A NEW community engagement project that seeks to “build bridges” with a range of faith based organisations is being launched across Bath and North East Somerset.

Run by the Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Faith Foundation, the initiative will see a variety of events and activities being organised across the district over the next 12 months.

The project has been made possible thanks to a £4,000 grant from the Hibbert Trust – a UK-wide philanthropic organisation that for the past 150 years has promoted the study and exploration of religious ideas, freedom of expression and interfaith dialogue.

The B&NES Faith Foundation was established several years ago to support, encourage, and strengthen the work of faith groups across the district, run community engagement projects with faith (and non-faith) groups and organise events that promote social inclusion, learning and understanding.

It also carries out research into socio-religious trends in Bath, Somerset and the wider area and acts as a conduit between faith groups and public bodies in ensuring they have a voice and have representation on issues that matter to them.

Nathan Hartley, director of the B&NES Faith Foundation, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to the Hibbert Trust for their funding. It means we’re in a position to organise a whole year’s worth of interfaith events and initiatives – all with the central aim of building bridges amongst our local authority’s multiple faith traditions.

“The new interfaith project hopes to reflect the growing diversity of our population here in Bath and North East Somerset.

“As well as a large number of Christian churches, from at least 13 denominations, we have a large mosque in the centre of Bath and two Hindu temples.

“Followers of other faiths, such as Judaism and Buddhism, also meet regularly in various community halls for worship and fellowship.”