J. Denham announces £1m fund to help faith groups have their voices heard

http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1507453

Communities Secretary John Denham today unveiled a £1m fund to help faith groups get their voices heard by Government and public bodies and help play their part delivering public services.

John Denham praised faith groups for their hard work and commitment to their local communities and called on local authorities to ignore the myths about faith communities and create a level playing field for faith groups providing publicly funded services.

He also announced a £50,000 prize to reward faith groups for innovative projects in their local communities.

John Denham said:

"Government and faith don't always speak the same language but we should be working from a state of mutual understanding not misconceptions. It is vital that as wide a range of voices as possible are being heard and that the experience of faith groups on issues that span both the local and the global - from homelessness to climate change - are drawn on for the benefit of us all.

"Faith groups have a unique perspective which must be recognised by Government and local councils and this is especially important at a time when public services are under financial pressure. We can not afford to over look the innovative ways faith communities address issues. The prize I am establishing today will highlight and reward the innovative ways faith groups address the challenges that arise in their communities.

"For millions of people faith plays an important role in their day to day lives. It is right that government recognises this role and supports the good work being done. The money being announced today will not be used to directly core fund these groups directly - this is not the role of Government - but is intended to support those communities which lack the capacity and infrastructure to respond effectively in dialogue on issues that affect and matter to them and highlight some of the great work being done so they can continue to build on their valuable work in their local communities."

Speaking at a conference in London - Faith and Social Action: Innovation and Expertise - John Denham announced a package of measures:

£1m Faith Working With Government fund
National faith based organisations are invited to bid for a share of £1m funding that help them develop a bigger voice and strengthen their capacity to challenge and engage Government.

The money is focused on making sure these organisations have the tools they need to do the job and could be used for activities including training in fundraising.

£50,000 Innovation in Faith-Based Social Action Prize
The prize is being developed to help publicise and reward faith based projects which have not yet received the recognition they deserve. Prizes will be awarded to faith projects who are finding new ways to meet local problems, bring people together and meet the needs of local communities

New 'myth busting' guidance for local government on working with faith groups
At times there has been a reluctance or confusion on the part of some local authorities to commission services from faith based groups and there are concerns amongst many groups and organisations including faith groups that they are disadvantaged when trying to access funding. It is clear that greater clarity is needed if local authorities and faith groups are going to have confidence they need to work together. Faith-based bodies are entitled, like any other suitably qualified bodies, to be awarded funding to deliver public services. A paper dealing with some common myths entitled Ensuring a level playing field: Funding faith based organisations to provide publicly funded services, will be launched at the conference. The paper is intended to deal with current confusion about these arrangements.

Note to editors

1. 180 people will be attending the Faith and Social Action Conference at the Central Hall Westminster. The themes of the conference are social action and advocacy and faith-based social action.

Faith prize

2. The Innovation in Faith-based Social Action Prize - to be formally opened in the summer - aims to reward innovation in faith-based service delivery;
it will make awards in five different categories

• independent projects (i.e. not already receiving public funding)
• projects delivered with funding support from a local authority
• advocacy and community development projects;
• multi faith projects
• youth projects

The total value of the prize fund is £50,000. This includes a top prize of £15,000 for the most innovative social action project, and three runners up prizes of £5000.

There will also be four prizes of £1000 for the best examples in each of the five different categories totalling £20,000.

Projects can nominate themselves, or be nominated by others. Expressions of interest should be sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Faith Leadership in Government Fund

3. The Secretary of State announced a new Faith Leadership in Government Fund worth £1.2m, which is designed to boost the capacity of the national faith bodies who work with Government

• Government departments engage and consult faith communities on the development and implementation of policies that affect them and the communities in which they live.
• The new fund will be able to make available packages of up to £30,000 to national organisations that can show a track record of representing and having real roots in their communities, of working with government, and of having a real contribution to make.
• Applications will be through open competition, and bidding will open in summer 2010.
• Expressions of interest should be sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

4. In 2008 Government published Face to Face and Side by Side. Developed with faith communities, this set out for the first time a national, strategic framework for promoting inter faith activity. This is supported by £7.5 million of investment, £4m of which has been allocated to support local inter faith projects through the Faiths in Action programme.

