Youth Forum

What is Barnet Multifaith Youth Forum?
The Barnet Multifaith Youth Forum is a vibrant and inclusive community dedicated to fostering peace, unity, and personal growth among young people from diverse faith backgrounds.

Established as a safe and welcoming space, the forum brings together youth from across Barnet to engage in meaningful dialogue, collaborative projects, and community initiatives. In a time of increasing turbulence and division, the forum stands as a beacon of hope, providing a platform where young people can explore their identities, share their experiences, and build lasting connections with peers from different walks of life. It is a place where diversity is not only celebrated but embraced as a strength that unites the community.

What is our mission?

Central to the forum's mission is the development of confidence and leadership skills in young people. Through various workshops, discussions, and activities, participants are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones, express their ideas, and take an active role in shaping their communities. The forum empowers its members to become confident, compassionate leaders who are equipped to navigate the complexities of today's world.

Our key missions can be seen through 7 key themes.

  • Inclusivity: The forum’s commitment to being an inclusive space where young people from all faiths and backgrounds are welcomed and valued.
  • Peace and Unity:  The forum is committed to promoting peace, mutual understanding, and community cohesion, especially in times of social or political turbulence.
  • Youth Empowerment:  The forum aims to aid young people develop confidence, leadership skills, and a sense of purpose, the idea that the main epidemic facing young people today is the lack of self-confidence, has inspired the youth forum to initiate projects such as Faith Talks, a podcast aimed at offering a platform to people of different faiths within the borough of Barnet, in particular marginalized voices.
  • Community Engagement: The forum seeks to bring the community together, through community events, but also through various virtual initiatives such as podcasts, videos and poetry.
  • Interfaith Dialogue: Being a Multifaith Forum, Interfaith dialogue is central to our ideology, uniting over our similarities rather than dividing over differences, and being proud of different faiths and religions and accepting the differences as something which brings us together not that takes us apart. Our committee has members from 5 different faiths, all from different areas in Barnet.
  • Safe Space: Reinforce that the forum is a safe environment for youth to express themselves, explore their identities, and connect with others.
  • Personal Development: The forum seeks to provide room for personal growth also, through workshops, podcasts and skill-building activities. Whilst also building young peoples resilience, in particular the various challenges young people may have related to their faith, identity, or societal pressures.

The Barnet Multifaith Youth Forum is not just a gathering place; it is a movement aimed at bridging divides and fostering a sense of belonging. By bringing together youth from different faiths, cultures, and backgrounds, the forum plays a crucial role in uniting the community and promoting mutual understanding. It serves as a reminder that even in challenging times, there is strength in diversity and power in coming together.

Through its commitment to inclusivity, peace, and personal development, the Barnet Multifaith Youth Forum is helping to build a more connected and resilient community, one that is prepared to face the challenges of the present and future with a spirit of unity and cooperation.