Young Leaders Burst the Bubble

In November 2025, we had the honour of working on the National Launch of Inter Faith Week, writes Lauren Amdor and Yusuf Amin, Interns with the National Steering Group on IFW.

In November, we had the distinct privilege of hosting the National Launch Event for Inter Faith Week 2025. As two of the interns working with the National Steering Group on IFW, it was a momentous occasion. We owe special thanks to Mustafa Field OBE and Dr Stewart Yarlett, for expertly leading the launch preparations. The atmosphere was genuinely inspiring: seeing so many members from diverse faith and belief communities converge in a spirit of dialogue and collaboration to usher in Inter Faith Week 2025.

Our afternoon kicked off with the Minister of Devolution, Faith and Communities, Miatta Fahnbulleh. New to the post, she spoke with notable passion and conviction on the importance of interfaith engagement. She rightly acknowledged the extraordinary leadership demonstrated by those serving their own and wider communities across the country, especially during these periods of social tension. Witnessing the government’s appreciation for the work of faith and belief communities, and its continued commitment to their protection and support, was truly affirming.

(Left) Miatta Fahnbulleh, Minister of Devolution, Faith and Communities. (Right) Lord Russell Rook

Following the Minister, we welcomed Reverend Dr Sam Wells. His address focused on the powerful significance of holding the launch at St Martin-in-the-Fields. This setting struck a personal chord with me (Yusuf); growing up in a deeply Catholic area of Germany, my very first memories of interfaith were celebrating St Martin’s Day alongside my Catholic classmates. Reverend Wells also expressed encouragement regarding the government’s support for interfaith initiatives, underscoring their vital nature by sharing moving stories from his congregation - tales of faith driving people to help those of other beliefs, such as refugees and asylum seekers.

Lord Russell Rook then took to the stage. His anecdote was equally resonant. He recounted his time as a Church of England priest, when a local farmer named Jeff approached him with a vision: to establish the community’s first interfaith state school. Jeff was clearly driven by a deep desire to see his community live together peacefully and joyfully. Lord Rook encouraged us all to embody that same selfless, community-focused spirit.

In addition to these impactful opening addresses, a key feature was the sit-down interview hosted by members of our Youth Advisory Panel (or the YAP, as we affectionately call them). Sophie Mitchell and Art Sett interviewed the previous Faith Minister, Lord Wajid Khan of Burnley. Lord Khan offered powerful and moving reflections from his tenure, sharing memorable interfaith experiences and emphasising the critical need to support faith and belief communities across the UK. Crucially, he championed the involvement of young people in the future of interfaith and celebrated the government’s recent decision to make Religious Education a compulsory part of the national curriculum - a move both Lauren and I wholeheartedly welcome.

Bursting the Bubble: Experiences and Dialogue

With the “Bursting the Bubble” National IFW Consultation providing a conceptual framework, our goal was to offer guests an immersive experience into diverse religious practices, traditions, and stories. We launched the event with our Stories of Faith Exhibition, inviting five representatives from the Zoroastrian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Coptic communities to showcase significant items - from religious texts and idols to artwork - providing personal insights into their traditions. Adding a creative touch, the talented calligrapher Samir Malik was on hand to create a unique memento for guests: their names beautifully written in Arabic or Hebrew.

One of our favourite moments was the dialogue session, which actively involved the guests. We opened the floor for reflections on three pivotal interfaith themes: interfaith in online spaces (led by YAP member, Kamaria Ahmad), faith & gender equality (led by Women’s Interfaith Network Head of Programmes, Tara Corry), and youth engagement (led by Dr Stewart Yarlett).

The activity that resonated most deeply with me (Lauren) was the Dixit Card activity, run by Carrie Alderton. We took a minute of silent contemplation to select a picture that represented our journey into interfaith work. It was extraordinarily powerful to watch a hugely diverse room of people silently reflecting on what drew them to our shared commitment of building bridges across religious divides. This moment will certainly stay with me long after IFW 2025.

The afternoon also featured a vibrant line-up of performers, spotlighting diverse cultural activities. We collaborated with the Khaayal Theatre Company, who performed Christian, Sikh, and Jewish stories for our guests and visiting schoolchildren (the company’s usual audience). Furthermore, working with Anja Fahlenkamp, director of Faiths in Tune, we were fortunate to watch Elena Catalano perform an exquisite, traditional Odissi dance titled The Grace of Devotion. Elena even encouraged us to participate, guiding us through the core Odissi movements. It was beautiful to watch and listen to, and one guest perfectly captured the mood by sharing that the performance was so peaceful, she was moved to tears.

Hosting the National Launch of IFW 2025 felt truly surreal. Hearing from such impressive government representatives, interfaith leaders, and dedicated community members all in one afternoon powerfully demonstrated that forging inter-religious connection nationally genuinely begins at the grassroots. It was a brilliant start to Inter Faith Week 2025 and set the perfect, encouraging tone for a week of attending and supporting local community events across the UK.

 Lauren Amdor and Yusuf Amin, Interns with the National Steering Group on IFW.