Interfaith - Faith Forum and Core Group

What does the Faith Communities Forum Forum do?
Who are the Faith Communities Forum Forum?

Members
Core Group

Faith Communties Ambassador

Past Newsletters

 What does the Faith Communities Forum Forum do?

The Faith Communities Forum aims to increase cohesion between different faith communities. We want to create opportunities for both inter-faith dialogue and joint working on projects. Sometimes we will lead on the co-ordination of inter-faith projects and sometimes we will support you with projects you are running or hoping to start.

We are an umbrella body of all the faith based organisations in the Borough of Waltham Forest including religious congregations such as Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, Temples and Gurdwaras, faith based or inspired charities and organisations, and Faith Schools. If you fit into one of the above and you are not on our mailing list, please get in touch with us.

We have connections with the council, local police, health service and voluntary sector and we are here to represent your needs within these bodies.  This could be anything from practical needs such as parking restrictions which effect your times of worship to tackling prejudice around religion or belief.

Who are the Faith Communities Forum Forum?

Members

Membership is open to all of the above organisations. Members will receive our newsletter, and information about upcoming events and consultations regarding religious groups. All members are invited to attend the AGM in November to elect the project core group

Core Group

The core group is made up of 4 office holders, 3 Christian reps, 3 Muslim reps, 1 Buddhist rep, 1 Jewish rep, 1 Hindu rep and 1 Sikh rep. There are also co-opted members from the council, police and education service.

 

 

To nominate yourself or a coleage for a position on the core group please fill in this form and return to Jonathan, the presiding chair.

 

 Office Holders

Chair Rev Jonathan Mead
Vice Chair Faisal Raja
Secretary Narinder Matharoo 
Treasurer Iqbal Mehtar

Faith Representatives  

Buddhist Representative Wendy Le Bar (Padmayogini) 
Christian Representatives

Adebayo Mabo,
Christina Brown,
Steven Saxby

Hindu Representatives Tara Khare 
Jewish Representatives Rafi Salasnik
Muslim Representative Irfan Ahmed,
Yusuf Hansa,
Muhammad Mulla
Sikh Representative Satpall Singh Bhatt

  Co-opted Members

Faith Communities Ambassador Amy Willshire
Baha'i Representative
Jasmine Danish
Muslim Youth Advisor
Nadeem Javaid
Police Faith and Community Liason Officer Steven Macdonald
Waltham Forest Council's Head of Diversity Jane Brown
Chair of the Standard Advisory Council for Religious Education Ted Cooke

 

Faith Communities Ambassador

Amy Willshire is the Faith Communities Ambassador employed by the Faith Communities Forum for 18hours a week. She is based at the town hall on a Tuesday and Wednesday.

The title Faith Communities Ambassador reflects the commitment of the Faith Communities Forum to represent you the faith communities and be your spokesperson and enable you to make a positive impact in Waltham Forest .

As well as being employed by the Waltham Forest Faith Communities Forum, Amy is also involved in other interfaith organisation locally and nationally

Amy is also involved in several council groups including:
  • Involved in the Waltham Forest Community Cohesion Task Group
  • Involved in the Waltham Forest Holocaust Memorial Day working group
  • Involved in tension monitoring between faith communities
  • Working closely with the Waltham Forest Council's Equality and Diversity Department

If you would like to make an appointment with Amy, she can be contacted on:
Phone: 020 8496 4159
Email: Amy.Willshire@walthamforest.gov.uk
Fax: 020 8496 4504
Address: Waltham Forest Faith Communities Forum
Walthamstow Town Hall, Room 114,
Forest Road, Walthamstow, E17 4JF

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