Chair - Leicester Council Of Faiths

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The 20th Anniversary celebration of the Leicester Council of Faiths is a suitable marker to
highlight the richness of the many faith communities in our city, which touches the lives of
more than three-quarters of the population. I am proud of the initiative of my predecessor
Janet Setchfield in convening the leaders of the faith communities, which led to the
establishment of The Council of Faiths. It has born much fruit to enable people of faith to
meet each other.
You have begun the process of developing trust and understanding so necessary in our
contemporary climate, where inter religious conflicts in other parts of the world have the capacity
to enflame people’s passions and provoke violent responses. Thanks to the model of interfaith
relationships which we are developing in our City; it is possible to offset potential crises and to
build new relations in which the faiths are discovering how much they have in common.
I wish the Council every success in its future work.
We are delighted to celebrate with you the 20th Anniversary of the Council of Faiths.
You represent the religious diversity of Leicester in a special way, and contribute
considerably to the good relations between the faiths and different ethnic groups in
the city.
We are pleased with the work in which you have shared to enhance the social cohesion of
the city and to forward understanding between the different faiths. The overcoming of
religious and racial tensions would be that much more difficult without the existence of
the LCoF.
We are especially pleased with the contributions of several of your members and
associates towards the provision of faith-sensitive treatment of patients in the National
Health Service, as well as the faith input into Medical Ethics. We are aware of the
social capital which exists within the faith communities for the good of the city, county
and country.
Our own work in improving community relations and serving the needs of individuals and
minority groups in the city is helped by your evidently collaborative stance.
We wish you well in your future work.
The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Mary Draycott
Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt, Rt Hon Sir Peter Soulsby and Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MPs for Leicester
Leicestershire Constabulary has worked hard to build relationships with the different ethnic
and faith communities in Leicester. We value their support given through the Leicester
Council of Faiths and its allied body, the Bishop’s Religious Leaders’ Group. We assist at
various public religious events involving street processions, which are invariably peaceful and
enjoyable. The faith communities stand for good order and responsible attitudes, and we
hope to continue working with them together. On behalf of the Leicestershire Constabulary,
we wish you well on this 20th Anniversary.
Matt Baggott, Chief Constable