E-Bulletin December 2021

This is a web version of IFN's December 2021 E-bulletin. A PDF version of this and past bulletins can be found here. 

You can navigate to particular sections/articles using the links below. 

Sections

• A message from the Co-Chairs of the Inter Faith Network for the UK
• Faith and public life updates
• Inter Faith Network for the UK News
• Inter faith projects and developments
• Resources and study/training
• Calls for information, competitions and nominations
• Jobs, internships and volunteering
• Funding opportunities
• Special Weeks/Days
• Diary Dates

Items

Faith and public life updates

• COVID-19 and faith communities
• UK Government Minister with responsibility for faith engagement
• Refugees and asylum seekers
• Sir David Amess MP
• Faith communities, climate change and the environment
• The Queen's Green Canopy
• Hate Crime
• Social Media, prejudice and hatred
• Consultation on proposals to reform the Human Rights Act
• Assisted Dying Bill
• BBC religious programming

Inter Faith Network for the UK News

• Inter Faith Week
• IFN Faith Communities Forum
• New IFN Co-Chair
• IFN e-bulletin

Inter faith projects and developments

• CCJ Inclusion and Diversity Programme
• Local inter faith anniversaries
• Near Neighbours network
• Reaching out to our neighbours
• New Telford and Wrekin inter faith community hub
• Northamptonshire Police Interfaith Association

Resources and study/training

• IFN Videos for assemblies and collective worship
• Faith communities and COVID-19: Learning from the journey
• Inter Faith Buddies
• Faiths Working Together toolkit
• Measures of Success toolkit
• Visit My Mosque resource for RE Teachers
• Climate resources and guides
• New Religion and Belief Policy Network
• Wales Faith & Citizenship conference report
• Guidance on recruiting Black and Asian charity trustees
• IFN 'digital surgery' slots for local inter faith organisations
• Sharing Perspectives inter faith study tour

Calls for information, competitions and nominations

• Women's local inter faith initiatives
• IFN Local Inter Faith Guide
• Bereavement - A call for information
• Survey on media representation
• Barnet Faith & Belief Awards

Jobs, internships and volunteering

• Inter Faith Network for the UK
• Board of Deputies - Interfaith Projects Assistant

Funding opportunities

• Funding websites
• COVID-19 related funding
• Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme
• FCC Community Action Fund
• Subsidised fundraising workshops

Special Weeks/Days

• Dates for Special Weeks and Days taking place throughout the year

Diary Dates

• Information on some of the inter faith events taking place around the UK

 

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FAITH AND PUBLIC LIFE UPDATES

COVID-19 and faith communities

October and November saw return to more regular patterns of in person meetings and events on the part of faith communities.  In the Midlands, for example, thousands of Sikhs joined worldwide celebrations to mark the 552nd birthday Guru Nanak and in London, hundreds attended the Church of England’s Synod.  In Scotland, many from different faith groups came together to advocate together on behalf of climate change ahead of and at COP26 (although the main vigil for the latter was held outdoors).

The subsequent emergence in late November and rapid spread of the Omicron variant of the virus, and continued spread of the Delta variant, have led the UK Government and governments in the devolved nations to reintroduce some measures to reduce the spread of the virus.   Places of worship remain open in all UK nations. However, face masks must now be worn in them all. 

There has been a strong push to increase the numbers of people receiving boosters and also to encourage take up on the first and second vaccinations. UK Communities Minister Kemi Badenoch MP hosted a special webinar for faith leaders on 17 December with inputs from key NHS practitioners. On 19 December, the UK Government announced an additional £22.5 million in funding and an army of vaccine ambassadors have been deployed to encourage vaccine uptake in the run up to Christmas and the new year.  Pop up clinics in places of worship will be among the kinds of activity supported.

Faith communities have been continuing to play an active part in the vaccine roll out.  For example the Hindu Council UK and South Asian Health Alliance with input from the NHS and others held an online vaccine awareness event.  Programmes such as Community Champions are also assisting.  Faith leaders in some areas, such as Watford, have been issuing renewed calls for people to come forward for vaccination.  The Watford message includes within it the following wording which is central to many such calls at this time: “Leaders from across all the major faiths in Watford are asking people of every faith and denomination to come forward and support this huge national effort. Vaccines are our best defence against Omicron – we therefore urge faith communities, and everyone, to book yourselves in today and join the national fight against this virus.

