SACRED SPACES: INSIDE OUT CONFERENCE AT JAIN CENTRE

At the Jain Centre, Oxford Street, Leicester, for a day-long conference sponsored by the Religious Education Council for England and Wales and the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom. It's an event for RE teachers and specialists to get together with representatives and workers from faith organisations to see how school visits to sacred spaces might be enhanced for the benefit of all involved, that the worth of learning outside the classroom might be more widely celebrated, embraced and supported.

Since we've been doing this at the local level recently (with two sessions of Sacred Spaces training at Leicester Cathedral in October 2010 - see blog entries for those occasions), it's appropriate that a national event on this topic should be held here. Attendees have come from as far afield as London, Manchester, Norwich and North Yorkshire.

The Council of Faiths exhibition is on show, giving those present the opportunity to see something of the diversity of faith communities in our city. Thanks to Rosemarie Fitton and Lalit Chhajed for putting it all up, while I conveniently had to duck outside to answer a phone call! This is the last time that Rosemarie will be shadowing me on her placement for her MA in Interreligious Relations at St Philips Centre for Study and Engagement in a Multi Faith Society (although I'm sure I haven't seen the last of her - nor is it the final time she'll be mentioned in this blog). By contrast, this is Lalit's first day as summer intern at the Jain Centre. He's come here through the same internship programme at De Montfort University through which we've recruited our intern, Rahat, who starts with us on Monday. Lalit also applied for our summer internship, but his clear and undoubted talents didn't quite fit with the post we'd advertised. Lalit is excited and inspired by social media; he's interested in helping faith organisations recognise and exploit its potential. He and I make tentative arrangements to get together soon and swap ideas about this common interest.

Sarah Lane Cawte (Chair of the Sacred Spaces Sector Partnership Group) introduces the day's programme and Smita Shah, President of Jain Samaj Europe and Treasurer of Leicester Council of Faiths, welcomes conference participants to the event, to Leicester and to the Jain Centre.

Janet Ingram, Education Officer for Leicester Diocese, kicks things off by talking about the "Faith Stories" format for visiting sacred spaces in Leicester, usually involving three different faith community places of worship and activity.

Putting that theory into practice, after a guided tour of the worship hall in the Jain centre, the group sets off for visits to the Nagarjuna Kampada Budddhist Centre in Guildhall Lane, followed by a stop at Leicester Cathedral before returning to the Jain Centre for a vegan lunch (without onions or mushrooms).

This is the time when everyone gets an opportunity to look over our exhibition and pick up some of our leaflets. I've also put out brochures for An Indian Summer, which features a strong contribution from Leicester Council of Faiths.

And in one of those recursive occlusions that social media presents so nicely, I've put the laptop on the table beside the leaflets, so that everyone can have a look at themselves (erm ...) looking at this (as it were).

After lunch, we hear short presentations by three attendees from different backgrounds about their experiences in relation to learning outside the classroom, through school visits: Alex Carlton, Education Officer at Southwark Cathedral; Jill Carr, Consultant for Leicester City Council on Religious Education, Community Cohesion, and Closing the Gap; Marilyn Bowles, Associate Tutor on the Primary PGCE course at Leicester University.

Next in the afternoon programme there are four workshops on offer:

Sharing spaces - developing collaborative learning days (Pam Elliott)

This workshop explores ways of working with other providers to maximise the learning potential of a school visit. Pam Elliott is a former Head of Religious Studies and has led the Education Department at Manchester Cathedral for the past five years. During this time she has worked with a range of Manchester institutions to create some unique learning experiences including "The Place of Peace", "A Shared Story", "Wealth and poverty Learning Days" and "Ho,man Hunt and Religious Art".

How to make meaningful contact with faith communities (Hannah Ashleigh)

This workshop considers the real value of visits and visitors and how to ensure that experiences gained from learning outside the classroom bring this personal dimension of faith to life. It looks are how to make the most of speakers who are invited to schools and how the use of stories, artifacts and photographs can make a real impact on learning about and from faith communities. Hannah Ashleigh is Education Policy and Projects Manager for the Board of Deputies of British Jews, where she is responsible for the planning, development and delivery and delivery of educational initiatives designed to promote the understanding of Jewish faith and heritage in schools and wider British society. She also works extensively in education policy, working with government and with colleagues from other faith groups on all issues that could affect faith schools and our diverse communities more broadly. she has a masters degree in Professional and Community Education and Development.

