Part-time National Co-ordinator to support and develop the City of Sanctuary movement throughout the UK.
An exciting opportunity for someone with vision and enthusiasm to play a key role in this growing social movement to build a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary.
For details of the post and an application pack visit www.cityofsanctuary.org/jobs
For further information email craig@cityofsanctuary.org

The closing date for applications is 23 July 2010.

A new book by Agnes Grunwald-Spier.

Why Some People Chose to Save Jews in the Holocaust - New accounts of the courage of non-Jews who saved Jews from the Nazis.  As a baby Agnes was saved from the horrors of Auschwitz by an unknown official and she is now a trustee of the Holocaust Memorial Day Turst.  She has collected stories from 30 individuals who rescued Jews and provides a new insight into why these people were prepared to risk so much for their fellow men and women.

Agnes was a member of the Steering Group which examined the feasibility of creating the Yorkshire & Humber Faiths Forum from January 2003 and one of the founding YHFF Council Members.  She is a Holocaust survivor with an MA in Holocaust Studies.  She is a Justice of the Peace and a member of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. 

There is a launch in Sheffield on Monday 12 July.  If you are interested in attending please let Mary know by Thursday 8 July.  mary.white@yorkshireandhumberfaiths.org.uk

To be published in June 2010, at £14.99
ISBN 978-0-7524-5706-2
Available from all good bookshops, Amazon.co.uk or www.thehistorypress.co.uk or from
Tel: 01235 465577 at Marston Book Services

Do you know about the different faiths communities in our region?
Would you like to build understanding, respect and co-operation between people of different faith backgrounds?
Would you like to increase your skills in relating to people of different faiths?
Do you want support in developing partnerships with faith communities?
Do you want help to understand current legislations that apply to religion and belief?

Faith Matters increases understanding between people of faith or of no faith. It enables progress beyond myths and stereotypes through dialogue and meaningful engagement, enabling Faith Communities to play an equal and sustainable role in informing the decisions that shape our society.
Faith Matters works to improve understanding and practice related to faith identity at all levels in organisational development, service delivery and community engagement.
Faith Matters will assist and support statutory organisations in the delivery of Community Cohesion and Local Area Agreements National Indicators (NIs) in particular NI 4, 7 and 35
Faith Matters:  A practical introduction looking at:
• Why it is important to know about the region’s faith communities
• Key implications of the equality legislation
• Examples of good practice

Faith Matters will also:
• Highlight and give real examples of the distinctions between faith, religion, spirituality, race and ethnicity, and the ways in which we can all use this knowledge and use it in our daily lives.
• Encourage and inspire delegates to disseminate and use the information provided in the training.

This seminar is suitable for anyone wishing to acquire a good general awareness of the major faiths, build partnerships and work more closely with people of different faith backgrounds. The seminar will be delivered by trainers drawn from a multi-faith training team.

Faith Matters offers a Living Faith programme, for example:

Living Islam
A one day seminar led by Muslim trainers and may include a visit to a Mosque.
This seminar will focus on:
• Muslim life, belief and practice
• Women in Islam
• Diversity in Islam
• Race, ethnicity and culture of Muslims

In-House Training
The Faith Matters seminar is available as an in-house training option at a time and location convenient to you.
Your organisation benefits from:
• Flexible arrangements
• Cost effective delivery
• Wider knowledge base for greater impact of learning in your organisation
• Reduced travel costs and time away from the workplace

Faith Matters is now part of the Yorkshire and Humber Faiths Forum in partnership with the Churches Regional Commission
For further information contact mary.white@yorkshireandhumberfaiths.org.uk

Sheffield City will see a whole host of events in June, July and August to celebrate a Summer of Sanctuary.

For more information www.cityofsanctuary.com

3 July - 4 December 2010

As part of the Treasures Revealed in Bradford project, five places of worship on Leeds Road in Bradford are offering guided tours starting at 10.30 and visiting St Peter's Church, the Abu Bakar Mosque, the Shri Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple, the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara (all off Leeds Road in Bradford 3), and finishing at Bradford Cathedral. Visitors are asked to book in advance through the Treasures Revealed website. www.treasuresrevealed.co.uk/Events/bradford-events or email John & Violet Joyce johnjoyce_leeds@hotmail.com 

Friday 9 July 9am – 1pm
Council Chamber, Leeds Civic Hall.

Ring 0113 2475876 to book a place.

TASTE THE VIBE OF LEEDS’ ONLY GLOBAL VILLAGE MARKET!
CALLING ALL POTENTIAL STALLHOLDERS!!!