If you have yet to get your first or second dose it is never too late, as the vaccines will reduce your risk of hospitalisation and death. So please play your part and encourage others in your community to be vaccinated with the booster.”  

Organisations such as FaithAction and Strengthening Faith Institutions are also playing a role.

The use of places of worship for clinics and pop-ups is affording unusual and welcome opportunities for inter faith learning and engagement.  For example in the present week a local doctor from Bristol tweets about her vaccination at the Bristol Hindu temple and an Infantry Officer about his visit to the local mosques for a booster, saying “ Unexpected 'cultural' day out as the eldest was intrigued with the beautifully decorative interior, and mosque staff happily chatted away with her”.

 

UK Government information on COVID-19 is at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do.

The NHS guidance can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.

 

Advice is available on the following websites in the devolved nations:

• https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/
• https://www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus
• https://gov.wales/coronavirus
• https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/latest-information-on-novel-coronavirus-covid-19/
• https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19
• https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/covid-19-coronavirus

Guidance for the use of places of worship can be found at:

• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship
• https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-phase-3-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship/ 
• https://gov.wales/alert-level-0-guidance-employers-businesses-and-organisations
• https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-places-worship

Within each of the nations, different faith communities are also working to provide their own guidance based on the official guidance and looking at particular practical dimensions of that. See, for example, the COVID-19 Briefing Paper from CYTUN/Churches Together in Wales.

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UK Government Minister with responsibility for faith engagement

Kemi Badenoch MP has been given, as part of her Ministerial brief at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in the UK Government, responsibility for faith engagement as part of integrated communities.  She is also Minister for Equalities.

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Refugees and asylum seekers

On 11 October, IFN’s Faith Communities Forum issued the statement. It includes a specific concern about a recently adopted ‘push back’ of boats policy within the framework of a wider statement concluding with a call for “Drawing on the common values at the heart of our different and distinct faith traditions we call for safe, humane and dignified treatment of refugees and those seeking asylum." 

 

Nationality and Borders Bill

The Nationality and Borders Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons on 8 December. It next moves to its second reading in the House of Lords on 5 January.    

The three objectives of the Bill are described by the Government as:

1. To make the system fairer and more effective so that we can better protect and support those in genuine need of asylum.
2. To deter illegal entry into the UK breaking the business model of criminal trafficking networks and saving lives.
3. To remove from the UK those with no right to be here.

Nationality and Borders Bill: factsheet - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

There have been concerns raised about aspects of the Bill, including by faith communities, particularly in relation to criminalisation of arriving without permission and also about a provision which would give the Government to the right, in certain circumstances, to remove a UK citizen’ citizenship without informing them.

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Sir David Amess MP

On 15 October, Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West, was killed in an attack during a constituency surgery he was holding at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea. The suspect was detained under the Terrorist Act. 

Many tributes were offered to Sir David, including from faith communities in his constituency, such as local mosques, with whom he had had very positive relations. On 18 October a statement was issued on behalf of the Board and the Moderators of the Faith Communities Forum of IFN. It includes within it the following:

 

“Like the murder five years ago of Jo Cox MP, the knife attack on Steven Timms MP, and the attack on Nigel Jones MP in which local councillor Andrew Pennington, who had come to his aid, was killed, this latest murderous stabbing throws into sharp relief the vulnerability of those who serve as our elected representatives.

Causes and motives differ. In some cases, attackers seek to justify their acts through perverse distortions of religious teachings, such as in the case of Islamist extremists (despite the repeated rejection of their views by members of the community in question), or of political doctrine, in the case of far right extremists.  

We must stand firm against hatred and division and in support of safe, free and open engagement of people in a democratic society.”

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Faith communities, climate change and the environment

COP26 (the United Nations climate talks, also known as the Conference of Parties or COP),

took place in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November. The COP saw the culmination of a long period of preparation and activity by faith community organisations, as well as individuals motivated by their faith.  This included advocacy initiatives, including  ‘pilgrimages’, such as that of the Young Christian Climate Network and ‘Camino to COP’. 

The inter faith charity Faith for the Climate played a linking/encouraging role in relation to COP26, with support from the Environmental Issues Network of CTBI and active involvement from Aid NGOs such as Christian Aid, CAFOD, Tear Fund and Islamic Relief; and engagement from faith-based initiatives such as the Bhumi Project, Bahu Trust, Eco Synagogue, Eco Church, Eco Sikh and Hindu Climate Action.  A Glasgow Multi-Faith Declaration was signed by a number of leaders of different faiths from across the UK, and an open letter was delivered to Downing Street by a number of faith leaders.

