OUR FIRST EVER
ANNUAL REPORT
Presented by
THE NMYC TEAM
“FRIENDSHIPS ARE BUILT ON CURIOSITY AND A WILLINGNESS TO LEARN ABOUT ONE ANOTHER.”
2025
JEEVES ROHILLA, CEO NMYC
NOTE BEFORE REPORT
Since June 2024, NMYC has officially been a registered charity.
However, even before reaching this significant milestone, NMYC operated without any funding or an active organisational bank account, yet still achieved so much. This is a testament to the commitment and dedication of our volunteers.
As this is our first official report, it is only right that it shares some of those stories and reflects how this work has continued to shape communities and lead to further programmes.
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“IN CHALLENGING TIMES, THIS EVENT, BY SHARING OUR COMMONALITIES, SENT A MESSAGE OF MUCH-NEEDED UNITY.” AUIDENCE MEMBER AT NMYC EVENT
LETTER FROM THE CEO
JEEVES ROHILLA
CEO NMYC
Before I mention anything else, I would like to thank our amazing volunteers for their dedication and commitment to interfaith work. The goals of NMYC would mean nothing without the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. I lead NMYC with the core belief that fostering a positive organizational culture internally is crucial for inspiring positive action externally through our program outputs.
In that spirit, our volunteers are as much friends as they are colleagues, united in their excitement to change the world together. The effort we put into building strong internal relationships forms the foundation for our program beneficiaries to create long-lasting multifaith relationships with members of other faiths and beliefs.
Simply put, we pride ourselves on being the people who make friends with everyone, appreciating the quirks, cultures, and unique traits that make individuals who they are. As a registered charity, this organisation has been, and will continue to be, a positive beacon where people feel accepted and celebrated. I believe friendships are built on curiosity and a willingness to learn about each other.
Our differences are precisely what give us strength. They provide a variety of unique perspectives that propel society forward. These are the values upon which the National Multifaith Youth Centre was built.
17 UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES
1,500 STUDENTS REACHED ACROSS PROGRAMMES
£0 FUNDING TO NMYC
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ORGANISATIONAL DETAILS
THE NATIONAL MULTIFAITH YOUTH CENTRE – REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY AND ITS TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025.
Everyone involved in the NMYC is passionate about promoting interfaith relations in the UK. Most members of the NMYC Central Team are affiliated with a university institution or another faith and/or belief-based organisation.
Trustees
Website
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Tara Corry, Chair
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Alavari Jeevathol, Secretary
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Dr. Stewart Yarlett, Tresurer Jeeves Rohilla, CEO
CEO
www.nmycentre.org
Social Media
@nmycentre
Jeeves Rohilla, CEO
TRUSTEES 4
CHARITY NO. 1208551
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OUR STORY
FROM JUNE 2024 WE BECAME A REGISTERED CHARITY
YOUTH
We are the National Multifaith Youth Centre, founded in 2022 by Charity CEO, Jeeves Rohilla who was 24 years old (at the time) and Founding Trustees Tara Corry, Alavari Jeevathol and Dr Stewart Yarlett. Together, they identified a gap in youth engagement within traditional interfaith spaces and activities. The NMYC was created to address this issue by making interfaith initiatives more accessible and inclusive for young people.
LED
YOUTH
We achieve this by co-creating new interfaith initiatives with students and ensuring existing opportunities for interfaith connection and faith and cultural literacy education are made easily available to young people.
FOUNDED
WE ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RELIGION & BELIEF.
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OUR STORY
OUR
STORY
IS
UNIQUE
It is important to note that this Impact Report includes the activities, programmes, and events orchestrated by NMYC prior to its charity registration, covering the period from September 2022 (our official organisational launch) to June 2024. All these outputs were achieved with no funding, a testament to our amazing volunteers.
For nearly four years now, NMYC has operated entirely as a volunteer organization, providing interfaith activities and support to universities during a challenging period for campus interfaith work. Now, as a charitable organisation, we are actively seeking funding, though our mission remains unchanged. The National Multifaith Youth Centre continues to foster multifaith relationships on university campuses across the UK. Our goal is to celebrate young people of all faiths and beliefs, ultimately aiming to eliminate discrimination based on religion and belief.
