Latest News

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]

A GARDEN FULL OF ASIAN DELIGHTS

CULTIVATING FRIENDSHIPS THROUGH FOOD, MUSIC, ART & CREATIVE TALENT

An inter group project of Hastings and District Interfaith Forum in conjunction with Hastings Intercultural Organisation, the Friends of St. Leonards Gardens and Respond Academy

Funded by Sussex Community Foundation

On Sunday 1st August in St Leonards Gardens none of us needed to make a special effort to enjoy the blue sky, the beautiful surroundings and the company of so many others in

‘A Garden Full of Asian Delights’, because all together we contributed to an unforgettable, fun filled, family afternoon. After a few warm and welcoming words from Council Leader Jeremy Birch, the event was declared open by Hastings Mayor, Kim Forward. Younger family members found their way to the play area provided by In2Play and The Play Development Team, where tiny tots took great delight in soggy corn-flour paste, art and games.

Exotic foods were prepared by local restaurants: the beautifully served Middle Eastern foods came from ADA in Bexhill, the delicious Chinese dishes from The Peking Gardens in St. Leonards and the aromatic flavour-some Bengali food from The Curry Hut in Bohemia Road. Throughout the afternoon people queued and chatted, eager for their taste of Asian Delight. This built on and added to the mingling of cultures and good-natured atmosphere that pervaded the whole afternoon.

The art materials on the Poster Table invited artists young and old to experiment with pastels and charcoal, as they captured their interpretation of The Garden of Asian delights.

Amber Rudd, our local MP, presented the prizes.

The Talent Contest provided beautiful entertainment as a back-drop to the open air dining.

All of the participants were welcomed with enthusiasm by the audience and rewarded for their efforts with prizes presented by Linda Sedden of Hastings Intercultural Organisation.

Friendships were made as the efforts to bring together our diverse and talented community blossomed in the sunshine, aromas of Asia, enthusiasm of our performers, joyful play of our children and warm attention of the good and great. It was wonderful just being there and we were left with uplifting memories and a desire to DO IT AGAIN!!

The whole project was delivered by an inter group effort. Everyone played their part and worked to contribute to the success of the day, each became wiser as we opened and exchanged ideas, skills and talents. Together we became a cohesive and adaptable working unit that marvelled at what was accomplished. Many thanks to our wonderful volunteers and the vibrant community of St. Leonards, Bexhill and Hastings and especially to our partners.

PRESS RELEASE – TOGETHER BEYOND DIFFERENCE

BELIEVE Bringing Young People together across difference in Hastings & Rother

A Project of Hastings and District Interfaith Forum in conjunction with local community groups. Funded by the Community Development Foundation – Faiths in Action.

St Leonard’s Concordia Hall was really buzzing last Saturday (10th July) as the BELIEVE project brought together young people from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds along with their families and friends.

Younger children were running and playing in the sunny garden, while the stage hosted some great competitors for the multi-racial, multi-cultural talent competition. Christopher Leith, nationally renowned puppet maker and director for film, TV and theatre, presented puppets from many cultures and schooled two groups of volunteers in bringing puppets to life. All 120 participants mingled as harmoniously as the spices of the Bengali Buffet that gave us the chance to enjoy each other’s company as the afternoon wound down to a joyful and satisfied conclusion.

Many thanks to all who participated and especially to Respond Academy, Sonrise Church, Noise Box and those volunteers who helped everything work so well.

Next events:

On Saturday, September 11th BELIEVE will be in Concordia Hall, St Leonards on sea (3 to 6 pm) for a relaxed and joyful event to make friendship beyond difference on this 9th anniversary of the tragic events in New York in 2001.

BELIEVE will fund HASTINGS GOT CULTURE now in its third year on Saturday October 9th in St Mary in the Castle 3 - 6pm. TALENT COMPETITION - LIVE MUSIC, DANCE PERFORMANCES, FOOD

Please contact BELIEVE at timjmiller@onetel.net for more information.

Andrew Stunnell (Minister at CLG) has spoken about the vital contribution of faith groups to Big Society

[details]

Jonathan Frost to be the next Bishop of Southampton

It was announced last week that Canon Jonathan Frost is to be the next Bishop of Southampton. Jonathan, a residentiary Canon of Guildford Cathedral and Chaplain to the University of Surrey has been very active in inter-faith work for some years. He launched the plans for the multi-faith centre to be developed at the University. He has been one of the Bishop of Guildford's inter-faith advisers and an elected member of the SEEFF Board with a brief to further the issues of young people and children. Jonathan will become a Bishop at St Paul's Cathedral on St Andrew's day, Tuesday 30 November. He will commence his episcopal duties in the Diocese of Winchester immediately after that.

SEEFF’s 2010 conference

SEEFF’s 2010 conference was held in April at the University of Surrey. Recordings and photographs from the event can be found here [details]

Economic Impact Project [details]

Interfaith Week 2010

Following the success of the first ever Inter-Faith Week in 2009, the date has now been confirmed for this year as the week of 21st-27th November 2010. For details of events held during Interfaith week 2009 click here