Our work aims to bring together communities and break down barriers, says the Chair of Telford & Wrekin Interfaith Council

Telford & Wrekin Interfaith Council (TWIC) has organised an arts competition to mark South Asian Heritage Month. 

More than 50 children have entered the competition which is themed ‘My Community’ and their work is now on display at Wellington Library until the end of August. The winner is yet to be announced.  

Councillor Raj Mehta, Chair of the Interfaith Council, said that they had been working with Telford & Wrekin Council going into local schools and talking about equality and diversity. 

TWIC helps to keep the ‘unity’ in the community through building and maintaining conversation between all faith and cultural groups. 

In a few weeks time the council will also be opening an Interfaith Council building in Wellington, which will have a youth club, kitchen, prayers/reflection room, foodbank and meeting room.  

“The aim of the building is to bring communities and people together and break down any barriers,” said Cllr Mehta, the Deputy Mayor of Telford & Wrekin.   

Last year, the TWIC also became one of the first Interfaith Organisations in the UK to sign up to the Peace Pledge, whose aim is to foster a true culture of peace throughout the World.  

Cllr Mehta who was also mayor in 2018 talked about his background. He was raised in Liverpool and is the son of a Punjabi immigrant. 

“When I was brought up in Liverpool there was a lot of racism and hate crime at that time and moving to the West Midlands at the age of 12 meeting a more diverse community helped me come along,” he said. 

“Growing up as a child in Liverpool I learned two cultures – my own culture and the British values and that’s what led me to the faith of bringing people together.” 

During his time as Mayor in 2018, Cllr Mehta launched a project called Building Bridges and the aim was to bring the younger and the older generations together. 

He then moved onto to bringing communities together and launched the Interfaith Council, which became a charity just a few weeks ago. 

The council has also formed a partnership with AFC Telford and the Football Association (FA) to promote equality and diversity within our community using football. The scheme was launched this week. 

TWIC is also running an equality and diversity (EDI) workshop which is being delivered in schools.  

Cllr Mehta lives in Telford with his wife, a GP, and his two children. He has worked in the NHS for two decades and runs a medical practice in Birmingham.