Latest News

Parents Sharing Event - Report

Thursday 24th November 2011 saw parents and children from at least five different faith backgrounds (including no faith) and at least seven different cultural backgrounds to share experiences and views in a unique event held in Southampton for National Inter Faith Week.

Books have been written describing different approaches to parenting from around the world. Here we had real people relating first-hand stories and views. We learned of the difficulties of handling a pushchair on poorly maintained Tanzanian roads to please a British grandmother. We found shared values in wanting a gentle yet disciplined approach to parenting and struggled with how to make the best practice seem normal. We appreciated the role of dads and wanted our children to have the opportunity to play with those from other cultures.

There was a great deal of enthusiasm for continuing to share experiences, support each other in doing what we think is good for our children and to take the idea to parent and child groups all around the city. Stef and I will be looking at ways and means to make this happen. Please let us know if you have any ideas, can help or would want to get involved in future activities.

There is a City Full of Parents Out There, So Why Struggle Alone?

As parents we are inundated with marketing and advice from others that may not match our own views and feelings. Am I alone in feeling that way? Is there a better way to bring up my children? What does my faith or my conscience tell me? How do other parents do this? There are faith, cultural and philosophical perspectives that can help and sharing these may provide mutual support.

You are warmly invited to an event specially designed for parents of young children to share experiences and ideas.

Thursday 24th November 2011

Doors open at 9:30am

Workshops begin at 10:00am

Vegetarian lunch provided from 12:30

Venue

Vedic Society Hindu Temple, 79-195 Radcliffe Road, Northam, Southampton, SO14 0PS

You are, of course, welcome to bring your children but you will remain responsible for them at all times.

This is a free event organised by the South East England Faith Forum, funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government and supported by the Southampton Council of Faiths.

To book your place (and more importantly your food), or for more information please email jeff.lynn@se-faithforum.net

Click here to download

Faith through your lens - deadline for entries: August 8, 2011

The Muslim Youth Helpline, a registered charity providing faith and culturally sensitive services to young Muslims, has launched an amazing new photography competition for young people to show us faith through their lens in one of the following categories:

Faith in the political arena
Faith and fashion
Places and symbols of worship

Faith and your identity

Please note that the competition is open to 16 - 24 year olds, resident in the UK, who are members of any faith.

Winning entries will be exhibited at an exclusive London art gallery and one outstanding entrant will also receive a £50 Jessops voucher!

If you would like to apply, visit www.muslimyouth.net/campaigns?id=16&art=135 complete the entry form and send it back with your entry - please make sure you read the competition rules before you enter!

SEEFF Board Elections Results

We are very pleased to announce that the new regional board for the South East England Faiths Forum has now been elected. Please find attached the results which have been compiled by RAISE – Regional Action and Involvement South East (The champion for the Third Sector in the South East) who are acting as the independent Returning Officer for these elections.

We are also delighted to announce that the current Chair has been elected unopposed. The Board will be looking for representatives for young people from SEEFF’s youth initiatives which will be addressed at the first board meeting.

We look forward to continuing working with you in the future.

Best wishes,

Ushna Mughal

Regional Coordinator

SEEFF

Click here for the SEEFF Results of Board Elections 2011

SEEFF & BELIEVE

SEEFF & BELIEVE friends and supporters,

A REMINDER

Saturday June 25th from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at Concordia Hall, Church Road, St Leonards on sea

Our next meeting will be moving ahead on the social action projects .

We plan a very exciting time selecting various charitable projects to support and setting up several teams to compete in raising funds for these charities.

There will be:

Explanation about social action projects – supporting charitable causes
Examples of successful projects
Several suggested projects and a chance for you to make your own suggestions
Making teams, Team building exercises, explaining the competition to support a charity – prizes, recognition and awards
Planning for a fundraising project on 30th July at our event in St Leonards Gardens (see poster below and attached)
Drinks and refreshments

PLEASE LET US KNOW:

IF YOU ARE ABLE TO TAKE PART
IF YOU HAVE A SUGGESTED CHARITY TO SUPPORT
IF YOU CAN BRING SOME FRIENDS WITH YOU WHO WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR CHARITY

Contact: timjmiller@onetel.net or call 07717221559

Faithful unite for march through Oxford - 9:30am Wednesday 15th June 2011

HUNDREDS of people of all religions and none gathered last night to walk through Oxford with the message of peace.

