INTER FAITH WEEK 2010: DAY 7

This morning I'm off to teach a session of my Open University tutorial group at Nottingham Trent University (E301: "The Art of English" a third - honours - level linguistics course, if you'd like to look it up, faithful reader). At the train station, I bump into Mike Burden and Allan Hayes of Leicester Secular society, who are on their way to Birmingham for a regional meeting of the British Humanist Association. We talk for a few minutes about the event at South Leicestershire College, in South Wigston, earlier this week. Mike had been there and I'd heard reports about it from a few others who were also in attendance. "What a grim affair that was," was how he summed it up. I responded by saying that's what happens when the Council of Faiths isn't involved. We, as an institution - and I personally - wouldn't have stood for the kind of thing that was said to have been going on there that day. I don't mean we'd have been confrontational about it - but I'm sure we'd have seen that something would have been done.

Right-oh: it's the final day of our exhibition for National Inter Faith Week. I'm unable to get to Highcross till 1400. No dallying around Nottingham in Fopp today. When I do arrive, I'm delighted by what I see. Being Saturday afternoon and getting so close to Christmas, it's very busy of course, and that also means more people stopping and talking at the display. The team on duty right now is doing a great job: Ramesh Mashru (from Swaminarayan Mission) rock solid and unflappable, standing at one end of the exhibition as if commanding the tiller of a boat; Stephanie Maud (from Glenfield Bahá'ís and Chair of Leicester SACRE - the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) and her daughter Anya chatting away amiably with members of the public; Sughra Ahmed (from the Islamic Society of Britain) in the aisles, pressing our flyer upon shoppers. Strictly speaking, we're not doing that - but Sughra is making such a fine job of it, that I can only encourage her in her efforts.

From 1600 to 1800, it's my (official) turn on the display, along with Rizwan Afzal and Riyaz Laher from the Federation of Muslim Organisations (FMO). They're in the photo below.

Late in the afternoon, there's a surprise visitor on the stall: my younger son Harry. Since I'm not expecting him, I do a double-take when I turn around and see him picking off some leaflets. He's dropped by with his mum and step-dad on their way to see the new Harry Potter in the Showcase cinema, which is part of the Highcross complex.

Oops! I've made a mistake about closing time. We have to pack up and be off the premises for 1900. I thought we had another hour. Penny Jones and Stephen Woodward are the final volunteers of the week; they get to do only three-quarters of an hour. Still nice to have them though (that's them in the photo below). And they put a fews nice comments into the reflective journal.

With half an hour to go, Alastair and Rabia arrive to help me dismantle the exhibition, pack it into the drum stands and wheel it all back to Pilgrim House. As we approach through Town Hall Square, I see the front door wedged open and hear unusual sounds within. As we enter the building, there's a meeting in progress of an African heritage, black-led meeting for praise and worship: loud and vibrant, in contrast to the chilly stillness outside.

Here are the reflective journal entries made by the volunteer helpers on this final day:

"Not a great deal of interest this morning - perhaps the snow has frozen people into focusing on Xmas shopping! My earlier shift in the week brought more interest and people took away leaflets and contact details. People do look though so it is still a good way of engaging the public's attention. It is a shame more people from the Leicester Council of Faiths are not actively involved - being out there and meeting the public is an excellent way of engaging in a multi-faith society. Today found myself with the same people as last year!"

"I volunteered on the Leicester Council of Faiths' Inter Faith Week stall for a couple of hours. Although it's indoors my fingers are freezing cold as I write this so please excuse the poor handwriting! I found most people who passed by the stall seemed indifferent to religion and others were very interested because their children were learning / teaching religion or because they belonged to a faith and wanted to learn more. I spent most of my time saying 'hello' to passers by who at times replied with the same and at other times even asked how I was! A handful of people seemed to react in a negative way which is quite sad really. Having undergone this experience I now value much more the time and energy volunteers give at stalls, especially in the winter! Well done and keep up the spirits, Leicester Council of Faiths!"

"I think many people who passed read the information but seemed hesitant to approach for a leaflet. It was really amazing to watch people's faces as the read the various quotes and I think it was an unforgettable experience. The hours passed quickly. Thank you."

"Lots of people glance at it and read the display. We had some lovely encounters today, not least with fellow volunteers! A privilege to be part of it."

"As usual it is very nice to see lots of people passing by the exhibition. In reality, what we present within the restricted space is quite excellent and informative too. In order to attract more people to the exhibition I suggest if we can use some audiovisual devices if allowed or at least some volunteers holding placards with messages reading, 'Come and visit our exhibition, we are promoting trust, understanding and cooperation among the various faiths of the city.' Those really interested would spare some time and come and visit the exhibition when we can have dialogue with them about the faith topics. Keep up the spirit."

"It was good to take part, albeit very briefly and at the the end and to meet other volunteers. The displays were very colourful and literature to give out good introductions. Wondered if a higher level banner could be incorporated so the 'side on' view had an overall title. Many thanks for the hard work!"