We strive to achieve this through well-planned interfaith programs that inspire relationship-building and positive curiosity between faith groups, and through the development of educational activities and resources designed to enhance the faith and cultural literacy of our student beneficiaries. We believe in a better-connected world that celebrates its diversity, rather than demonises and "others." At NMYC, we are dedicated to building bridges between communities to encourage interaction, acceptance, and understanding.
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OUR MISSION, IS YOUR MISSION.
WE ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RELIGION & BELIEF.
Three core principles that guide NMYC's mission in promoting social harmony between faith & non-faith students.
WE WE BRIDGE. EDUCATE.
WE CELEBRATE.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Increase in We Bridge: our programmes build bridges across cultural and religious boundaries. conversion rates We Educate: our programmes educate students on religious and cultural practices & beliefs. We Celebrate: our programmes celebrate religious & non-religious diversity on campus.
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OUR CHARITABLE AGAINST OUR PROGRAMMES & EVENTS OBJECTS
AGAINST OUR PROGRAMMES & EVENTS
THE PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS HARMONY, INCLUDING HARMONY BETWEEN FAITH AND BELIEF GROUPS, FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, BY:
(A) PROMOTING KNOWLEDGE AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT FAITHS AND BELIEFS
CHAPLAIN SUPPORT
SOCIAL POW ACTION VISITS
(B) ADVANCING EDUCATION AND RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT DIFFERENT FAITH AND BELIEF GROUPS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING RITUALS, SOCIETAL VALUES, AND PERSONAL LIFE STANCES OF THESE GROUPS TO PROMOTE GOOD RELATIONS BETWEEN THOSE FAITH AND BELIEF GROUPS
STARTING SLOW
YOUNG IF WEEK HISTORIANS EVENTS
(C) WORKING TOWARDS THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION ON THE GROUNDS OF RELIGION OR BELIEF.
UNI COLLABS
ROUNDIF OFFICER TABLES SCHEME
TWELVE EXAMPLES OF THIS WORK ARE SET OUT LATER IN THIS REPORT. WE ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR ACTIVITIES ARE CARRIED OUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR CHARITABLE OBJECTS.
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IMPACT SNAPSHOT
Our programmes and events vary in theme and content, but each is designed to develop multifaith relationships on campus and amplify the voices of students from diverse faith and belief backgrounds. Twelve examples of this work are included in this report. The delivery of these activities is made possible by the commitment of our volunteers.
17 UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES
1,500 STUDENTS REACHED ACROSS PROGRAMMES
£0 FUNDING TO NMYC
THE STORY BEHIND THE NUMBERS
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UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES
Across all NMYC programmes, we have collaborated with 17 universities. We work with different intra-university institutions depending on the programme; for example, some projects engage solely with students, while others involve academics and chaplains. The volume and theme of our work vary depending on the university.
We have reached an extraordinary 1,500 students across all our programs. This is a conservative estimate that does not account for podcast streams and other media outputs.
1,500 STUDENTS REACHED ACROSS PROGRAMMES
£0 FUNDING TO NMYC
We are immensely proud of our volunteers and partners. It is only due to their passion and generosity that we are able to provide interfaith programs and events. Since our inception in 2022, NMYC has received no funding.
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OUR WORK AROUND THE UK
Our programmes and events vary in theme and content, but each is designed to develop multifaith relationships on campus and amplify the voices of students from diverse faith and belief backgrounds. We have worked with universities across the UK on a range of programmes and outputs, with selected examples highlighted on the UK map below.
UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN
UNI OF GLASGOW
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
UNI OF WALES TRINITY ST DAVID
UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX
MULTIPLE UNIVERSITI -ES IN LONDON
CITY UNIVERSITY SOAS UNIVERSITY LSE MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER
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PROGRAMMES
Starting Slow 01 Podcast
Uni of Sussex 07 Interfaith Week
Youth Faith 02 Historians
08
Voter Registration
03 UJS Collab
09
Guided Walks & Climate Work
Visits to Places 04 of Worship
Multifaith 05 Chaplaincy Index
Intergenerational 06 Roundtables
SOAS & City 10 Partnership 32 Steps to 11 Togetherness Lucy Cavendish 12
Lucy Cavendish Collab
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1
STARTING SLOW PODCAST
STORY
Our first program as an organisation, beginning in September 2022, was recording the Starting Slow Podcast. In late 2022, we began engaging in intimate conversations with influential guests who have dedicated significant time and effort to the multifaith space.
