Dharmapeople Latest News : August
16th 2009
Buddhist Chaplaincy Support Group Meeting
NASACRE :
Recruitment and Training Programme (East, South-East, South-West)
Chaplaincy
Research project: can you help Tom Short ?
Consultation on new single Equality Duty on public
bodies
Interfaith:
IFN: Resources
FIFE Newsletter: June 2009, an extract
Pandemic Flu guidelines and FCCC minutes
Organ Donation and Faith
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Short Report on the
Buddhist Chaplaincy Support Group
The meeting
was well attended and the Lectures room was packed with 45 people, from
different traditions and backgrounds.
Mariano
welcomed all present, and took the opportunity to remind everyone of the
ongoing NASACRE recruitment drive involving vacancies for SACRE group A in
the South East and South West of England, and inviting the participant to
fill in the attendance form, letting us know of about themselves and how they
could help.
Most
traditions and major groups were represented, including Theravada, Nepalese,
Chinese, Zen, FWBO, Nichiren Shu,
etc , but the Tibetan and the Vietnamese contingents
were somewhat thin on the ground). We will need to pay more attention to
inclusiveness issues in future, and make an effort to develop a dialogue and
relationship with the groups that we would like to see involved.
The meeting
unfolded as a presentation by Dr. Sunil Kariyakarawana
on the underlying rationale and what we are trying to achieve, the scope of
the proposal and tentative timescales, very much along the lines of the
presentation to the BS Council a week or two earlier.
Soon after the break Dr. Desmond Biddulph
was able to join the proceedings and, addressing the audience, he warmly
welcomed everyone on behalf of the Council of the BS, expanding on the
significance of the event, and promising enthusiastic support for the
initiative and more specifically financial support as had been agreed and the use of the
premises for meetings and in time other helpful support for Chaplaincy.
It was then
time for brief presentations by by a number of
representatives an their specific area of engagement, as follows :
NHS Multifaith Chaplaincy developments (Keith & Roger),
Hospices and Palliative Care (Peter Goble), Immigration Detention Centres
(Helen, Chinese Temple), Universities and Higer Education (C.Brazier and
Tom Short), Army (Sunil), Angulimala (Tom Short).
Q&A
peppered the proceedings, especially towards the end.
Basically
just a typical kick-starting event, full of promise, and special interest
groups are already 'forming' (e.g. Mental Health, Speakers, Immigration
Centres, HE and Universities, SACREs etc, with
different people manifesting their interests. We are setting up
distribution lists to cater for those.
The next step is the setting up of a Society account to enable
the BCSG to start fundraising, and secondly the calling of the first real
meeting of the Steering Committee provisionally expected to take place in the
second weekend in September.
Agenda for the Constituent Meeting for the
Buddhist Chaplaincy Support Group
to be held on Sunday the 5th July 2009 at 13:30
at the Buddhist Society
(at 58 Eccleston
Square SW1V 1PH http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=SW1V+1PH&countryCode=GB)
The meeting is open to all Buddhist individuals and groups involved in
Chaplaincy and 'Caring for others' in the South East and beyond,
subscribing to the principles of tolerance, inclusiveness and openness in a
non-political framework, taking as a guide the original Teachings of the
Buddha
13:30 Welcome and induction for
the day (Dr D.Biddulph or Mariano, on behalf of the
Buddhist Society)
13;35 quick round of who we are and
what we do
13:45 Rationale, scope and
outline of the proposed initiative (Dr. Sunil Kariyakarawana)
14:00 Chaplaincy in HM Prisons
(Chris Blomeley/D.W. ?)
