Festival celebrates different faiths

Interfaith Week runs between 16 and 20 November 2009

The Lancashire Forum of Faiths in Preston is helping to organise a series of events as part of Inter Faith Week 2009.

The Multi-Faith Festival will offer a diverse range of activities in which people from all walks of life can take part.

It's hoped the events will help increase understanding between different faiths.

Inter Faith Week runs between 16 and 20 November 2009.

The LFoF works in partnership with other faith organisations across the county and each of the faiths groups are represented from the main religions practiced in Lancashire: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Sikhism, and Baha'i.

The celebration starts with a Multi-Faith Exhibition at the Harris Museum in Preston where people can get information about different religions and faith based organisations and talk to representatives of the different faith communities.

Cultural dishes

The Multi-Faith Festival is engaging with pupils from Preston secondary schools by running a multi-faith film festival at the Preston ODEON cinema where pupils can view 'Religions of the World' narrated by Sir Ben Kingsley, to explore different religions and beliefs. The film screening is followed by a questions and answers session.

On Wednesday 18 November faith leaders will then come together for an Interfaith Football Tournament at Tulketh High School.

There will also be the chance to try different cultural dishes such as traditional English food, West-Indian cooking, Indian appetisers, and Chinese cuisines.

The week ends with a Charity Dinner on Friday 20 November drawing on the successes of the UK's first ever Inter Faith Week and celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Lancashire Forum of Faiths.

For more information visit the Lancashire Forum of Faiths website.

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Diversity Officer at Blackpool Police PC Julie Hall and Youth Worker at Blackpool Council Anna Elgee with members of the production

Drama production to celebrate Inter Faith Week

A drama production based on culture and faith will be delivered in schools in Blackpool this week to celebrate Inter Faith Week.

Blackpool' s Inter Faith Forum for Youth (BIFFY) has worked with Blackpool Police's Community Safety Department and Blackpool Young People's Services to support a group of young people to develop the production titled 'Dare to be Different' .

The group of ten young people from BIFFY who will deliver the drama are aged between 11 and 19 and represent the Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Christian faiths.

Dare to be Different will be delivered to pupils at Beacon Hill High School, Revoe Community Primary School and St Marys Catholic College. Drama production companies have been employed to work with the group to plan and prepare the production, which involves the use of mask, music, dance and drama.

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Building Bridges Pendle will also be hosting a number of events on Wednesday 18 November, as part of Inter Faith Week.

They will begin with an introduction to Building Bridges Pendle celebrating its 10th birthday, looking at the memories project.

For "Pendle Faith's Got Talent" a number of schools have been invited to put forward individual and group performances which will take place at Christ Church in Nelson.

This is followed by the Ghausia mosque looking at the question "Does Faith matter?" from a secular, Christian and Muslim perspective.

A final interactive event will see Christian and Muslim theatre companies coming together for the first time to explore faith-based stories.

For more information on these free events call 01282 719303.