Near Neighbours celebrates 10th Anniversary in Luton

One of the reasons why the Decade of the 2011-2021 may just be an important decade in British history, is because of the success of the Near Neighbours Programme, which was created by Church Urban Fund (CUF) and the C of E Archbishop’s Council following the award of £5million by the Department for Communities and Local Government in February 2011.

Since then, Near Neighbours has established 11 hubs across England, helping to develop positive relationships in specific multi-faith areas through small grants of £250 - £5,000, whilst also supporting and resourcing the growth of new ‘social action’ and ‘social interaction’ projects.

Hubs act as focal points for Near Neighbours activity and a local coordinator in each hub connects with and resources local projects, developing the work of the programme at a grassroots level and feeding into national strategy.

In Luton, GRASSROOTS Programme has been operating as the local Near Neighbours hub and Kim Greig (seen in the pic below) has been the first ever appointed Near Neighbours Coordinator.

 In a recently held 10th Anniversary Celebrations in Luton, Kim shared that during the last 10 years, Luton has seen 287 projects undertaking activities e.g. community gardening, litter picking, music for those suffering from dementia, connecting young people with horses, arts & sports activities, mental health first aid training programmes, human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, international women and inter faith week activities and several other projects involving people from diverse backgrounds, promoting cultural and racial  understanding and integration.

Kim said Near Neighbours Programme through Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has contributed £728,157 worth of grants to support Luton communities, which is a significant contribution, much of it helped during the pandemic lockdowns too.

Elizabeth Carnelley, Director, Near Neighbours Programme said she is proud that the programme, nationally as well as locally, has been at the forefront of confronting the rumours and conspiracy myths which were and still are undermining public trust in health authorities and in tested and approved vaccines, which threaten an effective public health response to the pandemic.

Over 25 Luton organisations, present at the 10th Anniversary celebrations held locally, shared their outstanding work of helping people and communities in this town supported by Near Neighbours Programme. They all unequivocally expressed their gratitude and shouted aloud –

THANK YOU NEAR NEIGHBOURS!

For more information about Near Neighbours Programme, please see https://www.near-neighbours.org.uk/

Places of Worship & 'Freedom Day' from Covid Restrictions

England’s so called ‘Freedom Day’, is set for 19 July.

What does this mean for places of worship? As it stands, faith settings will need to decide whether to continue recommending Covid-19 infection prevention measures, such as the social distancing of worshippers and the expectation to wear face coverings.

There appears to be confusion and lack of direction for faith leaders – and the upcoming changes are a huge concern for worshippers too.

• How is your faith setting planning for ‘Freedom Day’?

• What are your concerns about the changes?

• How will the way you worship alter?

Join Faith Action (https://www.faithaction.net/) at its Coffee House event on Wednesday 14th July at 1pm, hosted by its national executive director, Daniel Singleton, member of the Places of Worship Government Taskforce and hear from other panellists and voice your opinion.

To register please visit www.faithaction.net/go/coffeehouse.

For any further details, please contact

Andrew Welsby​ | Administrator & Projects Secretariat | 0800 804 8829 | 07500 842 901

andrew.welsby@faithaction.net | www.faithaction.net

Wednesday 14th July 2021 at 1pm | To register please visit www.faithaction.net/go/coffeehouse.

Voices from Srebrenica: Online Book Event

In July 1995, when the town Srebrenica, in the hills of eastern Bosnia, fell to Serbian forces, 12,000 Muslim men and boys fled seeking safe territory. Hunted for six days, more than 8000 were captured, killed at execution sites and later buried in mass graves.

With such harrowing personal narratives by survivors, a book (available on Amazon) titled “Voices from Srebrenica: Survivor Narratives of the Bosnian Genocide” provides eyewitness accounts of the Bosnian genocide, which is called the worst atrocity on European soil since the Second World War.

In commemorating UK National Srebrenica Memorial Day (https://srebrenica.org.uk/), GRASSROOTS Luton supported and promoted the University of Bedfordshire led online event with the authors of this book Professor Ann Petrila & Hasan Hasanovic. In writing this book, they have revealed stories of individual trauma, loss and resilience.

Professors Jon Silverman & Helen Connolly co-chaired the event. Dr Emir Suljagic, Director of the Srebrenica Memorial Centre and Allan Little, BBC War Correspondent added enriching perspectives to the Bosnian genocide.

