“The faiths and beliefs present in Somerset are becoming more and more diverse. This is being impacted by the opportunities that are available to people in Somerset and the migrant and refugee Communities in Somerset. Understanding is the foundation to good community cohesion. In Somerset we are keen that this understanding is lead by the communities of Somerset. “
From August 2023 – July 2025, Somerset Council awarded GLADE Centre the opportunity to build on work started by Community Council for Somerset and Somerset Diverse Communities with the Interfaith and Belief network for Somerset.
In this time, the GLADE Centre hopes to bring interfaith themes alive for a Somerset audience. We hope some of the newer approaches we introduce bringing people together, will get Somerset society to CONNECT-CHALLENGE-CHANGE.
Fragility of Freedom
Interfaith & Belief Network for Somerset, in collaboration with The GLADE Centre, has collated these materials to help you explore the notion that freedom means different things to different people.
Planet
Recognise opportunities for action & respect for the wider world
Prosperity
Build on collective ideas & generosity for shared ownership and longevity
Who is the GLADE Centre?
The GLADE Centre is a locally-based charity, existing “to advance the education of the public in all matters relating to world and community development, including but not by way of limitation cultural, economic, environmental issues and other related aspects.”
The GLADE Centre is known locally and nationally for leading high quality training and running inspirational workshops and delivering new projects that make connections between global and intercultural issues, and local contexts.
We are adept at exploring global themes and spotting their local implications through one or more entry points or ‘lenses’ depending on the interests of the audience and community:-
- intercultural lens,
- sustainability lens,
- global citizenship lens
- and human rights lens.
And these lenses have brought GLADE Centre to develop over the years, a participatory and reflective approach; CONNECT-CHALLENGE-CHANGE to help us all:
Project Update August 2025
Statement from Somerset Council: “Somerset Council is delighted to recommission a Race, Interfaith and Belief service that will continue to support and empower diverse communities across Somerset, reinforcing its long-term commitment to inclusion, equality, and community cohesion across the county….
Somerset Council extends its sincere thanks to The GLADE Centre for its delivery of the Interfaith and Belief contract over the past two years. Their work has played a key role in bringing faith and belief into conversations and settings where such dialogue had previously been absent.”
Thrive (the operating name of the Community Council for Somerset), has been awarded this new 4-year contract from Somerset Council.
Response from GLADE: “The GLADE Centre moves forward with a new vigour in our everyday work, encouraging open-
mindedness, recognising and making connections at local level to make sense of issues and successes of our everyday lives. Its that building behaviours, outlooks and values, that are essential for happy, healthy and successful lives where people join in with their communities, that we hope will be at the forefront of the new Race Faith, Belief Service. We remain supportive and wish Thrive success as the service moves forward.”
Interfaith and Belief materials from the last 2 years, including activities and information for prompting interfaith conversations, curated resources for education, photo gallery, collections of items for loan, all remain available on this site.
Somerset Interfaith and Belief with GLADE continues to focus on interfaith, belief, cultural and heritage themes locally & globally with the 2025-2026 tour of the Somerset Memorial Candle.
- Find out about hosting the Somerset Candle and accompanying interactive workshops in your school, your community group, your business or any locality setting. Learn more.
- Access loans of authentic, globally sourced powerful objects, curious artefacts and memorable items for global citizenship or interfaith & belief focus from the GLADE Centre. Learn more.
- View summary of new activities, new materials new conversations from August 2023-July 2025. Learn more.
