About Us 

Rabbi Warren Elf (pictured right outside the centre*) and Fern Potter set up South East Essex Interfaith in Action (SEEIFA), which is funded by the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund, in October 2005.  SEEIFA’s aims are to develop further trust and understanding between local faiths communities through a range of different projects.

Since the horrific events of September 11th 2001, South East Essex Interfaith in Action’s Chairperson, Rabbi Warren Elf has been actively working to bring faith-based groups together in a greater dialogue as a way of easing tensions. “We believe that interfaith dialogue is vital in today’s society to overcome misunderstandings and to develop trust between members of different groups and religions.” says Rabbi Elf.

South East Essex Interfaith in Action’s Steering Group involves a group of individuals from the various faith communities in South East Essex, including Rabbi Warren Elf from Southend and District Reform Synagogue, Dr Mohammed Pasha from the Southend Mosque, Reverend Colin Baldwin from Southend College, and Dr David Rees from the Southend Faiths Forum.

With support from members of Southend Faiths Forum, Southend Council, Southend and District Reform Synagogue and other faith leaders and communities in the area, SEEIFA appointed its first part-time Interfaith Community Worker, Chris Farge (pictured left with Fern Potter), in April 2006.

Chris has worked with a variety of school groups who have used the centre. He has set up a team of volunteer presenters from different faiths, which have increased the opportunities for schoolchildren of all ages in South East Essex to learn about the different faith communities in the area.

With the new resource centre now fully operational, it is an invaluable resource to many more teachers, schools and community groups. The Community Centre houses a range of resources from a wide range of religions and equipment for use by the public.

Postscript - 1st April 2008.

The second Interfaith Community Worker (two, sharing the role), Richard Levy (ICT and Admin) and Devorah Levy (Eductaion), were appointed in May 2007 and worked tirelessly to promote SEEIFA and Youth Matters in the community and to nearly five hundred local schools in the Essex area. Richard and Devorah moved on to new projects at the end of August 2007.

The following Interfaith Community Worker was Dr David Rees. David joined the team in September 2007, to drive forward the SEEIFA Youth Matter project until the end of the financial year. The SEEIFA project is currently overseen by Warren Elf (Chairperson) and Fern Potter (Grants and Funding).

*The Centre is on the first floor of a shared building.

SEEIFA has unisex disabled facilities for wheelchair users.

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