Core working group membership (This list is fluid and is not exhaustive)
Penny Smith-Orr
I am an Anglican Christian,
The organisation I'm linked with St Marks Church South Norwood where I am the treasurer and a member of the PCC.
I am a member of the core working group because as well as being a, main stream, Christian representative I am also the Religious education officer for Croydon council. I work with the Croydon Standing Advisory Committee on Religious education (SACRE) and advise teachers on the Croydon Agreed syllabus for religious Education. I am also on the managing committee of Croydon Faith Education Resources, a library of resources for schools and faith organisations.
Many years ago I worked with the Bishop Of Croydon's office to produce a Faiths Together newsletter and in 2005 worked on a document called Faith in the Community which included mapping all the worshipping communities in the Borough of Croydon.
I had been on the steering committee of Faiths Together in Croydon since its inception and think it is very important to the well being of Croydon.
Tamkin Riaz
Tamkin Riaz a modern open minded Muslim that has worked in education since 1980. A community leader that brings twenty five years of experience to bear to all faith & charity groups. Since August 2005 has been predominant in the media, business start ups and the events scene with the aim of bringing greater understanding and to share the commonalities in all faiths that bring many people closer together.
Tamkin is involved with AlKhair foundation, Read Foundation & Muslim Association of Croydon and assisting many more local groups. He has also done extensive relief and educational work, marketing charitable projects and has been instrumental in delivering aid in Haiti, Pakistan, Japan, Malaysia and many more countries.
Tamkin brings much of his insights to the assistance of the local community and has an extensive network of contacts that he puts to use with the local community for business, charity & faith groups.
Al-Khair Foundation
109-119 Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, CR0 6BE, United Kingdom
Registered Charity No. 1126808
Father Kyrillos Asaad
I am a priest at St Mary & St Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church, in Coulsdon. It is one of the parishes
of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London & its affiliated regions led by Archbishop Angaelos. The
mother church is in Egypt and our Pope is HH Pope Tawadros the second.
I was born in Egypt & graduated as a medical doctor. I settled in the UK since the early 80s, trained &
progressed my medical career. I worked for a few years in the UAE. So, I lived & worked in 3
countries & experienced different communities. In 2014, I was called to priesthood & since then I am
serving as a parish priest. There is a lot in common between practicing medicine & priesthood.
As a Christian I believe in love, peace, respect & equality. We try to reach out to our local & the
wider community, through participation in different groups, including Faith Together in Croydon. It
does make us feel for each other & better understand different faiths & denominations.