Faith Champions in Birmingham

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted issues of health inequalities within certain communities.

The pandemic has also worsened the health of many people—exacerbating pre-existing issues such as mental health, causing new problems such as social isolation, and hindering access to GP appointments.

Recognising the need for tailored response to health inequalities within the diverse communities of Birmingham, the Public Health Division of Birmingham City Council have commissioned community engagement partners to work with these communities to encourage sharing of public health information and co-design projects to deliver vital health-focused work to the local community.

FaithAction have partnered with Birmingham City Council to work with Birmingham’s Christian and Sikh communities. Faith groups played an important role supporting their communities during the pandemic, providing information, signposting, and opening their doors as vaccination centres.

And they continue to provide a vital link into communities and support the health of people in so many ways, ranging from organised groups on bereavement to informal groups such as lunch clubs or befriending. 

We will be building on our previous work in Birmingham through our Creative English for Health programme, which provides English language and health literacy to communities across the city.

We will also be utilising our experience through the Faith Health Action Partnership and the Churches Health Action Partnership in Tower Hamlets, where faith groups in the borough ran projects such as group bike rides for women encouraging them to get active and chatting with other particpants, blood pressure monitoring for groups at risk of cardiovascular disease, and chair yoga for older people to help them keep active.

Want to know more? Email us at [email protected] or call 0800 804 8829 and ask about Faith Champions.