5. A further £3.5m is supporting regional and national structures and projects which promote inter faith activity, for instance the first ever Inter Faith Week in England, during which schools, voluntary bodies, youth groups, places of worship and other groups undertook a huge range of activities.

6. During the first Inter Faith Week, people of all and no faiths, came together to engage in dialogue and overcome misconceptions. The week saw a variety of inter faith activities taking place up and down the country with great success.

7. Myth busting guidance details available at: www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/15073411.pdf.

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Independent Safeguarding Authority

http://www.isa-gov.org.uk/

The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has been created to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults.

We do this by working in partnership with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and other delivery partners. Read more about how we will provide this service.

Increased safeguards have now been introduced under the Vetting and Barring Scheme, from October 12^th 2009:

• It is now a criminal offence for individuals barred by the ISA to work or apply to work with children or vulnerable adults in a wide range of posts - including most NHS jobs, Prison Service, education and childcare. Employers also face criminal sanctions for knowingly employing a barred individual across a wider range of work;
• The three former barred lists (POCA, POVA and List 99) are being replaced by two new ISA-barred lists;
• Employers, local authorities, professional regulators and other bodies have a duty to refer to the ISA, information about individuals working with children or vulnerable adults where they consider them to have caused harm or pose a risk of harm. Referral forms and referral guidance are available.

VBS Guidance is also available covering the increased safeguards and the duties to refer introduced from the 12^th October.

Please note: ISA-registration for the Vetting and Barring Scheme does not start for new workers or those moving jobs until July 2010 and ISA-registration does not become mandatory for these workers until November 2010. All other staff will be phased into the scheme from 2011. Further information on how to apply for registration will be provided in due course.

Government wants to engage with faith communities on social challenges - John Denham

http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1381169

Recognising the important role that faith plays in the lives of individuals, at the national launch of England's first-ever Inter Faith Week, Communities Secretary John Denham will invite the views of faith communities on how to tackle some of the big challenges facing society, like parenting and the environment.

Inter Faith Week (15 to 21 November) is being facilitated by Communities and Local Government in partnership with the Inter Faith Network for the UK. It is faith-community led with organisations around the country holding events - from art exhibitions to inter faith seminars; from football matches to pilgrimage walks; from the good deeds of Mitzvah Day to the good food of shared meals - to bring major faith communities, as well as those with no religious beliefs, closer together.

Mr Denham has responsibility for the Government's public policy on faith. Stressing the importance of respecting faith in its own right, and not as a prop to Government when it has a problem to solve, he will say he wants to see a deeper and broader relationship between Government and faith communities.

Government already engages with faith communities through the Faith Communities Consultative Council (FCCC) where representatives of all the major religions are consulted on policy questions of mutual interest. To deepen this relationship, he has had a round of intensive discussions with faith leaders and he is recruiting a panel of advisers to act as a sounding board on issues of faith and public policy.

In the midst of a global economic recession driven by lending, Mr Denham believes that the values which faith groups share - justice, equality, engagement - and the aim of Inter Faith Week to bring people of faith and no faith together, could be a starting point for building consensus for a stronger, fairer society.

Speaking at the national launch of Inter Faith Week at the QEII, London, John Denham said:

"Government should respect - should value, prize and celebrate - those things which matter to citizens. And for many, their faith shapes and defines who they are and this deserves respect.

"But Government and politicians are also interested in how society can be shaped for the better. Whether it is parenting, personal health, or sustainability, government is interested in what makes people tick. For millions of people the values instilled by their faith are central to shaping their behaviour. We should continually encourage and enhance the contribution faith makes on the central issues of our time.

"Inter Faith week creates more opportunities for people of different faiths, including young people, to explore how their faith helps them understand and respond to these challenges and, through this, build a stronger society."

Bishop Tom Butler and Dr Girdari Bhan, Co-Chairs of the Inter Faith Network for the UK said:

"We are delighted at the level of response to Inter Faith Week. It has clearly caught the imagination of people around the country."

Dr Indarjit Singh, FCCC member and Director of the Network of Sikh Organisations of the UK said:

"Inter Faith week should move us from the usual polite exchange of pleasantries to actually looking to ways of replacing false barriers of misunderstanding and prejudice that divide our different religions, with sympathetic understanding and true respect for different ways of life."

