Faith Minister Lord Bourne confirmed the Government’s resolve to stand together with the people of Sri Lanka following Easter Sunday’s terror attack, as he met faith and community leaders in Ilford, East London on 1st May.
Whilst visiting St Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Primary School and Sri Selva Vinayagar Temple, Lord Bourne expressed his condolences to Sri Lankan communities and vowed to confront hatred and intolerance.
Marking the fifth leg of his current national faith tour, the Minister also spent the morning meeting representatives of the Gardens of Peace Muslim Cemetery and the Ilford Islamic Centre to extend further support and reassurance to communities still coming to terms with last month’s terror attack in Christchurch, New Zealand
At the centre he joined a roundtable discussion on issues of most concern to local Muslim communities including mosque security.
Reflecting on the visit, Faith Minister Lord Bourne said: “It shocks and appals to consider the awful events in Sri Lanka only last Sunday and the dreadful attacks in Christchurch last month. Now more than ever we need to show our support for those communities affected.
“Thankfully, today has been a much-needed tonic, providing an insight into the inspiring work local faith leaders and their congregations are doing to make they communities even better places to live.
“The Government supports faith communities around the country and encourages all faith groups to work together to boost integration. With their guidance and example we can make our country a more understanding, tolerant and loving place to live."
On the tour, Lord Bourne also visited the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Jain Sangh East London and Essex for a tour of their temples and to learn about the work they do in the local community.
The Belief in Communities tour consists of monthly visits across the country to both explore and engage with volunteers and faith leaders on the role that faith plays in their communities and especially their work in bringing people of different faiths and backgrounds together.
The tour launched in December 2018 beginning with a visit to the Highway of Holiness Church in Tottenham, an Evangelical Pentecostal church which doubles as a homeless shelter. In the seven years since opening in 2009 it has helped 900 men.
In February 2019, the Government published the Integrated Communities Action Plan which sets out 70 actions the Government will be taking to promote better integration amongst communities.
Also in February the Government announced a new Faith Leader Training programme to empower more than 300 faith leaders with the confidence and knowledge to meet the changing needs of their congregations.
The programme will help them to identify issues like domestic and sexual abuse and mental health, in addition to equalities legislation and UK marriage law.
