Annual iftar event

Police, Fire and local communities join students from Bosworth Independent School for annual iftar event 

Police and fire colleagues joined community members from across different faiths and cultures, together with young people from Bosworth Independent School to celebrate an evening focusing on the topic of ‘building trust in communities’ during the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan.

The annual event gathered around 150 guests from across the county, including a cross section of community members all coming together to celebrate the rich diversity of Northamptonshire and opening the fast together.

Organised by Northamptonshire Police, in conjunction with the charity Dialogue Society, supported by Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, and hosted by Bosworth Independent School, the gathering brought together young and older people from different backgrounds and faiths in an opportunity to network and dialogue with people that they may not otherwise have had the opportunity to speak and learn from.

The event was held in Bosworth’s grand Great Hall on Sunday, March 8, and provided a platform from young people to speak to and engage with a diverse mix of people coming together to celebrate the essence of Ramadhan. 

Before breaking the fast, guests heard speeches from a variety of speakers. Opening the evening, Detective Superintendent Gan Thayanithy, Head of Intelligence, said: “Building trust in communities, more important now than ever before. If we build communities, then trust will follow, and this has been my philosophy throughout my career.” 

Sophia Perveen, Co-chair of the Northamptonshire Police Interfaith Association, who organised the event, said: “Every year we build on the success of previous years for our iftar event, and this year was no different. It was heart warming to see so many different faces, whether of faith or not all speaking to each and connecting on a human level, learning from each other’s differences and growing as people. To see young people and old sharing a commitment to strengthening our communities and promoting respect and tolerance, truly reflects the embodiment of Ramadhan.”

Headmaster of Bosworth School, Tony Oulton, spoke about the rich diversity of the school, which boasts 70 per cent students from outside the British Isles. He said: “Schools are now realising they should be teaching global citizenship. At Bosworth, we don’t teach that. We don’t have to. At Bosworth, global citizenship is a lived reality. Diversity is in our DNA. By living and learning alongside their peers from around the world, we give them what I believe is the most important tool that a society has to pass onto the next generation; of seeing diversity as our greatest collective human strength.”

The evening included a nod to International Women’s Day with a speech bravely delivered by the young Chair of the Youth Independent Advisory Group, Chanel Giambrone. She said: “The youth are the future of our community. And building a relationship founded on trust is vital. We want to inspire and change our communities for the better.” 

Guests during the evening also heard from the Dialogue Society and watched a musical performance by MK Anatolian Music Group.

Professional youth mentor Quinton Green delivered riveting poetry, highlighting: “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” 

Chair of the Christian Police Association, Rob Monk and his son spoke on stage about Lent, which this year coincides with Ramadhan. They spoke about its significance and giving up favourite things such as gaming. 

A prayer was also read out by Reverand Canon Beverley Collins.

Father Oliver Coss, Chair of the Northampton Interfaith Forum, made reference in his speech to the Nostra Aetate, Latin for "In Our Time",  a landmark 1965 declaration from the Second Vatican Council that changed the Catholic Church's relationship with non-Christian religions, promoting dialogue, respecting shared spiritual values, rejecting antisemitism, and emphasizing unity, acknowledging that all humans share a common destiny.”

The evening concluded with speeches by students from the school on their work around building diversity and promoting respect across cultures and faiths.