Devon Faith & Belief Festival Returns to Torbay

The annual Devon Festival of Faith and Belief is returning to Torbay after a 3 year absence, with a specially staged event at Paignton Library on Saturday November 23rd, during National Inter Faith Week.

Interfaith Week 2013 provides a special opportunity to increase awareness of the different and distinct communities in the UK, celebrating and building on the contribution which their members make to their neighbourhoods and to wider society. It can increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious beliefs.

In 2010 over two hundred people attended the Festival at Oldway Mansion, which included presentations about Sikhism, Faith & Climate Change & Misunderstandings about Islam. The last two years have seen it hosted at Plymouth University and the University of Exeter respectively.

This year's Festival is being hosted by Paignton Library and Torbay Inter-Faith Forum (TIFF), in partnership with independent health and social care watchdog, Healthwatch Torbay. The latter are donating their walk-in facility to the event.

Activities and presentations take place between 10.00am and 3.00pm, and there will be stands for information and literature about different religions and organisations.

“Torbay Inter-Faith Forum brings together people who are interested in learning more about the beliefs and practices of those who live in our three towns,” said Healthwatch Torbay and TIFF member Kevin Dixon. “To be able to host the Devon Festival of Faith and Belief is a fantastic opportunity to achieve this and foster greater understanding and friendship between people from different faiths and beliefs.”

Having been formed over 20 years ago, Torbay Inter-Faith Forum is one of the oldest in the country. The current committee includes representatives from the Anglican, Spiritualist, Baha'i, Methodist, Quaker, Muslim and Humanist traditions. The Forum welcomes people of faith and no faith to its open meetings each month on Wednesdays beginning at 7.30pm at the Friends Meeting House, 48 Tor Hill Rd, Torquay. For more information call 01803 690079. An Inter-Faith forum also exists in Totnes. For information about this, call 01803 553344.

“Healthwatch Torbay, and their youth forum Torbay Youth Power, have been working closely with the Torbay public and black and minority ethnic groups to ensure that their voices are heard and opinions on Torbay's health and social care services are listened to”, said Mr Dixon. “Their involvement in this Festival is a testament to their all-inclusive culture. Everyone involved is hoping that the Festival encourages a greater public appreciation of the rich diversity of the Bay and our wider society.”

For more information visit http://healthwatchtorbay.org.uk/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=67&cntnt01returnid=63