Forward Thinking

Forward Thinking is a charitable organisation. It has three main aims and two main programs.

Aims

1. To promote in the UK greater understanding and confidence between the diverse grassroots Muslim communities and the wider society including the Media and the British establishment.
2. To promote a more inclusive peace process in the Middle East.
3. To facilitate a global dialogue between the religious and secular worlds.

Programs

1. The UK Programme
2. The Middle East Initiative

The UK Programme

The UK Programme aims to help Muslim communities engage with the "Establishment" and the wider society without losing "faith identity". Its work involves providing capacity building support to Muslim charitable organisations at both a local and national level.

The Middle East Initiative

The Middle East aim is increase the inclusivity of the peace process through dialogue with hardline Israeli and Palestinian stakeholders who previously had been "unengaged".

Staff

Its Co-Founder and Director is Oliver McTernan. McTernan was a Visiting Fellow of the Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs at Harvard University 2000 -2003 and is a Senior Associate Fellow of the UK Defence Academy. He was responsible for initiating the first post-conflict talks between NATO and the former Yugoslav government. Its UK Programme Director is Huda Jawad.

Funding

It is funded by a variety of sources including ; Westminster Foundation for Democracy; Rayne Foundation; Rayne Trust; City Parochial Foundation; Esmée Fairbairn Foundation; The Bedford Charity, Michael and Giancarla Alen-Buckley; Mr and Mrs Jean Fau; Pierre Keller; Sir Harry Solomon, Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs..