PRESS RELEASE: IT’S SIX MONTHS TO GO TO INTER FAITH WEEK 2023!

12 - 19 November 2023

This year, the ever more popular national Inter Faith Week takes place from 12 to 19 November. This will be its 15th year. The Week’s aims are to:

• Strengthen good inter faith relations at all levels
• Increase awareness of the different and distinct faith communities in the UK, celebrating and building on the contribution which their members make to their neighbourhoods and to wider society
• Increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious beliefs

IFN’s Co-Chairs Canon Hilary Barber and Narendra Waghela say:

"The Week makes a significant contribution to tackling ignorance and prejudice, increasing religious literacy, and widening awareness of the contribution of faith communities to society.  It is a force for creation and deepening of inter faith understanding, harmony and cooperation in the UK."

Each year thousands take part directly in the Week and millions encounter its positive messages through social media. A wide mix of different bodies take part: faith and belief bodies; local inter faith organisations; community and voluntary organisations; workplaces and staff networks; local authorities; emergency services;  schools, colleges, universities and youth organisations; chaplaincies; sports organisations; libraries, museums and art galleries; hospitals and hospices; and many others.  The number of schools taking part has grown rapidly across the last three years.

The six month point is a great time to start planning for an activity. Visit the Inter Faith Week website www.interfaithweek.org for more information and for activity ideas.

Notes:

1. More information at: www.interfaithweek.org
2. Enquiries about the Week: IFN office: 020 7730 0410.  Interviews available.
3. The hashtag for social media is #InterFaithWeek.
4. Inter Faith Week social media accounts can be found at www.twitter.com/IFWeek, www.facebook.com/ifweek, www.instagram.com/IFWeek and www.linkedin.com/showcase/ifweek/
5. Inter Faith Week is a programme of the Inter Faith Network for the UK (IFN) www.interfaith.org.uk, a charity which has been working since 1987 to promote inter faith understanding and cooperation in the UK.
6. IFN works in consultation with the Northern Ireland Inter-Faith Forum and the Inter-faith Council for Wales/Cyngor Rhyngffydd Cymru in relation to the Week in those nations.
7. Scottish Interfaith Week, which has run since 2004, is led by Interfaith Scotland (www.interfaithscotland.org/). It has its own dedicated website at: www.scottishinterfaithweek.org/.
8. The final Sunday of Inter Faith Week is also Mitzvah Day, a Jewish-led day of social action involving people of all faiths and none working together in their local communities (https://mitzvahday.org.uk/). Each year, many ‘Inter Faith Mitzvah Day’ activities take place to jointly mark Inter Faith Week and Mitzvah Day.
9. Photo credits: Top: The Mayor of Brent planting a tree during the Brent Multi-Faith Forum Peace Walk; Left: Newcastle Council of Faiths' ‘Friendship through Faith’ coach tour; Right: Faith and civic leaders at Top Church, Dudley