Greater Role for Faith-Based Groups in UK Welfare, Urges Government Minister

A government minister has given the green light for faith-based groups to play an even greater role in ensuring that people have access to welfare services in Britain.

Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform, Jim Murphy, said the role of faith-based organisations in the delivery of welfare would be of growing importance over the coming years, reports Government Network News.

Mr Murphy announced he was to host a national seminar in the coming weeks that would bring together organisations from across the faiths to discuss how they could contribute further to the welfare state and what more the government could do to support them in this.

Speaking during a visit to the East London offices of Alpha Building Services & Engineering Ltd, which works with local faith organisations to help people into work, Mr Murphy said: "I want to see a greater role for faith-based groups in UK welfare delivery. If we are to successfully tackle problems like poverty, long-term unemployment and benefit dependency then we need to ensure that people have access to the services and support that the welfare state offers.

"I believe that faith based groups offer an invaluable link into communities and individuals who may at first be reluctant or unsure of how to engage with the state and the programmes that are there to help them. What I want to do now is see how we can take this further.

Mr Murphy said the faith-based organisations would talk about their own experiences at the forthcoming seminar, "but more importantly what more they feel can be achieved and how best we go about doing this."

He referred to the positive role that Christian bodies like The Salvation Army and Mission Australia have played in providing welfare in Australia, saying he wants to see such a role increase in Britain.

"We share a common cause in wanting to see an end to poverty and help people maximise the opportunities available. We are already working closely with faith organisation in some parts of the country, but I strongly believe that faith based groups can have a much wider role in UK welfare delivery. Many faith groups are active in some of our poorest communities offering support and advice to some of the most vulnerable members of society.

"In Australia for example the Salvation Army, Mission Australia and Centrecare all have a long history of involvement in welfare delivery, helping those people who traditionally have shied away from the state. I see no reason why the same can not happen here."

Jim Murphy praised the work Alpha BSE have undertook with Employment Focus and local faith organisations to help people back into training and the workplace.

He added: "This is a great example of helping people into the workplace who otherwise may have remained on benefits. It shows that where people are given the opportunity to do so they will take advantage of it. In many cases that route to work or support and skills can come from organisations with strong connections in the local community and we should seek to take advantage of that and encourage it where we can."