Welcome Sir Stephen Timms MP welcomed those present, thanking them for attending and offering the apologies of those listed above. Election of officers Officers were elected as follows: Chair: Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP Vice Chair: Sir Gary Streeter MP Vice Chair: Jon Cruddas MP Vice Chair: David Linden MP Vice Chair: Lord Singh of Wimbledon Vice Chair: Baroness Neuberger Vice Chair: Baroness Uddin Vice Chair: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP Vice Chair: Rt Rev Dame Sarah Mullally Secretary: Rt Hon David Lammy MP Aims...

Sir Stephen Timms MP Welcomed everybody to the session Expressed his excitement over the current attention around the Covenant, with over 20 areas at different stages of signing up to a Covenant, including Coventry who will be the latest local authority to sign in less than a week Also excited that existing areas are also looking to recommit to the Covenant through re-signing events, two of whom we will hear from today. Area Spotlight Paul Woodman (Southampton) Recently re-signed the Covenant, which Southampton first signed...

Welcome and housekeeping Propa Rezwana Anwar, Vice President, Barnet Multi Faith Forum Propa thanked FaithAction, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), Daniel Singleton and Jenny Hadgraft. She introduced herself as a children’s TV host and student at King’s College London who cares about Interfaith. Propa is also a representative of the Faith and Belief Youth Forum and Barnet Multifaith forum. The new report highlights the enduring value of cross sector working and recommendations for partnership working. Introduction Chair of the APPG: Sir Stephen Timms MP Sir...

Introduction Daniel Singleton, National Executive Director, FaithAction Thanked people for joining the session. Explained that Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP gave his apologies as he was unable to chair the session due to government business. Recapped that 24 local authorities have signed the Faith Covenant so far – with more areas moving towards signing the Covenant. Alisdair Gordon, Office of Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP – on behalf of Sir Stephen Timms MP At recent AGM of the APPG, faith hate was raised...

Welcome Stephen Timms welcomed those present, thanking them for attending and reminded attendees of the aims of the APPG on Faith & Society. Aims of the APPG The aims of the group were confirmed as: To promote understanding of faith-based organisations engaged in social action in the UK, and recognition of their value; To highlight the social, civic and spiritual capital that faith-based organisations contribute to communities throughout the UK, and to identify and promote best practice among organisations; To consider regulatory and legislative arrangements...

Introduction Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, Chair of APPG Faith & Society Thanked people for joining the session The pandemic has paved the way for closer collaborations between faith groups and local authorities The Keeping the Faith Report showed how important links were made, and he is looking forward to the follow up report. Keeping the Faith Follow Up Report Professor Chris Baker, Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies, Goldsmiths University Keeping the Faith Recap: The report documented partnerships between local authorities and faith groups during...

Welcome ST welcomed those present, thanking them for attending and offering the apologies of those listed above. Election of officers Officers were elected as follows: Chair: Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP Vice Chair: Sir Gary Streeter MP Vice Chair: Fiona Bruce MP Vice Chair: Jon Cruddas MP Vice Chair: David Linden MP Vice Chair: Lord Singh of Wimbledon Vice Chair: Baroness Neuberger Vice Chair: Baroness Uddin Secretary: Rt Hon David Lammy MP Treasurer: Steve Double MP Aims of the APPG The aims of the group...

Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, Chair of APPG Faith & Society Thanked people for joining the meeting. Highlighted that the meeting is an ideal space to show how the covenant is working in practice and hear exchanges about faith and local councils. This is the first meeting since the launch of the Keeping the Faith report which demonstrated that remarkable things happened during the pandemic – there was a big increase in number and depth of relationships between faith groups and councils. A survey commissioned...