On Thursday 15th October, we will be holding a launch event at the Jubilee Room, House of Commons, from 5pm, sponsored by Stephen Timms MP. This event is to launch the policy briefing that has emerged from the deliberations of the AHRC Faith and Place network over the past year.

The briefing addresses the critical issues around faith, places of worship and planning policy / implementation. It provides a set of principles and 15 recommendations for local planning authorities, faith groups and other interested parties. The launch event will comprise an invited audience of planners, faith group leaders, local and national politicians, local government representatives, civil society organisations and academics.

The policy briefing addresses five policy areas emerging from the network, namely Understanding One Another, Faith Groups and Community, Equality and Diversity, Sharing Creative Practice and the Planning Framework. Generated through the contributions of our diverse network members, the briefing has already received commendations from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Minister for Housing and Planning, the National Church Leaders’ Forum, and Faiths Forum for London.

Faith and Place Policy Briefing launch programme

For most guests, please enter through the Cromwell Green visitor entrance. Please bring photo id with you. Allow 30 minutes to pass through security.

5pm                   Welcome and drinks reception
5.15-5.20pm   Opening address by Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP
5.20-5.30pm   Introducing the briefing (network leaders)

Dr Andrew Rogers (University of Roehampton)
Dr Richard Gale (Cardiff University)

5.30-5.40pm    Responding to the briefing

Mustafa Field MBE (Director, Faiths Forum for London)
Katei Kirby (Head of Operations, Ruach City Church)

5.40-6.00pm     Canapes
6.00-6.30pm     Panel-led discussion

Dr R David Muir (Co-chair National Church Leaders’ Forum / University of Roehampton)
Katherine Pollard (Policy and Networks advisor, Royal Town Planning Institute)
Shahed Saleem (Director, Makespace Architects)
Daniel Singleton (National Executive Director, Faith Action)
Dr Richard Gale (Cardiff University)
Dr Andrew Rogers (University of Roehampton)

6.30-6.40pm     Closing remarks

Travel arrangements

The nearest railway stations are at Charing Cross, Waterloo and Victoria. The nearest tube station is Westminster (Circle, District and Jubilee lines). See the Transport for London website for journey planning. You can find a map of the Houses of Parliament here.

For guests who are making travel expenses claims, the expenses form will be available from the network administrator on the launch evening (or we can send you one by email). Do retain all tickets and receipts and send the form to the given address for reimbursement. We politely request guests to use standard class train travel (car travel is not recommended for this venue, given the difficulty of parking).

Any queries about the arrangements, do contact admin@faithandplacenetwork.org

(Picture credit: Amir Rabbani, Wikimedia commons)