Srebrenica has become a world symbol of the horrific consequences that can result from inaction. The collective failure of the international community to intervene and prevent the genocide has been acknowledged by the late Kofi Annan, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations.

This is also echoed by the late Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor who said: “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must – at that moment – become the centre of the universe”.

From L to R: Prof Helen Connolly, Hasan Hasanovic (Survivor), Allan Little (BBC War Correspondent) & Prof Ann Petrila (Author)

eDARE 2021 - CWM Initiative Doing Theology in Public Places

Council for World Mission (CWM) once again presents eDARE 2021, a virtual event where theologians, artists and activists reflect and present their narratives on life-denying issues today. This year’s edition is a stepping stone in CWM’s turn toward ‘Rising to Life’, and presents an opportunity for rising thinkers from hidden places to critically engage with current forms of Public Theology.

Visit https://edare.cwmission.org for more info and registration details coming soon!

Climate Change – We need to change the way we do things

Climate Change is big on everyone’s Agenda this year, least because the UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change COP26 Conference in Glasgow on 1 – 12 November 2021. It is the biggest and most urgent challenge facing humanity. People of faith therefore are called (https://faithfortheclimate.org.uk) to see our planet as a gift, and believe we have a sacred responsibility to care for and protect the Earth’s climate for future generations.

The United Reformed Church (URC) is also committed to caring for God’s creation. https://urc.org.uk/about-us/caring-for-creation1.html

An Environmental Workshop was led by the Thames North Synod URC (United Reformed Church) last month on 8th May 2021. Please see details here.

Locally, in Luton & Dunstable, this month on 27th June 2021, members from 5 different URCs took part in an online Climate Sunday service (https://www.climatesunday.org/) led by Revd Heather Whyte, URC Minister serving in Luton & Dunstable.

The service was creative, engaging, very well presented and thought provoking.

Using colorful videos depicting creation’s beauty, Heather said “this is a global issue requiring a global response. Our actions have already set in motion the end of creation. Yet, it does not have to be that way. We need to change the way we do things.”

Highlighting ‘what can we do?’ Heather pointed out simple changes in our lifestyles we all can adapt. She said, “We can change our diet and how we produce food. We must manage our oceans better and rebuild relationship with the planet and the species with which we share it, rewilding wherever we can to re-establish wildlife and the biodiversity the planet needs to survive.”

“Reducing our dependence on cars would mean we do not need to pave gardens, which help maintain the water table and prevents flooding. In the gardens we must use fewer pesticides and move towards organic gardening, creating our own compost, growing more of our own food.”

“We need to be more energy efficient, using LED lightbulbs, switching to sustainable energy providers, and where possible turn down the heating by one degree.”

“We must buy less and repair, reuse, recycle more. Recycling is not the first option, and we are all too aware that often what we think is recycling is simply the shifting of our problem onto the doorstep of poorer communities around the world.”

“Living ‘simply’ and ‘responsibly’ means refusing to accommodate single use plastic, using eco-friendly cleaning products, saving water and cutting down on food waste.”

Heather encouraged all to choose locally produced food and buy in bulk with neighbours. All this cuts our carbon footprint, she said.

Heather reminded how during the lockdowns, the air quality had improved. We must therefore travel efficiently and responsibly.

“All these suggestions may seem prohibitive”, she said, “but we must remember that our way of life is changing the planet’s ability to sustain life.”

“As people of faith, not only do we have a message of hope, but we must be the hope”, she concluded.

She encouraged all to sign up to “The Time is Now” campaign (https://thetimeisnow.uk)  which urges the Government to protect, restore and expand our green and wild spaces and leave no one behind, particularly those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change at home and abroad.

To read the full reflection, prayers and YouTube links for songs and short videos, please use the link below;

https://urclutonanddunstable.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Sunday-27th-June-2021-web.pdf  

Revd Heather Whyte, Minister of United Reformed Churches (URC) Luton & Dunstable

Near Neighbours supported Stospley Community Garden in Luton is open now

Near Neighbours supported Stopsley Community Garden in Luton is officially open now.

Rachel Hopkins MP for Luton South and Mayor of Luton Cllr Mahmood Hussain opened the garden on a sunny afternoon on Saturday 26th June 2021.

It was amazing to see 150 people turn up to support the garden official opening event. There were cakes, games, sunflower planting and lots of friendly people to chat with. Everyone had a lovely afternoon together.

