British tennis wants to prove the sport is accessible to all – that it’s not just for ‘the white middle classes’. As a result, the Tennis Activator coaching programme – a Tennis Foundation, LTA-backed venture – was created about two years ago.
Now, in eight locations across the country, more than 600 ‘Activator’ coaches are taking tennis into communities that might traditionally miss out. They were able to do so after undertaking quick, low-cost, and easily-accessible training courses.
In a graduation ceremony held in the magnificent surrounds of Birmingham Town Hall on Tuesday, 15th April 2014 three leaders joined more than 520 postgraduate students from across Aston’s four Schools to receive recognition.
During the 2014 graduation ceremony, the University awarded three honorary degrees to leading religious and business figures. They were Sue Noffke, an equity fund manager; Bhai Sahib, Dr Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia, Chairman of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ) and the Nishkam Civic Association and The Very Reverend Catherine Ogle, Dean of Birmingham. The Senate is empowered to award degrees ‘honoris causa’ as a means of honouring individuals who have distinguished themselves in a particular field or profession, or who have given meritorious service to the University.
The Honorary Degrees are the University’s public recognition of an individual’s outstanding achievements or service at a local, national or international level. It is particularly appropriate if the achievements or service are directly related to Aston University and / or Birmingham and the West Midlands, or to the principles for which Aston University stands: the advancement, dissemination and application of learning and knowledge, by teaching, and research, for the benefit of industry and commerce, and of the community generally.
Bhai Sahib Dr Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia is the Spiritual Leader and Chairman of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, UK – a charitable 
organisation with its Headquarters in Birmingham and two sister organisations in Leeds and London with branches in India and Kenya. He is also Chairman of the Nishkam Civic Association which engages in a plethora of civic activities. He has previously been awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Central England in 2002 and from the University of Birmingham in 2006. Bhai Sahib is the first British Sikh to be awarded the official title of ‘Bhai Sahib’ by the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (the Sikh ‘apex’ organisation representing some 26 million Sikhs globally) for his selfless service in propagating the Sikh faith, engagement in interfaith work and heritage conservation.
Bhai Sahib said ”It is indeed a privilege and an honour to be recognised by such a prestigious University well known for its world-class teaching, and strong links to industry, government and commerce”.
Within the interfaith context, Bhai Sahib is a senior member of the Elijah Board of World’s Religious Leaders and the European Council of Religious Leaders. He is Co-President and Trustee of Religions for Peace International, New York, and President of Religions for Peace UK. He supports the Council for the Parliament of the World’s Religions, Chicago. Bhai Sahib is Patron of the Divine Onkar Mission, Anon Care (UK), the Nishkam Healthcare Trust and the Nishkam School Trust which has pioneered a multi-faith ethos in values-based education at its Nishkam Nursery, Primary, High School and Sixth Form. He is currently working on two landmark projects; an ‘International Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation’ and a Museum of World’s Religions to be located in Birmingham.
During his address to the gathered graduates and their families he said, “While this is a day of celebration for those who are graduating, it is also an occasion that represents departure from studying at Aston University to a new world stage where graduates have the opportunity to make their mark in the wider community, whether that is at a local, regional or indeed at global level. The true value of your education lies in how you transfer the knowledge you have gained for the greater good of communities and humanity at large”.
He concluded his address “I strongly believe that it is imperative to fuse the sacred and the secular in order for humanity to share the bounty of our common good. I was honoured, privileged and humbled to be asked to address the UN General Assembly on the occasion of UN World Interfaith Harmony Week in 2012. I stated the following:
‘The whole of the human race is but one large family’ states Guru Gobind Singh Ji our tenth Guru. With this universality of the Almighty, we humans have common origins, common destiny and common goals. Pain, suffering, grief and tears are all common to us. We inhabit the same planet and share the same common environment.
We all aspire to be better human beings wishing for happiness, prosperity, success and peace which unfortunately deludes us mainly due to our negative values of lust, vengeance, greed, possessiveness, and arrogance. ‘The world is burning with the fire of these’ states Guru Nanak Dev Ji our first Guru and pleads to God, ‘save us, wherever and with whatever means possible.’
“Once again, I am deeply humbled by this honour and I trust that as graduates you will take advantage of the rich legacy of our great city“.