Mr Denham welcomes the practical value to society in having faith groups work closely together to overcome social division, promote cohesion and build social capital. The efforts of faith groups to build relationships at a local level - not only amongst themselves, but also with the police, politicians and councils - has helped manage tension in the face of extreme provocation from right-wing extremists.

To support this, faith communities around the country are set to receive £2m to encourage more local inter faith activity, helping to bring people from different backgrounds together to tackle shared problems.

He added:

"I am confirming that we are making £2m available through the Faiths in Action programme; which faith, inter faith, voluntary and community sector groups can bid for to support projects which will bring people of faith and without faith together to overcome social division and promote cohesion. Faith is a strong and powerful source of honesty, solidarity, generosity - the very values which are essential to politics, to our economy and our society."

Mr Denham is clear about the common interests government and faith communities share. For instance how parents see their obligations to their children and to each other or the concept of 'stewardship' and a common interest in not destroying the planet on which we live. This is why he is keen to acknowledge and welcome the contribution faith makes to shaping behaviour and transmitting values but he is clear that it isn't necessary to have faith to be deeply moral and profoundly altruistic.

Notes to editors

1. The new funding announced today is being made available to support local activities over the coming years. Faiths in Action aims to bring communities together, promoting positive relationships between people of religious and non-religious beliefs together within local communities to work closely together to overcome social division and promote cohesion and beliefs at a local level. It is a £4m grants programme open to faith, inter faith, voluntary and community organisations and groups in England and is being distributed in two rounds. A total of 216 groups received grants of up to £12,000, totalling £2m in round one in February 2009. Faiths in Action is administered by the Community Development Foundation (CDF) on behalf of Communities and Local Government. For more information please visit www.cdf.org.uk/web/guest/faiths-in-action (external link)

2. In July 2008 the Department published Face to Face and Side by Side - a Framework for Partnership in our Multi Faith Society. This presented the Government's strategy for encouraging the further development of inter faith activity in England. It set out how faith communities, Government and wider society can work together, at all levels, to bring people with different religions and beliefs together. One of the commitments was to work in partnership with the Inter Faith Network for the UK to organise an Inter Faith Week in 2009.

3. The first stage of broadening the relationship between government and faith committees will be continuing to seek advice from the FCCC and supplementing this with advice from a new faith expert panel and policy adviser. http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/racecohesionfaith/faith/faithcommunities/faithcommunitiesconsultative/

4. Francis Davis, fellow of Blackfriars Hall, Oxford has just been appointed faith policy adviser to John Denham. He directs the Hall's work on governance, social responsibility, faith and the public sphere. He is also Director of the Las Casas Institute on Ethics, Human Rights And Social Justice. Since 2007 he has been Visiting Lecturer in social enterprise and community development at the University of Cambridge where from 2006-08 he co-directed a research centre on faith in society. A Visiting Fellow at the Helen Suzman Foundation in South Africa he is on the board of judges of the £300,000 Erste Bank Foundation Prize For Social Integration in South East Europe. In 2007-08, he was co-host and organiser of two major inter-religious colloquia in partnership with the Aga Khan University and the University of Haifa. His publications include a special edition of the leading policy journal, Public Money And Management (Routledge/CIPFA) on Religion, Third Sector And Public Management (Nov 2009).

5. Inter Faith Week is being facilitated by IFN but will be community-led, with local people and groups of different backgrounds holding their own events and to highlight work going on to promote understanding between people of different faiths and beliefs. Its aims are to strengthen good inter faith relations at all levels; to increase awareness of the different and distinct faith communities in the UK, in particular celebrating and building on the contribution which their members make to their neighbourhoods and to wider society; and to increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious belief. There will be a launch for religious leaders at Lambeth Palace on 16 November.

6. The English Regional Faith Forums have been collating and listing local inter faith events and details are available on their website www.erffn.org.uk/ (external link). The Government is providing £130K to help support community groups to develop and grow these projects.

7. The Week will highlight the contribution of faith groups to the welfare of society and the importance of inter faith activity and understanding. Faith groups, their places of worship, schools, universities local authorities and other public bodies are holding events that highlight the importance of inter faith understanding and faith in social action.

