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Practical Tools for supporting student’s of faith and belief Sukhi Kainth Project Manager Campus Cohesion and Interfaith

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Aim How do students’ union get students of faith and belief to engage affecting with their students’ union

Objectives Learn more about the Campus Cohesion and Interfaith Project plus the team Identify traditional barriers to engaging faith and belief groups/societies Identify examples of enabling policy and procedures Illustrate examples of good practice in mitigating risk against external speakers Introduce external influences on faith and belief groups/societies Explain what funding is available for interfaith initiatives Provide examples of previous initiative winners

Introduction – Campus Cohesion and Interfaith Since 2009, with funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (DBIS), NUS has taken a clear leadership role in delivering its responsibilities of supporting students’ unions to: How to mitigate external speakers risk Understand Prevent agenda Respond to tensions between different student faith groups Support student faith groups to negotiate for improved services Increase interaction, understanding and learning amongst students and staff about the role of religion and belief in students’ lives.

Project Objectives Hate Speech: To ensure SUs are equipped to manage their responsibilities under charity legislation and able to implement the guidance on external speakers some project actions include: Deliver training on Hate Speech Guidance, in two regions and support 30 students’ unions to implement the guidance Deliver training to our staff and officer through our summer training programme Hate Crime: To tackle student-targeted hate crime on campus and (far right) extremism in local communities some project actions include: Create case studies from exemplary practice of hate crime reporting centres in students’ unions Produce a resource on how to set up a hate crime reporting centre in a students’ union or in partnership with the institution Interfaith: To improve the experiences of students’ of faith in further and higher education actions include: Promote and facilitate activities across unions during National Interfaith Week Run two network meetings of the national student faith groups help build the capacity of these organisations to support their members to engage more with students’ unions locally. Research Project: To understand the extent to which students might become isolated and vulnerable, in particular looking at pastoral support and tutor contact.

s What barriers prevent students’ union from engaging with students of faith or belief?

Identify examples of enabling policy and procedures Equality of procedures Ensure that all forms are represented of both societies and where possible of sports clubs Do not create separate or distinct forms for faith and belief Societies and Groups

Illustrate examples of good practice in mitigating risk Trustees have a legal duty and responsibility under charity law to protect the funds and other property of their charity so that it can be applied for its intended beneficiaries. Charity Commission – Compliance Toolkit Consider Sponsorship procedures too University of Derby Sponsorship Policy and Guidelines Background These policies and guidelines are designed to help Students’ Union Clubs and Societies make the most out of any possible sponsorship agreements and at the same time protect the Club or Society from “Over Promising and under delivering”.

Introduce external influences on faith and belief groups/societies  A The Christian Union (CU) has issued a memo to its members that states women will not be allowed to teach at its regular meetings and major events, unless accompanied by their husbands.  Omar Sharif, a suicide bomber in Tel Aviv in 2003, was radicalised during his first year at King's College London after he attended Hizb-ut-Tahrir meetings on campus;  Anthony Garcia, convicted for his role in the 2004 'fertiliser' bomb plot, attended religious talks in the late 1990s at the University of East London Islamic Society;  At a union fresher’s fair, the local Atheist and Humanist Society (AHS) have placed a pineapple they have named Mohammed on their stall, in order, they say, to make a point about the religion, blasphemy and freedom of speech.  Mohammed Naveed Bhatti, convicted for his role in Dhiren Barot's 2004 'dirty bomb' plot, was studying at Brunel University and met Barot in the university's prayer room.

Policy to support decision making Equal Opportunities 6. In pursuance of these objects, the National Union will not tolerate, and shall seek to eradicate, discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, ethnic origin, religion, age, nationality, caring responsibility status, creed or gender identity, and will be independent of any party political organisation or religious body; but positive action in favour of any disadvantaged section of society shall be allowed. No Platform Policy 7. In pursuance of the National Union’s objects, any individuals or members of organisations or groups identified by the Democratic Procedures Committee as holding racist or fascist views shall not be allowed to stand for election to any National Union office, or go to, speak or take part in National Union conferences, meetings or any other National Union events, and Officers, Committee Members and Trustees shall not share a public platform with an individual or member of an organisation or group known to hold racist or fascist views. The Democratic Procedures Committee shall develop Rules for the operation of the National Union’s “no platform” policy which shall need the approval of the National Conference. 8. In addition, as part of the National Union’s no platform policy: 8.1 a person or organisation or group may be subject to the National Union’s "no platform" policy from time to time because of a decision of the National Conference; 8.2 a list of the individuals, organisations and groups subject to the NUS Constitution

Tools for mitigating risk against external speakers speakers Charity Commission Compliance Toolkit NUS Mitigating the risks associated with external speakers

Other consideration External Speakers and Institutions London Met’s Notes of guidance All events held at the University must comply with London Met’s statement of values and Code of Practice on freedom of speech. Any request for a guest speaker event must be made at least two weeks in advance (three weeks if the meeting is to be open to the public). If we have any queries regarding the suitability of the speaker, we will require an extra week before the booking can be approved. All speakers will need to be approved by the University before they are invited. It is the event organiser’s responsibility to make guest speakers aware that the University aims to promote mutual respect and understanding within a healthy atmosphere of questioning and debate within the law. Accordingly any behaviour that is deemed to incite hatred against another person or group is unacceptable. Speakers at an event must agree to take questions from any member of the audience. The University reserves the right to refuse any booking. The University also reserves the right to monitor any event on its premises and if necessary to close any event and require all persons to leave. Event organisers may wish to consider whether to insure against the risks and costs of cancellation, but should note that the University cannot advise in this regard.

Reputational Risk ‘’As part of their charity law duties, trustees must always act in the best interests of their charity. They must act reasonably and prudently and they must ensure that the charity's funds, assets and reputation are not placed at undue risk, and that it is complying with the wider legal framework. They must not engage in activities which would lead a reasonable member of the public to conclude the charity supports terrorism’’ Charity Commission

Who are the national student faith and belief organisations? Atheist, Humanist and Secular Students (AHS) Baha'i Community of the UK British Organisation of Sikh Students (BOSS) Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) National Hindu Student Forum (NHSF) Network for Buddhist Organisations National Student Sikh Alliance Student Christian Movement (SCM) UCCF: the Christian Unions Union of Jewish Students (UJS) Young Jains

Useful links in supporting decision making UUK- Freedom of speech on campus Channel Guidance Charity Commission Toolkit NUS- Managing the risks associated with external speakers Proscribed groups list

s What funding is available for interfaith initiatives ?

Students’ Union Example Interfaith Initiatives Winners The project was to organise and host a 2 day event in National Interfaith Week as a collaboration between the University of Bristol Islamic Society (BRISOC) and the University of Bristol Jewish Society (JSOC)

Students’ Union Example Interfaith Initiatives Winners Link to the blog - Project Aims  To develop a multi-faith blog and online forum for interfaith engagement.  To increase involvement in the recently formed multi-faith forum.  To host a multi-faith fair based on ‘culture, faith & food’.

Review Objectives Learn more about the Campus Cohesion and Interfaith Project plus the team Identify traditional barriers to engaging faith and belief groups/societies Identify examples of enabling policy and procedures Illustrate examples of good practice in mitigating risk against external speakers Introduce external influences on faith and belief groups/societies Explain what funding is available for interfaith initiatives Provide examples of previous initiative winners

Thank-you Colum McGuire VP Welfare Sukhi Kainth Project Manager Zahra Latif Project Officer FE and Nations

Next steps Briefing Survey Next webinar: 19 th June 2014, 12:00-13:00 ‘Student Opportunities aren’t political?’