Category Archives: Health & Wellbeing

Today’s meeting

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Here are a few quick photos of yesterday’s meeting at the National Bahá’í Centre in Knightsbridge.  Big thanks to Katie (of Anthony Nolan) for taking the pictures :)

Harmander, Alan, Steve, Haider, Karen, Catriona & David

Chris & Siriol

Networking lunch in the kitchen

Karen, Katie, Haider and Malik

Siriol, Chris, John, Barbara & Malik

Harmander & Muhammad

People from five different religious traditions and several public agencies had far-reaching discussions on health and the co-production of public services led by Malik Gul, Director of Wandsworth Community Empowerment Network.

We’ll be exploring the possibility of an Olympic Truce over the weeks of the Games next year – maybe a knife amnesty, a call for a halt to domestic violence, anti-bullying in schools and the workplace, initiatives to reduce hate crime, anti-social behaviour and postcode violence.  Along with plenty of opportunities to learn how to resolve conflict in a positive and creative way.

The emerging religion and belief network across Europe will be gathering, we hope, in Brussels at the end of the year.  Many of us have religious and other links across the continent – if any of your contacts are interested in joining the network, please get in touch asap – things are now moving quite quickly.

A small working group is looking at the future potential of LBFN.

Thank you to the National Bahá’í Centre and to John Lester and Barbara Stanley-Hunt of Havering Inter Faith Forum for arranging for us to meet in such a lovely place – the welcome and hospitality were wonderful.

May 24th – Health & Wellbeing

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Andrew Lansley (photo: Dept of Health, Creative Commons)

It’s all change with the NHS at the moment.

At local level, the Primary Care Trusts are on their way out (some have already gone) and GP consortia are being set up, ready to take full responsibility for local health care by April 2013.  The Andrew Lansley ‘pause’ is likely to bring more accountability – and will probably require an amendment to the legislation (expected by December).

Responsibility for public health is no longer with the NHS.  Each London council now has a Heath & Wellbeing Board, an acknowledgement that good health/mental health depends not just on GPs and hospitals but on education, housing, community safety, employment, green spaces, etc.

“Patients must be at the heart of everything we do, not just as beneficiaries of care, but as participants, in shared decision-making.  As patients, there should be no decision about us, without us.”    Health Secretary Andrew Lansley

Our next LBFN meeting will focus on the health of our communities, and in particular how inequalities in health can be tackled in a sustained way.

  • How can churches, mosques, temples & other local faith communities take up these new opportunities?
  • How can we involve ourselves in positive conversations with local councils and GP consortia?
  • How can we bring about real improvements in the health and wellbeing of our congregations and the wider community?

Malik Gul, Director of Wandsworth Community Empowerment Network, will lead an interactive session, sharing the ups and downs of working closely with public agencies at local level and how religious groups are co-designing the kind of health services they need.

We are meeting in Knightsbridge, SW7 on

TUESDAY 24th MAY 10.30am – 12.30pm, ending with refreshments at 1pm

As ever, please let the Convener know (by May 20th if possible) if you are planning to come.  Details will be sent to you.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

March meeting: 2012 and the Open University

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Dr Haider Ali has kindly arranged for LBFN to meet at the OU in London next week on 23rd March (details from LBFN’s Convener).  Dr Ali attended our January meeting to tell us about some research he is involved in.  We’ll be able to ask more about it next Wednesday, but here’s an introduction –

The Open University is currently submitting a research proposal looking at the involvement of faith leaders in health initiatives. If any organisations are interested in taking part, we’d be most interested in hearing from you. The research project will not just be about gathering information, but also delivering (free) competence enhancing training to participants. Contact h.a.ali@open.ac.uk

The deadline for adding an event to the Mayor’s 2012 Cultural Olympiad is 31st March.  LBFN is registered, so if anyone would like to use this umbrella to publicise their own local event in 2012, please come along.

A follow-up meeting about forming a network of grassroots intercultural groups across Europe will take place in Brussels this Thursday.  LBFN’s Convener is attending and will be reporting back next week.  There is a possibility of a November gathering in Brussels to bring practitioners together from different European countries to share experience and ideas, much as we do at LBFN.  Just get in touch if you’d like to know more.

As ever, let the Convener know if you’re planning to attend on 23rd March.

Your local faith forum

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Map of London Boroughs from South London Inter Faith Group

How are things going with your local faith forum?

  • Are local councils (& police, NHS) able to reach their local faith communities to discuss priority issues?
  • Do religious groups contribute to policy and decision-making?
  • Education ♦ hate crime ♦ cohesion ♦ Prevent strategy ♦ equalities/discrimination ♦ stop & search ♦ planning ♦ neighbourhood policing ♦ health care ♦ employment ♦ emergencies ♦ end of life care – what are the issues that deserve attention?
  • Who sets the agenda?  Who is involved?  Who pays?  How does it work?
  • How do SACRE and Borough Deans fit in?  Is inter faith dialogue one of the activities?
  • What happens when key people leave?  Is limited time used well?
  • Twitter, texts, meetings, websites, blogs – what works best?
  • Is the future bright & rosy?  Or not?

LBFN’s next meeting is in King’s Cross, Camden next week.  Come and hear what’s going on across London.  Contribute your own experiences and ideas.

LOCOG‘s Duncan Green will also be with us with an update on Games 2012.

Tuesday 7th December

Coffee & arrivals 9.45am, meeting 10am-12.30pm.

Contact the convener asap or leave a comment here if you are planning to come – look forward to seeing you there.

Stitching lives together

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Not the usual stitch ‘n bitch, but in the same tradition of women getting together and producing wonderful handicrafts while enjoying each others’ company – this is a great project.

“This is a great chance for people to polish up embroidery skills and to learn about different cultures and faiths at the same time,” says Bridging Arts director Susan Roberts. “It’s a way of forging new friendships and making connections that you might never have dreamed of.”

The project has already started, but if you’re female and live or work in Brent, contact Susan and see if there are any spare places.

Bridging Arts are also running inter cultural projects in other parts of London.

What is this age?

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Roundtable event from London Churches Group for Social Action on Tuesday, 19th October for church and other faith leaders, faith-based organisations, statutory and voluntary agencies.

An opportunity to think radically about age and the future.
Never before in human history have older people outnumbered youngsters.  What are the good and bad things that follow from this?  What are the implications for democracy?  Social care?  Family relationships?

The day will be led by Ann Morisy from PSALM and will include contributions from Rt Hon David Willetts MP and Baroness Kathleen Richardson of Calow.

More ways than one – a multifaith response to grief

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Harrow Bereavement Care is running a conference on Wednesday 13th October at Middlesex New Synagogue. The conference will bring together

leading faith representatives reflecting  Harrow’s rich multi-faith and multi-cultural community. Our discussions and workshops aim to increase our understanding of the different beliefs and rituals concerning death, dying and bereavement.

There is a good line-up of speakers & workshops include Sudden and traumatic death, When keeping quiet hurts and African traditional beliefs/practice.

The conference costs £35 and you can download the booking form from the website.

The Changing Estate & NHS-church partnership

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All the main world religions value health and wellbeing.

A church in Dartford (not quite in London, but very close) has linked up with the local NHS and created a flagship Healthy Living Centre, including a GP surgery.

Anyone interested in how statutory services and local faith communities can work together for the benefit of the wider community might like to go along on Wednesday 13th October 10am – 3pm.  There’s a meeting of the National Estates Churches Network London Region – hear about changes on the estate & how St Edmund’s is responding to them and take up the chance to look around the Centre.

More info and to book lunch (£5), email jack.maple@london.anglican.org.

Thanks to Susanne at PEN London for letting us know.