Episodes
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PART 2 with Cricket East and Wicketz LutonNigel meets over 2 podcasts with Amran Malik and Nauman Javaid and a group for their young coaches to discuss how the sport of cricket is being used to bring protection to young people. In this podcast we discuss how sport can be a powerful tool in helping young people overcome difficulties that they face. For more information of both Cricket East and Wicketz and the hope they give into young lives can be found here: http://www.cricketeast.co.uk/https://www.lordstaverners.org/programme-information/luton-wicketz/
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Nigel meets over 2 podcasts with Amran Malik and Nauman Javaid to discuss how the sport of cricket is being used to bring protection to young people. In this podcast we discuss how sport can be a powerful tool in helping young people overcome difficulties that they face. For more information of both Cricket East and Wicketz and the hope they give into young lives can be found here: http://www.cricketeast.co.uk/https://www.lordstaverners.org/programme-information/luton-wicketz/
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Missing episodes?
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Nigel and Maria discuss the work she heads up within Noah Enterprise with people seeking asylum and refugees. She discusses the charity's wholistic approach to working with people which cares for the whole person. You can find out more about the work of Noah Enterprise from their website: https://noahenterprise.org/
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Nigel discusses the work of Squared in Luton with Pauline and Nahida who are part of their work with people seeking asylum and refugees. They discuss how people need more than just bricks and how they work to see people empowered and gaining skills to to live their best life. You can find out more about the work of Squared here: https://www.squared.org.uk
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Nigel (FACES) and Melissa (FACES and The Courtney Foundation) discuss with Peter and Linda the work taking place at Hightown Baptist Church with people claiming asylum and refugees. They discuss the importance of collaboration and how working together can be very beneficial.
Hightown Baptist Church run a coffee morning every Monday 9.30am-12pm that's open to all. They also host FoodCycle Luton who provide free meals every Tuesday at 6pm - no referral needed (Hightown Baptist Church, Reginald Street, Luton, LU2 7QZ)
You can find out more about Hightown Baptist and their work here: http://hightownbaptistchurch.org.uk/ and more about The Courtney Foundation here: https://thecourtneyfoundation.org/
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Melissa and Nigel hear about the support Discover Islam provide to local refugees and people claiming asylum. Abderrahmane Mezdidioua, Translator and Coordinator, explains that better understanding of the asylum systems and improved housing conditions are common types of help that people ask for. He also reminds us about the lasting friendships being made and that we shouldn't view refugees/people claiming asylum as separate from our community - they are part of our community just like everyone else.
Find out more about Discover Islam at: https://www.discover-islam.org.uk/
For clear and translated details on asylum processes visit: https://righttoremain.org.uk/
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Melissa and Nigel meet with Revd David Kesterton (Area Dean of Luton) to hear about All Saints and St Peters Church and their initiative to help people who are seeking asylum. This includes an art display in Luton Central Library. You can find out more about how to help by contacting David on [email protected] or their website www.allsaintpeter.org.uk
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Melissa and Nigel discuss our Summer Conference- Safeguarding Together and some of the people who will be attending.
It's been several years since we last hosted a FACES conference (pre-pandemic) and we're looking forward to the discussions this year!
We'll be introducing new training and research opportunities, listening to local school leaders and representatives about the context of safeguarding in Luton and offering a space for discussion and questions focusing on young people's safety and wellbeing.You can find out more and register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/faces-summer-conference-2023-safeguarding-together-tickets-652897543127 Hope to see you there!
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Peter, Lucie, Tony, Melissa and Nigel discuss their thoughts around a current ongoing investigation into a key Christian Leader Mike Pilavachi. They discuss the investigation and also what can be learned by organisations and churches from what is emerging. They discuss accountability, charisma, good practice and how difficult it may have been for people to to come forward. As a Muslim and Christian Charity they also discuss lessons that can be learned wider than one religion. Discussions also look at how when issues arise like this it is important for survivors voices to be heard rather than the focus being the protecting the organisation. This is an ongoing investigation and so although there are no conclusions made it is important to discuss these complex and painful issues rather than stay silent. Some of our discussion touches on articles and useful websites you can find these below:
https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/safeguarding-news-releases/statement-national-safeguarding-team-and-diocese-st-albans
https://www.soulsurvivorwatford.co.uk/latestupdates
https://www.youthscape.co.uk/services/youth-work-news/as-a-youth-leader-how-do-i-respond-to-the-investigation-into-mike-pilavachi
https://mindandsoulfoundation.org/Articles/662634/Mind_and_Soul/Articles/When_your_faith_in_the_church_or_its_leaders_is.aspx
If you or anyone you are in contact with are affected by this news and want to talk to someone independently, please call the Safe Spaces helpline on 0300 303 1056.
