World Interfaith Harmony Week
- Written byStudent Communications
- Published date 01 February 2026
World Interfaith Harmony Week takes place every year in the first week of February, starting on Sunday 1 February this year. The initiative was first proposed at the UN General Assembly in 2010 and it aims to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith.
In our most recent EDI report, 34% of staff and 29% of students identified with a religion or faith. We’re proud of the diversity of faith and belief systems at UAL, both within our staff and student communities, and we hope this week serves as a timely reminder to learn about other faiths, build bridges and find common ground.
Chaplaincy Service
Our Chaplaincy Service offers pastoral and spiritual care to students and staff. People of all faiths, spiritual and religious beliefs, including those who are atheist or agnostic or who do not align themselves with any philosophy, are welcome to reach out to the service to discuss what’s on their mind and receive support.
Reverends William Whitcombe and Mark Dean are the Chaplains at UAL, chaplains are available to support our community by talking and listening. As well as this, our Chaplaincy Service has Faith Advisors that students and staff seeking information and advice in relation to specific faiths can speak to. Whilst based outside of UAL, they are available for you to reach out to.
We caught up with Reverend William Whitcombe to learn more about the Chaplaincy Service.
Hi William. Can you briefly introduce your role at UAL?
I’m Lead Chaplain at University of the Arts London, chaplaincy is part of the Counselling, Health Advice and Chaplaincy team (CHAC). Together with my colleague Mark and our faith advisors, we offer pastoral and spiritual support to students and staff, creating spaces for conversation, reflection, and care within the context of creative life at UAL. I work alongside others in the wider student support network, with a particular focus on listening and accompaniment.
What is the Chaplaincy Service and who is it for?
The Chaplaincy Service is a free, confidential support service available to all UAL students and staff. It’s open to people of any faith, multiple faiths, or no faith at all. At its heart, chaplaincy is about offering time, presence, and a non-judgemental space to talk - because life has its ups and downs and we often find ourselves trying to manage loss and bereavement, change and other personal challenges. Sometimes it helps to sit with a chaplain and explore questions of meaning, or to pause in a busy academic life with one of our free meditation sessions.
A common misconception is that chaplaincy is only for religious people, or that you need to belong to a particular faith to access it. In reality, many people who use the service don’t identify as religious at all. Another misunderstanding is that chaplains are there to persuade or preach. Our role is really about listening, supporting, and respecting each person’s own beliefs and experiences.
What is your favourite or most meaningful aspect of your role?
The most meaningful part of the role for me is being trusted with people’s stories. Creative study can be intense and deeply personal, and it’s a privilege to sit with someone as they navigate uncertainty, loss, joy, or transition. Seeing students reconnect with themselves, their creativity, or their sense of belonging enriches my own inner life.
What does World Interfaith Week mean to you personally?
World Interfaith Week is a reminder of the richness that comes from difference. For me, it’s about curiosity, respectful dialogue, and discovering how people from different backgrounds bring meaning in their lives. It’s also a celebration of the values shared around compassion, justice, care for one another, which to my mind matters more than the labels we use.