For some participants, this will be a new experience and will be their first moment of experiencing the plurality of modern British society and has the potential to be life changing.

In the past the church has been tempted to either retreat behind the safety of its doctrines -- as Noah retreated into the ark to navigate the stormy waters of the flood -- or to sally forth from the security of its citadel in its conquest to convert the world. Neither approach will help as we grapple with the competing claims for truth in an age where faith is more usually seen as the cause of so many ills.

The work with the 3 FF has provided a secure and safe place where young people from the Abrahamic traditions can meet and find a language that gives meaning to the reality our living in a pluralist and multi-faith society. It has created the desire to journey in life together rather than in competition with one another; to live in mutual respect rather than collective fear.

As the research progresses I hope to be able to expand on these themes in order to further understand the impact of the Youth linking Project on these young people. I am interested in how the experience affects their affiliation with their own faith communities and their understanding of local citizenship membership in late modern plural British society as a result of being part of the programme.