14:15 NHS Multifaith
Chaplaincy Group (BHCG, Keith Munnings/Roger Green)
14:30 HMS
Chaplaincy (Dr. Sunil Kariyakarawana)
14:45 Chaplaincy in Immigration
Detention Centres (Fo Guang temple representative)
15:00 Hospices and Palliative
care
15:15 Chaplaincy in Universities
15:30 Other Carers
15:40 Tea break
15:50 Summary of where we are
at, what we are proposing, where we are going
16:00 Open guided discussion,
formation of Activities committee
16:45 Round up, Actions plan ,
set date for the next meeting
Proposal
It is proposed to set-up a Buddhist
Chaplaincy Support Group with the following aims.
o
To support all sectors of Buddhist chaplaincy in the UK (ie:, NHS, HM Services, HM Detention centres,
Refugee centres, the Police, Fire and Ambulance
Service as well as Education establishments Schools and Colleges and
Universities etc)
o
To aim towards nationwide outreach, articulated in regional
structures; but initially focussed in the
south-east (with the exception of HM Services which will need to be
nationwide from the outset)
o
To include representation with public bodies (eg: Coroner’s Office) and local & central government
o
To provide support for wider areas of social care (eg: visiting old people’s homes, nursing, officiating at
funerals etc)
o
To run a long-term structured programme
aimed at training current & future chaplains and social carers, by utilising existing
resources (eg: courses already being run by various
temples and groups)
o
To offer specially designed new courses tailored specifically
to the needs of social carers (eg:
delivering regular workshops on counselling,
holding monthly talks given by chaplains working for the NHS, Angulimala etc)
o
To establish higher education courses for Buddhist chaplains
in partnership with a number of educational establishments (eg: SOAS, Cardiff, St. Mary’s Twickenham, Sunderland etc) To
provide Continuing Professional Development and ongoing support for
Chaplains.
o
To liaise with the press and broadcasting media
o
To meet requests from the NHS, the Police, Fire and Ambulance
Service as well as Schools and Colleges and Universities etc, to provide
guest speakers at relevant events and workshops
o
To provide appropriate spokespeople when media issues arise
o
To engage with young people by visiting schools and
universities
o
To manage a comprehensive website
o
To manage an online password-protected searchable database of
chaplains, resources, contact details, temples, organisations,
facilities etc (within Data Protection guidelines)
o
To establish a publishing wing for books, training materials
etc
o
To distribute a periodical magazine / newsletter with events
calendar, training course details, recommended websites & books, articles
etc
o
To invite member organisations to
contribute articles to the magazine
o
To look at the possibility of running an ‘agony aunt’ /
helpline service which the general public can access free of charge
action plan :
Run a fact-finding mission (visiting temples, chaplaincy organisations,
academic establishments etc, in London and the South-East, identifying
existing facilitiwa, volunteers and their skills,
etc)
Find suitable sponsors
Attract funding from traditional Buddhist communities (eg:
Thai, Chinese, Sri Lankan, Tibetan, Nepalese, Japanese, Burmese etc)
Establish a repeatable series of training workshops for potential chaplains,
hosted by various temples and centres who wish to
be involved
Host monthly talks at the Buddhist Society which cover specific topics such
as prison chaplaincy, NHS chaplaincy etc
Engage with and train young people in chaplaincy skills, particularly those
already in caring professions such as nursing
Publish inspirational books and other media to take into barracks, hospitals,
refugee detention centres, hospices etc
Launch a regular magazine / newsletter to be distributed to all member organisations, featuring training dates, events listings,
book & website recommendations, articles, pictures etc
Invite member organisations to contribute articles,
image content and upcoming events listings towards the magazine
Build up a list of individuals who can answer telephone & email queries
about Buddhist chaplaincy and Buddhism in general – some training needs to be
provided to enable this
Support all sectors of Buddhist chaplaincy at national level
Train future chaplains by establishing fully accredited university courses
specific to Buddhist chaplaincy
Continue to deliver an ongoing series of regular training workshops and talks
for trainee chaplains
Provide a wealth of information through our own standalone website
Manage an extensive online database of chaplains, advisors, resources, organisations etc
Provide guest speakers upon request for government organisations,
external training workshops, and a variety of media events
Organise visits to schools and universities, to
engage with young people
Set up a free nationwide ‘agony aunt’ helpline service for the general
public, which is to be advertised in the national press and broadcast media
Note:
The issue of 'Endorsing Authorities'
for the Chaplaincy projects will not be addressed in the near future, as we
feel that priority should be given to the setting up and establishment of our
infrastructure and support network.
We believe that in the fullness of
time, suitable representational arrangements will naturally emerge of their
own accord, reflecting the level of maturity and integration achieved by
various projects.