8. The Inter Faith Network for the UK was founded in 1987. It links in membership national representative organisations of the Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian faiths in the UK; national, regional and local inter faith organisations; and educational and academic bodies with an interest in inter faith issues. It works with its member bodies and other agencies to promote good relations between the faith communities in the UK; to combat inter religious prejudice and intolerance; and to help make the UK a country marked by mutual understanding and respect between religions where all can practise their faith with integrity. Inter Faith Week is also being marked in Wales. An annual Inter Faith Week already takes place in Scotland.

9. There is a long and positive history in this country of people coming together to talk about and explore their own and each others religions and beliefs in order to build understanding and respect. This dialogue has increased in recent years with 183 new inter faith groups having been established since 2000.

10. As a nation we are cohesive with 81 per cent of people believing that people from different backgrounds get on well in their area, and 77 per cent believing they belong strongly to their neighbourhood. However the majority of people questioned in CLG's latest citizenship survey felt there was a need for people from different religious and ethnic groups to mix more. http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/racecohesionfaith/research/citizenshipsurvey/

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Citizenship Survey: April - September 2009, England

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/citizenshipsurveyq2200910

Summary

The latest national statistics from the Citizenship Survey produced by Communities and Local Government were released on Thursday 28 January.

Statistics from the Citizenship Survey include data covering a range of issues including community cohesion, empowerment, values, racial and religious prejudice and discrimination, volunteering and charitable giving.

Data in this statistical release are based on England, with the exception of the Labour Market Discrimination figures which are based on England and Wales.

The latest statistics report on the first two quarters of the 2009-10 survey, covering April to September 2009 and update those statistics released on 29 October 2009.

Key statistics from the release include:

• In April-September 2009, 36 per cent of people felt they could influence decisions in their local area; this is lower than in 2001 (44 per cent), 2007-08 (38 per cent) and 2008-09 (39 per cent).
• Nineteen per cent of people felt they could influence decisions affecting Britain; this is lower than in 2001 (25 per cent) and 2008-09 (22 per cent) but is unchanged since 2007-08 (20 per cent).
• In April-September 2009, 41 per cent of adults volunteered formally at least once in the 12 months prior to interview, with 25 per cent having volunteered formally at least once a month.
• Levels of formal volunteering at least once a month are unchanged since 2001 (27 per cent), 2007-08 (27 per cent) and 2008-09 (26 per cent), but are lower than in 2003 (28 per cent) and 2005 (29 per cent).
• In April-September 2009, 85 per cent of people thought their community was cohesive, agreeing that their local area was a place where people from different backgrounds got on well together. This represents an increase from 2003 and 2005 (both 80 per cent) and 2007-08 (82 per cent), but is not significantly different from 2008-09 (84 per cent).
• In April-September 2009, 76 per cent of people felt they belonged strongly to their neighbourhood, an increase from 2003 (70 per cent), but not significantly different from 2007-08 (75 per cent) and 2008-09 (77 per cent).
• In April-September 2009, 82 per cent of people were satisfied with their local area as a place to live; this is not significantly different from 2008-09 (82 per cent).
• Older people were generally more likely to be satisfied with their local area than younger people. For example, 90 per cent of those aged 75 years and over were satisfied with their local area compared to 74 per cent of those aged 16 to 24 years.
• In April-September 2009, 80 per cent of people mixed socially at least once a month with people from different ethnic or religious backgrounds, either at work, at a place of education, through a leisure activity, at a place of worship, at the shops or through volunteering.  This is not significantly different from 2007-08 (80 per cent) and 2008-09 (81 per cent).
• In April-September 2009, 7 per cent of people felt that racial or religious harassment was a very or fairly big problem in their local area; this is lower than in 2007-08 and 2008-09 (both 9 per cent).
• A higher proportion of people from ethnic minority groups (15 per cent) thought that racial or religious harassment was a very or fairly big problem compared to White people (6 per cent).
• A higher proportion of people from ethnic minority backgrounds (7 per cent) felt they had been refused a job for reasons of race compared to White people (1 per cent). A higher proportion of people from ethnic minority backgrounds (6 per cent) felt they had experienced discrimination on the grounds of their race when seeking promotion compared to White people (1 per cent).

The full Citizenship Survey Statistical Release and the accompanying tables are available to download below.

