1 September 2010
NEWS RELEASE
FAITHS IN ACTION - SUPPORTING LOCAL INTER FAITH PROJECTS
Faiths in Action has just awarded funding to over 100 organisations to run local inter faith projects, helping to strengthen communities across the North East and the rest of England.
As well as boosting integration, the grants will spur social action by faith communities, helping to create neighbourhoods in which people from different backgrounds work together to achieve common aims. Grants are still available but only for a limited period.
The Faiths in Action programme, managed by the Community Development Foundation (CDF) and sponsored by Communities and Local Government, creates opportunities for dialogue and collaboration between different faith groups within local communities.
The projects engage members of the community in a wide range of activities - training and workshops, seminars, sports tournaments, cultural festivals, culinary activities, visual and performance arts, and more. Diverse as they are, all projects have one overarching aim: to build better understanding among people of different faiths and those of no faith.
Communities Minister Andrew Stunell said:
“Inter faith activity is an important component of the Big Society we want to build, in which people work together for the common good. If we want to live in a truly integrated society, we need opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to come together - not just to better understand each other but also to work towards shared goals that benefit the whole community.
“The Faiths in Action funding supports a great many projects that provide these valuable opportunities and I wish the beneficiaries of this round of funding every success with their endeavours.”
Since its launch in 2008, Faiths in Action has awarded funding to a total of 428 projects run by a wide range of organisations, including a number of projects in the North East. In a few weeks’ time, the newly funded projects will come to life across the country.
One of these, the Stockton District Advice and Information Service (SDAIS) in Stockton on Tees has received a grant to provide social welfare advice services in the local area, in particular to young people aged 13 to 25.
Janine Brown, Manager of SDAIS, said:
“The Faith in Action grant will enable us to reach young people from all walks of life and support them with advice and training.”
The Faiths in Action grant programme is still open for applications for projects running up to March 2011, with a total of £2 million available in grants of £6,000 each. Applicants are particularly encouraged to apply for funding for activities to take place during national Inter Faith Week running from 21-27 November 2010 and led by the Inter Faith Network. As the fund is quickly approaching its capacity, applicants are advised to apply as soon as possible. Please consult the CDF website for availability of grants and details of the application process.
Alison Seabrooke, Chief Executive of CDF, said:
“As we have seen from the previous awards, faith groups play an important role in brokering good community relations and in reaching people in their communities who need support, regardless of their faith. CDF encourages all groups and organisations working on faith and inter faith issues to apply for a Faiths in Action grant. We can help you with your application, so don’t hesitate to contact our team if you have any questions!”
Notes to Editors
1. Faiths in Action was announced in July 2008 in the previous Government’s inter faith document Face to Face and Side by Side: A framework for partnership in our multi faith society. It is a £4 million grant programme distributed over two rounds, aiming to create opportunities for dialogue and collaboration between different faiths within local communities. The fund is open to faith, inter faith, voluntary and community organisations in England working at the local, national or regional level. Projects benefiting women and young people are particularly encouraged. More information on eligibility criteria and how to apply: http://www.cdf.org.uk/web/guest/faiths-in-action
http://www.cdf.org.uk/web/guest/faiths-in-action
2. A list of groups funded under Faiths in Action:
Round 1: http://www.cdf.org.uk/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=363afd48-9651-44e1-80ff-46759d3da8a2&groupId=10128
Round 2: http://www.cdf.org.uk/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=58856517-6d13-4c2a-bbf7-2778c0610a38&groupId=10128
Contact details are available upon request.
3. Regional and thematic case studies of Faiths in Action funded projects are available upon request. Faith matters, a book collating the learning from 19 Faiths in Action Round 1 case studies, was launched on 17 March 2010. Looking specifically at projects dealing with the environment, dialogue, young people and social action, the book demonstrates the impact this work has had on the cohesion agenda. More: http://www.cdf.org.uk/web/guest/publication?id=222475.
4. Inter Faith Week will be led by the Inter Faith Network. The aims of Inter Faith Week are: to strengthen good inter faith relations at all levels; to increase awareness of the different faith communities in the UK, in particular celebrating and building on the contribution that their members make to their neighbourhoods and to wider society; and to increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious belief. Inter Faith Week 2010 will run from 21-27 November in England and Wales. More: http://www.interfaithweek.org/, enquiries@interfaithweek.org.uk
5. The Community Development Foundation (CDF) is the leading source of community development expertise and delivery. As a public body and a charity, CDF bridges government, communities and the voluntary sector.
More: http://www.cdf.org.uk