Category Archives: Richmond upon Thames

LBFN 18 May | Borough Timelines

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From Neighbourhood Renewal to Big Society, from mental illness to hate crime, from 9/11 to integration, PCTs to CCGs, Stop & Search to SNPs, interfaith walks & WhatsApp groups – such a lot has changed!

Join us tomorrow evening 5.30pm-7.30pm as we chart the massive contribution that local gurdwaras, synagogues, mosques, temples and churches have made to the wider community and the key contribution of local multifaith networks and forums working in partnership with councils, the NHS, local police & fire services.

Add your significant dates to our timeline (it will be posted online soon), hear from faith forums & public sector officers across the capital and be part of an engaging debate on the current context.

With us will be practitioners from Kensington & Chelsea, Harrow, Wandsworth, Hounslow, Islington, Tower Hamlets, Richmond, Lambeth, Havering, Westminster, Southwark, Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge, Enfield, Croydon, Barnet & the City, with borough London Resilience managers and local police officers.

If you plan to join us & haven’t yet confirmed your place, email asap.  We are meeting at Voluntary Action Islington, 200a Pentonville Road (near the junction with Killick St, next to Cycle Surgery), N1 9JP (King’s Cross tube).

As well as news from key faith forums across the capital, we’ll hear from:

  • Malik Gul, WCEN
  • Yvette Ellis, VAI
  • Steve Miller, FbRN
  • Matt Scott, London Voluntary Service Council

and hear an update on LBFN’s social labs:

  • safety & security (with London Resilience & Ecclesiastical Insurance)
  • peace-building
  • health & wellbeing
  • European links
  • intersectionality

There will be plenty of time to share news and ideas and a simple vegetarian meal will be served.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Understanding Islam | Chris Hewer | SW London

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Dr Chris Hewer will be teaching two groups in South West London soon.  These popular courses are free of charge and take place in private homes.  Dr Hewer is well known in London for his work in this area.

Dr Hewer teaches with the input of his students and so they guide the way the course takes with their questions. The course runs from 09:30 to 16:30 daily.  Diana Mills, who organises the courses says, “We ask you to bring your own lunch but coffee and tea and biscuits, are provided. The course is free but we ask for donations to cover costs.”

The first course is Saturday 29th April to Monday 1st May in Ham.

The second is Wednesday 24th to Friday 26th May in Kew.

Contact Diana to book your place.

#LondonIsOpen film for Inter Faith Week

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London’s faith communities are open and welcoming!

In step with the Mayor’s #LondonIsOpen message, a short film has been shot on location across the capital and includes Sikh, Quaker, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist & Baha’i places opening their doors.

Against a backdrop of international tensions and increased hate crime, London’s faith groups, from humble to grand, are not closed and fearful – we remain open and welcoming!

Inter Faith Week events across London are screening the new film as part of their activities – you are welcome to do the same by using this link.  Can you identify the different places?

london-is-open-logo

Thanks to everyone who responded to our email during the summer and welcomed in the cameras – we were overwhelmed with offers.  A big thank you to Rosalind Parker and Jack Jeffreys for the filming.  For any who would like to get involved in the next stage, our #LondonIsOpen initiative continues – join us at 3pm on Tuesday 6 December at Collaboration House, 77 Charlotte Street, W1T 4PW, to plan for 2017.  Let us know if you’d like to join us.

Upcoming events

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Peace Cafe 20 April 6pm MediaHustings and other election events (some of them this week) are listed here.

Monday 20 April 10am-4pm  Wandsworth Community Empowerment Network CoProduction Research Conference, Springfield Hospital, Tooting, SW17 7DJ

Monday 20 April 5.30pm – 7.30pm Peace Café at Collaboration House, 77 Charlotte St, W1T 4PW.  Topic this month is “the media, peace and social justice“. Bring a little food to share.

Wednesday 20 April – last day to register to vote in the General Election.  Download Westminster Faith Exchange’s briefing here.

