Faith groups handed £1.3m to replicate Covid partnership support for communities

A group of 16 faith charities and organisations are to share £1.3m in government funding to support vulnerable people in their local communities.

A focus is on building collaboration among groups offering support, similar to partnerships set up across the UK during the Covid pandemic, says the government.

The money has been handed out by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities through the Faith New Deal pilot scheme.

This targets funding at faith organisations that are working in partnership with local councils, schools, police, other charities and health professionals to tackle local social issues.

Included is advice on debt, employability, food poverty, mental health as well as isolation.

“We saw the instrumental role that faith organisations played in supporting vulnerable people during the pandemic,” said faith minister Paul Scully.

“Working closely with local partners, councils and government, they supported communities where they need it most.

“This pilot scheme will build on that vital work, so that faith organisations and their partners can continue to support communities as they recover.”

The Faith New Deal Fund will build on collaboration between faith groups and government during the pandemic to tackle issues that matter to local people. [1/2]#DLUHCdelivers pic.twitter.com/RygqMd3uy6
— Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (@luhc) July 29, 2022

Among those supported is the London based Church Revitalisation Trust’s nationwide Love Your Neighbour project, which provides advice on debt relief and employment training and has been handed £200,000 in funding.

“We look forward to working with churches and local partners including statutory authorities across the United Kingdom to increase the impact of the crisis food support, debt advice, employment training and other wrap-around care this ground-breaking initiative will enable,” said Love Your Neighbour chief executive Revd Tom Jackson.

Others to receive funding include Jewish Action for Mental Health in Manchester, which has received just under £94,000.

Another is Mission in the Economy, which has received around £125,000 for its St Helens Mobile Community Food Pantry project.