Who We Are2022-08-04T09:01:34+00:00

WHO WE ARE

WHO WE ARE

Overview of the SOAR programme

The (SOAR) is the ‘Strengthening the security and resilience of at-risk religious sites and communities’ programme. We, Enhancing Faith Institutions (EFI) are the lead partner and we are working alongside our project partners who are based across Europe; Finn Church Aid & Architects Council of Europe.

The programme is looking to advance the protection and safeguarding of places for worship across the 7 pilot countries we are working in across Europe (France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Netherlands and Denmark). The network of the partnership is extensive and includes representatives from all majority and minority faiths practicing within the EU. The project is interfaith focused in our training and reach, supporting to keep all faiths and faith institutions safe and secure across Europe.

Our audiences throughout the project will be directed to a new knowledge base which will provide access to trainings, guides and resources & best practices in protective security. National, regional / metro, and local trainings in seven pilot EU member states will be provided and include a focus on increasing collaboration and cooperation between security offices and leaders of places of worship with their wider communities and public authorities, including the police.

We are working on using innovative communications approaches that increase in the awareness of & capacity of places of worship and religious leaders to respond to, physical and human security threats. This will use the full range of communication channels including the networks of the partnership.

A key component of the programme is to advance the protection of religious sites by implementing ‘security by design’ (SBD) concept. Providing time for experts in our trainings to discuss this concept, its importance and making it a key aspect of the SOAR programme.

Overview of the SOAR programme

The (SOAR) is the ‘Strengthening the security and resilience of at-risk religious sites and communities’ programme. We, Enhancing Faith Institutions (EFI) are the lead partner and we are working alongside our project partners who are on this call, who are based across Europe -> Finn Church Aid, Architects Council of Europe & United Nations Alliance of Civilisations.

The programme is looking to advance the protection and safeguarding of places for worship across the 7 pilot countries we are working in across Europe (France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Italy and Denmark). The network of the partnership is extensive and includes representatives from all majority and minority faiths practicing within the EU… the project is interfaith focused in our training and reach, supporting to keep all faiths and faith institutions safe and secure across Europe.

Our audiences throughout the project will be directed to a new knowledge base which will provide access to trainings, guides and resources & best practices in protective security. National, regional / metro, and local trainings in seven pilot EU member states will be provided and include a focus on increasing collaboration and cooperation between security offices and leaders of places of worship with their wider communities and public authorities, including the police.

We are working on using innovative communications approaches that increase in the awareness of & capacity of places of worship and religious leaders to respond to, physical and human security threats. This will use the full range of communication channels including the networks of the partnership.

A key component of the programme is to advance the protection of religious sites by implementing  ‘security by design’ (SBD) concept. Providing time for experts in our trainings to discuss this concept, its importance and making it a key aspect of the SOAR programme.

Our Mission

The Mission of the SOAR programme is to work to advance the protection and safeguarding of places of worship across Europe. We aim to do this by developing innovative communication approaches & training programmes and events that lead to the increase in awareness of, and capacity to respond to, physical security threats to places of worship.

SOAR is funded and supported by the European Commission and will be delivered by Enhancing Faith Institutions (EFI), Finn Church Aid (FCA), and Architects Council of Europe (ACE). The project partnerships will develop extensive networks and be inclusive of representatives from all majority and minority faiths practicing within the EU.

Can I partner with your organisation?2021-07-07T10:01:12+00:00

The work of SOAR is to enhance and support the protective security of faith institutions across the 7 pilot countries, if you would like to be involved with the SOAR programme, please do get in touch info@soarproject.eu

Can I fill in the questionnaire if I live outside the European Union?2021-06-21T09:24:09+00:00

Unfortunately, if you are a faith leader or part of a faith institution outside the European Union, you won’t be able to fill out this questionnaire.

How will the information be processed?2021-06-21T09:22:25+00:00

Information will be processed in accordance with GDPR guidelines. (EFA website to include GDPR communication. Also to be incorporated in EFA’s email communications)

Will I receive a response to my questionnaire?2021-06-29T10:51:58+00:00

Yes, you will. You will receive an acknowledgement as soon as the questionnaire is submitted. If you have any questions about the questionnaire and how you can support the SOAR project, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us on info@efiorg.eu.

What will the outcomes of the questionnaire be?2021-06-29T10:52:06+00:00

The questionnaire answers will feed into creation of a knowledge and resource base. The knowledge base will increase the awareness and capacity of our audience to respond to physical and human security threats at places of worship. The awareness (knowledge-transfer) will be realised by training, guidance and information resources.