Notes

1. The 2009-10 Citizenship Survey, run by Ipsos MORI and BMRB on behalf of the Communities Analysis Division within Communities and Local Government, is a household survey covering a representative core sample of 10,000 adults in England and Wales each year. There is also an ethnic minority boost sample of 5,000 and a Muslim boost sample of 1,200 each year, to ensure that the views of these groups are robustly represented.

2. The data are collected through face-to-face interviews. The Citizenship Survey has been commissioned every two years since 2001. Since 2007-08, the survey has moved to a continuous design, allowing the provision of headline findings on a quarterly basis. This statistical release is based on the first two quarters of data (April - September 2009) from the 2009-10 survey, which is made up of 4,708 core interviews, an additional 2,555 interviews with people from ethnic minority groups and an additional 819 interviews with Muslim people.

3. The statistics relating to labour market discrimination refer to England and Wales, whereas those relating to cohesion, empowerment and volunteering relate to England only. This reflects the coverage of policy responsibilities.

4. The statistics from the Citizenship Survey are produced to high professional standards, as set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. For more information see: www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/assessment/code-of-practice/index.html (external link).

Order

• This publication is only available online - see below to download.

Download

• Citizenship Survey: April - September 2009, England
  PDF, 684 kb , 52 pages
• Citizenship Survey: April - September 2009, England - Tables
  MS Excel, 254 kb
• Pre-release Access list: Citizenship Survey
  PDF, 63 kb

2007-08 Citizenship Survey: Race, Religion and Equalities Topic Report

Summary

Using 2007-08 Citizenship Survey data, this report presents statistics on: people's expectations of how they would be treated, compared to people of other races, by public service organisations; perceptions of racial and religious prejudice today relative to 5 years ago; views on the extent to which the Government protects the rights of people belonging to different religions; perceptions of religious discrimination by various public service organisations; whether people feel able freely to practice their religion; racial and religious harassment; whether people feel treated with respect in public spaces and using various public services.

It is one of a series of annual reports from the 2007-08 Citizenship Survey. Other reports cover Volunteering and Charitable Giving, Identity and Values, Community Cohesion and Empowered Communities.

2007-08 Citizenship Survey: Race, Religion and Equalities Topic Report

Related publications :

2007-08 Citizenship Survey: Volunteering and Charitable Giving Topic Report

• Published: 18 December 2009

2007-08 Citizenship Survey: Empowered Communities Topic Report

• Published: 29 September 2009

2007-08 Citizenship Survey: Community Cohesion Topic Report

• Published: 27 August 2009

2007-08 Citizenship Survey: Identity and Values Topic Report

• Published: 27 August 2009

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Faith research and statistics

2001 Citizenship Survey: Religion in England and Wales

• Published: 17 May 2004

Religious discrimination in England and Wales (Home Office Research Study 220)

Tackling religious discrimination: practical implications for policy-makers and legislators (Home Office Research Study 221)

Also : GLA 2005 : Religious Diversity Indeces

Executive Summary
London is often quoted as a very diverse city. A number of variables such as ethnicity,population born overseas, religion and language contribute to this diversity. This briefing is primarily concerned with how diverse London is with regards to its faithcommunities.
The 2001 Census asked a voluntary question on religion. Response rates were high, 92 per cent nationally and 91 per cent in London.
London’s largest faith group is Christianity comprising 58 per cent of the resident total population. The next largest groups were those who responded ‘no religion’ (16 percent) and those who chose not to state a religion (9 per cent).
Of the world faith communities, less than 9 per cent of Londoners are Muslim, 4 percent are Hindu, 2 per cent are Jewish and 1.5 per cent are Sikh.
London is home to a high proportion of the national population of particular faiths which accentuate London’s diversity. 58 per cent of all Jews living in England and Wales live in London. The equivalent figures for other faith communities are: 53 per cent for Hindus, 39 per cent for Muslims, 38 per cent for Buddhists and 32 per cent for Sikhs.
Diversity Indices measure the relative size of the faith communities as well as incorporating a measure of the number of faith groups present in a population. Diversity indices have been calculated for all nine religion categories from the census (includes ‘no religion’ and ‘religion not stated’), eight religion categories (excluding ‘religion not
stated’) and seven categories (excludes ‘no religion’ and ‘religion not stated’).
For all categories London has a higher religious diversity ranking than England and Wales. London diversity index values are higher when including ‘no religion’ and ‘religion not stated’ in the calculation because these categories have sizeable populations.
London boroughs dominate the top ten index rankings for all 3 aggregations with Harrow, Brent, Barnet and Redbridge usually in the higher places. Non-London local authorities include Leicester and Slough. However in the nine and eight aggregations, Leicester ranked the highest local authority in England and Wales.
Ward-level analysis shows wards in Hounslow and Redbridge to be very diverse with regards to religion. However two wards in Leicester are also present in the top ten index rankings for two of the three aggregations.