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On the evenings of Sunday 13 and Monday 14 April the iconic Library of Birmingham was lit up in orange to celebrate the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi, the holiest day in the Sikh faith calendar. The historic occasion marked the first time a public building in the UK has been lit up in observance of a Sikh sacred festival, a gesture which pays homage to the collective contribution of Sikhs in the UK.
The event was organised in partnership with the Birmingham Sikh community and the Library of Birmingham to celebrate Vaisakhi, the founding of the Khalsa in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs.
To the faithful, Vaisakhi, is a time of grave religious significance; to inspire, to build up faith, to widen our orbit of human relationships, and to foster virtues and values, which enrich human lives.
Birmingham City has one of the highest population of Sikhs in the UK. The virtues and values which Sikhs remember and aim to live up to at Vaisakhi are:
Initiating the ‘going orange’ of the library was Brian Gambles, Assistant Director of Culture at Library of Birmingham; David Pots, Head of Learning Resources at Library of Birmingham; and Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh, Chair of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ).
Birmingham faith leader, Bhai Sahib Ji has contributed immensely to inter-religious understanding and had just arrived from the US after receiving the prestigious Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize from Hofstra University for promoting interfaith harmony. In 2012, he was created a Knight of St Gregory the Great by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI in recognition of his commitment to working for peace among people of all faiths. His contributions echo the Sikh principles of volunteering, selflessness and community participation to bring about change for the common good.
Bhai Sahib Ji said: “Practising Sikhs with a distinctive identity, having the five kakars and dastaar, are expected by the Guru to be compassionate, courageous, loving, humble, to exercise self-restraint, to be ethical in conduct, to stand up for their own and others’ rights, and to maintain an ever-ascending spirit of optimism. Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s translated composition in English, provides us Sikhs a great direction for life on Vaisakhi: ‘Empower me, God, to never shy away, from doing what is good and right. May I, thus, become fearless in facing life’s battles, inside and around me, with resolute belief in victory. May my mind then learn; yearning only to praise your infinite goodness, and so, may I relentlessly continue to do all that is good and right, until my very last breath.”
On the occasion, a book about Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the eternal Guru of the Sikhs, was presented to the Library of Birmingham by Bhai Sahib Ji.
Brian Gambles, Assistant Director of Culture at Library of Birmingham said:
“Library of Birmingham is absolutely delighted to support the Sikh community in celebrating this important festival of Vaisakhi.”
In addition to the lights, one of the UK’s largest annual Vaisakhi celebrations (attracting some 60,000-70,000 participants) will take place at Handsworth Park to mark the Sikh nation’s collective birthday on 27thApril 2014 at which there will be an area for prayer (Guru Darbar) which will be an important focal point, open to all communities to visit and understand the Sikh faith. Bringing a spiritual and festive atmosphere to Handsworth Park, there will also be live music, entertainment, Punjabi food and craft stalls. The traditional Langar – free vegetarian meal from the Guru’s kitchen – will also be served.
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Notes to Editor
1. The Nishkam Civic Association, more fondly known as the Nishkam Centre is one of the five Centres for Excellence created by the faith-based charity, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha.
The Nishkam Centre is at the forefront of advancing community and economic wellbeing; promoting interfaith, intercultural, intercommunity dialogue; and championing social justice and inclusion. To deliver its mission, it has embedded and promotes active volunteering and selfless service for the benefit of humanity in all aspects of its work.
Chaired by Bhai Sahib Dr. Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia, who holds two honorary degrees from the city’s universities, it aims to serve and uplift society through the practice and propagation of the core values of ‘nishkamta’, or the spirit of selflessness. Spiritually inspired, the organisation has generated a flourishing culture of volunteering, contributing immensely to transform its visionary projects into a reality.
For more information, please visit www.ncauk.org
A very successful Symposium co-sponsored by the Fetzer Institute, the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ) and the Guerrand-Hermes Foundation for Peace took place on 2nd April in Birmingham, UK. 
Leading thinkers and activists from many peacemaking and reconciliation organisations gathered in Birmingham both for networking and for the preparation of future collaborative activities. The event was led by Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh, spiritual leader and Chairman of the Sikh community GNNSJ and co-convenor of the Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation Project and by Dr. Josef Boehle, Director of the Charter Project. Dr William F. Vendley, Secretary General of Religions for Peace International is also a co-convenor of the Charter project.
