In March 2007, with the help of Bournemouth Borough Council and members of Bournemouth 2026, Rabbi Neil Amswych of Bournemouth Reform Synagogue brought together a group of over 80 faith representatives from Bournemouth, Poole and the surrounding area. The focus on the conference was the role of faith communities in relation to the environment. By the end of the conference, almost everyone present expressed interest in setting up IDEA: Interfaith Dorset Education and Action, an interfaith group primarily focussed on the environment. IDEA has two simple goals, both expressed in the name - to educate people about the challenges facing the environment, as well as to educate them in the responses by the different faith traditions, and to act on that learning by making positive changes in our lives.