|TOP|Christian leaders are among the confirmed guests who will unite for peace at a Leaders’ Prayer Breakfast Meeting next week as part of the London Week of Peace celebrations.

The breakfast meeting has been joint-organised by the Leadership Centre, a major Christian centre in London, in partnership with the Peace Alliance, Transform Newham and the Metropolitan Police.

The meeting will bring together numerous influential leaders from the Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths as well as notables from other non-religious sectors in a celebration of equality and diversity as well as to promote peace, unity and love.

The leaders, who include the Bishop of Barking, the Rt Rev David Hawkins, and Pastor Sola Fola-Alade of the Leadership Centre, will address key issues in the city during the meeting and develop ways to build a safer place to live in.

Dr Sola Fola-Alade of the Leadership Centre states, “As leaders in the community, we believe that the deliberations at this meeting will provide a basis for harnessing the wealth of experience from various leaders in the community and will form a foundation for future planning and engagement in mutually agreed projects that will serve all facets of the diverse community we serve.”|AD|

Other guests at the breakfast include Commander Mark Simmons, Chair of the Critical Incident Group; Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham; Saraswthi Namasivayam, London Oriental Academy; Laura Timms, Newham Youth Offending Team; Venetta Johnson, Newham’s Executive Director of Community; Dr Mohendra Kundu, Bengali Culture Association; Ishaaq Jasat, Islamic Dawah Council; Ismail Warsama, London Somali Community Alliance; Charlotte Graves, Chief executive of Newham Homes.

Local residents and young people have also been invited to take part in the event where they will have the opportunity to express their concerns about such issues as crime, violence, education, employment and teenage pregnancy. It will also give them the welcome opportunity to make a difference by being part of the solution.

The breakfast is part of the wider Week of Peace from 10 to 17 September which will celebrate diversity and promote justice, equality and respect in a number of events across various London boroughs.

The initiative has won the support of the prime minister and leading political figures and has brought together a number of partners including the Greater London Authority, Government Office for London, the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police Authority, Crimestoppers, London Fire Brigade, The Peace Alliance and other strategic interest groups.

The former Home Secretary, Hon Charles Clarke said, “I am delighted to offer my support for the London Week of Peace 2006, one of the most important elements in tackling crime and disorder is for us all to work together.

“The opportunity that the London Week of Peace affords for people from across the capital to come together to enjoy the wealth of activities on offer, to celebrate the diversity of our communities, discuss issues, and take part in events in a true spirit of cooperation and respect, is of immense value.”