Faiths Forum launches National Interfaith Week in Kirklees

Kirklees Faiths Forum held its Annual General Meeting at Dewsbury Town Hall, where 150 people gathered to share an evening of interfaith celebration to launch 2011's Interfaith Week in Kirklees.

After a performance by Powerplay, a vocal harmony group of young people from four Dewsbury schools, the event was opened by the Mayor of Kirklees, Cllr Eric Firth, with the words, ‘Let’s celebrate our differences and our diversity, but above all let’s celebrate our friendships.’ Khalida Ashrafi, from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, addressed the audience about her experiences working with faith communities and other groups, commenting that ‘there is more that binds us than divides us’ and inspiring those present to ‘gather our energies together’.

Representatives from public, private and community organisations attended the event, including the Chief Executive of Kirklees Council, Adrian Lythgo. Also present was the Commercial Director of Huddersfield Town Football Club, Sean Jarvis; Chief Superintendent of the Police, John Robbins; and District Commander of Kirklees Fire Service, Keith Robinson. Members of many Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Sikh communities also attended the event, together sharing a meal to celebrate the positive work that the Forum has been involved in over the previous 12 months.

Bishop Tony Robinson, chair of Kirklees Faiths Forum, said ‘Our third Annual General Meeting was a great success. People from so many organisations and individuals came together to celebrate the work of the Forum over the past year. "The Big Society" which the Prime Minster David Cameron has often talked about is being proclaimed here in Kirklees through the work of the Faith Communities.’