What would be an adequate response to the 7/7 bombings in London three years ago? For Krish Raval, who runs Learn to Lead, a leadership training organisation based in Sheffield, the answer is: ‘Develop a new generation of leaders from all the faith communities in Britain, equipped with the best leadership skills, who know and trust each other’. This is the vision behind Faith in Leadership, a programme carried out by Learn to Lead in partnership with Initiatives of Change.
Module 1 of Faith in Leadership took place on the Liverpool Hope University campus, 18-22 August. Thirty two participants, aged between 20 and 35, selected for the leadership they have already shown in the Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim or Sikh communities, took part. An intense series of workshops was given by leading experts—many of whom gave their services free of charge—in coaching, personal transformation, negotiation, group dynamics and musical conducting, which is a powerful metaphor for leadership. In the spaces in between, participants shared games, meals, times of quiet and of course, animated conversations.
A clear majority rated it the best course they had ever taken part in. ‘It had been wonderful to be able to talk naturally with one another, including about the things we believe,’ commented one.
The same participants travel to Sheffield in October for Module 2, when they will become the trainers, passing on what they have learned to a group of less privileged 16-year-olds. Module 3 takes place in November at Lambeth Palace, the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, one of the programme’s Patrons.
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