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NASACRE : Recruitment and Training Programme
(East, South-East, South-West)
We
still need Buddhist reps for :
Bedford borough (We
now have a candidate)
Bedfordshire Central (meetings in Dunstable ?) (We now have a
candidate)
Suffolk
South
Gloucestershire
North
Somerset
Dorset
CornwallBexley in South East London (We now have a
candidate)
Solihull in the West Midlands
You
may be aware that NASACRE has received funding from the Department for
Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Curriculum Cohesion Unit to
develop its recruitment and training programme designed to build SACRE
capacity. This funding is phased over two years and the second year is about
to commence. The programme will be focused principally on filling vacancies
on Group A (basically any other faith group apart from CoE)
in the East of England, in the South East and the South
West. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_regions)
A
Report for the RE Council of the NASACRE Recruitment and Training
programme phase-1 can be downloaded from the REC website : http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org/images/stories/pdf/report%20for%20rec.pdf
You
will find information on what a SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious
Education) does on the National SACRE web site : www.nasacre.org.uk
You
might also want to have a look at the following documents :
http://www.dharmapeople.com/ftp/SACRE_RE/NASACRE/NASACRE_training.htm, and http://www.dharmapeople.com/ftp/SACRE_RE/Lewisham_SACRE.doc
Candidates
should be aware that between two and four days of their time will be taken up
by induction/training activities, but some of those might take place in the
evenings.
Financial
compensation is only envisaged for expenses (e.g. travel) but not for taking
time off for the training as such.
Ideally
suitable candidates would have some experience of education, and certainly an
interest in Religious Education. The role involves liaising with the faith
communities, schools (Teachers and children) and the Local Authorities.
The
candidate should have some time to spare (not a lot, just a few days per term
perhaps, and therefore people not in full-time employment, or just retired,
or young single parents, young teachers, etc might make ideal candidates).
They should also be prepared to represent their whole faith community,
regardless of their own specific background (either in terms of culture or
tradition), and be ready and willing to engage representatives from other
faiths in meaningful and constructive dialogue.
Should
multiple suitable candidates apply for the same Authority, the size of the
community they represent would become the discriminating factor. Candidates
are selected by the Local Authority itself.
If
anyone from yours, or other Buddhist groups you are in contact with, are
interested in exploring the possibility of engaging in SACRE activities,
please ask them to get in touch with me, and where vacancies are available, I
will endeavour to put then in touch with the NASACRE Recruitment Officer.
As
far as the first cohorts are concerned, right now I am aware of vacancies in
:
Bedford borough (We
now have a candidate)
Bedfordshire Central (meetings in Dunstable ?) (We now have a
candidate)
Suffolk
South
Gloucestershire
North
Somerset
Dorset
Cornwall
Plus
two other authorities from a previous cohort
Bexley
in South East
London
(We now have a candidate)
Solihull in the West Midlands
But
I am also aware of a number of other potential vacancies in the South East
and beyond, so please do register your interest in any case, because
opportunities arise all the time.
To
find out more about your local SACRE, look under the Members page in the NASACRE site, or search the web specifying : e.g.
‘SUFFOLK SACRE’
If
you or someone in your group would like to become Buddhist Representative on
your local Authority SACRE , and you live in one of the mentioned Regions
please let me know as soon as possible, sending me any details about yourself
and your experience that would enable your local authority to make on
informed decision about your application : please send it to
mmarcigaglia(_at_)yahoo.co.uk where the (_at_) stands for @; Mariano M. , Tel
020 72520804 (evenings and weekends)
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Buddhist Chaplaincy Project
The
relief of suffering has been central to the Buddhist way of life since its
inception. Chaplaincy is a particular way of structuring the relief of
suffering within contexts and settings that have developed in our society.
Thus there are prison chaplains, hospital chaplains, hospice chaplains,
military chaplains, university chaplains etc to reflect these different
settings. Within Buddhist chaplaincy there has been much good work done and
good practice established within some of these settings over many years.
However, there are some areas that might be covered which are not. I am
unaware of Buddhist Chaplaincy working with the homeless or in nursing homes
for example – of course much work is done by dedicated individuals without
using the term chaplaincy at all! Also, as far as I am aware, until very
recently there has been little sharing of ideas and good practice between
those working in different settings.