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Faith publications

This section contains guidelines, reports and other publications relating to faith and religious beliefs.

• Believing in Local Action

  • Published: 1 June 2008
  • Site: Communities and neighbourhoods

• Face to Face and Side by Side: A framework for partnership in our multi faith society

  • Published: 21 July 2008
  • Site: Communities and neighbourhoods

• Face to Face and Side by Side: A framework for partnership in our multi faith society - Summary

  • Published: 21 July 2008
  • Site: Communities and neighbourhoods

• Face to Face and Side by Side: A framework for inter faith dialogue and social action consultation - Summary of Responses

  • Published: 21 July 2008
  • Site: Communities and neighbourhoods
  • Status: Response

• Faith Communities and Pandemic Flu: Guidance for faith communities and local influenza pandemic committees

  • Published: 1 May 2009
  • Site: Communities and neighbourhoods

• Key Communities, Key Resources: Engaging the capacity and capabilities of faith communities in Civil Resilience

  • Published: 17 June 2008
  • Site: Communities and neighbourhoods

• "Face-to-Face and Side-by-Side": A framework for inter faith dialogue and social action - Consultation

  • Published: 17 December 2007
  • Closing date: 7 March 2008
  • Site: Communities and neighbourhoods

• Working Together: Co-operation between Government and Faith communities - Progress Report August 2005

  • Published: 1 August 2005
  • Site: Communities and neighbourhoods

• Ministers of Religion from abroad: second stage consultation

  • Published: 3 March 2005
  • Closing date: 6 December 2006
  • Site: Communities and neighbourhoods

• Dealing with cases of forced marriage

  • Published: 31 March 2005
  • Site: Communities and neighbourhoods

• Working Together: Co-operation between Government and Faith Communities

  • Published: 1 February 2004
  • Site: Communities and neighbourhoods

• Community Cohesion Pathfinder Programme - Faith and Cohesion

  • Published: 7 January 2004
  • Site: Communities and neighbourhoods

• Forced marriage: update

  • Published: 9 June 2003
  • Site: Communities and neighbourhoods

• A choice by right - report summary

  • Published: 19 June 2000
  • Site: Communities and neighbourhoods

• A choice by right

  • Published: 31 May 2000
  • Site: Communities and neighbourhoods

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Faith communities

Multi-cultural communities are often multi- faith communities and this should be fully recognised in policies aimed at promoting diversity. Fostering understanding and respect between different faiths is vital in practically implementing community cohesion strategies.

Communities and Local Government aims to help bring about a society in which different belief systems, whether religious or otherwise, are understood, respected and valued. The 2001 National Census shows that over three-quarters of respondents reported having some religious affiliation.

The experience and resources of the faith communities are invaluable and Communities and Local Government strives to ensure that these communities are given the opportunity to participate fully in society through voluntary activity and other faith based projects.

• Working together: co-operation between government and faith communities
• Faith Communities Consultative Council (FCCC)

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Race, cohesion and faith

Britain is now a more diverse society - ethnically, racially and culturally - than ever before. Over the centuries, the contributions of people who have come to live here have enriched the country. Immigration and ties with other countries have resulted in a dynamic economy with more jobs, access to crucial skills and new ideas, better public services and a richer cultural life.

Our aim is to build thriving places where a fear of difference is replaced by a shared set of values and a sense of purpose and belonging. We want to make sure that everyone in each community benefits from diversity, and we recognise that this means promoting similar opportunities for all. Our challenge is to build these stronger communities in times of rapid change.