In Season 1, we engaged in discussions with remarkable individuals, including the co-founder of South Asian Heritage Month, esteemed academics, CEOs of charitable organizations, and many other phenomenal contributors.
Episode guests include:
GUESTS
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Jasvir Singh CBE, Co-founder of South Asian Heritage Month
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Georgina Bye, Co-CEO of the Council of Christians and Jews Shanon Shah, Director of Faiths for the Climate
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Lauryn Duncan-Rouse, Programme Co-ordinator at Faith and Belief Forum
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Matteo Bergamini MBE, Founder and CEO of Shout Out UK
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Dr Angus Slater, Senior Lecturer at University of Wales Trinity St David
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YOUNG FAITH HISTORIANS
2
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STORY
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Our second program was an exclusive partnership with the Museum of London and Faiths Forum on an exciting long-term project spanning two years. As part of this program, we recruited young people of different faiths and beliefs across Greater London. These individuals, now titled 'Young Faith Historians,' are working on a film about faith in London, centred on the theme of ‘what their faith means to them.’ This film will be showcased at the new London Museum for years to come.
The Museum of London is relocating to a new site at Smithfield Market and is preparing a new exhibition focusing on faith in London. We are collaborating with young people who live and work in London to create a film that explores the practice of faith. These individuals are researching and sharing stories about faith from their families and communities in the city. This project also provides them with valuable experience working in the museum and heritage sector.
“THIS FILM WILL BE SHOWCASED AT THE NEW LONDON MUSEUM FOR YEARS TO COME.”
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3
UJS PARTNERSHIP
“IN CHALLENGING TIMES, THIS EVENT, BY SHARING OUR COMMONALITIES, SENT A MESSAGE OF MUCH-NEEDED UNITY.”
Audience member
Next, we began our partnership with the Union of Jewish Students (UJS). Since our first collaboration for Interfaith Week 2022, we have worked together on numerous programs and events. Our initial partnership with UJS involved a student takeover on our Instagram pages. We posed questions to students nationwide from diverse faith backgrounds about how they celebrate festivals, the challenges of practicing faith on campus, and what their faith means to them. In 2023, for Interfaith Week, we partnered with UJS to take Jewish students to the oldest Gurdwara in Europe. More details on this initiative will follow.
Most recently, we hosted an International Women’s Day event titled "Why I Cover My Hair?" at LSE in 2024, in collaboration with UJS and LSE Jewish Society. The event featured three remarkable female panelists from Sikh, Muslim, and Jewish faith traditions. They discussed how wearing a head covering has shaped their identity as women of faith, addressed misconceptions about head coverings, and explored the intersection of cultural and religious significance with personal style and individuality.
WATCH THE EVENT BACK HERE.
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4
VISITS TO PLACES OF WORSHIP
STORY
In accordance with our aim of promoting faith and cultural literacy among students of all backgrounds, in 2023, we began organizing trips for students to experience and learn about different Places of Worship. We initially partnered with the National Hindu Student Forum to organise a trip for Hindu students to attend a Gurdwara during Vaisakhi, but unfortunately, the event had to be canceled.
However, during Interfaith Week 2023, we successfully took a group of Jewish students to the oldest Gurdwara in Europe, the Central Gurdwara (Khalsa Jatha), in partnership with UJS. The event began with a tour of the Gurdwara, followed by a talk on the history of Sikhism. Finally, the students shared Langar (a communal meal) together.
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MULTIFAITH CHAPLAINCY INDEX
5
STORY
A flagship program of ours is the Multifaith Chaplaincy Index (MCI). The purpose of the MCI is to aid students involved with NMYC in accessing university chaplaincy services, as well as to serve as a resource for chaplaincies to learn from one another. We are currently in Stage 1 of building the MCI and are reaching out to university chaplaincies across the UK to begin collecting information for the database. At present, the MCI is a general list of chaplaincy services across the country.
MCI PODCAST
We are proud to host the Chaplaincy Index Podcast. On this podcast, we conduct in-depth interviews with chaplaincy teams across the UK, providing them with the opportunity to share their experiences, insights, and stories. These contributions will add a unique and personal touch to the MCI, creating a comprehensive resource for students and chaplaincies alike.