The day’s agenda included discussions of some of the key questions and critical issues to be considered in creatingthe Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation. Included were extensive deliberations of forgiveness’ critical role in justice, reconciliation and peacebuilding.
The Symposium served as a springboard to action on establishing the Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation in 2015. The proposed Charter aims to inspire and engage individuals, groups and communities, in public processes and in private settings, appealing to humanity to practice genuine forgiveness and reconciliation, seeking justice and sustainable peace. The Symposium programme with a list of presenters, chairs and moderators is online at: http://www.commongood.info/symposium2014.pdf
30 participants and observers attended the Symposium and their names and organisational affiliations can be found in the notes at the end of this article.
The proposed Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation will draw upon values, stories and examples from sacred texts and from different spiritual traditions, from religious / spiritual communities, and from the lives of outstanding individuals. With such paradigms, the Charter will direct commitment and activities towards a growing practice of forgiveness and reconciliation which humanity desperately needs in a fractured world.
The draft text for the Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation is now being developed. The whole collaborative chartering process is expected to take up to a year, to allow for substantial input from a wide range of worldviews, backgrounds, expertise and insights.
The vision behind the Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation is that forgiving is an activity necessary for healing and reconciliation to take place when seeking justice and sustainable peace.
Additional information on the Charter Project can be found at: http://www.commongood.info/charterforgiveness.html
The Charter project is co-sponsored by the Fetzer Institute: http://www.fetzer.org/our-work/projects/building-charter-forgiveness
Please View Presenters, Chairs and Moderators Below
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Notes:
1. The Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation web page:
http://www.commongood.info/charterforgiveness.html
2. Fetzer Institute – Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Fetzer.org Building the charter for forgiveness
3. Guerrand-Hermes Foundation for Peace:
4. Nishkam Centre:
http://nishkamcentre.org/intra-interfaith/interfaith-work/
5. Presenters, Chairs and Moderators:
a. Prof Pal Ahluwalia, UNESCO Chair in Transnational Diasporas and Reconciliation Studies; Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
b. Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia, Chairman and Spiritual Leader, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, Birmingham, UK. Co-convenor, Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation Project.
c. Alexandra Asseily, Governor and Founder of the Centre for Lebanese Studies, Oxford; Founder member of the Ara Pacis Initiative; Initiator, Garden of Forgiveness, Lebanon.
d. Prof Andrea Bartoli, Dean, School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Seton Hall University, New Jersey, USA; Advisor, Community Sant’Egidio, Rome, Italy.
e. Dr Anthony Bash, Honorary Fellow, Department of Theology and Religion, Durham University, Durham, UK.
f. Dr Josef Boehle, Research Fellow, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Director, Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation Project.
g.Prof Patrice Brodeur, Canada Research Chair on Islam, Pluralism, and Globalisation, Faculty of Theology and the Sciences of Religions, University of Montreal, Canada.
h. Marina Cantacuzino, Founder and Director, Forgiveness Project, London, UK.
i. Maria Nicoletta Gaida, Founder and President, Ara Pacis Initiative; Board of Directors, Council for Dignity, Forgiveness, Justice and Reconciliation, Rome, Italy.
j. Rev Charles Gibbs, Founding Executive Director Emeritus (1996-2013), United Religions Initiative, Washington, D.C., USA.
k. Dr Scherto Gill, Executive Secretary, Guerrand-Hermes Foundation for Peace, Brighton, UK.
l. Dr Jean Baptiste Habyalimana, Executive Secretary, National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, Kigali, Rwanda.
m. Sharif Horthy, President of the Guerrand-Hermes Foundation for Peace (GHFP) and Vice Chairman of the GHFP’s Board of Trustees, Brighton, UK.
n. Dr Justine Huxley, Director, St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, London, UK.
o. Prof Kamel Abu Jaber, Professor of Political Science Emeritus (1971-1979, 1980-1985); Minister of Foreign Affairs for Jordan (1991-1993); President, Jordan Institute for Middle East Studies, Jordan.
p.Prof Rasoul Rasoulipour, Department of Religion and Philosophy, Kharazmi University, Teheran, Iran.