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Nigel and Melissa discuss the UK Illegal Migration Bill as it moves from the House of Commons to the House of Lords. The Bill seeks to change how people seeking asylum are processed and aims to prevent people arriving in the Uk through non sanctioned routes by firm action. There is much debate around the bill and what it could do to vulnerable people and its arresting of unaccompanied minors. The Bill was opposed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and many other religious organisations. You can watch the discussion in the Lords here: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/4fb77d13-3188-4d77-8b91-fd57af95afeaor read the full bill in its present form here: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3429the Book referring to victorian classification is https://www.amazon.co.uk/Myth-Undeserving-Poor-Christian-Response/dp/1781488754
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Nigel, Melissa and Peter discuss The Bloom Review- entitled "Does government ‘do God?’ " and also briefly look at the Coronation and the offer for public to declare allegiance to King Charles. You can find the full 159 page report here : https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1152684/The_Bloom_Review.pdfand the podcast with interview with Tim Farron and the author of the report, Colin Bloom here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/colin-bloom-does-current-government-do-god/id1548503241?i=1000611449132(Difficult wifi signal affected the recording but not significantly)
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Nigel briefly describes the work in the background towards our up coming conferences and our hopes for what they can achieve. He refers to our research and also a few of the courses we run to help schools, young people and organisations. We would like a good spread of people at our conferences parents, teachers, faith leaders and other professionals. If you would like to attend a conference or know someone who may be interested. Please do get in touch via email to [email protected] can find our research here: https://faces.org.uk/research/ You can also find details of our courses here: https://faces.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/FACES-Training-Courses-and-Workshops-2022_compressed.pdf
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Nigel and Peter both discuss Home Secretary Suella Baverman's Comments in the press over the last couple of weeks. FACES has put out a statement on this and the statistics from the Home Office that appear to contradict the racial accusations she makes. Peter and Nigel discuss some of the implications of this. They also reference a podcast where Baroness Warsi powerfully responds to these accusations you can read about these statements here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65261172You can see our statement by Dr Lucie Moore on the Home Secretary's comments here: https://faces.org.uk/2023/04/03/statement-on-grooming-gang-comments-made-by-the-home-secretary/
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Nigel, Melissa and Courtney discuss the importance of safeguarding training for volunteers working with refugees. Their discussions include a course that Faces(Luton) are building in order to help organisations and groups better help refugees. The course trials at the end of this month and should be available more widely soon. The course benefits from a good knowledge of working with refugees as well as an understanding of the importance of safeguarding. For more information on the course and how it may help your organisation please contact us via our website wwwhttps://faces.org.uk/contact/
To hear our previous podcasts on refugees you can access them via our podcast channel Faces(Luton) on your usual Podcast app. don't forget to subscribe!
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Nigel meets up with Bedfordshire Police's Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst to discuss the Casey Report. The Casey Report pulls no punches as it looks at institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia in London's Police force and their failings in the community.
Nigel and Trevor look at the report's implications for policing. They look at how Bedfordshire Police are working to improving community links, overcome internal cultural problems and make communities safer as they tackle crime in the area.
Trevor lives in Bedfordshire and so is invested in the area being good for his family. He has 29 years of police experience and is keen on cultural change in policing. Trevor and his executive team use input from diverse communities in Bedfordshire (including the IAG) to help him tackle potential blind spots in their approach to change.
Nigel (Staff member of FACES) has volunteered as one member of the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) to Bedfordshire Police. He asks his questions based on the many situations he and those in his team have been invited to input into by Bedfordshire Police over the years.
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Nigel and Sujel Miah discuss community initiatives around the vibrant and very diverse town of Luton. They discuss current issues of local poverty, community generosity and the focus that faith brings. Sujel is a trustee of FACES, a keen distance runner and has wide involvement in community activities alongside many charities.
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Peter, Lucie and Nigel discuss the sentencing of Eleanor Williams, a 22 year old jailed for eight and a half years for nine counts of lying about being raped and trafficked by an 'Asian grooming gang' and making false rape claims against a series of other men. They discuss the many things we can learn from this including the way the narratives and assumptions around Rotherham may have been used to build public support for this false narrative. You can find out more from the following articles:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/14/eleanor-williams-jailed-lying-rapes-trafficking?https://news.sky.com/story/sexual-abuse-victims-say-eleanor-williams-case-deters-them-from-coming-forward-12836303Full sentencing from Sky News can be found here. (Warning: contains some graphic material)
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People of different faith backgrounds, Katie Forbes and Humza Yousaf are amongst those running for the leadership of the Scottish National Party. Many articles in the press are asking the question, "Can a person of faith lead at a high level in today's society?". Nigel and Melissa discuss this question with Tony Thompson (Hope Church Luton/FACES) and Ruth Robb (Azelea/FACES).For further information on this subject please check out the following articles: http://www.hopechurch.co.uk/a-challenge-to-a-tolerant-society/https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2023/02/27/should-religious-people-be-allowed-to-hold-top-political-jobshttps://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/opposing-same-sex-marriage-deters-voters-and-poses-questions-for-kate-forbes-0923fmljf
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Nigel and Melissa meet with Peter to discuss the origins and principles of his peace and reconciliation work in Luton. Peter takes us around the world and shares how he discovered his own purpose in bringing peace to others. One of the successes of this work is FACES itself- Peter was one of our founders. You can find out more at https://www.stmarysluton.org/peace-and-reconciliation
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Nigel and Melissa meet with Courtney who works with refugees locally. Courtney helps explain the process and also bring real life examples of of how local contact can help protect people from exploitation. We discuss the local impact of a hotel shutting its usual functions to house refugees and the responses from the community (https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/people/old-palace-lodge-dunstable-town-council-agrees-to-welcome-all-new-residents-4016864).
A few useful links for those wanting to know more: https://righttoremain.org.uk/toolkit/ , https://care4calais.org/ , https://thecourtneyfoundation.org/ or contact us at FACES [email protected]
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