AGM Report 2015-2016 Making A Difference Through Dialogue
2 INTERFAITH SCOTLAND AGM From The Chair It has been another exciting and productive year for Interfaith Scotland. This report covers two successful Scottish Interfaith Weeks and a host of other significant dialogue activities involving our members, women of faith, local interfaith groups, religious leaders, young people, school engagements, civic engagements and national Holocaust Memorial events. We were credited with a world first when we hosted a Holocaust Memorial event with young offenders at Polmont Young Offenders Institute in January 2016 and it was thrilling to see 12 young men achieve the status of Holocaust Memorial Trust Youth Champions. Our publications and resources continue to be widely used and favourably commented upon and on top of all this we have successfully transitioned our Interfaith Glasgow Project to independence with full charity status. We have moved into stunning new premises in Springburn with a dedicated space for dialogue, and joining our hard working staff team is Else Kek and Lorna Douglas. I am always impressed with the dedication of our staff and the commitment and support of fellow board members and I take this opportunity to thank them all. Despite a year of sorrow that has seen local and international tragedies and tensions we are confident that Scotland s inclusive and welcoming approach will augur well for community cohesion and will set an example for other nations to emulate. I wish all our members and friends a good year ahead and I thank you for your continuing support for interfaith dialogue and engagement. Larry Blance
OUR VISION AND COMMITMENT Interfaith Scotland is committed to bringing people together from all walks of life for dialogue and engagement. We are committed to the process of interfaith dialogue and have a vision of a just and inclusive Scotland where we all work together for the common good. Contents 02 From the Chair 03 Our Vision & Commitment 04 Our Team 06 Our Work 19 Our Members 20 Our Associate Members 21 Our Partnerships 22 Our Volunteers 23 Our Funders 24 Contact Details Making A Difference Through Dialogue 3
OUR TEAM: Board Members Jeremy Fox Liaquat Ali Satwant Multani Larry Blance Alan Kay Madhu Jain Alan Anderson Marlene Finlayson Trishna Singh 4
OUR TEAM Maureen Sier Director Frances Hume Development Officer Else Kek Finance & Administration Mohamed Omar Refugee Integration Jamie Spurway Equalities Trainer Paul Daly Parliamentary Officer Lorna Douglas Publications Officer Michael Wilson Fundraising Officer Melissa Grossman Project Officer 5
OUR WORK: Scottish Interfaith Week 2015 CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Dialogue and over 70 creative events held across Scotland Exciting launch event held in Dynamic Earth in partnership with Edinburgh Inter-faith Association Scottish Minister for the Environment - Aileen McLeod MSP ceremonially receives eco -baton and religious communities pledge to take to the Climate Summit in Paris Partnership working enhanced with; local interfaith groups; faith communities, environmental groups and ethnic minority support organisations 6
RELIGION AND THE MEDIA OUR WORK: Scottish Interfaith Week 2016 Increasing number of quality local dialogue events held throughout Scottish Interfaith Week Exciting and inclusive launch event held in partnership with Renfrewshire Interfaith Group Schools competition launched on the theme of Religion and the Media Enhanced relationship with BBC Scotland and other media organisations Useful Media Guide published for local interfaith groups 7
OUR WORK: Members Dialogue Events At the core of our work are our members and friends dialogue events. Events have included; Scotland s Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis (October 2015) Caring for the Environment - Scottish Interfaith Week - launch event (November 2015) Annual Members Dialogue with the nonreligious (November 2015 & 2016) Holocaust Memorial Members Dialogue Don t Stand By (January 2016) Looking to the Future Interfaith in the years ahead (May 2016) Religion and Human Rights (October 2016) Religion and the Media (November 2016) 8
OUR WORK: Women s Dialogue Event Interfaith Scotland runs events for women of all faiths and none throughout Scotland. On 2015/16 these included the following: Seminar on the theme of Care for the Environment in Dunkeld in partnership with CEMVO Seminar on Health and Wellbeing for Body and Soul in Stirling Women s Interfaith Fair in partnership with Interfaith Glasgow to celebrate Refugee Festival Scotland Networking seminar for local women s interfaith groups in Scotland 9
OUR WORK: Engaging Young People Voluntary Action Fund (VAF) Interfaith Scotland was awarded 10 funding for one year to help recruit new volunteers to work alongside our staff in schools. We developed: 22 New interfaith dialogue workshop for pupils in S4 S6 We successfully recruited 18 new volunteers from Shetland to Dumfries. We designed a two-day training course. Our volunteers have assisted us in 27 workshops We have engaged with hundreds of pupils. Interfaith Scotland will continue to build on these new relationships. We are so proud of what our volunteers have helped us to achieve. Many have become good friends and will continue to volunteer with Interfaith Scotland in the future. 'In today's current political climate it's important to teach young people to value the diversity individuals of all faiths and none bring to society. That's why I decided to volunteer with the interfaith dialogue project. I really enjoyed the workshop I cofacilitated especially seeing the pupils engage with the material.
