The event, 'Faith Forward', also marked the launch of a new publication 'Working and consulting with faith communities,' which gives guidance for public bodies on making contact, getting feedback and working in partnership with faith groups for the Department of Communities and Local Government.
The booklet, produced by the East of England Faiths Council (EEFC), provides advice on finding information and resources, meeting people of different religious traditions, diversity training, discrimination and basic information about the beliefs and practices of the nine major faiths.
Speakers at the event included Lord Wilson of Dinton, Ellis Weinberger, Co-chair of the EEFC, and David Rayner, Secretary of the Government's Faith and Community Group.
Lord Wilson, who in 2002 retired as Head of the Home Civil Service and is
now Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, said in his keynote speech:
"It is important that we recognise the role which faith communities in the East of England can play at every level, from participating in forming regional strategy to offering a rich diversity of local faith-based support and activities.
"There is no shortage of new challenges for the region and, by the same token, many new opportunities to grasp. Faith groups are a marvellous resource for the region to draw upon, offering a wealth of volunteers, social cohesion and local knowledge.
"This event today is an opportunity both to celebrate the contribution made by faith groups to local communities and also to acknowledge the needs of those groups across public sector organisations in the region."
The 'Working and consulting with faith communities' publication grew out of a research study carried out by EEFC and Cambridge University into the role played by faith communities in the social, economic and spiritual life of the region.
The findings of the research revealed that in the region:
- There are over 630,000 active members of worshipping communities
- 75% of people identify themselves as having a faith
- Faith volunteering contributes the equivalent of over £30m working a hours a year
- 180,000 people are actively benefiting from the presence of faith groups every week.
"An enormous range of activities takes place every day from the 'traditional' such as visiting the sick and running lunch clubs to the more innovative such as IT and skills improvement projects," says Ellis Weinberger. "Often it is faith groups that are best able to reach the most vulnerable and marginalised people. But our work also shows that there would be even greater benefits if some of the small but important misunderstandings that can exist between faith and public bodies were overcome."
There are number of projects operating throughout the region, which demonstrate how partnership work between faith and public sector organisations helps support and bring local communities together in the region.
