Luton Council of Faiths: “Question Time with Faith Leaders”

Near Neighbours supported Luton Council of Faiths (LCF) to organise eight school assembly visits in Luton with an interfaith panel of local leaders.

The LCF facilitator, Ryad Khodabocus, was inspired to undertake this project in order to “bring people together” and “offer an opportunity for intergenerational engagement” where children and adults could learn from each other. The panel was religiously and culturally diverse, including leaders from Jewish, Muslim, Baha’i, Hindu, and Christian traditions.

The panellists worked together to deliver an interactive session, in which they each shared about some of the beliefs and values of their tradition and also gave children the opportunity to ask their questions.

During the project visit to Ramridge Primary School, the panellists were engaging more than 80 year 3 students from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds.

The children listened and participated actively, including asking questions ranging from “Why do you read from left to right?” to “Can you change your religion?”

Luton Council of Faiths panel at Ramridge Primary School

Ryad and the panellists encouraged the children to think about both the similarities and the differences between faiths in an age-appropriate way.

The panellists also shared examples of events where they have partnered with each other and other faith communities, demonstrating to children the strength of interfaith relationships and collaborations in Luton.

After the assembly a teacher commented: “In class afterwards we had a long discussion about the meaning of religion, what place they take in our lives and how people can work together. It was really good.

One lad commented that he had never seen a Christian and a Muslim together being friends. It opened his eyes.”

Ryad was encouraged by the event, noting that the children asked a lot of good questions and clearly were “wanting to know more and not intimidated.” He also reflected that bringing schools and the LCF together has a “ripple effect” of “normalising people of different faiths working together.”

In a diverse context like Luton, this project has made an important contribution of building interfaith relationships and educating children from diverse backgrounds about religious traditions in their community.

Luton Council of Faiths has been invited to other schools to continue this work, and they are in the process of fundraising to support the extension of this valuable initiative.