A number of other faith-based and inter faith bodies ran active campaigns in the time leading up to COP26, such as Muslim Charities Forum and the Wirral-based charity Faiths4Change. Joint statements were issued by a number of faith bodies, for example by bishops from the Church of Wales; Muslim organisations from across the UK and Ireland; and Druids.

At COP26, a range of faith-based and inter faith activities took place and Scottish Interfaith Week was moved forward to coincide with COP26, running from 31 October to 7 November on the theme of ‘Together for Our Planet’. On 31 October, Interfaith Scotland and Interfaith Glasgow, with the Scottish Religious Leaders Forum, led a prayer and meditation vigil at George Square in Glasgow, the official livestream of which can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9wDl36mJms.

On 2 November, representatives of faith movements from around the world gathered at St George’s Tron Church to present their demands for climate justice. Faith events were also organised to mark the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice on 6 November, including ‘faith and belief blocs’ at marches in London and Glasgow.

Faith groups also led workshops and held vigils and community events. Several faith-based organisations also ran exhibition stands in the Green Zone of COP26 and there were many other vigils, dialogue opportunities, workshops and volunteering opportunities. For example, Soka Gakkai International UK, with the Centre for Applied Buddhism, led a ‘Sowing Seeds of Hope’ event, which ran throughout COP26 from 1 to 7 November as part of the Climate Fringe in Glasgow, with talks and activities themed on climate justice and the launch of a  ‘Seeds of Hope and Action’ exhibition with Earth Charter International. Some activities took place within the Blue Zone, however there was no formal space for faith groups at the summit.  

Many activities for Inter Faith Week in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, which ran from 14 to 21 November, were also centred on faith responses to climate change.

Building on the momentum created by COP26, faith and inter faith/multi faith groups have begun to build campaigns, and to make plans and commitments.

The Climate Coalition, which includes a number of faith organisations, has created an ‘Email Your MP’ campaign and the ‘The Proof is in the Pudding’ campaign, encouraging people to make sure that the UK government fulfils the promises made at COP26. The details of these campaigns, including information on how to get involved, can be found at https://www.theclimatecoalition.org/take-action.

A number of communities have produces new resources linked to COP26 (see below).

 A number of UK faith organisations have signed up to be participants in the ‘Faith Plans’ programme of FaithInvest which was launched in October to coincide with COP26 . This will involve developing plans for practical faith-based environmental action.   

The details provided in this bulletin are not exhaustive, and faith and inter faith responses continue to develop. Details of major Christian faith events and latest responses to COP26, and sources of background information and links to some of the organisations which reported from the conference, can be found in this Churches Together in Britain and Ireland report. 

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The Queen’s Green Canopy

The June issue of IFN’s e-bulletin noted that faith leaders had come together in a video to share what trees mean to them and their faiths and to encourage everyone to plant a tree for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next year. 

If you are a faith group or an inter faith organisation, why not get involved and plant a tree or trees?  Tree planting is under way from now until March and will then start again in October 2022, through to the end of the Jubilee year (reflecting the time when trees are best planted). 

The Woodland Trust is a partner of the QGC. Across 2021 and 2022 they have over three million saplings in tree packs, available on a first come first served basis. Information on how to apply for the free saplings is available through the Woodland Trust website. In Northern Ireland, free tree packs are available through the QGC partner The Conservation Volunteers.

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Hate crime

In October, the UK Government published the 2020-21 hate crime figures for England and Wales. The report notes that religious hate crimes fell by 18 per cent (to 5,627 offences), down from 6,856 in the previous year; this was the second successive fall in religious hate crimes since a peak of 7,202 offences in year ending March 2019.

Scotland’s report on the same period had been published earlier in the year. That reported 573 charges with a religious aggravation reported in 2020-21, 14% fewer than in 2019-20.  Northern Ireland data for the same period, together with a subsequent quarterly update can be seen at Hate Motivation Statistics (psni.police.uk).

On 7 December the Law Commission published the Final Report of its review of hate crime laws in England and Wales.  The full report, and a summary of the report and its recommendations, are available for download on the Law Commission website.

