*CONTINUE SIGNING + SHARING PETITION UNTIL 18 MARCH

I am a committed interfaith supporter, and I am deeply concerned about the future of the Inter Faith Network (IFN) in the UK. The National Inter Faith Week, an initiative of this network, has been instrumental in fostering dialogue and mutual respect among diverse religious groups.

Last November, the Archbishop of Canterbury hosted an Inter Faith Week​ event at Lambeth Palace, which was attended by King Charles III, Cardinal Vincent Nichols and 30 other faith leaders. IFN has been a beacon of unity, promoting understanding and cooperation among different faith communities across the UK.

This vital work is under threat. The Secretary of State for Communities, Michael Gove, wrote to IFN on 21 February that he had decided to withdraw £155,000 of funding pledged in July 2023, due to the appointment of a Trustee from the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB). IFN has issued a response to Mr Gove’s concerns here.

As a result of this decision, not only might we lose National Inter Faith Week, but also four dedicated staff members who have tirelessly worked towards promoting harmony among different faiths.

The importance of such initiatives cannot be overstated especially at a time when hate crimes against religious groups are on an alarming rise. By cutting funds to this network working to mitigate such issues through dialogue and understanding, the UK Government risks exacerbating divisions within our society.

Please join me in calling upon Michael Gove to reverse his decision and provide the funding pledged to Inter Faith Network in July 2023. Let's stand together for unity and mutual respect amongst all faiths in our country. Please sign this petition today!

Find out more:

Evening Standard: Funding withdrawal for faith charity happening at ‘extraordinarily stupid’ time

BBC News: Interfaith charity set to close after government funding pulled

Church Times: Closure looms for interfaith charity because of government concerns over Muslim trustee 

Independent Catholic News (ICN): Challenging government plans to cut Inter Faith Network funding

Premier Christian News: Interfaith leaders say network will be great loss as government fund-pull spells end

Quakers in Britain: Quakers urge government to continue funding Inter Faith Network

 

It would also be very helpful if you wrote to Michael Gove now. Here is a sample letter which you can adapt as you wish. Please send a copy and/or write to your MP.

Your address and date

The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities 

South West Quadrant, 2nd Floor 

Fry Building 

2 Marsham Street 

London 

SW1P 4DF

Ministerial.Correspondence@levellingup.gov.uk

Dear Secretary of State.

I am deeply disappointed and appalled at your decision to end funding for the Inter Faith Network for the UK and your highly questionable reasons for doing so.

[Include personal details of how the IFN has helped your work and the support of the staff. ]

I have nothing but praise for the staff of the Network which has done wonderful work over many years. They have supported us and we have supported them. Who will support us now?

National Inter Faith Week events are now at risk as a result of this decision. It is not only the larger organisations who benefit from the Network. Many work on their own in the interfaith field and value the support they receive. The IFN has done everything it can to meet the requirements of the Government.

The Faith Minister Simon Hoare MP and other MPs from across the political spectrum have praised the work of IFN in the House of Commons. Why is this excellent organisation being closed down? And this is a network which has done so much throughout our country for good for so many years. Other networks have been mentioned by the Faith Minister but none of them have the experience, prestige and breadth of IFN.

We read so much about the terrible state of the world. Why can we not hold on to what is good in our society?

The timing of this decision could not be worse. We need to use all our interfaith contacts to work together not to sow division. The basis of interfaith is friendship. We need to turn strangers into friends and continue to dialogue. There are many frightened and anxious people in our Jewish and Muslim communities and there has been a notable increase in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.

This decision sends all the wrong signals about interfaith.

Please reconsider these decisions before we lose something that we all value so much!

Yours sincerely

Your name and interfaith role

 

 

Photo credit Michael Preston on behalf of Quakers in Britain