#FaithinPartnership Week
Between the 5th and 9th September, we’re working with the APPG for Faith and Society to celebrate and champion cross-sector partnerships between faith communities and statutory organisations.
Joint working across society around things like food distribution, vaccination campaigns, local co-ordination and communications were a shining light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ll be making the case that this kind of partnership is not just for times of “crisis”, but ought to form an integral part of business as usual for local and national government, and that any attempts to tackle societal inequality, or “level up” our society, will falter without it.
The Faith Covenant: What, Why, How
The Faith Covenant, developed by the APPG for Faith and Society, is designed to facilitate partnership and understanding between faith communities and local authorities. It’s a set of principles for joint working to which both parties can mutually agree.
This document is a primer for anyone (whether in a local authority or a faith organisation) interested in the Faith Covenant. It contains case studies, top tips, core principles, and first steps on the journey to signing.
24 local authorities have now signed up to the Covenant, and we’ve seen some excellent examples of strategic projects and initiatives sitting underneath these agreements – especially during the pandemic. Could the next Covenant signatory area be yours?
Keeping the Faith 2.0
The research, led by Professor Chris Baker of Goldsmiths, University of London, builds on 2020’s Keeping the Faith, looking at the extent to which COVID-19 has changed the nature of partnership working between faith groups and local authorities, and what this means for post-pandemic Britain.
Keeping the Faith 2.0 was launched in Westminster on Wednesday 7th September, with an exciting line-up of speakers including Paul Scully MP, Minister of State for Local Government, Faith and Communities, and a panel discussion chaired by Sir Stephen Timms MP.
Available for download from 2pm Wednesday
First In, Last Out
This report looks specifically at how faith groups supported and partnered with NHS services during the pandemic, and what this means for the future of health and care partnerships.
Last year, we were commissioned by NHS England to research and report on the role played by faith-based organisations during the pandemic, and how this might be built upon as Integrated Care Systems develop strategies for engagement.
Our surveys, roundtables, and interviews revealed a huge amount of encouraging partnership work has happened these past two years; we believe this activity can form the foundation for a new way of operating for local health and care systems, where faith groups are valued and trusted and are a strategic part of planning for integrated care.
Available for download from 2pm Friday