OUR WORK: Engaging Young People Interfaith Scotland runs a Faith Sharing project, bringing volunteers from different faiths into primary and secondary schools and youth groups to challenge the myths and stereotypes about different faiths. 15 volunteers ran workshops in 10 schools and youth groups as part of the Faith Sharing project Interfaith Scotland led two volunteers training days and an away day for volunteers Interfaith Scotland delivered talks for teachers via Education Scotland s Glow Meet Pupils from Lincluden Primary School engaged with the Religious Leaders of Scotland at Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre Interfaith Scotland is working on a project with East Renfrewshire Council bringing young people together from schools across East Renfrewshire to plan interfaith events 11
OUR WORK: The Interfaith Summit On 7 th November 2016 Interfaith Scotland was once again honored to facilitate an Interfaith Summit hosted by the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon. Faith leaders and community representatives, young people and interfaith activists spent two engaging hours discussing the theme of community cohesion with the First Minister and with Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities. Broad areas for discussion were faith community and interfaith support for young people, asylum seekers and refugees and communities impacted by the Brexit vote. It was clear that faith communities assist greatly in creating a cohesive Scotland. 12
OUR WORK: Supporting Local Interfaith Groups The grassroots local interfaith groups do important work throughout Scotland and Interfaith Scotland is committed to supporting them in all We couldn t that they do. Our work over the last year has included; have done Transitioning our local Glasgow Interfaith Project to a fully it without independent charity Interfaith Glasgow you Hosting a capacity building day for those whose paid work is in the field of interfaith dialogue Hosting an annual networking seminar for all local interfaith groups Publishing an annual newsletter highlighting interfaith work across Scotland Hosting a local interfaith group page on our website Publishing useful resources for local interfaith groups to use in their work Visiting local interfaith groups across Scotland to assist them where appropriate 13
OUR WORK: National Holocaust Memorial Day Don t Stand By Once again it was a pleasure for Interfaith Scotland to facilitate the holding of a befitting national memorial event for Holocaust Memorial 2016. Interfaith Scotland was again honoured to work with a dedicated team which included; Melissa Grossman from Interfaith Scotland; Alison Logan from Sense over Sectarianism; Carole Gillespie from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust; and Rhona Murray from the Scottish Government. This team also assisted in organising a further 15 HMD events surrounding the national memorial (details in the report below). Falkirk Council was our partner Local Authority for hosting the Civic reception and National Memorial event and we are grateful to the Provost of Falkirk Council for his support. 14
OUR WORK: National Holocaust Memorial Day The two international guests for the week (23-30 January) were Mukesh Kapila the former UN Ambassador to the Sudan and whistle blower on the genocide taking place in the west of Sudan in the Darfur region; and Inge Auerbachar a child survivor of the Terezin ghetto. Inge was one of only 100 children who survived from the 15,000 that entered the ghetto. Both guests were international speakers and both guests have published award winning books. Interfaith Scotland had a range of media coverage throughout the week, The Director had an opinion piece in Scotland on Sunday, BBC news online covered HMD, there was an article in the Jewish Chronicle, and STV news had an interview with Inge Auerbacher, broadcast in the evening news on HMD. 15
OUR WORK: Religious Leaders Interfaith Scotland is delighted to create opportunities for the Scottish Religious Leaders Forum to engage on matters of national importance. In May the Forum gathered at Samye Ling Buddhist Centre to discuss international conflict and its impact on faith communities in Scotland. They also had the opportunity to engage with local primary school children and with the Scottish Government Getting it Right for Every Child team. 16
OUR WORK: Civic Engagement Our Parliamentary & Media Officer has been working to ensure that Interfaith Scotland keeps our members informed of key societal issues. This has included publishing Parliamentary Newsletters, supporting the Director to give evidence at the Equalities & Human Rights Committee, working with our Publications Officer on a Media Guide and keeping MSP s informed of our work.s informed of our work. 17
OUR WORK: Training Religion and Belief Equality and Human Rights Awareness Training is an important area of our work and in the last year the following organisations have received training from Interfaith Scotland s Equality Training Officer; Church of Scotland Interfaith Glasgow Faith in Community Scotland Declarationfest (an event run by Mental Health Foundation) University of Highlands and Islands Perth College ScotRail and Network Rail South Lanarkshire College Very enlightening and informative. I have learned a lot about different religious and cultural beliefs Good length, excellent materials and excellent presentation from Jamie very engaging Great insights into an array of religions and beliefs. Loved the exercise with chronological symbols beliefs etc. and reminding everyone that religion is not a choice primarily 18
