A national Interfaith Week in England and Wales 

Sunday 21 November to Saturday 27 November 2010

This will build on the very successful Interfaith Week that was held for the first time in November 2009.  The week provides an important opportunity to showcase positive and influential local interfaith work.

Scottish Interfaith Week, now in its seventh year, will this year take place from Sunday 28 November to Saturday 5 December.

If you would like your Interfaith Week event posted on the YHFF Website, please send details to Owen Kelley.

Do you know about the different faiths communities in our region?
Would you like to build understanding, respect and co-operation between people of different faith backgrounds?
Would you like to increase your skills in relating to people of different faiths?
Do you want support in developing partnerships with faith communities?
Do you want help to understand current legislations that apply to religion and belief?
Faith Matters increases understanding between people of faith or of no faith. It enables progress beyond myths and stereotypes through dialogue and meaningful engagement, enabling Faith Communities to play an equal and sustainable role in informing the decisions that shape society.
Faith Matters works to improve understanding and practice related to faith identity at all levels in organisational development, service delivery and community engagement.
Faith Matters will assist and support statutory organisations in the delivery of Community Cohesion and Local Area Agreements National Indicators (NIs) in particular NI 4, 7 and 35
Faith Matters: A practical introduction looking at:
• Why it is important to know about the region’s faith communities
• Key implications of the equality legislation
• Examples of good practice
Faith Matters will also:
• Highlight and give real examples of the distinctions between faith, religion, spirituality, race and ethnicity, and the ways in which we can all use this knowledge and use it in our daily lives.
• Encourage and inspire delegates to disseminate and use the information provided in the training.
This seminar is suitable for anyone wishing to acquire a good general awareness of the major faiths, build partnerships and work more closely with people of different faith backgrounds. The seminar will be delivered by trainers drawn from a multi-faith training team.
Faith Matters offers a Living Faith programme, for example:
Living Islam
A one day seminar led by Muslim trainers and may include a visit to a Mosque.
This seminar will focus on:
• Muslim life, belief and practice
• Women in Islam
• Diversity in Islam
• Race, ethnicity and culture of Muslims
In-House Training
The Faith Matters seminar is available as an in-house training option at a time and location convenient to you.
Your organisation benefits from:
• Flexible arrangements
• Cost effective delivery
• Wider knowledge base for greater impact of learning in your organisation
• Reduced travel costs and time away from the workplace

Faith Matters is now part of the Yorkshire and Humber Faiths Forum in partnership with the Churches Regional Commission
For further information contact mary.white@yorkshireandhumberfaiths.org.uk

Sheffield City will see a whole host of events in June, July and August to celebrate a Summer of Sanctuary.

For more information www.cityofsanctuary.com

3 July - 4 December 2010

As part of the Treasures Revealed in Bradford project, five places of worship on Leeds Road in Bradford are offering guided tours starting at 10.30 and visiting St Peter's Church, the Abu Bakar Mosque, the Shri Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple, the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara (all off Leeds Road in Bradford 3), and finishing at Bradford Cathedral. Visitors are asked to book in advance through the Treasures Revealed website. www.treasuresrevealed.co.uk/Events/bradford-events or email John & Violet Joyce johnjoyce_leeds@hotmail.com 

TASTE THE VIBE OF LEEDS’ ONLY GLOBAL VILLAGE MARKET!
CALLING ALL POTENTIAL STALLHOLDERS!!!

Launching in July 2010 and featuring food, crafts, goods, music and more that reflects the vibrant diverse communities of Chapeltown, Leeds, communities that come from places such as the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

The market days will be on Saturdays 7 August and 4 September from 11am to 4pm At Potternewton Park, in the new Events Arena

Places are limited, so to register your interest phone 0113 350 4204 or email cdt@fgfleeds.org.

Please note: the dates for the markets are provisional at this stage and may be subject to change. There will also be a charge for the cost of stall hire. 

Monday 9 August 10.45am, Park Square, opposite Leeds Town Hall with the Lord Mayor of Leeds and Leeds City Council Peacelink Group

Tuesday 24 August, 5.00pm registration and networking, start at 600pm - 7.30pm at JSB Lecture Theatre, Richmond Building, University of Bradford, Richmond Road, Bradford, BD7 1DP
William Dalrymple, historian and travel writer, distinguished broadcaster, foreign correspondent.
£5 Adults, £3 Students and Seniors, pay on the door  BOOKING ESSENTIAL, ENTRY BY PRINTED E-TICKET ONLY. Please RSVP to nasar.fiaz@bradforddistrictfaithsforum.org.uk to receive an E-Ticket