Previous episode guests include:
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Reverend Dr. Carolyn Kelly and Reverend Roz Lawson, University of Glasgow
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James Croft, University of Sussex
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Reverend Marylee Anderson, University of Aberdeen Reverend Ian Worsfold, City, University of London
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INTERGENERATIONAL ROUNDTABLES
6
“INVOLVE THE YOUTH TO BRING CHANGE.”
Participant note from the Reflection Book
STORY
In another amazing partnership, NMYC, the Brahma Kumaris UK, and Harrow Interfaith came together to host an afternoon of enriching intergenerational dialogue and conversation at our "Empowering Youth Voices" roundtable event. At the event, we explored the power of dialogue, meditation, and intergenerational collaboration.
Roundtable discussions covered a range of topics, including Managing Eco-Anxiety, Leadership in Times of Conflict, Our Reactions on Social Media, Personal Strength & Resilience, and The Voice of Refugees.
An additional purpose of this event was to serve as a springboard for our interfaith guided walks. Read more about that later in the Impact Report.
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UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX INTERFAITH WEEK EVENT
STORY
We were busy during Interfaith Week 2023! In our final event, we partnered with the University of Sussex Chaplaincy to host a phenomenal interfaith event at the beautiful Meeting House on the University of Sussex campus.
At the event, professor, author, and activist Chris Stedman shared his story of seeking common ground with the religious as an atheist. In conversation with James Croft, the University of Sussex Lead Chaplain, he discussed what theists and non-theists can gain from being in dialogue, the differences between the interfaith movements in the United States and the United Kingdom, and how people of different faiths and the nonreligious can work together to improve the world we all share.
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VOTER REGISTRATION
8
STORY
We are a non-political organization and do not support any political party. However, we strongly encourage everyone, especailly those from underrepresented backgrounds, to engage in the democratic process and have their voice heard. Registering to vote is the first step in this journey. As a result, we are proud supporters of London Voter Registration Week and other voter registration campaigns that aim to amplify the voice of the youth.
In 2024, we participated in voter registration drives at the University of Greenwich, Westminster, and Middlesex University, informing over 1,000 students about changes to voter ID laws and encouraging young people to register to vote as part of the Greater London Authority register-to-vote campaign. We partnered with Faiths Forum for London to ensure that the voices of young people from all faith and belief backgrounds are heard.
UNIVERSITY LIST
Watch videos of us speaking to students below.
University of Greenwich. HERE. University of Westminster. HERE. Middlesex University. HERE.
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GUIDED WALKS & LONDON CLIMATE ACTION WEEK
STORY
Following on from our intergenerational roundtables in partnership with the Brahma Kumaris UK and Harrow Interfaith, in 2024, we started our series of intergenerational nature walks around London. Watch a short video of the walk on X (Twitter) HERE
Our intergenerational nature walks aim to create meaningful connections across different age groups while exploring the natural beauty that London has to offer. These walks provide an excellent opportunity for participants to engage in physical activity, foster intergenerational understanding, and develop a deeper appreciation for the environment. Participation in our intergenerational nature walks is open to all members of the community.
CLIMATE ACTION WEEK
Furthermore, for London Climate Action Week 2024, we ran an event on Building Climate Resilience, held in partnership with the Brahma Kumaris UK, Sustaining All Life, Climate Psychology Alliance, and NMYC.
The event featured a talk on the wide range of emotions experienced when confronting the challenges of the climate crisis. This was followed by listening circles, an inspiring panel discussion, and a calming meditation session. During the panel discussion, guests shared their personal methods for building resilience, such as meditation, nature walks, or simply slowing down.
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SOAS & CITY PARTNERSHIP
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STORY
In 2023, we initiated a partnership with the SOAS Multifaith Chaplaincy Team. Together, we planned a series of engaging events aimed at involving students in interfaith activities. Unfortunately, some of these events had to be canceled due to unforeseen circumstances.
One event that successfully took place in March 2024, in partnership with the Chaplaincy, was an Interfaith Iftar. We enjoyed a delightful evening filled with delicious food, meaningful conversations, and an engaging interfaith game.
Another event was delivered in partnership with the Women’s Interfaith Network and took the form of a zine workshop at City, University of London. Students created small publications (zines) using DIY methods such as collage and drawing.
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32 STEPS TO TOGETHERNESS
STORY
We partnered with Civil Society Consulting and Humanists UK to apply the 32 Steps to Togetherness manual, originally developed by Civil Society Consulting, across university campuses in the UK.
