Community Projects
At the heart of our work are our diverse religious and belief communities
We serve religious and belief communities in a number of ways.
This can through public benefit activities which include charity days, integration initiatives over food, roundtable discussions, lectures and seminars
We are committed to working with communities to promote encounter, harbour trust, strengthen understanding and encourage co-operation.
Examples of our community work
Living Together Oral History Project
Leicester has a positive reputation for its harmony and ability of many communities to live well together. We at the St Philip’s Centre are grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and those who play the lottery, for funding an oral history project that documents and preserves the experiences that lie behind the cohesion and community spirit of the city.
The project has seen 103 people interviewed who today call Leicester home, and explores the rich variety of cultures and experiences found within Leicester, while not shying away from difficult conversations where those are needed.
Come Dine
Based on the Channel 4 series ‘Come Dine With Me’, we pair families from different religions and beliefs who have never met before to reciprocally host one another in their homes for meals.
The premise of our Come Dine project is simple: if people meet for a meal, or even just a cuppa, then they meet as human-to-human and can begin to overcome prejudices and ignorance.
Leicester Leading Together
This training course aims to help people to develop their skills in leading and effecting change in their professional context and to build relationships within Leicester across differences such as culture, religion & worldview, socio-economic background.
Near Neighbours
Near Neighbours is a national programme offering small grants for local projects that create positive change, as well as training, expertise and resources
St Philip’s Centre is the local hub for Near Neighbours in Leicester. A Near Neighbours Co-ordinator is based here. They are available to help with grant applications and access to resources to support successful community projects.
CoiN (community integration)
CoiN (Community Integration) is a 6-week programme to promote social cohesion. It is a scheme for students attending further education and sixth form colleges in Leicester. It aims to equip young people with the confidence, connections and skills required to navigate society. CoiN is an encounter-based programme where participants will hear from a range of experienced social cohesion practitioners from various cultural and faith communities.
RISE (Resiliency, Interfaith, Skills, Employability)
RISE is a dynamic and interactive young adults’ life skills programme run over 6-8 weeks. It aims to build the confidence of and make real the potential of young people in further and sixth form education to change their communities for the better.
RISE will build confidence by allowing young people to explore issues in an open, friendly and supportive environment. The programme develops teamwork and harnesses leadership skills which will be invaluable in education, training, employment or in communities.