The Revd Timothy Clapton (above) has been appointed Co-ordinator of Near Neighbours (Eastern London) – a project that will deepen relationships between the area’s many faiths and cultures. The Near Neighbours programme has secured £5 million of Government funding to work in four areas of England. It taps into the Church of England's unique parish system, which has presence in all neighbourhoods - and as the national Church, an ethos of care for all residents. In eastern London, it is being run by the Contextual Theology Centre (CTC) and builds on the work with local parishes through the Greater London Presence and Engagement Network (PEN). It will work across nine boroughs - Greenwich, Hackney, Islington, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.
From the autumn, a new Near Neighbours Fund will be launched. Faith and community groups will be able to bid for funding in partnership with the local parish church, with grants of up to £5000 being made to individual local interaction projects. A wide range of community, education, environmental, arts, and sports activities will be eligible, as long as they encourage involvement by local people from different faiths or none.
“I’m delighted that Tim is joining our team,” said CTC Director Angus Ritchie. “He has a great deal of experience of bringing together people across faiths and cultures to act for the good of their area. In east London, parish churches are the heart of a web of relationships in very diverse neighourhoods. Near Neighbours will help local people to deepen these bonds of trust and friendship – small-scale action which adds up to a big impact on our society.”
Tim Clapton said "I am really looking forward to being part of this exciting initiative - learning from the excellent work people are already doing across faiths and cultures, and helping it to grow and to be shared more widely."
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