Holistic Spiritual Alliance - History

The Swansea Story

The Holistic Spiritual Alliance arose in the first place in Swansea out of two entwining projects in 2005. The first project was the Listing of the different holistic and spiritual groups in and around Swansea called the Spiritual Unity Network. This centred around a group of people associated with The Retreat Holistic Centre & Café in Humphrey Street. This Listing raised awareness of the many different individuals and organisations taking a holistic approach and helped create a sense of shared spiritual community.

The second was the beginning of Swansea Faiths Forum (an Inter Faith organisation now called Interfaith Swansea) following the harassment suffered by some members of the Muslim community after the July Terrorist bombings in London. This interfaith group organised public events to show solidarity amongst people of faith. The group was made up of people from the major world faiths and from the holistic spiritual community.

The Listings project developed into The Minority Faiths Alliance, which was formally constituted on 14 October 2006 by a small group of people with a pioneering vision. In May 2007, the Alliance received a Home Office Grant for capacity building and creating a Model for Wales and the rest of the UK to use to engage minority faiths and spiritualities in faith and community work.

A small national advisory group was also set up in 2007 to support the work of Swansea Minority Faiths Alliance and a formal partnership was established with the Foundation for Holistic Spirituality, which had been involved in an advisory capacity from the beginning of the project. The advisory group included the Wrekin Trust, the Foundation for Holistic Spirituality, Inter-Faith Council for Wales, Interfaith Swansea and the Swansea Minority Faiths Alliance.

The Alliance was a Member of Interfaith Swansea which was a significant position because a holistic approach to spirituality was then represented alongside the major faith traditions. From the ground breaking work of this Alliance, emerged the model for a Holistic Spiritual Alliance, which can be used by other regions of the UK.

Following consultation with Interfaith Swansea, the Inter-Faith Council for Wales has recently redrafted its Constitution and membership representation policies to include a seat for unrepresented minority faiths and spiritualities in Wales based on the Swansea model. It is very much hoped that this work done by Swansea can inspire others across the UK.