A policy roundtable discussion was held on Thursday 14 July in Portcullis House, focusing on faith-based organisations’ responses to issues of finance, poverty and austerity. The event marked the publication of the report Public Faith and Finance: Faith responses to the financial crisis, which was presented by authors Dr Therese O’Toole and Dr Katya Braginskaia of the University of Bristol. Omar Shaikh of the Islamic Finance Council UK spoke about the Council’s work, and its joint project with the Church of Scotland to develop ethical...
by faithaction · Published July 20, 2016
· Last modified September 22, 2017
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Faith and Society was formed to support and promote the work of faith organisations in the United Kingdom. Faith groups are often the very glue of society; they provide a place for people to come together, they seek out solutions, and they provide hope. We want to affirm these values of community and hope for the United Kingdom today.
by faithaction · Published May 10, 2016
· Last modified August 3, 2016
US agencies have published a ruling that will provide new religious liberty protections for beneficiaries of federally funded social service programmes, while also adding new protections for the ability of religious providers to compete for government funds on the same basis as any other private organisation. This ruling provides a very interesting comparison with the Faith Covenant here in the UK. Read more We are grateful to Dr Harriet Crabtree, Executive Director of the Inter Faith Network for the UK, for bringing this to our...
by faithaction · Published May 5, 2016
· Last modified August 3, 2016
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Faith and Society, chaired by the Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, has pressed today for national support and uptake of the Faith Covenant. The Covenant, developed after hearing evidence from faith groups across the country, was the idea of David Lammy MP, who was keen to develop a set of principles that faith groups and local authorities could adopt to promote joint working. Since its development in 2013, six local authorities have recognised the significance and potential of the...
by faithaction · Published May 5, 2016
· Last modified June 2, 2016
On Thursday 5th May, there was a general debate in the House of Commons Chamber amongst MPs on ‘the contribution of faith organisations to the voluntary sector in communities’. The debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee after the issue was raised in a meeting by Fiona Bruce MP and Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, both members of the APPG on Faith and Society. A video of Fiona Bruce MP and Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP’s representation to the Committee is available below, courtesy...
by faithaction · Published March 1, 2016
· Last modified June 2, 2016
Updated 5th May 2016: Minutes from these events have now been made available. The Counter-Extremism Strategy What are the responses and concerns of faith groups to the Counter-Extremism strategy – and should people of faith be more concerned? Speakers: Liam Byrne MP, Fiona Bruce MP, educational consultant David Brown and others tbc Date: Tuesday 22 March Time: 3:00pm – 4:30pm Location: Jubilee Room, House of Commons (entrance via Cromwell Gate) Minutes of this meeting are available Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life ...
by faithaction · Published November 30, 2015
· Last modified June 2, 2016
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...
by faithaction · Published November 10, 2015
· Last modified August 3, 2016
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...
by faithaction · Published September 24, 2015
· Last modified June 2, 2016
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...
by faithaction · Published September 22, 2015
· Last modified August 3, 2016
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...
