Newsletter Kirklees Faiths Forum held the AGM and an evening of interfaith celebration at Dewsbury Town Hall to launch Inter Faith Week 2011. Bishop Tony Robinson Chair of Kirklees Faiths Forum, said: Our third Annual General Meeting was a great success. People from so many organizations and individuals came together to celebrate the work of the Forum over the past year. The Big Society which the Prime Minster David Cameron has often talked about is being proclaimed here in Kirklees through the work of the Faith Communities. Calderdale Interfaith Council s Annual General Meeting Calderdale Interfaith Council s Annual General Meeting was held at Cartwheel Youth Centre Elland hosted by Mr. Fazal ur Rehman Tariq Chairman Elland Mosque Association. The picture below shows Raja Khan Faith Ambassador Calderdale Interfaith Council with Mohammad Hanif Patient and Public Involvement Coordinator, NHS Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield District PCTs and colleagues at the AGM. 1
Inter Faith Week 2011 Annual Celebration Event The Annual Celebration event on the theme of Building Trust was organised by Calderdale Interfaith Council during Inter Faith Week 2011 at Halifax Minster. The introduction of Calderdale Interfaith Council was given by the Vice-Chair Rev Canon Hilary Barber. the activities of the Women s Interfaith Group. Faith representatives from different faiths read prayers. Dr Harriet Crabtree OBE, The programme concluded Director Inter Faith Network with food and networking. The event attracted 300 peo- for the UK, Stephen Timms Building trust is an imple to share their faith and MP and Chief Superintenportant and essential eleculture through exhibitions, dent Christopher Hardern, ment when strengthening speeches, cultural and relidivisional Commander, WYP multi- faith and gious performances, food Calderdale Division shed a multi-cultural relationships. and networking. light on the need of building Raja Taufiq Khan trust in bringing different The programme commenced communities of faith and of with the energetic perforno faith together for peace, mance of Sikh drummers harmony and integration. and a bhangra dance. Young children from differthe Mayor of Calderdale and ent schools across Calderthe Chair of Calderdale Interdale delivered beautiful faith Council Dr Nader Fekri Nasheed performance. Chilgave an opening speech and dren of the World. highlighted the importance of building trust in achieving Frank Bealey performed the cohesion among different Jesus song. Ramona Cleasby communities of faith and of introduced to the audience no faith. 2
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World Religion Day Calderdale Interfaith Council celebrated World Religion Day at Elland Mosque by sharing inter faith prayers led by faith leaders representing Christian, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, Baha'i and Muslim faith. The event was hosted by Mr. Fazal- ur- Rehman Tariq Chairman of Elland Mosque Association. Remembrance Sunday & the Oak Leaf Service at Halifax Minster PERSONAL COMPUTING The main purpose of World Religion Day is to celebrate unity and to create harmony and cohesion among diversity of faiths. Remembrance Sunday and the Oak Leaf Service (for those affected by road traffic collisions) have become annual events for CIC participation. A large number of people came on Remembrance Sunday, the service began at the Cenotaph with a statement read on behalf of all the faith communities of the Borough. 4
Prayers and Poems to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day Calderdale Council and Calderdale Interfaith Council commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day on the theme of Speak Up Speak Out at King s Centre Halifax. Prayers, poems and speeches were shared to remember holocaust victims. Speakers included Dr Nader Fekri The Mayor of Calderdale, Janet Battye Leader of Calderdale Council, Rev Canon Hilary Barber Vice Chair CIC and Trude Silman Holocaust Survivor. Raja Taufiq Khan Faith Ambassador read a poem Then they came for me. Peace song was sung by young children from local schools across calderdale. Chief Executive of Calderdale Council Owen Williams and the Director for Communities Robin Tuddenham also attended the commemoration day. As citizen of a democratic society, we have a duty to stand up for our beliefs more courageously, celebrate life more joyously, and love one another more ardently. Dr Nader Fekri said. 5
FEBRUARY Faith Education Volunteers needed Tell us your experience of Urgent healthcare services in Calderdale? Urgent care describes the NHS services you use when you need advice or treatment immediately, but which is not an emergency or life-threatening. It is also sometimes called unplanned or unscheduled care. Urgent healthcare needs can arise at any time of the day or night and any day of the week, including bank holidays and therefore urgent care services need to be able to respond at these times when normal services may not be available. Have your say NHS Calderdale set up a new urgent care system in 2008, the West Yorkshire Urgent Care Service. The contract for this service is coming to an end soon and we want your views on what a new service should look like and to hear about your experiences of the current service. To complete the questionnaire and to get further information about the consultation please go to http://www.calderdale.nhs.uk/get-involved/consultations/ The consultation will end on Monday 5 March. