|TOP|A schools interfaith pilot scheme is to be extended across more schools in North and West Yorkshire to promote the message of understanding and tolerance between Christian, Jewish and Muslim young people.

The Schools Interfaith Project will be rolled out across Leeds and Bradford to include even more schools after it proved successful when it was piloted last year in North Yorkshire and Middlesbrough.

Around 500 children will take part in visits to places of worship including Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals, mosques, a synagogue and a Hindu temple. They will also be given the opportunity to meet with volunteers from different faith backgrounds, reports the Yorkshire Post Today.

Co-ordinator of the project and schools adviser, Eileen Bellet, said: “Our hope is that, through challenging questions, learning about the similarities and differences within and across the major faith traditions, experiencing places of worship and participating in a variety of creative activities, the children will come to their own conclusions about the communities in which they live."

|AD|The Schools Interfaith Project is a joint venture of Ripon Cathedral, the Bradford and Ripon and Leeds joint Diocesan Education Team and the Middlesbrough Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education.

The project will provide special funding to cover the costs of the 13 schools involved in the venture to travel to the various places of worship, as well as the cost of supply cover teachers to stand in for those taking part in interfaith training and various planning meetings.

The funding will also cover the cost of a One World Workshop to take place in March next year.

The launch of the extended project will be attended by the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, John Packer, in a display of support for the comprehensive teaching of different faith in schools.

Representatives from the Muslim and Jewish communities, as well as other Christian denominations will also join in the launch.