Catalyst - FREE Leadership Training for 16—30 Year Olds

Catalyst is one of the UK’s most dynamic and interactive young leader training programmes. Run by St Philip’s Centre in Leicester, it aims to build the confidence of and make real, the potential of young people so that they can change their communities for the better. Catalyst involves a range of activities and learning opportunities based on themes such as: Networking, Leadership, Teamwork, Inter Faith, Communication and Community.

THERE ARE 3 LEVELS TO CATALYST: Gold, Silver and Bronze

Young people work through the different levels to learn new skills, culminating in the achievement of the Catalyst Gold standard. Participants must commit to all training days for each level. Dates will be on:

12th, 13th, 14th, 19th & 20th July 2016

Venue: All Saints' Church Hall, Warwick Road West/Shaftesbury Road, Luton, LU4 8AH
Cost: Attendance on this course is free but places are limited so must be booked in advance

For more information or to reserve a place please contact:

Call us on 01582 416946
Email near.neighbours_luton@btconnect.com
Download the registration form here - or the brochure here!

Catalyst is run by St Philip’s Centre in partnership with GRASSROOTS and the Luton
Council of Faiths. It is funded by Near Neighbours through the Department for
Communities and Local Government.

A Dialogue about Islam

On Tuesday 29th March 2016, the URC Church in Potters Bar hosted a dialogue about Islam. GRASSROOTS facilitated the event by inviting young leader Amjid Hussain from Luton Central Mosque as the main speaker, supported by Ryad Khodabocus from Luton Council of Faiths.

The event dispelled a lot of myths about Islam whilst also focusing on humanity and brother/sisterhood. The main frustration that was raised was why good Muslims are not vocal enough about ISIS. However, it was explained that much is and has happened, to the extent that a Fatwa (Islamic Ruling) by mainstream Muslim scholars has been issued condemning ISIS but sadly this does not get much media attention.

It was also noted that many Muslims are the victims of terror attacks across the world. One needs to know that a billion people (1/6) of this planet follow the Islamic faith and traditions and people are still co-existing. They key outcome identified was to continue working at a grassroots level, connecting hearts in a plural society while the Muslim community continues its on going struggles alongside others for a more peaceful and just society.

Easter Attacks in Lahore - A Letter from Bishop Atkinson

In response to the saddening attack in Lahore on Sunday 27th March 2016, a letter addressed to the Asian Christian Fellowship in Luton by Richard Atkinson (Bishop for Bedford & Luton) and Bonnie Evans-Hill (St Albans Diocesan Inter Faith Advisor and member of the GRASSROOTS team) was written stating:

28th March 2016

We share in the sorrow and concern of those deceased and affected by the brutal attack on innocent children and adults in Lahore, gathered for Easter celebrations on Sunday 27th March 2016. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with them, but also with you all in Luton, as you would personally know some of those affected by this unfortunate incident. 
 
At Easter time, when we celebrate HOPE in Christ’s resurrection, we greet you all, in the name of that Christian hope. 
 
Atrocities such as the one in Lahore yesterday and in other parts of the world e.g. recent attacks in Brussels & Turkey, have the capacity to undermine our trust in God, and in God’s creation, which God loved so much that He gave His only begotten Son for. 
 
May Christ’s hope help us and strengthen us to contain our anger and frustrations, one more time, and bring it all, before God in prayer, who, we believe understands well, the pain and suffering of being persecuted, attacked and tortured. 
 
We write this to express our solidarity and share our concerns with you all and with all the Christians in Lahore, Pakistan. This is to assure you that you are not alone and that we in St Albans Diocese uphold you all in our thoughts and prayers.
 
We offer our prayers for constrain, solace, healing and courage to nourish our fellow Christians here in Luton, in Lahore (Pakistan) and worldwide.

Signed:

+ Richard Atkinson (Bishop for Bedford & Luton)
+ Bonnie Evans-Hill (St Albans Diocesan Inter Faith Advisor)

The full letter can be read here.

The Sunni Council of Mosques and Luton Council of Mosques also wrote a letter of condolence and support to Bishop Atkinson, Luton Council of Faiths and other Christian colleagues in Luton. This letter can be read here. 

