Tread Lightly 2022 – Footsteps

The Event

This year’s annual Footsteps’ Tread Lightly conference will be on the energy price crisis, how it is affecting faith community members and action being taken.  After two years of the Covid pandemic we are returning to the format of the previous five conferences with, in addition to speakers, stalls, discussions and opportunities for speaking with each other. 

Footsteps’ Energy Champion project will also be launched at the conference with opportunities to register as an energy champion. This is a new faith community-based response to the energy crisis that helps people reduce energy use, pay fuel bills and keep warm and healthy.

We are delighted to confirm that our venue for 2022 will be the banqueting hall at Al-Hijrah Masjid (mosque) in Small Heath. Many thanks to the masjid for hosting us.

If you can, bring some cake to share – tea and soft drinks will be provided. Wear warm socks (you will be asked to remove shoes as the space is also used for prayers.)

Programme

• 1.30 Stall holder fair
• 2.00 Conference
• —Nassar Mahmood (Al-Hijrah masjid chair and Unity FM CEO) The masjid’s work and local community involvement;
• —Cllr Majid Mahmood (Cabinet Member for Environment) Birmingham City Council Route to Zero and just transition;
• —Kamran Shezad (BAHU Trust) & Andrew Cheffings (Footsteps steering group) The energy crisis and faith responses;
• —Shaheen K Ahmed (community artist) Creative, community-based solutions to the energy crisis;
• —Speaker panel: Local community activities and initiatives, including: community campaigning, Friends of the Earth, Scouting, deep retrofit & ecobirmingham;
• —Launching the Energy Champions project;
• —Table discussions and networking.
• 4.30 Stall holder fair
• 5:00 Finish

(Details of speakers correct at time of publishing, but subject to change.)

Sustainable travel to the masjid

The banqueting hall is behind the masjid and the entrance is in St Benedicts Rd.

The number 17 bus runs from Moor St and stops just outside the masjid on Hob Moor Rd (St Benedict’s Rd stop).

The masjid is a half-hour cycle from the city centre along the Grand Union canal, and then up the ‘Kingfisher route’ along the River Cole, turning off at Hob Moor Rd.

If you need to come by car (e.g. for mobility needs), there is ample car parking through the steel gates.

Photo: recruiting some of our first potential energy champions at Highgate Park.