Beyond Difference
Connecting faiths, beliefs and philosophies throughout the Chilterns and South Bucks
Upcoming Events
Scriptural Reasoning
Sunday 24th November 2024
Doors open: 1:45 pm
Meeting: 2:00-4:00 pm
Location: Chesham Mosque, 212 Bellingdon Road, Chesham HP5 2NN
Past Events
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About Us
Beyond Difference attempts to connect faiths, beliefs and philosophies throughout the Chilterns and South Bucks. We aim to find common ground and promote harmony in the community by sharing knowledge and developing friendship, trust and understanding.
Our Founding
Established in 2012 with the intention of connecting people of all faiths and beliefs, we aim to share knowledge and develop trust in order to build community harmony.
Beyond Difference was started by the Community Cohesion Officer for Chiltern District Council. We are proud our Committee includes Muslims, Christians, Jews and some individuals with no particular faith. We are all volunteers and receive no payment for our work.
From the outset, our goal has been to include people of all faiths and none.
Who We Are
Meet our Beyond Difference Committee:
Arabella Norton
Arabella is the Co-Chair of Beyond Difference.
Currently studying for a doctorate in Systematic Theology at King’s College, London, she is a married mother of three children, a former secondary school teacher of Religious Studies, and a practising Anglican.
Irfan Arif
Irfan Arif is the Co-Chair of Beyond Difference having first joined in 2015.
He was born in Pakistan and came to the UK as a young boy. He is a Muslim, and lives in Chesham with his family. He works as a barrister, appearing in courts around England and Wales, and developed an interest in interfaith work whilst living and working amongst people of all backgrounds.
Julie Stewart
Julie Stewart is a member of the St Aidan’s Catholic Parish in Little Chalfont. Her mum was a keen advocate of the ecumenical community in her home town and she hopes to do the same. Each time she attended a Beyond Difference session, she came away feeling inspired by the diversity of faith experiences in our local area! Now she hopes to help spread the word about the very impressive group.
Waseem Raja
Born in Amersham, but with family settled in Chesham since 1960, Waseem is a dedicated member of the Chesham Muslim community. Waseem is a member of the Chesham Mosque committee, and also a keen committee member for Beyond Difference. Within his roles, Waseem particularly enjoys meeting and working with all members of the community.
Yossi Eli
Yossi was born in Israel to Sephardic Jewish immigrants from Turkey. A software developer and a keen student of history in his spare time, he moved to the UK in 2005 and has lived in Chesham with his wife and three boys since 2008. Although an atheist, having lived in multiple countries (Israel, Turkey and the UK) Yossi recognizes the importance of faith in one’s life and identity.
Rob Collins
Rob and his wife are retired teachers; they moved to Chesham in 2009 from Harrow. Rob’s Christian life began at university in 1967 and he and his wife are members of St Mary’s church.
They have taken part in Beyond Difference since its founding in 2011. They have three (married) daughters – all teachers, and all living less than two hours away.
Saba Arif
Saba is the newest member of the committee, with a role assisting the Beyond Difference social media presence. Born and brought up in Chesham, she is a strong advocate for community cohesion and as a practising Muslim believes in harmony between people from all walks of life.
Saba says “I love this photo as it reminds me of how lucky we are to live in such beauty. “
Jacques Gholam
Jacques is a retired accountant and acts as Treasurer for Beyond Difference.
He was born into a Jewish family in the Middle East and came to the UK in 1958 as a refugee.
Although he considers himself an atheist, he believes that faith binds the world and makes it a better place.
Kati Gholam
Kati has recently retired from a career in IT and is responsible for IT support for Beyond Difference. She was brought up in Chesham and returned here to bring up her own children in the lovely Chilterns.
Like her husband, Kati does not belong to any organised religion but is strong believer in the healing power of nature. She is interested in the history of, and similarities between, faiths, and how it can be a force for good.