Wednesday 22 April 9am – 10.30am  Security Briefing at New Scotland Yard for places of worship and religious & belief communities.

immigrant diaries

Immigrant Diaries at Southbank Centre

Wednesday 22 April 6pm Near Neighbours Funding Workshop at the Khalsa Centre, 95 Upper Tooting Road, London SW17 7TW.

Friday 24 April 8.30pm Immigrant Diaries “Statistics don’t tell the story of immigrants; people do.” Guest comedians and entertainers share their stories of immigration at the Southbank Centre, SE1. £10.

Saturday 25 April 10am – 2pm Southwark Multifaith Health & Environment event at Southwark Carers, Walworth Methodist Church, 54 Camberwell Road, London, SE5 0EN,  to learn more about plant based living.

Woven Threads & Torn Fabric

Woven Threads and Torn Fabrics

Sunday 26 April 4pm Woven Threads & Torn Fabric: the story of Yosef & Zuleikha.  A Jewish-Muslim telling of the Joseph story at St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation & Peace, 78 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AG. £10. www.woventhreads.eventbrite.co.uk

Wednesday 29 April 2:30pm Faithful Friends (Richmond upon Thames) ‘What is Humanism and the Changing Religion and Belief Landscape in Britain‘ Talk by Jeremy Rodell in Room 2008, second floor, John Galsworthy Building, Kingston University, Penrhyn Rd Campus.

Near Neighbours invite Hammersmith and Fulham

Near Neighbours funding workshop on Friday 1 May 3pm in Hammersmith & Fulham

Friday 1 May 3pm – 4.30pm Near Neighbours Funding Workshop in Hammersmith & Fulham at St Andrew’s Church, Greyhound Road, London W14 9SA.  Download flyer here .

Tuesday 5 May 6.30pm Pre-election Frontline Film Club (18-30s), focusing on hot topics from the election campaign at Collaboration House, 77 Charlotte St, W1T 4PW.

Friday 8 May 10am Beyond Collaboration: co-creating the new at St Ethelburga’s Centre for Peace & Reconciliation. £48.

Sunday 10 May 9.30am – 4.30pm Repairing the Earth: A Jewish Muslim Response.  An-Nisa Society in partnership with the Leo Baeck College invites Muslims and Jews to a text-based workshop.  £30.  Details and registration here.

Hounslow_girl_web_main_460_733_95_s

Diary of a Hounslow Girl 3-6 June Oval House Theatre, Lambeth

Sunday 10 May 8pm Council of Christians and Jews presents Nostra Aetate: More Sentiment Than Substance? at JW3, 341-351 Finchley Road, London, NW3 6ET.

Wednesday 20 May 4pm Westminster Cathedral Interfaith Group at the Hinsley Room, Morpeth Terrace, SW1. Sally Reith of Shared Interest on investing in a fairer world.

Thursday 28 May Camden’s Bridge The Gap, a new designated day to bring people together.

Wednesday 3 – Saturday 6 June New drama by Ambreen Razia Diary of a Hounslow Girl at Oval House Theatre, Kennington, Lambeth.

Saturday 6 June 10am – 4pm Hounslow Friends of Faith Walk of Peace and Friendship.

Near Neighbours – additional boroughs

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Near Neighbours areas

Areas of London eligible for funding under the expanded Near Neighbours programme.  Contact coordinators Becky or Tim (see Borough by Borough page) for details.

The Near Neighbours programme has expanded into more boroughs.  It offers small grants (£250 – £5,000) to bring together neighbours and develop relationships across different religious traditions & ethnicities in order to improve our communities.

Check whether areas of your borough are included and contact Becky (West and South London) or Tim (East and South East London) if you’d like more information or would like to talk over an idea.

Launch events for the new boroughs are planned and we hope Becky & Tim will join us at LBFN before long to tell us more.

