Three Faiths Forum

The Three Faiths Forum (3FF) is one of the United Kingdom's leading interfaith organisations. It has worked to build good relations between people of different faiths, beliefs and cultures for nearly twenty years.

The organisation creates safe spaces in schools, universities, places of work and worship and the wider community where people can engage with questions of belief and identity and meet people different from themselves. Its work involves people of all beliefs, religious and non-religious. Its programmes are intended to help change perceptions, behaviours and attitudes in individuals and organisations in a more positive direction.

The organisation was founded in London in 1997 by Sir Sigmund Sternberg, the Revd Marcus Braybrooke and Sheikh Zaki Badawi.

Initially, 3FF focussed on engaging religious, communal and civic leaders through seminars and events. However, in 2006, its first grass-roots programmes which now account for more than 85% of activity were launched.

Phil Champain has been the director from 2015.

Programmes for young people are one of the key focus of the organisation. In 2006, it launched its schools programmes and, in 2007, it launched the ParliaMentors leadership programme for university students. In 2008, it launched a branch in the Middle East. In 2009 and 2010, the arts and culture team began to create programmes which build bridges between communities through the arts.

Initially an organisation focussed on relations within and between the Abrahamic faiths, 3FF has since evolved to work with people of all faiths as well as those who do not subscribe to a faith.

The organisation is a provider of schools programmes which explore faith and belief as they are actually lived by people today. The school programmes are intended to help young people to explore questions of identity sensitively and effectively.

The organisation's educational programmes have been commented on globally and received many awards: the Shap award for schools in 2014, the UN Alliance of Civilisations award for Intercultural Innovation for ParliaMentors in 2010, and for Tools 4 Trialogue in 2009. Moreover, the 3FF model is being used in the United States and Sweden.

3FF schools programmes include:

Encountering Faiths and Beliefs: 3FF's flagship workshop brings real-life experiences of faith, belief and identity into the classroom via a panel of trained speakers and an expert facilitator.

Skills Workshops: Using tools also deployed in 3FF’s training for professionals, students learn techniques for exploring the complexities of their own identity and that of others.

School Linking: Provides opportunities for young people from different backgrounds to meet and work together on a variety of activities throughout the year.

Teacher training: 3FF offers training for teachers, head teachers and senior leaders in faith awareness and in dealing with sensitive or controversial issues.

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