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The report on National Inter Faith Week 2011 is now available and can be viewed here:

inter-faith-week-2011-report

If you look carefully, you will see a photograph of one of St Philip’s Centre’s Inter Faith Week activities on Page 5!

Inter Faith Week 2012

In this Diamond Jubilee year there will be a special extended Inter Faith Week in England, Northern Ireland and Wales running from 18 - 27 November. This reflects the fact that there will be additional activities taking place, including some linked both to the Week and to the ‘A Year of Service’ programme. The opening Sunday of the Week will again coincide with Mitzvah Day.

Further information about Inter Faith Week activities will follow in due course.

St Philip’s Centre played a crucial role in the historic, first visit of Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK. On Thursday 8^th March 2012, the Royal party which included HRH Prince Philip and HRH the Duchess of Cambridge, were treated to a carnival of celebration at Leicester Cathedral and at St Martin’s House.

The Centre was proud to have played such an important international event as Riaz Ravat, Faith Training & Development Manager escorted the Duchess of Cambridge for the day and the Revd Canon Dr John Hall, Director of St Philip’s Centre was asked to introduce the city’s faith leaders to HM the Queen.

Staff from St Philip’s Centre were delighted when Riaz brought over the Duchess to meet them.

Throughout the day, the Royal visitors learnt about the work of the Centre and wider inter faith relations in Leicestershire. The success of the day was noted by the huge crowds who had gathered in

the city centre, the very positive media coverage and feedback from all those who were involved in the day. One of the highlights following the visit has been a thank you letter from the Assistant Private Secretary to the Duchess of Cambridge who wrote from St James’ Palace. In the letter she wrote:

“The success of the visit was in no small part because of your team’s kindness and hard work.  I would be extremely grateful if you would pass on these sentiments to all involved with the planning of the visit, and in particular Mr Ravat who so kindly hosted Her Royal Highness.”

St Philip’s Centre’s Chair of Trustees,  the Venerable Richard Atkinson, is to be the next Bishop of Bedford

The staff of St Philip’s Centre were delighted to hear the news from 10 Downing Street that the next Bishop of Bedford, in the Diocese of St Albans, is to be the Venerable Richard Atkinson, currently Archdeacon of Leicester and founder Chair of St Philip’s Centre’s Trustees.

Richard has nearly thirty years’ experience in ordained ministry. Since 2002 he has been Archdeacon of Leicester with responsibility for the City of Leicester and rural east Leicestershire.  Richard has also chaired the major redevelopment of the former Leicester Grammar School building into St Martins House, providing new offices, a conference venue and outreach facilities for the Diocese and Cathedral of Leicester.

During his time in Leicester, Richard was the Chair of the Braunstone New Deal for Communities where he led a successful turn-round, taking it from near failure to national acclaim.  This regeneration work followed on the back of similar work in Rotherham and Sheffield. In 2002 Richard was awarded an OBE for ‘services to unemployed people in Rotherham’.

He says “I am very much looking forward to the new challenges and opportunities that being the Bishop of Bedford will bring. At the same time Helen and I will deeply miss this Diocese. It has been a great privilege to be part of such a good team in a City and County where God has shaped me in so many ways.”
There will be a service of farewell in Leicester Cathedral on Saturday 28 April at 6.00 pm. Details of how to acquire tickets for that event will be published soon. Contribution to a diocesan gift to Richard cheques should be made payable to Leicester Diocesan Board of Finance (with Richard’s name on the reverse of the cheque) and sent to Mr Jonathan Kerry, Diocesan Secretary at St Martins House, 7 Peacock Lane, Leicester LE1 5PZ.

On Wednesday 15th February 2012, students from Leicester College successfully completed a new, national, young people’s leadership programme courtesy of the Near Neighbours project and St Philip’s Centre.

Catalyst is a four day exercise which aims to build the confidence of and make real, the potential of young people so that they can change their communities for the better. Those who applied for Catalyst were treated to a range of activities and learning opportunities throughout the four days which were based on four themes: Networking, Leadership, Inter Faith and Communication & Community.

