The Peace Alliance was launched in July 2001 as a local initiative in Haringey. The Peace Alliance quickly built links with local faith, community and voluntary organisations and organised its first Week of Peace in 2001 to celebrate the diversity of culture in Haringey.
It has since surpassed its roots to encompass several boroughs including Barnet, Camden, Hackney and Lambeth amongst others, and taken on the ambitious but worthy goals of reducing crime and the fear of crime in local communities by:
- Promoting peace and good citizenship
- Restoring a sense of community and involving all communities in a concerted effort towards community safety
- Engaging and working with young people
With funding and support from GOL and other partners, the Peace Alliance has witnessed tangible results. Statistics gathered illustrated a significant reduction in crime during the Week of Peace in 2004. Local residents are engaged in a number of initiatives emphasising community safety and cohesion and this year focussed on “friendship and families”. A Peace festival and concert, arts competitions, Peace Talks, the London Peace Awards scheme and borough based walks were some of the activities which took place.
With the recent events in July it appears that the Week of Peace has never been more relevant and its themes now touch the lives of all the Capital’s citizens. This was recognised by the Prime Minister who sent an endorsement of the week’s events:
“What you are doing to make London safer is crucial, and the task is all the more important after the tragedy of 7 July. I know that Londoners from across the city will be coming together in the Week of Peace to demonstrate their solidarity rather than their differences.”
