COMMUNITY leaders from a variety of faiths across Hampshire are heading to a Southampton church tonight to spread the message of peace.

Speakers representing several Southampton communities and the leader of a London mosque will be at St Andrew’s United Reformed Church in The Avenue for the annual Interfaith Symposium.

Co-organiser Dr Nadeem Afzal of the British Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Southampton said tonight’s conference is about getting people to meet and provide help for other Hampshire communities.

The Imam of the Fazl Mosque for Ahmadi Muslims in London, Ataul Mujeeb Rasheed, will be speaking along with the vice-president of Southampton’s Vedic Society Hindu Temple, Priti Dave, and Reverend Dr Ian Bird from the church, at 6pm tonight.

Dr Mark Owen, director of the University of Winchester’s Centre of Religions for Reconciliation and Peace will also be addressing the audience.

Dr Afzal said: “The importance of this symposium is that it brings people from a variety of faiths and backgrounds together to spread the message of peace and understanding across Hampshire.

“I am very excited for tonight’s event, it will be good to have people from different communities coming together to discuss the different projects we all have in the area, and how we can all help each other in those endeavours.”

Mubashar Sanori, head of the Southampton Ahmadiyya Muslim community, said the speakers will be teaching about the topic of helping from their faith’s point of view.

He said: “This meeting is also a great opportunity to discuss useful projects in the context of community work in Southampton.

“We are grateful to our councillors representing various wards in Southampton for their support and attendance, to guide and help on this platform.”

Southampton City Councillors Satvir Kaur, Matt Tucker and Derek Burke will also be there.

Mr Sanori said they were hoping there would be more than 70 people attending tonight’s event, which is held at different venues across Hampshire.