Building Bridges and Creating Change BHFA AGM 2025
April 02, 2025
On a bright spring day, Brighton & Hove Faith in Action (BHFA) welcomed friends, members, and supporters to its 2025 Annual General Meeting. The gathering brought together representatives from diverse faith communities, city partners, and key advocates to reflect on a year of collaboration, compassion, and continued commitment to justice.
Strengthening Our Foundations
The AGM opened with a warm welcome and a review of the day’s agenda. The morning included reflections on 2024, a presentation from the Brighton Hope City Council Fostering Team (led by Cathy Seiderer), and time for informal discussion. A members-only session followed, focused on governance.
Key trustee updates:
Sabri Ben Ameur (Brighton Hope Muslim Forum) and Steve Horne (Emmanuel Church) were re-elected as standing trustees.
Ibrahim Karadol (Dialogue Society) was welcomed as a new trustee.
Stuart Diamond officially stepped in as Chair of Trustees, taking over from Rik Child, whose years of committed leadership were acknowledged with deep thanks and a small token of appreciation.
Faiths Together: A Year of Shared Action
In 2024, BHFA remained true to its mission of uniting faiths and creating change, with a series of events and initiatives that brought together people from across traditions to serve the wider city.
A highlight of the year was the re-signing of the Faith Covenant with Brighton & Hove City Council — a symbolic and practical commitment to working in partnership for social good. In attendance were Balbir from Sikhs of Sussex and Council Leader Bella Sankey.
Other key moments included Mitzvah Day at the Progressive Synagogue with Rabbi Gabriel, an interfaith Iftar at the Grand Hotel hosted by Ibrahim Karadol, and participation in a Faith Action national event in London featuring Lord Khan.
Supporting the Vulnerable
BHFA’s role in supporting those at risk remains essential:
Hope at Home presented on housing for survivors of modern slavery, urging faith communities to play a greater role in providing wraparound, trauma-aware support.
The Street Support Network, a long-standing BHFA initiative, is currently being revamped — with a new AI-based tool soon launching to connect people experiencing homelessness with services and support more effectively.
In partnership with the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership, BHFA led a project surveying 25 emergency food providers to improve coordination and resilience across the local food support network.
Faith communities were praised for their unique ability to uplift others — offering care rooted in service, not proselytism.
Commitment to Welcome
2024 also saw BHFA deepen its engagement with the City of Sanctuary movement, working to ensure faith spaces serve as places of safety and inclusion.
An upcoming event with Refugee Radio on April 23rd — “Helping Refugees – Who, How, Why?” — will provide practical guidance for faith leaders seeking to support those seeking sanctuary.
The message “Refugees are Welcome Here” has been publicly embraced, with signs like the one displayed by Father Aidan offering a visible statement of solidarity.
BHFA representatives participated in a panel at the Liberal Democrat conference, hosted by Safe Passage, advocating for safe and legal migration routes.
The “What Does It Mean to Be a City of Sanctuary” report was released and the ’Library of Sanctuary’ award presented to the Jubilee Library — encouraging faith groups to echo the library’s role in offering community and welcome to all.
All of this work is part of BHFA’s growing “Commitment to Welcome” — an ongoing call to action for communities of faith.
Looking Ahead
From celebrating interfaith partnerships to responding to urgent social needs, the 2025 AGM was a reflection of what’s possible when people of faith unite around shared values. With new trustees, renewed energy, and a clear vision for the future, Brighton & Hove Faith in Action moves forward — committed to building a more compassionate, connected, and inclusive city for all.
