ART & DESIGN DEGREE SHOW AT DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY, 2012

At De Montfort University this evening for the Art and Design Degree Show. I've been invited by Rosemarie Fitton, Senior Lecturer in Interior Design (and member of Leicester Council of Faiths). She introduces me to Evadine Okoye, one of the students whose work is on show here. That's Evadine in the photo above, in front of the display of her work (Rosemarie is on her left).

Evadine has worked on a project that combines spirituality and mental well-being: Restore, a Spiritual Healing Facility. This is a theme that's been a thread running through my post and through this blog.

Here's Evadine's page in the Interior Design catalogue (in which she lists her likes as Afrobeats, Jesus and mango juice; and her dislikes as rainy days, yam, public transport)

When considering an interior, I view it as a very important aspect especially when it comes to an individual and how they connect with a building and its spatial attributes. I believe that the interior space has a significant influence and also plays a vital role in determining a person's feelings as well as the environment they are in. While studying at De Montfort University I have gained a key interest in Theatrical/Set Design and recently, the ideology of Holy and Spiritual Places. My passion for both of these areas stems from the desire to understand the connection users have with the space and how they interact with the environment they are placed in.

Restore: A Spiritual Healing Facility 

Civilisation today offers various facilities and services such as Retreats, Rehab centres and Mental Institutions. These facilities require their own unique system, methods and schemes that are available to patients who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia; offering them the help and support they need. However a question that generally arises is how can we find another unconventional mechanism to assist, aid and support those who have been discharged from institutional units and are still desperate for a solution?

"For many living with schizophrenia, religion and spirituality have an important and positive role ... religion plays a central role in the processes of reconstructing a sense of self and recovery." (Dr D. Cornah, on behalf of the Mental Health Foundation, 2006)

Restore as a spiritual intervention within mainstream health care is a concept that has been designed to help aid the restoration of discharged schizophrenic patients who are still on the road to recovery. By using the practices of Christianity as a catalyst, it becomes an inspiration for the design that reinforces and penetrates a purity of hope and healing through the facility. With the concept relying on the sun path as the main source of lighting, the facility is emphasised as a place to seek a positive future for all sufferers.

CREATIVE COFFEE: LEICESTER EVENTS GUIDE

At Phoenix Square Film and Digital Media Centre for the fortnightly meeting of Creative Coffee. That’s two separate words and no "Club" from now on - or, to give it its full name now, Creative Coffee Leicester. We have a speaker this morning: Rav Kaur (with backup from Sean Clark) for Cuttlefish Media, on the Leicester Events Guide. Their website is currently in beta testing. You can follow Leicester Events Guide on Facebook. We follow the regular session with another brief meeting of the committee. There are some good ideas put forward for advancing Creative Coffee Leicester; I look forward to helping put them into action.

ANGER AT CENTRE RAMADAN PLANS

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Anger at centre Ramadan plans

Neighbours are opposing plans by a community centre to extend its opening hours during a religious festival.

Knighton Community and Education Centre, in Leicester, wants to open its doors to patrons until midnight – and for a second, 20-minute period between 1am to 4am – during the month of Ramadhan.

The Islamic centre, which opened on the corner of Welford Road and Keble Road two years ago, is only allowed to open from 6am to 11pm.

Its leaders have applied to Leicester City Council to vary these times between July 17 and August 22 to accommodate the festival, during which devout followers are expected to fast during daylight hours.

Some residents are against the proposals, citing problems last year when the centre flouted its opening time restrictions without authorisation from the council.

Neighbours complained about noise as late as 3.30am.

Maria Moran, 49, of Keble Road, who kept a log of incidents last year, said: "It's the noise we object to – and the fact the centre ignored planning regulations. There were speakers blaring out from the centre and groups standing in the street outside talking well into the early hours.

"There are about 30 homes in the street and a number of families and elderly people residents.

"With all the noise, including traffic coming and going from the centre, it was impossible to sleep.

"If the centre ignored regulations last year, what guarantee is there that they will abide by these varied opening hours?"

Welford Road resident Elvina Tiar, 56, who lives opposite, said: "Neighbours have a right to peace and quiet, especially at night time."

In a letter supporting the planning application, Fayyaz Suleman, agent for the centre [and Vice-Chair of Leicester Council of Faiths], said the issues of last year would not be repeated.

He said: "There is a clear commitment from the centre management to maintain a peaceful, disturbance-free use of the centre at all times."

He said he hoped that no disturbance will be caused to the residents.

Councillors Elly Cutkelvin and Bill Shelton have organised meetings in the past 12 months to build bridges between residents and the centre. The council is set to make a decision in the next few weeks.

