Echo news from Southend, Basildon, Castle Point, Rayleigh, Rochford, Wickford, Billericay, Thurrock

Interfaith centre due to open soon

From the archive, first published Tuesday 27th Feb 2007.

Schoolchildren are now learning about other faiths in a brand new centre thanks to the hard work of local religious groups.

Some school groups have already started to use the Interfaith Resource Centre, based at the Southend and District Reform Synagogue in London Road, Westcliff.

When it is officially opened next month, even more will be able to take advantage of its facilities.

Rabbi Warren Elf said: "With the new resource centre fully operational, it is going to be an invaluable resource to many more schools and community groups."

The centre is the culmination of a year's work by Interfaith's community worker Chris Farge and the synagogue's site manager Richard Levy.

They used £24,000 from the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund, secured by South East Essex Interfaith in Action, a project started by the synagogue. The grand opening will take place on March 11.