Near Neighbours celebrates milestone through a community art installation
Near Neighbours works to support people of different faiths and ethnicities so that they can get to know each other better, build relationships of trust, and collaborate together on initiatives that improve the local community they live in. Its small grant fund has recently awarded its 800th grant to the Larches Trust, connecting Jewish, Christian, Hindu and Muslim residents in Barnet in a statement of peace across faiths in their local community.
In the Black Country Near Neighbours has been working with faith communities since April 2014 supporting people who want to make a difference. Projects range from sewing groups for interfaith communities to faith groups coming together to run soup kitchens.
Issues of faith and identity can often be a source of conflict but Near Neighbours believe that if people choose to come together then they can be a source of hope and inspiration. Recently they supported an Interfaith Dialogue event run by the Shri Pashupatinath Mandir in Rowley Regis. Leaders from Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Sikh backgrounds gathered at the Shri Pashupatinath Mandir to pledge their commitment to working together in peace and unity for the benefit of the community.
Acharya Chintamani Pandeya (Priest and founder of SPM) said of the event,
“It was wonderful to see so many different faiths, community and many organisations coming together and support the Interfaith Awareness Dialogue event. A powerful message that was reiterated by speakers from different faiths and politicians about unity, accepting and promoting peace, tolerance, cooperation and unity between different faiths and those of no faith living in Rowley Regis and local community”.
Near Neighbours is supporting and equipping local people through a broad range of partners. Local hubs host coordinators who are providing a network for community groups and expertise for projects. This is supplemented by national partners who offer tailored work with young people, women and emerging community leaders. They also work with inter-faith forums who gather faith communities together in dialogue and action.
This is supported by a small grants fund, providing seed capital for local groups and organisations who are working to bring together neighbours; to develop relationships of diverse faiths and ethnicities and also to improve their communities. Near Neighbours has now awarded £2.7million to these 800 projects.
For more information on Near Neighbours visit www.near-neighbours.org.uk
