The findings emerged from a recent series of consultation events organised by CUF Xchange, an initiative of the Church Urban Fund that aims to give a voice to faith-based community projects. The events brought together representatives from nearly 100 faith-based community projects from across England.

Andy Turner, Manager of CUF Xchange, says: “Faith-based social action projects are in touch with their communities, assessing local need, developing imaginative prevention work and reacting effectively to immediate issues. Professional, inclusive, indigenous to an area and committed for the long haul, these projects are an exceptional resource. Yet these distinctive and effective projects remain misunderstood and excluded by Local Strategic Partnerships, Local Authorities and statutory funding organisations.”

The summary of the CUF Xchange consultation, available this Friday (20^th April 2007), reports that faith-based social action projects continue to be excluded from local area agreements or regeneration strategies. Project representatives reported fear and anxiety within local authorities and statutory funders, frequently based on misunderstanding and stereotyping of faith-based projects.

Andy Turner says that both projects and the public sector are losing out: “Projects lose out on resources because of a commitment to faith values, while local authorities and statutory funders miss the opportunity to maximise resources by partnering with effective grassroots organisations working with hard-to-reach groups. The public sector needs to move on from warm words about local participation and inclusion and take action to challenge outdated perceptions of faith-based social action, identify effective practice and support real partnership.”

Three CUF Xchange network days took place in London, Manchester and Birmingham in March 2007. The summary report of the events will be available from the CUF Xchange website http://www.cufx.org.uk/ from 12 noon on Friday 20^th April 2007.
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EDITOR’S NOTES

For more information and to request an interview, contact:

Andy Turner, Manager of CUF Xchange, on 020 7898 1699 or email andy.turner@cufx.org.uk or;

Sara Stafford-Williams, Communications Manager, Church Urban Fund, on 020 7898 1668 or sara.stafford-williams@cuf.org.uk

CUF Xchange and Church Urban Fund

CUF Xchange is an initiative of the Church Urban Fund (funded by the Cabinet Office) that aims to provide a platform from which faith-based social action projects can make themselves heard. The Xchange is a predominantly web-based network that brings community projects together to share best practice and concerns and to enhance their voice.

The Church Urban Fund is a charity supporting churches and projects tackling poverty and injustice in England’s poorest communities. Through funding local initiatives, sharing knowledge and raising awareness of social injustice, we work to bring about significant and lasting change. Other key areas of work include partnering with other organisations to tackle the causes of poverty, advocating on behalf of faith communities at national level and the development of research and resources to support the work of local initiatives.

Over the twenty years in which the Church Urban Fund has been working, it has awarded over 4,800 grant totaling over £60 million to projects working in England's poorest communities. Find out more at http://www.cuf.org.uk/.