Developing an RE trail in your locality (Sharon Artley)

This workshop explores different themes for RE trails, how to set one up in your locality and look at available resources. Sharon Artley has been working in Religious Education for over 30 years - as a teacher, head of department and senior manager and (since 2003) as a consultant, lecturer, inspector and trainer. she has published articles, developed digital resources, lectured, run courses and delivered training, both locally and nationally and has a specific interest in the impact ICT can have on the delivery and outcomes of high quality RE. She is editor of the Sacred Space section of the REOnline website and jointly set up the RE trails website. she supports primary and secondary RE in the north of England and is currently working on three national RE projects. Sharon holds degrees in Theology and has a Fellowship in Holocaust Education with the Imperial War Museum.

Using a sacred space for learning and spiritual development (Diana Ives & Emma Anderton)

This workshop explores ways in which the Southwell Minster education team use the Cathedral with school groups to develop understanding of RE and give students the opportunity to gain a sense of spirituality for themselves. Diana Ives has lived in Nottingham for 20 years, teaching across the primary age range in schools in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. She lives with her husband and two daughters. Emma Anderton grew up in Nottingham and has many year's teaching experience within the primary age group. she has two grown up sons and lives in Newark with her husband and daughter. For the last seven and eight years respectively, Diana and Emma have worked as Education Officers at Southwell Minster, the Cathedral church of the Southwell and Nottingham Diocese, which hosts 9,000 schoolchildren (and 900 teachers and accompanying adults) every year, aged 18 months to Sixth Form. The role is diverse and involves family, cross-curricular and some adult learning, as well as providing RE experiences.

I'm grateful to Sarah for giving me a few minutes in the final plenary session to say something about the Council of Faiths exhibition and use of social media.

PARENT & CHILD MEDITATION AT NAGARJUNA KADAMPA BUDDHIST CENTRE

The Nagarjuna Kadampa Buddhist Centre on Guildhall Lane is having an open day. They had a very successful one when they first opened (see blog entry for Sunday 19 September 2010) and now, hardly five months later, here they are having another.

I bring Harry and Grace, straight from Phoenix Square Film & Digital Media Centre, where they've just been attending the first meeting of the Leicester Wave young reporters club.

I thought I'd take the kids here this afternoon so we could join in the "Parent and Child Meditation" session: a three-minute mindfulness exercise on the breath, the kind of thing that children could learn easily and do themselves without needing an adult on hand to help them. The people here are very good at finding innovative ways to encourage people to join in their meditation practice. Harry particularly likes the idea of this, saying that it's something you could do to calm yourself before an exam or before getting up to sing in front of people. There are five children and three parents in the Shrine Room where Trina leads the meditation - and follows it with a quick round of "Buddha Bingo"!

The centre is really busy today - there's barely a seat to be had in the World Peace Café. It's great to see how quickly they've settled into this city centre venue and how popular their place is becoming. Follow the Nagarjuna Kadampa Buddhist Centre on Facebook and on Twitter.

inter faith training for Connexions staff

While she was at our National Inter Faith Week exhibition in Highcross yesterday afternoon, Chogma (Education Outreach Officer at the Nagarjuna Kadampa Buddhist Centre) said, "I'll see you tomorrow at the training for Connexions." I replied, "What?" She didn't have much more information than that, but I couldn't let it lie. I phone Connexions around 1600 and eventually got put through to the member of staff organising what's virtually a day-long event for the organisation's staff. Jacqui Wittingham sounds pleased to hear from me and is glad to give me a table to display our wares at the event and give me a half hour slot in the programme to introduce the Council of Faiths.

I get the Council of Faiths original pop-up banner out of mothballs, with a handful of freebies and head to Halford House in Charles Street, where the training event is being held in the basement. Staff appear and disappear, fitting visits downstairs around breaks in their work schedules. Numbers vary from 20-odd at one point to hardly more than half a dozen at another.

When I arrive, they're in the middle of a presentation on diversity in African culture. This is followed by a staff member speaking about Ibiza 24/7, a Christian prayer mission working with holiday makers in Ibiza. then we're taught a gospel song. I'm on next, and make a pretty good case (if I do say so myself) that any training or awareness-raising activity in Leicester should involve the Council of Faiths. Then I have to dash back to Highcross in time for the visit to our exhibition by Sir Peter Soulsby MP.

SACRED SPACES TRAINING: 1

At Church House, next to Leicester Cathedral this morning, for the first of two "Sacred Spaces" training sessions. This has been organised by Leicester SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) and by Leicester Diocese, to help improve the quality of school visits to local places of worship, community centres or any other venues in the city considered to be "Sacred Spaces".

The session is led by Jill Carr (RE Adviser to Leicester City Council and Secretary of SACRE) and Janet Ingram (Religious Education Officer, Leicester Diocese). Before the session proper gets underway, Jill asks me to introduce myself, the Council of Faiths and our relevant services. Ajay Aggarwal (our Co-ordinator) is also here today, as is Smita Shah, President of Jain Samaj Europe (and our Treasurer). I'm always glad when members of the Council of Faiths (especially officers or directors) are able to join in an activity like this.

