Multi-faith Chaplaincy team launch ‘Faith Group’ in local community bringing together local leaders of all faiths
The multi-faith chaplaincy team at Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) has established a new faith group, with the primary aim to bring together local leaders of all faiths to create a support network, promote peace and unity, and identify common challenges.
Co-ordinated by Imam Haseeb Jahangir, BNU’s Inter-faith chaplain, the newly established group will serve as a platform for faith leaders; and was formed as part of the University's proud civic engagement work with valued partners in the local community.
Informed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, our Public and Community Engagement Strategy is centred on four main priorities: better health and wellbeing, advancing social inclusion, delivering economic prosperity, and promoting environmental sustainability. Each priority is underpinned by several goals, providing a clear roadmap for the University’s public and community engagement activities over the next five years.
The strategy enables the University to support its students to achieve experiential outcomes while helping our local communities to thrive; develop connections between our educational programmes and the needs of our communities; conduct research which illuminates and helps address community needs; encourage community contributions towards a more sustainable environment; and work with communities to make them more equitable and inclusive.
Commenting on the successful launch of the group, Imam Haseeb said: “I launched this group to promote harmony, peace and unity in High Wycombe, and I was honoured to welcome fellow faith leaders, Wycombe’s local MP Emma Reynolds, and senior staff at the university with the added support from Thames Valley Police.”
The Wycombe based group released a joint statement on the conclusion of their first meeting.
It states: "On Friday 10th January 2025 a new group of faith leaders met at Buckinghamshire New University. Representatives of Hindu, Quaker, Sikh, Muslim, Christian, Jewish communities and including Emma Reynolds MP and senior leaders of the university and Thames Valley Police were brought together by Imam Haseeb Jahangir who leads the Chaplaincy at the University.
"We shared our commitment to working together, building bridges, and supporting the lives of those living in High Wycombe, particularly through tea and hospitality. We want to ensure that faith leaders and in turn their communities were not strangers and built trusted friendship, shared kindness and knowledge of each other's religion and contributed to a collaborative vision for a peaceful local society."
