Council of Christians and Jews
Campus Leadership Programme
The Campus Leadership Programme provides students, across the UK, with the skills and confidence to create brave interfaith spaces, that in turn will create social change and build a culture of inclusivity at their universities. The programme empowers student leaders to form relationships across faith communities.
With training and mentoring by interfaith leaders, Campus Leaders are supported in organising their own student-led initiatives which are tailored to their local context. CCJ’s Campus Leaders hold interfaith events throughout the year, bringing together students from all faiths and beliefs. This is made possible through the advice, contacts and stipend that CCJ provides.
What does interfaith look like on university campuses currently?
Since October 7th 2023, and in light of the conflict in the Middle East, there has been a distinct shift on campuses. Places and spaces that once were comfortable are no longer. Interfaith forums now look completely different or are non-existent. In many cases trust has been broken and student voices aren’t hearing one another.
Throughout this we have been deeply concerned about the rise and increase in antisemitism and Islamophobia on campuses nationwide.
We see an urgent need for the rebuilding of interfaith forums. Bridges need to be built between students of different faiths; spaces for meaningful dialogue need to be created and we, amongst this, need to listen and learn from one another.
These are things the Campus Leadership Programme seeks to address.
What is the Campus Leadership Programme?
The Campus Leadership Programme gives students the skills and experience needed to create brave interfaith spaces that in turn will create social change and build a culture of inclusivity at their university. The programme empowers student leaders to form relationships across faith communities.
With training and mentoring by interfaith leaders, Campus Leaders are supporting in organising their own student-led initiatives which are tailored to their local context. CCJ’s Campus Leaders hold student-led interfaith events throughout the year. These events bring together students from all faiths and beliefs and are made possible through the advice, contacts, support, and funding that CCJ provides.
Through this, students can tackle stereotypes, issues of religious hate and intolerance, and foster understanding at their universities while also becoming interfaith leaders. CCJ gives students a voice to share their experience as students of faith on campus. At the end of the year Campus Leaders join our Alumni Network equipped with the skills and networks to become interfaith ambassadors in their communities beyond university.
What do students say about the Campus Leadership Programme?
Raphi- Campus Leader Alumni 24/25 “Really excited to run interfaith events and share the really positive interfaith experience I’ve had over the residential with others in Warwick”
Raquel Leeds Campus Leadership Alumni 22/23 “This programme taught me how to be comfortable and handle conversations with sensitivity”
Kianu- Current student Leader “I can identify faith-based hate well and think I will be quite confident and quick to challenge it and keep it out of the multifaith space.”
Were there any aspects of the training that made you think about something in a new way?
“The part about listening definitely shifted my perspective, so did the parts about having differing, even conflicting views with others without it being a problem.”
For more information please see the CCJ website by clicking here.
With training and mentoring by interfaith leaders, Campus Leaders are supported in organising their own student-led initiatives which are tailored to their local context. CCJ’s Campus Leaders hold interfaith events throughout the year, bringing together students from all faiths and beliefs. This is made possible through the advice, contacts and stipend that CCJ provides.
What does interfaith look like on university campuses currently?
Since October 7th 2023, and in light of the conflict in the Middle East, there has been a distinct shift on campuses. Places and spaces that once were comfortable are no longer. Interfaith forums now look completely different or are non-existent. In many cases trust has been broken and student voices aren’t hearing one another.
Throughout this we have been deeply concerned about the rise and increase in antisemitism and Islamophobia on campuses nationwide.
We see an urgent need for the rebuilding of interfaith forums. Bridges need to be built between students of different faiths; spaces for meaningful dialogue need to be created and we, amongst this, need to listen and learn from one another.
These are things the Campus Leadership Programme seeks to address.
What is the Campus Leadership Programme?
The Campus Leadership Programme gives students the skills and experience needed to create brave interfaith spaces that in turn will create social change and build a culture of inclusivity at their university. The programme empowers student leaders to form relationships across faith communities.
With training and mentoring by interfaith leaders, Campus Leaders are supporting in organising their own student-led initiatives which are tailored to their local context. CCJ’s Campus Leaders hold student-led interfaith events throughout the year. These events bring together students from all faiths and beliefs and are made possible through the advice, contacts, support, and funding that CCJ provides.
Through this, students can tackle stereotypes, issues of religious hate and intolerance, and foster understanding at their universities while also becoming interfaith leaders. CCJ gives students a voice to share their experience as students of faith on campus. At the end of the year Campus Leaders join our Alumni Network equipped with the skills and networks to become interfaith ambassadors in their communities beyond university.
What do students say about the Campus Leadership Programme?
Raphi- Campus Leader Alumni 24/25 “Really excited to run interfaith events and share the really positive interfaith experience I’ve had over the residential with others in Warwick”
Raquel Leeds Campus Leadership Alumni 22/23 “This programme taught me how to be comfortable and handle conversations with sensitivity”
Kianu- Current student Leader “I can identify faith-based hate well and think I will be quite confident and quick to challenge it and keep it out of the multifaith space.”
Were there any aspects of the training that made you think about something in a new way?
“The part about listening definitely shifted my perspective, so did the parts about having differing, even conflicting views with others without it being a problem.”
For more information please see the CCJ website by clicking here.