I
am currently studying with the Open University for a Diploma in Systems
Practice and part of the course is a short but intensive project. The title
for my project is ‘A Systemic Analysis of the Support Possibilities for
Buddhist Chaplaincy in the UK’. My choice of topic arose because I have
been a Buddhist Prison and Higher Education Chaplain for many years and
wished to reflect on my experience in a structured way in the hope that it
might provide some insights for the future development of chaplaincy.
The
purpose of this letter is to ask others to contribute from their experience
and ideas related to Buddhist Chaplaincy. Some of the questions below
are meant to be open-ended and therefore may appear somewhat vague! Please
answer them in a way that you feel makes best use of your own experience and
insights.
I
will acknowledge all my respondents in my project report and might even
include quotes. If you would rather I did not include quotes from your
contribution or include your name, please indicate in your answer to question
7.
Responses
should be emailed to: tomshort@fsmail.net
I
shall be producing a summary of my report when my course finishes in October
2009 and would be happy to send you a copy. Thank you in advance for
your help.
Tom
Short
Questions:
Please provide a brief indication of the
nature of your experience within the Buddhist Chaplaincy context.
Could you please indicate what you think are
(or should be) the most important 5 services provided by Buddhist Chaplaincy?
(These may be specific to a given setting)
What are the most important
qualities/qualifications/characteristics/skills/experience etc needed to
carry out chaplaincy work?
What kind of support do chaplains need in
order to carry out their work?
Should the work of chaplains be
monitored/reviewed in any way? If so, how?
Please add additional thoughts that you feel
might help to further the work of Buddhist Chaplaincy
Do you wish your contribution to be treated
anonymously?
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Looking
for a Chaplaincy Course in the South East ?
The University Of East London is offering a Certificate in Spiritual, Religious and
Cultural Care
One
year, part-time, evening programme with fieldwork placements.
More
details here : http://www.uel.ac.uk/psychology/programmes/undergraduate/spiritual-care.htm
---------------------
St Mary's University
College (Twickenham) : Healthcare Chaplaincy Foundation Degree
What: 2 year minimum day/block release course run by St Mary's University
College (Twickenham) in Richmond
Upon Thames.
Who: St Mary's University
College (Twickenham)
Where: St Mary'S University
College, Richmond Upon Thames,
TW1 4SX
http://london.floodlight.co.uk/london/course-details-reviews/st-marys-university-college-twickenham/healthcare-chaplaincy-foundation-degree/16180339/31100886/course-info.html
---------------------
Newham College Of FE
: Chaplaincy in Corporate and Community Settings BA Hons
What: 3 year full time course run by Newham College Of
Further Education in Newham.
Who: Newham College
Of Further Education (Read More)
Where: University Centre Stratford,
Newham, E15 4HT
http://london.floodlight.co.uk/london/course-details-reviews/newham-college-of-further-education/chaplaincy-in-corporate-and-community-settings-ba-hons/16180339/33096089/course-info.html
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Chaplaincy
articles, from the web
Peter Goble offers this gem from St TIGGYWINKLE'S NHS
UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION TRUST
DEPARTMENT OF MEANING, PURPOSE AND
HOPE (FORMERLY SPIRITUAL AND PASTORAL CARE) :
NOTICE
TO PATIENTS
http://buddhisthospice.blogspot.com/2009/08/i-picked-this-leaflet-up-recently.html
--------
and from Church Times, interview: Kelvin Woolmer, London Olympics chaplain
--------
Here you can meet the O2 Multifaith
Chaplaincy Team :
http://www.greenwich-peninsula-chaplaincy.org.uk/chaplains.html
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Immigration Rules changes for
Ministers of Religion
Message
from the Network of Buddhist Organisations
THE UK Border Agency have
new proposals for British Citizenship, for which they are currently inviting
comment.
If your organisation has monks here on visas, who may wish to apply for
British Citizenship in the future, now is the time to have your say.
Most of us got caught napping over the new visa system. Don't let it happen
again.