During the time since the last issue, there have been a number of high profile hate incidents. These have included antisemitic incidents, for example targeting Jews on a bus on Oxford street at the start of Chanukkah. Among recently reported hate incidents targeting Muslims was one about two teenage girls being assaulted by four unknown women who tried to remove the girls’ traditional Muslim dress and hijab. Islamophobia Awareness month in November saw a number of events looking at hate incidents (as well as prejudice) linked to Muslim identity. 

It is not just the Jewish and Muslim communities where religiously related incidents have been reported.  For example, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation after an officer was accused, in a complaint against the West Midlands Police, of forcibly removing the religious head covering of a Sikh man while he was in custody.

Information on reporting hate crimes can be found below.

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Social Media, prejudice and hatred

Recent publications

In December, the Community Security Trust published a Woolf Institute study with CST and Antisemitism Policy Trust which speaks of 495,000 antisemitic tweets being shared in the UK each year, with around 100 to 1,350 such tweets shared every day. In November the Community Security Trust published a report on antisemitic discourse.

On 30 November, the Muslim Council of Britain’s Centre for Media Monitoring published British Media’s Coverage of Muslims & Islam (2018-2020).  The report analysed 48,000+ online articles and 5,500+ broadcast clips. It describes 60% of online media articles and 47% of television clips as associating Muslims and/or Islam with negative aspects or behaviour.

 

Online Safety Bill

The Online Safety Bill (formerly the Online Harms Bill), to establish a new regulatory framework to tackle harmful content online, is due to be put to Parliament for approval in 2022. Information on the work of the Joint Committee that has been appointed to consider the draft Bill can be found at https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/534/draft-online-safety-bill-joint-committee/publications/

See also Looking after one another: the safety and security of our faith communities (IFN and partners) which contains practical pointers for working together to counter hate crime.

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Consultation on proposals to reform the Human Rights Act

On 14 December, the report of the Independent Human Rights Act Review Panel was published. The Government’s response, also published on 14 December, sets out its proposals to revise the Human Rights Act 1998 and replace it with a ‘Bill of Rights’. Government’s proposals are accompanied by a public consultation which will run until 8 March. Both can be found at https://consult.justice.gov.uk/human-rights/human-rights-act-reform/.

Government’s proposals are extensive, and would affect a significant amount of the Act, if implemented, including changes to the principle of proportionality which would alter the ways that domestic judges balance qualified and limited rights from the European Convention on Human Rights (to which the UK is still a party).

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Assisted Dying Bill

The Assisted Dying Bill seeks to enable adults who are terminally ill to be provided at their request with specified assistance to end their own life.  Members of the Lords debated the main principles and purpose of the Assisted Dying Bill during its Second Reading on 22 October. 

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Chief Rabbi and the Archbishop of Westminster issued a joint press release opposing the Bill. Dignity in Dying, which supports the Bill, is supported by a number of faith leaders, including Reform Rabbi Jonathan Romain, the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey, and former Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

The Religion Media Centre has put together some information on views within different faith traditions, which can be found here.

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BBC religious programming

The BBC has announced that  Aleem Maqbool has been appointed as the BBC’s new Religion Editor.  He will take up the role in Spring 2022.

In November the BBC held a webinar showcasing faith programming across the BBC’s networks in 2021 and previewing highlights for Christmas and the new year. Highlights covered from 2021 included the addition of a new ‘Faith and Hope’ area on the BBC iPlayer, as well as programmes such as the ‘Being’ series reflecting on how family milestones are marked by different faiths, ‘My First Festivals’, featuring children celebrating festivals such as Rosh Hashanah and ‘My Diwali Stories’, which showed how Hindus, Jains and Sikhs celebrate Diwali in different ways.   New RE materials are set to be released on BBC Bitesize and BBC Asian Network is due to release new content for Vaisakhi  and for Ramadan including a 6 part series covering Ramadan’s meaning for individuals.

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INTER FAITH NETWORK FOR THE UK NEWS

Inter Faith Week

Inter Faith Week 2021

This year Inter Faith Week www.interfaithweek.org took place from Sunday 14 to Sunday 21 November.  Across the Week, over 740 activities are known to have taken place, and details of further events continue to come in.  Many thousands of people of different backgrounds and all ages took part, with millions more encountering its positive messages through social media.   The 2020 Week was almost entirely online due to the impact of COVID-19. Inter Faith Week 2021 saw many activities once again taking place in person, with others online or ‘hybrid’.

