Syeda Touqir Naqvi. 

Lancashire Telegraph:

Trustee Musawar Hussain said: “We can’t thank Barclays enough for its support in the purchase of this property. Despite the challenges of lockdown, the charity was able to adapt and grow, continuing to provide a service to the community through social media channels and expanding our reach beyond our normal catchment. 

“With life now returning to some normality, we are once again able to offer face-to-face classes, and acquiring such a prominent building in the heart of the Nelson community is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the area and will enable us to expand our offering to more and more Muslim families.”

Sohail Iqbal, business development manager for Barclays in Lancashire, said: “I’m absolutely delighted we have been able to support IMAM as it looks to expand its services which are hugely beneficial to the local community.

“Despite the challenges of Covid-19, this well-run organisation has continued to grow and the acquisition of its own premises will provide the platform it needs to go from strength to strength.”

The building had undergone a £1.2million restoration project through a joint venture between Pendle Council and Barnfield Investment Properties. Improvements to the building have included restoring original features such as oak doors, hand-crafted plaster fruit mouldings and a mosaic floor.