Go to the NBO home
page (http://www.nbo.org.uk/home.htm)
and click the 'Immigration Rule Changes' button to read more.
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Dalai Lama "hopeful" China will change Tibet policy
The Tibetan spiritual leader says expect a change from China within five to
ten years
By Michelle Klepper : Times
Online Article
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Consultation on
new single Equality Duty on public bodies
The Equality Bill, (on which see Circular 09/09), which is
currently before Parliament includes provision for a new single Equality Duty
on public bodies. This builds on existing public duties relating to
disability, gender and race but covers the ‘protected characteristics’ of
age, religion or belief, sexual orientation and gender reassignment as well.
The new Duty will require public bodies to tackle
discrimination; advance equality of opportunity; and promote good relations.
It requires public bodies to consider how their spending decisions, employment
practices and the services they provide affect people in the groups with
‘protected characteristics’. It will also require public bodies with 150 or
more employees to report annually on their gender pay gap; black and minority
ethnic employment rates; and their disability employment rates.
The aim is for the new Equality Duty to come into force in
April 2011. This will allow time for the public sector and business to
prepare, and for the Equality and Human Rights Commission and others to
provide comprehensive guidance. Enforcement of the new Equality Duty will be
by judicial review or through the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
The Government has now issued, as promised, a consultation
paper setting out its proposals for the specific requirements to be set out
in secondary legislation, made under the Bill, intended to ‘help public
bodies meet the new Equality Duty in an effective and proportionate way’. The
consultation document, entitled Equality Bill: Making it Work— Policy
proposals for Specific Duties—A Consultation can be found at: www.equalities.gov.uk/pdf/Specific%20Duties%20Consultation%20DocumentWEB.pdf
The consultation period runs until 30 September. More details are at: www.equalities.gov.uk.
Public authorities will not be required to publish a separate
equality scheme. Instead the intention is that their objectives, action to be
taken by them and the results of this are to be developed as part of an organisation's core business planning and reported on in
normal business processes, such as annual reports or school profiles.
The public sector spends £175 billion every year buying goods
and services. The consultation document proposes that contracting authorities
should:
·
when setting out their equality objectives and the steps they intend to take
to achieve them, include how they will ensure that equality factors are
considered as part of their public procurement activities to help contribute
to the delivery of those objectives
·
consider using equality criteria when awarding contracts where these relate
to the subject matter of the contract and are proportionate (eg requiring firms bidding for a diversity training
contract to report the proportion of black or minority ethnic people they
employ)
·
stipulate equality contract conditions where these relate to the performance
of the contract and are proportionate (eg an agency
managing the recruitment process for a contracting authority might be
required to advertise all vacancies with part-time or flexible working
options).
Other proposals set out in the consultation document include
requiring public authorities to:
·
publish equality objectives and set out how they intend to achieve them,
reporting annually on progress against these objectives;
·
show how they have considered equality when thinking about service delivery
and designing policy;
·
involve employees, service users and other relevant groups.
The proposals in the consultation document apply to public
authorities operating across Great
Britain in relation to
non-devolved functions, and to public authorities operating in England.
Separate consultation documents will be issued by the Scottish Executive and
the Welsh Assembly Government setting out their plans for specific duties for
relevant Scottish and Welsh public authorities.
Following this consultation, the Government will continue to
refine its policy before publishing draft regulations next year for
consultation.
Equality and Human Rights Commission: Human Rights Inquiry
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published
a report setting out the findings of a Human Rights Inquiry undertaken under
its statutory powers. The Inquiry, which was announced in March 2008, was
chaired by Dame Nuala O’Loan.
The Inquiry’s two main terms of reference were: to assess
progress towards the effectiveness and enjoyment of a culture of respect for
human rights in Great Britain; and to consider how the current human rights
framework might best be developed and used to realise
the vision of a society built on fairness and respect and confident in all
aspects of its diversity.
The Inquiry sought to establish the extent to which respect
for the human rights of individuals was embedded in service delivery in
England and Wales today; to look at the barriers to the assertion, enjoyment
and delivery of human rights; and to identify models of good practice; to
identify opportunities which may be transferable from one sector or organisation to another.