Good News from Good Friday in Bury Park

On Friday 25th March 2016 in Bury Park, Luton, there was a new twist to the traditional Good Friday Walk of Witness by local churches. As the large group of Christians passed Central Mosque on Westbourne Road, Muslim members of that mosque and others in Luton gathered to greet them and pass out gifts of candles carrying the message of peace in both English and Arabic. A number of them then walked in solidarity with their Christian neighbours up the hill to the Holy Ghost Catholic Church.

A video of the walk can be found here.

Greeting the group, Ashfaq Ahmed from Central Mosque said "We are gifting you with these candles which say 'Peace'. This really has become the theme and strength of Luton now".

“Today is a great example of how faith communities can live alongside each other in a spirit of mutual respect” said David Kesterton, Church of England Vicar of All Saints and St Peters and whose parish covers a large part of Bury Park. “Muslims and Christians are developing closer ties of friendship and trust in our part of Luton. In the light of recent events in Brussels and elsewhere, it is important we witness together to the desire for peace that is at the heart of both our faiths.”

Rehana Faisal who initiated the event said: “We have had enough of outsiders and extremists like Britain First dominating conversations around our town. Today, we wanted to highlight the good relationships that we have built in Luton and our ongoing commitment to living peaceably alongside one another"

Lots of people had heard of the initiative, and there were warm greetings as the church group made their way through the busy shopping area. Some shop keepers offered food and drinks, but church leaders explained Good Friday is a quiet and reflective part of their tradition.

Around the nation in towns and villages churches often join together on Good Friday to carry a cross around their neighbourhood. In Luton things are no different – despite the common story that it is a no-go zone for Christians. Around the town walks took place in Leagrave, Limbury, Farley Hill, Stopsley, Bury Park and the town centre. In the town centre six churches joined together, and the procession with the cross, accompanied by the Salvation Army band, made its way to the Town Hall and on to St Mary's Church where the cross was planted in the ground. 

Fairtrade Fortnight 2016

Like every year, the annual Fairtrade Fortnight 2016 (from 29th Feb – 13th Mar) came up with a very noble theme: SIT DOWN FOR BREAKFAST, STAND UP FOR FARMERS. According to the Fairtrade Foundation, smallholder farmers produce more than 70% of the world's food supply, yet shockingly they represent over 50% of the world's hungriest people who produce our food, missing meals or, worse, facing a year-round struggle to get enough food to eat.

During the Fairtrade Fortnight, campaigners were encouraged to support, promote, organise and participate in Fairtrade Breakfasts in their communities – and wake others up to the challenges facing farmers and workers, so that more and more people can make, informed and responsible choices in terms of buying fair trade products. Thousands of people across the UK made it count by adding their initiatives on http://fortnight.fairtrade.org.uk/learn-more/#breakfast-map showing they care about the farmers and workers who grow our food.

Colleagues from the Fairtrade Steering Group in Luton attended a special Fairtrade Breakfast

In Luton, the Fairtrade Fortnight saw again a series of initiatives around the town pushed by GRASSROOTS and Luton Council of Faiths for people to have morning Fairtrade Breakfast or Lunch at work. The Fairtrade Town group also Joined in a Fairtrade Breakfast held by Harpenden Fairtrade in Cornelia’s Coffee Shop, St Nichloas Church Halls, Harpenden, AL5 2TP. A range of activities were also organised by the University of Bedfordshire with a Fairtrade themed Film Screening and a social media campaign with students taking selfies and tweeting with Fairtrade products to promote Fairtarde within the University network(s).

While we ask people to support Fairtrade during Fairtrade Fortnight, we are actually encouraging people to make Fairtrade a part of their daily life routines. So please remember, if you’re grabbing a Fairtrade coffee on the go, munching on your Fairtrade muesli at work, sipping a Fairtrade cuppa at home or enjoying a Big Fairtrade Breakfast or meal with friends and family or in your community - it is all doing justice to farmers and workers by thinking globally and acting locally. To find out more about Fairtrade please visit the Fairtrade Foundation website.

