Celebrating diversity in Jubilee Year

PRESS RELEASE

On 1st June 2012, to coincide with the Jubilee weekend, 3FF (Three Faiths Forum) will mark its 15th anniversary with 3FF Day: A day of inter-communal action and education between people of all faiths and beliefs.

Over 500 students from 15 schools across London will participate, giving them opportunities to learn about different faiths and beliefs and improve their intercultural communication skills. 3FF will be showcasing the innovative programmes our education officers run in schools every week to enable young people to communicate sensitively, confidently and effectively with people from different backgrounds.

The events will be visited by the Mayors of Barnet, Camden, Islington and Westminster, as well as others eager to learn from 3FF's education methods.

Speaking about the day, 3FF's Director Stephen Shashoua said: "As we celebrate The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, we reflect on a United Kingdom immeasurably more diverse than 60 years ago. This presents opportunities to build a dynamic, cooperative society, but also great challenges in terms of understanding and trusting one another. On 3FF Day, we are demonstrating that we have the methods to enable communities to lay the foundation for a strong, collaborative society."

Founded in 1997 by Sir Sigmund Sternberg, the late Sheikh Dr Zaki Badawi and Revd Dr Marcus Braybrooke, 3FF now works with over 12,000 people a year to confront prejudice and bring communities together, including students, teachers, young professionals, artists, emerging leaders and public figures. Our main focus is in the UK, but we also work internationally to create new models for intercultural cooperation, particularly in the EU, USA and Middle East.

The Religious Education Council of England and Wales praised 3FF's work: "The 3FF aim of building understanding and positive relationships between people of all faiths and beliefs is vital for the future of our countries and our world. We applaud the work of 3FF and send our warmest good wishes for a successful day of celebration across London on 1st June."

-END-


For more information and photo opportunities
Email: philip@3ff.org.uk
Phone: 0207 482 9535
Mobile: 0750 668 0903

Activities will be going on between 9 am and 3 pm on Friday 1st June. Please contact us if you would like to attend.


Notes for editors

3FF (Three Faiths Forum) works to create understanding and lasting relationships between people of all faiths and beliefs. 3FF has been working for 15 years to improve relations between different communities at many different levels of society: with teachers and students, artists and professionals, political leaders in parliament and upcoming leaders still at university.

3FF Day will showcase 3FF's education workshops and Faith School Linking activities in schools in Brent, Camden, Enfield, Hendon, Islington, Newham, Wandsworth and Westminster.

Special guests visiting schools on 3FF Day are:
• Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Angela Harvey
• Mayor of Islington, Councillor Phil Kelly
• Mayor of Camden, Councillor Heather Johnson
• Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Brian Schama
• Mayoress of Barnet Mrs Lynda Schama
• Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association

3FF's education workshops are run in schools all year round, and include:

Encountering Faiths and Beliefs: Gives students the chance to meet our young speakers from Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Muslim, Jewish or Sikh backgrounds, who share short personal narratives side by side, and students have the chance to have their burning questions answered.

Tools 4 Trialogue™: Exploring Religious Texts Together. Students engage with extracts from the Abrahamic scriptures (Tanakh, Bible and Qur'an) and consider similarities, differences and what these teachings mean to people living in Britain today.

Skills 4 Dialogue & Communication: "The Art of Asking": Using "video encounters" students explore how to ask questions about faiths & beliefs more sensitively, confidently and effectively.

Skills 4 Dialogue & Communication: "The Art of Empathy": Using "video encounters" we identify and practice key skills for listening and empathising with others.

For more details on 3FF's schools work visit http://www.3ff.org.uk/schools