Who are the partners behind the questionnaire?2021-06-29T10:52:14+00:00

SOAR is funded and supported by the European Commission and will be delivered by Enhancing Faith Institutions (EFI), Finn Church Aid (FCA), and Architects Council of Europe (ACE). The project partnerships will develop extensive networks and be inclusive of representatives from all majority and minority faiths practicing within the EU.

Who is the questionnaire aimed at?2021-08-09T09:08:09+00:00

It is aimed at faith leaders & management of faith institutions across the seven pilot countries the programme will be working in; France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Hungary, and the Netherlands.

What is the purpose of this questionnaire?2021-06-29T10:52:22+00:00

The main purpose of the questionnaire is to elicit feedback from our audience and provide them with a unique knowledge base. This will include training, guidance and resources to increase their awareness of, and capacity to respond to physical and human security threats to places of worship.

What is the SOAR project?2021-06-29T10:53:01+00:00

SOAR stands for ‘Strengthening the security and resilience of at-risk religious sites and communities’. The SOAR project will contribute to advancing the protection and safeguarding of places for worship, with a focus on communities of worship within seven Member States of the European Union (EU).

What are SOAR’s guiding principles?2021-06-29T10:13:02+00:00

10.1. Primary research
SOAR will undertake primary research to identify the factors that lead to threats of terrorist attacks on places of worship and on at-risk religious communities.

10.2 Identify and assess
Training needs for potential victims of hate crimes will be identified and assessed. It will include a focus on increasing safety awareness, and on collaboration and cooperation between places of worship leaders and security offices with their wider communities and public authorities, including law enforcement agencies. The insights of those with lived experiences of the threat of or of actual terrorist attacks and hate crimes will be engaged to enhance regional level policy-dialogue with regional, EU and global organisations. These include the European Commission, the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations and EU member states, to further advance the protection of religious sites.

10.3 Develop a Security-By-Design [SBD] ethos
SBD is an integral component of the SOAR programme. It is a security ethos that incorporates security features into the design and fabric of the building. Experts in the fields of SBD, community safety and resilience-building will be providing support and training at a national, regional, and local level to faith institutions in the 7 pilot countries.

10.4 Delivery of training
Training will be delivered across the full spectrum of the project at EU, national and regional and local settings, in seven pilot EU member states.

How is SOAR funded?2021-06-29T10:13:12+00:00

SOAR is funded and supported by the European Commission and will be delivered by Enhancing Faith Institutions (EFI), Finn Church Aid (FCA), and Architects Council of Europe (ACE).

What benefits will SOAR deliver?2021-06-29T10:13:22+00:00

The SOAR project will create a knowledge base which will contribute to advancing the protection and safeguarding of places for worship, with a focus on communities of worship within the European Union (EU).

What is included in the delivery?2021-06-18T15:22:36+00:00

The knowledge deliverables will include training, guidance and resources, with the opportunity for virtual engagement and the evolution of virtual networks and communities of practice.

What is the key outcome delivered by SOAR?2021-06-29T10:13:33+00:00

The SOAR project will work to provide security guidance, training and support to faith communities across the 7 member states in Europe

Which countries does SOAR cover?2021-08-09T09:08:45+00:00

The seven pilot countries we will be working in are France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Hungary, and the Netherlands.

What is the scope of SOAR?2021-06-29T10:13:50+00:00

The project partnerships will develop extensive networks and be inclusive of representatives from all majority and minority faiths practicing within the EU.

What is the purpose of SOAR?2021-06-29T10:13:56+00:00

The project will increase the awareness of, and capacity to respond to physical and human security threats to places of worship.

What is Project SOAR?2021-06-29T10:14:04+00:00

The SOAR project stands for ‘Strengthening the security and resilience
Of At-Risk Religious sites and communities’ (SOAR).

Our Mission

The Mission of the SOAR programme is to work to advance the protection and safeguarding of places of worship across Europe. We aim to do this by developing innovative communication approaches & training programmes and events that lead to the increase in awareness of, and capacity to respond to, physical security threats to places of worship.

SOAR is funded and supported by the European Commission and will be delivered by Enhancing Faith Institutions (EFI), Finn Church Aid (FCA), and Architects Council of Europe (ACE). The project partnerships will develop extensive networks and be inclusive of representatives from all majority and minority faiths practicing within the EU.

Can I partner with your organisation?2021-07-07T10:01:12+00:00

The work of SOAR is to enhance and support the protective security of faith institutions across the 7 pilot countries, if you would like to be involved with the SOAR programme, please do get in touch info@soarproject.eu

Can I fill in the questionnaire if I live outside the European Union?2021-06-21T09:24:09+00:00

Unfortunately, if you are a faith leader or part of a faith institution outside the European Union, you won’t be able to fill out this questionnaire.

