About us - Redbridge Faith Forum

Rev Sujeeth Kumar and Rev Mmasape Christian Representatives

Our Vision

Our vision is to work towards and build a community that respects, co-operates with and understands the integrity of each other’s beliefs, culture and traditions

We are an independent charity that aims to give Faith Communities in Redbridge a collective voice by identifying and addressing issues that affect residents.

What we do

We provide frequent opportunities for inter-faith dialogue through events and activities including

Quarterly Network Meetings,
Public Open Forums,
Multi-Faith Social Events including the Annual Walk of Peace
Partnership Work with other voluntary sector organisations to inform residents and encourage civic participation.

These events are open to all.

We are keen to work with schools to promote tolerance, understanding and equal opportunities.

Additionally, we have developed a thriving women’s group which enables women from different faiths to have healthy discussions on a range of topics of mutual interest that will help overcome ignorance, prejudice and cross barriers. The group brings women together across faith to gain the confidence and skills to bridge and link into different cultures. Workshops are held in the meeting spaces of varying faith community buildings

Our latest Annual Report is available here and our Annual Accounts here .

Who are we?

Redbridge Faith Forum (RFF) is an independent organisation that aims to give Faith Communities in Redbridge a collective voice by identifying and addressing issues that affect residents. RFF’s inaugural meeting took place in December 2003 and was registered as a Charity in 2006 (Reg No 1118675).

Our vision is to work towards and build a community that respects, co-operates with and understands the integrity of each other’s beliefs, culture and traditions.

Redbridge Faith Forum has an office in the Town Hall and supports Redbridge Compact. The charity employs a part-time member of staff who is assisted by a much-valued team of volunteers and has a Board of Trustees drawn from faith practitioners from all the main religions represented in the borough.

Our Trustees

As a Charity we have a Board of Trustees made up of volunteers, and faith practitioners from the main religions represented in the Borough. Trustees are active on many statutory and community boards and committees and contribute to other voluntary sector events.

These currently include

Redbridge Safer Neighbourhood Board
The Redbridge Compact
Redbridge CVS
The Redbridge Dementia Partnership
Local Safeguarding Children’s Board
Community Tension

They also regularly contribute to public consultations from statutory bodies such as the Department of Health and London Borough of Redbridge.

The Board of Trustees meets usually on a weekday, at 5:30 pm, and has collective responsibility for fulfilling the aims and objectives of the Redbridge Faith Forum. During these meetings, there have been presentations and speakers from a variety of organisations and agencies.

Mohamed Omer: Chair Mrs Vinaya Sharma - Vice Chair Mo Dedat - Treasurer Appathurai Ramkumar – Secretary (also known as Ram) Angela Banner Mitzi Kalinsky Phil Butcher Dr Pratibha Datta Rev Pethigamuwe Hemaratana Mrs Carol Khorsandyon Rev Mmasape Zihle Rev Sujeeth Kumar Ahmad Nawaz Mr Harpreet Shergill Harmander Singh Dr Sundara Suhasini aka Suhas

Mohamed Omer: Chair

Mohamed is one of our Muslim representatives and is currently Chair of Trustees. Mohamed was awarded the M.B.E. in the Queens Birthday 2020 Honours for his community service during the Covid pandemic. He has been a resident of Redbridge since 1989 and is involved with a number of community projects:-

Chair of Oaks Park High School –the only PFI school in the Borough

Trustee of Haven House Children’s Hospice

Director of Big Issue Invest

Board Member - External Affairs, Garden of Peace, Muslim cemetery

Mrs Vinaya Sharma - Vice Chair

Vinaya has been a Hindu representative on on our Board of Trustees and is currently Vice Chair. Vinya has been a trustee since the charity was registered in 2006 but has been involved with the organisation since its inception in 2003 and is a long term resident of Redbridge. Vinaya is a retired pharmacist who has like Carol gained an invaluable understanding of other faiths during her long association with Redbridge Faith Forum. Vinaya represents RFF on Local Children’s Safeguarding Board and the Inter faith Network for the United Kingdom.

Mo Dedat - Treasurer

Mo has been a Muslim representative on our Board of Trustees since 2013 and also serves as Treasurer.

Mo is a chartered accountant and has held a number of senior roles within large companies. Although Mo’s background is financial he has held a number of general management roles at Board level dealing with change management, IT and HR.

