Community Engagement

Our work to engage communities began in 2001 before the formal registration of Spirit of Peace as a charity. Much of this work was stimulated by visits to the UK by our international peace partners. Inspired by their work it became clear that communities over here wish to use similar means and methods to create more harmonious and flourishing communities in the UK.

Spirit of Peace has created a programme to addresses the causes of social tension and exclusion in our communities in the UK.

The majority of our workshops, events and presentations have been undertaken on themes related to peace, nonviolence and global citizenship and learning from and about the situation in the Middle East. They have been carried out in the context of multi-ethnic and mixed cultural groups fostering understanding, dialogue, respect and co-operation within the groups present.

Innovative activities have been aimed at promoting friendship, inclusion, confidence within disadvantaged groups, stronger communities and an appreciation of cultural diversity, and these activities have included members of socially excluded groups.

Regular and special events include:

• Bring and Share community suppers in partnership with The Friendship Cafe, Gloucester
• Monthly Conversation Event in Stroud– Presentations by international peace builders and others on work for peace and human flourishing in the UK and Middle East
• Workshops and training in the skills for creating communities of safety and human flourishing
• Training in Kingian nonviolence in partnership with Dr Ben Israel
• Bringing communities together around the theme of Flourishing for all and to engage with the worldwide Compassionate Communities/Cities Initiative

For more details of our work, please explore the Projects and Partners pages of our website.

UK Friends of Hope Flowers is the platform in the UK for the Hope Flowers School and Community Development Centre in Bethlehem, Palestine.

The Hope Flowers School is a unique school teaching peace and democracy, and aiding trauma-reduction and community development in Bethlehem, Palestine.

Our primary aim is to support the work of Hope Flowers and raise awareness of its existence and the breakthroughs it is making in the areas of peace, democracy, human rights-based education and community empowerment.

This support includes:

• Fostering links with schools in the UK.
• Raising funds.
• Running workshops based on the school’s methods and body of knowledge.
• Organising visits to the UK by the director or staff of Hope Flowers.
• Throughout these activities we work closely with the school and its directors.
• Keeping people informed via our Spirit of Peace newsletter.

Would you like to join and support this project?

We are looking for people who are interested in joining a working group to move the project forward, or who would like to volunteer or connect with Friends of Hope Flowers on any other level.

Please contact us for more information on getting involved.

Spirit of Peace is pleased to be part of the Oxford Three Faiths Encounter team which

presents residential and online events, bringing together Jewish, Christian and Muslim

participants for learning, encounter, and action.

On the left is one of our discussion sessions with participants of diverse ages and traditions.

Please see below for details of two of our residential events. You will find details of our online events in the Events section of this website.

Please contact info@spiritofpeace.co.uk if you would like further information.

We are very excited to be holding this event for the first time in Oxford. A similar programme has successfully run for 22 years at The Ammerdown Centre, near Bath, and many of the original leaders are still involved. The focus is on an increased understanding and friendship between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. All who wish to learn more about the beliefs and practices of these three faiths are welcome.

Students will be very welcome. We hope to be able to subsidize student places, so we encourage students to apply for a reduced rate. It will also be possible to come for part of the week, but in order to build the community we encourage everyone to try to participate for the whole time.

The programme venue is St John’s College, and over the weekend of 13-15 April we will be linking into the regular worship at the Central Mosque, the Jewish Centre, and the University Church.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you require further information. Click here for email.

– Heather-Jane (on behalf of Oxford Three Faiths Week Team)

‘It was blindingly obvious that the faith we each practised reflected our cultural background and what we were taught as kids. The historical gross cruelty inflicted by one religious’ group on another, the present swirling political eddies of Islama-phobia, anti-Semitism or vilification of Christianity seemed increasingly nonsensical as understanding leading to mutual regard grew between the participants during the week….’ 2019 Oxford Three Faiths Encounter Participant. 

A subtle shift of perspective gradually evolved during the week as the followers of these three great Faiths explored coming together socially and academically maintaining separate identities but nurturing love, respect and understanding between communities’ 2019 Oxford Three Faiths Encounter Participant  

For a number of years we have been working with internationally renowned conflict resolution specialist Dr Yehoeshafaht Ben Israel to facilitate this amazing training programme in the UK. The programme is based on the work of Dr Martin Luther King and has been widely presented in schools, community groups and prisons in the UK and abroad.

Participants on our UK trainings have commented as follows:

“Life changing experience. This course should be compulsory in schools. A great structured system to understand the dynamics of violence and peace. A masterpiece. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity”

“For me personally, who comes from Rwanda, a country ravaged by a multifarious violence in its recent tragic history of war and genocide against the Tutsi, the course came too late. However, as we are going still through the process of national reconciliation, reflections on the Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation can help understanding where we went wrong and draw lessons in order to apply its principles and steps to help in the situations of conflict at home and in the Great Lakes Region.

Individuals, statutory bodies and non- governmental organisations could benefit from the awareness created by all who can embrace the philosophy and methodology shown in the course”

“During this conference the participants had this material presented as a practical strategy that can be learned and practiced in our society. The whole concept was delivered with flair and brilliance…”

We are now planning to introduce this training in schools in Kent and the South East

This project aims to teach young people life skills which enable them to manage conflict in relationships without resorting to any forms of violence. The training will be delivered to local schools and youth groups through inspirational talks followed by workshops which impart the necessary life skills.