CRAWLEY INTERFAITH NETWORK

 

Minutes of the Network meeting held on Wednesday 20th May 2009 at  The Gurjar Hindu Union Mandir in Spencer’s Road, West Green at 7.30pm

 

In attendance:

Roger Baker – Chair Crawley Interfaith Network (CIFN)

Iyadh Daoud - Vice Chair – CIFN

Queenie Hopcroft -  Committee Member – CIFN & Crawley Campaign Against Racism

Koki Patel – Committee Member CIFN and representing Gurjar Hindu Union

John Hopcroft – Crawley Campaign Against Racism

Lana Peile

Ranjit Singh Bedi – Sikh Community Centre

G Hanspal – Sikh Community Centre

Andrew Edmondson – British Humanist Society

Mohinder Galowalia Treasurer (CIFN) and representing Siri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara

Khadija Maawiya

Father Paul Fleetwood – Worth Abbey

Fatima Mirza – Community Development CBC

Mohammad Limar Khan

Pam McGough

Simon Constable – West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service

Sushil Ojha – Crawley Campaign Against Racism

David Bullen

Jaymini Patel

Rev Canon Doris Staniford

Ashwin Soni – Gurjar Hindu Union (GHU)

Chandubhai Nayee – GHU

Pravin Mistry – GHU

 

Apologies: Steve Innes, Sandra Wrate, Lyndsay Bowen and Shirley Bridges

 

1. Roger welcomed everybody and Ashwin led us in a prayer.

 

2.  Minutes of the meeting on 17/2/09 and any matters arising.  Note: Lana Piele’s apologies not listed in last meetings minutes – FM to add

No other matters arising and minutes were accepted as a true record.

 

3.  Updates

Recruitment – FM reported that the Advertisement for the Interfaith Development Worker post had gone out on Wednesday 13th May.  So far we have had 15 requests fro application packs.  The closing date for completed application forms is 29th May.  Short listing will take place on 9th June, with interviews to be help on 22nd June.  FM said that there was a real gap, particularly with regard to making contact and networking with faith groups.  The Development Worker should hopefully be in post soon after the interview date, or if notice is required at previous post, by mid July.

 

Events Sub Group –

7/6/09  - Faith and Science event at Worth Abbey. Joint event organised by Crawley, Horsham, Worthing and Brighton and Hove Interfaith groups.  There will be Christian, Hindu and Muslim speakers.  There is also a youth panel.  Fr Paul said that it should be a very good event – please bring supper to share.

 

20/6/09  - Faith and Asylum from 10 to 2pm in the Civic Hall.  Organised in collaboration with Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group, Voices in Exile (Brighton) and Bosart Therapy Group.  Fr Paul and Iyad will be speaking regarding their experience as volunteer visitors at Tinsley House Detention Centre.  The Hindu and Sikh community are providing dance and sacred music. The event will mark Refugee Week.

FM suggested that Laura Moffatt and key selected Members should be personally invited.  Iyad to action

3rd October 2009 – Lana mentioned the next IF Garden event.  She said that a number of people had turned up for the tree planting ceremony on 21st March and she is hoping there will be a good turn out for the event on 3rd October, which will be to tidy up the garden for the Autumn.  Come and help and bring picnics to eat together.  Lana is hoping to visit some of the groups to invite them to come along as and this is an invitation to families as well as individuals.

Lana is looking at costing for a solar powered fountain, which will reflect the winning design from one of the pupils at West Green School.

 

4. Any other business and announcements

Mohinder Galowalia – Sikh Community raising funds for St Catherine’s Hospice, by selling, home cooked, reasonably priced, vegetarian food on Saturday 13th June, in Queen’s Square, in front of old Woolworths store from 12 noon to 2pm – please come and support this event.

Fatima Mirza – the Council are organising an Access to Services Seminar in collaboration with Crawley Ethnic Minority Partnership.  The aim of the Seminar is to inform Black and Minority Ethnic communities on the service that the Council provides.  This takes place on Saturday 13th June also from 9.30 to 1.30pm at the Civic Hall – FM to encourage people to go along to the St Catherine’s fundraiser in Queen’s Square afterwards.

Crawley Campaign Against Racism – Social event on Saturday 4th July at the Friary Hall – all welcome.

 

5. Date of next meeting – Thursday 10 th September 2009 at 7.30pm – possible venue Gurdwara in Spencer’s Road – to be confirmed.

 

6. Presentation from our host Ashwin Soni. Ashwin gave information about the history of the GHU and the development of the new Mandir.

 

 

Meeting ended.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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