The University of Westminster has officially opened new multi-faith spaces at its Cavendish Campus, co-designed with the Students’ Union to ensure full inclusivity. The launch event offered the Westminster community an opportunity to explore the facilities and learn how they can benefit from and support these spaces.
The new spaces are fully accessible, designed for all students, colleagues and visitors. They comprise a multi-faith quiet contemplation room and dedicated Muslim prayer rooms, gender-separated with integral ablution facilities. All the rooms are furnished with timber finishes, gentle lighting and calming imagery to create an environment of tranquillity, reflection and community.
Muslim prayer room
At the launch, Ian Wilmot, University Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, welcomed attendees and thanked everyone involved in the project. He emphasised its collaborative nature, which saw professional services colleagues, University of Westminster Students’ Union (UWSU) representatives and Westminster students working together on the design and planning, ensuring the spaces are inclusive and cater to the needs of the University’s diverse community. Wilmot also thanked the Quintin Hogg Trust, who partly funded the project.
Wilmot was then joined by UWSU President Adil Musani for a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the rooms.
Led by Yusuf Kaplan, Westminster’s Interfaith Adviser, attendees toured the rooms before celebrating the occasion with light refreshments. Guests included Westminster colleagues, students, local religious leaders and contractors who worked on the rooms’ construction.
Ablution facilities
One attendee was Arjun Ramdhan, recent Smart Computer Systems BEng Honours graduate and former President of Westminster's Hindu Society, who played a key role in supporting the project. Arjun is part of the National Hindu Students Forum (UK) and, as part of his work, continues to help and support Hindu students at Westminster.
Arjun joined the project team when Kaplan reached out to student societies to gather ideas and insight from across the Westminster community and went on to attend every planning session going forward. Each meeting brought dynamic discussion, and Arjun was able to contribute actively to the design and planning of the contemplation rooms, ensuring the needs of his society and other groups were reflected.
About the rooms Arjun said: “I really enjoyed working with Yusuf and the project team, and it was an honour to represent the Hindu Society and Hindu students throughout the process. It is such a great use of space — the rooms feel calm, welcoming and homely, very different from the usual university environment.”
Kaplan commented: “I am very grateful to all who worked together in delivering these much-improved facilities. Peaceful spaces, where contemplation and prayer can take place away from the busyness of the campus, support spiritual wellbeing and our offer of a grounded, holistic education, thereby contributing to good mental health and our ongoing work towards achieving the University Mental Health Charter award. My thanks also to everyone that came on a rainy Monday morning to be part of the launch event.”
The creation of these spaces directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3: Good Health and Wellbeing and 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn about Westminster’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Find out more about Faith and Spirituality services at the University of Westminster.
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