27, 28 & 29 August 2010
Friday 14:00 - 17:00
Saturday 11:00 - 16:00 (Opening Ceremony at 11:45)
Sunday 11:00 - 16:00
Leeds City Museum, Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 8BH
Free entrance ~ Blessings all day
Email: smile@jamyangleeds.co.uk Telephone: 07866 760 460

You are invited to an exhibition of Buddhist relics, some donated by HH the Dalai Lama. This rare collection includes relics of the Buddha and of masters from different Buddhist traditions. The aim of the Relic Tour is to bring people together to create the causes for world peace.  Throughout the event there will be blessing ceremonies with the relics. To find out more please visit:

www.maitreyaproject.org      www.jamyangleeds.co.uk     www.leeds.gov.uk/cityMuseum

Saturday 11 September, 3.30pm
With Phil Jakob at St Peter-in-Chains, Catholic Church, Chequer Road, Doncaster.

3.00pm St Marys Church, Bramall Lane, Sheffield.
An opportunity to confess our part in injustice, to hear of and give thanks for all is done to achieve justice, and offer prayers.

6.30pm WYEC (West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council) Racial Justice Service at Bradford Cathedral.
Speaker Maureen Grant, Development Officer, West Yorkshire Racial Justice Programme, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. The Service will be both Multi Cultural & Multi Faith.
Further details from Chris Aldred 01274 777720.

Saturday 11 to Sunday 19 September 2010

The Treasures Revealed in Calderdale nine day festival and four week faith trail.

For further information contact 0113 2443413 or email tracy.needham@crc-online.org.uk

Supported by Calderdale Interfaith Council

Monday 13 September, Birmingham
The conference will showcase some of the best work being done by City of Sanctuary groups all over the UK, including Swansea, which has recently become Wales first City of Sanctuary. The conference will also include a focus on working with Universities to open up access for people seeking sanctuary, with guest speaker Dr Ibrahim Shaw, from the University of the West of England's Refugee and Migrant Support Hub.
Places are free (by donation towards costs), but booking is essential: cityofsanctuary@cityofsanctuary.org. More information at: www.cityofsanctuary.org/events

Hull - 14 September 2010, 1.30pm - 4.30pm
Free afternoon workshops across the UK suitable for anyone organising a HMD 2011 event.
The workshops will consist of an introduction to HMD and the resources available from HMDT and guidance on using their theme Untold Stories. There will be a chance to hear directly from an eye witness to genocide and the opportunity to network with other event organisers.
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided.
Please call 0845 838 1883 to book your place, or go to www.hmd.org.uk/about/hmd-workshops/hmd-2011-workshops

Wednesday 15 September at 7pm, the Friends Meeting House, 136 Street Lane LS8 2BW
Speaker, Rabbi Douglas Charing

Monday 20 September, 1.30pm - 4.00pm
Foundation, Blenheim Grove, Tennant Hall Leeds LS2 9ET
For voluntary sector organisations that work with offenders, ex offenders and victims of crime. The forum could: improve networking, discuss strategic issues, improve representation of the sector, help avoid duplication, be a useful point of contact for statutory agencies.
If you would like to attend this workshop to discuss the idea please email donna.cremin@leedsvoice.org.uk. Please reply by Friday 26th August
This work is instigated on behalf of Leeds Voice/TSL by Jane Daguerre; West Yorkshire Community Chaplaincy and Teri Stephenson; Foundation

Wednesday 22 September  5.30pm – 7.30pm
Indarjit Singh, journalist and broadcaster.
JSB Lecture Theatre, D Floor, Richmond Building, University of Bradford, Richmond Road BD7 1DP  More information from nasar.fiaz@bradforddistrictfaithsforum.org.uk

Wakefield Cathedral on Wednesday 22 September, 7.30pm
Christians Aware charity and Wakefield Cathedral, are delighted to welcome the well known artist from India, Jyoti Sahi.  Jyoti was educated in India and England. His father was a Hindu teacher and his mother a Roman Catholic. Jyoti is a Roman Catholic and married to Jane, a Quaker.  Jyoti’s work is influenced by East and West, by tradition and modernity, by Hinduism and by Christianity.  He is especially interested in the Ghandian movement, in Syrian Orthodox liturgy and the liturgical year and in the tribal people of India.
Refreshments will be served in the Treacy hall from 6.45 p.m. There will be a retiring collection.

Saturday 25 September 10am – 10pm
Talks, workshops, music £10 in advance, £12 on the door. Food available. More information from greenman1212000@yahoo.co.uk

The KFF book club takes place on the last Thursday of every month at 10.30am.  It is an opportunity to read a new book each month, supplied by KFF and then share your thoughts through informal discussion with people from a variety of faith backgrounds.  Please phone 01924 324836 if you want to join.
The next book is Chocolat by Joanne Harris, which will be discussed on Thursday 30 September (book club will not meet in August) at 10.30am.