q. Peter Riddell, Convenor, Agenda for Reconciliation, Initiatives of Change-UK, Oxford, UK.
r. Prof Geraldine Smyth, Associate Professor in Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies for the Irish School of Ecumenics, Dublin, Ireland.
s. Prof Martin Stringer, Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Observers:
a. Neil Deuchar, Student, University of Birmingham
b. Alison Treasure, Student, University of Birmingham
c. Kam Kaur Takhar, GNNSJ
d. Rev John Nightingale, Chair, Jubilee Debt Campaign, Birmingham Group
e. Sukhbir Singh, GNNSJ
f. Richard Boeke, Chair, British Chapter, IARF
g. Markus Braybrooke, President, World Congress of Faiths
h. Mary Braybrooke
i. Marius Felderhof, Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University of Birmingham
j. Loretta Abu Jaber
k. Kudakwashe Nyakudya, Founder Director, Kahrmel Wellness
Young football fans in Kenya have been given a lift through the gift of Premier League kits thanks to Aston Villa (key partners of the Nishkam Centre) and their fans.
The famous claret-and-blue shirts have been donated by Villa fans through an amnesty that gave ‘Villans’ a discount on this season’s kit in return for their donation. With the help of Turkish Airlines, the club’s official airlines partner, the shirts were then flown out to Kenya. There they were given to people in two locations.
Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha Leeds received the Best Outreach and Networking Award at the Fairtrade Supporter Conference in October 2013. It was presented by Fairtrade International Chief Executive Michael Gidney CBE.
The Award recognises the achievements and creativity of Fairtrade campaigners and supporters for helping workers and farmers in some of the poorest countries to earn a decent living and secure a better life for themselves. Smallhold farmers produce 70% of the world’s food but also make up half of the worlds hungriest people and we want to change that! We were awarded £500 which we’re going to use this year to spread the Fairtrade message even further in our campaign to bring a fair wage to farmers and workers.
During Fairtrade Fortnight members of GNNSJ-Leeds took part in a number of events where we showcased Fairtrade products, talking to the local community and explaining Fairtrade to hundreds of people. To support this we created Punjabi Fairtrade literature our own campaign material to highlight the links between Fairtrade and the Sikh faith.
We are just one of many campaigner groups helping to raise awareness and becoming actively involved in supporting the millions of people who grow the food we love. But it’s more than just paying these farmers a fair price for the products they grow. It’s about decent working conditions, building sustainable businesses and ultimately empowering people to help themselves out of a life of poverty and into a world where they can make a decent and dignified livelihood.
Just like Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s teachings, Fairtrade believes that everyone should be able to earn an honest living, one that is free from exploitation and unfair restrictions. Guru Nanak Dev Ji himself taught us this very message when he refused to eat from the hands of the wealthy Malik Bhago who earned his living through dishonesty and exploiting the poor. Instead Guru Ji chose to eat with Bhai Lalo a poor man who earned an honest living. Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s message was one of earning through an honest living and being compassionate towards others. Similarly Fairtrade strives to help people support themselves through an honest living and prevents them from being exploited by the likes of the modern day Malik Bhago.
So what can we do? You’ll notice the Fairtrade logo on a huge variety of products in your local supermarket like tea, coffee, sugar, 
chocolate, fruit, jam, honey and even clothes. These items come from smallhold farmers in countries like India, Kenya, Brazil and Nepal and many more.
Everytime you buy something with a Fairtrade label you are choosing to give people an equal chance to survive.
Everyone can play a part. You don’t have to be an expert on issues of campaign you just need to care enough to buy some Fairtrade goodies. It’s that simple. Next time you go to the supermarket, make a swap from one of your usual items to a Fairtrade one. This way you know that farmers are getting a fair price.
What’s next? Fairtrade Fortnight is on 24th February – 9th March and launching a special campaign to transform the banana industry and help millions of struggling banana farmers get a fair deal. It’s all led by a banana farmer called Foncho! Here’s how you can be a part of it:
Congratulations! You have just joined over 1.5 million steps towards Fairtrade.
Here’s the sangat at a Leeds Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha Gurdwara holding a Fairtrade stall during last year’s Fairtrade Fortnight.
