Workshop was aimed at faith communities

By Susie Kinghts

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2009: Interpreting the Language of Government was the subject under discussion at a workshop funded by Faith Action and jointly sponsored by YMCA Norfolk on March 26.

 

Members of faith communities across the Eastern region met at the offices of COVER in Essex to hear a presentation by Paul Whitnall of the Cavendish Foundation (pictured right) who addressed the main messages and latest initiatives from government pertinent to them.

 

There are many forms of communication coming from various government departments which are seeking to fully engage with the faith sector, an example being the recent paper from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Churches and Faith Buildings: Realising the Potential

 

This is a paper to help faith groups identify sources of funding that could develop places of worship to make them better able to deliver public services, and to build the capacity of faith groups to engage strategically at local and regional levels around the delivery of local priorities and access to funding allocations.

 

This paper has been produced by a working group comprising officials from Her Majesty’s Treasury, Communities and Local Government, Office of the Third Sector, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Defra in conjunction with representatives of the Church of England.

 

FaithAction is a national network that has received government funding to raise the voice of faith and community organisations delivering public services. Through a national staff team and nine regional offices, FaithAction is bringing together grassroots organisations that are delivering or seeking to deliver public services and helping them access funds, deliver contracts and create more effective partnerships with government at every level.