Methodist Mission, Huddersfield; Saturday 2 October, 10.30-4.00 costing just £5, which includes lunch.

Conference arranged by CRC's Interfaith Task Group in partnership with Churches Together in England, Bradford Churches for Dialogue and Diversity, Livability and Kirklees Faiths Forum, featuring Celia Blackden (CTE) and Helen Reid (BCDD).  Will also include a visit and lunch in a local gurdwara, temple or mosque.

This is to resource churches in their interfaith work, aimed at lay people and clergy.  Especially invited are people with no interfaith experience. 

To book contact Janet.Bryer@crc-online.org.uk, 0113 244 3413

Communities Minister Andrew Stunell said that faith groups are making a vital contribution to national life, and are integral to creating the Big Society.
At the annual meeting of the Inter Faith Network for the UK on 8 July, he told delegates that interfaith activity and faith groups were inspiring people to contribute to public service and providing support to those in need.
"Faith communities make a vital contribution to national life, guiding the moral outlook of many, inspiring great numbers of people to public service, providing succour to those in need. They are helping to bind together local communities and improve relations at a time when the siren call of extremism has never been louder. Interfaith activity is more important than ever in our work towards the Big Society, so I want to push for more interfaith dialogue and action rather than individual faith groups delivering social projects."
"People of faith are at the heart of civic society in local communities, and have been for decades. Of course there are many different approaches, but there is a shared goal: building understanding between people from different backgrounds - not just sitting round tables but working together for the common good and tackling shared problems - be it picking up litter or challenging the far right. It is not about compromising our individual beliefs - indeed we often come to understand and appreciate our own faith more when we are called upon to explain it to one another. But it is about respect for the other, the recognition of shared values and shared needs, and the will to action. Interfaith groups are part of what we want to see: people reaching out to each other across boundaries of religion to make life better for all."

Asian people are 50% more likely to develop heart disease and die prematurely because of this. Lifestyle plays an important role in health and research is needed to find out how to encourage Asian people to adopt healthier lifestyles. The University of Leeds and Heart Research UK are looking for Asian people to take part in an easy research project which can be completed in the comfort of your own home by post. We’d like to know about the kind of foods you’re eating and how much exercise you’re doing. You don’t have to have heart disease to participate but you must be aged over 18. There is a prize draw fund of £100 cash, £100 high street vouchers and three £50 runner up prizes. Please support this research which is committed to well being of the Asian community. If you’d like to take part or find out more, please contact the lead researcher on this project – Amrit on 0113 3439192 or email pscakd@leeds.ac.uk.

Postgraduate learning for: Professional Health Care Chaplaincy

A new range of modules offered by Leeds Metropolitan University leading to a Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Chaplaincy (subject to validation).  Leeds Metropolitan University, Institute for Spirituality, Religion & Public Life

This new postgraduate programme has been designed by academics and experienced chaplains to meet the professional development needs of those working in healthcare chaplaincy. The course of study covers a broad range of professional knowledge and capability supporting the provision of excellence in care. It has a direct bearing on the Knowledge and Skills Framework. An MA in health studies is available from Leeds Metropolitan University and the aim is to develop a named Master’s award at LMU for professional chaplaincy.

Fees: Chaplains and Honorary Chaplains working in NHS hospitals and NHS funded facilities in the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority region are eligible to apply for a limited number of funded places on the modules.  Chaplains from outside this region will be required to pay a fee per module (figure for 2010/11 to be confirmed) if they are accepted onto the programme

For further information contact Mrs Rait or Chris Swift on 0113-2064658 

1    Lammas - Pagan

5    Raksha Bandhan - Hindu

6    Transfiguration - Christian

9 - 18     Farvardigan (Muktad) - Zoroastrian

11/12 - 9 Sept    Ramadan - Muslim

12    International Youth Day

16    Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary - Christian

19    No Ruz - Zoroastrian

23    International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

24    Khordad Sal - Zoroastrian

Soundbites is sent by email each month to keep you up to date with our work as it progresses.

We invite you to submit your news and events details for inclusion within this monthly e-newsletter. Please send these to mary.white@yorkshireandhumberfaiths.org.uk.

Please do encourage your friends and colleagues to sign up for this FREE e-news bulletin by emailing mary.white@yorkshireandhumberfaiths.org.uk 

Our magazine Soundings will still be published three times each year giving you more detailed information about our work. Again, if you do not recieve a copy of Soundings, please send your name and postal address to: mary.white@yorkshireandhumberfaiths.org.uk

I do hope you find Soundbites useful.

Blessings and Peace,
Inderjit Bhogal, Chief Executive
Yorkshire & Humber Faiths Forum