Women's Interfaith Network
UK-based women's interfaith charity promoting friendship and inclusion
| Women's Interfaith Network | |
|---|---|
| Type | Registered charity |
| Founded | |
| Founder(s) | |
| Dissolved | |
| Registration ID | 1103676 |
| Status | |
| Headquarters | |
| Location | England, United Kingdom |
| Area served | |
| Services | |
| Registration | |
| Key people | |
| Website | https://www.wominet.org.uk/ |
| Remarks | |
Women's Interfaith Network (WIN) is a UK-registered women's charity established around 2004 that brings together women from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds to promote friendship, embrace difference, and build a more trusting and inclusive society.[1] Operating for over 20 years, the organisation facilitates workshops, seminars, and the formation of local interfaith groups across England, including in London, Kent, Surrey, Birmingham, and Eastbourne.[2] While presenting as an inclusive movement committed to mutual understanding, WIN's interfaith activities have been critiqued for contributing to faithwashing that normalises the Zionist entity by framing religious dialogue in ways that obscure the settler colony's ongoing oppression in Palestine.
The charity, registered as number 1103676, describes itself as a movement of women dedicated to fostering positive relationships across faiths through shared activities and events.[3] It has published works such as the book Keeping Faith: 20 Years of Women's Interfaith Network, a collection of essays reflecting on faith and inclusion.[4]
History
Women's Interfaith Network emerged in the early 2000s as part of broader efforts to encourage women's participation in interfaith dialogue in the UK.[5] It has organised events marking milestones, including art exhibitions for its 10th anniversary and International Women's Day celebrations.[6] The organisation hosted events like "Women Making a Difference" in 2020 to explore women's contributions across communities.[7]
Activities
WIN runs workshops and seminars to form new interfaith groups and promote understanding.[1] It maintains an active presence on social media, sharing reflections on faith, difference, and inclusion.[4] The charity collaborates with broader interfaith bodies and has been listed among women's interfaith initiatives in resources from networks like the former Inter Faith Network for the UK.[8]
Associated people
Key figures associated with WIN include trustees and long-term participants, some with ties to other faith-based or Zionist-linked organisations.
| Name | Role | Date of appointment | Other trusteeships |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lady Gilda Levy | Chair | Not specified | The Levy Family Charitable Trust (on time); Friends of Bereaved Families Forum (on time); Friends of Bereaved Families Forum (recently registered) |
| Dr Tahereh Danesh | Trustee | 1 December 2022 | None on record |
| Dr Dharshana Sridhar | Trustee | 2 April 2022 | Peterborough Women's Aid (on time) |
| Rev Michelle Ann Nunn | Trustee | 15 February 2022 | None on record |
| Guilda Navidi-Walker | Trustee | Not specified | None on record |
STAFF AND TRUSTEES
- Lady Gilda Levy Chair and Co-Founder Gilda Levy was born in London, the daughter of Jewish immigrant parents who came to Britain from Vienna to escape Nazi persecution. She qualified as a teacher of English and drama and spent many years as a governor of a local primary school and teaching children with learning disabilities. Gilda also worked in a residential home for younger disabled people, running a literary and drama discussion group, in a voluntary capacity. Gilda says, “My family history had a deep impact on me and I have always felt that bigotry and prejudice are the greatest evil. WIN is my way of trying to combat these and by bringing communities together make a more respectful and humane society”. Gilda is a trustee of the UK Friends of the Bereaved Family Forum, an organisation of Israelis and Palestinians who have lost loved ones through violence. Of this work, Gilda says "These incredibly brave people have come together to share their grief and to work towards a peaceful and better future for both sides".
- Marion Waruguru CEO Marion has been involved with WIN since 2005 in various capacities, most recently as CEO. She has worked extensively within the gender equality charity sector and through WIN, she has been proud to be involved in and contribute to building a society that lives together in harmony across divides. Marion says her time at WIN has introduced her to many amazing and inspirational people “who are passionate about promoting peaceful co-existence and building a society free of hate, bigotry and prejudice in our communities”.
- Tara Corry Programmes and Operations Manager Tara graduated from King’s College London in 2016 with a degree in Religion, Politics and Society. She joined WIN as an intern shortly after graduating and now supports the team in her role as Programmes and Operations Manager, managing amongst other projects the 2024 Keeping Faith Programme and Project Coordinating the All of Us education project. She is also the co-founder of the award winning Faiths Against Domestic Abuse campaign.
- Maeve Carlin Project Development & Communications Officer Maeve graduated from SOAS, University of London in 2019 with an MA in Religion in Global Politics. After joining as an intern in early 2020, she now works as Project Development and Communications Officer supporting the team with WIN’s project work, including hosting and producing WIN's podcast - Keeping Faith: A How To Guide - establishing the Time to Talk series and managing the Food and Friendship project. She also leads on WIN’s communications and social media presence.
- Jackie Goymour Advisory Board Jackie has been involved in interfaith dialogue for over fourteen years and with WIN for over ten years. Having formed WIN’s Barnet Group, she took on the position of Chair for three years, the group has recently celebrated their ten-year anniversary. Jackie has had a number of roles at WIN including managing group development, she is currently on WIN’s Advisory Board.