Part funded by Near Neighbours Programme, Stopsley Community Garden Project has born out of the Stopsley and Putteridge community survey which took place three years ago. One of its findings was that people wanted to have more of a community feel within the Stopsley and Putteridge area.

Stopsley Baptist Church owns this piece of land next to The Greenhouse in St Thomas Road, which had been lying idle for more than 10 years. This wasteland now gets around 30 visitors a day.

The church hopes that the whole community including schools will use this garden and the vegetables and fruit grown in the garden can be shared with people who need it.

Research has shown the benefits of having a community garden.

Stopsley Community Garden will also provide a place to relax, a way to engage with nature, a spot to meet with others and to get active outdoors. It will bring people together of all ages, races and cultures.

This is a community focused, volunteer-led project with the aim of creating an outdoor space with seating space, a play area, vegetable patches and more – a space to be used by everyone in the area.

A GoFundMe page was set up to raise money for 120 paving slabs and materials to go under a pergola as well as creating a pathway. The Church and all the volunteers thank everyone for their valuable donations.

To find out more about it: https://www.facebook.com/Stopsleycommunitygarden

https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2021-06-27/community-celebrates-opening-of-garden-created-on-luton-wasteland

The Mayor of Luton Cllr Mahmood Hussain with MP Luton South MP Rachel Hopkins opening the gardenCredit: Christopher Young

HRH The Prince of Wales awarded the CCJ Bridge Award

It has been a special week for the UK’s Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) nationally.

On Wednesday 23rd Jun’21 CCJ presented the Bridge Award to HRH the Prince of Wales for his efforts to build bridges and understanding between communities and also to recognise his interfaith work; to hold a groundbreaking student conference on faith and identity; and to host well-attended webinars and workshops at the International Council of Christians and Jews summer conference.

Receiving the award at the small ceremony at Spencer House, London, Prince Charles noted that 'the essence of CCJ's mission has never been more relevant than it is today'.

The Prince concluded his comments by quoting from Isaiah 26:3: 'Never, I would say, has the CCJ been more needed in our conflict-torn world. With God’s help, Christians and Jews – and, for that matter, Muslims – must continue to work together for peace and harmony. Words given to the Prophet Isaiah should perhaps be our inspiration: ‘Thou wilt keep them in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee’.

Thanking the Prince for his work, Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Great Britain and the Commonwealth, drew on Hasidic tradition, noting that Rabbi Nachman of Breslov 'famously taught that the whole wide world is a very narrow bridge and as we all walk upon it together'.

To read the full description of the event including the Chief Rabbi's speech and reflections on the award from our Trustees, click here

To read HRH The Prince of Wales words of thanks, click here.

Pictured: Above, HRH receiving the award from the CCJ Chair. Below, some of the event attendees. The guest list was kept small due to covid restrictions.

Inter Faith Relations & Election Campaigning: Statement from Inter Faith Network UK

https://www.interfaith.org.uk/news/statement-from-ifn-co-chairs-and-fcf-moderators-inter-faith-relations-and-election-campaigning

During election campaigns, symbols and images of different faith communities are sometimes co-opted and manipulated by organisations and/or public figures to justify or promote divisive political agendas. 

Slanted and inaccurate portrayals of religions and cultures can contribute to antisemitism, Islamophobia or hatred of other communities.

It is important we take care to nurture existing good relationships between different communities and speak out against politics of division which set communities against each other; rebutting misappropriation of our respective faith communities’ symbols, traditions and history; reporting any hate incidents; and encouraging informed dialogue and respectful expression of views at all times.

Please read the full statement here.

https://www.interfaith.org.uk/news/statement-from-ifn-co-chairs-and-fcf-moderators-inter-faith-relations-and-election-campaigning

Inter Faith - Opportunities & Challenges Event by St Albans Diocese

The Diocese of St Albans is a diverse diocese.  It includes a significant number of parishes where other faith communities comprise more than ten percent of the population. 

St Albans Diocese is committed to engaging with and partnering with members of other faith communities for the common good, pursuing mission in a global world. https://www.stalbans.anglican.org/faith/mission-in-multi-faith-areas/

Therefore, to support parishes, clergy, lay leaders and congregants, during Inter Faith Week 2021, Rt Revd Richard Atkinson, Bishop of Bedford invites us all to reflect together on What is Inter Faith? Why do it? What are the opportunities & challenges in it? There will be opportunity to hear experiences of the 3 Diocesan Inter Faith Advisors.