How will the information be processed?2021-06-21T09:22:25+00:00

Information will be processed in accordance with GDPR guidelines. (EFA website to include GDPR communication. Also to be incorporated in EFA’s email communications)

Will I receive a response to my questionnaire?2021-06-29T10:51:58+00:00

Yes, you will. You will receive an acknowledgement as soon as the questionnaire is submitted. If you have any questions about the questionnaire and how you can support the SOAR project, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us on info@efiorg.eu.

What will the outcomes of the questionnaire be?2021-06-29T10:52:06+00:00

The questionnaire answers will feed into creation of a knowledge and resource base. The knowledge base will increase the awareness and capacity of our audience to respond to physical and human security threats at places of worship. The awareness (knowledge-transfer) will be realised by training, guidance and information resources.

Who are the partners behind the questionnaire?2021-06-29T10:52:14+00:00

SOAR is funded and supported by the European Commission and will be delivered by Enhancing Faith Institutions (EFI), Finn Church Aid (FCA), and Architects Council of Europe (ACE). The project partnerships will develop extensive networks and be inclusive of representatives from all majority and minority faiths practicing within the EU.

Who is the questionnaire aimed at?2021-08-09T09:08:09+00:00

It is aimed at faith leaders & management of faith institutions across the seven pilot countries the programme will be working in; France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Hungary, and the Netherlands.

What is the purpose of this questionnaire?2021-06-29T10:52:22+00:00

The main purpose of the questionnaire is to elicit feedback from our audience and provide them with a unique knowledge base. This will include training, guidance and resources to increase their awareness of, and capacity to respond to physical and human security threats to places of worship.

What is the SOAR project?2021-06-29T10:53:01+00:00

SOAR stands for ‘Strengthening the security and resilience of at-risk religious sites and communities’. The SOAR project will contribute to advancing the protection and safeguarding of places for worship, with a focus on communities of worship within seven Member States of the European Union (EU).

What are SOAR’s guiding principles?2021-06-29T10:13:02+00:00

10.1. Primary research
SOAR will undertake primary research to identify the factors that lead to threats of terrorist attacks on places of worship and on at-risk religious communities.

10.2 Identify and assess
Training needs for potential victims of hate crimes will be identified and assessed. It will include a focus on increasing safety awareness, and on collaboration and cooperation between places of worship leaders and security offices with their wider communities and public authorities, including law enforcement agencies. The insights of those with lived experiences of the threat of or of actual terrorist attacks and hate crimes will be engaged to enhance regional level policy-dialogue with regional, EU and global organisations. These include the European Commission, the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations and EU member states, to further advance the protection of religious sites.

10.3 Develop a Security-By-Design [SBD] ethos
SBD is an integral component of the SOAR programme. It is a security ethos that incorporates security features into the design and fabric of the building. Experts in the fields of SBD, community safety and resilience-building will be providing support and training at a national, regional, and local level to faith institutions in the 7 pilot countries.

10.4 Delivery of training
Training will be delivered across the full spectrum of the project at EU, national and regional and local settings, in seven pilot EU member states.

How is SOAR funded?2021-06-29T10:13:12+00:00

SOAR is funded and supported by the European Commission and will be delivered by Enhancing Faith Institutions (EFI), Finn Church Aid (FCA), and Architects Council of Europe (ACE).

What benefits will SOAR deliver?2021-06-29T10:13:22+00:00

The SOAR project will create a knowledge base which will contribute to advancing the protection and safeguarding of places for worship, with a focus on communities of worship within the European Union (EU).

What is included in the delivery?2021-06-18T15:22:36+00:00

The knowledge deliverables will include training, guidance and resources, with the opportunity for virtual engagement and the evolution of virtual networks and communities of practice.

What is the key outcome delivered by SOAR?2021-06-29T10:13:33+00:00

The SOAR project will work to provide security guidance, training and support to faith communities across the 7 member states in Europe

Which countries does SOAR cover?2021-08-09T09:08:45+00:00

The seven pilot countries we will be working in are France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Hungary, and the Netherlands.

What is the scope of SOAR?2021-06-29T10:13:50+00:00

The project partnerships will develop extensive networks and be inclusive of representatives from all majority and minority faiths practicing within the EU.

What is the purpose of SOAR?2021-06-29T10:13:56+00:00

The project will increase the awareness of, and capacity to respond to physical and human security threats to places of worship.

