Lockdown has changed everything this year for so many groups working in communities. We are no longer able to get together face-to-face, but so many in our communities have needed support more than ever. We have seen an amazing response across the country, with really high levels of social solidarity as we all adjusted to life under lock down.
But is this sense of solidarity sustainable? As lock down begins to ease, and as the long term impact of the pandemic begins to be felt, will vulnerabilities begin to emerge, and tensions begin to rise? Can faith communities have a particular role to play in sustaining the sense of solidarity and oneness felt under lockdown? Can the telling of stories of solidarity and relief work done by minority and faith groups help to maintain resilience?
With these questions in mind, and together with the Senior Faiths in Leadership Programme, we ran a virtual interfaith iftar, using the iftar as a way to metaphorically open the doors and invite those of all faiths and none to join a webinar on Faith, Hope and Hate During and After Lockdown.
With over 120 faith leaders joining us, the evening included contributions from Nick Lowles, Imam Qari Asim, Rabbi Dr Harvey Belovski, Julie Siddiqi, Roxana Khan-Williams, The Right Reverend Martin Gorick, Bishop of Dudley, Rabiha Hannan, Trustee of New Horizons in British Islam, Faith in Leadership Director Krish Raval and Imam Irfan Chishti.
We ended with a call to action, asking those who joined us to sign up to a new Communities and Faith list that we have formed. This group will receive regular content and material from us, particularly looking at issues relevant to communities as we ease out of lockdown, based on our research and polling, but also will be a way for those on the list to share ideas and examples of best practise with each other, so that we can all work together more effectively to meet the challenges ahead.
To register for the group, fill in this form:
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