The Government and the Church of England have published guidelines to help religious groups overcome the “squeamishness” they sometimes encounter from funding providers.
“Churches and Faith Buildings: Realising the Potential” identifies funding and support for faith groups that will enable them to adapt their buildings for community use and build on their capacity to engage at local and regional level.
The guidelines have been produced by a working group comprising government officials and representatives of the Church of England. They provide advice and resources on how faith groups can better tap into existing sources of funding from Government programmes.
The Government has expressed its keenness to work with faith groups because they are deeply rooted in community life and are well placed to provide high quality local public services.
The guidelines suggest that the Church of England could serve as a potential service delivery point as it has a presence in every community and enjoys a unique legal status.
The Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, worked with the Government on the guidelines.
Speaking ahead of the launch of the guidelines yesterday, the bishop said: “At a time of financial stringency when we are looking to use what we have in the most constructive possible way – it seems to me that this is a very important initiative indeed. There’s no extra money but there’s stimulus and there is invitation to actually use the sources that do exist that are laid out here.”
A panel of experts will be set up by the Department for Communities and Local Government including representatives from faith communities which will seek “to address any squeamishness that funding providers may have in allocating public funds to faith groups”.
Anne Sloman, a member of the Archbishops' Council, said, "It is now up to the Church and others to take advantage of this initiative - nothing will happen unless we make it happen. This is a wonderful opportunity that we should embrace wholeheartedly."
Crispin Truman, the Chair of Places of Worship at Heritage Link, said, "The group strongly supports the statements in this report. Historic faith buildings are a vital tool in strengthening communities in today’s increasingly individualised society and provide landmarks for economic and social regeneration.
"Helping Government and funding bodies maximise the benefits from these wonderful, public, historic buildings and making sure we get the right support to the volunteers on whom they rely, is now more important than ever."
