Launch - (def) to introduce to the public for the first time

Today saw the launch of Near Neighbours at St John’s Bethnal Green.

Of course, many people already know about Near Neighbours.  At Church Urban Fund we have been working with our partners for over a year to develop the idea, share that idea with others and then secure the resources needed to turn it into action.  Over 100 people, many of who have an active role to play in the delivery of the programme gathered to ‘introduce to the public for the first time’ Near Neighbours.  And it felt good.

Often these events can be - and there is no easy way to say this - dull.  But today everyone in the room shared an infectious enthusiasm for a programme which will bring real change to four areas of England.

(Quick description - Near Neighbours aims to bring people together in diverse communities to help them to build relationships and collaborate to improve the community in which they live. Social action combining with social interaction).

Baroness Margaret Eaton, Chair of the Near Neighbours charity, set the tone with her contagious enthusiasm, before the Bishop of London described how Near Neighbours "will provide important evidence" of the contribution faith makes to the common good.  This clearly resonated with Ramesh Pattni who talked about the Hindu ethos of the ‘Universal Family’ of Man as people relate with friendship, trust and respect.  

But the real buzz in the room came as Bethnal Green resident Fulma Begum was interviewed by London Co-ordinator Tim Clapton on the difference Near Neighbours is making on her estate - local people taking the initiative to build and deepen relationships across faiths.

We then heard from Eric Pickles, who metaphorically rolled Near Neighbours down into the water saying ‘we are celebrating the next chapter of the same centuries-old, proud and unbroken tradition of people of faith giving back to their local communities’

So why did our launch event feel good?  Well it in itself it was just another programme launch.  But, I think the difference with Near Neighbours is that today a group of people met that are animated about what they do, motivated by their faith and feeling that they at the start of something that will be very important indeed for this country.