Partnerships can improve delivery for faith organisations

A new report launched today highlights the benefits local people and communities stand to gain when faith groups collaborate with local councils of voluntary services.

Believing in Local Action was coordinated by the Church Urban Fund and uses seven case studies from both urban and rural projects as exemplars of productive working relationships.

The report was launched by Communities and Local Government minister, Hazel Blears on 21 July at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, alongside the release of the government’s own inter-faith strategy, ‘Face to Face and Side by Side: A framework for partnership in our multi-faith society’.

“The Government recognises and welcomes the contributions made by people motivated by their different faiths to the well-being of their communities and to wider society. Faith-based service providers are an important part of the fabric of local life,” said Hazel Blears, Communities and Local Government minister.

 “This report shows some great examples of partnership working between faith organisations and local infrastructure organisations across the country. The suggested actions put forward by the research’s author, Rosie Edwards, will help break down mistrust and stereotyping that can be held by both sides. Simple things can make big differences such as jointly producing audits of faith-based social action projects in the local area, sharing resources and agreeing common objectives,” said Billy Dann, Head of Grants and Partnership, Church Urban Fund.

The report can be downloaded from www.cuf.org from 21 July.
For further information regarding the Church Urban Fund and communications please contact Minu Chowdhury Westlake on 0207 8981420.
For details about the report please contact Billy Dann on 0207 8981091.