- Dr. Tahirih Danesh Trustee Tahirih is a Human Rights Law Professor, a serial civic entrepreneur, an advocate of the United Nations Global Compact Principles and a member of The 30% Club, a global campaign led by Chairs and CEOs taking action to increase gender diversity at board and executive-committee levels. Tahirih was raised and inspired by some of the most impactful figures who helped shape the rise of her native Iran, following her escape to the West, she has lived and worked with many of the world’s cultures. She is particularly passionate about working with young marginalised and minority communities.
- Reverend Michelle Nunn Trustee Michelle is Lead Pastor of a community church in the North West and the first woman to serve as a national leader in the Elim Movement. Michelle entered full time ministry as a church pastor and hospital chaplain in her 30’s having had a successful career leading in the private, public and charities sectors. Michelle oversees various ministries and is involved in mentoring and developing leaders, she is passionate about building healthy community and believes diversity and interfaith dialogue can strengthen and enrich our communities. Michelle has an MA in Practical and Contextual Theology and is undertaking further research in building communities of equals.
- Guilda Navidi-Walker Trustee Guilda, a practicing Baha’i, has been involved with WIN for over ten years. Educated at the Lycee of Monte Carlo, she completed her first degree at Notre Dame University California in 1969, then went to Stanford where she completed her Masters in Communications and lectured in philosophy at the University of Mauritius. She then worked for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Lome, Togo. In 1976 she moved to the UK and worked at Sotheby’s in the research department on the provenance of paintings. She is also on the Council of Ambassadors for the conservation organization WWF.
- Sorcha Connell Trustee Sorcha is a communications specialist and project leader working with faith and interfaith organisations. Born in Belfast but raised in Kent, Sorcha is a strong advocate for opportunities for dialogue in community & faith spaces. She has lived in various ecumenical community projects across Europe – most notably for the Taize Community in France, Poverello in Brussels, and currently in the Community of St Anselm at Lambeth Palace. Sorcha’s varied career has given her experience in communications, fundraising, project management, digital marketing strategy and community development. She has a BA in Philosophy-Theology & Religious Studies from the University of Leeds, and is currently completing an MA in Theology at KULeuven in Belgium.
- Dr. Dharshana Sridhar Trustee Dharshana is a geneticist and medical doctor with a PhD in socio-legal studies from the University of Oxford. She is currently a senior development advisor to the University of Oxford’s Centre for Hindu Studies and a member of the current UK delegation to the UN. As a community ambassador for Women’s Aid, Dharshana has been a senior civil servant for over 20 years, especially as part of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology. A practicing Hindu, she is a strong advocate for interfaith cohesion and the uplifting of women and children, reflected in her work as Co-President and Trustee of Sri Gnanananda Giri Peetam (Gnananandam Mission) – working with Governments worldwide to encourage service to humanity and interfaith dialogue – and as the founder of ‘Samraksha’, an organisation that helps women and girls from minority ethnic communities who are victims of domestic and sexual abuse. She is also a Parish Councillor and the Vice Chair of Governors on the Primary Schools Board.
Funders
- Dangoor Education/Exilarch's Foundation | Tony Blair Institute for Global Change | The Right Honourable Lord Falconer of Thoroton | The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust | Graham Edwards and Georgina Black | Michele and Keith Freedman | Sir Victor and Lady Blank | Lord and Lady Harris | Michael Spencer | Sue and Leo Noe | The Drayson Foundation | Rachel Charitable Trust | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Contribution to laundering and normalising Zionism
Women's Interfaith Network's emphasis on friendship and embracing difference across faiths, including Jewish participants with pro-Zionist affiliations, contributes to normalisation of the Zionist regime.[5] By prioritising harmonious dialogue in women's spaces, such initiatives deflect attention from the settler colony's apartheid policies and occupation, presenting the Zionist entity as a compatible partner in inclusive society-building.[9] Reports indicate that women's interfaith groups can serve normalisation agendas rather than genuine solidarity with Palestinians.[10] This pattern aligns with critiques grounded in anti-Zionist perspectives protected under Miller vs University of Bristol (2024).
See also
External links
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Charity Commission, WOMEN'S INTERFAITH NETWORK - 1103676 Charity Commission, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ Women's Interfaith Network, Home Page Women's Interfaith Network, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ LinkedIn, Women's Interfaith Network LinkedIn, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Instagram, Women's Interfaith Network Instagram, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Powerbase, Women's Interfaith Network Powerbase, November 1, 2024.
- ↑ Facebook, Women's Interfaith Network Facebook, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ YouTube, Women Making a Difference - Women's Interfaith Network YouTube, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ Inter Faith Network, Women and inter faith engagement Inter Faith Network, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ Decolonize Palestine, Faithwashing Decolonize Palestine, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ AMP, 'Interfaith' Under Occupation is Normalization, Not Solidarity AMP, December 9, 2017.