Bishop Jonathan Clark and Narendra Waghela, Co-Chairs of the Inter Faith Network for the UK, which leads on the Week, said:

“This has been a fantastic Week. It has been inspiring to see such a wide range of activities, including local places of worship open days, faith leader meetings and inter faith events, an amazing range of school activities and events held by local authorities, sports organisations, chaplaincies, cultural institutions such as museums and libraries, universities and colleges, police and fire services, the Armed Forces, the NHS, hospices, media, voluntary groups, businesses, and many others.

[It] has been a Week which has encouraged and sparked conversations, projects and partnerships which will further strengthen good inter faith relations and social cooperation for the common good between those of different faiths and beliefs.”

Read more about the week here.  A full list of activities can be seen at www.interfaithweek.org/list.

If you held an activity for the Week, congratulations and thank you for making the week such a success!  Please do take 10 minutes to give feedback through the Inter Faith Week survey, which you can find here.

Scottish Inter Faith Week

Scottish Interfaith Week is led by Interfaith Scotland and was this year brought forward to the earlier time of Sunday 31 October – Sunday 7 November to coincide with COP26. Its theme this year was 'Together for our Planet'. 

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IFN Faith Communities Forum

The Inter Faith Network for the UK Faith Communities Forum (FCF) brings together national faith community bodies in IFN membership for regular discussion of issues of common concern.

The FCF met on 5 October.  On the Agenda were: COVID-19 and faith communities; Faith communities and response to refugees and asylum seekers, IICSA report on ‘Child Protection in Religious Organisations and Settings’; Inter faith engagement of faith communities – including joint working on climate issues in the run up to COP26 - and issues of current interest and concern; Inter Faith Week; and a number of IFN matters. It also met on 29 November when Agenda Items included: COVID-19 and faith communities; Levelling Up; Inter Faith Week; Inter faith engagement of faith communities and issues of current interest; and a number of IFN matters including an Evaluation Project and IFN’s new Co-Chair from the National Faith Community Representative Bodies.

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New IFN Co-Chair

It was announced on 10 December by the Board of the Inter Faith Network for the UK that from 1 January the Revd Canon Hilary Barber will be taking up the role of Co-Chair, following the standing down of the Rt Revd Jonathan Clark at the end of the year, ahead of the latter’s retirement as Bishop of Croydon.  At its December meeting, the Board offered its warm thanks to Bishop Clark for his work with IFN across the last two years and its good wishes for his future.

Canon Barber will be Co-Chair from IFN’s National Faith Community Representative Bodies category of membership. He joins Narendra Waghela, who is Co-Chair from IFN’s local inter faith organisation and other categories membership. Canon Barber will also become ex officio a Co-Moderator of the IFN Faith Communities Forum.  

Canon Barber said:

“The work of the Inter Faith Network of the UK is of enormous importance. I am delighted to have been appointed. I will do everything I can, with God's help, to enable the Inter Faith Network to thrive and flourish so that it can continue to be a vital resource for the development of inter faith cooperation and understanding in the UK.”

Canon Barber is the Vicar of Halifax Minster in Calderdale, West Yorkshire. Prior to that, he worked in the Diocese of Manchester.  He is involved in both national and local inter faith engagement. He has a particular interest in the area of faith and the public square and practical cooperation of faiths for the benefit of local communities and society and in tackling division within society.  

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IFN E-bulletin

Thank you to those who have completed the survey about IFN’s e-bulletin.  We shall be drawing on responses in our development of the e-bulletin early next year.

We apologise that there was no October issue and have included in the present issue some material that would have been included in that.  The next issue is due to be published in February.  If you have items about inter faith projects or future events which you would like considered for inclusion in the next e-bulletin please email these to ifnet@interfaith.org.uk by 24 January with ‘e-bulletin’ in the subject line.

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INTER FAITH PROJECTS AND DEVELOPMENTS

CCJ Inclusion and Diversity programme

At the end of October the Council of Christians and Jews launched its new Inclusion and Diversity Programme.  CCJ was established to fight ‘religious and racial prejudice’, especially antisemitism, and to ‘promote religious and racial harmony’. The project is intended to help CCJ work towards these founding goals in three ways: establishing a small twinning scheme between synagogues and Black majority congregations in at least three cities in the UK; organising one national event at the end of the project; and establishing a project oversight group.  To learn more, email Theo Shaw at theophilia.shaw@ccj.org.uk.

