Members of APPG on Faith and Society meet to talk about future plans for the group

The FaithAction team were in parliament this week to meet with the new members and officers of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Faith and Society.

The APPG on Faith and Society was established in 2012 to highlight the valuable contributions of faith-based organisations across the UK. Its key objectives have included:

• Recognising the role of faith groups in supporting communities.
• Identifying and sharing best practices to enhance their impact.
• Promoting understanding of how these organisations address social challenges.

FaithAction has been secretariat for the group since its launch, advocating for greater collaboration between faith-based initiatives and policymakers.

The group has aimed to influence decision making around topical issues that affect society, and to highlight unique, solution-based approaches from faith communities around the country.

MPs and representatives from the House of Lords were present, including Zöe Franklin MP, Anna Dixon MP, Darren Paffey MP, Lord Rook OBE, Lord Alderdice and Lord Rees of Easton OBE.

Discussions included Faith in Partnership Week, an annual week that celebrates collaboration between faith groups and statutory bodies in the UK to drive positive change for vulnerable communities, and furthering the reach of the Faith Covenant, which was launched by the APPG in 2012, and is a framework designed to foster better collaboration between local authorities and faith-based organisations.

Other topics of interest around faith and society that the group discussed included social care, child poverty, the youth strategy and inter faith work.

Watch out for further updates on the work of the APPG – including how you can be part of Faith in Partnership 2025.