The Inquiry report does not explore in depth the application
of the different specific rights set out in the European Convention on Human
Rights (which the Human Rights Act incorporated into UK law); or consider
areas where these may be in conflict with one another. Rather, it explores
attitudes to human rights and the way in which a human rights approach is
being applied in different public sectors.
Alongside the main report of nearly 200 pages, an Executive
Summary has been published. Both can be found on the EHRC website together
with material relating to representations made to the Inquiry and transcripts
of its hearings, at www.equalityhumanrights.com/fairer-britain/human-rights/human-rights-inquiry.
Hard copies of the documents can be secured from the EHRC.
Note on Circular material relating to Governmental issues
The inclusion in Network Circulars of material relating to
particular Governmental action, such as legislation, particular policies or
published documents is included for information purposes and implies, of
course, no particular view on them on the part of the Inter Faith Network.
Best wishes, Harriet Crabtree
Dr Harriet Crabtree, Director
The Inter Faith Network for the UK
8A Lower Grosvenor Place
London SW1W
0EN
Tel: 020 7931 7766 Fax: 020 7931 7722
Email: ifnet@interfaith.org.uk Web: www.interfaith.org.uk
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Interfaith
: IFN Resources
IFN Circular 12/09 EHRC grants programme;
Awards for Bridging Cultures;
ECU; European elections
EHR Funding
Equality and Human Rights Commission
new grants programme
On 8 May the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) announced a new
£10.2 million Strategic Funding Programme, providing three-year
project-based funding for national, regional or local community and
voluntary sector organisations. The grants will be for up to three years in
2009-12 with a maximum overall amount of £450,000 (and of no more than
£150,000 in any one year). It does not cover work in Northern Ireland, the
Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
A first priority for the new programme will be to fund organisations
providing guidance, advice and advocacy services in areas including
education, health and employment, as well as building capacity where there
are gaps in local provision, for example for women who have experienced
violence. A second priority will be to support increased co-operation
between groups - including ethnic or religious communities - in areas where
there are known tensions. A third priority funding area for the Commission
is support for legal advice and awareness of legal rights, but this will be
funded under a separate Programme which the Commission expects to launch in
June.
The Commission is particularly keen to fund activity that directly serves
and involves individuals and local communities, that meets an unmet need,
and that has the potential to inspire and inform longer-term activity that
helps promote the Commission's objectives. The new funding programme builds
on the Commission's 2008-09 interim grants programme, linking closely to its
three year strategy for 2009-12 (soon to be published).
A series of local "funding surgeries", providing information,
advice and
guidance to those voluntary and community organisations that wish to apply
for the funding will be held across the nine English Regions, Wales and
Scotland in May and early
June. Details of these events are not yet
available on the EHRC's website but further
information on the grants
programme, applying for funding under it, and on regional office contacts
can be found at www.equalityhumanrights.com/funding
<http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/funding>
.
The deadline for initial outline applications for strategic funding is 5 pm
on 12 June. Results from the first tranche of
applications will be
announced towards the end of July 2009, when selected applicants will be
asked to submit more detailed proposals. The adoption of this two stage
application process is designed to reduce paperwork and bureaucracy and to
ensure that applications that do not meet the Commission's criteria are
identified at an early stage. The deadline for the completion of Stage 2
applications will be in mid-September with the results announced from
mid-October. All funded projects will be expected to commence by January
2010.
Awards for Bridging Cultures
In 2008, the Institute of Community
Cohesion launched the Awards for
Bridging Cultures. Funded by the Baring Foundations, these reward local
schemes and projects run by grassroots community and voluntary organisations
that help to build bridges between communities and cultures. The
application process is now open for this year's awards, which include a new
award for individual volunteers who have made a significant contribution to
initiating or running these projects. A copy of the guidance for applicants
and the application form can be found at www.bridgingcultures.org.uk
<http://www.bridgingcultures.org.uk> or the Awards
team can be telephoned
on 024 7679 5768. The deadline for applications is 14 September.
Equality Challenge Unit
The higher education Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) has recently published
its first briefing note in a planned series on religious observance in
higher education institutions. It deals with 'Religious observance in HE -
timetabling and work patterns' and can be found at
www.ecu.ac.uk/publications/religious-obs-timetabling
<http://www.ecu.ac.uk/publications/religious-obs-timetabling>
.
