Peace Alliance - Exit Programme

The Peace Alliance is a National Charity working in partnership with local communities and statutory organisations to advance the protection and preservation of life through the reduction of crime and the promotion for the public benefit of community safety and crime prevention. The charity has in depth knowledge of issues around youth offending and subsequent underachieving having worked extensively with offenders and ex-­‐offenders, young people, youth offending teams, schools, colleges and the Police.

Peace Alliance is aware that young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) and some from the BME community are often underrepresented in mainstream volunteering and skills based training opportunities. They aim to provide opportunities for volunteering, mentoring and skills based training in preparation for employment and to foster improved social cohesion and a sense of belonging.

March sees the launch of The EX-IT Programme
Building on the success of the Young Peace Champions initiative, Exit is a new and exciting programme that seeks to change mindsets, build confidence, develop critical skills and create economic opportunities for NEETs, ex‐offenders and long term welfare recipients. Exit aims to transform people’s lives, (re)integrate individuals into work and society, reduce levels of crime and reoffending, and (re)build understanding and commitment to active upright citizenship. The beneficiaries of the programme are among the most disadvantaged and marginalised individuals in London.

In the year from March 2012 to March 2013 Peace Alliance is looking to target a total of 150 participants for the Ex-It programme. The goal is for Exit to draw on participants and work placement sponsors from every London borough. Eventually, we see Exit growing into a national programme. For more information or to download the Ex-It Partnership Opportunities Document click here

March Update

We must kick off the March update by congratulating a member of the PEN Management group, Michael Ipgrave, on becoming Bishop of Woolwich. It means he will give up his role with PEN so a big thanks for all work he put in to helping in the set up and his support since. Prayers too for Jonathan Clark, consecrated alongside Michael to serve as Bishop of Croydon. There is definately something in the air, as The Ven Richard Atkinson who works tirelessly on behalf of our sister centre in Leicester (St Philips Centre) is to be the next Bishop of Bedford!

This month is mainly a reminder to look back at earlier blogs

Youth details of a new prize for individuals and organisations who make a real difference to the lives of young people and an organisation launching an initiative which may well qualify it as a winner.

Learning for all There is just time to book in to next Thursday's event looking at Jewish and Christian understandings of Passover
2012 is the tenth year of the Building Bridges initiative which brings Christian and Muslim scholars together to reflect on a chosen topic. This year in London and the theme is Death Resurrection and Human Destiny. Public lectures will be held in King's College.

Doing things together A reminder that 2012 is A Year of Service with faith communities acting together to serve their local neighbourhoods. The South London Inter Faith Group is spearheading an intiative to get faith groups walking together around their locality over the weekend of 14th, 15th June. The hope for a walk in every London Borough.

Looking Ahead Bookings for The Christian Interfaith Practitioners Consultation are open and the event is in May, as is the Friends of Biblelands lecture In it Together

Christian Interfaith Practitioners Association Annual Consultation 2012

A question of Faith - Dialogue and Debate from our Streets, exploring stories from our streets.

May 15th-17th at Luther King House, Brighton Grove, Manchester M14 5JP

Keynote speaker: The Revd Dr Toby Howarth - National Inter Religious Affairs Adviser to the Church of England and Inter Religious Affairs Secretary to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Contact Andy Lie on 07720118603 or email asj_lie@hotmail.com for more details see http://www.cipa-uk.com/

Become a Friend of Theos

The Contextual Theology Centre and PEN have collaborated on a couple of events recently with Theos the theology think tank.

Theos has a new website which shows the full range of their work across Events; Reports; Book Reviews and Media Monitoring.

They have also launched a Friends scheme to help support their work - why not consider joining? Full details

London Boroughs' Inter Faith Walks

Now is a good time to put the weekend of 14th - 15th July in your diary. It is hoped that over that weekend each of the London Boroughs will see an Inter Faith walk wend its way between places of worship. Walkers will carry banners with messages of peace and goodwill as we prepare to welcome thousands of overseas visitors for the Olympics. Please go and encourage members of your congreagation (if appropraite) to join in your nearest inter faith walk. It's something they shouldn't miss out on! The walks are being coordinated by the South London Inter Faith Group. They have been organising an annual walk along differnt routes around London for a number of years but this is the first time so many will take place at one time. For more details of Borough Coordinators and the individual routes keep checking the SLFG website

Youth Faith and Hope Prize

The nine faith communities that constitute the Faiths Forum for London are united in their desire to work together to build a better London.
At Reclaiming London Together, on 5 March 2012, as a sign of their commitment to the youth of the capital, the faith communities launch the Youth Faith and Hope Prize: grants of £1,000 to five individuals/organisations that make a real difference to London’s young people. These sums of money, however small, are intended to lever a much larger civic value by identifying, recognising and championing service provision which is intended for, or run by, young people. It is hoped that the Prize will have a multiplier effect, encouraging an increased focus on youth from the faith sector, big business and beyond.