For more information about Fairtrade please visit http://www.fairtrade.org.uk
or email abirdi@live.co.uk for more info on getting your Gurdwara involved.
Keertan (hymn singing) for Nelson Mandela’s health and wellbeing in the corridor outside his former prison cell (Robben Island off Cape Town Coast).
Onlookers were heartened to see people of the Sikh Dharam praying for the good health of ‘Madiba’.
Dec 2012
Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ) mourned the loss of Nelson Mandela with the rest of the world. The former South African President and peace advocate passed away on 5th December 2013 at the age of 95 whilst mourning we also celebrate his life and enduring legacy.
Nelson Mandela was a great leader who never wavered in his devotion to democracy, equality and learning. Despite terrible provocation, he never answered racism with racism. His life has been an inspiration to all who are oppressed and deprived, to all who are opposed to oppression and deprivation. He promoted forgiveness and denounced revenge.
GNNSJ has passionate links with the continent of Africa – the world’s second largest and second-most-populous continent with an estimated population of 1.033 billion (2011). The links include the founder of GNNSJ, Sant Baba Puran Singh Ji, spending 53 years of his life in Kenya – 49 of which were in Kericho Kenya; the establishment of the Gurudwara, Nishkam Sant Puran Singh Institute (college) and the support of medical / community services in Kenya; Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh, Chairman of GNNSJ and Nishkam Civic Association (NCA) spent most of his professional career in Zambia working with the Government of Zambia and also built a Gurudwara there; the supporting of the building and opening of a Gurudwara in Botswana in 2012 and last but not least, a spiritual trip to South Africa.
In December 2012 GNNSJ congregation members went to South Africa at the time when former President Nelson Mandela was admitted to a Pretoria military hospital for medical tests and prayed for his wellbeing. He was being treated for the recurrence of a lung infection. Despite his condition, it was reported by the current President Jacob Zuma that the 94 year old remained in good spirit and was inspired that the whole of South Africa and the world was thinking and praying for him. During the spiritually charged and inspired visit to South Africa, the congregation visited the former Robben Island prison where he had spent 18 of his 27 years in prison.
Nelson Mandela once commented, “It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not
be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.” This poignantly depicts the character of the man and freedom fighter who fought for democracy even in the face of adversity
Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh, commented at the time, “December is a month of reconciliation and remembrance for South Africans. I am personally working on a charter for forgiveness. There exists a charter for compassion by Karen Armstrong; I have felt the need for forgiveness all my life”. Quoting from Guru Granth Sahib Ji, “KabirJi: where there is wisdom and knowledge there is Dharam or Religion; Where there are lies and deceit there is sin; Where there is greed, there is famine death and destruction; Where there is forgiveness there is God himself. That to me is what was practiced in South Africa at state level”.
Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh felt compelled and duty bound to attend the funeral of the great man. Hearing the news whilst on a trip to India, he embarked on a marathon journey to South Africa to pay his last respects.
He commented on hearing about Madiba, “Service to humanity comes in many disguises and in many forms. I salute the great son of Africa, Nelson Mandela for the service he provided to humanity”.
Madiba died at his home in Johannesburg on 5 December 2013 at the age of 95. He will be missed by many people all around the world. The service was a great accolade to him and a fantastic send-off. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and the world at large – which was his family.
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A new service funded by Big Lottery and managed and coordinated by the Nishkam Civic Association (NCA) has been launched in Birmingham. The NCA in partnership with strategic partners UK Asian Women’s Centre and the Sikh Community Youth Services have launched the Birmingham Community Advice (BCA) Project which offers information, advice and guidance services via existing service providers across Birmingham.
An event was held to mark the launch of the advice services project back in December and was very well attended which showed the level of interest in the services and the eagerness of community groups to come together to collaborate. The launch was attended by local councillors, third sector organisations and public sector services. Whilst there was limited time to arrange the event and send out personal invitations, the support and turnout was overwhelming with over 40 organisations representing all parts of the City. The event commenced with paying respects and a minute silence in honour of the great man, Nelson Mandela. This was followed by a brief overview of the project given by the Project Coordinator – Gulbag Singh – to enable everyone to understand the specifics of the project, meet the team, see how their clients might benefit and how to get involved.
