Voluntary groups work with police to tackle issues affecting the most vulnerable

The government’s £1.3 million Faith New Deal pilot programme will provide a boost to 16 faith-based organisations that assist the most needy members of their communities.

The organisations, which include Christian, Jewish, and interfaith organisations, will collaborate with councils, schools, the police, healthcare professionals, and volunteer organisations to create creative interventions to address societal issues that are most detrimental to those who need help.

Projects will address food insecurity, mental health issues, and loneliness and isolation. They will also offer debt and employability advice.

Additionally, the fund will assist religious organisations in building on their cooperation with national and local authorities during the pandemic.

Supporting the government’s initiatives to reach out to communities and administer the COVID-19 vaccine are some examples of this:

Over 2,000 members of the neighbourhood received life-saving vaccinations at the Greengate Mosque in Oldham thanks to the assistance of a partner organisation in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector, Strengthening Faith Institutions.

By conducting testing pilots in collaboration with religious organisations throughout the city, the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Wolverhampton worked hand in hand with public health agencies to aid the government in understanding coronavirus identification.

The creation of a Faith Compact, which will outline important guidelines to facilitate interaction between religious organisations and the government, will also be influenced by the Faith New Deal Fund.

Paul Scully, a minister of faith, said:

We witnessed the crucial support that religious organisations provided to those who were at risk during the pandemic.

They supported communities where they needed it most by collaborating closely with neighbourhood partners, councils, and the government.

In order for faith-based organisations and their partners to continue supporting communities as they heal, this pilot programme will build on that crucial effort.

Recently, Minister Scully paid a visit to the West London-based Church Revitalization Trust, one of the religious organisations that received funds.

They collaborate with volunteers and government agencies as part of their worldwide Love Your Neighbor effort to offer debt counselling, job training, and other forms of community support.

Love Your Neighbor’s Chief Executive, Rev. Tom Jackson MBE, said:

Love Your Neighbour is honoured to take part in the introduction of the Faith New Deal, which is both important and necessary.

To maximise the impact of the crisis food support, debt counselling, employment training, and other wrap-around care this ground-breaking programme will enable, we look forward to working with churches and local partners across the United Kingdom, including statutory agencies.

The Faith New Deal fund will also assist the following initiatives:

Jewish Action for Mental Health (JAMH), a Manchester-based organisation, will broaden its collaboration with other faith communities, local governments, and health care providers to deliver food to those in need and collaborate with public services to customise mental health care and support those in need.

London-based nonprofit All Souls Serve the City has teamed up with neighbourhood churches, Westminster Council, charities, and the police to help vulnerable women with their mental health and reduce loneliness.

Funding allotments for the Faith New Deal Pilot Fund for 2022–2023
a list of those who were awarded grants from the Faith New Deal Pilot Fund.