Stepping Up and Stepping Out: A New Deal Opportunity for Faith Communities

We have investigated the pivotal role of faith communities in supporting the vulnerable during the last fifteen months. Our resulting report explores the effect of the exciting new social covenant between faith communities and the government in the Covid-19 recovery phase; by strengthening partnerships between faith communities and government agencies, a powerful social covenant between the state and faiths can be created that will, in turn, positively impact the lives of millions throughout society.

The Stepping Up and Stepping Out Report can be downloaded here in full.

The main recommendations of the report focus on how the government can aid and accelerate the positive impact of faith communities on society going forward. Key to this is the creation of more integrated ways of working, through the appointment of a Faiths Commissioner and an Expert Panel of Faith Leaders, to enable further strategic collaboration at all levels of local, regional and national government.

“The reflections and insights of this vital report highlight the need for listening, ongoing dialogue and learning between the government and faith communities. The new deal between the two sides must be based on the firm commitment from both sides to invest in deeper cooperation,” said Elizabeth Harris-Sawczenko, Interfaith Director at the Good Faith Partnership.

‘Stepping Up and Stepping Out’ features a series of executive interviews with senior faith leaders, community organisers and interfaith professionals who further demonstrate both the complex nature of faith communities and the broad range of skills and services that faith groups have deployed through the crisis.

In her introduction to the report, the Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally says, “If the experience of collaboration is built upon, if trust continues to be developed and strengthened, then the opportunities for future collaboration could have a profound impact. This report opens up the discussion for this next stage of our journey together and suggests ways in which we can foster positive, effective collaboration to serve our local communities.”

Bishop Sarah, Danny Kruger, MP for Devizes, and Baron Stephen Greenhalgh, the Minister of State, Housing, Communities and Local Government, launched the report virtually on June 17 which can be watched below.