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Local inter faith anniversaries

This year South London Inter Faith group celebrates 40 years since its founding. The highlight of the celebrations was an event on 28 November in Streatham. As a part of the anniversary events SLIFG will also be planting trees in Tooting, Merton and Streatham, revamping its website and making its archives and resources more accessible.  For more information, email chair@southlondoninterfaith.org.uk. 

This year marks the Birmingham Faith Leaders' Group’s 20th Anniversary, having been formed in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.  The occasion was marked by the Group’s Annual Peace Service in September, in the presence of the Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands and the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, which was followed by a reception at Singers Hill Synagogue. The culmination of the event was the premiere of a new specially commissioned film about the Group and its 20 years. The film can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0fv1s40PEI&t=976s. 

Other local bodies recently marking anniversaries include Swindon Interfaith. It reached its 30^th year in 2020.  Due to Covid restrictions, it could not hold a proper celebration last year, so decided to host it in 2021 instead. The event was an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on it successes over the last 30 years as well as looking forward to the future.

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Near Neighbours Network

As noted in the August issue, the Near Neighbours Network is a new opportunity for individuals and organisations to connect with other likeminded people and groups beyond the 11 Near Neighbours areas in England. Near Neighbours notes: “We remain committed to creating strong and cohesive communities at local level, but we also want to create a wider national network where all the groups and individuals involved with Near Neighbours can share good practice and expertise and build new partnerships.  The Network will also enable our hubs and partners to offer knowledge and training, online events, and downloadable resources, to a wider audience.”  For more information, and to sign up, visit the Near Neighbours website.

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Reaching out to our neighbours

Luton Gurdwara Soup Kitchen

There are many projects which regularly offer a helping hand to others or assist when needed. For example, a weekly soup kitchen was launched during Inter Faith Week by Luton Gurdwara. 

Sewa

Many groups step up their collections at times such as Christmas and other festivals or hold specially focused drives for food and gifts. In this video clip, Nicola Richards MP for West Bromwich East talks about helping Sewa Day wrap presents and why she would be joining them again shortly to do so. 

Interfaith Glasgow Weekend Club

Glasgow is home to more asylum seekers than anywhere else in the UK.  Often newcomers arrive with little or no money, poor English, and suffering the effects of trauma.  Many individuals and families find themselves extremely isolated, especially at the weekends when refugee services tend not to operate.  Glasgow Interfaith’s Weekend Club tackles this isolation and aids integration by working with a team of volunteers from diverse faith and belief communities to organise free monthly events for newcomers, usually in collaboration with other organisations and often hosted in partnership with faith communities.  This Christmas it has raised donations to be able to give over 100 ‘New Scots’ children and young people in Glasgow wrapped presents. These were delivered by volunteers. 

Winter Shelters

A number of winter shelters, such as OneRoof Leicester, which normally operate with the assistance of faith communities, are closed due to Covid impacts.  https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/dec/14/call-for-action-to-prevent-deaths-as-uk-homeless-shelters-shut-their-doors 

A new scheme and fund for England, to protect and vaccinate rough sleepers, was announced on 20 December by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

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New Telford and Wrekin Inter Faith Community Hub

Telford and Wrekin Interfaith Council has opened an Interfaith Community Hub on the main high street in Wellington, Shropshire.  The new base will be used to provide emergency food parcels and to give the homeless hot meals. An inter faith youth club will be able to meet there.  There will be a prayer and reflection room

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Northamptonshire Police Interfaith Association

Northamptonshire Police has recently launched a new inter faith association, bringing together people of different faiths among officers and staff as well as members of the community.  

Information about dialogues in the workplace can be found here.

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RESOURCES AND STUDY/TRAINING

Resources

IFN Videos for assemblies and collective worship

During Inter Faith Week, IFN launched a number of videos that can be used in schools’ assemblies and as part of collective worship. https://www.interfaith.org.uk/resources/school-assemblies-collective-worship.

The videos focus on real people who are engaged in inter faith activity, some of whom do not profess a faith.  Some of the videos feature young people and others more mature adults.  Each video is between 3 to 5 minutes long and has been developed to promote reflection on two themes: Friendship and Social action. These videos were created for Inter Faith Week but can be used at any time of the year to enable pupils to reflect on what it means to be a friend and what it means to do good in one’s community.