Date: 17th November 2021

Time: 7pm

Please register to receive the Zoom Link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/interfaith-opportunities-and-challenges-tickets-156512484053

For queries and further info please contact bishopbedfordpa@stalbans.anglican.org / 01234 831432

PLEASE NOTE:

Subject to government guidelines, the intention is this will be a live forum. Venue details will be shared nearer the time. Please register in advance here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/interfaith-opportunities-and-challenges-tickets-156512484053

Windrush Day 2021 Commemorated in Luton

Windrush Day takes place on 22 June - A special day to remember when around 500 migrants from the Caribbean arrived at Tilbury Docks in Essex in 1948.

It's been more than 70 years since the Empire Windrush ship sailed to Britain, and now an estimated 500,000 people live in the UK who arrived between 1948 and 1971 from Caribbean countries.

Many of them have experienced racism and discrimination. Still, their positive contributions are a testament to their resilience and fortitude.

Luton Cllr Jacqui Burnett said: "It is worth remembering that our NHS would not have survived without the Windrush Generation and its descendants.”

Luton North MP Sarah Owen said, “This year more than ever we’ve rightly paid tribute to NHS workers from home and abroad. I’ve applied for a parliamentary debate on the fantastic contribution of overseas workers to the NHS and will continue pushing this government to stop penalising people who come to this country to care for our sick, elderly and vulnerable.”

After raising the Windrush flag over the Town Hall on 22 June, in the Annual Civic Ceremony organised by African Caribbean Community Development Forum (ACCDF), Pas Vincent Cox of The New Testament Church of God said, “Thirteen days after that first Windrush arrival, the NHS was founded. My own parents worked in the NHS and London transport for over 40 years each. I am a legacy of Windrush. Despite facing overt and covert racism, oppression and stereotyping the Windrush legacy has become an integral part of British society, from culture to politics, commerce to sport and religion and the sciences.”

He concluded “Here in Luton, I want to encourage us to build on the Windrush legacy by developing our community bond, educational, economic & political strength and our civic duties. We are great; we are leaders. Let us lead.”

Pas Vincent Cox is also co-leading with other Church leaders in Luton an Interdenominational Commission on Racial Justice under the banner of Churches Together in Luton.

From L to R: Cllr Jacqui Burnette, Lorna Markland Founder of African Caribbean Community Development Forum (ACCDF), Luton, Pas Vincent Cox of The New Testament Church of God, Rhythm & Vibe Band

Luton raising the flag on Windrush Day

Just after Refugee Week https://refugeeweek.org.uk/ 14-20 June 2021 and today as we mark Windrush Day, it is heartening to see the following note that Luton North MP Sarah Owen https://sarahowen.org.uk/ has written on her Facebook page.

This year more than ever we’ve rightly paid tribute to NHS workers from home and abroad, unfortunately the boss of track & trace and the PM’s favoured candidate for the next NHS top job did not get that memo.

I’ve applied for a parliamentary debate on the fantastic contribution of overseas workers to the NHS and will continue pushing this government to stop penalising people who come to this country to care for our sick, elderly and vulnerable.

Debates are picked by a lottery system, but if successful it will bring a Minister to hear why this dog whistle nonsense from the useless Dido Harding - neither should be anywhere near our NHS.

To see her facebook page, please click on this link; https://www.facebook.com/SarahOwen4LutonNorth/posts/357998512330722

Luton Cllr Jacqui Burnett said: "It is worth remembering that our NHS would not have survived without the Windrush Generation and its descendants.”

https://www.voice-online.co.uk/windrush/2020/06/22/luton-raising-the-flag-on-windrush-day/

At 1pm on 22 June the Windrush flag will be raised over the Luton Town Hall.

https://m.luton.gov.uk/Page/Show/news/Pages/Luton-marks-Windrush-Day.aspx

Luton Town Hall

Windrush emblem designed by Seonaid Gowdie, a young artist from South London for Lambeth Council. https://beta.lambeth.gov.uk/windrush-2021-i-am-here

Open Letter to G7 Leaders on Equitable Global Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines

https://www.cwmission.org/open-letter-to-g7-leaders-on-quick-and-equitable-global-distribution-of-covid-19-vaccines/

At its Annual Members’ Meeting, held electronically on 15-17 June 2021, Council for World Mission (CWM) reflected on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on peoples and countries around the world, with particular attention given to vaccine distribution. We issue this open letter out of deep concern for a more just and globally coordinated response to the pandemic, in general, and to the vaccine distribution, in particular.

