Archive for November, 2008
Academy intakes ‘less deprived’: Is this progress?
Posted by: | CommentsApparently the nature of the Academies – set up as independent (but state) schools – is changing. They caught the attention initially from people who wanted to put their own ideas forward without interference from the state – Notable amongst front runners was the VARDY FOUNDATION which as far as BH knows still teaches creationism.
Read the Full Story here.
Picture from http://trustschools.ssatrust.org.uk/partners.aspx
The intake is changing as entropy dictates and as their results come more in line with the national average. So they might eventually become like the schools that have been bravely established despite stiff opposition since the war – the comprehensive schools. It remains to be seen whether it was worth giving private foundations all this money just to create schools that the Government at one time were championing. These Foundation and Trust schools have yet to reveal exactly why they wanted a separate system. Could it be that they thought that the religious education element was not to their liking?. Privilege again. Why should one child have any different input than any other in this respect. Worries about levelling down are an old argument. What they ALL need is a firm foundation upon which to build their decisions and their lives. Only a National Curriculum in Religious Education will provide a solid base on which to build social cohesion.
BHA Grant for Atheist Bus? Are we Sure?
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Atheist Bus Campaign Logo
There was a very confusing and yet insulting article written in the Telegraph today. Clearly designed to provoke an some sort of angry atheist reaction.
Martin Beckford writes in his article titled “£35,000 of taxpayers’ cash given to ‘atheist bus’ group” that the BHA has been given a grant by The Equality and Human Rights Commission, which according to his article will be used for:
four conferences on “religion or belief” between now and February which will question whether it is right for the devout to be given special treatment in the workplace.
Which would seem to be a legitimate aim, given the source of the funding, and nothing at all related to the Atheist Bus Campaign.
The article continues by quoting a Catholic Lawyer, Neil Addison who compares the BHA to the Taleban, saying:
It’s a bit like paying the Taliban to lecture on women’s rights
and goes on to question if this is a good use of public money in the face of a recession.
Addressing what seems to be the core of the article (I think) he then talks of Dr Evan Harris, speaking at one of the previous conferences, but referring to him as being dubbed “Dr Death”, not quite sure how that is relevant to an article about the public funding of equality and human rights conferences.
He doesn’t spare the quotation marks when referring to trained an accredited “Officiants” or in reference to the BHA being the “Official campaign partner” of the atheist bus campaign.
We have heard from one celebrant who found the article to be:
gratuitively offensive in both tone and content.
Given the author uses provocative quotes from what appear to be right wing Christian’s, it is clearly designed to provoke strong feeling in the humanist community and rally Christian support.
Mr Beckford is however quite gracious in acknowledging that The Equality and Human Rights Commission gives some other 285 organisation funding for their work in this area of equality legislation.
To my knowledge the BHA has not been given a grant by the The Equality and Human Rights Commission for funding the Atheist Bus Campaign.
Source: Telegraph
5 Sentence beliefs in Harrow
Posted by: | CommentsFrom the newly appointed SACRE (Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education) representative in Harrow. She has posted the following on the British Humanist Association Local Development Forum
Harrow is known to be the local authority with the most religiously diverse population in the country and 11 SACRE Group A members were asked to present their main beliefs to the audience of the Mayor and Mayoress, children, parents, teachers, councillors and other hangers on in fewer than 5 sentences. This was done in alphabetical order as follows and I found it fascinating:
Ba’hai: education for all
Buddhists: not a belief, trying to find out by means of meditation
Christian: one God with 3 aspects, father son & holy ghost
Hindus: one God with many forms, try to do no evil
Humanists: belief in humanity and the Golden Rule, no belief in gods
Jainism: non violence, reverence for life
Judaism: encompasses a very varied population of people
Muslim: education and respect for parents
Rastafarian: Haile Selassie as the living God, the bible
Sikh: everyone is their brother and sister
Zoroastrian: the first monotheistic religion dating from 2000BCE
Christianity A Force for Good? OPEN DEBATE
Posted by: | CommentsSouthampton University Atheist Society & South Hampshire Humanists present:. An Open Debate.”Christianity A Force for Good?” 2pm, Sunday 30 November, 2008. Uniplex Cinema, Student Union Building … Richard Harries, Former Bishop of Oxford ; Julian Baggini, Philosopher and Humanist.