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Faith Communities and COVID-19: Learning from the Journey

Earlier this year, IFN’s National Meeting took as its theme ‘Faith Communities and Covid-19: Learning from the Journey’. The report on the day can be found here.

The meeting explored a wide range of issues. These included how places of worship had coped with periods of closure and with social distancing; health care chaplaincy and the handling of funerals and bereavement; and responding to loneliness and domestic abuse during the pandemic. It heard from faith communities with high BAME membership responding to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on them and about initiatives to address vaccine hesitancy. The gathering also considered how digital communication has been being used for inter faith dialogue and cooperation and the future possibilities of that; how faith communities, local authorities and other statutory agencies have been working in partnership; how schools have adapted during the pandemic and a new IFN teacher resource to help 11-14 year olds learn about inter faith activity, with examples from inter faith responses to the pandemic; the financial impact of the pandemic on faith community organisations; how the pandemic experience is being captured through research; and the practicalities of standing in solidarity and issuing statements.

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Inter Faith Buddies

Inter Faith Buddies is a scheme designed by IFN to bring individuals together to engage in dialogue.

• The scheme involves two people of different faiths or beliefs: keeping in touch on a weekly basis for 6 weeks;

• choosing or developing questions on which to share their thoughts and experiences; and
• if they wish, sharing at an in-person or online event, in an agreed way, some reflections on what they have gained from the experience.

It is an opportunity for sharing and learning, on a one-to-one basis across a limited period of time, about what is important to us, in the context of our wider community. The process may, of course, lead to longer term conversations and new forms of practical co-operation.

 

Interested in taking up the idea within your organisation?

If you are an organisation interested in taking up the Inter Faith Buddies idea, visit https://www.interfaith.org.uk/resources/inter-faith-buddies for more information and practical pointers.

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Faiths Working Together toolkit

Near Neighbours, which has recently celebrated its 10^th anniversary, has updated the Faiths Working Together toolkit produced in partnership with the Inter Faith Network for the UK.  The toolkit includes practical pointers for making contact and for planning and publicising initiatives, as well as advice on key principles to consider, such as the importance of looking for shared values and experiences while working well with difference. 

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Measures of Success toolkit

During Inter Faith Week the Woolf Institute launched a practical toolkit designed to help inter faith organisations measure their impact at a grassroots level.  This is part of a two-year research project entitled Measures of Success: Evaluating the Impact of Interfaith Dialogue.  To accompany the toolkit, the Woolf Institute is making available a set of resources for inter faith groups to measure impact. This includes a consent form template, baseline and end-line survey templates and a database template.

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Visit My Mosque resource for RE Teachers

A new resource to support Religious Education Teachers in organising school visits to places of worship such as mosques has been launched by the Muslim Council of Britain, supported by Culham St Gabriel’s Trust.  The resources are part of the #VisitMyMosque campaign and can be downloaded here.

They include: Teachers Introduction; Guide to Organising a School Visit to a Mosque and Template Activity Sheets; List of Mosques Offering School Tours; Bespoke ‘360 degree virtual mosque tours’ for a diverse range of 6 mosques in the UK, plus Teacher’s Guide; and Recorded video tours of a diverse range of further 6 mosques in the UK, plus Teacher’s Guide.  For further information, ideas or suggestions, email visitmymosque@mcb.org.uk.

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Climate resources and guides

Some faith groups and faith-based organisations have launched climate resources and guides. This includes the Muslim Council for Britain’s guide to eco-mosques, Hindu Forum of Britain’s guidance for Diwali and places of worship, as well as the launch of the Hindu Environmental Task Force, and Quakers’ guide to ‘Taking Action for Climate Justice’.

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New Religion and Belief Policy Network

In December Goldsmiths, University of London, launched a new Religion and Belief Policy Network, a research-based initiative led by Goldsmiths, with support from the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Goldsmiths has worked closely with policy leaders in health, social care, education and community work to coproduce resources to support better policy making in relation to religion and belief. The Network website contains resources, audio, details of online events and a database searchable by keywords, sectors and settings. Further information is available at https://religionandbeliefpolicynetwork.org/.

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Wales Faith & Citizenship conference report

The Onyx Foundation in Wales has recently published, ‘Faith & Citizenship’, a record of its 2019 inter faith conference ‘From our Shared Values to our Shared Citizenship’.  To receive a pdf copy, email info@onyxlinkfoundation.org.

