The British Council’s Our Shared Europe project is a mix of research and activity designed to help Europeans (Muslims and everyone else) recognise the contribution of Islam to Europe’s history and way of life.

The Our Shared Europe project is the British Council’s response to one of the major cultural challenges facing our continent today – the growing mutual mistrust between Muslim communities and wider European society.

Our Shared Europe seeks to find common ground, and build shared values, perspectives and behaviours that are based on mutual respect and trust. In particular, it is about how to acknowledge the contribution of Islamic communities and cultures – both in the past but also in the present – to the shaping of contemporary European civilisation and society. This means recognising the rich and diverse roots of our culture and society and using this recognition to build a more inclusive view of the continent that we all share.

George Soros’ Open Society Foundations has a project At Home in Europe which looks at Muslims in Europe and has produced a series of reports, including Muslims in Europe: A report on 11 EU Cities.  Leicester, the London Borough of Waltham Forest and Berlin (particularly Kreuzberg) are included.  The 11 Cities report was launched by Our Shared Europe at London’s City Hall in December 2009.

History of the World in 100 Objects – British Museum working with BBC: long series of short Radio 4 programmes and associated British Museum activities.  Podcasts available to download.

Institute for Public Policy Research held a fascinating afternoon looking at recent research on Faith, Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion, with Prof Michael Kenny, Jill Rutter, Prof Richard Farnell and Simon Keyes.

London Boroughs Faiths Network is an informal network of practitioners which links people who are actively engaged at the interface of London’s religious/multifaith groups and borough-level statutory bodies (such as the police, the NHS and local councils).  Contact convener@lbfn.org.

Eddie Izzard – great stuff.  Political comedy and a definite bias towards people understanding each other a bit better.  And he tours Europe fearlessly.

Presence and Engagement Network encourages and supports the mission and ministry of Church of England parishes and other Anglican communities in multi religious contexts. It has a London branch.