The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Faith and Society is charting the changing relationships between local authorities and faith groups in responding to the impacts of coronavirus through a research project being undertaken by the Faiths & Civil Society Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London.
During the coronavirus pandemic, local authorities seem to have turned to – and indeed relied on – churches and faith groups in new ways. In some cases this builds upon pre-existing relationships. In others it perhaps reflects a new openness to collaboration, in contrast to previous hesitance to work with faith groups.
Photograph: Lakmini Shah
Chair of the All-Party Group for Faith and Society, Stephen Timms MP said: “Since 2012, the APPG has been encouraging collaboration between local councils and faith groups, and working to overcome the mistrust which can sometimes mark their relationships. And now, with the crisis engulfing everyone, it finally seems to be happening. Faith groups have a key role at the heart of communities up and down the country, and the pandemic seems to be highlighting just how significant a contribution they make to our society.
“Many Councils have turned to churches, and to other faith groups, to help, particularly to provide food to people who would otherwise go without. The anecdotal evidence suggests these partnerships have suddenly become very widespread and are playing a crucial role in getting vital help to families. This report will shine a light on them.”
Professor Chris Baker, Director of the Faith and Civil Society Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London said: “It is likely that our society will look very different in the future and faith groups will have a critical role which is why this piece of research is so important.
“We hope to provide a set of recommendations that will inform the development of new collaborations – whilst enhancing the effectiveness of existing ones – reflecting the importance of these relationships in the months and years to come.”
The study will be led by Professors Adam Dinham and Chris Baker of Goldsmiths, University of London. Through a large scale survey of local authority leaders, together with interviews with local authority and faith group representatives, the research will explore the extent and nature of new relationships between local authorities and faith groups. In addition, it will investigate how and why these relationships have come about, how they have worked in practice, and what their implications might be for local authorities, communities, and faith groups themselves.
The final report will be published in October and will recommend ways in which local authorities and faith based organisations can continue to work together effectively in the future.
The research is being made possible by funding from the Sir Halley Stewart Trust, and the project is being supported by the Trussell Trust and the Good Faith Partnership.
Note to editors:
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Faith and Society was launched in 2012 with FaithAction acting as the Secretariat. The APPG’s aims are to highlight the contribution to society by faith-based organisations, to identify best practice, and to promote understanding of the groups providing innovative solutions around the country.
The Trussell Trust supports a UK-wide network of 1,200 food bank centres and together they provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK.
The Good Faith Partnership is a social consultancy that helps different sectors work better together on common aims. They have worked extensively on issues of collaboration between faith-based organisations and secular groups, including a recent report with the think tank Demos.
The Faiths and Civil Society Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London is a centre of excellence, linking research, policy and practice in the field of faith-based social action in the UK, Europe, North America and Australia.