Wales Interfaith Network Directory
Note: this page is under development
INTERFAITH ORGANISATIONS/ CONTACTS
This section includes organisations and groups that include people from more than one faith or spiritual tradition working together for the community benefit.
These organisations will all be plotted on the Interfaith Map and full listings/ contact information can be found here - click link Interfaith Map
Chaplaincies and Spiritual Care
Chaplaincies exist across Wales in many different organisations to provide spiritual care to people who do not have access to this through their own place of worship or spiritual community for various reasons, such as health, confinement, or military or civil duties. Chaplaincies exist in Hospitals, Universities, the Police, the army and other public bodies. These Chaplaincies can be single faith such as Christian or more and more commonly, multi faith. Typically Chaplains are ordained or professionally trained, but they can also include individuals having no religious belief, such as Humanists.
The main multi faith chaplaincies in Wales are included on the Interfaith Map.
Type in “Chaplaincy” to the search box on the top left corner of the page and all references connected to chaplaincy will appear on the map and their full listing details below this.
ORGANISATIONS/ CONTACTS SUPPORTING INTERFAITH WORK
This section contains organisation and contacts who work in non-faith based organisations but who are working in or are interested in interfaith work
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Each County Council has a representative or team within it's make up who is responsible for the new "Religion and Belief Equalities Strand"
Equalities – Religion and Belief
One of the impacts of the new Equalities legislation is to highlight the rights and responsibilities around religious beliefs. This has created both a need for and provision of local information on religious and non-religious beliefs and an increased awareness of local faith and spiritual communities. This has an impact on interfaith work locally through requests for information or availability of knowledge and resources.
Under this human rights and anti-discrimination legislation, you have the right to hold your own religious beliefs or other philosophical beliefs similar to a religion. You also have the right to have no religion or belief. Under the Equality Act, it is unlawful for someone to discriminate against you because of your religion or belief (or because you have no religion or belief). You are also entitled to practise your religion or belief, express your views and get on with your day-to-day life without experiencing threats or discrimination.
For more information see www.equalityhumanrights.com/your-rights/religion-and-belief/
Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
There is an Independent statutory body established to deal with issues of Equality and Human Rights. Its aims are to promote equality and human rights and to create a fairer Britain. It does this by providing advice and guidance, working to implement an effective legislative framework and raising awareness of people’s rights.
For more information see www.equalityhumanrights.com
Local Equalities and Diversity Officers
Many statutory authorities and public bodies have appointed dedicated Equalities or Diversity Officers to deal with the impact of this new legislation. This includes Local Authorities, Hospitals and Universities.
See sections below for contact details of Equalities and Diversity Officers in your local area.
Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education
These form part of interfaith engagement in Wales as follows:
SACREs – Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education
SACREs exist in each Local Authority (LA) primarily to advise the LA on matters relating to Religious Education and Collective Worship in the LA’s maintained schools. In order to carry out this role, representatives from many stakeholder groups, including faith communities, are brought together to work collaboratively. SACREs are a distinct example of interfaith engagement but with a very specific focus. They are able to encourage and support the inclusion of interfaith issues within the local Religious Education provision.
WASACRE – Welsh Association of SACRE’s
WASACRE exists to provide a forum for SACREs in Wales to meet and support each other in fulfilling statutory duties, and to monitor trends and provision for Religious Education in Wales. The Association normally meets once a school term, with the Executive meeting more frequently as required.
There is currently no website for WASACRE, but for more information contact Tania ap Sion the WASACRE Secretary at Tania.ap.sion@st-deniols.org or phone 01244 527003
More information:
For more information on SACREs contact the SACRE Clerk at your Local Authority (see contact details below) or click here for more Resources
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
Civic Centre, Ebbw Vale, Gwent, NP23 6XE
Equalities Officer
t 01495 355108
SACRE Clerk
t 01495 355080
This SACRE has representatives from Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh Faiths.
Bridgend County Borough Council
Civic Offices, Angel Street, Bridgend, CF31 4WB
Equalities Officer
t 01656 643332
Children's Directorate, Bridgend County Borough COuncil, Sunnyside, Bridgend, CF31 4AR
SACRE Clerk
t 01656 643643
This SACRE has representatives from Christian, Hindu and Muslim Faiths.
Caerphilly County Borough Council
Pontllanfraith House, Blackwood Road, Pontllanfraith, Blackwood, Gwent, NP12 2YW
Policy Officer
t 01443 864353
Cardiff Council
County Hall, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff, CF10 4UW
Head of Equalities Team
t 02920 872953
SACRE Clerk
t 02920 872910
This SACRE has representatives from Baha'i, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh Faiths.
