November 2022 Newsletter
Awards, Faith Links report, help with cost of living and much more
News from The Forum
BMFF Awarded Prize at the Faith and Belief Award Ceremony
On Wednesday 23 November, our Director, Tahseen Mehar, and our head of Faith and Outreach, Rev Ali Taylor of St James’ Church, were delighted to attend the London Faith & Belief Community Awards ceremony at Westminster Abbey, where we received an award for the Faith in Mental Health Project, in the Health and Wellbeing category.
The Faith in Mental Health Project has been a hugely impactful and meaningful initiative, bringing together local faith groups and mental health services to learn, share and embed practices that are relevant to the demography of our diverse Brent community. As part of the award, BMFF will receive £500 toward the development of our work.
The London Faith & Belief Community Awards celebrate the creative, generous and vital work of London's faith and belief communities by bringing together local heroes and shining a light on their inspirational work. The event is hosted by the Faith & Belief Forum, with the kind support of His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London's Council on Faith, Sir Kenneth Olisa.
Tahseen Mehar, Director of Brent Multi-Faith Forum, was invited to share a few words with the 300 people in attendance - This speech can be found below:
The Faith in Mental Health project has been a hugely impactful and meaningful initiative , bringing together local faith groups and mental health services to learn, share and embed practices that are relevant to the demography of our diverse local community.
The project was borne out of witnessing the unrelenting service that churches, mosques, synagogues, gurdwaras, temples and meditation centres delivered at the height of the pandemic . They were a lifeline to the lives of many and particularly for the declining mental health of congregants. Project activities included accredited training, faith-led seminars to improve faith literacy amongst mental health professionals, multi-faith chaplaincy in Mental Health wards and partnership with health services.
One of the most beautiful aspects of this work is that we get to collaborate with people of all faiths and none. Our diverse faiths are always the driving force of what we do and unapologetically so! It's our respective faiths and beliefs that is the motivation for improving the lives of those around us, whether we adhere to the same faith or to any faith at all. There is always common ground, there is always something that unites us and allows us to deepen our understanding, connection, respect and friendship. That's a narrative that often gets distorted in mainstream society.
It's true that we don't do what we do for recognition but there's no denying that today is a humbling experience: to stand here in the heart of London, in one of the most historic and iconic places of worship in the world as a British Muslim woman receiving an award on behalf of the diverse faith groups of Brent, is an honour and a privilege.
Thank you.
Faith Links - Community Safety Event on Violence Against Youth, Women and Girls
On 21st November, the Brent Multi-Faith Forum once again partnered with the local Police force to deliver a roundtable discussion on community safety at St James’ Church in Alperton, with more than 50 people in attendance. This event, styled as an “Innovation Hub”, saw community leaders and representatives from across Alperton gather to help provide community-led solutions to tackle violence against youth, women and girls. Expert analyses were provided by the likes of Chris Murray, Director of the Young Brent Foundation, and Nisha Das, Brent Council’s coordinator for Violence Against Women and Girls. These insights will now be used to inform decisions made by leading figures in the Metropolitan Police.
Discussions ranged from the ways in which we can more actively encourage kindness and a sense of unity within our communities, how to reduce threat and improve the feeling of safety of young people, women and girls in the local community, and ways to help young people navigate the pressures of youth.
The event was very well received, with community representatives invigorated by the chance to present their views on community safety to those with the power to affect change and to engage in constructive and critical dialogue with local police.
A huge thank you to all who attended and contributed towards a fruitful discussion that will no doubt greatly benefit the community. Special thanks go to Rev Ali Taylor for hosting the event, Sufra for providing catering, to Inspector Yu Zhang and Frank Dabba Smith for providing the event with leadership and direction and to Detective Chief Inspector Adam Rowland, Chief Inspector Vicky Causbrook and Inspector Muneeb Ishtiaq for their support.
Photo Credits - Frank Dabba Smith
Peace Walk Report
Click here for a full report on our November Multi-Faith Peace Walk
Holocaust Memorial Day - Lighting of Candles
Would a child (u18) from your faith organisation be interested in lighting a candle for a Holocaust Memorial Day service on January 26th? If so, please get in touch via mylesdolan@brentmultifaithforum.org.uk for further details.
News and Upcoming Events Throughout the Community
Cost of Living Event
Brent Green Grant
Applications for Brent's Together Towards Zero Grant, which aims to support communities in improving their local areas by making them greener, cleaner, and more environmentally friendly, is open now.
If you have an idea for a project that can help to tackle climate change and make your local area greener - you could get up to £5,000 worth of funding to bring it to life!
Previous applications were limited to £1,000 - so we are encouraging all of Brent's communities to be creative, ambitious and think bigger for this round.
In our last round of funding, local community groups and residents set up re-use and repair projects, community gardens, and education programmes with the grant money.
Previous Case Study - Willesden Green Town Team
One group that made the most of the money available from the previous round of TTZ funding was the brilliant Willesden Green Town Team, who used their grant funding to put up planters by Willesden Green Station. These relatively small additions provide a vital source of food for pollinators and also create a green and visual addition to the local area that local residents can be proud of.
Local residents have said so themselves, with Carolina and Filipe who live in the local area saying, "The planters are amazing, we love walking to work and seeing them as we start our day."
London Community Kitchen Opportunity
Earn while you learn with LCK Academy (part of London's Community Kitchen)! We are offering 2-year part-time HND (Higher National Diploma) courses in Business Management and Hospitality Management. Receive specialist tuition from our expert tutors on weekends at our centre in Wembley. All this whilst also receiving between £12k-£15k tax free maintenance grants per year - that you do not have to pay back! Scan the code on the poster and register your interest now!
Harlesden Wellness session - 14th December
United for Warm Homes Campaign
If you would be interested in contributing ideas, resources, and/or practical support towards the United for Warm Homes campaign, see below for more details. If you would like to find out more, get in touch with elainesheppard55@outlook.com
“The campaign is entitled 'United for Warm Homes', and is nationally coordinated by Friends of the Earth, with more details on its website here. We hope that by getting together a broad range of organisations, we can both create a movement that cannot be ignored by those in power, and can work locally to share ideas, resources and practical support for those struggling with energy bills this winter.”
Dance Movement Psychotherapy - Every Monday 1:30-2:30pm
If you would be interested in attending these classes, contact info@ashfordplace.org.uk
Maths Teacher Vacancy at Islamia Girls School
If you would be interested in applying for this role, please click here for more information
Photography Class at Ashford Place - Every Thursday 2-3pm
