Hoping to help build relationships between people of different faiths and beliefs, the Interfaith Week 2013 opened on Sunday, November 17, in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, was quoted on the event’s website.

“Inter Faith Week is an opportunity for people to come together for interfaith dialogue, learning and action,” Rev Bob Fyffe and Vivian Wineman, Inter Faith Network (IFN) Co-Chairs.

“It’s a time for extending existing bonds of cooperation and friendship and creating new ones.

“We hope that this year sees even wider circles of involvement and wish all taking part success in their events and projects."

Held for the fifth consecutive year, the "Inter Faith Week" usually takes place in England, Northern Ireland and Wales in the 3rd week of November, beginning on a Sunday.

It was first suggested after the Department for Communities and Local Government published Face to Face and Side by Side – a Framework for Partnership in our Multi Faith Society in July 2008.

This document presented the Government’s strategy for encouraging the further development of interfaith activity in England.

It set out how faith communities, Government and wider society can work together, at all levels, to bring people with different religions and beliefs together.

The event, the largest gathering for interfaith work in UK, has set three goals including; strengthening good interfaith relations at all levels.

Organizers also hope to increase awareness of the different and distinct faith communities in the UK, in particular celebrating and building on the contribution which their members make to their neighborhoods and to wider society

They also work to increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious beliefs

These goals will be met through a set of activities including open door days, interfaith walks and interfaith community actions, such as collecting food for food banks.

Arts and cultural events would also offer a good base for interfaith interaction during the week-long events.

Praise

The success of the event was praised as setting basis for interfaith reactions in the UK.

“Across the last five years, interfaith week has shown the wide variety of joint action between those of different faiths and beliefs across our communities as people give their time and energy to make their communities a better place,” Baroness Warsi, Faith and Communities Minister, was quoted on the event’s website.

"So many excellent events have taken place over these years, in places from hospitals to universities and involving hundreds of places of worship, as those who are united and motivated by their faith come together across the country for a good cause.

"I hope that this year even more people of all ages and faith will enjoy working and learning alongside each other during Inter Faith Week," she added.

Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, shared a similar opinion.

"Interfaith social action brings our communities closer together and Inter Faith Week is a terrific opportunity to highlight this, whilst celebrating the practical contribution that our faith groups make to society,” he said.

"I hope that people of different faiths and beliefs - from local authorities, schools, and voluntary organizations across the country, will take part in some of the events that will be happening across their communities.

"Inter Faith Week, and the wider work of the Inter Faith Network in the UK, showcases perfectly what can be achieved when those of faith and those of none work together using a combination of social action and practical activities.

“Hopefully this week will inspire many more people to get involved.”

http://www.onislam.net/english/news/europe/466059-interfaith-week-kicks-off-in-uk.html

https://islamstory.com/en/artical/16097/interfaith-week-uk