Launching in July 2010 and featuring food, crafts, goods, music and more that reflects the vibrant diverse communities of Chapeltown, Leeds, communities that come from places such as the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

The market days will be on Saturdays, 10 July, 7 August and 4 September from 11am to 4pm At Potternewton Park, in the new Events Arena

Places are limited, so to register your interest phone 0113 350 4204 or email cdt@fgfleeds.org.

Please note: the dates for the markets are provisional at this stage and may be subject to change. There will also be a charge for the cost of stall hire. 

Sunday 11th July 2010, 12.30pm - 3.00pm Huddersfield Quaker Meeting House, Church Street, Paddock, Huddersfield, HD1 4TR (Opposite Gohar Superstore)

A wonderful opportunity bringing together people from diverse faiths and cultures. The event includes delicious vegetarian food & drink (bring along some vegetarian food to share from your faith & cultural tradition), games for all ages, parachute games, cooperative juggling (no juggling skills needed!), Sanctuary Tent (Run in cooperation with Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary) - with stories of people who have found a safe place to live after leaving dangerous places or situations, and live music from Europe & beyond.

For more information: 07939 288848 / cara@cooptel.net

Thursday 15 July 10am - 2pm, Salfia Centre, Dewsbury

Kirklees Women's Alliance and Kirklees Faiths Forum.  Find out more about infant mortality, post natal depression, weight management, spiritual healing, and much more.  All women welcome.  Creche available on request.

For more information Habiban Zaman 01924 324561 or Kirklees Faiths Forum 01924 324836

Manasamitra have commissioned Huddersfield poet and playwright Gareth Durasow to write and direct an original one act play challenging the threat of extremism. Step Away Before He Explodes is a classroom drama about four students with nothing in common except their misconceptions and intolerance towards one another.
Thursday 15 July 6pm - 7pm @ Ravensthorpe Community Centre, 24 Garden St, Ravensthorpe WF13 3AR
Thursday 22 July 6pm - 7pm @ Dewsbury Town Hall, Old Wakefield Rd, Dewsbury WF12 8DG
If you are interested in booking the play for your school or community centre please contact Mandeep Samra, Project Manager, on 07793 047 220 or email mandysamra@hotmail.com
For further information about the play please visit www.manasamitra.com

Sunday 18 July
Any time – somewhere local. A bring-your-own and share open air party; make friends with your neighbours.

Guidelines for preparing a Food Festival are on the YHFF website www.yorkshireandhumberfaiths.org.uk

Tuesday 20 July 1-3pm

Salfia Centre, Stoney Bank Street, Scout Hill, Dewsbury WF13 3RJ

For young people aged 13-25 to learn, engage and share ideas. Be inspired, create vision and, with enthusiasm, achieve greatness. 

Kirklees Faiths Forum invites you to join in discussion with Nazir Afzal OBE. Nazir Afzal, Director for Community Liaison at the Crown Prosecution Service, is a nationally merited and respected CPS lawyer.  Nazir’s innovative and futuristic leadership attributes have led him to become a tutor for Common Purpose and the Young Foundations who deliver programmes for the country’s emerging leaders. Nazir is recognised as one of the 100 most influential leading Muslims and Asians in the UK.

For more information contact KFF on 01924 324836

The KFF book club takes place on the last Thursday of every month at 10.30am.  It is an opportunity to read a new book each month, supplied by KFF and then share your thoughts through informal discussion with people from a variety of faith backgrounds.  Please phone 01924 324836 if you want to join.
Book for June is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, which we will meet to discuss on Thursday 22 July, 10.30am KFF Office at the Al Hikmah Centre, Batley. 

Sunday 1 August at 2pm

Roundhay Park, Leeds, at the shelter near the Mansion
Bring vegetarian food and drink to share

27, 28 & 29 August 2010
Friday 14:00 - 17:00
Saturday 11:00 - 16:00 (Opening Ceremony at 11:45)
Sunday 11:00 - 16:00
Leeds City Museum, Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 8BH
Free entrance ~ Blessings all day
Email: smile@jamyangleeds.co.uk Telephone: 07866 760 460

You are invited to an exhibition of Buddhist relics, some donated by HH the Dalai Lama. This rare collection includes relics of the Buddha and of masters from different Buddhist traditions. The aim of the Relic Tour is to bring people together to create the causes for world peace.  Throughout the event there will be blessing ceremonies with the relics. To find out more please visit:

www.maitreyaproject.org      www.jamyangleeds.co.uk     www.leeds.gov.uk/cityMuseum

Saturday 11th to Sunday 19th September 2010

The Treasures Revealed in Calderdale nine day festival and four week faith trail.

