WORLD FAITHS ADVISORY GROUP AT LEICESTER UNIVERSITY

 

At the University of Leicester's Chaplaincy Centre (The Gatehouse, University Road) for a meeting of the World Faiths Advisory Group (WFAG). Present today are Dr Stephen Forster (Coordinating Chaplain), Dr Ian Snaith (Chair, WFAG), Clive Sutton (Quaker contact, WFAG), Clare Taylor (Head of Student Welfare Service).

Most of our discussion relates to the upcoming Freshers Week and International Students Fair. The Council of Faiths will be taking part in the latter but not the former, as exhibitors have to pay a rather prohibitive amount per diem to take part in Freshers Week. The International Chaplaincy has asked to use our exhibition banners for three days in the International Students Fair (Monday 26 - Wednesday 28 October). They also want to use them for another three days (Wednesday 12 - Friday 14 October) as part of activities on campus to mark their 20th anniversary, an occasion which goes under the title, "Striding in the Spirit". The International Chaplaincy will be having a marquee on campus and hosting a number of activities in there and other sites nearby.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FAIR AT LEICESTER UNIVERSITY

At the University of Leicester this afternoon, for its International Student Fair. This is being held in the new O2 Academy in the Percy Gee Building (at the Students' Union). Julie-Ann Heath, from the University's International Chaplaincy, has asked me to bring all nine banners in our exhibition.

In terms of our reason for being here, we're sort of piggybacking on to the Chaplaincy's display, but in terms of the visuals, our banners rather dominate things. But they are not overwhelming, which I feared was the case when we used the whole exhibition at the Leicestershire Cares event at the start of this month (see blog entry, Thursday 2 September). In fact, the banners look bloomin' lovely here today!

As well as providing information about the diverse faith communities in Leicester, we're offering a more personal service today, by helping students newly arrived in the city to find an appropriate community with which to become involved. I've brought with me our list of places of worship in Leicester and it helps us find the right places for a score or so students from abroad. As well as those looking for the right church, gurdwarara, mandir or mosque, there's one student who is hoping to make contact with any local Pagans. She's sure I won't be able to help her but I'm delighted to be able to point her in the direction of the Dark Side cafe on Cank Street, where she'll be able to meet all the Pagans and Wiccans she could want. Mustn't forget to mention that there are also a (smaller) number of students asking how they might contact local Buddhist or Jain communities.

Some of the folk from the Chaplaincy are so impressed with the Council of Faiths display that they ask if I can bring it back on Monday, for the start of Freshers' Fair. I'd gladly do that, but Julie-Ann isn't sure there will be room this time to accommodate everything. She'll figure it out and let me know by Monday morning.