1. Fixed-term paid Internship opportunity

IFN has today advertised a fixed-term paid Internship from 14 January to 31 March. The post has a strong focus on youth inter faith support and working with HE and FE institutions. The post holder will be expected to work remotely while Government COVID-19 restrictions point to this, but will otherwise be primarily based at the London office.

Further information about the role is available on the IFN website athttps://www.interfaith.org.uk/involved/vacancies/jobs.  A copy of the job description is also attached to this email.

The deadline for applications is 11 am on 4 January.  There is a tighter than usual turn around on this recruitment.  However, it would be appreciated if member bodies would draw this role to the attention of their members.  Thank you.

2. Review into engagement with faith groups in England

As noted in Circular 42/20, sent on 17 November, Colin Bloom, Faith Engagement Adviser at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, is currently leading an independent review into how best the government should engage with faith groups in England.https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/independent-faith-engagement-review-call-for-evidence

A reminder that the closing date for responses is 11 December.

Dear Friends

An amazing and unique event occurred last night at the at this incredible youth centre of, Unitas Youth Zone in Barnet.

The first ever Barnet Multi Faith Youth Forum event was organised to celebrate Interfaith week with various mixed sports activities, music and palm printing, culminating in an open mike happening. Consisting of faith readings, dancing, poetry, an emotional witness account of international visit to a conflict area and extraordinary singing, the evening was a brilliant success. The Unitas hosts provided a magnificent venue and atmosphere  with the Faith Forum guests supplying  a sumptuous feast of fruits, halal vegetarian, samosas, bhajis ,parathas, pakoras and platters of delicious mixed kosher bagels.

The special faith space was opened, in which the youth forum members had spent numerous volunteering hours to decorate and welcoming, for all at the centre members to use in quiet contemplation.

Barnet Youth Faith Coordinator Tahseen Mehar praised the vibrant enthusiasm and passionate eagerness of the group to work together and BMFF Co Chair Es Rosen was full of pride for the confidence exhibited by of all who participated and who had the courage to stand up in public, for their faith and belief. Organised by and for young people this wonderful event, showed how inspiring it is when we can all come together to have fun and to learn from one another. With over 600 events taking place all around the country to celebrate Interfaith week, he claimed that this event showed how much our future was in such wonderful talented and determined hands.

Es also thanked Barnet Council and Near Neighbours and especially Tony Lewis, Unitas Zone Director for supporting this event.

An exciting and historic event occurred in Barnet this week with the organisation of the first ever Barnet Multi Faith Youth Forum hosted by Middlesex University. It was fantastic to have varied representation from Bah’ai, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths in the room and we would warmly welcome other faith representatives in the borough to join us.

The forum aims to be a safe space, where young people aged 15 to 25 can feel comfortable and confident to represent their own faith and beliefs. It will enable young people to discuss any issues that concern them, as well as creating opportunities to interact, work alongside and learn from each other and to be united as a community that is richly diverse.

It was particularly impressive to hear the support they gave each other and in advocating for the rights of others to practice their faith freely and for the fundamental virtues of promoting a society of mutual understanding and respect.

We agreed that during Interfaith Week from the 10th – 17th November, we would to like to host an Interfaith open-mic and sporting event to celebrate this and we have already set up a working group to organise its details.

The Next Barnet Multi Faith Youth Forum meeting will be on Thursday 17 October at 18.00 at Unitas Youth Zone and if you would like to attend or find out more please contact me Tahseen barnetmultifaithyouthforum@gmail.com

or through our webpage: https://barnetmultifaithforum.org/youth-forum/

Near Neighbours is sending a dozen young people 18-35 on a trip to the Taize Community in France for their Muslim Christian Friendship weekend between Wednesday 21st and Sunday 25th August 2019. All expenses will be paid by Near Neighbours including train fares, accommodation and food.

The weekend focuses on Christian/Muslim relations, with Muslim and Christian speakers, but you can apply whatever your faith, background and gender. Simply complete the application form below. We will sift through to find a good mix of people to send. Prayer rooms, suitable food and appropriate accommodation will be provided.

If you are 18-35, have a valid passport and wish to take part, please apply by 5th August and we will let you know if you have been successful by 10th August.

For more info, and the on-line application form, click here.