For further information contact 0113 2443413 or email tracy.needham@crc-online.org.uk

Supported by Calderdale Interfaith Council

Methodist Mission, Huddersfield; Saturday 2nd October, 10.30-4.00 costing just £5, which includes lunch.

Conference arranged by CRC's Interfaith Task Group in partnership with Churches Together in England, Bradford Churches for Dialogue and Diversity, Livability and Kirklees Faiths Forum, featuring Celia Blackden (CTE) and Helen Reid (BCDD).  Will also include a visit and lunch in a local gurdwara, temple or mosque.

This is to resource churches in their interfaith work, aimed at lay people and clergy.  Especially invited are people with no interfaith experience. 

To book contact Janet.Bryer@crc-online.org.uk, 0113 244 3413

A national Interfaith Week in England and Wales 

Sunday 21 November to Saturday 27 November 2010

This will build on the very successful Interfaith Week that was held for the first time in November 2009. 

Scottish Interfaith Week, now in its seventh year, will this year take place from Sunday 28 November to Saturday 5 December.

Local groups are encouraged to participate with events showcasing good local interfaith work.

Asian people are 50% more likely to develop heart disease and die prematurely because of this. Lifestyle plays an important role in health and research is needed to find out how to encourage Asian people to adopt healthier lifestyles. The University of Leeds and Heart Research UK are looking for Asian people to take part in an easy research project which can be completed in the comfort of your own home by post. We’d like to know about the kind of foods you’re eating and how much exercise you’re doing. You don’t have to have heart disease to participate but you must be aged over 18. There is a prize draw fund of £100 cash, £100 high street vouchers and three £50 runner up prizes. Please support this research which is committed to well being of the Asian community. If you’d like to take part or find out more, please contact the lead researcher on this project – Amrit on 0113 3439192 or email pscakd@leeds.ac.uk.

Postgraduate learning for: Professional Health Care Chaplaincy

A new range of modules offered by Leeds Metropolitan University leading to a Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Chaplaincy (subject to validation).  Leeds Metropolitan University, Institute for Spirituality, Religion & Public Life

This new postgraduate programme has been designed by academics and experienced chaplains to meet the professional development needs of those working in healthcare chaplaincy. The course of study covers a broad range of professional knowledge and capability supporting the provision of excellence in care. It has a direct bearing on the Knowledge and Skills Framework. An MA in health studies is available from Leeds Metropolitan University and the aim is to develop a named Master’s award at LMU for professional chaplaincy.

Fees: Chaplains and Honorary Chaplains working in NHS hospitals and NHS funded facilities in the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority region are eligible to apply for a limited number of funded places on the modules.  Chaplains from outside this region will be required to pay a fee per module (figure for 2010/11 to be confirmed) if they are accepted onto the programme

For further information contact Mrs Rait or Chris Swift on 0113-2064658 

First ever sample survey of England’s places of worship indicates 90% in good condition.

For more information on the campaign to help congregations launched on 30 June see www.english-heritage.org.uk/powar.
Central to the campaign is a PRACTICAL GUIDE for congregations looking after historic places of worship.
For photographs of places of worship all over the country please contact Ellie Hughes, Rebecca Taylor on 0207 973 3250
For more information, please contact: Communication Team or call 0207 973 3250.

5    Birthday of Guru Hargobind - Sikh

8/9    The Prophet's Night Journey and Ascension - Muslim

9    Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Bab - Bahai

13    Ratha Yatra - Hindu

15    Chokor (also Cho Kor Du Chen) - Buddhist

20    Jamshedi Noruz (New Year's Day) - Zoroastrian

20    Tisha B'Av - Jewish

23    Birthday of Guru Har Krishen - Sikh

24    Nativity of St John the Baptist - Christian

26    Asalha Puja - Buddhist

26/27    The Night of Forgiveness (Lailat-ul-Bara'h) - Muslim

Soundbites is sent by email each month to keep you up to date with our work as it progresses.

We invite you to submit your news and events details for inclusion within this monthly e-newsletter. Please send these to mary.white@yorkshireandhumberfaiths.org.uk.

Please do encourage your friends and colleagues to sign up for this FREE e-news bulletin by emailing mary.white@yorkshireandhumberfaiths.org.uk 

Our magazine Soundings will still be published three times each year giving you more detailed information about our work. Again, if you do not recieve a copy of Soundings, please send your name and postal address to: mary.white@yorkshireandhumberfaiths.org.uk

I do hope you find Soundbites useful.

Blessings and Peace,
Inderjit Bhogal, Chief Executive
Yorkshire & Humber Faiths Forum