Diversity and Dialogue is no longer running, but you may still find this website and the resources useful if you are planning youth interfaith and intercultural work, or have an interest in good practice in this area. We are still seeking funding to develop new Diversity and Dialogue projects.

Diversity and Dialogue ran from 2004 - 2008 and aimed to build trust, address stereotypes and promote community cohesion between young people from diverse backgrounds throughout the UK through dialogue and social action programmes about controversial and timely issues.

Led by the Citizenship Foundation - in partnership with Christian Aid, Islamic Relief, Jewish Council for Racial Equality, Muslim Aid, Oxfam, Save the Children and World Jewish Relief - Diversity and Dialogue (D&D) worked with young people aged 13 - 19 to identify and engage with challenging and pressing issues of particular importance to them. D&D built the skills and confidence of professionals working with young people, shared good practice amongst initiatives in schools and local communities, and empowered young people to play an active role in designing and delivering programmes for their peers.

Background

Diversity and Dialogue was conceived at a meeting of Christian, Jewish, Muslim and secular NGOs in July 2002. Representatives were discussing ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the negative repercussions on interfaith relations in the UK. They thought about their potential to help counter these tensions and their conclusion was a commitment to run an interfaith education project in partnership - Diversity and Dialogue. Diversity and Dialogue began work in 2004 and aims to build understanding and friendship between young people from different faiths and backgrounds in the UK. It develops new models of intercultural dialogue and co-operation. The successful first phase of the project was completed in 2006 and a second phase of work has begun.

Phase 1

During D&D's Phase 1, from 2004-2007, the programme worked directly with 300 young people throughout the UK, particularly in London, Yorkshire, the North West and Birmingham. The programme also produced educational resources on how to set up and run community cohesion events and materials to assist teachers and youth workers with facilitating dialogue about contentious and relevant subject matter. Further, D&D created one of the richest web-based directories of inter-cultural and inter-faith working in the UK through its online directory that provides support, advice, and networking opportunities for over 100 community cohesion organisations and programmes.

Phase 2 - Recent Work

Over the past year, during Phase 2, D&D has initiated and coordinated a range of innovative projects guided by various youth-led methodologies:

The National Youth Forum on 25 April 2008, which was attended by over 75 young people (aged 16-19), and organised by a 7-person youth committee. The forum consisted of a series of issue-based interactive workshops, organised and delivered by the youth committee, theatrical performances, and a closing session focusing on taking action in regards to the specific issues explored through the workshops: 'Preventing Violent Extremism'/Anti-terror laws, Gun/gang crime, Unwanted sexual contact, Climate change and Transitions in life.
The Rural-Urban School Linking programme, which twinned two groups of Year 8 students from Leytonstone, East London and Camelford, Cornwall, initially through the production of video diaries from March - May 2008, and subsequently through exchange trips to the students' respective communities during June and July 2008.
5 ‘Spaces' pilot projects in summer and autumn 2008, working with a diverse spectrum of young people in Sixth Form Colleges, FE colleges and youth groups to create their own dialogue and social action groups through which to engage with controversial and contentious issues that remain largely unaddressed and are critical to fostering greater community cohesion.

The Citizenship Foundation is a UK registered charity.

Charity registration number: 801360.

Company registration number: 2351363. Registered in England.

Registered office: 63 Gee Street, London EC1V 3RS.

· www.citizenshipfoundation.org.uk