My thanks to all those who gave their time and energy on the exhibition and to those who helped put it up or take it down: Rizwan Afzal, Sughra Ahmed, Shakil Amanji, Alastair Ballentyne, Grace Ballentyne, Samantha Birnie, Sonya Brown, Jill Carr, Ted Cassidy, Ramila Chauhan, Irfan Chhatbar, Chogma, Kevin Commons, Minou Cortazzi, Celia Cox, Ian Davies, Kiriti Doshi, Beverley Farrand, Amanda Fitton, Rosemarie Fitton, Stephen Foster, Tara Gatherer, Ian Grayling, Rita Green, Julie-Ann Heath, Angela Jagger, Penny Jones, Charlotte Jordan, Kelly Jussab, Suzanne Kelly, Marion Kennedy, Sarfraz Khan, Susthama Marion Kim, Riyaz Laher, Jan MacDonald, Scott MacDonald, Aramesh Mahboubi, Rabia Mahmood, Ramesh Majithia, Ramesh Mashru, Anya Maud, Stephanie Maud, Barry Naylor, Tony Nelson, Louise Perrier, Smita Shah, Noel Singh, Manish Sood, Manjula Sood, Carol Sourbutts, Yasmin Surti, Clive Sutton, Gursharan Thandi, Stephen Thompson, Natasha Trevadi, Simon Williams, Arthur Winner, Barbara Winner, Susan Woodward.

National Inter Faith Week: day 6

First on the display this morning, Leicester City Councillor Wayne Naylor, Ian Davies (Community Organiser in Braunstone) and Jill Carr (RE Adviser, Leicester City Council and Secretary of SACRE) - as seen l-r in the photo above.

The lunchtime slot (1200-1400) is taken by Barbara and Arthur Winner (Leicester Bahá'ís) and Noel Singh (Policy Officer for Community Cohesion, Leicestershire County Council) as seen l-r in the photo below.

It's nice to see Charlotte and Louise again. They'd been on the stall earlier in the week and it was a pleasure to welcome them back and interesting to hear their reflections after they'd been away for a couple of days.

Just before 1800, I hear that a crew from BBC East Midlands Today is in Highcross, setting up to do a live outside broadcast. I set off to find them and let them know of our presence. It doesn't take me long as they're not far away, just at the top of the escalator leading in to John Lewis, beside a Santa's North Pole display. I recognise reporter Helen Astle. When it looks like they're set up and just killing time, I introduce myself to the producer. Of course I'm not expecting them to put us on live, but I do bend his ear about possibly recording a minute or so with us afterward. He tells me that they have a tight schedule and would be dashing off as soon as they'd finished filming, but that he'd take my contact details back to his offices. Well, that's fair enough - I'm not going to gatecrash the broadcast (even I know my limits, faithful reader!)

I'm pleasantly surprised though when, about half an hour later, he pays a visit to our exhibition, compliments us on it and gives a few tips about what we would have to do to get it featured on East Midlands Today if we were to put this on again. We'd need to have an event, something visual and exciting - a multicultural group of children singing and dancing would be a surefire bet by the sound of it.

A few things to comment on from the collection of entries in the reflective journal written by those helping out on the stand, which I've transcribed below. That business of people quickly scanning round the display just to make sure their faith is mentioned was commonplace. Most did this for Christianity, but it wasn't the only one. The other is the piece about the event at South Leicestershire College. Not all inter faith encounters are positive or happy. I heard more in the days to come about this one (it's mentioned again in the entry for tomorrow).

"Footfall was huge! Lots of surreptitious glances. We had a few good conversations and gave away several keyrings. One lady stopped to check there was a banner for Christianity as she was concerned that sometimes Christianity is not properly represented. A pity we haven't got a supply of biscuits and coffee; after two hours I'm really quite cold and hungry!"

"Strange how people see the exhibition! Some seem to think you're 'selling' something! One comment from someone today was 'Just making sure Christianity is there!' I enquired further and the person obviously has some sort of agenda - other religions used as a political tool! Enjoyed the cold November day standing on cold marble floors. Good experience."

"What a great way to reach out to people, in what seems to be the new place to worship, the shopping mall. Most people just pass by, some glance at the display, but then a few do stop and ask questions."

"A very pleasurable experience, have met some wonderful people - the other volunteers as well as the public. Had a very warming discussion ten minutes ago with a young man who wasn't sure he was religious, but was looking forward to his journey of discovery! Have enjoyed my two 'shifts' this week. Well done again George & Leicester Council of Faiths!"

"One visitor said, 'The stand is more important than all the shops around it.' This is such a great opportunity to engage our community with the many faiths around it."

"At a very different event in South Leicestershire College for Inter Faith Week on Thursday. My fellow student and I witnessed something which we found quite alarming. The morning was designed so that the students of the college could come and talk to members of different faith communities and learn about them. From the perspective of students that study many religions it was fantastic to see Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam and Humanism coming together to inform but accept other religions. However, we were alarmed to see several members from the Christian stand repeatedly hassling the man from the Jewish stand. They tried to force their ideas upon the man by telling him he was wrong and that if he took and read the New Testament they were handing out a veil would be lifted from his eyes and he would see the truth in Christianity. This was not the point of the morning or of Inter Faith Week and we were very disappointed to see this happen. The Jewish man remained gracious throughout but he should not have had to deal with it."

"I valued the opportunity to engage with the people and had two interesting encounters. The first led to some discussion about the quality of religious education in Leicester secondary schools with a Muslim man in his late 20s, the second with a man from Switzerland (or Sweden?) here on a visit to investigate other faith networks in the UK. As I experienced last year when there are opportunities for dialogue with people it makes the time with the stand seem worthwhile. However mostly passers by appear little interested in taking information or talking to us. Despite this I am happy to be involved and glad to support Leicester Council of Faiths."

"I echo what was said by [the contributor immediately above] and would like to add that the man from Sweden (?) spoke of a Catholic church and a mosque to be in one building (I think that was amazing!). The other person who stopped said he was a pupil at Moat Community College about 18 years ago and in RE they were taught about Christianity and Islam but he'd have liked to learn about other religions too. Always a pleasure to do something for the unity of humankind!"