Sessions covered on Catalyst included newspaper reviews, ‘Dragon’s Den’ style presentations, leadership styles, the World Faiths Game, decision making and effective communication.

The Department for Communities and Local Government recently announced that 2012 has been designated as ‘A Year of Service’ which hopes to build voluntary service across different faiths. It is hoped that as a result of the good relations built between the young people, that they will be supported to run community projects in their neighbourhoods.

Danny Griffin-Gore, student at Leicester College said, “I’ve learnt presentation skills and developed confidence to talk to different people. Through the course, I have made new friends and my motivation has increased”.

Sital Patel, another student at Leicester College added, “Through the course, I have improved my skills and learned not to judge other people. The course has made me more confident when interacting with people from different backgrounds and cultures”.

Riaz Ravat from St Philip’s Centre which organised the programme said, “Catalyst has been specifically designed to widen the skills base of young people. Career progression requires academic qualifications but also wider competences including leadership, judgement and communication. We were pleased that Leicester College took up the opportunity to work with us to develop their students”.

The vigil will be a time to witness to the solidarity that exists between the many communities of our city, which has been built up over many years and is the product of the vision and hard work of many people from all our communities.

Before the last visit of the English Defence League this statement was issued:

“We, leaders and members of faith communities in Leicester, value highly the diversity of the city and the contribution different communities make to the wellbeing and quality of life in our city. We welcome all that happens to celebrate that rich diversity, within the context of our commitment to the unity of the city of Leicester.

We condemn all who seek to divide and sow the seeds of distrust between our communities. In particular we condemn, in the strongest terms, the activities of the English Defence League, directed against our Muslim brothers and sisters. We also affirm that the EDL’s use of the Christian religion to support their perspective is a blasphemous misinterpretation of the Christian Gospel.”

We will work with all people of goodwill to encourage mutual respect, valuing the dignity of every person and we encourage all citizens of Leicester to do the same.”

Our sentiments remain the same in 2012 as they were in 2010 and we invite all people of goodwill to come and join us in the Cathedral. If you are not able to come along, please take a few moments, wherever you happen to be at that time, praying for our city and for all who will be involved in the activities taking place on our streets on Saturday 4^th February.

Suleman Nagdi

Federation of Muslim Organisations

14 Dec 2011

On Sunday 11^th December 2011, the third Sunday of Advent, local churchgoers from the Evington area were treated to a fun filled pre-Christmas afternoon of food and music. 60 people attended the event at St Philip’s Church which was kindly organised by the Leicester Charnwood Lions Club supported by St Philip’s Centre.

 During the event, the infamous St Philip’s ‘Scratch Choir’ came up trumps as they sang festive songs and performed a few Christmas classics! The party attendees gave a hearty thanks to Gurmit Harrad, President of the Charnwood Lions, for hosting such a lovely afternoon and for sharing in the St Philip’s Church morning service.

 Revd Sonya Brown, Curate at St Philip’s Church said, “There was a real sense of communities coming together at this event. Those representing different charitable causes, other faith communities and across generations too. This’coming together’ and celebrating of life is a wonderful thing for us to do in Advent and we give our thanks to ourbrothers and sisters from the Lions who served us so well.”

The courses are accredited to level 2 by the Institute of Tourist Guiding:   www.itg.org.uk

The course builds on our previous Introduction to Faith Tourism course and is aimed at people who already welcome, or wish to welcome, visitors to places or worship, or organise faith exhibitions/displays.  The course will increase their skills and understanding about the social and ec onomic benefits visitors can bring.

The course is also open to people who have an itnerest in religion and belief and who would like to become faith guides.

Subjects covered with include:

• Importance of faith in tourism
• Presentation skills
• Effective communication
• Understanding your own and other faiths
• How to make your place of worship more welcoming and accessible to increase visitor numbers

The dates for the first course are as follows:

THURSDAYS 19th APRIL - 21st JUNE, 6.00 - 9.00 pm,

+ SATURDAY 23rd JUNE 10.00am - 4.30 pm

To take part, request an application pack from Maureen Hebblewhite - maureen@stphilipscentre.co.uk

or Revd David Dean - david.dean@stphilipscentre.co.uk