Neighbours in Faith

filed in Event on 09 May 2016

50 people representing a wide range of faith communities came together on 11th April 2016 and shared the joys and challenges of meeting some of the social needs in the borough at this stimulating conference at the Civic Centre.  The meeting for Faith Leaders was the initiative of the Mayor of Hounslow Councillor Nisar Malik who opened the event by thanking places of worship for the positive difference which faiths can make through social action, dialogue or shared learning. ‘Whatever our differences, our neighbourhood is what we have in common’ he said.

The aims of this conference were

1. to celebrate the social welfare work of faith communities

2. to share information on what work faith communities are currently doing

3. to look at any issues where providers need support e.g. buildings, volunteers,

funding, advice re Health and Safety, safeguarding etc.

4. to look at ways these could be addressed either informally between faiths or with the support of Hounslow Council

5. to look at social and economic indicators in the borough and assess if there are

areas of need where faith communities could help

Before moving to the first speaker Charanjit Ajit Singh, Chair for the day referred to the recent report ‘Living with difference: community, diversity and the common good,’  the report of the Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life chaired by Baroness Butler-Sloss and published by the Woolf Institute in December 2015.  The full report can be found at https://corablivingwithdifference.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/living-with-difference-community-diversity-and-the-common-good.pdf.

The conference heard presentations from four faith groups: Holy Trinity Hounslow about the Olive Branch project for homeless single men; St Paul’s Hounslow West and their services which make a response to lack of resources for food and a sense of family; the Sikh Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Alice Way, Hounslow whose Wellbeing service provides volunteers who give advice on a range of health issues including alcohol and domestic violence; and finally the range of services provided by the Darussalam Masjid and Islamic Centre in Heston for young Somalis, including involvement in rugby as sponsored by the RFU.

A survey completed before the conference showed projects run by faith communities include health information, debt advice, support for people suffering homelessness, and toddler groups.  Joan Conlon, Community Inclusion and Participation Manager for Hounslow Council stressed how helpful it is to know the full range of the good work being done.  Please let her know your project, however small on joan.conlon@hounslow.gov.uk.

It is also useful if the Directory of Places of Worship in the borough is kept up to date.  Please send any changes to info@hounslowfriendsoffaith.org.

The Hounslow Council Joint Commissioning Team explained the Life Project, the title for a grouping of a wide range of services of public and NHS health, social care and community projects aiming to support people with age or health needs to remain living at home and delay and reduce their use of hospital services. This will include advice, appropriate supported housing, falls prevention, services for people with dementia among others.

In workshops on homelessness, health matters, asylum seekers/new arrivals, families and young people and education the faith volunteers highlighted what would assist their work.  The main issues were

1. Information on how and where to refer people on to, including during unsocial hours

2. The legal framework when responding to asylum seekers

3. Training for volunteers on good practice in responding to people with often multiple and challenging needs

4. Support for users with, particularly, mental health needs and also domestic violence

5. a borough wide registry of services

Debbie Brenner, Vice Chair of Hounslow Community Network (HCN), the collective voice for voluntary groups in the borough of Hounslow, encouraged faith groups to join HCN.  The forum can provide information on e.g. funding, new initiatives, and ‘Meet the Developers’ sessions when voluntary groups could discuss benefits as the result of a new development in an area.  The group can make representations when cuts to public services are being planned.  HCN is represented on bodies such as the Safer Neighbourhood Board, and the Forums for Adult Care and Mental Health. See http://www.hounslowhub.org.uk for more information.

Uttam Gujral, Head of Community Investment and Cohesion, Community Partnerships Unit at Hounslow Council described the role of her department which is to promote partnership with community groups and Hounslow Council, community cohesion and to support forums. The aim of the Unit is to increase the ability of voluntary groups (the Third Sector) in the work they do to benefit the community.  Uttam asked for feedback from faith communities to know how this arrangement is working and where there are gaps. Email uttam.gujral@hounslow.gov.uk

Those present agreed repeating this meeting would be welcome.  Councillor Malik, Mayor of Hounslow again thanked faith groups for the work they do.  He felt the conference had been very useful to learn what is being provided and what needs there are.  Examples were a Directory of Information to assist signposting and for training.  He agreed there was a definite need to meet again.