OUR MEMBERS Baha'i Baha'i Council for Scotland Buddhist Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre Triratna Buddhist Community (Scotland) Christian Church of Scotland United Reformed Church: Synod of Scotland Salvation Army Scotland Scottish Episcopal Church Scottish Roman Catholic Church Methodist Church in Scotland Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) The Iona Community Muslim Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society Ahl Al Bait Society Scotland Muslim Council of Scotland Muslim House Islamic Society of Britain Scottish Islamic and Cultural Centre UK Islamic Mission Pakistan Association Edinburgh & East Scotland Sikh Glasgow Gurdwara Council Sikh Sanjog Ramgarhia Association of Glasgow - Guru Nanak Sikh Temple Gurdwara Guru Granth Sahib Central Gurdwara Singh Sabha Scottish Sikh Women's Association Hindu The Hindu Temple of Scotland (South Indian Cultural Centre of Scotland Branch) Glasgow Hindu Mandir Jewish Scottish Council of Jewish Communities Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation Scottish Council of Synagogues Glasgow Jewish Representative Council 19
OUR ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Faith Community Associate Members Scottish Unitarian Association The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Brahma Kumaris Edinburgh Family Federation for World Peace and Unification Pagan Federation (Scotland) Local Inter Faith Groups Shetland Inter Faith Group Dundee Inter Faith Association Aberdeen Inter Faith Group Glasgow Sharing of Faiths Edinburgh Inter Faith Association Inverness Inter Faith Group Bilateral Dialogue Groups Council of Christians and Jews, West of Scotland Branch Religious Education Scottish Joint Committee on Religious and Moral Education Religious Education Movement in Scotland Religious Colleges of Education promoting multi-faith engagement Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education Making a Difference Through Dialogue 20
OUR PARTNERSHIPS The work of Interfaith Scotland would be so much harder without the support of those who work in partnership with us. Interfaith Scotland continues to work closely with; The Equality Unit of the Scottish Government; Education Scotland; BEMIS; CEMVO (Council for Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations); The Scottish Refugee Council; Local Interfaith Groups; Faith Communities; Joint Faiths Advisory Group on Criminal Justice; Police Scotland; The Inter Faith Network for the UK; BBC Scotland; Crown and Procurator Fiscal Services; Holocaust Memorial Day Trust; The Religious Leaders Forum and EHRC (Equality and Human Rights Commission). Interfaith Chaplaincy for Asylum Seekers and Refugees Interfaith Scotland facilitated a bi-monthly interfaith chaplaincy for vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees and worked with Migrant Help in partnership for this. 21
OUR VOLUNTEERS Interfaith Ambassadors Programme Sergio George Burns Nik Sier Srihari Vallabhajousal Mary Catherine O Reilly Gindhart Shanny Newall Ekaterina Anguelova Faith in Schools Programme Hayder Bathawab Jeremy Fox Nila Joshi Sukhcharan Kaur Jo Love Mohamed Omar Anne-Marie Begg Chris Begg Zoe Jacobs Office Administration Fiona Stack VAF Schools Volunteers Rebecca Fagan Gihan Ali Abida Farid Venus Carew Cecily Smith Radina McKay Nicolle Sturdevant Nik Sier Ekaterina Anguelova Linda Murray Felicity Keefe Event Volunteers Felicity Keefe Jean Grycuk Linda Murray Meg Wallace Haroon Ahmed Angelika Zaziemska Samantha Elliot Jean Urquhart Douglas Yates Rebecca Justen Linda Haggerston Stephen Haggerty Rae Brady Shelagh McKay Moira Searl Shanny Newall 22
OUR FUNDERS Interfaith Scotland is grateful to all our funders for supporting the work of interfaith dialogue and engagement at the national level. The funds have allowed us to support local interfaith groups across the country; to work with vulnerable refugees; to educate young people in the need for good relations; to launch and promote Scottish Interfaith Week; to publish useful interfaith resources; to bring faith communities at all levels together for dialogue; to promote religion and belief equality in Scotland and to ensure that Scotland commemorates fittingly the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. All of this and more is made possible by our funders and we thank you. The Scottish Government Faith Communities JTH Charitable Trust Westhill Holocaust Memorial Day Trust Interfaith Youth Trust Forestry Commission Scotland Foundation Scotland Healthier Scotland Engagement Fund 23
AGM Report Flemington House (2 nd Floor) 110 Flemington Street Glasgow G21 4BF Office Phone Number: 0141 558 0778 E-mail: admin@interfaithscotland.org Website: www.interfaithscotland.org www.facebook.com/interfaithscotland www.twitter.com/interfaithscot 2015-2016 24 Making A Difference Through Dialogue