SECULAR BELIEF MASKS A STEELY INTOLERANCE

This letter appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Secular belief masks a steely intolerance

I am sure I am not the only person who found the letter from Michael Gerard, president of Leicester Secular Society, with its anti-Catholic diatribe, particularly offensive ("Speech stirs up hatred of secularists, Mailbox, June 7).

It shows, as we have seen many times before, that beneath a facade of tolerance, there lurks a steely intolerance of any religious belief far exceeding that shown to secularists by people of faith.

I was not fortunate enough to be present when Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor gave his recent speech in Leicester, but if he stated that "secular values" are permeating insidiously every aspect of western life, he was absolutely correct.

The letter quotes him as stating that "no-one should be forced to live according to the new secular religion as if it alone were definitive and obligatory for all mankind".

We see evidence of this around us when we read of intolerance of people wearing crosses to work, or councils stating that there should be no prayers before meetings.

Michael criticises Franco in Spain, no doubt with some justification, but his regime also had merits. Remember that Christians are not perfect, and are in need of salvation.

It is simply not true to say that the Catholic Church connived with the Nazis regarding Jewish slaughter. Pope Pius XII did much behind the scenes to protect Jews, although some of it was not visible at the time for obvious reasons.

The so-called intransigent attitude of the Church to birth control and abortion are not there to annoy people: they are simply stating God's moral law.

The former denies the act of creation its natural outcome, the latter is murder, pure and simple.

Michael, please do not talk about stirring up hatred against secularists, (which nobody sensible wants to see) for that is exactly what you are trying to do against Christians.

Mark W Jacques OP, Quorn

THE BISHOP OF LEICESTER EXPRESSES CONCERNS ABOUT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

The Bishop of Leicester expresses concerns about same-sex marriage

The Bishop of Leicester has expressed concern about proposals to allow same-sex marriage.

The Government has suggested changes to the law which would allow gay people to get married – something currently prohibited – in a civil ceremony.

The Rt Rev Tim Stevens said the Church of England wanted to see gay people further included in society but did not think this should mean redefining marriage.

The bishop also said he thought the Government's three-month consultation on the move was far too short.

He said: "The Government is seeking to meet what it perceives to be the needs of the gay community.

"I would say that the Church of England is sympathetic to those needs. 

"We want to see a society in which gay people are fully included and their needs are fully provided for.

"But this does not amount to a basis for introducing a complete redefinition of the concept of marriage based on a consultation process which is at the very least rapid."

Under the Government's proposal same-sex couples would not be allowed to be married in a religious service.

However, some in the Church of England said they expected a challenge to the ban could succeed at the European Court of Human Rights.

This, they fear, could lead to clergy being forced to conduct same-sex marriages.

If that happened, they warned, there would be an unprecedented clash between the Church's canon law – that marriage is between a man and a woman – and the state.

The outcome of this could be that it was impossible for the Church to continue as the official religious establishment of the state.

Canon Barry Naylor, the bishop's adviser on urban issues, said: "I think the fear comes from the idea that a Church of England minister could be approached by a same-sex couple asking to be married, that minister may object because it goes against their conscience and then legal action could ensue."

Canon Naylor said he was in favour of gay marriage in principle.He said: "I think the most important thing is that it is about two people who want to live in a committed relationship to each other."

Bernard Greaves, a representative of Leicester Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Centre, said he thought the Church of England was "overreacting".

He said the adoption of gay marriage would not lead to the disestablishment of the Church, nor "undermine the notion of marriage itself".

"The traditional view of Christian view of marriage is that it is a lifelong union between one man and one woman for the procreation of children," said Mr Greaves.

"In society that view of marriage has already substantially changed."We accept divorce, we accept remarriage and we accept that people get married with no intention of having children.

"None of that has undermined marriage at all.

"Allowing a man to marry a man or a woman to marry a woman is a change to the law that does not impinge on the Christian view of marriage."

He said he was not in favour of religious organisations such as the Church of England being forced to conduct same-sex marriages against their will.

"It would be absolutely wrong that any religious organisation should be forced to conduct same-sex marriages," he said.

"What is important is that people are given the maximum choice and equality."

CULTURAL QUARTER SET FOR SECOND INDIAN SUMMER

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Cultural Quarter set for second Indian Summer

The sights, sounds and tastes of India will be spicing up Leicester's Cultural Quarter this weekend.

The second annual Indian Summer will be transforming Orton Square into a Mumbai bazaar.

Last year, the two-day festival took place in Phoenix Square, but the event has expanded, with organisers showcasing cookery classes, films and dance performances across seven venues.

Organiser Bipin Anand said: "It is going to be really colourful, exciting, vibrant and fun, with loads going on.