Christian Muslim Storytelling

Following two successful events already held in Luton, Khayaal will be presenting two sets of performances of neighbourliness from Muslim and Christian faith traditions on two more occasions, featuring Stories from History and Stories of Wonder! 

The first of these final performances will be held at:

• Date: Thursday 10th March 2016
• Time: 6:30pm until 8.30pm (to include refreshments)
• Location: St Mary's Church, Church Street, Luton, LU1 3JF

The second of these performances will be held at:

• Date: Thursday 17th March 2016
• Time: 6:30pm until 8.30pm (to include refreshments)
• Medina Mosque, 128-130 Oak Road, Luton, LU4 8AD

Admission is free! Performances are suitable for both adults and children (7+).

For more information or to book please contact Khayaal:

• Call 01582 535840
• Email info@khayaal.co.uk
• Visit their website at www.khayaal.co.uk

Precious Pearls - International Women's Day

'Women Sowing Peace'

GRASSROOTS is happy to announce that it's annual 'Precious Pearls' event will be taking place for International Women's Day, where you can:

• Share the talents of Luton women 
• Meet women from different backgrounds
• Enjoy yourself with different cultural entertainment
• Enjoy the refreshments provided!

This event will take place on Thursday 10th March 2016 from 6:30pm - 8:30pm at Bury Park Community Centre, 161 Dunstable Road, Luton, LU1 1BW.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A WOMENS ONLY EVENT

For more information please contact Ghar se Ghar or GRASSROOTS:

• Call 01582 416946  
• Email gharseghar@btconnect.com
• Download the poster here!

Tips for Dealing with Extremists

Following a highly provocative so called 'Christian Patrol' by Britain First in Bury Park (in Luton) on Saturday 23rd January 2016, Christian leaders from Luton led the way in condemning their actions and stood in solidarity with members of the wider community.  

On Sunday 24th January, the very next day, a message of peace was spread throughout the community, once again declaring that Britain First are not welcome in Luton and committing to standing alongside Luton's communities as friends, neighbours and fellow Lutonians. In the week that followed, Britain First were denounced by every major Christian denomination in the UK. 

One key outcome of this week was the development of a set of tips for Dealing with Far Right and Extremist groups, a set of dos and dont's compiled by a number of community partners in Luton. This can be downloaded here. 

Near Neighbours Faithful Grant Fundraising workshop

A new Near Neighbours Faithful Grant Fundraising Workshop shall be held soon, titled 'Developing Confidence and Skills in Fundraising for Faith based Social and Community Action'.

This one day workshop is aimed at Near Neighbours project participants and other social action projects who want to develop their project and approach other funders to support their work. It will help you explore options open to you and where to seek help and advice from. It will also look at how to gather evidence and develop plans that funding decision makers will often need from you.

• Date: Thursday 11th February 2016
• Time: 9:30am until 3.00pm (to include lunch)
• Location: High Town Methodist Church Hall, 47 High Town Road, Luton, Beds, LU2 0BW

There is a small fee of £10 to cover costs of materials and trainer. However, this should not prevent anyone from attending. Please contact us if you know anyone that might have problem in meeting this cost.

For more information or to book please contact Kim Greig:

• Call 01582 416946 / 07930 601640
• Email near.neighbours-luton@btconnect.com
• Download the information flyer here!

Vigil for Peace and Solidarity

In view of the horrific attacks in Paris, Luton Council of Faiths invites us all TO BE TOGETHER on Mon 16th November 2015 from 1:30pm to 2:30pm outside Luton Town Hall, Luton, LU1 2BQ to:

• Express our condolences, together as a town
• Unequivocally condemn together such violence
• Proclaim together our commitment to continue working for peace and harmony
• Mutually share and support one another as it has affected us all

A joint Press Statement has already been issued and can be read here – http://goo.gl/7qbYKs

You are requested and encouraged to promote this gathering within your networks and fellow community members.

While extremist minorities continue to stir up hatred-division-violence, we call upon the vast majority of peace loving people, from across different faiths and those with no particular faith affiliation, to come and stand together, in such a difficult and challenging time. 

