LEICESTER PEOPLE'S PHOTOGRAPHIC GALLERY PREVIEW

A few minutes after leaving Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living, where I'd been attending the regular monthly Core Partners meeting of the Regional Equality and Diversity Partnership, I stop at the top of King Street, to put on my coat. As I do so, I hear someone calling my name. A few yards down Wellington Street, sitting on the low windowsill outside the old record lending library, Ian Davies and Chris Minter are waving to me. Chris is Head of Leicester Adult Skills and Learning Service (LASALS). Ian is a community activist and photographer whom I got to know through CreativeCoffee Club at Phoenix Square.

As I cross Wellington Street toward them, they stand up and beckon me into the building, through the open fire exit door and up the stairs inside. The old Central Lending Library is in the final stages of conversion into a new venue for community education and cultural use. Its main feature in this new form will be the Leicester Peoples Photographic Gallery. So here I am getting a sneaky peek at the new gallery space and some of the pictures that will feature in the opening exhibit there. Ian's devoted himself to this project over the last several months and his hard work is clearly paying off. It's two weeks till the building opens to the public, but already it's an impressive sight. It's going to be a very attractive and busy venue, I've no doubt about that.

There's an offer of a public display of photographs for Leicester Council of Faiths during National Inter Faith Week in November. This is something I'm hoping to persuade our Board of Directors to get behind as part of the celebration of the Council of Faiths 25th anniversary.

I've joined the Leicester People's Photographic Gallery with a personal subscription of only £5 per year (which brings a number of benefits). Ian thinks I'm member No. 22.

I'd have liked to have stayed longer and had more of a look around, but I'm supposed to be at the Quaker Meeting House in just a quarter of an hour.

I hope that Ian can maker it to CreativeCoffee Club tomorrow morning. If he does, I'll give him the chance to say a bit about the Gallery .

The Leicester People's Photographic Gallery is the beneficiary of generous sponsorship and support from Jon E. Wright & Company, the long-established and well-respected digital printing business. And the Gallery has a well-subscribed Facebook page.

In the photo above, Ian is in the foreground, Chris is in the background.

REDP CORE PARTNERS MEETING

This morning we have the monthly meeting of REDP's Core Partners. Apart from Leicester Council of Faiths, the Core Partners are:

• Leicester Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Centre
• Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living
• The Race Equality Centre

Our normal meeting place is Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living, the "accountable body" for this project.

The regular Core Partners meeting is normally a fixed point in my monthly calendar. I’ve only missed a couple since REDP began - and then only under abnormal circumstances. I did miss the last of these meetings though (Tuesday 2 August) because I was helping run the Council of Faiths stall at the pre-launch event for Leicester Speaks 2011 in Gallowtree Gate. I had the kids with me that day and it was a good setting for them to dash about on their scooters - as you'll see them do, faithful reader, if you visit the video interview with me on YouTube.

That was such a lovely day. Warm and sunny, it seemed the very height of summer. Hard to imagine it was only one month ago. It's blowing a gale today.

The Core Partners meeting goes until till 1330. Soon after that, we're joined by members of REDP's working group, which is charged with getting its sleeves rolled up and doing most of the actual work between meetings of the Core Partners. I'm the only member of the Core Partners who is also on the working group.

We're still discussing some important aspects of our ongoing work when I have to leave LCIL at 1430, to head on up to the Quaker Meeting House on Queens Road. I have my next meeting of the day there in half an hour.

LEICESTER'S HINDU SCHOOL IS A BEACON, SAYS EDUCATION SECRETARY MICHAEL GOVE

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Leicester's Hindu school is a beacon, says Education Secretary Michael Gove 

By Joseph Watts, Parliamentary Correspondent 

Education Secretary Michael Gove praised a state-funded Hindu school as "a beacon" today, commending its founders' goal of helping children become "model British citizens". 

Mr Gove said the opening of Krishna Avanti School, in Evington, Leicester, demonstrated the extent to which Hindus had integrated into British society. 

He said: "I see Krishna Avanti School as a beacon and everything that I've heard about it makes me think that it's a fantastic option. 

"I know that there have been people who have been working with the school from north London who are Christian, Jewish and Hindu and I think that reflects the fact that British Hindus are an immensely well-integrated section of our society and are making fantastic accomplishments. 

"As well as recognising what is special and distinctive and cherishable about British Indian culture, it's also the case that the people behind this school want to make sure the children grow up as model British citizens." 

