Together

A bit of a mad dash from the city centre after leaving our young visitors from Blackpool at the Jain Centre. With our generic banner in tow, clutching a bunch of our leaflets on the eight communities represented on the Council of Faiths, I'm off to Beauchamp College, Oadby, this afternoon, to take part in its annual inter-faith event for students, parents, staff and members of the wider local community. This year it's all going on under the title, "Together". The college has an enviable record in promoting a broad, inclusive and welcoming outlook among its students and staff. It's probably the leading educational institution in the county in terms of inculcating a global perspective in all aspects of its life. I first learned about their good work in this field through our mutual involvement with the East Midlands Network on Global Perspectives in Schools (EMNGPS) and Global Education LeicesterShire (GELS). There are active, vibrant cultural and faith societies among the student body and I spend time talking with some of their members here. I also take the opportunity today to make positive contact with Oadby & Wigston Hindu Community and Oadby & Wigston Muslim Association, both of which are exhibiting here today. I can see no reason why members of these groups shouldn't be invited to join in the public activities of Leicester Council of Faiths, such as our Leicester Speaks dialogue events or the exhibition in Highcross during National Inter Faith Week. After all, several members of the Council of Faiths itself live in this part of the county, rather than in the city, and many members of these groups live or study in the city - giving them all a stake in the promotion of good relations among the faith communities in both places.

This event has been organised by Chris Swann, who played the major part in having Oadby recognised as a Fairtrade town. She has created a website for Oadby, which you can access here:
http://www.oadbyweb.org.uk/

Find out more about Beauchamp College:
http://www.beauchamp.leics.sch.uk/