Lottery funding boost for Oldham Interfaith Forum

Pictured are the Bishop of Manchester, Fr. Phil Sumner, who is the OIF project manager, Cllr Shoab Akhtar, Debbie Abrahams MP and others during a Mosque visit

The Oldham Interfaith Forum has received a significant funding award from The National Lottery Community Fund.

The OIF will receive a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund of £80,000, spread over three years.

The money will enable the continuation and further development of interfaith work across the Borough of Oldham during that time.

It’s a recognition of the valuable work that has been done by the Forum for over the past 20 years.

The Oldham Interfaith Forum also receives a yearly grant of £36,000 from Oldham Council every April, but a decision on whether that particular award will be renewed next year hasn't yet been made.

The recent pandemic saw much cross-cultural work required to take place only online.

Therefore, the Forum insists there’s a real need for a revival of the face-to-face work, and for a further development of partnerships between communities of different faiths at an event more local level.

Mohammed Tufail OBE, the Chair of the Forum, said: “We would like to thank the National Lottery Community Fund for this award.

"It will help so much to continue to build a resilient network of relationships that will be able to address tensions when they arise and even prevent so many from happening in the first place.”

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