Next week is #FaithinPartnership Week!
Next week is #FaithinPartnership week!
What’s it all about, what’s happening, and how can you get involved?
In last week’s blog, we announced that, between 5th and 9th September, we’ll be 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.
We’ll be launching three publications with the APPG across the week, and there will be plenty of opportunity to follow on social media and get involved. Here’s what’s happening and when.
Monday 5th, 2pm
Launch of 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 new document will be a primer for anyone (whether in a local authority, or a faith organisation) interested in the Faith Covenant. It will contain 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?
Look out for the launch of this publication on our Twitter and as a special bulletin for our e-news subscribers.
The Faith Covenant has given faith-based organisations the ability to have a voice...
Wednesday 7th, 2pm - 4pm
Launch of Keeping the Faith 2.0
On Wednesday afternoon we’ll be in-person in Westminster for APPG on Faith and Society’s launch of a new report, Keeping the Faith 2.0: Embedding a new normal for partnership working in post-pandemic Britain.
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.
We have 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. Head here for more details on the event and how to register your interest in attending.
Look out for live updates from the event on our Twitter and join the conversation with #FaithinPartnership!
Friday 9th, 2pm
Launch of First In, Last Out
Our third publication, First in, Last Out, 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.
Look out for the launch of this publication on our Twitter and as a special bulletin for our e-news subscribers.
We can roll out this kind of guidance and support to anything, whether diabetes, mental health or cancer screening.
We hope you can join us for some of our activity next week, whether online or in person! We look forward to celebrating the great work our communities have carried out, looking ahead to a future of more #FaithinPartnership.
