Under human rights and anti-discrimination legislation, you have the right to hold your own religious beliefs or other philosophical beliefs similar to a religion. You also have the right to have no religion or belief (Equality and Human Rights Commission).

Under the Equality Act 2010, it is unlawful for someone to discriminate against someone because of their religion or belief (or because they have no religion or belief).

In the 2011-2012 Diversity Survey non-student staff, student staff and officers were most likely to report that they have no religion, faith or belief. The second largest group for all three categories was Christianity, whilst the third largest group was Atheists.

Religious diversity amongst non-student and student staff continues to be low as respondents who identified as Buddhist (0.7 per cent), Hindu (0.7 per cent), Jewish (0.7 per cent), Muslim (1 per cent) or Sikh (0.3 per cent) were either 1 per cent or under.

Religious diversity was also low amongst elected officers, although higher than the figures for staff. 2 per cent of respondents identified as Buddhist, 0.3 per cent as Hindu, 2 per cent as Jewish, 2 per cent as Muslim, and 0.3 per cent as Sikh. 

British Humanism Association

An organisation that works on behalf of non-religious people, who seek to live ethical lives, promoting a secular state and equal treatment of everyone regardless of religion.

Faith and belief in FE (fbfe)

fbfe is the National Council of Faiths and Beliefs in Further Education. They work with the learning and skills sector, faith and local communities and national and local faith/belief based groups to support the further education sector to engage positively with faith and belief.

Inform

Based at the London School of Economics Inform provides information on minority religions.

Interfaith and Belief Organisations Working on Campus

A briefing for students' unions on Interfaith and Belief Organisations Working on Campus who are known to NUS.

Multi-Faith Centre

The Centre promotes intra-faith dialogue and understanding and offers training to end religious discrimination.

Multi-faith Chaplaincy, A Guide for Colleges on Developing Multi-faith Student Support

This good practice guide has been developed on behalf of a working group established by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and the National Council of Faiths and Beliefs in Further Education (fbfe).

National Student Faith and Belief Organisations

NUS guide giving a brief overview of the work of some national student faith and belief organisations, who student societies are often affiliated with.

Religion or belief (Acas)

Acas provides information on meeting your responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 in relation to religion and belief.

Religion and Belief Equality 

The Equality and Human Rights Commission provides a range of guidance to tackle discrimination on the grounds of religion and belief. This includes guidance on: what is religious discrimination, what is a religion, what is a belief, when religious discrimination is lawful and guidance for employers and employees on religion and belief in the workplace.

Religion and belief in HE: researching the experiences of staff and students

This Equality Challenge Unit report looks at: participation and access, religious observance, discrimination and harassment and good relations.

Religious Literacy Leadership in Higher Education

This website hosts a broad range of resources and case studies to help Higher Education Institutions develop strategies to engage with faith.

Religious observance in higher education: facilities and services

Equality Challenge Unit briefing discussing the provision of facilities and services from a religion and belief perspective.

Religious observance in higher education: Institutional timetabling and work patterns

Equality Challenge Unit briefing exploring the work higher education institutions are doing to reconcile religious observance with institutional timetabling of assessment, teaching and contractual hours.

Safe Campus Communities 

A guidance resource website which promotes campus cohesion. It provides links to other organisations, case studies and research studies and reports examining the issues of radicalisation and extremism.

Supporting the practice and expression of religion and belief amongst staff and students

ECU guidance

2011 Census Data on Religion

An interactive map from the Office for National Statistics highlighting where religious communities are living.