"If anyone has been to a Mumbai bazaar they will know it is all about the hustle and bustle, with so many sounds and smells. We are hoping to recreate that.

"This year is a big expansion, with loads of events, and while we are having short moments of panic and nerves, we are soon reminded of how brilliant and exciting it is going to be."

Run by Leicester social enterprise Inspirate, the event is expected to attract thousands of visitors.

The Exchange bar, in Rutland Street, is hosting sitar players, henna artists and Indian music workshops.

"We saw what they did last year and thought it was fantastic, so we're really pleased to get involved," said manager Anna Webb.

Indian films will be shown at Phoenix Square, while Curve will host a Carrom competition, giving visitors the chance to compete at an Indian game.

The theatre will also showcase classical Indian dance clothes, worn by performers.

At the LCB Depot, in Rutland Street, speedy cooks will be challenged to take part in a competition to see who can cook the fastest chapati.

Retro Indian music videos will be projected in Manhattan 34 bar, also in Rutland Street, and there will be food on offer at Chutney Ivy, in Halford Street.

Meanwhile, the Ramada Encore hotel, in Charles Street, is hosting talks on topics including the Ugandan migration and sex before marriage.

Bipin said: "It is a great chance for a big mishmash of people – all ages and Indian and non-Indian people – to come along and sample the culture.

"It is a mix of traditional and modern aspects, which I think helps keep the culture alive."

Events are taking place across the venues from noon on both days, until 11pm on Saturday, and 9pm on Sunday.

For more information about the programme, visit: www.indiansummer.org.uk

CAMPAIGNERS ACCUSE POLICE OVER HANDLING OF EDL MARCH IN LEICESTER

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Campaigners accuse police over handling of EDL march in Leicester

Police have defended their handling of the English Defence League's march in Leicester earlier this year.

A national campaign group, the Network for Police Monitoring – Netpol – yesterday criticised officers' conduct toward people opposed to the EDL's presence in the city centre on Saturday, February 4.

The EDL marched through the city surrounded by police officers while their opponents, Leicester Unite Against Fascism, staged a march in a different area of the centre. No arrests were made.

However, Netpol – which trained a number of local people to monitor events on the ground – accused police of:

• Using unnecessary force against groups of predominantly Asian youths who arrived in the city centre after the two demonstrations had finished.
• Using stop and search powers only against black or Asian people. Official police figures show 15 people, all Asian, were stopped and searched.
• Surrounding groups of young people and escorting them out of the city – known as kettling.
• Allowing a small number of EDL supporters to stray off the march route they had been ordered to stick to.

The city council was criticised for urging young people to stay away from the city centre, stressing that unaccompanied youths could be detained and escorted home.

Both city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby and the officer in charge of the police operation have defended their handling of the event.

They stressed they spent several weeks before it took place speaking to community leaders.

Sir Peter said allowing the EDL to march prevented a repeat of the violence which marked the protest of October 2010, when people inside the EDL cordon pelted police with missiles and several hundred broke through police lines.

He said: "I don't know who Netpol is, but they don't speak for any local people I know."

Chief Superintendent Rob Nixon said other independent monitors, including the Bishop of Leicester and the Leicestershire Federation of Muslim Organisations, had endorsed his officers' handling of the event.

"There were no arrests made as a direct result of the marches and no damage to property," Mr Nixon said.

"This was in no small way due to the professional manner in which officers and staff from Leicestershire Police and Leicester City Council planned and managed the events and thanks to the co-operation of local communities and businesses."

The Netpol report was published at a public meeting at the Highfields Centre, Leicester, last night.

Its author, Leicester youth worker Saqib Deshmukh, said: "There was not the same level of disorder as we saw on the previous occasion and this could reasonably be seen as a success for the police and the city council.

"But this came at a cost for young people, particularly young Muslims, for whom the city centre was a no-go zone, while there is a perception that the EDL came and went as they pleased."

BISHOP OF LEICESTER VOICES CONCERN OVER GAY MARRIAGE PROPOSALS

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Bishop of Leicester voices concern over gay marriage proposals

The Bishop of Leicester has expressed concern over gay marriage while saying the Church of England wants an increase in support for the gay community.

The Rt Rev Tim Stevens said the Church of England had been supportive of civil partnerships when the legislation was introduced eight years ago.

In a highly critical response to the Government's consultation on gay marriage which closes on Thursday, the Church of England said several “major elements”' of the proposals had not been thought through properly and were not legally “sound”.

“We continue to be supportive of the gay community and want to see that inclusion in our society increased and developed,” said the bishop.

“I think the difficulty we have here is the substitution of equality for uniformity, that is to say that there can be no distinction at all between men and women.”

