I’m looking forward to working with East Suffolk Council for the Faith in Partnership event on 10th October. This event is exciting for all Christians who want to spread the Light of Jesus in practical ways, addressing poverty, isolation and health and social needs in our communities.
But why should churches work in partnership? Who brings what to the table? Here’s some thoughts from the All Party Parliamentary Group, Faith & Society Report “Keeping the Faith 2” published in 2022. Faith groups and local authorities identified not only what they brought to the partnership table, but also what they saw the other party as bringing. This can give us some pointers.
Local authorities were perceived as bringing:
• Authority: Because of councils’ statutory duties to coordinate and ensure basic levels of service delivery in key areas of policy, they can convene meetings which confer democratic legitimacy to the partnership
• Knowledge: Local authorities can often bring data and intelligence about local situations of social need. They often have knowledge networks and other key players in the area – a sort of bird’s eye view – that can identify gaps in the system that can be filled by new partners.
• Signposting: Local authorities can signpost faith groups to other partners in the locality working in similar areas. They can also signpost faith-based projects to appropriate funding and development structures inside and outside the resources of councils.
The contributions of faith groups like churches were
• Resources: Churches and other faith groups can bring buildings, volunteers and networks of engagement that spread across communities. They may also have understanding on how to engage and understand the experience of some groups that local authorities struggle to connect with.
• Credibility: Churches and other faith groups are often trusted and, at a local level, are perceived to lie outside bureaucratic structures.
• Motivation: Churches and faith groups are strongly motivated by their values and beliefs which brings particular commitment to their local communities. Our desire to problem solve, and collaborate for the sake of improving the life chances of not only church members but also those of the whole community is deeply grounded in our faith.
Back to the first “Faith in Partnership” event in Suffolk on 11th October. The day will be a mixture of talks, workshops, plenary session plus market stalls and networking: This is an opportunity for you to meet people from all sectors, the NHS, social care, local government, secular voluntary sector groups, and grant bodies. You’ll be able to hear what the data says about needs in our communities, funding opportunities, advice on setting up projects, how to work in partnership with other services and much more. We want to hear what else we could be doing to support you in your work and there’ll be the chance to meet others involved in social action.
The link for more information and to book is Faith in Partnership Event Tickets, Tue 10 Oct 2023 at 09:30 | Eventbrite