CWM notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has, more than ever, exposed the inequalities within and between nations. Our own global community has witnessed an increase of deaths on the margins, due to shortage of medical infrastructure and supplies, governmental corruption, unemployment, fanaticism, mental health crises, fear, profiteering from the crisis, decisions about who should be left to die, hunger and so much more that we do not yet know.

Council for World Mission respectfully urges the United Kingdom and other G7 nations to:

1. radically rethink their financial contribution and sharing commitments towards controlling this pandemic

avoiding buying more than their own populations require avoiding profiteering at the expense of life

2. use the COVAX scheme, rather than distributing vaccines directly, to ensure proper process

3. where relevant, reinstate their commitment to a UN foreign aid budget target of 0.7% of GDP

https://www.cwmission.org/open-letter-to-g7-leaders-on-quick-and-equitable-global-distribution-of-covid-19-vaccines/

NJPN Conference: Action for Earth

https://www.justice-and-peace.org.uk/conference/

The National Justice and Peace Conference 2021 Planning Group met on 17th Jun’21 and continued its planning for what will be an In person Conference from 23rd-25th July 2021 at The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick.

As climate changes, the biodiversity crisis and Covid-19 make clear, ecological conversion is becoming a matter of life and death. Decisions to be made this year at the COP26 climate summit and in the recovery from the pandemic are critical for salvaging a viable future. This is a year of opportunity the like of which we will never see again.

This Conference will take inspiration from Laudato Si, Fratelli Tutti and secular thinking on integral ecology. It will seek to seize the moment of grace for the changes and choices now confronting us.

Following workshops will be part of the conference.  

1. A Global Green Recovery Towards Just Transition and the Glasgow COP

2. Growth and Debt

3. Pilgrims of Cloud and Fire: pastoral care for climate distress

4. Fossil Free Churches: Why and how your diocese should divest from fossil fuels

5.  PhoneCycle Game

6. Nonviolent Direct Action and Environmental Protest

7. Holding Water in your Landscape

8.  Conflict and the Environment

9.  Sustainable Development Goals

10. "Industrialised Farming, Animal Welfare and Biodiversity Loss"

11. Nature Explorer Walk with a Botanist

 For more details, please contact;

Geoff Thompson | NJPN Administrator | National Justice & Peace Network |

39 Eccleston Square | London | SW1V 1BX

Mob: 07365 838535 | Tel: 020 7901 4864

Email: admin@justice-and-peace.org.uk | Website: www.justice-and-peace.org.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/njandpnetwork | Twitter: www.twitter.com/NJandPNetwork  

Registered Charity No. 1114947 | Company No 5036866

World Refugee Day 2021 focuses on the power of inclusion.

https://www.un.org/en/observances/refugee-day

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency's World Refugee Day campaign this year is calling for the greater inclusion of refugees in health systems, schools and sport. Refugees are among the most vulnerable people in the world.

Background

Every minute 20 people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror. There are several types of forcibly displaced persons:

Refugees

A refugee is someone who fled his or her home and country owing to “a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion”, according to the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention. Many refugees are in exile to escape the effects of natural or human-made disasters.

Asylum Seekers

Asylum seekers say they are refugees and have fled their homes as refugees do, but their claim to refugee status is not yet definitively evaluated in the country to which they fled.

Join with others this year on World Refugee Day and support refugees across the globe.

https://www.unhcr.org/609553414/world-refugee-day-2021-toolkit-pdf

Voices from Srebrenica: Online Book Event

Online Book Event: Voices from Srebrenica: Survivor Narratives of the Bosnian Genocide. With Professor Ann Petrila and Hasan Hasanovic

Joined by Dr Emir Suljagic, Director of the Srebrenica Memorial Centre and Allan Little, BBC War Correspondent.

Chaired by Professor Jon Silverman and Dr Helen Connolly, University of Bedfordshire.

Words of welcome by Professor Rebecca Bunting. Vice Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire.