BCA is a City-wide service and will offer a free, impartial and confidential service for people from BME communities to gain advice 
and advocacy support in the key areas of, Employment and Discrimination Law, Welfare Benefits, Specialist Housing and Debt. The project team is keen to ensure that service provision is extended to offer a value added service to the local communities and organisations. By offering volunteers the opportunity to gain priceless training and experience working with experienced case workers to support them and organisations to build resilience in these unsettled times. With the harsh and relentless cut backs and scarcity of funding opportunities it is paramount that all means to collaborate and build partnerships / networks are explored.
The launch event, hosted my Sewa Singh Mandla, a Trustee and Non Exec Director of NCA, heard from Councillor Mahmood Hussain, Amrick Singh the Nishkam Centre Director, Mrs Sudarshan Abrol Hon CEO of the UK Asian Women’s Centre who proudly shared the history and tireless work they do and the impact they have. Cllr Hussain commented on how the Nishkam Centre with its faith based, values-led and volunteering ethos had been a flagship example in Handsworth and Soho. He went on to say, “Nishkam promotes equality and practices a labour of love in extending their hand to all who have needed it, helping to eradicate inequalities”.
Gulbag Singh, BCA Project Coordinator, said “The guests came from a variety of backgrounds and they were receptive to working in partnership and forging working relationships between third sector and public services. I was encouraged by the level of commitment to work together and it was great to see several councillors from across the wards come to support the launch event”.
The BCA team will now be busy securing outreach locations establishing working partnerships within existing community organisations so that services can be provided and a sustainable working model created. The team is mindful that whilst quality in all aspects is crucial, offering a compassionate and culturally sensitive service, particularly for those with language and cultural barriers, is of utmost importance.
Amrick Singh, Centre Director, said, “We are grateful to Big Lottery for supporting this project and it is a fantastic accolade for a third sector organisation to be able to work with local partners to build resilience and capacity. I am also glad that so many councillors, organisations, service providers and friends were able to support the launch and continue to be great allies to deliver fantastic services to the people of Birmingham”.
The event closed with a cake cutting ceremony and a buffet for all to enjoy a culinary delight, network and speak to staff from the BCA project.
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Notes to Editors:
1. Nishkam Civic Association is one of the five centres for excellence created by Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ) a multi-faceted, faith based organisation. Chaired by Bhai Sahib Dr Mohinder Singh it aims to serve and uplift society through the practice of core values – nishkamta, or the spirit of selflessness, being one of them. It has generated a flourishing culture of volunteering, which has contributed immensely to transforming visionary projects into reality.
For more information, visit www.ncauk.org and www.nishkammediacentre.com
2. UK Asian Women’s Centre is bonding South Asian women without prejudice of their Religious beliefs, varying abilities or skills and age. It plays a vital role to support and shape women’s social capital so that women can make choices and changes for themselves, their communities and families. The UK Asian Women’s Centre does this by building their confidence, upgrading their skills and enabling them to achieve economic independence. UK Asian Women’s Centre has been supporting women in employment for the last ten years and hopes to continue to fulfil its aims and objectives.
For more information, visit http://www.ukawc.com
3. Sikh Community & Youth Service UK (SCYS UK) is a “one stop” Information, Advice, Guidance and Training centre providing specialist support, advice and services to the local community. SCYS UK provides a number of key services linked to employment, housing, social, health, welfare, advice and educational services.
For more information, visit www.scysuk.org
Professor Peter Gilbert during his interview with
Bhai Sahib Dr Mohinder Singh on Leadership at
the Nishkam Centre
St George’s Catholic Church in Worcester attracted family and friends from across the UK to join in the Requiem Mass for Professor Peter Gilbert on Friday 27th December 2013. The Church was filled with people who wanted to give Peter a final send-off and standby the family during their trying time. Peter who was emeritus professor of social work and spirituality at Staffordshire University and a visiting professor with the University of Worcester lost his battle to illness and departed for his heavenly abode on the 12th December 2013.
Peter, editor of Pavilion Publishing titles Spirituality and Mental Health and Spirituality and End of Life Care, was recognised recently for his outstanding contribution to the profession at the Social Worker of the Year Awards 2013. He also won the Outstanding Contribution award in recognition of his significant influence on social work thinking on mental health, learning disabilities, spirituality and leadership. He constantly strove to bring the ‘human’ dimension into health and social care. He also cared passionately about bringing an authentic dimension to leadership practice and wrote much about leadership with integrity. He was the author and editor of numerous publications. He was always a source of wisdom and good advice.