The Oxford Interfaith Friendship Walk was set up in the wake of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and has seen hundreds of people take to the streets each year.

Leaders from the city’s Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu communities were among those carrying balloons and banners as they walked from Oxford Synagogue in Richmond Road, Jericho, to St Mary the Virgin Church in High Street, and on to the Oxford Central Mosque in Manzil Way, East Oxford.

Prayers were said at each of the locations, while children sang songs at Radcliffe Square.

The Right Rev Colin Fletcher, Bishop of Dorchester, said: “This demonstrated how the different faith communities work closely together in Oxford. The links are good and strong.”

The walk will be followed today with an interfaith pilgrimage and worship study day for Oxfordshire schools at Dorchester Abbey.

What is the role of Faith in Your life?

Five panel members addressed this topic at a well-attended event hosted by Guildford & Godalming Inter-Faith Forum on 9th June at St. Joseph's R.C. Church in Guildford. Around 60 participants were taken on a fascinating journey, both geographical and spiritual, as the panel described their paths of service to the community through their multi-faceted professional and religious lives as teachers, doctors & scientists, writers, broadcasters & humanitarians. There was much common ground, and animated audience inter-action afterwards.

The event was very ably chaired by Rev. Jan Moore, retiring Interfaith Chaplain & Faith Coordinator for Surrey Police, and a small presentation was made to her in appreciation for all the support she has given to the Interfaith community in Surrey. She will leave a gap...

Become a Full Member of the South East England Faiths Forum

An ‘organised’ Faiths sector is one of the most significant groupings in our society and being a member of SEEFF brings the possibility of being a change agent for good in our society. SEEFF’s membership will allow organisations to gain:

An opportunity to influence local and national policies though events and consultations
Share achievements and publicise events through the SEEFF website
Access to information and support through the Regional Coordinator and Sub-Regional Support Groups
Networking opportunities

Vote in the general elections

For more information about how to join contact@se-faithforum.net

Click here for the SEEFF leaflet

NEW SEEFF EVENT

Click here for details

Inter-faith Week 2011

Events Round Up

South East England

Click here to download

£328 Million Economic Contribution of Faith Communities

The Rt Hon. Andrew Stunnell, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State, Communities and Local Government receiving from Revd Canon Chris Rich, Chairperson of SE England Faiths Forum, the SE England Economic Impact Report in relation to the economic contribution of Faith Communities to the SE economy. The report was formally launched at a conference put together by the Faith based Regeneration Network.
Click here to read more.

The Big White Wall

The Big White Wall - an online support network is available for people over 16 experiencing common mental health problems to support them self-manage their own mental health. According to members, one of the most important elements of the service is the ability to talk freely, whilst remaining completely anonymous. There are 200 free places for people living in West Kent for more information please visit the website: www.bigwhitewall.com

Creations - An Interfaith Calendar 2012

Hampshire Interfaith Network is delighted to inform you that Creations - An Interfaith Calendar 2012 is now available for ordering. This calendar features designs from school children and young people from across Hampshire, with each design relating to one of the 100+ religious festivals and events featured in the calendar from the nine faith groups represented. Follow this link to find out more:

http://www.hants-interfaith.org/cal.htm

Comments:

“Thank you, and please accept our compliments for producing such an excellent calendar. It will have pride of place on my office wall.”

New Resource: Economic Impact of Faith in the South East Booklet

The research shows that Faith groups annual contribution to the regions’ economy; conservatively is calculated at £328,000,000, with the time given by faith group volunteers equating to an astonishing £95million each year.

This report by SEEFF (South East England Faiths Forum) focuses on the economic impact of faith groups of all kinds in the South East of England. There are an estimated 3,800 faith groups across the South East of England, helping to target many issues in local areas.

Copies of both the accompanying booklet and full report, can be downloaded from the website www.se-faithforum.net

[Download booklet]

English Heritage survey of England’s places of worship indicates 90% in good condition

[Details]

News Archives

News Archive 2010