The Listening Service is available to DU students and staff throughout the vacation period. If you’d like to meet online or in-person with a listener, email [email protected] to arrange an appointment @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Delighted to say words of thanks on behalf of @durham.ac.uk to our staff and students for this fantastic effort in donating Xmas gifts to 3 local charities working with vulnerable people in local neighbourhoods and communities. Well done @dulib.bsky.social ! @revdgavinwort.bsky.social

This evening, Dr Robert Bluck (Buddhist Chaplain) gave the @durhamuniversity.bsky.social Chaplaincy Christmas Lecture on ‘Buddhism & Christianity: Rivals or Allies?’ It led to numerous thoughtful questions from those present. Picture: Dr Bluck & I - allies not rivals! @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Fascinating visit to Faith Museum at Auckland Castle today w/ County Durham Faiths Network. Good for our group to provide feedback & offers of objects to better represent the diversity of faiths in Britain. Pictured: Prehistoric marked rock, C4th menorah & Stone Cross head @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

I was delighted to receive today from Jess Foster (President) a badge marking honorary life membership of the Hild Bede Student Representative Council (SRC). Go Hild Bede! @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

‘Religion is global and ubiquitous. So it’s something universities should highlight - not avoid.’ I welcome this research on religions and worldviews on campus. Thank you Kirstine Aune, @mathewjguest.bsky.social & Matthew Mayhew. @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

A delightful visit to the Sikh Gurdwara in Darlington this afternoon with my sons. Thanks to Kulvanth and her team for the wonderful hospitality @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Always a pleasure to return to Durham-this time for a reunion with dear friends from Hatfield College @durhamuniversity.bsky.social The November weather may be chilly but the reception and companionship are very warm!

Why not start next week off with a discussion about the future critically engaged directions for #TouretteSyndrome #research? The event features the wonderful Rena Zito, Danni Phoenix-Kane, Dan Whittaker and Diana Beljaars (and your's truly!) @durhamimh.bsky.social www.dur.ac.uk/research/ins...

We were invited to discuss a no. of qns to help develop empathy & understanding while enjoying the lovely food. We didn’t debate or argue but sought to gain a deeper appreciation of one another across the divides. It was a really positive event & a hopeful step forward towards a better future (2/2)

Yesterday, our Student Interfaith Leaders at Durham University invited students with direct connections to the Middle East - Jews, Muslims, Israelis, Palestinians, Arabs and others - to come together for an Empathy Dinner (1/2) @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Yesterday, @durham.ac.uk’s Interfaith Week 2025 came to a close w/ Interfaith Friday Night Dinner hosted by Jewish Society & Just Love. Shabbat candles were lit, wine & bread blessed, & hearty Kosher meal shared. We were also challenged by biblical Dingbats #InterfaithWeek @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Join us for our Chaplaincy Christmas Lecture on Tues. 2 December. The lecture by Dr Robert Bluck (Buddhist Chaplain) is entitled ‘Buddhism & Christianity: Rivals or Allies?’ To register, please email [email protected] @durhamuniversity.bsky.social @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Excellent student-led panel discussion for #InterfaithWeek on ‘Faith on Campus: A conversation about religion & student life’ w/ Hindu, Jewish, Christian & Muslim contributors and a superb chair. It’s the apogee of my work as a chaplain. What a blessing! @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Fun evening at Durham Interfaith Student Network’s Games Night with the Hindu Society & our Student Interfaith Leaders. Participated in speedfaithing & competed in an interfaith quiz w/ prizes! #InterfaithWeek @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Today, on this #RemembranceDay, chaplains have been leading Acts of Remembrance across @durhamuniversity.bsky.social. I was honoured to do so at the Staff Chamber Choir’s excellent Remembrance performance (pictured) @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

An inspiring, challenging & moving evening of interfaith sharing w/ the County Durham Faiths Network’s #InterfaithWeek event as Baha’i, Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim & Sikh speakers spoke on ‘what it’s like to be a person of my faith/worldview in Britain today’ @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

How lovely! Humbled to be asked and very much looking forward to playing my part in this important endeavour!

Greetings on Parkash Diwas Guru Nanak Dev Ji to Sikh students, staff and friends celebrating the birth of Guru Nanak! @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

The chaplains were delighted to contribute to a panel discussion on world peace in Business School’s Finance Department’s Picture: reps of Finance Dept’s EDI team, Arthur (UNICEF) & chaplains Mahshid, Ibrahim & Gavin. Jed (Quaker) left before the photo! @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

We’re looking for new trustees for this fantastic charity which I serve as Vice-Chair. If you’re interested, I’d be delighted to have a chat St Margaret’s Centre is an activity and training hub for adults in County Durham who need support with their mental wellbeing @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Interfaith Week 2025 @durham.ac.uk! All DU students are welcome to join us for our #InterfaithWeek events Register via @durham_interfaith on Instagram or simply pop along. NB You’ll need to register for the Friday Night Dinner ASAP for which there’s a £3 charge @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Excellent panel discussion this evening on religion & identity in Judaism & Islam with Prof. Mathew Guest, Prof. Ilan Baron & Dr Guillermo Martin Saiz organised by our talented Student Interfaith Leaders, Fersa & Tahlia. Thanks to all who came @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Shubh Diwali to Hindu students, staff and friends celebrating Diwali! May you be filled with light, joy and peace at this special time #Diwali @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Honoured to join panel on absence/presence of Black History in Durham. Picture (l to r): Tom Trevelyan (descendant of slave trading family), Nicola Frith (Edinburgh Uni), Nicole Phillip (Head of Grenada’s Reparation Commission), Kulwinder Maude & Christopher Jones (DU) @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