Peter was the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) project lead on spirituality from its
St Geourge’s Church Worcester
inception to 2008, and worked with the National Spirituality and Mental Health Forum (NSMHF) to keep the great work going. Having experienced an episode of depression himself, Peter was always committed to a holistic and person-centred approach and the integration of personal experience. Peter touched many lives and always brought the best out of people and any situation. A devout Roman Catholic, Peter advocated a vision of social work that recognised the benefits that spirituality, in its broadest sense, could bring to social care practice.
Chairman of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ) and the Nishkam Centre, Bhai Sahib Dr Mohinder Singh attended the service as a dear friend of Peter and was moved by the regal service befitting Professor Gilbert. “Peter always considered himself a friend of the Sikh community and was very keen to work with the Nishkam Centre to address subjects like mental illness, dementia, spirituality and faith. He was very talented and able to engage with people at all levels. He had a natural ability to engage those at the policy level in a strategic way whilst relating and working with people at the coalface with real issues. He was a real gem of a person.” remarked Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh.
Distinguished guests leaving the Church service and making their way to the Parish Hall for refreshments
Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh and Amrick Singh, Nishkam Centre Director, were privileged to be amongst the guests partaking in the service for Peter. “Having met Peter’s wife Sue, it felt like we knew each other since Peter had spoken about his wife and his girls so fondly and so often” said Amrick Singh. Sue Gilbert was very pleased to meet Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh and whilst showing an unbelievable resolve to deal with the situation in hand, she was a pillar of strength and gratitude.
The Venerable Arthur Hawes, Honorary Secretary of NSMHF commented on the fantastic contribution Peter had made and the lives that had been enriched by him. He went on to say, “We are grateful that we will be able to honour Peter and his work in the forthcoming book ‘Crossing the River’ which has been compiled by many people who knew Peter and wanted to share their experience of knowing him with others. The chapter by Bhai Sahib is also to be included and very much appreciated. The title of the book was chosen by Peter Gilbert himself.”
Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh concluded by saying, “Peter will be missed by many people. The service was a great accolade to him and a fantastic send-off. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Sue and the whole family”.
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Notes to Editors:
Chaired by Bhai Sahib Dr Mohinder Singh it aims to serve and uplift society through the practice of core values – nishkamta, or the spirit of selflessness, being one of them. Inspired by Dharam (religion) GNNSJ has generated a flourishing culture of volunteering, which has contributed immensely to transforming visionary projects into reality.
For his services to religious faith propagation, community service, education and research, Bhai Sahib has been awarded two Honorary Doctorates from Birmingham’s Universities. He is passionate about values-based education and is the Patron of the Nishkam Education Trust which has set-up Nishkam Nursery (2009), Nishkam Primary Free School (2011), Nishkam Secondary School with 6th Form (2012) and Nishkam School West London (2013).
For more information, visit www.nishkammediacentre.com
Following the publication of the Francis Report earlier this year, healthcare professionals across the service have faced heightened scrutiny over their ability to show compassion and empathy for their patients. Whilst care and compassion have always been the values that have underpinned the ethos of the NHS, they also resonate closely with virtues propagated by all major religious traditions of the world, as core principles of faith.
The event demonstrated the usefulness of sharing values for collective actions by all stakeholders for the common good of healthcare, also helping to enhance compassion for improving lives and uplift humanity.
There was also an opportunity for visitors to sign the International Charter for Compassion, a document which urges the
Esteemed speakers at the event included:
Chief Executive of Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust said, “I congratulate AnonCare on something to me that seems to offer exactly the opposite spirit of what we’ve experienced with the NHS IT programme over the last ten years, something that can be grounded in the real values people bring to work rather than something that can be brought to bear from above.”
He went on to say, “In the end this isn’t about a NHS changing or an NHS being replaced, it’s about an NHS and that set of communities we serve, re-connecting with the values that brought us into the health service in the first place. So the challenge we face in delivering the compassion that much of the time we deliver so well, is how we reconnect people who service in the health service not only to the people they serve but to the reason they came to serve in the first place.”