We are reducing perceptions of race discrimination and leading the work on creating more cohesive communities, tackling racism, extremism, promoting inter-faith activity and a shared sense of belonging.

Delivery of this agenda is dependent not just partnerships with other government departments, but with the wider communities, community organisations, public and private sector.

One of our key strategic partners for the overall delivery of Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society (the Government's Strategy to increase race equality and community cohesion), is the Equality and Human Rights Commission (see link on right) in enforcing legislation and sharing good practice.

Related publications

Archived :

The Race Equality Advisory Group (REAG)

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05/01/2010

Identity cards

From: EFMStakeholderCommunications@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
To: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Subject: FW: Biometric Enrolment
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 10:21:43 -0000

6th January 2010
Dear Sir / Madam

I am writing to update you on the roll out of Identity Cards for Foreign Nationals, and to ask you to cascade this message within your organisation. From 6 January 2010, skilled workers with a UK sponsor
and their dependants successfully applying to extend their stay under Tier 2 of the Points Based System will receive an identity card for foreign nationals.

Biometric Enrolment
In country applications for further leave to remain under Tier 2 made prior to the 6th January will not require biometric enrolment but, applications made on or after the 6th January will require biometrics to be enrolled. Updates have been posted on the UK Border Agency website and changes to the Tier 2 migrant guidance , application form, dependant form and change circumstance form are all available.

The UK Border Agency has this year increased the options for customers enrolling biometrics and there are now 11 Home Office biometric enrolment centres around the UK where foreign nationals can book an appointment either through the new online booking service or by telephone. To further improve customer choice, postal applicants living within certain postcodes are now able to enrol their biometrics at a limited number of Crown Post Offices nationwide.  This is a walk-in service, with no need to book an appointment, but currently this trial only applies to individuals who have been sent an invitation to enrol their biometrics via the walk-in service.

Premium applications (applicants wishing to receive a decision on the same day as their application) are available at one of the UK Border Agency's seven Public Enquiry Offices - Croydon, Belfast, Cardiff,
Glasgow, Liverpool, Solihull and Sheffield).

Guidance on checking the cards is available on the UK Border Agency website to ensure all stakeholders are familiar with its design and security features and recognise the card when it is presented to them.

There is also a pack of useful information available to download.  The card is checked visually and physically. The applicant's entitlement to work, study or access public funds is captured in the "remarks" section of the card.

Points based system
Employers need to be aware that under the Government's new Points Based System for immigration, which started to roll out in 2008, businesses need to be licensed as sponsors by the UK Border Agency before they can bring in any skilled foreign workers from outside the EEA.

Under PBS the sponsor will have to keep proper records of the migrants they have sponsored, including their contact details and a copy of their identity card, and supply those to the UK Border Agency on request.

Further information about the Points Based System is available on the UK Border Agency website.

Yours faithfully,
Jeremy Oppenheim

Regional Director North East, Yorkshire and Humber and National Lead for Economic and Family Migration

John Denham: Appointment of new faith advisers

To encourage a deeper and broader relationship between Government and faith communities, Communities Secretary John Denham today announced the appointment of 13 new faith advisers who will act as a 'sounding board' to advise on effective engagement with faith communities, and the impact of Communities and Local Government policy on faith communities.

Mr Denham has responsibility for the Government's public policy on faith. While recognising the significant contributions that faith communities have made to work on key issues such as homelessness and tackling poverty at home abroad, he is keen to stress the importance of respecting faith in its own right and not as a prop to Government when it has a problem to solve. The 13 advisers, all experts in their chosen field, will enhance ministerial understanding of, and engagement, with faith communities nationally.

Government already engages with faith communities through the Faith Communities Consultative Council (FCCC) and their important role will continue. However over recent months John Denham has said that he wants to see as many channels of communication open as possible and this includes hearing from a wide range of expert voices.

John Denham said:

"This new panel brings together an unprecedented wealth of knowledge and experience that will help advise on the big issues facing society such as the economy, parenting, achieving social justice and tackling climate change.

"For millions of people the values instilled by their faith are central to shaping their behaviour. We should continually seek ways of supporting and enhancing the contribution faith makes to the decision-making process on the central issues of our time.