Upcoming events in & around Kingston

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Rashid Laher and Dianne MahboubiInter-faith Forums / Faithfull Friends events, kindly circulated by Rashid Ali Laher (above left – Kingston IF Forum, Richmond IF Forum and South London Inter Faith Group).  Download full details here.

Saturday 11 October 2pm  Britain has a proud tradition of providing sanctuary to those fleeing persecution, and civil society has been at the forefront in welcoming and supporting refugees. Meet at All Saints Church Kingston. Walk with Sukkah, a ceremonial tent to mark the Jewish festival of Sukkot ~ highlighting the need to resettle refugees in communities not camps ~ details http://www.unhcr.org/542abbc16.html.

Monday 13 October ~ 1000-1600hrs ~ MILAAP Multi-Cultural Centre, Kingston.  Dr Chris Hewer (www.chrishewer.org) Study Day: “What is it to be a Woman? Focus on Islam”. Contact Diana Mills 020 8948 3276 dianamills@phonecoop.coop

Saturday 18 October ~ 1830 hrs Annual Gala Evening, Claremont Fan Court School, ESHER – an evening of “Foods & Performances” from diverse cultures. www.elmbridgemultifaith.org.uk Contact GeoffreyMorriss@emas-bc.co.uk 01932 868454.

Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 October ~ Hunger for Justice Weekend acting and praying for our climate. Invite your MP along and challenge them to act on climate change ~ Register your Church via website: www.christianaid.org.uk

Tuesday 4 November ~ “Faith Schools Should Not Be A Part of State Education” at 2000hrs ~ South Farnham School, Menin Way FARNHAM GU9 8DY ~ College Principal, 2 School Heads & CE British Humanist Society www.farnham.humanist.org.uk 01252 726684

Saturday 15 November ~ 1900 Hrs ~ “Concert in Aid of the Kingston Food Bank” at Saint Thomas Aquinas RC Church, Ham Street RICHMOND TW10 7HT ~ Tickets £5 per head ~ RashidAli Laher 020 8541 1330 rai.laher@blueyonder.co.uk

LAST THURSDAY most months (30 OCT, 27 NOV & 18 DEC) ~ Open Lunch Time Meetings South London Inter Faith Group at Streatham Friends Meeting House, Redlands Way, SW2 3LU.  Vegetarian Lunch 12.30pm followed at 1pm to 2pm ~ an opportunity to share Inter Faith news and experiences, and to discuss matters of concern to SLIFG.  Contact Reverend Alan Gadd ~ membership@southlondoninterfaith.org.uk.

Reflections from Sunday 14 September ~ Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames “Heritage Open Day” Inter Faith Walk ~ memorable day, worth remembering things to do and advance the need to sustain local volunteers, supporting the growing needs of the vulnerable living amongst us:
• Street Pastors in Kingston ~ www.kingston.streetpastors.org.uk
• Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness ~ www.kcah.org.uk
• Kingston Kaleidoscope Project ~ www.kaleidoscopeproject.org.uk
• Kingston Foodbank ~ Trussell Trust ~ www.kingston.foodbank.org.uk
• Kingston WelCare ~ Making Families Stronger ~ welcarekingston.org.uk
• Oxygen Kingston ~ Young Persons resources for Youth work ~ www.yfc.co.uk
• Joel Community Trust ~ New Centre for Homeless ~ www.joelcommunitytrust.org.uk
• Kingston Quakers:- Kingston’s first EcoFriendly Meeting Place www.kingstonquakers.org

Mayor’s police & crime roadshows

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Stephen Greenhalgh, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, is revisiting every London borough with senior Metropolitan Police officers.  Sixteen boroughs were visited early in 2014.

They will be talking about local policing, telling us how they’ve been putting the Police and Crime Plan into practice and answering our questions.

Following our recent meeting at New Scotland Yard with Commander Mak Chishty, the roadshow may provide another opportunity to contact our Borough Commanders to talk about their engagement plans with local faith forums.

The next 16 events are scheduled from September to December.  Attendance is on a first come, first serve basis. They are asking people to register now and to let them know of any access needs.