Dr Marius Felderhof, Executive Director of Museum of World Religions said, “The ethos of being valued and loved, together with hope, are key components to health and wellbeing. The major religious traditions are powerful resources for transmitting this ethos and help to counter some of the structural features of institutions and personal life that work to undermine our compassion for others.
The evening was also an opportunity to launch a digital health network to help support patients and go beyond the traditional features of ‘comment, share and like’ to allow users to ‘wish well’ and ‘offer and prayer’ and allow compassion to go viral.
Generated from within our health system and guided in its initial development by the Chairman of GNNSJ, Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh, the ‘AnonCare’ heath system is an exciting merger of the latest in technology and practice of age old values that aim to help people feel, understand, and respond to the suffering of others while maintaining genuine relationships of caring across class, creed and boundaries.
The Innovation invites patients, carers and healthcare professionals to reach out to those on the network, who as a result of a health condition, may be subject to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and helplessness. It is anticipated that the compassion networking site will help reduce over reliance on healthcare services by creating inter dependency and inter support and consultation within the community.
Jyotveer Singh Gill, Founder of AnonCare said: “AnonCare is a fantastic system which presents an opportunity to go beyond self-interest and give of oneself for the good of the other.
“We recognise we are now living in a ‘global village’ and as a result of the digital revolution, we can promote local solutions to national challenges. Through the sharing of information I am convinced members can help encourage others live healthier lives. But this needs individual action for the greater good. I would encourage anyone with an interest in health or healthcare to sign up.”
Chairman of GNNSJ, Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh said: “If there is no compassion, there is no religion there is no faith. In fact faith rest on compassion.”
Bhai Sahib went on to say: “We can enhance compassion through empowering people. Our mind is our best friends and worst enemy at the same time, so we are required to address our mind. We need to have a new mind set, to see how we can go beyond ourselves to help others, how can we more altruistic, how can we be more selfless.
Kulvinder Singh Sandhu, event visitor said: “Attending the event was a fantastic affair. I learned so much from eminent speakers. I went as an individual carer and therefore did not intend to network. It was from one extreme of being at home most of last 8 years spent caring and coordinating care, to sitting in an audience of experts.”
To view event booklet, please click here.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
1. Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ) is a multi-faceted, faith based organisation practicing and propagating the Sikh Dharam (faith) in the name of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1539). It has been involved in selfless intra-faith work in Kenya and India informally since 1950, and formally in the UK since 1978 as a registered Charity through five centres for excellence in the inner-city area of Handsworth, Birmingham, where its Headquarters are based. GNNSJ also has sister organisations in Leeds and London (UK) and branches in Kericho (Kenya) and Amritsar (India). Significant achievements have been made by GNNSJ in the conservation and restoration of historical Sikh shrines.
Chaired by Bhai Sahib Dr Mohinder Singh it aims to serve and uplift society through the practice of core values – nishkamta, or the spirit of selflessness, being one of them. Inspired by Dharam (religion) GNNSJ has generated a flourishing culture of volunteering, which has contributed immensely to transforming visionary projects into reality. For his services to religious faith propagation, community service, education and research, Bhai Sahib has been awarded two Honorary Doctorates from Birmingham’s Universities. Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh was also created a knight by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI in recognition of his dedicated work for Roman Catholic-Sikh relations and for his enthusiastic commitment to working for peace among people of all faiths. He is passionate about values-based education and is the Patron of the Nishkam Education Trust which has set-up Nishkam Nursery (2009), Nishkam Primary Free School (2011) and Nishkam Secondary School with 6th Form (2012).
2. AnonCare is a unique web based patient portal which is faith inspired and generated from within the NHS. The health network aims to motivate patients to care for one another and promote shared values of compassion and empathy, to offer a universal human response to the suffering of others.
Through its features the innovation offers significant benefits for patients, carers and providers in the management of health and wellbeing.
3. The Charter for Compassion is a document that transcends religious, ideological, and national differences. Supported by leading thinkers from many traditions, the Charter activates the Golden Rule around the world.
The Charter for Compassion is a cooperative effort to restore not only compassionate thinking but, more importantly, compassionate action to the center of religious, moral and political life. Compassion is the principled determination to put ourselves in the shoes of the other, and lies at the heart of all religious and ethical systems.
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