The Dialogue Society

The Dialogue Society is a registered charity (Charity Number: 1117039) and a charitable company limited by guarantee (Company Number: 05385343), regulated by both the Charities Commission and Companies House. Founded with the aim of fostering dialogue and promoting understanding between diverse communities, the Dialogue Society strives to build bridges across cultural, religious, and societal divides.

The North East Branch of the Dialogue Society began its journey in 2020 with a Community Christmas Event. Since then, the branch has gone from strength to strength, organizing over 50 large-scale community events, reaching more than 5,000 individuals across the region. Each year, the North East Branch hosts five Community Christmas Events and five Iftar and Diversity Dinners in Hartlepool, South Tyneside, Newcastle, Gateshead, and Northumberland. This year, they will hold their 4th annual events in these cities, continuing their commitment to celebrating diversity and fostering interfaith understanding.

One of the branch’s unique initiatives is the Cultural Awareness Day, which showcases the richness of diversity through music, art, food, and interactive activities. This special day is tailored for schools and community groups, offering an immersive experience of various cultures. They have had the privilege of organizing this event for Cleveland Police at Middlesbrough HQ and Hartlepool Police Station, as well as for Tyneview Primary School and St. Joseph Primary School.

In addition to these events, the branch actively participates in Interfaith Week by distributing thousands of portions of Ashura, one of the world’s oldest desserts. Made with over 20 ingredients, including dried and fresh fruits, nuts, and whole wheat, Ashura is a vibrant and symbolic dish, representing the beauty of diversity. Last year, they distributed 2,500 servings of Ashura across the North East and held three panel discussions and workshops to further promote dialogue and unity.

Their work is driven entirely by volunteers; they do not have any paid staff and rely on the dedication of over 150 volunteers from various backgrounds. Despite having no sustainable funding, their volunteers and partners enable them to organize a wide array of events and initiatives. Over the past four years, they have collaborated with around 200 local and national partners, including faith organizations, community centers, charities, schools, and councils.

They are especially proud of their Art and Cultural Team, along with their Play4Peace band, which brings communities together through creative expression. Each year, they support more than 50 art workshops and 10 music performances, contributing to local events and providing cultural enrichment to the wider community. They also place a strong emphasis on encouraging young people to engage in community work, nurturing their passion for volunteerism and supporting their efforts to make a difference.

Through their projects, the Dialogue Society North East Branch continues to build on the strengths of their volunteers, creating opportunities for connection, understanding, and mutual respect across communities.