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This resource is a guide to improve and to increase partnerships between local authorities and local faith or belief groups. It offers practical advice on how local authorities may better engage, celebrate and collaborate with local faith or belief groups; and how local faith or belief groups and other local groups may better contribute to local decision making and to more connected and cohesive local communities. Working together well is vital to making our local communities welcoming, safe, and beneficial for all residents.
This guide presents many different ways to work together. Each part of the guide is directed to a specific group: local authority staff, local faith or belief groups, and other local groups. On each page, the guide includes many ways to engage within your group and with other key partners. Each page also includes links to further resources for more reading.
This guide may be used by local authorities and local groups to:
During consultation with people working for cohesion, some general principles about working together emerged. These principles may be useful to bear in mind when implementing suggestions in this guide:
In 2020, the Faith and Belief Forum (F&BF) and the British Academy commissioned a report, written by Theos Think Tank, that outlined social cohesion policy in the UK and examined the practical impact of the faith and belief sector on our communities. This report found that faith and non-religious belief groups’ positive contribution to social cohesion deserves greater recognition and should have more influence on cohesion policy in the United Kingdom. While faith and belief can be a source of division, many faith or belief groups play a key role in social cohesion. Their contributions should be considered in the formation of cohesion policy.
Building on the learning from this report, we held a series of three roundtables in different parts of the UK, bringing together over 100 people from local authorities, local faith/belief groups and other community groups working on cohesion. At the roundtables, participants shared their success and challenges in working together and they made recommendations for working together well. They reviewed a draft version of this guide and made suggestions.
As members of a Local Authority, we share responsibility for making our community safe, welcoming and enriching for residents of all faiths and beliefs. What concrete steps may we take to realise this vision?
Vision: Our local area is a place where people from different backgrounds work together and live alongside one another harmoniously. Residents from different faith or belief backgrounds are included in local conversations and decisions and are well represented by the local authority.
As a leader or member of faith or belief group, I want to ensure that my local area is a place that all residents feel safe, welcomed, represented and are confident to connect across differences. How may I contribute to this vision?
Vision: Our local area is a place where people from different backgrounds work together and live alongside one another harmoniously. Residents from different faith or belief backgrounds are included in local conversations and decisions and are well represented by the local authority.
As a leader or member of group or organisation working to improve my local community, I want to ensure that my local area is a place that all residents feel safe, welcomed, represented and are confident to connect across differences. How may I contribute to this vision?
Vision: Our local area is a place where people from different backgrounds work together and live alongside one another harmoniously. Residents from different faith or belief backgrounds are included in local conversations and decisions and are well represented by the local authority.
Get in touch with us about working at the local level through our Supporting Local Communities programme.