Chairs Report 2022 AGM

WIFF AGM 9th February 2022                                   Chair’s Report

2021 continued to be overshadowed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the restrictions caused by this, we have had a fairly eventful year, although not as busy as previous years. One of the most important aspects of WIFF is the sharing of food, even if it is only a cup of tea and a biscuit, and we have all been longing to be able to meet again in person. Hopefully we will be able to do that at some point this year.

Despite everything, we continue to be approached by various organisations requiring our support. For example, schools requiring help with speakers and advice on RE artefacts. Healthwatch Worcester, Children First, Ready Steady Worcestershire, NHS Inclusion (Herefordshire & Worcestershire), Worcester Suicide Prevention Team, and Worcester Welcomes Refugees have all asked to speak to our members to help promote their work amongst the religious communities we represent. We have also been happy to support by providing speakers for the University of Worcester’s teacher training programme.

We had been represented on the Excess Deaths Group by Mary Austin and the Covid-19 Planning Group by Catherine Lack and Miriam Umney. By March, these groups no longer need our input. Our thanks to our representatives for taking part in these groups.

In March we welcomed Mohammed Iqbal as our new Vice-Chair. He has been a great support to our work. We also welcomed our new Baha’i representatives, Paul and Faranaz Mahoney. 

Two of our trustees, Jatinder and Hansa, stepped down for personal reasons earlier this year. They were fantastic WIFF supporters, and we have missed them Hopefully they will come back when things get easier for them. Before leaving, Jatinder came up with the fantastic idea of organising an event on the subject of ‘Pilgrimage’. A group of us, led by Tom, have started work on taking this forward. The plan is to organise an exhibition in the cathedral next November, and incorporating Interfaith Week. The Cathedral has already expressed interest, and we are now in the process of applying for funding.  

I represented WIFF at the service at Worcester Cathedral following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh. Tricia Bradbury also attended.

Catherine Lack has led us in several Scriptural Reasoning sessions. It is fascinating to hear people talking about their scriptures and how they interpret them. 

November’s Interfaith Week was not as busy for WIFF as in previous years. Again, we were unable to do our Mitzvah Day refreshments at the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch. Instead, on a bitterly cold day, a few of us gathered outside St Andrew’s Methodist Church in central Worcester, to collect gift items for the local refugee charity, Worcester Welcomes. Some of us also participated in a multifaith panel discussion organised by Tom Piotrowski for the Platform Housing Group. Many thanks to Helen for allowing us to do this and for providing us with lovely hot coffee.

I represented WIFF in helping to plant 400 trees in Perdiswell Park on January 13th. This was to mark the 400thanniversary of the Worcester City Charter. It was a very cold and frosty morning, but by the end of the day, all the saplings had been planted.

Helen Caine headed this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day event which was held on Monday 27th January. This time our team – Helen, Tom, Becky, and I – and our partners, Worcester City Council, the University of Worcester, and the Platform Housing Group, organised a hybrid event. Mindful of the challenges posed by Covid-19, fewer people were allowed in the Guildhall, hence the decision for a hybrid event, and we were very pleased that the local schools were keen to take part. We were delighted that Dr Mindu Hornick MBE agreed to be our guest speaker. Tom initiated an art and poetry competition which was announced at the event.

This is Helen’s last time organising the WIFF HMD event. We hope a volunteer will step forward to lead the team for next year’s event. It is a great opportunity for someone to head up such an important and prestigious event. 

Last year we agreed to support a local initiative to commemorate the Jews of Mediaeval Worcester with a permanent plaque. Unfortunately, Mark T. Jones who instigated the project died last summer. A small working party, of which I am a member, has been set up to take this forward. At our last meeting, WIFF agreed to give £150 towards the purchase of the plaque.

I would like to thank those who have stepped up to the challenges of organising online events, including the Remembering Srebrenica event with Worcester City Council, and hosting Zoom meetings, particularly, Tom, Becky, Helen and Mary. A big thank to Sarah Cottrill, our Secretary, for her sterling work, and also to Jnanamati Williams for keeping the website going and monitoring the enquiries. 

I would like to give a special thanks to Derek Austin, who offered his services as Treasurer after the passing of our dear friend, Adam Thorne. He is now stepping down after taking good care of our finances. We hope he will continue to come to our meetings and events. 

A heart-felt thank you to all of you for your support during the past year. We are ever grateful for the personal donations we have received, and for the support of the various Faith Communities. Interfaith work continues to be vital in this our divided country where unfounded hatred is still evident. I know life on zoom is not for everyone, and that sometimes we get zoomed out, but please join in with our meetings and events whenever you can.

Yvonne Stollard  (Chair)