EIFA was officially formed in 1989 to promote and facilitate positive engagement between the faith communities of our religiously and culturally diverse city.
We are now Scotland’s longest running interfaith charity and have a proud history of working with our faith communities. Through dialogue and education, we are striving in all that we do to make Edinburgh a more respectful and peaceful city.
EIFA aims to promote religious (and cultural) harmony and diversity in Edinburgh by bringing peoples of all faiths together. All of our events, projects and efforts seek to advance mutual understanding, trust, respect, cooperation and peace between the communities of Edinburgh. Our efforts are not solely limited to faith groups: many of our initiatives aim to advance the general level of awareness on interfaith and multicultural issues among the wider population.
EVENTS
EIFA organises numerous public events that educate, inform and provide a platform for engagement and understanding on the diversity within religious and spiritual traditions and associated multi-cultural beliefs. For example: we annually develop an extensive programme for Interfaith Week, including formal and informal dialogues, film screenings and public talks on topics such as “Religion in the Media”.
We also organise and promote numerous public talks, formal and informal dialogues, panel events, film screenings, exhibitions, conferences on subjects such as Islamophobia and ‘Science and Religion’, and the visits to Scotland by eminent leaders such as the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh, Chief Rabbi David Rosen, and many others.
CONSULTANCY & TRAINING
We provide consultancy and advice services to a range of local and national, public, private and voluntary bodies. For over 20 years we have provided consultancy, training and coaching in diversity and equalities, to organisation such as public sector staff, various private employers, Police Scotland, and the NHS. We consistently offer informed advice on issues relating to faith and belief in Edinburgh, to Edinburgh Council, Lothian and Borders Police and voluntary organisations such as Faith in Older People.
For more information, or to discuss consultancy, training or advice services for your organisation, please contact us at info@eifa.org.uk
EDUCATION
We develop and jointly co-ordinate education engagement with local schools. Our work supports the curriculum through religious and cultural activities and panels as well as citizenship and peace education. For over 20 years we have been regularly visiting local schools, often accompanied by representatives of religious or faith communities in Edinburgh, to offer talks on particular faiths or provide multi-faith panel discussions on moral, or spiritual/religious issues.
If you would like to organise a school visit, or would like to find out more,
We also develop and publish educational media. For example, in 2014, we released the documentary film Faith and I which followed the lives of
three young women of faith
EIFA has a board of representatives, with each member representing the following faith communities in Edinburgh: Baha'i, Brahma Kumaris, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, Sikh, and Unitarian.
Executive Director
Iain Stewart
Honorary Presidents
Rev Prof Frank Whaling
Rabbi David Rose
Victor Spence
Patron
The Lord Provost
The Edinburgh Buddhist Society
Kadampa Meditation Centre Edinburgh
Church of Scotland Edinburgh Office
City of Edinburgh Methodist Church
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh
Edinburgh Quaker Meeting House
Edinburgh Scotland Stake (Latter Day Saints)
Edinburgh Hindu Mandir and Cultural Centre
Sukkat Shalom, the Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community
Anwar-E-Madina (Annandale Street Mosque)
Roxburgh Street Masjid Edinburgh
Muslim Welfare House (Lauriston Mosque)