ALL WELCOME ……..FREE
Shaping Readings Future
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Berkshire Humanists attended the Reading 2020 Forum annual meeting last afternoon and evening at Reading Town Hall, hoping to shape the future of some of the residents of Reading and Berkshire. It is always advisable to know your competition for funds and public attention. Please, if you do nothing more than glance down he list below judge for yourself the number of religious organisations that are vying for the same pot of money and span of time.
ABC to Read – Recruiting, training and supporting volunteers who mentor primary school children who are struggling to read. www.abctoread.org.uk
Alafia Project/ Reading Council for Racial Equality – Supporting black and minority ethnic families caring for children or young people aged 0-25 who have disabilities. www.rcre.org.uk/alafia
Arcade (Amethyst Resource Centre for Alcohol and Drug Education) – Presenting young people with positive choices for a healthy lifestyle. www.amethyst.org.uk
Art Beyond Belief – To enable dialogue across all faiths and none, through the medium of art. www.art-beyond-belief.org.uk . ABB is a charity, independent from any organization.
BACYP v:involved team – Helping young people between 16 – 25 to get involved with volunteering. www.bacyi).co.uk
Berkshire Autistic Society – Information, support and advice for parents, carers and professionals. www.autismberkshire.org.uk
Berkshire Humanists – Information, education and advice on humanism in primary and secondary schools. www.berkshirehumanists.org.uk
Berkshire Scouts Enterprise Limited (BSEL) – Train to gain providers for the voluntary sector. BTCV – Leading volunteers in environmental conservation activities. www2.btcv.org.uk
Children’s Information Centre – Family information service. www.childrensinfo.orq
Christian Community Action (CCA) – Providing practical help to those requiring assistance with obtaining furniture and household goods. www.ccam.org.uk
Christians Against Poverty – Money management courses and debt counselling. www.capuk.org/home
CIRDIC/CIRWIC (Churches in Reading Drop In Centre) – Responding to the needs of the homeless and clearly disadvantaged people in Reading. www.homelessuk.orq
CLASS — Christian Links & Support for Schools – Providing support for schools, children and their families in Reading by linking with Christians who worship in local churches. www.classrdg.org.uk
Commonwheels – Not for profit local car hire scheme. www.commonwheels.org.uk
Communicare -A local support, care and information point. www.communicare.org.uk
Connect Reading – Working together to contribute to a better quality of life for all Reading citizens. www.connectreading.co.uk Connexions Berkshire – Providing information advice and guidance to young people. www.connexions-berkshire.org.uk
Crossroads – Providing practical support in the home in order to enable carers to have a break from their caring responsibilities. www. readingcrossroads. orq
Discourse – Disability information, advice and support. www.discourse.org.uk
Door of Hope – Supportive housing for those recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. www.lifespringchurch.co.uk Duke of Edinburgh Aware (Doff) -Accredited challenge and fun for young people. www.dofe.orq
Explore – After-school club where children can improve their maths and English. www.explorelearning.ltd.uk/reading/readinq
Faith Christian Group – Fighting poverty among the homeless, addicted and marginalised in Reading. www.fcg.org.uk First Steps in the Community -A counselling service based in Whitley. www.firststepswhitley.org.uk
Gateway Enterprise — Business Link – Giving support, training and guidance to people setting up a business. www.brinqyourideastolife.co.uk
Home Start — Reading – Helping stressed, young families, with at least one child under five, by offering friendship, support and practical help. www.home-start.org.uk
Housing, Reading Borough Council – Provision of social housing, accessing housing register, tenancy management and housing strategy. www.reading.gov.uk/housinq
Jamiat Ahl-E-Hadith – Prayers and education for all. ajazmir(@hotmail.com
Mustard Tree Foundation -A voice for those who have no voice and enabling the community to speak for itself. (Christian) www.themustardtree.org
NACRO – Changing lives, reducing crime. www.nacro.org.uk
New Directions – Learning and Employment Service. www.newdirectionsreading.co.uk
New Hope Ltd – Community transformation through the provision of community centres. www.greyfriars.org.uk/newhope.php (Christian)
NHS Berkshire West — Health Trainers – Supporting people wanting to improve their health. Claire.masding@berkshire.nhs.uk
No 5 -Young person’s counselling centre providing free, confidential counselling and emotional support. www.no5.org.uk
Park United Reformed Church – Community support and worship. www.iDarkurc.org.uk
Pension Service & Financial Assessment Team, RBC – Ensuring maximum take up of pension credit and attendance allowance. They also assess how much Community Care service users should pay towards their services. www.reading.gov.uk/healthandsocialcare/communitycareservices
Planning Aid – Offers free, independent, professional advice on town planning to groups and individuals who cannot pay for a consultant. www.i)lanningaid.rtpi.org.uk
Prospects for People with Learning Disabilities – Supporting people with learning disabilities in a range of living and day opportunities. www.i)rosiDects.org.uk
re3 Waste Partnership – Minimising the amount of waste we produce and significantly increase levels of recycling, composting and recovery. www.re3.org.uk
Readibus – Providing mobility and independence to people who would otherwise have great difficulty in getting out and about. www.readibus.co.uk
Reading CAP (Child Assault Prevention) – Teaching children in schools how to keep themselves safe from bullying, strangers and known adults. www.devoncap.org.uk
Reading Credit Union -A local non-profit savings and loans co-operative. www.readingcreditunion.co.uk
Reading Faith Forum – The representative body that gives the Faith Communities in Reading a voice. www.readingfaithforum.com
Reading Libraries – Whatever you may need to know, your local library is there to help. www.readinglibraries.org.uk Reading Lifeline -A crisis pregnancy centre located in the centre of Reading. www.careconfidential.com/reading
Reading Local Involvement Network (LINK) – Consultation network enabling voluntary organisations and the community to influence the provision of health and social care.