Luton's Statement on the Paris Attacks

Today, on Saturday 14th November 2015, Luton Borough Council and the town's faith communities have added their voices to the many millions of others around the world to strongly condemn last night’s attack on the city of Paris, France and offered their deepest sympathies to everyone affected by the tragedy.

Cllr Hazel Simmons, Leader of Luton Borough Council, said “I’ve been overcome with sadness watching these terrible events unfold. My thoughts and prayers go out the innocent victims of these senseless, heinous and unfathomable crimes. It’s too hard to comprehend that people who were simply enjoying a night out with friends and family could be targeted in this way. On behalf of all Lutonians I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the people of Paris and everyone affected by what has happened, particularly those who have lost friends, colleagues and loved ones. I hope those responsible can be brought to justice for their crimes.”

Rehana Faisal, representing both the Sunni and Luton Council of Mosques, said “The Muslim Community of Luton are deeply saddened and appalled by the horrific attacks which took place in Paris yesterday. The level of barbarism and violence shown by the perpetrators is truly horrendous. We recognise the immeasurable pain and suffering that the families and friends of the victims will be feeling, and our thoughts and prayers are with them. This was an indiscriminate attack on the whole of humanity and has touched the lives of us all, regardless of nationality, faith or background. Such attacks are designed to polarise communities and turn neighbour against neighbour. We are committed in ensuring that they do not achieve their objective.”

Zafar Khan, Chair of Luton Council of Faiths, added "An attack on one is an attack on all. In the face of such adversities, we will work even harder for peace and harmony in our world."

Circle Dancing Christmas Special!

Join us for a Circle Dancing 'Dances for the Festive Season' Christmas Special featuring:

• Dancing to music both old and new...
• The Nut Cracking Dance from Romania...
• The Shepherds Dance from France...  and many more!

Saturday 12th December 2015 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm

Hockwell Ring Community Centre, Mayne Avenue, Luton.

Entry costs just £3!

PLEASE BRING FOOD TO SHARE!

For more information please contact Ann Hyde:

• Call 01582 725266
• Email annhyde204@msn.com
• Download the poster here!

Supported by New Creations

Culture In Conflict Conference

Please come along and support a Culture In Conflict Conference titled ‘New Filmmakers On Religious Conflict and The Media’.

During the event they will show and discuss innovative short films made by new filmmakers that explore ways to promote conflict resolution. Find out what they have to say!

The conference, which concludes the Culture in Conflict project, will provide a forum for cross generational dialogue about the ways in which cultural products help shape our ideas and beliefs. You can preview the agenda here.

Topics will include:

• the influence media images have on young people, especially those from minority groups
• starting points for creative engagement with contemporary issues
• the value of young people’s contribution to the debates
• ways that education can help young people develop their practice

This free event is relevant to everyone involved in and concerned about community cohesion in Luton as well as teachers and students of arts and media education.

• Date: Thursday 26th November 2015
• Time: 2pm onwards
• Cost: This event is free to attend but places must be booked in advance
• Venue: The Hat Factory, Bute Street, Luton, LU1 2EY

To register your interest or to book a place please contact us:

• Email: info@runawaymedia.co.uk
• Call: Luton Culture Box Office on 01582 878100

Should you wish to, you can also download the above information here!

Near Neighbours 1000th Grant Celebration

Near Neighbours, which is hosted in Luton by GRASSROOTS and coordinated by Kim Greig (pictured below), has awarded a landmark 1000th grant to Christians and Muslims who are creating a Peace Garden in Luton. This was celebrated at a special event at All Saint's Church in Luton on 27th October 2015.

The recipients of this milestone grant are running a project that sees local people of diverse faiths and none come together to work on a Peace Garden as a shared community space, and testament to their commitment to one another.

The garden will be in the grounds of All Saint’s Church, a local Anglican parish and will act as a spiritual space for the diverse community to share in contemplation. Alongside this, they are also establishing a community allotment that will lead to fresh and healthy food being made available for the community.

This landmark award means that Near Neighbours has now given over £3.4 million to local projects across England, through which more than 800,000 people have benefitted.