Mo currently runs a business consultancy and outsourcing practice

Appathurai Ramkumar – Secretary (also known as Ram)

Angela Banner

Mitzi Kalinsky

Mitzi Kalinsky has been a Jewish representative on our Board of Trustees since 2021. Mitzi has lived in and around Redbridge for her entire life and is a member and lay-reader of Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue in Wanstead. She is the Senior Sexton of the Jewish Joint Burial Society and works closely with the other Jewish Burial Societies as well as collaborating with the Muslim Peace Cemetery on matters of faith and burial. Mitzi has been involved in the Redbridge Women's Faith group for many years. Mitzi has three children and 5 beautiful grand-daughters.

Phil Butcher

Phil has been a Christian representative on our Board of Trustees since 2011.

Phil serves as Steward of the Gospel and is on the parish council at St Cedds Roman Catholic Church, Goodmayes. Phil holds an MA in Pastoral Theology (Dominican University Chicago). Phil worked for the Diocese of Brentwood for 8 years as Director of the Commissions for Social Justice and coordinator for Marriage and Family Life.

Phil is married to Kathy and has been blessed with a son and daughter and five grand-daughters. Phil has lived in Redbridge for almost 40 years and is a regular at the Valentines Park Run each Saturday morning.

Dr Pratibha Datta

Rev Pethigamuwe Hemaratana

Rev P Hemaratana has been a Buddhist representative on our Board of Trustees since 2008 and has lived in Redbridge since 2004. Rev Hemaratana holds a masters degree in Buddhist studies and has been a Buddhist Monk since 1970 and is Head Monk at the Buddhist Cultural Centre (Vihara) in Balfour Road, Ilford. He has a keen interest in developing multi-faith understanding, mutual support and harmony and is particularly interested in helping others with their spiritual development and voluntary charity work

Mrs Carol Khorsandyon

Carol has been a Bahai representative on our Board of Trustees since the charity was registered in 2006 but has been involved with the organisation since its inception in 2003 and is a long term resident of Redbridge. Carol is a retired teacher who very much enjoys interacting with people and has gained an invaluable understanding of other faiths during her long association with Redbridge Faith Forum.

Rev Mmasape Zihle

Rev Sujeeth Kumar

Rev Sujeeth Kumar has been a Christian representative on our Board of Trustees since June 2023. He is an ordained Minister from the Church of South India, Bangalore, for the past 22 years served at various capacities at both rural and urban churches as a minister and the director and Chaplin of the CSI Retreat Centre in South India. Currently minister at the Vine United Reformed Church, Ilford, Gants Hill United Reformed Church, and Barking United Reformed Church since two years.

Ahmad Nawaz

“Ahmad is one of our Muslim Trustees and is currently the General Secretary of Ilford Islamic Centre, the largest Mosque in Redbridge and one of the largest in the Eastern Region.

Ahmad has been a long term resident of Redbridge and has actively participated in events with RFF by supporting or representing Ilford Islamic Centre.

Ahmad has been involved in lots of community related work and remains a key liaison between the Muslim population and service providers like the Police, Redbridge Council and the Health and Social Care sectors.

Ahmad’s background is in IT specifically within the finance and education sectors and also runs his own design agency but he also works with some global charities and has recently helped develop the Health and Wellbeing project for Community Action Redbridge (previously known as RCVS). “

Mr Harpreet Shergill

Harmander Singh

Harmander has been a Sikh representative on our Board of Trustees since 2016 and a Redbridge resident since 1962. Harmander is also Principal Advisor to 'Sikhs In England' - Social Policy Think Tank, is a local magistrate and is very involved in promoting community cohesion in the borough. Harmander is a committed long distance runner having completed nearly 150 marathons and trained others in the sport he is regular at the Valentines and Barking Parkruns each Saturday morning

Dr Sundara Suhasini aka Suhas

Suhas has been a Buddhist representative on our Board of Trustees since 2015 and is also a member of Transition Town, Ilford; Healthwatch Redbridge and the Commonwealth Gardeners Group. Dr Suhas has lived in Redbridge over 30 years and is very interested in the wellbeing of the community, valuing cultural enrichment. She has a background in medicine and using Buddhist principles has created a “wheel of life” chart that can be used by individuals.

Our Staff & Volunteers

Saira Yakub works on a part-time basis as the Project and Finance Officer.

Karen Kent retired June 2022.

Redbridge Faith Forum is grateful for the support of our enthusiastic volunteers who assist staff with administrative tasks both in the office and at events and activities.

Natia Kutashvili (Admin & Events Volunteer)