Thursday July 1st, 2021. UK 17.00 (GMT)Online Zoom Event

The University of Bedfordshire invites you to join us for this special event focusing on the voices and first- hand experiences of survivors of the Bosnian Genocide.

To book a place, please register with your contact details through the Eventbrite page link below and a zoom link for you to join in this online event will be sent to you.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/voices-from-srebrenica-survivor-narratives-of-the-bosnian-genocide-tickets-159322246127?fbclid=IwAR27-P0pSFYWhxftmO4CPLuOy6an3xGb0f3yxcaWSiB-w_X1J5zZjvT79qk

Faith groups brief MPs on priorities for COP26

Members of the Make COP Count coalition have met MPs and Peers to brief them on faith groups’ priorities for the UN climate talks (COP26) in November.

A diverse range of faith groups came together with parliamentarians for the online event on Monday 14 June.

It was co-hosted with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Climate Change and the APPG on Faith and Society.

Faith leaders were joined by staff from faith-based organisations and young faith representatives who are passionate advocates for action on the climate crisis.

The speakers made the case for the UK government to take action on the current impact of climate breakdown on the lives and livelihoods of people around the world.

The Make COP Count coalition is campaigning for loss and damage to be on the agenda for COP26. It is also calling for an end to fossil fuel finance in the UK and abroad.

https://faithfortheclimate.org.uk/newsitem/Faith-groups-brief-MPs-on-priorities-for-COP26

The Great GET TOGETHER (Inspired by Jo Cox) 18-20 June 2021

https://www.greatgettogether.org/2021

The Great Get Together is an initiative inspired by the late Jo Cox MP, who was killed on 16th June 2016. In her first speech in Parliament, Jo said: “We have more in common than that which divides us.” So this initiative is designed to bring people together to celebrate what they have in common. Through the Great Get Together, it is expected people across the country will make new connections and promote Jo's message of unity.

Read more about The Great Get Together >

Luton Cllr Maria Lovell receives MBE

Our congratulations to Cllr Maria Lovell as she has been made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021 in recognition of her work supporting Luton’s African community during the Covid pandemic.

She said, “I’m so delighted about my MBE in the #QueensBirthdayHonours list. My mum would be over the moon and I know she’s watching from above. It couldn’t have happened at a better time. This is for love of community.”

Being a former Mayor of Luton (2020-21), she describes herself as a proud Lutonian and proclaims “I love our diverse and dynamic town”. She was only the second black woman and the first of African background to hold mayoral office in the town.

Revd Canon David Lawson, Chair of GRASSROOTS Luton said, “I am in no doubt that her leadership and service to the community of Luton is invaluable.  In particular, we have valued her contributions and support to the Fairtrade campaign being led by GRASSROOTS in Luton. We pray that she continues to go from strength to strength and indeed greater things lie ahead!”

Read her fully story here. https://m.luton.gov.uk/Page/Show/news/Pages/Councillor-Lovell-awarded-MBE.aspx

Cllr Maria Lovell supporting GRASSROOTS led Fairtrade Campaign in Luton as Deputy Mayor (2019-20). In the following year, she was appointed as the Mayor of Luton (2020-21).

The Reverend TJ Wesley stepped into his next adventure

With sadness we share the news that Rev TJ Wesley, former Methodist Minister in Luton, passed away peacefully on 7th June 2021.

GRASSROOTS Luton expresses its sincere condolences to his family and friends and we pray that God's love enfolds and comforts them all through the pain.

We fondly remember his time in Luton with gratitude. He was a pleasant and yet challenging with his particular perspective born of a breadth of his experiences.

He was laid to rest on Saturday June 12, 2021 in Fort Collins (US).

TJ's obituary is here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ft-collins-co/tj-wesley-10225894

Rev. T J Wesley at Good Friday Walk of Witness of Bury Park Beech Hill Council of Churches in Luton on 14th April 2017

Refugee Week 2021: We Cannot Walk Alone

The theme of Refugee Week 2021, ‘We Cannot Walk Alone’, is an invitation to extend your hand to someone new. Someone who is outside your current circle, has had an experience you haven’t, or is fighting for a cause you aren’t yet involved in.

Whoever and wherever you are, join in making Refugee Week 2021 a bold, collective act of reaching out; a space for us all to listen, to exchange and connect.

Refugee Week 2021 is 14-20 June, and anyone can get involved by holding or taking part in an event or activity.

For more details, please see https://refugeeweek.org.uk/events/