APPG on Faith and Society

News from the All-Party Parliamentary Group

Calderdale Council Signs Faith Covenant

We’re pleased to announce that Calderdale has become the latest area to sign up to the Faith Covenant. On 25th November 2015, Calderdale become the latest local authority to sign the Faith Covenant developed by the APPG on Faith and Society, of which FaithAction is the secretariat. Members of the local council – including Council Leader Cllr Tim Swift, Mayor of Calderdale Cllr Lisa Lambert, and Member for Halifax Holly Lynch MP – met with representatives of local faith groups to make a commitment to...

Theos Writes on The Problem of Proselytism

As a follow-up to the launch of the Theos report, The Problem of Proselytism, at an event hosted by the APPG and FaithAction at the House of Commons in October, Theos’ Director of Political Programme Peter Bickley has written a companion piece to the report, which is available via the FaithAction site. In our research with the Church Urban Fund, published last year, we found that roughly 10 million people in England were using church or church-based community services every year. Faith-based services are amongst...

Solihull Council Signs the Faith Covenant

We’re delighted that Solihull has become the latest area to sign up to the Faith Covenant! On 21st September 2015, Solihull become the latest local authority to sign the Faith Covenant developed by the APPG on Faith and Society, of which FaithAction is the secretariat. Members of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and local faith groups came together at an event celebrating the work of faith groups in the Solihull area, and made a commitment to work together in support of their community. The event was...

Faith, hope and charity: can we overcome the problem of proselytism?

Details 20th October, 3pm – 4pm Committee Room 15, House of Commons About The APPG on Faith and Society, in partnership with FaithAction, will be hosting Theos for a debate around proselytism and the third sector. With near 3.5 million people in the UK benefiting from the work of faith-based organisations each year, the size and variety of help is ever growing. Along with this there is a greater diversity of organisations providing the help, each with their own view on whether they should or...

Barnet Council Signs the Faith Covenant

We’re proud to announce that Barnet has become the latest area to sign up to the Faith Covenant.   On 9th September 2015, Barnet Council and representatives from local faith groups – including Mayor Mark Shooter, Deputy Council Leader Daniel Thomas, and Chair of the Barnet Multi Faith Forum Esmond Rosen – made a commitment to work together in delivering the services needed by the community. Speaking at the event, Mr. Rosen said, Barnet Council and the Barnet Multi Faith Forum are agreeing to respect...

The Covenant in Practice: Leeds

Leeds signed the Covenant on 5th March 2015. Here is a perspective from Leeds City Council on their involvement in the process. What has the Council been up to since adopting the Covenant? Leeds City Council is interested in training and equipping faith groups to engage more often and more effectively with the local authority. It is also keen to engage more faith groups in involving their communities in sport and physical activity. Public health officials in the city are developing an effective framework for...

Northamptonshire Council Signs the Faith Covenant

We’re pleased to announce that Northamptonshire has become the third local authority to sign up to the Faith Covenant. On Wednesday 17th June, Northamptonshire Council and representatives from local faith groups made a commitment to work together in delivering the services needed by the community.

Annual General Meeting Held in Westminster

Annual General Meeting Held in Westminster

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Faith and Society held its Annual General Meeting today, which focused on the launch of the Covenant last year. The Covenant sets out clear principles by which faith groups and commissioners can work together, and members were keen to hear about how it has already been adopted by Birmingham and Leeds, along with Northamptonshire signing tomorrow, and several other areas in the planning stages. The roll-out of the Covenant and what it will mean for local areas in practice will...

Leeds City Council Signs the Faith Covenant

We’re delighted that Leeds today became the second local authority to adopt the Faith Covenant. This means that Council and faith group representatives have committed to work together to deliver services that meet the city’s needs. Chair of Leeds Faith Forum, Canon Charles Dobbin said at the launch today, […] the beauty of the Covenant is allowing Leeds City Council to access an existing network of relationships of trust. Councillor Peter Gruen, leader of Leeds City Council, also said today, […] health inequalities in Leeds...

Leeds City Council to Sign Faith Covenant

Leeds City Council to Sign Faith Covenant

On Thursday 5th March, Leeds City Council will become the latest local authority to sign the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Faith and Society’s Faith Covenant. The Faith Covenant has been developed by the APPG on Faith and Society as a tool to facilitate partnership working between local authorities and faith groups. It is a joint commitment between faith communities and local authorities to a set of principles for working together, which aims to build trust and promote open, practical engagement on all levels. Read More...