Faith Community

When we were preparing for this website, we talked to around 150 young people aged 13-21. We asked them:

'What would you like the website to show faith leaders, and what would you like faith leaders to understand about young people from faith communities?'

>Show us how to keep faith in complicated situations (Christian)

>Young people get bullied, and are not confident in voicing their views (Hindu)

>How we apply our faith to our daily lives (Muslim)

>How to be faithful and be ourselves (Christian)

>We need people from same religion who we can look up to (Sikh)

>Understand and help us with peer pressure (Christian)

Many people from faith communities are scared of talking about relationships and sex with their young people. Some feel it is not permitted in their culture. Yet all religions have sacred texts that talk about teaching their children well and give guidance on relationships and sex.

One young person summed up what so many of those consulted felt: In today's society it is very hard to work out what is right and what is wrong, so people do not know where they stand in some subjects. This is where they need guidance.

This website is here to enable faith communities to take up the challenge posed by these young people and to support them, in a way that enables them to keep to their faith and handle the complex and perplexing world that is Britain in the 21st century.

There are four main sections planned in this part of the website.

Understanding Young People looks at how young people are influenced in their beliefs and actions.

Relating to Young People gives guidance and advice in relating to young people – especially those who have been in British schools.

Support for Young People looks at ways to organize support for young people in these matters.

Sex education at school tells you what must be taught to young people about sex and relationships in school – and what may be taught at a typical school.

Faith Communities

Faith Communities