The school, which aims to have an eventual capacity of 420 pupils, opened on Thursday. 

Children of all faiths can attend the school, which currently has one Sikh and one Muslim pupil, though its first intake is predominantly Hindu. 

Head teacher Christopher Spall is a Christian. 

Pradip Gajjar, chairman of governors said: "I think Mr Gove captures our ethos very well. 

"Our whole objective is to use the backdrop of the national curriculum to provide educational excellence through academic achievement. 

"But we also want to focus on the character of the children and their spiritual experience." 

Free schools were introduced by the Government. They are state funded but outside local authority control. 

Any educational, community, faith or charity group can apply for funding to set up a school. Krishna Avanti was among the first 24 to open in the UK this month. 

Opponents have argued that by promoting faith schools the Government could encourage segregation or allow extremism to take root.

Mr Gove said: "We have been clear that faith schools must have admissions rules which mean they can only select 50 per cent of their students on the basis of their faith. 

"Secondly, we've been very clear that any extremist or fundamentalist organisation should not be allowed to open a school. 

"Thirdly, faith schools run by mainstream representatives of mainstream faiths are a force for good. 

"Church of England, Roman Catholic and Jewish schools have been part of the educational fabric for 100 years and they are hugely popular. 

"I don't see any reason why you can't have Sikh, Hindu and Muslim schools that are also exemplary. 

"If any school is proposed by anyone with a separatist agenda or taken over by anyone that's got a separatist agenda, we'll come down on them like a ton of bricks."

THE WAR BETWEEN SCIENCE AND RELIGION

This cartoon (by Tom Gauld) appears in the Review section of today's Guardian:

THIS WEEK'S VISITORS (801)

Regular update on the number of pageviews received from different parts of the world in the week just ending.

1. United Kingdom 314
2. United States 157
3. Ireland 72
4. France 61
5. Ukraine 45
6. Germany 36
7. Russia 35
8. Netherlands 31
9. Romania 29
10. Canada 22

This week's total: 801 (last week's: 797). These are aggregates of figures from the top ten countries only. Blogger's stats software doesn't show me numbers of pageviews below the tenth-ranking country.

The world map at the top of this post is the graphic that I see on the stats page. The darker the green, the more pageviews from that country. I can see different versions of this map for "now" (whenever that is), today, this week, this month and "all time" (which seems to mean the last 12 months). They're updated each time I look at that them.

SOULSBY VISITS SECULAR HALL

This article appear in today's Leicester Mercury:

Soulsby visits Secular Hall

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby visited Leicester's Secular Hall on Humberstone Gate on Wednesday, August 26.

The Leicester Secular Society is celebrating two important anniversaries this year – the hall is 130 years old and it is 160 years since the society was formed, making it the oldest secular society in the world.

An important part of the city's cultural heritage, the Secular Hall has hosted lectures from historic figures including William Morris, George Bernard Shaw and Bertrand Russell.

However, the hall is in need of significant modernisation including the installation of a lift, new kitchens, new toilet facilities and sound insulation between floors if it is to be brought up to contemporary standards.

During his visit, Sir Peter was shown around the premises and discussed plans for the hall's regeneration with members of the society.

Sir Peter said: "It's been really good to hear from the society members about the condition of the hall and to see it for myself. It's a wonderful space and deserves to be brought back to top-quality condition."

Dr Emma Chung, the first female president in the society's history, said: "I was really thrilled to see Sir Peter shares our enthusiasm for the beauty of Secular Hall and was very positive about wanting to preserve it.

"The hall is a unique building and a real hidden gem in the centre of Leicester."

The Leicester Secular Society is hosting an English Heritage Open Day on September 11 when members of the public will be able to look around the Hall and learn all about the history of the society.

COUNCIL OF FAITHS BOARD MEETING

Meeting of the Board of Directors of Leicester Council of Faiths this evening at the Welcome Centre, Bishop Street, Town Hall Square. Of our eight member faith communities, five are represented in this meeting (Bahá'í, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim). Among topics discussed this evening: our annual Peace Pilgrimage coach tour of selected places of worship around Leicester; our 25th anniversary; our Annual General Meeting (the date for which is fixed this evening on 11 October, although we haven't agreed a venue or guest speaker); Holocaust Memorial Day 2012.