Husna Rasul is responsible for organising this project and commented, “We are so proud to be the 1000th grantee! This money means a lot to this community as we show our dedication to each other and to creating a positive environment for our families. But we are also aware that we are now a part of a wider movement of other projects and it’s a real privilege to be able to stand as representatives of all they have achieved.”

Near Neighbours acts to bring people together who are near neighbours in communities that are religiously and ethnically diverse, so that they can get to know each other better, build relationships of trust and collaborate together on initiatives that improve the local community they live in. This includes a small grants fund that supports initiatives, such as the Peace Garden (pictured below), that are working to bring people together for the good of local neighbourhoods.

Funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government, Near Neighbours is a partnership between the charity Church Urban Fund and the Archbishops Council of the Church of England, and has been running since 2011. Throughout that time Near Neighbours has been awarding grants to community based projects across England.

The Bishop of Bedford, Richard Atkinson (pictured below), took time to reflect on what Near Neighbours has achieved, “These 1000 grants reflect a new and creative way of doing community in our country that is both inspiring and transformative. It shows what can be achieved when people of different faiths work together for the common good. We’re very proud that we can host such a celebration in Luton!”

Communities Secretary, Greg Clark said: “Near Neighbours has made a real difference to peoples’ lives. From parents getting on in life and gaining qualifications together, to young people sharing recipes and eating together in cooking groups – across the country people from every faith and background  have come together to form a community.

This 1000th project launched today in Luton is a great landmark, and I hope that the peace garden created here will become a community hub for many years to come.”

Liz Carnelley is the Near Neighbours Programme Director and commented that, “This project is emblematic of what we have seen through Near Neighbours in England in the last four years. It is a significant milestone in this neighbourhood that is now one amongst a thousand others that is transforming the face of local communities in our country.”​ 

Celebration! A Christmas event with a twist!

A special Christmas event will be taking place on:

• Date: Friday 27th November 2015
• Time: 7pm onwards
• Cost: Tickets cost £10 and places must be booked in advance
• Venue: Holy Ghost Parish Church Hall, Westbourne Road, Luton

To register your interest or to book a place please contact us:

• Call us on 01582 967265
• Email crcwsmiles@hotmail.co.uk
• Download the poster here!

Christmas Fairtrade Gift Hamper

The Luton Fairtrade Steering Group, continuing with its Fairtrade Festivities, has now developed Christmas Fairtrade Gift Hampers!

As we are aware, Fairtrade is not charity but it is about justice. Astonishingly, despite producing 70% of the world's food, over half of the world's hungriest people are small producer farmers in third world countries. Purchasing their products in fair trade terms means they can have a better training, tools, education, health care and clean water.

We are also supporting LOCAL HONEY and recently launched the PEACE HONEY at CofE St Hugh’s Church (Lewsey) in Luton’s Annual Peace Walk held on 26th Sep 2015.

Friends, it is with delight, we are introducing 2 sets of hampers to be purchased at £6 and £15. We can also make bespoke hampers, if you or anyone wishes, depending upon products availability.

For further enquiries or to purchase, please email jgrassroots@btconnect.com or call the GRASSROOTS office on 01582 416946.

You can give a Fairtrade Christmas Hamper to your loved ones or a neighbour, and why not someone of a different faith sharing the Joy of Christmas and the Birth of Christ?

Cohen's Yard Family Fun Day!

Join us for a family fun day at Cohen's Yard on Saturday 25th July 2015! The event will include:

• Archery for Children
• Bouncy Castle
• Children's Entertainer
• Family Games and Activities
• Face Painting
• Free Picnic and Ice Cream (for the first 200 people)

The fun day, which is a project led by the Medina Mosque and All Saint's Church and funded by Near Neighbours, will take place at Cohen's Yard (on the corner of Shaftesbury Road and Portland Road, Luton) from 12pm to 4pm.

We look forward to seeing you there!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY - Fairtrade Campaign Coordinator

If you:

• Are passionate about volunteering for community led initiatives
• Would you like to support Luton’s diverse communities in buying more ethically
• Have enthusiasm for leading a group of people committed to promoting Fairtrade

Then we would like to hear from you!

