One Community – Many Voices

Working Towards Conflict Resolution and Cohesion Through Work with Faith Communities in the UK and the Middle East
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Faith Matters
“Facilitating Faith Communities to Reduce Conflict”     
 

 

Faith Matters was formed in early 2006 as a vehicle to facilitate faith communities to reduce conflict within local areas. The Organisation came about partly due to ongoing issues between faith communities that were affecting community cohesion and partly due to a desire to bring faith communities together to understand commonalities, historical and religious similarities and the need to develop a bedrock of mutual support and assistance to combat xenophobia, intolerance, distrust and ignorance. Faith Matters was incorporated as a not for profit Community Interest Company in February 2007 and has subsequently undertaken a range of activities that are outlined within the Director’s report which is enclosed. The Organisation has a Board of Directors which meets regularly and which provides the strategic steer and governance. Also, each project undertaken has an Advisory Committee that advises on the operational elements on the programmes and that provides other useful community links for partnerships and promotional activities for these programmes.

 

The organisation has a number of work strands and objectives that are listed below. Faith Matters therefore works to provide:

  • Social programmes based on the themes of interfaith, conflict resolution, the protection of human rights and preventing violent extremism. Within these themes, we will work with any faith community though Faith Matters has built up a specialism in working with Jewish and Muslim faith groups. We also work within areas of geopolitical significance like the Middle East and we are currently working to set up programmes within Israel and the West Bank of Palestine.
  • Platforms where historical similarities are used as the glue to try to get faith communities to try to understand each others perspectives. The common theme here has been ‘Looking Back to Look Forward.’
  • A bridge between secular and faith communities.
  • Advice, support and consultancy to statutory, private and community / voluntary groups, in relation to faith groups. The advice and consultancy also relates to work around preventing violent extremism.
  • Faith Matters uses innovation and Information Technology techniques within the heart of the social programmes that we initiate and implement and we work with project partners with the same vision. 


Projects
The Bridging Beliefs Forums were a unique series of talks that took place, in a unique demonstration of togetherness, survivors of the Holocaust and the genocide of Bosnian Muslims came together to share...read more
 
The Cohesive Communities programme is primarily targeted towards Sikh and Muslim communities within the UK and will target a variety of groups such as students, religious and organisational leaders and individuals involved in the political life of this country...read more
 
Living Islam Out Loud Faith Matters started the co-ordination work for this project in to take four prominent US based Muslim authors and poets on a tour from London through the UK in order to engage with British Muslim women’s groups...read more
 
International Projects...Faith Matters has been advising on two international micro-finance projects namely with the Jerusalem Interest Free Fund and with the Future Visions Charity...read more
 
Company History
Faith Matters was founded by Fiyaz Mughal in early 2006 after 4 years of interfaith and conflict resolution work that he undertook, particularly between Muslim and Jewish communities. Faith Matters has specialized in developing unique and innovative projects that enhance cohesion, interfaith and conflict resolution work within the UK and internationally. Faith Matters is also undertaking work on Preventing Violent Extremism programmes and the ethos of the Organisation is based on the respect for and understanding of faiths and faith communities in today’s world.
 
Contact Us 
Faith Matters
Star House
104 Grafton Road
London
NW5 4BA
0207 485 1704
0793 960 9481
Community Interest Number 6082225