Westminster Council's Multi-faith network | Westminster, London, UK
Outstanding Diversity Network

The Multi-Faith network started from humble beginnings within the Council. 3 volunteers came together to form the Network so that we could highlight and recognise the integral part Faith communities play in the Council and wider community. The network engages with our individual understandings of what it means to belong to our own community. This is underpinned by our commitment to demonstrate how education, through events, discussions and activities builds tolerance and understanding and dispels the myths and stigmas around religion and cultural beliefs. Through engagement with colleagues and senior leaders in the Council we have furthered the organisations values and behaviours. The Co-Chair volunteers of the Network have developed and maintained relationships with community leaders across Westminster partnering with organisations such as the AIWG (Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group) to tackle sensitive issues relating to hate crime in the form of Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism, or against those of Sikh, Christian and other beliefs. The Co-Chairs of the Multi-Faith Network have worked with colleagues in Public Health placing a religious perspective on suicide prevention and Men's wellbeing and Mental Health awareness. Recognising that colleagues do not just belong to the Abrahamic faiths the Network has enabled and facilitated religious activities and discussion for those of Pagan and African beliefs. This has been achieved through events such as our introduction to Indigenous African Spiritual & Cosmology. To achieve this and recognising the importance of education, the Network researches and invites recognised and qualified Educators in these fields to lead events and sessions. We have been fortunate to enable colleagues to participate in walking tours, showcasing the impact and importance religion has played within the City of Westminster as part of our Rakhi, Diwali and Eid activities. We have organised tours to Synagogues, Churches and Mosques that enable colleagues to have a better understanding of religious requirements such as daily prayers, fasting over Ramadan and celebrating Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur and joining us to light the Menorah during Chanukah. The Multi-Faith Network has always discussed what it means to be part of our communities, recognising that we speak as individuals and allowing others to reflect on their relationship with their faith. Noting that we do not speak on behalf of our communities, that at times face global challenges we hold on to our belief that religion benefits the communities we live in and wider society. With this in mind we do not shy away from the difficult conversations through "Time to talk" sessions that enable colleagues to come together and constructively discuss the impact of global events and continue to foster inclusive working relationships through our Peace Café initiatives. The Multi-Faith Network has enabled colleagues to celebrate, educate and inform the organisation in this way over the past few years helping the Council to continue generating an inclusive workforce and togetherness.