What is Project SOAR?2021-06-29T10:14:04+00:00

The SOAR project stands for ‘Strengthening the security and resilience
Of At-Risk Religious sites and communities’ (SOAR).

What we will do & where

The insights of those with lived experiences of the threat of or of actual terrorist attacks and hate crimes will be engaged to enhance regional level policy-dialogue with regional, EU and global organisations. These include the European Commission, the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations and EU member states, to further advance the protection of religious sites and develop a ‘security by design’ (SBD) ethos. SBD is an integral component of the SOAR programme. It is a security ethos that incorporates security features into the design and fabric of the building. Experts in the fields of SBD, community safety and resilience-building will be providing support and training at a national, regional, and local level to faith institutions in the pilot countries:

  • France
  • Belgium
  • Germany
  • Denmark
  • Austria
  • Netherlands
  • Hungary

View SOAR Project timeline (2021 – 2023) highlighting the milestones and key activities of the project to take place across Europe.

What we will do & where

The insights of those with lived experiences of the threat of or of actual terrorist attacks and hate crimes will be engaged to enhance regional level policy-dialogue with regional, EU and global organisations. These include the European Commission, the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations and EU member states, to further advance the protection of religious sites and develop a ‘security by design’ (SBD) ethos. SBD is an integral component of the SOAR programme. It is a security ethos that incorporates security features into the design and fabric of the building. Experts in the fields of SBD, community safety and resilience-building will be providing support and training at a national, regional, and local level to faith institutions in the pilot countries:

  • France
  • Belgium
  • Germany
  • Denmark
  • Austria
  • Italy
  • Hungary

View SOAR Project timeline (2021 – 2023) highlighting the milestones and key activities of the project to take place across Europe.

Project Partner Organisations

Enhancing Faith Institutions
Enhancing Faith InstitutionsProject Lead
Enhancing Faith Institutions (EFI) is a European consultancy firm that provides expert guidance and training to faith communities across the continent with the aim of improving governance and management structures, with a key focus on protective security of places of worship.
Finn Church Aid
Finn Church AidProject partner
Finn Church Aid (FCA) is Finland’s largest international aid organisation with more than 70 years of experience, aiding people regardless of background. FCA is acting as legal representative and host of the Secretariat for the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers (the Network).
Architects Council of Europe
Architects Council of EuropeProject partner
The Architects’ Council of Europe is a non-profit organization founded in Treviso (Italy) on 11 May 1990 by the merger of the former Liaison Committee of the Architects of the United Europe (CLAEU) and the former Council of European Architects (CEA).


Project Partner Organisations

Enhancing Faith Institutions
Enhancing Faith InstitutionsProject Lead
Enhancing Faith Institutions (EFI) is a European consultancy firm that provides expert guidance and training to faith communities across the continent with the aim of improving governance and management structures, with a key focus on protective security of places of worship.
Finn Church Aid
Finn Church AidProject Partner
Finn Church Aid (FCA) is Finland’s largest international aid organisation with more than 70 years of experience. They specialise in the world’s most fragile contexts and work with the most vulnerable people, regardless of their religious beliefs, ethnic background or political convictions.
Architects' Council of Europe
Architects' Council of EuropeProject Partner
The Architects’ Council of Europe is a non-profit organisation founded in Treviso (Italy) on 11 May 1990 by the merger of the former Liaison Committee of the Architects of the United Europe (CLAEU) and the former Council of European Architects (CEA).

Security

Safety

Protection

Security

Safety

Protection

Join The SOAR Programme

The SOAR Project is made up of partners from across Europe, funded and supported by the European Union, working together to improve security and safety of Places of Worship through developing a network of best practice, national gatherings, training events and resources.

We want to develop and build the network of faith institutions across Europe, if you are a faith leader or are part of a faith institution in one of the pilot countries, join and be involved in the SOAR Programme today!

Join The SOAR Programme

The SOAR Project is made up of partners from across Europe, funded and supported by the European Union, working together to improve security and safety of Places of Worship through developing a network of best practice, national gatherings, training events and resources.

We want to develop and build the network of faith institutions across Europe, if you are a faith leader or are part of a faith institution in one of the pilot countries, join and be involved in the SOAR Programme today!

 
 
 
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Freedom of religion is an integral part of European values and attacks on places of worship are attacks on our societies and our values. Protecting the communities and places of worship in Europe is protecting our way of life.

European Commission

Freedom of religion is an integral part of European values and attacks on places of worship are attacks on our societies and our values. Protecting the communities and places of worship in Europe is protecting our way of life.

European Commission
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