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding this consultation on 01484 464025 or email ppi@kirklees.nhs.uk Is NHS Calderdale meeting its equality goals? NHS Calderdale would like to hear your views on how well it is meeting its Equality goals. A survey has been developed to help the NHS understand how well it is doing on promoting equality and making sure services are suitable for those that need them. The Equality Delivery System (EDS) has four goals, divided into 18 outcomes. These focus on areas which mean the most, or are likely to have the greatest impact on patients, carers and staff. You can have your say on the EDS as an individual or an organisation. To download the survey, please visit http://halifaxnorthandeast.com//01/26/tell-us-your-experience-of-urgent-healthcare-services-in-calderdale/ The NHS is also holding two events in March to work through the EDS. They would like people to join as part of an Equality Panel to make sure they get it right. Refreshments and expenses will be provided and they will meet access needs where needed. Faith Education Volunteers needed to work with Halifax Minster and Calderdale Interfaith Council. This is an exciting opportunity for those who enjoy working with children and wish to help children in Calderdale understand the world of faith. We are looking for volunteers who are willing to share aspects of their faith (any world faith) with school children visiting Halifax Minster as part of an inter-faith visit. Volunteers will be given full support and training. Volunteers must be over 16. The usual checks will be required and volunteers will never be left alone with a group of children. Visits are run Monday to Wednesday (mainly in mornings), average volunteer time is 6 hours a month. If interested please contact us for an application form: educationofficer@halifaxminster.org.uk or telephone 01422 355 436 and speak to Gillian. 6
FEBRUARY Future Meetings and Events Women s Interfaith group Sunday 4th of March:- A family afternoon celebrating International Women's Day at the Maurice Jagger Centre, Winding Road, Halifax, HX1 1UZ, (opposite Sainsbury's in Halifax) between 1 and 4pm. This is a unique opportunity to meet with Palestinian women speakers from Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon and Nazareth to hear about their place in social, cultural and political life and learn about the role of women in their struggle for justice. Tuesday 6th of March:- A much needed Planning meeting for future events for this Year has been organized between 10am and 12noon at Margaret Barnes. Further details regarding address and postcode to follow but feel free to contact Margaret on 01422 345582. Please come along and support this very important meeting as we need as many of you as possible to try and contribute with ideas and suggestions for future events Calderdale Interfaith Council s General Meeting 14th March, 7.00pm at the Sacred Heart & St Patrick (Catholic) Church, Bolton Brow, Sowerby Bridge Halifax, HX6 2BA. Peace Conference & Faith Leaders Meeting 28th April At Halifax Minster Church Queen s Diamond Jubilee Gala 16th June 11am 3pm At Halifax Minster Church 7
FEBRUARY QE2 Diamond Jubilee Launch A service to Launch the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Year in the County of West Yorkshire was hosted by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Dr Ingrid Roscoe, at Halifax Minster on Sunday 12th. A specially commissioned anthem composed by Dr Simon Lindley was sung for the first time by choirs from Halifax Minster, The Minster Chamber Choir, Bradford Cathedral and Leeds Parish Church. The service also included performance by Sikh drummers and Muslim call to prayer. Prayers were shared by faith representatives included: Anne Linehan (Buddhist), Dr P Anand (Hindu), Gian Gabbi (Sikh), Raja Taufiq Khan (Muslim), Dr Stephen Cleasby (Baha i), Rudi Leavor (Jew) and Revd Clive Barratt (Christian). The service concluded with the national anthem before fireworks burst over Halifax. For Membership and Information Please Contact: Raja Muhammad Taufiq Khan Faith Ambassador Causey Hall, Causeway West Yorkshire, Halifax HX1 1QL Tele: 01422 355436 Mobile: 07775649655 E mail: calderdale.interfaithcouncil@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.calderdale-interfaith.co.uk 8
FEBRUARY is set to be the best Festival yet! Preparations are well underway for the cultural highlight of Halifax s year. This year, the 10 day festival will run from Friday 6 Sunday 15 July, involving all the venues you know and love in Halifax and may more that you have never thought of before! There is going to be fantastic theatre, spellbinding music and exhibitions to impress and challenge you to think about art (and Halifax) from a new and exciting perspective. Do you want to take part? Are you an artist, theatre group or musician that would like to perform during the Festival? Or do you have a space that could become a venue? You could host music/poetry or an art exhibition for example. Get in touch! Can you help? We are now looking for people who might be able to assist with moving the Festival forwards into and beyond. There are lots of different areas you might be able to help with: Fundraising, Marketing, Events, Venues etc. Please get in touch with Lucy Burnett, Festival Coordinator to discuss your ideas further on 01422 353073 or email lucy@halifaxfestival.co.uk Join our mailing list to keep up to date with all Halifax Festival news and events! 9