Walsall, Thursday 25th September – Strengthening Faith Institutions (SFI) in partnership with Near Neighbours Black Country held an information evening with faith organisations, local council leadership and a diversity of faith leaders on the importance of safeguarding. At SFI, we repeatedly emphasise the importance of implementing safeguarding policies and procedures within a place of worship; according to the NSPCC, it is defined as the active efforts taken to “promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.”
Back in March of this year, the Integrated Communities Strategy was launched to tackle the root causes of poor integration and create a stronger, more united Britain. Walsall falls under the 5 ‘Integration Areas’ to develop and strengthen grass root communities to promote integration. The evening started with Ruth Burgess discussing Interfaith Week, which this year falls on Sunday 11 – Sunday 18 November, the week seeks to build good relationships and working partnerships between people of different faiths and beliefs across the UK and continued with Haroon Ravat, from Walsall Council’s Community, Equality and Cohesion discussing the collaboration of how the council and faith communities within Walsall can continue to work together to promote community cohesion.
The evening concluded with Shakil Ahmed, SFI coordinator within Birmingham and Walsall discussing successful case studies of SFI and the training courses on offer for faith institutions and supplementary schools.
We would like to thank Near Neighbours and Walsall Council, Community, Equality and Cohesion Team for their collaboration. We look forward to continuously working with them in the future.