The ECU is now looking to produce other practical guidance for institutions
relating to potential conflicts between religious observance and the
provision of facilities and services. This follows a meeting involving the
ECU, national student-led religion and belief organisations, unions, higher
education institutions and other religion and belief organisations. The
meeting identified some key areas where there may be a clash between
religious observance and the provision of facilities and services,
including:
* The provision and management of prayer facilities (e.g. multi faith
rooms and 'personal reflection, meditation or prayer' rooms)
* The presence of alcohol at key events (e.g. AGMs, union elections and
inductions)
* Catering for a range of dietary requirements (e.g. Kosher, Halal, vegan)
* Provision of specific accommodation (e.g. single sex accommodation,
Shabbat appropriate accommodation) and the use of shared kitchen facilities.
The ECU is interested to learn whether staff and students have approached
your organisation with issues in these areas (or others) and, if so, what
steps have been taken to resolve these clashes. Please send any relevant
material to chris.brill@ecu.ac.uk <mailto:chris.brill@ecu.ac.uk> by 22 May
2009.
To ensure that practical solutions can be shared with the sector, ECU has
asked that responses include information on:
* How the course of action taken was decided, e.g. through
consultation with student religion and belief groups
* The key learning points.
Best wishes, Harriet Crabtree
Dr Harriet Crabtree
Director
Inter Faith Network for the UK
8A Lower Grosvenor Place
London
SW1W 0EN
Tel: 020 7931 7766
email: harriet.crabtree@interfaith.org.uk
general office email: ifnet@interfaith.org.uk
www.interfaith.org.uk <file:///\\www.interfaith.org.uk>
Subject: Latest on the Commission's Funding Programme for
Voluntary and Community Sector Friday
8th May 2008
Please note that the deadline for applications is 12th June. Please pass this
information on as you think fit.
Dear Colleague
Commission announces £10 million funding programme for voluntary and
community sector
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) today announced a new £10.2
million Strategic Funding Programme, providing three-year project-based
funding of up to £450,000 for community and voluntary sector organisations.
A first priority area will fund organizations providing guidance, advice and
advocacy services in areas including education, health and employment, as
well building capacity where there are gaps in local provision, for example
for women who have experienced violence. A second priority area will
support increased co-operation between groups -- including ethnic or
religious communities -- in areas where there are known tensions.
A third priority area is support for legal advice and awareness of legal
rights. This will operate as a separate Programme which is expected to
launch in June.
The Commission is particularly keen to fund activity that directly serves
and involves individuals and local communities, that meets an unmet need,
and that has the potential to inspire and inform longer-term activity that
helps promote the Commission's objectives.
The new funding programme builds on the Commission's 2008-09 interim
programme, and is at the core of a soon to be
launched three year strategy
which will set out the Commission's vision of a Britain built on
principles
of fairness, equality and respect.
A series of local funding surgeries, providing information, advice and
guidance to those voluntary and community organizations that wish to apply
for the funding will be held across the nine English Regions, Wales,
Scotland and from 18 May -
3 June 2009.
The deadline for applications for strategic funding is 5pm, June
12, 2009.
Results from the first tranche of applications will
be announced towards the
end of July 2009.
The programme includes a simplified two stage application process to reduce
paperwork and bureaucracy and ensure that applications that don't meet the
Commission's criteria are identified at an early stage. Improved monitoring
will ensure value for money throughout the lifetime of each funded project.
Trevor Phillips, Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:
"In tough economic times, people who are on the sharp end of
discrimination
and inequality are more in need of support than ever. Community
organisations that give people skills, support and access to opportunity
play a vital role in keeping communities together, building the strong,
prosperous and inclusive Britain we all want to
see.
"Through supporting this vital grass roots work, which is often
under-funded
and under-appreciated, the Commission will make a daily, tangible, and
invaluable impression on the lives of thousands of individuals."
Full details, as well as guidance notes and the outline proposal form will
be available in a full range of accessible formats at
www.equalityhumanrights.com/funding
<http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/funding> from 8th May.
