Skills sessions

For the past three summers, CIP has supported a student-led symposium. Normally organised by postgraduates, this offers an opportunity for students of all levels to share nuggets from their research-driven learning. Through the Research Forum, we also work with postgraduates to support relevant activities from panel discussions to conferences.

Join this session to think together about the essentials of academic event design, with particular consideration of how operating in faith and faith-related spaces affects planning and delivery. 

This session is facilitated by CIP Programme Manager Dr Iona Hine and will run in-person at the Faculty of Divinity.

Explore the role of faith and community in times of crisis with Abubaker Adam from the VCS Emergencies Partnership. 

With a focus on strategy, this workshop will explore what resilience means in the context of faith, communities, and crisis; the practical role faith leaders play in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery; and how faith perspectives and community relationships can strengthen local emergency planning. The session will blend lived experience of crisis with foresight analysis to anticipate what may be round the corner, reflecting on what a faith-based lens brings to strategy and resilience building. Ideal for students interested in community leadership, policy, and crisis management.

Workshop lead Abubaker Adam is VCS EP Partnership Lead, with a focus on communities of identity, characteristic, faith or belief. 

The VCS Emergencies Partnership was created in 2018, following the experience of the Grenfell Tower fire, 2017 terror attacks, and rural flooding across the country. It was recognised that improved coordination between voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations and public sector partners was needed to better understand and support communities during emergency responses. The VCS EP is hosted by the British Red Cross, and co-chaired by the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) and the British Red Cross.

Apply your academic insights to real-world contexts that foster understanding and collaboration between diverse communities. 

Through practical exercises in active listening, you’ll gain tools to become a bridge-builder—someone who can navigate difficult conversations and create spaces for meaningful connection. This is an opportunity to enhance your professional skills while living out the values of empathy and respect. Perfect for those considering careers in community engagement, education, or interfaith work.

The Council of Christians and Jews is the leading nationwide forum for Christian-Jewish engagement, promoting better mutual understanding. Founded in 1942, at the height of the Second World War and the Holocaust, CCJ aims for Jews and Christians to meet, to understand each other better and to create meaningful engagement between the communities. 

Beth Williams is CCJ’s Campus Leadership Manager, having previously studied a mix of sociology, theology, and biblical studies.

This workshop is online. Joining information will be circulated to those who register.

Explore the intersection of theology, cosmology, and environmental action with Martin Palmer, founder of FaithInvest and a Cambridge Divinity alumnus. 

Drawing on decades of experience in global conservation, Martin will guide you in connecting your studies in religion and theology to urgent ecological challenges. This session will consider the assets of the faiths and their roles as shareholders in the planet.

Gain insights into how spiritual perspectives can drive transformative action—equipping you for careers in advocacy, policy, or interfaith collaboration.

This workshop will run online. Joining information will be circulated to those who register.

Martin Palmer is the Founding President of FaithInvest and Chair of the WWF Beliefs and Values Programme. Previously, he was Secretary General of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), founded with HRH Prince Philip in 1995 to help faiths develop environmental and conservation projects based on their own beliefs and practices. He is the author and editor of more than 20 books on religious and environmental topics, with particular expertise on Daoism. He has translated many ancient Chinese texts, is a regular contributor to the BBC, and a lay preacher in the Church of England. Martin has been working with the faiths on their investment programmes since 2001.