Regional Religion and Belief Projects

Faithnet

Faithnetsouthwest in partnership with four religious bodies are the regional network supporting faith groups engaging in social or community activity in the South West.

The network meets on a monthly basis in Taunton with development officers working in the North and South of the region. Participation from all faith communities is encouraged to ensure mutual respect of the distinctive contribution each makes to society in the belief that by working together and with members of their communities and public bodies a better understanding of one another can be achieved.

Membership is open and the network are developing ways of communicating across the region including using local forums, a newsletter and their own dedicated website faithnetsouthwest.org.uk giving the latest information on regional issues.

Faithnet is committed to the Millennium Act of Reflection and Commitment made by faith leaders at Westminster in January 2000 in which a general commitment was made to:

• Work together with people of many faiths for the common good;
• Uniting to build a better society, grounded in shared values & ideals;
• Co-operation in a spirit of friendship to work together alongside all who share their values and ideal to bring about a better world now and for future generations.

Membership Information

Faithnetsouthwest's objectives and code of conduct are available here: Code of Conduct

Religion or Belief in the South West

According to national statistics the vast majority of people living in the South West region who identify as religious identify as Christian. Research conducted in the region has shown that many people of faith have benefited from being involved in community programs such as local regeneration initiatives. Faith Daily Service Report (PDF, 508 KB).

Faithnet have also recently conducted an online survey of the region in a hope to get a better understanding of the diversity of faith communities that exist and identify ways of supporting them in the future. Over 4,200 questionnaires were also distributed with a return rate of about 700 thus far.

Newsletter

The latest newsletter from Faithnetsouthwest is available to read and download here:  Faithnet Newsletter Sept 2010

For further information on Faithnet activities please email Alistair Beattie or call on 0117 304 2298.

The Association of Muslim Lawyers - Regional Branch Wales and South West

The South West and Wales Association of Muslim Lawyers seeks to provide active encouragement and support of vulnerable groups in the procurement of legal services in accordance with Shari'ah law, to work towards the furtherance of Muslims' legal rights within the UK and to ensure that views of minorities are accounted for in local governmental policies, to work with the AML in London to facilitate national understanding and proactive lobbying for fair and equal treatment of ethnic and religious minorities and to promote community cohesion between Muslim and non-Muslim groups in furtherance of the fulfilment of AML aims and objectives.

Bristol Muslim Cultural Society

The Bristol Muslim Cultural Society's aim is to empower the Muslim community in Bristol and the surrounding area to further the economic (employment, enterprise, training) educational, recreational, cultural and social needs of the Muslim community, while encouraging their active participation in mainstream society, and provide support to interested stakeholders.  To read further please see: http://www.bmcs.org.uk/

Bristol Multi Faith Forum

Bristol Multi Faith Forum (BMFF) was established in 2004.  BMFF seeks to achieve its aims by: Giving a voice for people of faith following a decade where faith has been greatly sidelined; Serving as a Forum for Faith Communities to enter into dialogue with each other and with relevant organs of the statutory, private and voluntary sectors; Developing and nurturing leadership in the faith communities, in partnership with those communities, in order to do the above and also to be a platform for focus on commonalities and shared objectives amongst the faiths. To find out more: http://www.bmff.org.uk/

British Humanist Association

The British Humanist Association is running a Local Development Project aiming to increase the participation of Humanists and non-religious people in local community equality initiatives.  To read more about Humanism within equality and diversity please see: http://www.humanism.org.uk/site/cms/contentViewArticle.asp?article=1442

Buddhism & Meditation - Cheltenham & Gloucester

Whether you have wanted to try meditation for a long time but never found a suitable class, have started to meditate but found it difficult to make progress on your own, or are an experienced meditator looking for advice on improving, the classes offered by Akanishta Centre may well be just what you are looking for. Our classes are especially suitable for those who have busy lifestyles and would like to learn to meditate to improve the quality of their lives.

Islamic Information Centre - Bristol

The Islamic Information Centre Bristol is a charitable Education Trust, established to help fulfil the religious educational needs of the local community. Its aims is to be an integral part of the community in acting as source of Islamic knowledge from which all ages can benefit. Many of the books that we have available in the library are classical texts which cover topics such as Tasfeer, Aqidah, Fiqh, Tabaaqat (histories), Hadith studies and much more besides.

Plymouth Centre for Faiths & Cultural Diversity

Their main objective is to promote education of world religion and cultural diversity based on the values of respect and tolerance.  The Centre aims to achieve this by creating opportunities for interfaith and multicultural awareness, dialogue, understanding and celebration.  To read further please visit their website: http://www.plymouthcfcd.co.uk/

To read further please visit their website: http://www.aml.org.uk/_region.php or email: Nyla Qureshi nyla.qureshi@aml.org.uk

Radio Salaam Shalom - UK's first Muslim and Jewish Radio Station

Radio Salaam Shalom is the UK's first Muslim and Jewish radio station aimed at encouraging dialogue and understanding between the Muslim and Jewish communities in Bristol, the UK and beyond.  It broadcasts a mix of intercultural music and speech.

To find out more or to listen on line you can visit: http://www.salaamshalom.org.uk/

List your organisation

If you are a regional/sub regional organisation within the South West and would like to add a link to this page please contact Jack Horwood by e-mailing: jack.horwood@equalitysouthwest.org.uk or telephoning: 01823 250816