We hope that you find this of use. Please feel free to circulate to
colleagues and anyone who may be interested in the programme.
Yours sincerely,
Jackie Beer
Head of Stakeholder Relations
Equality and Human Rights Commission
3 More London
Riverside, Tooley Street
SE1 2RG
Email: stakeholders@equalityhumanrights.com
<mailto:stakeholders@equalityhumanrights.com>
Web: www.equalityhumanrights.com <http://www.equalityhumanrights.com>
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Dear Everyone,
I am sending you details of advice (adapted from advice originally publicised
by the Hindu Forum of Britain), concerned with
the risks of the transmission of swine flu at meeting places. This advice
therefore varies slightly from that in the leaflets which have been sent to
every home.
The text of this advice is available from the NBO website at http://nbo.org.uk/home.htm <http://nbo.org.uk/home.htm>
, on the Resources button on the left hand side.
Further advice that I have seen suggests that handwashing
should be practised a minimum of 10 times a day, and it is important to dry
the hands thoroughly, preferably on a disposable towel, as pathogens are more
likely to survive if the hands are not well dried.
Although the impact of swine flu on this country has so far not been serious,
attack rates of between 25 and 50% are possible, especially as we approach
the coming winter, the traditional influenza season. It is as yet
too early to know what the mortality pattern will be but it is entirely possible
that it will be unlike that to which we are accustomed, (affecting mainly the
frail and elderly), and that it may therefore have a much higher impact on
the working population, including healthcare workers. The impact of
anti-viral tablets when used on the large-scale is entirely unknown. Without
being alarmist, it is possible is that we are seeing the start of something
quite unlike anything that we have experienced for generations. We therefore
have a responsibility to minimise the risk of transmission, having regard to
all sections of the community.
Further information is available on the links which are included at the
bottom of the website article.
With all good wishes,
Sally Masheder, Secretary of the Network of
Buddhist Organisations
From: Warwick Hawkins Sent: Friday, May
01, 2009 1:59 PM
Subject: Pandemic Flu guidelines and FCCC
minutes
Dear FCCC members,
If an influenza (flu) pandemic happens in the UK, everyone will need
to play a part in managing how it affects our society. At such a time, faith
communities have an important role to play in victim support. Strong
leadership from faith communities is vital when large scale incidents trigger
concerns about social cohesion. Moreover, large scale fatalities raise
specific issues for faith communities that need to be addressed. Communities
and Local Government has now re-issued a document, Faith Communities and
Pandemic Flu: Guidance for faith communities and local influenza pandemic
committees, which is intended to provide valuable guidance on the faith
dimension of a flu pandemic. It provides tools and a roadmap for good
practice, and should be read alongside the more general emergency planning
guidance Key Communities, Key Resources: Faith Communities and Civil
Resilience. (June 2008)
Both documents can be found at this link - http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/influenzapandemic
.
The
revised guidance (May 2009) updates previous guidance (issued June 2008) on
the same issue. As you know, it was initially drafted by a working group of
the Council under the chairmanship of John Devine, along with representatives
of the Church of England, Methodist Church, British Muslim Forum, Hindu
Council UK, Sikhs in England, Agency for Jewish Education and the Inter Faith
Network for the UK. The revised version has been drawn up over several months
and in consultation with the FCCC working group and with other Government
Departments including Cabinet Office and the Department of Health. Certain
sections, for instance on infection control, have been updated to bring them
into line with the latest Department of Health guidance. Although the
guidance has not been developed as a direct response to the present outbreak
of swine flu in Mexico and elsewhere,
the current situation may make it particularly relevant to those to whom it
is aimed.
I also attach, for your information, the minutes of the last
full FCCC meeting. We are about to embark on the review process and will be
in touch about this in due course. In the meantime, please let me know if
there are any issues you would like to raise at the 9th June meeting.
<<Minutes of the 10th Meeting - FCCC - 160309 - FINAL -
YPB.doc>>
Best
wishes,
Warwick
(Secretary) , 020 7944 0530
Warwick Hawkins , Head of Faith
Communities Engagement
Cohesion
and Faiths Division, Communities and Local Government
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FIFE Newsletter:
June 2009, an extract
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