He added: “The Government is seeking to meet what it perceives to be the needs of the gay community. I would say that the Church of England is sympathetic to those needs, we want to see a society in which gay people are fully included and their needs are fully provided for.

“But this does not amount to a basis for introducing a complete redefinition of the concept of marriage based on a consultation process which is at the very least rapid.

“From a standing start within three months to arrive at a fully considered, weighed and articulated redefinition of a fundamental social institution which has been thought about in one particular way for centuries and which is broadly accepted as a social institution in the same way internationally - to change all that on the basis of a consultation like this seems to be at the very least unwise and ill considered.”

Gay marriage threatens the establishment of the Church of England and could lead to it being forced out of its role of conducting weddings on behalf of the state, it has claimed.

The Church of England said introducing same-sex marriage would lead to an unprecedented clash between its own canon law - that marriage is between a man and a woman - and that of Parliament.

RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL

This is a two-day family festival of music and fun on the banks of the River Soar. The annual Riverside Festival has grown into one of the city’s biggest free events, bringing live music, family activities and workshops and all the fun of the waterways to the heart of the city. The festival takes place on the mile straight of the river, Western Boulevard and in Bede Park. It's run by Leicester City Council and sponsored by local social landlord Riverside and ECHG.

I really like this event, not least because it all happens just around the corner from where I used to live for four years (2006-10). It's great for the kids of course - though I reserve the second day for myself - and the lovely food on offer.

Brightly decorated narrowboats take pride of place along the river (we can vote for our favourite). Decorated boats parade along the river and there are also activities involving boats ranging from coracles and canoes to a floating tea shop.

There's live music throughout the weekend. The photo above shows the WaterAid Choir. I know a few people who sing in that (though I couldn't point them out in the photo).

At the end of the second day, I have an interesting chat with two women from Ride Leicester (a Leicester City Council initiative): Fiona tells me about an occasion in her native Sydney, where members of faith communities had a Ride to Worship day, when community members swapped their cars for bikes; and Janet, who is nursing an idea for an organised bike ride round a variety of places of worship in Leicester. I give both of them my card and urge them to contact me so we can follow up on these ideas.

HELP US FIND THE GOOD NEIGHBOUR OF THE YEAR

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Help us find the good neighbour of the year

We all know someone who is a jewel in the community, whether they are visiting the lonely, doing shopping for the housebound or working tirelessly for volunteer groups.

They are the people, often unsung, who bring caring and kindness to where we live.

Today, the Mercury launches a search for the Good Neighbour of the Year.

We have teamed up with the East Midlands Housing Group (EMHG) to find that special someone.

Launching the search today, Chan Kataria, chief executive of EMHG, said: "We want to hear about those neighbours who go the extra mile for others, whether that's keeping an eye on the area through Neighbourhood Watch groups or helping to organise community events, activities and services."

One person who fits the good neighbour category is Sarah Clarke, 69, a former actress and holistic practitioner, who lives in Little Bowden, near Market Harborough.

According to friends, she is always there to lend a helping hand and is active in a number of community groups.

She said: "We all need to try to do our bit to help others.

"I fully support the Good Neighbour of the Year award and would encourage people to nominate those who deserve a bit of recognition for what they do in their communities.

"I am a volunteer at the local credit union which provides people with an opportunity to save and borrow money who are not normally considered by banks."

Sarah is also a member of her church council and regularly takes an elderly parishioner to services on a Sunday.

She is active in a number of organisations dedicated to the improvement of the environment and the quality of life in the town.

"I believe that for society to flourish we need people who put other people's interests above their own and are willing to volunteer and help those who need support," Sarah said.

Mr Kataria said: "We are proud to be sponsoring these awards, which are an opportunity to promote the type of community spirit that clearly exists in areas across Leicester and Leicestershire.

"I'm in no doubt that without these neighbourhood heroes, the health of our communities would be a lot poorer and, instead of prospering, face the difficult symptoms of isolation and social exclusion."

EMHG owns and manages more than 1,700 homes across the region.

Mr Kataria added: "We are a not-for-profit social investment agency and are sponsoring this event because communities are only sustainable when you have lots of people coming together to contribute to that community in some way.

"That way, people want to live there, move into them and actively care about their wellbeing.

"Our evidence suggests that when this happens residents are made to feel they have stake in the people and place they live and the communities are more likely to be successful, stable and prosperous.

"Our philosophy is to recognise and celebrate those individuals who do make an important contribution."

The judges for the competition are the Leicester Mercury's publisher, David Simms, representatives from East Midlands Housing Group Chan Kataria, chief executive, Louise Riley and Jerry Sykes. They will be joined by Capital FM DJs Dino and Pete. The awards will be presented at a ceremony hosted by Dino and Pete at St Martin's House, Leicester, on August 2.