Faithworks to strengthen regional faith agency networks

Christian social action movement Faithworks is to launch a new Regional Networks Support project to boost the role of Christian and other faith groups in regional policy-making across England.

The project is being set up in collaboration with the National Lottery's Big Lottery Fund to strengthen regional networks of faith sector organisations across the nine English government regions.

Around 200 faith sector organisations will benefit from greater representation at the level of regional government. The project will also help regional bodies understand what makes faith-based services distinctive, develop new partnerships, and extend existing support to "hard-to-reach" faith-based organisations.

Faithworks leader Malcolm Duncan said communities across the country would benefit from the project.

"It is vital for the faith sector to be involved in regional policy-making, consultation and service delivery because it represents a large segment of our communities, and is a leading provider of voluntary and statutory services already," he said.

"Moreover, faith groups have the ability to reach those 'hard-to-reach' pockets of society and communities which government can't."

He added that the project would have a positive impact on relations between the government and faith groups.

"Traditionally there has been misunderstanding and suspicion on the parts of both government and faith groups, but this is changing for the better and we hope this project will contribute to further significant improvement in this area, ultimately leading to positive change on the ground."

Faithworks will establish specialist regional partners in each of the government regions in England based on the networks identified in a recent extensive consultation with the national and regional Christian sector.