ME and ME-like symptoms affect approximately 1.35 million people in the UK. Find out how @kacheston.bsky.social, from our Department of Sociology and @durhamimh.bsky.social, is collaborating with @actionforme.bsky.social to understand the impact of this condition: www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...

Read the full research paper 👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Congratulations to the Revd Dr Kate Eaton-Wells who was licensed yesterday as the new Chaplain of St Chad’s College! We’re delighted to welcome Kate to the Chaplaincy Network Picture: Kate with Philip Plyming (Dean of Durham) & me @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

It was great catching up with the faith societies at today’s Freshers’ Fair, including the wonderful Islamic Society! Looking forward to working with the fantastic, talented students serving in the various Execs @durham-university.bsky.social @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

The chaplains are having great fun meeting new students at today’s Freshers’ Fair @durhamuniversity.bsky.social @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

G’mar Chatima Tovah to Jewish students, staff and friends observing Yom Kippur. Otherwise known as the Day of Atonement, this annual commemoration begins at sunset today @durham-university.bsky.social @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

The chaplains are looking forward to welcoming new international students today @durham-university.bsky.social @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

"The simplest recommendation that flows from my arguments in this article is that we need to enhance the degree of specificity and precision when making theoretical claims." By @syeducation.bsky.social

Very proud of the @durham-university.bsky.social team ! www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...

New and returning students, and colleagues too: we provide an independent and non-judgemental Listening Service open to all DU students and staff To make an appointment with one of our listeners, please email [email protected] @durham-university.bsky.social @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Coming soon! A series of posts introducing Durham University’s chaplains. NB Only two of them are pictured here! @durham-university.bsky.social @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Honour to be awarded honorary life membership of Student Rep. Council of Hild Bede College at final Formal of last academic year. Had a fantastic time supporting College during year between chaplains. The award is particularly special as it was made by student body @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Welcome to all new students joining Durham University in late September @durham-university.bsky.social @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Super high-level tour of the magnificent @durhamcathedral.bsky.social with those attending the @durhamdiocese.bsky.social clergy conference @durham-university.bsky.social @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

I always enjoy receiving my copy of Hippocampus from Trevelyan College. It’s great to read about the fantastic work happening in our colleges @durham-university.bsky.social @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

We will host the @erc.europa.eu scientific council meeting this June. On the lead up, we're showcasing our ERC-funded projects including Prof. Dan Lawrence's research on the relationship between climate change & societies. Read more 👉 brnw.ch/21wTnsq @dl-arch.bsky.social @britishacademy.bsky.social

Join us for the Durham Churches Together AGM this Thursday at 7.00pm in Waddington Street United Reformed Church. I’m pleased to be the guest speaker. I’ve been invited to talk about ‘University chaplaincy in a multifaith context’. All welcome @durhamuniversity.bsky.social @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Enjoyed visiting Newcastle’s Orthodox Synagogue & the magnificent new Central Mosque today with our new Student Interfaith Leaders. I’m grateful to my friends Imam Abdul Basit (pictured) & Rabbi Aaron Lipsey (not pictured) for hosting us @durhamuniversity.bsky.social @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

It was great to attend the launch yesterday in the Houses of Parliament of an important report on the future of Interfaith Week You can read the report here: faithbeliefforum.org/report/repor... @durhamuniversity.bsky.social @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Wishing a very Happy Easter to all who are celebrating! 💜🐣 #DULib #Easter

Alleluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia! Happy Easter to students, staff & friends celebrating the great festival of the resurrection of Christ! Picture: ‘The Women at the Tomb’ by the Chinese Christian artist He Qi @durhamuniversity.bsky.social @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

It has been a wonderful day in #Durham as we have welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla to @durhamcathedral.bsky.social for the Royal Maundy Service. The sun was out, the streets were buzzing, and the King greeted many well-wishers. Thank you to everyone involved. tinyurl.com/3va6hyrz

Royal Maundy Service in Durham Cathedral this morning. Pictured w/ ecumenical & interfaith guests, including Fr Justin Mihoc (Orthodox Chaplain), Brenda Dinsdale & Linda Scott (Newcastle Reform Synagogue) & Imam Raza Rahman (Newcastle Uni) @durhamuniversity.bsky.social @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Chag Pesach Sameach! The chaplains send warm wishes to students, colleagues & friends beginning the celebration of Pesach (Passover) tomorrow evening. This festival commemorates the Jewish people’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt #Pesach @durhamuniversity.bsky.social @shaidmahmood.bsky.social