Carmarthenshire County Council
County Hall, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, SA31 1JP
Equalities and Diversity Manager
t 01267 224804
Department for Education and Children, Pibwrlwyd, Carmarthen, SA31 2NH
SACRE Clerk
t 01267 224508
This SACRE has representatives from Christian Faiths.
Ceredigion County Council
Neuadd Cyngor Ceredigion, Penmorfa, Aberaeron, Ceredigion, SA46 0PA
Personel Officer
t 01545 572019
Conwy County Borough Council
Bodlondeb, Conwy, North Wales, LL32 8DU
Equalities and Diversity Officer
t 01492 576225
SACRE Clerk
Denbighshire County Council
County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, LL15 1YN
Equalities Officer
t 01745 888746
Flintshire County Council
County Hall, Mold, Flintshire, CH7 6NB
Policy Officer / Equalities
t 01352 702122
Gwynedd County Council
Council Offices, Shirehall street, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 1SH
Equalities Officer
t 01286 679056
SACRE Clerk
t 01286 679888
This SACRE has representatives from Christian Faiths.
Isle of Anglesey County Council
Education and Leisure Department, Ffordd Glanhwfa, Llangefni, LL77 7EY
SACRE Clerk
t 01248 752916
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8AN
Head of Human Resources
t 01685 725000 (Request through council switch board)
SACRE Clerk
t 01685 725203
This SACRE has representatives from Christian Faiths.
Monmouthshire County Council
County Hall, Cwmbran, Gwent, NP44 2XH
Equalities and Access Officer
t 01633 644036
SACRE Clerk
t 01633 644231
This SACRE has representatives from Baha'i, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh Faiths. At the end of 2009 this SACRE was seeking Buddhist and Hindu representation.
Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
Port Talbot Civic Centre, Port Talbot, SA13 1 PJ
Regional Equality Officer
t 01639 686242
SACRE Clerk
t 01639 763529
This SACRE has representatives from Christian, Humanist, Muslim and Sikh Faiths.
Newport City Council
Civic Centre, Newport, NP20 4RU
Lead Officer Community Cohesion
t 01633 414516
SACRE Clerk
t 01633 232059
This SACRE has representatives from Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim (both Sunni &Shi'a) and Sikh Faiths.
Pembrokeshire County Council
County Hall, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1TP
Equalities Officer
t 01437 764551
SACRE Clerk
t 01437 775292
Powys County Council
County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 5LG
Equalities Advisor
t 01597 826247
SACRE Clerk
t 01597 826431
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
Headquarters, The Pavilions, Cambrian Park, Clydach Vale, Tonypandy, CF40 2XX
Equality, Diversity and Social Justice Team
t 01443 424075
e equality@Rhondda-Cynon-Taf.gov.uk
Ty Trevithick, Abercynon, Mountain Ash, CF45 4UQ
SACRE Clerk
t 01443 744036
This SACRE has representatives from Christian and Muslim Faiths.
Swansea City and Borough Council
Civic Centre, Oystermouth Road, Swansea, SA1 3SN
Access to Services Team
t 01792 636703
e accesstoservices@swansea.gov.uk
SACRE Clerk
t 01792 636551
This SACRE has representatives from Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh Faiths.
Torfaen County Borough Council
Civic Centre, Pontypool, Torfaen, NP4 6YB
Equality Manager
t 01495 766327
County Hall, Cwmbran, Torfaen, NP44 2WN
SACRE Clerk
t 01633 647639
This SACRE has representatives from Christian,Muslim and Sikh Faiths.
Vale of Glamorgan Council
Civic Offices, Holton Road, Barry, CF63 4RU
Coorporate Equalities Officer
t 01446 700 111 ( Request through council switch board)
SACRE Clerk
t 01446 709149
Wrexham County Borough Council
The Guildhall, Wrexham, LL11 1AY
Equality Manager
t 01978 292 000 (Request through council switch board)
ERLAS Centre, Bryn Estyn Road, Wrexham
SACRE Clerk
t 01978 317622
This SACRE has representatives from Christian Faiths.
University of Wales, Newport
Equality and Diversity Manager
Department of Human resources, University of Wales, Newport, Caerleon Campus, Lodge Road, Newport, NP18 3QT
t 01633 432912
Swansea Metropolitan University
Equalities Officer
Swansea Metropolitan University, Mount Pleasant, Swansea,SA1 6ED
t 01792 481000
