The findings of a recent YouGov poll – undertaken at the end of May – are troubling to say the least.

More than 2,000 adults were asked for their views on Islam and Muslims, and the poll revealed that one in two Britons associate the faith with extremism and terrorism.

Only six per cent believe it encourages justice and 67 per cent are of the opinion Islam encourages the repression of women.

Forty-one per cent disagree or strongly disagree that Muslims contribute positively towards society. It is a shame that two million UK Muslims have been reduced to one-dimensional stereotypes, ones I cannot relate to at all.

I grew up on the same diet as many other Britons – freedom of expression, Blackadder and alphabet spaghetti. I support England in the World Cup. 

As a person born, raised and schooled in Kent, and one who takes pride in my county and my country, the findings are a cause for concern.

Nearly half of UK adults think Muslims are not good for Britain, when I have always felt I was made in Britain. Now is the time to say what I stand up for – the universal values of peace, coexistence and justice.

This is a sentiment shared by my colleagues at the Exploring Islam Foundation, an independent charity that seeks to counter misconceptions and highlight the shared values of Islam.

We, as a group of young British Muslim professionals, are uneasy about the public perception of our faith and of ourselves. So we wanted to do something constructive.

Thus the concept for the Inspired by Muhammad campaign was born.

The campaign consists of posters on London Transport: on the Underground, at bus stops and on taxis. It features three individuals, each representing a value Muhammad promoted – care for the environment, social justice and women’s rights.

Whereas these areas are nothing new to Muslims, they are not always associated with Muhammad or Islam in mainstream perception.

These posters point towards a comprehensive website explaining further values of education, animal welfare, charity, coexistence, human rights and healthcare, and explain the core teachings of the faith, all inspired by Muhammad.

It is a human need to look to role models. We all search for inspiration and hope from others. I am inspired by the fortitude of Mandela, the patience of Ghandi, the compassion of Mother Teresa.

I, along with so many others, learn lessons from all these figures, yet ultimately I take inspiration from a man who combined all these qualities and more. Prophet Muhammad is as relevant to me today as he was 14 centuries ago.

The poll findings reveal that while a majority of people get their information about Islam from television and newspapers, only three per cent obtain it from Muslim organisations.

This is where Muslims must step forward and speak out for the causes we all share as Britons. What is encouraging is a third of those polled said they would like to find out more about the faith.

The Inspired by Muhammad.com website received 40,000 hits in its first week as a window of easy access to accurate information about Islam.

It has taken time to reach this point for the Muslim communities in Britain and there are many reasons for that: they have undergone much change and faced many challenges in the past decade especially.

While the country was devastated by the violent attacks both abroad and at home, it was also a time to heal and build on relationships.

Muslim community initiatives and grassroots projects sprang up across the nation, and at a local level much excellent work is being achieved.

The Inspired by Muhammad campaign has built on the strength of those foundations and moved into the public space. The campaign articulates the growing confidence within the British Muslim identity.

While I look back on the last decade with mixed feelings of sadness and gratitude for those bridge-building efforts, I can now look towards the future with hope and determination.

There is still a great deal to be done, but the first steps have been taken.

• Remona Aly is campaigns director at the Exploring Islam Foundation. She is former deputy editor of emel, a Muslim lifestyle magazine. She lives at Hoo St Werburgh.