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Haile Selassie I Peace Foundation Charity was established in 2000 as a multi-cultural peace foundation based on the core beliefs and principles of Rastafarian. The Peace Officers are well known and respected members of the community in Lozells and the wider area but their work is under threat due to lack of funding for their work.

The Foundation is dedicated to helping people in the community: their work includes gardening, DIY and maintenance, earning them both local and national awards for their services to the community. They also fundraise for other people and communities, aiming to provide aid for people experiencing financial or social difficulties. A notable example was when the Foundation helped survivors of Hurricane Dean after it wreaked havoc on the Jamaican coast last year.

The peace officers also patrol alongside local beat police and played a major role in breaking down tensions and encouraging cohesion in the area.

Despite all the vital grassroots work being carried out in the heart of Lozells, the Foundation is experiencing a cash crisis and is struggling to find funding to continue their ground breaking work. Itabarica Napthali, President of the Foundation, explained:
“We have just lost a £10,000 gardening contract with the Green Leaf Gardening Project, which has been a major blow… The last grant funding we had was about two years ago from the Lottery, and now we are struggling to pay our rent.”

The end of the Peace Patrols would be a huge loss to Lozells and the Handsworth area, where they have gained respect on the streets and have done much to promote cohesion between different faiths. If you would like further information about the Foundation or would like to offer support then you can contact them on 0121 523 8161  or visit them at their Headquarters at 28 Hamstead Road, Handsworth B19 1DB or email haile.selassie@btinternet.com