PLEA AS MORE AMBULANCES HEAD FOR STRIFE-TORN SYRIA

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Mohammed Elhadad, left, Leicester project leader for the UK Arabic Society, with other ambulance convoy volunteers

Pleas as more ambulances head for strife-torn Syria

by Tom Mack

Charities providing ambulances and medical equipment to war-torn Syria are hoping to get more support from Leicestershire.

UK charities have been working with the Red Crescent to deliver supplies to Syria since the civil war started there two years ago.

Next month, volunteers from Leicester will be joining a convoy delivering 15 more ambulances, bought with money raised by the UK Arabic Society and the Al Fatiha charity.

On Saturday, the charities will also be holding a fund-raising fun day in Highfields, Leicester, followed by a bucket collection at Pak Foods, in Chesterfield Road, Evington, on the following weekend.

Mohamed Elhaddad, Leicester project leader for the UK Arabic Society, will be leading the convoy.

He said: "It's a long, 3,000-mile trip through France, Italy, Greece and Turkey and it takes about seven days to get there.

"We sleep and cook in our vehicles to save money and along the way people sometimes open up community centres and other places for us to stay.

"There is a growing need for ambulances in Syria. We know that two parties are killing each other and our duty is to help the innocent people caught up in the middle of it.

"A lot of children are being hurt."

The UK Arabic Society first got involved with the Red Crescent in August last year and the first convoy took two ambulances.

Each ambulance costs about £5,000 second-hand from NHS trusts, plus about £3,000 more for equipment and the journey itself.

About £10,000 has been raised in Leicestershire since then, but the charities are planning to make much more in the coming months.The fund-raising day will be held on Saturday, between 11am and 4pm, at Uplands Primary School, in Melbourne Road.

Abdul Majid, 24, of Highfields, a volunteer for the Al Fatiha charity, will be joining the convoy in May.

He said: "I've done convoys to Gaza in the past as well and experienced living in that war zone, but this will be my first trip to Syria.

"We need to do whatever we can because what's happening to ordinary people there is unimaginable.

"A lot of people want to help us and it's non-Muslims as well as Muslims who support us."

Leicester's Lord Mayor, Councillor Abdul Osman, will be attending Saturday's event.

He said: "I think it's a very worthy cause. They've done a lot of work nationally and sent a lot of ambulances over to Syria and I understand they want to raise more money in Leicester.

"I wish them well and I'm sure there will be a lot of support from the generous people in this city."

To make a donation to the UK Arabic Society transfer money to the "UK Arabic Society", sort code 30-92-13, account number 0355 3576.

For more information, e-mail: info@ukarabicsociety.org.uk

WHAT MAKES A GOOD SACRE MEMBER?

Going through the papers for the last SACRE meeting (at Uplands Primary, Tuesday 27 September), I come upon this set of questions fort a workshop activity. I thought it would be interesting to post it on the blog in its own right, rather than risk it being buried in a report on the last SACRE meeting . Those attending that meeting were asked to rank our top five from the list. None of us got anywhere near that in the time allowed.

What makes a good SACRE member?

In your pairs or groups consider how you would rate each of these characteristics of a good SACRE member and agree on a ranking for them, the most important first and the least significant last, discarding any that you think are inappropriate.

Our group got no farther than attempting to take out those points that would work for being a good member of just about anything - and trying to find what would be distinctive to SACRE. I wonder how you'd fare if you did the same, faithful reader - or if you'd have your own effective approach to the task.

1. A good SACRE member is open to all views and ideas
2. A good SACRE member seeks to understand the views of other members, rather than simply promoting his / her own agenda
3. A good SACRE member is willing to contribute to discussions
4. A good SACRE member has a clear understanding of his or her SACRE role
5. A good SACRE member is committed to SCRE meetings
6. A good SACRE member is well informed
7. A good SACRE member can work harmoniously with other members
8. A good SACRE member has time to spend in school
9. A good SACRE member listens more than he or she speaks
10. A good SACRE member is keen and able to communicate with teachers and pupils
11. A good SACRE member takes an active participative approach, following lines of enquiry of personal interest
12. A good SACRE member supports and encourages local schools to aspire to high standards in RE and collective worship
13. A good SACRE member is someone who has faith in her or himself
14. A good SACRE member shows dedication to pupils’ learning
15. A good SACRE member is confident about everything to do with RE and Collective Worship in schools
16. A good SACRE member takes an active part in the meeting
17. A good SACRE member is able to offer relevant experiences
18. A good SACRE member understands the positive value of RE and Collective Worship in schools
19. A good SACRE member has a sound knowledge of the relevant law
20. A good SACRE member is aware of local faith communities
21. A good SACRE member has the ability and confidence to question perceived wisdom (I think that should be “received wisdom”)
22. A good SACRE member is aware of the key RE and Collective Worship issues facing schools
23. A good SACRE member is a bridge between SACRE and local school

SACRE AT UPLANDS JUNIOR SCHOOL

At Uplands Junior School, Melbourne Road, Highfields, this afternoon for the scheduled meeting of Leicester SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education).

We see the results to date of a survey circulated around Leicester schools asking if they would be interested in being supported by SACRE – and, if so, what form they’d like that support to take. We have written responses from 19 schools:

• Beaumont Lodge Primary School
• Catherine Junior School
• Charnwood Primary School
• Evington Valley Primary School
• Glebelands Primary School
• Humberstone Junior School
• Inglehurst Junior School
• Lancaster Boys
• Mayflower Primary School
• Merrydale Infant School
• Mowmacre Hill Primary School
• Northfield House
• Overdale Infant School
• Queensmead C.P. School
• Rowlatts Hill Primary School
• Scraptoft Valley Primary School
• St Barnabas C.E. Primary School
• Stokes Wood Primary School
• Willowbank Children’s Hospital School at Leicester Royal Infirmary

Given the recent discussion in the Leicester Mercury about collective worship in local schools (see blogs passim), it’s appropriate that we’re presented here with a draft statement from SACRE, clarifying matters. I’m going to make that a separate blog entry in its own right: it’s too important to allow it to be buried here. Similarly, I’ve posted a separate blog entry based on a handout distributed at this meeting about the Equality Act 2010 and its impact on schools, as well as a workshop task on what makes a good SACRE member.

Under Any Other Business at the end of the meeting, I’m able to share information about forthcoming activities and events:

• Christians Aware Course on the Psalms at Christchurch;
• Philosophy Panel at St Paul’s;
• “Speedfaithing” at Phoenix Square during Leicester Speaks;
• Inter Faith Week exhibition at Highcross;
• Faiths Film Festival at Phoenix Square;
• Favourite Faith Photo exhibition at Leicester People’s Photographic Gallery.