"Each adviser is has an outstanding track record of achievement. Together they will help inform Government on the views and values of faith communities, enabling us to learn from the unique insights that faith groups bring to contemporary issues."

The 13 new advisers come from a range of backgrounds and faith perspectives and include serving Bishops, academics and local activists. They were selected for their commitment to faith and the diverse experience in their chosen careers.

The members of the panel are:

John Denham continued:

"Given that faith plays a defining role in many lives, anyone wanting to build a more progressive society should not ignore the powerful role of faith and the strong values their communities hold.

"Government needs to have an understanding of this relationship - a relationship that shapes peoples behaviour - in order to help develop public policy that is relevant to our society.

"The relationship between faith and government will however not always be easy and some faith communities will no doubt sometimes disapprove of government decisions. Likewise Government should not shy away from honest debate or criticism when warranted and that this should not exclude any faith."

Notes to editors

1. The role of faith adviser is unpaid.

2. The Secretary of State for Communities is responsible for the Government's formal dialogue with faith communities, and also for co-coordinating that dialogue among government departments.

3. The FCCC is a non statutory body, facilitated by CLG. It aims to provide a national strategic forum, chiefly concerned with issues related to cohesion, integration, the development of sustainable communities, neighbourhood renewal, and social inclusion.

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Related articles :

Government wants to engage with faith communities on social challenges - John Denham

http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1381169

http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/communities/1381219

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05/01/2010

Anti-terrorism guidance

Jan 2010

Churches and Faith Buildings: Realising the Potential

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 in Cabinet Office, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Defra in conjunction with representatives of the Church of England.

Churches and Faith Buildings: Realising the Potential PDF (387kb)

Churches and Faith Buildings: Realising the Potential MS Word (431kb)

Publication updated 3 April 2009

Options for the Disposal of Redundant Churches and Other Places of Worship (HTML format)

• Departments:

• Department for Culture, Media and Sport;
• English Heritage

Document type:  Guidance

Date of publication:  15 January 2010

Summary:

This document gives guidance for faith groups considering disposing of redundant places of worship. While a charity is normally required to obtain the best price when disposing of property, a range of options exists that could enable places of worship to remain in worship use by another group, become a community facility, or be preserved as part of the nation's heritage.

Also :

Listed Places Of Worship And Memorials VAT Grant Schemes

The Listed Places of Worship scheme returns to faith groups the equivalent of the VAT incurred in making repairs to listed places of worship, while the Memorials scheme rebates the VAT incurred by charities and faith groups in building and maintaining memorial structures.

http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/media_releases/2554.aspx

Also : May 2008 : draft

The Operation of the Ecclesiastical Exemption

Department for Culture, Media and Sport : Cadw
Llwodraeth Cynulliad Cymru (Welsh Assembly Government)

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Guidance on New Measures to Outlaw Discrimination on Grounds of Religion or Belief

Summary

This document gives guidance on Part 2 of the Equality Act 2006, which comes into effect on 30 April 2007. Part 2 prohibits discrimination against a person because of their religion or belief (including lack of religion or belief) when providing goods, facilities, services, public functions, or education, and in management and disposal of premises. The guidance sets out the effect of the law and the exceptions provided. The most significant exceptions allow charities and other organisations whose purpose is related to religion or belief to serve particular communities. There are also exceptions in public functions, including education.

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• Guidance on New Measures to Outlaw Discrimination on Grounds of Religion or Belief
  PDF, 153 kb

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Faith Leaders and Workers Project: Evaluation Report

Summary

Communities and Local Government and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) funded a qualification in Community Leadership to support the skills development of faith leaders. It was developed by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education and piloted across the country.

The research report is being published after the completion of the pilots in 2007. The aim of the Continuous Professional Development project was to deliver a community leadership accredited qualification for faith leaders that will contribute to two cross-Government objectives:

• to strengthen the role of faith leaders by building confidence, knowledge and skills amongst faith community members to enable them to play a strong leadership role in their wider communities
• in addition, and specifically in relation to Muslim communities, to support efforts to develop Muslim faith leaders as effective and confident leaders who can take the lead in building resilience to violent extremism

The findings and recommendations in this report are those of the consultant authors and do not necessarily represent the views or proposed policies of Communities and Local Government.

Faith Leaders and Workers Project: Evaluation Report

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