G5230 Support, Development and Engagement Services for the Tower Hamlets Inter-faith Forum (THIFF) 2017-20

The Tower Hamlets Inter-faith Forum The forum that currently leads and facilitates dialogue and engagement between the various faith and belief groups in the borough is the Tower Hamlets Inter-faith Forum (THIFF). THIFF is an independent group which is supported by the council and is led by a steering group, selected by the forum from the broader membership.

THIFF meets bi-monthly and attendees include leaders and representatives of faith and belief communities. THIFF provides a platform to share initiatives and information, discuss important issues, develop partnership working, and give a voice to religion and belief in the borough.

In 2016/17 THIFF, supported by Tower Hamlets Council for Voluntary Service, re-designed and re-launched its website, began mapping and creating a directory of faith institutions and organisations in the borough, hosted a small event on faith and hate and a larger event on Faith and Health during Inter-faith Week and began developing partnerships between faith and community groups. In order to build on this work the Corporate Strategy and Equalities Service at Tower Hamlets Council is seeking to commission an organisation to: • Support the THIFF by coordinating the administration of its meetings and events and develop its stakeholder engagement. • Help THIFF promote the understanding of religion and belief in the borough and raise the profile of inter-faith activity in Tower Hamlets through communications, events and engagement activities. • Develop partnership working between THIFF, community organisations and local statutory services in order to deliver joint initiatives to address issues that may impact upon community cohesion and enable faith institutions to feed into the shaping of local services. • Enable and facilitate the work of THIFF to be actions-driven and measure the impact of the forum on the wider community.

Organisations wishing to express their interest are requested to register on the London Tenders Portal (www.londontenders.org) where the tender documentation will be available for download. You may be required to complete a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ).