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ROYAL BACKING FOR COMMUNITY COHESION CAMPAIGN 2 Nov 2006
In support of a national campaign to break down religious and cultural barriers, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will share tea and cake in a small terraced house in Jarrow, South Tyneside next week. Attended by people of different cultures and faiths, the event will take place in the home of Duncan Whittington, regional development officer for Toc H, the charity which has launched the national Toc H Tea and Cake campaign. In a time of conflict and war, the Toc H Tea and Cake campaign inspires a simple dialogue initiative to encourage people of different faiths, cultures and communities to communicate effectively together and remove aspects of ignorance and resentment of one another. “The campaign is about offering a neighbourly gesture of friendship. Not about converting people of other faiths or none. It's about encouraging community cohesion by engendering goodwill and sharing time together,” said Madeleine Fone, campaign co-ordinator. The campaign has the backing of many religious leaders, MPs and dignitaries such as Lord Bhatia and Baroness Andrews of the Department for Communities and Local Government. Events are taking place at venues across the UK between 11 September and 11 November, from small houses and community centres to The House of Lords. Rev Geoffrey Smith, Toc H chief executive, said: “While conflict and terrorism grab the headlines and breed an ugly polarisation within our society, now is the time to extend the hand of friendship across culture and faith as evidence of our desire to celebrate our common humanity.”