We are looking for a volunteer Fairtrade Campaign Coordinator to help us continue our Fairtrade work within Luton and its diverse communities. Luton became a Fairtrade Town in November 2011 but there is still much pioneering and everyday activity to be done in raising awareness, and working with schools, retail outlets and the community at large to work for trade justice by coming together to think globally but act locally. Luton’s Fairtrade work has strived to include as much of the community as possible in their activities and events. The aim is very much about going deeper into Fairtrade and the issues that it evokes as part of GRASSROOTS’ Spirituality of Justice work, rather than just tick boxing. 

There is much scope for you to develop this role using your individual creativity and ideas, in addition to:

• Convening meetings, following up on actions agreed and check others progress on their tasks
• Proposing how to promote the sale of Fairtrade products in Luton
• Increasing the size of the group and bring in more young people to be involved with activities
• Engaging with different faith communities and encourage them to use Fairtrade products
• Liaising and develop relationships with local schools
• Developing new promotional initiatives such as a multicultural recipe book

Depending on your level of skill and experience, you could also be able to help us with the following areas (although these areas are optional):

• Designing event posters and creating display boards
• Suggest and administer good use of Social Media to promote Fairtrade
• Creating a publicity strategy
• Website development
• Engaging with members of the media (local newspapers and radio stations)

This role would suit someone who:

• Can think creatively about communicating ideas and messages
• Is willing to use their own initiative and implement ideas
• Is self-motivated and has patience and grace to work with a diverse group of people
• Can commit to arranging at least 6 group meetings per year
• Has enough time to network and follow up actions between these meetings

Whilst there is complete flexibility in regards to how much time is spent between meetings fulfilling your voluntary duties, we would prefer someone who is prepared to make a long term commitment to this role and its responsibility. Full training will be given where needed and reasonable travel expenses refunded.

To register your interest or ask any questions about the role please contact us at the details below – we look forward to hearing from you!

• Call us on 01582 416946
• Email jgrassroots@btconnect.com
• Download this information here!

Catalyst - FREE Leadership Training for 16—25 Year Olds

Catalyst is one of the UK’s most dynamic and interactive young leader training programmes. Run by St Philip’s Centre in Leicester, it aims to build the confidence of and make real, the potential of young people aged 16—25 years so that they can change their communities for the better. Catalyst involves a range of activities and learning opportunities based on themes such as: Networking, Leadership, Teamwork, Inter Faith, Communication and Community.

THERE ARE 3 LEVELS TO CATALYST: Gold, Silver and Bronze
Young people work through the different levels to learn new skills, culminating in the achievement of the Catalyst Gold standard. Participants must commit to all training days for each level. Dates will be on:

• BRONZE level: Mon 3rd, Tues 4th & Wed 5th August
• SILVER level: Wed 12th August
• GOLD level: Thurs 13th August

Venue: High Town Methodist Church Hall, 47 High Town Road, Luton LU2 0BW
Cost: Attendance on this course is free but places are limited so must be booked in advance

An application form can be downloaded here. For more information or to reserve a place please contact:

• Call us on 01582 416946
• Email near.neighbours_luton@btconnect.com
• Download more information here!

Catalyst is run by St Philip’s Centre in partnership with GRASSROOTS and the Luton
Council of Faiths. It is funded by Near Neighbours through the Department for
Communities and Local Government.

Join us at the first meeting of 'Same Difference'

‘Same Difference’ is an opportunity to meet with other people, of various backgrounds, to talk about how we experience and celebrate these key milestones, while also sharing a meal together. Topics will include:

• Birth
• Childhood
• Schooling
• Learning about faith
• Holidays & Travel
• Courtship & Marriage
• How we treat elderly people
• Death

The first meeting will be on:

• Date: Wednesday 10th June 2015
• Time: 12:30pm
• Cost: This event is free to attend but please let us know if you wish to attend
• Venue: Beech Hill Methodist Church, 385a Dunstable Road, Luton (near Kingsway) 

Future meetings will be every 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month (to be confirmed)...

For more information or to let us know you are coming:

• Call us on 01582 967265
• Email crcwsmiles@hotmail.co.uk
• Download the poster here!