The purpose of the Interfaith Forum is to provide support for faith communities to build up their social capital and to encourage faith communities to develop in ways which they are at ease with themselves and others.

The aim is to provide a basis for good quality relationships with the wider Leicestershire community and forum where differences can be openly discussed.

Links have been established across the county including, but not limited to, local authorities, Police and the NHS. It also serves as an advocate on behalf of faith groups to M.P.s, councillors and other public figures and a first port of call for policy makers and consultations.

The membership of the Forum is drawn from faith communities living in Leicestershire and Leicester. The majority of participants will live in Leicestershire, however, it is recognised that faith communities cross local government boundaries and that for some emerging communities in the County their community leaders and institutions may still be in Leicester, and their involvement is welcomed.

Communities of different faiths from different parts of the County will be invited to nominate up to 4 people from whom those who will attend the meetings of the Forum will be drawn.

The Forum has a loose constitution and will focus on dialogue and debate. It is not a fund holder but will seek to enable others to secure funding or to shape the use of resources so that they respond to the needs of people from different faith communities.

The Forum is supported by Leicestershire County Council in preparing for and servicing meetings (including the annual conference) and in identifying and inviting input from senior representatives of public bodies to meetings of the Forum. It meets quarterly (usually at County Hall) and also holds an annual conference.  Each meeting is broken into two sections:

• Theme Based - aimed at promoting dialogue and communication between faith representatives and public bodies on issues such as, but not limited to, family life, young people, extremism, and social cohesion.
• Business Session – considering Forum policy, advocating, linking, goal setting