All eight religions on Leicester Council of Faiths are represented here today. Leicester Secular Society is also represented. Secular Hall (the first - and oldest continuously used - such meeting place in the world) should be more frequently visited by school parties. There are two dozen people attending (not including Jill and Janet) in a fairly small room together. Some are experienced hosts for visitors to their communities' sacred spaces; others are newcomers to this sort of thing. Some feel comfortable with this sort of work, others feel daunted by the idea of addressing groups of children. The session focuses on practical matters, emphasising good two-way communication: Janet talks about effective planning and organisation for schools visiting sacred spaces; Jill speaks on what the hosts at sacred spaces need to know from visiting schools before they come.

After an hour, we take a short step to the Cathedral. The photo above shows Janet speaking to the group before we enter the Cathedral, the one below when everyone is gathered in one of the chapels. In the Cathedral, Janet presents a couple of activities of the kind that would be done with children visiting in a school party. One of these activities is "Godly Play", telling the story of the Israelites' captivity in Egypt and their escape from bondage. This is played out on the floor before the font, using a blanket full of sand, wooden figures and two blue cloths to represent the sea. Although I found much of this captivating (as I tried to imagine how my eight-year old daughter would take to it) there were points which troubled some of the attendees: the appropriateness for young children of recounting the slaying of the firstborn in each Egyptian household by the Angel of Death; likewise, the smearing of blood on the doorposts by the Israelite families; the use of the phrase, "People of God"; and the celebration of the "People of God" after they had crossed the Red Sea (Jews don't follow this historical example in full as they don't wish to glory in the death of anyone, which is how that can come across). For some not born and brought up in the Abrahamic tradition, it may be hard to understand why, in a Christian setting, they're being told a story about Jews; and this may be even more confusing for children.

Two unexpected thing happen to me while we're in the Cathedral. I've written about these in a separate blog entry as they're out of keeping with what's being described here.

As we walk back to Church House, I enjoy a chat with David Hurwich from the Leicester Orthodox Jewish Congregation, who has some Scots family history. And for those who haven't seen it before, we pass by the recently opened Nagarjuna Makpada Buddhist Centre (the next day, I'm told that a load of the people from our training session went over there for lunch!)

This is a very useful session: fairly low-key, positive, non-stressful. As it ends, Ajay and I hand out our set of introductory leaflets to those who don't already have a copy. We get to keep our "generic" banner up in the reception area of Church House till I come back to help out at the second session tomorrow.

BIFFY (1)

Playing host today to a visit from members of BIFFY (Blackpool Inter-Faith Forum for Youth). This is a group of a dozen girls (aged 12-15) with three support workers, who've been active in Blackpool for the past few years, raising awareness of different faiths, challenging prejudice and embracing diversity. They've been given some funding for a weekend away and they've chosen to come to Leicester! Anna Elgee, in charge of the group, phoned me about a week ago and asked if I could organise some visits and activities for them while they're here.

The group arrives by train early afternoon; I meet them at the Premier Inn at 1430 and lead them down into the city centre. Our first stop is at the Dark Side cafe, in Cank Street, a popular spot with some of Leicester's Pagans, Wiccans, Goths and Emos. I ask Lucie Belikova, the manager there, to say a little bit to the group about who uses the place and what goes on there. They've recently renovated the cellar, which they're intending to use for writing events, live music and so on, so we nip downstairs for a quick look.

Next we pop into the Cathedral, where the pledge to stand together against extremism, signed by followers of different faiths (and those who follow none) is on display.

Then, to the Nagarjuna Buddhist Centre, where they are treated to a drink and some cake, as well as a short meditation session and talk from Chogma, Education Officer at the Centre. During a brief Q&A, Chogma says that the day she put her hair-straighteners in the bin was the greatest moment of liberation she'd felt in her life.

From there, we head out to Belgrave Road. The girls want to buy saris, jewellery and other Indian regalia. The evening concludes with a meal together in Sokani's vegetarian restaurant.

Nagarjuna Buddhist Centre revisited

A brief meeting at Nagarjuna Buddhist Centre early this afternoon with Kadam Chris Heyes (Resident Teacher) and Chogma (Education Officer). We're following up on initial contact made yesterday at the Centre's Open Day. We spoke about common interests and ways in which their community and the Council of Faiths might be able to work alongside each other. I show them the blog entry I wrote yesterday about their Open Day; they're pleased with it, though I have to correct a few misspelled names! I look forward to adding some photos to that entry too.

Find out more about Nagarjuna Kampada Buddhist Centre in Leicester:
http://www.meditateinleicester.org/