Southampton Council of Faiths -

1. Southampton Council
of Faiths
David Vane and

2. Southampton…
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220,000 citizens
47 languages
7 main faiths (Interfaith Network definition)
Resident communities – Pakistan, Bangladesh,
Afghanistan,
New communities – Somalia, Polish, ….

3. History interfaith
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Before 1995 – informal relationships
1995 the formal Inter Faith Link and
coordinating group
Three events a year two discussions and the
Peace Walk
“speak with pride - - listen with respect”

4. 2000 Formation of SCOF
Aim: To be the ’official’ voice of the
faith community in the city
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Formally inaugurated May 2001
Constitution
Make up –
Five reps from each of the
seven major faiths
 Meeting every month
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5. Achievements
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Empowered ‘people of faith' to speak out
Given the authorities a faith contact point
Place on decision making bodies in the city
Faith Advisors to the Mayor of Southampton
Built a relationship with the media
Speakers in schools
Speakers across faith communities

6. Exhibitions
Painting a world of Friendship
Fragments of another life

7. Tsunami Appeal
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£40,000 raised
First to action in the South
Provided the focus for the city’s response
Delivered –
Boats
 Schools support
 Housing support in Sri Lanka
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8. Meridian TV – “Faith in the City”

9. Faith in the City
Faith in Your City was a series of six half hour programs produced by Kate Beal and
Meridian TV in 2005 which showed how members of different faith communities in
Southampton went about their daily lives - Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews,
Muslims, Sikhs - http://www.southampton-faiths.org
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_28mch1aik8 Hindu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq8Txd3JkjI Muslim
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy1hVFSY2ec Jewish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g7TeLTDVfk Buddhist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8-7LJubZuw christian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYN5WKuDnDY Sikh

10. Media Packs

11. Face to Face and Side by
Side

12. SCOF restructure 2007
+ Partners?

13. SCOF Conference 2008

14. Youth Peace Walk 2009

15. 13 Annual Peace Walk 2009
th

16. Jerusalem Peace Makers 2009

17. SCOF Conference 2009
Rt Hon John Denham MP - Secretary of
State for Communities and Local
Government
Alex Marshall - Chief Constable of
Hampshire
Cllr Parvin Damani - NHS (community
development and race equality; Chair Standing Advisory Council for Religious
Education ( SACRE)

18. Graffiti Workshop

19. Interfaith week 2009
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Joint service – prayers and inspiration
Conference
Graffiti workshop

20. One world event 2009

21. Meeting socially…

22. …and to promote Interfaith

23. Interfaith Week 2013
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Weds 20th Nov – Space for Peace – Vedic
Temple – Radcliffe Rd 7 -9pm Musical Vigil and
9-10pm Silent Meditation
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Thursday 21st Nov – End of Life care conference
for different faiths – Sot’on General Hospital
Chaplaincy 2 – 4 pm

24. … form partnerships

25. Youth interfaith coordinator

26. Thank you
David Vane
www.southampton-faiths.org