www.direct.gov.uk/en/HealthAndWellBeing/HealthServices/PractitionersAndServices/DG 071867
Reading Mencap – A local charity, providing help and support for people with learning disability and their families. www.readingmencap.org.uk
Reading Rowing Club – Offering rowing opportunities for all. www.ara-rowing.org
Reading Schools Christian Work Trust – Taking assemblies, religious education and Personal, Social and Health Education lessons in schools.
Reading YMCA – For young people with housing support needs. Contact details: 0118 957 5746
RCVYS – Voluntary, community and faith sector infrastructure support to groups that work with children and young people in Reading. www.rcvys.org.uk
Social Enterprise Berkshire – To encourage and develop a thriving social enterprise culture across Berkshire. www.rcea.org
SPARK Education Learning Centre – Provision of education and support to teenagers excluded from mainstream school and an Afterschool Homework club. www.spaakeducarecentre.co.uk
Sport Reading – Sport and physical activity opportunities and partnership working. www.reading.gov.uk/leisureandcuIture/siDortreading
St John & St Stephen’s Parish Centre – Community outreach work. www.stjohnandstephen.co.uk
Step Forward Education & Training Trust -Assisting people with learning difficulties to read and spell to be able to move forward in education and employment and take an active role in the community. Contact: 0118 988 6106 or email SteoForwardETT@aol.com
Stronger Together Team / Change Up (RVA Lead body) – Capacity building of the Voluntary and community sector- creating and building strong partnerships with the statutory and public bodies
. www.rvadirectory.org.uk/org/strongertogether
Thames Valley Police – Crime reduction advice. www.thamesvalley.00lice.uk
True Food -A not for profit organisation providing access to organic food and eco-friendly household goods, in local neighbourhoods. www.truefood.coop
Volunteer Centre Reading – Encouraging and supporting volunteering in the Reading area. www.r-v-a.org
Wycliffe Baptist Church and The Warehouse – Community support and worship. www.wycliffe-church.org.uk
Yeldall Manor -A drug/alcohol residential rehabilitation centre. www.yeldall.org.uk ( a christian approach)
The Reading 2020 Partnership is the Local Strategic Partnership for Reading. It brings together key local organisations to work together to improve the quality of life for the people of Reading.
The key themes that the Partnership addresses are:
· Fairer Reading For All
· Children &Young People
· Cleaner & Greener Environments
· Culture, Leisure &Sport
· Decent & Affordable Housing
· Healthy People& Lifestyles
· Safer & Stronger Communities
· Thriving Economy & Skills
· Transport & Accessible Spaces
Each of the voluntary sector and community groups who are helping deliver one or more of these themes.
This is not even a complete list of all contenders as there are others who could not attend. Some useful contacts were made with other groups that could inform our members about human organisations & activities such as education, race, art and relationships.
The Berkshire Humanist stand
Please : IF YOU KNOW OF ANY VENUE FOR DISPLAYING THESE BOARDS (attended or unattended) AND ASSOCIATED HUMANIST MATERIAL FOR A SHORT PERIOD PLEASE LET US KNOW. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD INCLUDE THE CONTACT THAT WOULD PROVIDE PERMISSION.