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Guidance on recruiting Black and Asian charity trustees

Action for Trustee Racial Diversity has published ‘From Here to Diversity’, guidance specifically designed to support boards with recruiting Black and Asian charity trustees.   The guide is intended to be helpful to organisations looking to implement the 2020 iteration of the Charity Governance Code which includes an enhanced diversity principle.  The guide, which has been supported by the Co-op Foundation, explores: overcoming the barriers to a more racially diverse board; reaching and engaging diverse networks; best practice in Black and Asian trustee recruitment; and inclusion and succession.  The guide can be downloaded here. Hard copies can be purchased through the Directory of Social Change.

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Study/Training

IFN ‘Digital surgery’ slots for local inter faith organisations

IFN is continuing to make available free half hour digital ‘surgery’ slots for local inter faith organisations to have a conversation about their group’s use of digital communications and how they might strengthen this.   Any local inter faith group interested in booking a slot can email IFN’s Project Director, Ashley Beck, at ashley.beck@interfaith.org.uk.

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Sharing Perspectives inter faith study tour

Sharing Perspectives is an inter faith study tour, supported by the Woolf Institute and the Christian Muslim Forum.  Jews, Christians and Muslims live, journey and study together as an inter faith community hosted by St George’s College, Jerusalem. Over nine days, from 21 February – 1 March 2022, the group will encounter the land and its people in the past and present, exploring historical, geographical, religious and political complexities.

Participants will visit sites sacred to each tradition, learn from one another, and explore each other’s holy scriptures. For more information, visit the Woolf Institute website.

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CALLS FOR INFORMATION, COMPETITIONS, AND NOMINATIONS

Calls for Information

Women’s Local Inter Faith Initiatives – A call for information

As part of IFN’s work to support and encourage local inter faith engagement, IFN is carrying out a short, practically focused, research project on women’s local inter faith initiatives.  Linked to this, it held a special by invitation round table during Inter Faith Week.  This was chaired by IFN’s Executive Director, with opening words from the Co-Chairs, an introduction to the research project from its Project Officer, reports on contributors’ work, wide ranging discussion and closing reflections from Patricia Stoat of Nottingham Inter Faith Council. Contributors included both participants from a range of local women’s inter faith initiatives and from national women’s inter faith bodies with local groups: Women’s Interfaith Network and Nisa Nashim.

During October and November it contacted local inter faith organisations to gather information and reflections.

If you have any information about this topic that you think would be helpful, Project Officer Kirsty Healey would be very pleased to hear from you by 20 January. Kirsty.healey@interfaith.org.uk.

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SUPPORT THE INTER FAITH NETWORK’S WORK 

TO INCREASE INTER FAITH UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION

The Inter Faith Network for the UK works for inter faith understanding and cooperation in the UK. Please help us grow this vital work by making a donation at: https://interfaith.org.uk/donate (including Paypal option).

Donations are used with care to make a real difference.

Donations can also be made by sending a cheque payable to ‘The Inter Faith Network’ to: The Inter Faith Network for the UK, 2 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH.

Thank you!

MAKE A GIFT TO SUPPORT THE INTER FAITH NETWORK’S WORK IN REMEMBRANCE OF A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND OR THROUGH A LEGACY

If you would like to make a gift in memory of a loved one, please get in touch by emailing remember@interfaith.org.uk or call us on 0207 730 0410.

By leaving a gift in your will to the Inter Faith Network for the UK, you can leave a living inheritance to help deepen and strengthen inter faith understanding and cooperation in this country – for now and for the future. If you are thinking about making a will, the best thing to do is to get in touch with a professional will writer, such as a solicitor or advocate; they can help to ensure it is legally correct and that your wishes are met. If you have already made a will, you can still make an addition or amendment in the form of a codicil. If you would like to pledge a gift, please provide our name and address, along with our registered charity number 1068934.

Please get in touch with us if you have any queries.

You can call us on 0207 730 0410 or contact us at remember@interfaith.org.uk    

Submissions for next issue

If you have items about inter faith projects or future events which you would like considered for inclusion in the next e-bulletin please email these to ifnet@interfaith.org.uk by 24 January with ‘e-bulletin’ in the subject line. Submissions may be edited for length or style.

Disclaimer: Information in this e-bulletin has been sourced and compiled with care. IFN does not take responsibility for accuracy of information supplied by external organisations and inclusion of items within this e-bulletin does not imply endorsement or validation by IFN of the events, publications or the bodies which have produced these.