Balsall Heathan # 261 Dec 2006 - St. Paul's Community Trust

Raising Awareness
Islam Awareness Week took place between Monday 20
November and Sunday 26 November. The week is designed to
raise awareness of Islam and remove any misconceptions people
may have about Islamic faith.
The Islamic Society of Britain initiated Islamic Awareness Week
in 1994 in response to a report by the House of Commons,
which showed that there was a lack of understanding in relation
to Islam and Muslim faith. The Islamic Society of Britain hope
that by focusing on the history and diversity of Islam they can
create better relations, develop tolerance, respect and harmony
in society.
Each year since 1994, the Islam Awareness Week has presented
a number of themed events highlighting the multiplicity of
Islam and the contribution of Islam to society. Past events have
included ‘Fasting to Remember’, which encouraged non-
Muslims to join in the experience of fasting and ‘Your Muslim
Neighbour’ which highlighted the
contribution of Muslim citizens in
British Society.
Getting Ahead
Way Ahead, based at the old Clifton Junior School on Clifton Road is launching a new course aimed at young people aged
between 13 and 19. The Way Ahead Personal Development Course for young people begins on 15 th January 2007 and runs for
eighteen weeks.
The Personal Development Course is specially designed for young people who are
not in education, training or employment or who are at risk of exclusion. The course
is aimed at improving young people’s confidence and self-esteem and is designed to
encourage young people to make career choices and develop essential life skills.
Students will have the opportunity to gain National Open College Network (NOCN)
qualifications in sport, self-awareness, music production, teamwork, creative arts and
film and video production in a friendly and welcoming environment.
The Way Ahead project was set up in January 2000 as a Neighbourhood Support
Fund Project, with the aim of supporting young people who are experiencing a
variety of problems in their lives. Way Ahead continues to achieve this aim by
offering a range of short courses, such as The Way Ahead Personal Development
Course for young people.
This year’s event was themed ‘One
World’. The Birmingham Awareness
campaign was launched at the Al Faisal
restaurant in Sparkbrook and was
attended by faith leaders from
throughout the country. Other events
which took place throughout the city
were aimed at showing how each person,
regardless of faith, can join together to
dispel the myths about each other’s
beliefs and join together in harmony to
work together and safeguard the one
thing we all have in common, the planet.
For more information please contact the Way Ahead team on 0121 464 8739 or
email wayahead@st.paulstrust.org.uk.
The Way Ahead Project would like to say a big thank you to Abdullah Carpets on
Taunton Road, Balsall Heath for their very kind and generous donation of carpet for
the project. The carpet has been used in their new music sound booth that the
students attending the Way Ahead Personal Development Course for Young People
will be able to enjoy in the New Year.