Outputs from the Interfaith programme

To date, the BB Interfaith programme has worked with over 200 young people in six London boroughs including, Lambeth, Hounslow, Ealing, Redbridge, Bromley, and Brent.  

Outcomes – Community Cohesion

1) The Interfaith programme has been successfully designed to ensure schools can evidence robust outputs with respect to their commitment to promoting community cohesion and reducing faith/identity-based bullying.

*Faith-based bullying has reduced by an average of 45 per cent in participating schools and community areas. This means educational professionals are recording less incidents of faith-based bullying as a direct result of Beatbullying’s intervention. Furthermore, for the young people themselves, 84 per cent of those who reported being bullied, harassed or abused because of their faith or religion are now no longer being bullied. This is coupled with the fact that 90 per cent of the total numbers of participants have learnt how to stay safe and avoid trouble.

2) The programme enables young people to work together and establish a common vision.

*Over 70 per cent of those participating reported subscribing to a particular religion or belief system. Young people have been representing 17 religions and belief systems, allowing 54 per cent to be more confident about their own faith and its place within the wider secular society.

3) The BB Interfaith programme fosters positive relationships in schools, empowering young people to cascade and sustain these relationships into the wider community.

*40 per cent report helping others who may have experienced faith-based bullying.

4) Young people graduating through Interfaith are learning about the diverse national groups and communities in the UK and the connections between them. Similarities are emphasised and differences are debated and respected.

*Myth-busting is especially helpful. 92 per cent are reporting an increase in their knowledge and understanding of different religions, faiths, cultures and customs

5) The Beatbullying interfaith project links participating schools, communities and organisations locally and pan London, through its peer education model. This provides an opportunity for young people to sustain the work across the wider community

*BB Interfaith has already linked up over 60 schools, communities, and organisations, all of whom are sharing best practice, disseminating best practice and refining/sustaining their faith-based bullying strategies and solutions across London.