ENGAGING WITH LEICESTER'S FAITH COMMUNITIES: HINDUS

Meeting in the Welcome Centre this afternoon of a small working group, progressing the latest booklet in the series, "Engaging with Faith Communities in Leicester". These are being produced under the aegis of Leicester SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education). This booklet, the fourth in the series is on the city's Hindus. The earlier booklets (on Sikhs, Muslims and Christians) are virtually finished.

While I wouldn't call the Hindu booklet "nearly finished", I would say that with the good will that characterises the collective approach to this series of booklets, it's not far off it. An important byproduct of the process is the collaborative network that has spread pretty wide to take in all the faith communities, schools and other stakeholders involved. The creative process is valuable, as is the product created.

In the photo, some members of the working group dealing with the Hindu booklet (left to right): Jill Carr, Secretary of SACRE; Kishan Devani, teacher and education consultant; Hiten Bhatt, Director of Be Great Training & Development Ltd; Dr Angela Jagger, Associate Lecturer in Religious Studies with the Open University and member of Leicester Council of Faiths.

FINAL TOUCHES PUT TO LEICESTER'S FIRST FREE SCHOOL

From today's Leicester Mercury:

Final touches put to Leicester's first free school 

By Dan Martin 

From planning lessons to fixing locks on to the toilet doors, staff at Leicester's first free school have been busily preparing for the arrival of its pupils.

Krishna Avanti School, in Evington, was set to open its doors today and welcome 37 excited pupils who will make up its first two reception classes. 

It is one of the first 24 free schools to open across the country this month. 

Principal Christopher Spall, who will take charge of the Hindu faith school, said: "We've been working all the hours available to get the place ready. 

"It has been hard but enjoyable and we are very excited. 

"I've been back and forth to B&Q to get bits and bobs and my power drill has seen a lot of action. 

"We want everything to be just right for the children and I am really grateful to the teachers for all their efforts." 

Free schools are state funded but outside the control of local education authorities. 

On Monday, children and parents were invited to an orientation day and lunch at the five-acre campus, to get their first proper glimpse of the classrooms and meet the first four teachers, teaching assistants, administrators and catering staff. 

Mr Spall, who will ask the pupils to call him Mr Christopher, said: "It went really well but we'd only got our teaching resources 12 hours beforehand so it's been all hands to the pump." 

Teacher Deepti Shah, 27, who has moved from Queensmead Community Primary, in Braunstone, said: "I'm excited and a little bit nervous. 

"I was attracted to this place by the faith and nurture approach which I think will be great for the kids." 

The Krishna Avanti School is open to children of all faiths and will have one Sikh and one Muslim pupil, though its first intake will be predominantly Hindu. 

Project director Pradip Gajjar said: "There are principles from the Hindu faith that will really benefit children, such as having healthy vegetarian food, doing yoga and meditation. 

"People will be watching us to see how we do as we are the city's first free school but we do not feel pressure. We will do very well. 

"We have already had letters from a primary in Highfields, where the pupils are mainly Muslim and a number of Church of England Schools saying they would like to work with us. That is exciting." 

The first few days of term will be half days while the pupils settle in. Teachers will be making home visits. 

Backers hope to add a class every year until there are 420 pupils. Building work to create play areas, classrooms and spaces for worship is continuing. 

The school's leaders also hope to establish a free Hindu faith secondary school in the city that will be ready in time to take this year's intake. 

Mr Gajjar said: "We have been talking with the city council about opening a school since 2006.
"The free school route was really just a mechanism for us. 

"Naturally, we would like a secondary school, though that will be some years off."

In the photo: Principal Christopher Spall in one of the classrooms

QURAN DISPLAY AT LOCAL LIBRARY

This letter appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Quran display at city library 

As part of efforts to remove misconceptions about Islam and its holy book, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association is embarking on a series of exhibitions nationwide to showcase the true teachings of the Holy Quran. 

One such exhibition has been set up at Knighton Library, in Clarendon Park Road, for the public to acquaint themselves with the peaceful message carried by the Quran. 

In the exhibition are Qurans with 13 different translations from the world's major languages.
There are also posters depicting Quranic messages such as freedom of religion, equality and the true concept of jihad. 

The exhibition started on Tuesday, August 23, and continues for two weeks. 

The Leicester branch of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, which has set up the exhibition, is located in Avenue Road Extension, Leicester. 

Ibrahim Bonsu, coordinator, Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, Leicester branch.

Knighton Library is my local public library. I must pop in and have a look at this display for myself.