Our work on this project, again at SOAS University of London, began during Freshers’ Week 2024, where we introduced students to the 32 Steps framework. This was followed by a series of workshops delivered in partnership with the Civil Society Consulting team in October 2024 on how students can build strong communities on campus.
We would like to offer our sincere thanks to Reverend Claudette for her invaluable contribution to this programme. She was a source of inspiration to all of us and a genuine joy to work with. Sadly, she passed away shortly after the programme concluded. We therefore dedicate our work at SOAS to her memory. It was her invitation that brought us to SOAS, and her consistent energy and commitment, in her role as Lead Chaplain, that so powerfully supported interfaith engagement on campus.
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LUCY CAVENDISH PARTNERSHIP
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STORY
In 2025, we delivered a series of events in partnership with Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge. This included an interfaith iftar — the first ever held at Lucy Cavendish College — which featured contributions from local reverends and imams from Cambridge Central Mosque. The event was a significant success and brought together a wide range of students and societies, including the Lucy Cavendish Islamic Society. Alongside this, we also ran an Ash Wednesday event at the College.
Following the success of these activities, we have secured a partnership for the coming year between Lucy Cavendish College, NMYC, and the Woolf Institute. This collaboration will allow us to continue and develop our work at the University of Cambridge, supporting an ongoing interfaith presence among students in the years ahead.
WOOLF INSTITUTE
As noted above, and as a natural progression into our future priorities, our partnership with the Woolf Institute is central to our work. Our aim is to collaborate with leading academic institutions such as the Woolf Institute to create meaningful connections between academics, faith leaders, interfaith practitioners, and students.
At the time of writing this report in late 2025, we have already delivered an event in partnership with the Woolf Institute examining the rise of Christian nationalism in the UK.
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Revenue £0
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IN-KIND SUPPORT VOLUNTEER SUPPORT
A LOT A LOT
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NMYC received no direct financial income during the period ending March 2025. We were nevertheless able to deliver all of our programmes and activities without any monetary funding. Instead, we relied on in-kind support, free venue hire, food for events, and the generosity of our volunteers — individuals who give the most valuable resource of all: time.
As a result, we do not have the extensive financial summaries typical of many charities.
We do, however, note that securing funding is a priority for future years. This will depend in part on improvements in the wider interfaith funding landscape, which is currently scarce and concerning, as highlighted by the unfortunate closure of the Inter Faith Network.
To reiterate, NMYC has no staff costs, assets, debts, or funding to report, and there was no financial activity to note during this reporting period.
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STRUCTURE & GOVERNANCE
STRUCTURE
The National Multifaith Youth Centre is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The organisation was founded in 2022 and received charity registration in 2024.
GOVERNANCE
The organisation is overseen by a Board of Trustees, which meets regularly throughout the year. The Board has the authority to appoint additional trustees when necessary, selecting individuals based on their relevant skills, experience, knowledge, and the contribution they can make to the organisation.
All newly appointed trustees are introduced to the organisation’s governing documents, including its constitution, strategic priorities, policies, and procedures. Trustees are provided with a copy of the constitution and are required to complete a declaration of interests.
The Trustees hold responsibility for setting the strategic direction of the organisation and delegate day-to-day management to the CEO. The CEO reports to the Board on organisational performance and progress against the operational plans approved by the Trustees.
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FUTURE PRIORITIES
CHALLENGE
Interfaith work has become increasingly challenging in recent years. In response, we remain committed to continuing our work with courage and determination, despite the difficult landscape for interfaith engagement in the UK. This environment is challenging not only because of international events, but also due to the limited financial support available across the sector. Nevertheless, we are actively seeking to increase funding in the years ahead in order to sustain and develop our work.
INTERFAITH IS NEEDED
NETWORK BUILDING
Our aim is to build a network of young people across the UK who are engaged in interfaith work on their campuses and to ensure they have the support needed to make a positive impact within their university communities, with the backing of NMYC.
We also intend to continue working with specialist organisations, such as the Woolf Institute, as previously mentioned, to ensure that both our team and the students we support are equipped with the skills needed to respond to this particularly demanding moment for interfaith relations.
YOUTH COALITION
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS.
EMAIL www.nmycentre.org
ADDRESS
8 Station Road, Epping, Essex, CM16 4HF