Criteria:
Charities/individuals applying must prove that:
1. They make a real difference to London’s young people.
2. They make this difference under at least one of the following five categories:
(i) Improving economic prospects
(ii) Reducing violence
(iii) Promoting engagement in sport
(iv) Fostering participation in the arts
(v) Empowering young people to take the lead
3. They have an annual income lower than £100,000.
4. Their service provision benefits, or is run by, young people from at least two of the nine faith communities represented on the Faiths Forum for London.
Process:
(a) 5 March 2012: Launch at Reclaiming London Together.
(b) 5 March-25 May 2012: Dissemination and promotion of the prize.
(c) 16 April-25 May 2012: Applications open.
(d) Mid-June: Judging Panel assess applications.
(e) Late July: Prizes awarded.
Evaluation and Reporting
Applicants will submit a proposed breakdown for what they intend to do with the money. Those who have been successful will be asked to produce receipts (or similar) for their expenses, and to evaluate the success of the project for which funds were awarded.
Winning Prize Awards:
It is envisaged that there will be five prize winners at the London level. The London wide prize winners would receive:
1. Cash prize of between £1,000 for their project.
2. Invitation to the prize ceremony and photos with VIPs.
3. Press profile in regional/local borough newspaper.

For More Information:
Please check our website: www.faithsforum4london.org. Information on how to apply will be available from mid-April. In the meantime, please contact us on info@faithsforum4london.org or 020 7922 7971.

Building Bridges Seminar 2012

The 11th Building Bridges Seminar will take place in London in 2012The Public Lectures will take place on 23rd April in the Great Hall, King’s College London, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS
2011 seminar in Qatar picture courtesy Nicola Green

The theme will be Death,Resurrection and Human Destiny in Christian and Muslim Perspectives
Speakers include The Rt Revd Prof Tom Wright, University of St Andrews; Prof Mona Siddiqui, Edinburgh University The Rt Revd Dr Geoffrey Rowell, Diocese in Europe; Prof AsmaAfsaruddin, Indiana University;The Revd Dr Harriet Harris, Edinburgh University; Dr Sajjad Rizvi, Exeter University
For full detail see http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/resources/networks/building_bridges
If you would like to attend email tess.young@lambethpalace.org.uk

Christianity in the Middle East Today

Centre for Eastern Christianity
Heythrop College, University of London
Friday 9 March 2012
The Hopkins Room
11am – 1pm
Heythrop College, University of London, Kensington Square, London W8 5HN.

Given by His Beatitude Gregory III Laham, Patriarch of Antioch and
all the East of Alexandria and Jerusalem

The Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregory III Laham is based in Damascus.The Patriarch is the leader of the world-wide Melkite Church, which in the Middle East is mainly concentrated in Lebanon and Syria, although large communities live outside of theMiddle East region, particularly in Europe, the United States and Canada, with further significant communities in Argentina and Brazil. Gregory III was elected patriarch on November 29, 2000. The Patriarch may be considered one of the most important Christian leaders in Syria, the Middle East and the Catholic Church globally.

Please note: there is no charge for attendance and registration is not required.
Enquiries: j.flannery@heythrop.ac.uk

Jewish and Christian Understandings of Passover

In Association with CCJ Encounters programme and Near Neighbours

A guided discussion on the Jewish Passover and its relevance to the Christian Easter, as the two festivals coincide this year.

Preseneted by Rabbi David Hulbert & Fr. Robert Hampson, Vicar of Holy Trinity Wanstead

Thursday 29th March 2012 10.30-2.00
A light lunch will be provided, including symbolic foods associated with the Festival. A tour of the synagogue sanctuary will be offered

There is no charge for this event.

Venue Bet Tikvah Synagogue (Functions Hall) 129 Perrymans Farm Road Barkingside Essex IG2 7LX (a short walk from Newbury Park station)

To book your place call Anne on 0208 554 9682 or email: bettikvah@talktalkbusiness.net