What's New
19.03.10
CDF's new publication, Faiths matters, showcases good practice in faith and inter faith workhttp://cdf.msgfocus.com/q/12gnUkWDVrTZH/wv
18.03.10
NEW FbRN UK PROGRAMME VISIBLE: A Quality Assurance Framework for Faith Based Organisations FbRN is working with the highly regarded Community Sector organisation Community Matters, the Church Urban Fund and the Faith and Civil Society department of Goldsmith's College to develop a quality assurance framework for faith based organisations. This will build on the VISIBLE framework which Community Matters has been using for some years and which is currently being revised. VISIBLE is endorsed by the Charity Commission, the Local Government Association and the Office of the Third Sector. It has had a good take-up with small and medium sized community organisations, but as yet has not been much used by faith based organisations.FbRN aim to produce a form of VISIBLE that faith based organisations can relate to, and that meets their needs and those of potential partners. As part of the process, it will be piloting the quality assurance framework with six faith based organisations.
Please email your application to janewinter@fbrn.org.ukby Wednesday 7th April 2010Please follow
the link for more information.
18.03.10
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
05.03.10
Free Workshops in Fund raising, sustainability and Monitoring and Evaluation
Fund-raising and Sustainability sessions, on 22 March and on 24 March. Monitoring and Evaluation sessions, on 29 March and 31 March. All events are being held at Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1. The training will last the whole day, from 10am to 4.30pm (registration from 9.30am).Each organisation may be represented by up to 5 individuals. These can be staff from your central office, or representatives of your local or regional member bodies. We would strongly encourage you, in any case, to cascade the lessons learnt at the workshops to your members.
We urge you to take advantage of this opportunity! If you wish to book a place please contact the Community Development Foundation, which is running the workshops for us. CDF's number is on the flier.
If you are interested in attending please download the leaflets below.
05.03.10
The Power of the Mark of the X - (A Christian response in the light of the present political climate)
The Methodist Church North Lancashire District Forum are holding an event looking at the current political climate. If you would like more information or to attend please down load the leaflet below.
17.02.10
Liverpool Hope University and Merseyside Council of Faiths Present a series of Lectures - What in my faith could I not live without
The speakers will combine the scholarly with the personal in presentations that will touch the heart of what religion means in the contemporary world. The series will appeal to all who are interested in Britain's religious diversity and all are welcome. It will be of particular interest to those working or training to work in religiously plural situations
For further information and to register for these events please download the leaflet below.
12.02.10
Faiths In Action Round 2 - Your Chance for Funding
The Communities Secretary John Denham opened the second application round for the Faiths in Action fund at the Inter Faith Week launch event on 12th November 2009. Grants of up to £6,000 are available to support a wide variety of local inter faith activities in a range of community settings, including innovative new ideas as well as 'tried and tested' approaches.
The programme is administered by the Community Development Foundation on behalf of this Department and is designed not only to give groups and organisations financial assistance but also to provide some advice and guidance.
Applications will continue to
be considered until the
Government's £2 million investment for round 2 is used up.
For further information and to apply please see the latest
leaflet
20.01.10
New research from the Refugee Council
Published last night questions the myth of the pull factor upon which much of the Home Office's deterrent policy is based."In-depth interviews with asylum seekers and refugees revealed that:
- Over two thirds did not choose to come to the UK.
- Most only discovered they were going to the UK after leaving
their country of origin.
- The primary objective for all those interviewed was reaching a
place of safety.
- Around three quarters had no knowledge of welfare benefits and
support before coming to the UK - most had no expectation they
would be given financial support.
- 90% were working in their country of origin and very few were
aware they would not be allowed to work when they arrived in the
UK.
- While none of those interviewed came to the UK in order to seek
work, they fully expected to have to work to support themselves,
and were not anticipating being given money by the government to
live on. "
The report's conclusions emphasize: "The need for
politicians, policy makers and the media to change the terms of the
public and political debate on asylum by explaining more clearly
the reasons why asylum seekers come to the UK and challenging
(rather than reinforcing) the idea that the asylum system acts as a
'pull' factor."
Following last week's 'debate' about migration control
ignited by Lord Carey et al it is interesting to note the
report's comment on addressing the causes of forced migration:
Given the strength of evidence on the underlying causes of asylum
flows, policy efforts should focus on the root causes of forced
migration (conflict and human rights abuse) rather than policies
intended to prevent and deter asylum seekers from arriving.
This will require joined-up policy making at the UK and EU level in
relation to the promotion of human rights, humanitarian action,
development aid and trade and investment.
The report and a summary are available on the Refugee Council
website:
http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/policy/briefings/2010/13012010_x
14.01.10
Grants of up to £6000 available to support inter
faith activity within local communities
Faiths in Action,
A £4m grant programme, opened a second round of funding on
12 November. Faith, inter faith, voluntary and community
organisations and groups in England can come forward and apply for
a grant of up to £6000.
Administered by the Community Development Foundation (CDF) on
behalf of Communities and Local Government (CLG), Faiths in Action
aims to bring communities together, promoting positive
relationships between people of different religions and beliefs. It
is hoped the grants will support a wide variety of local activities
in a range of community settings. This includes innovative new
ideas as well as 'tried and tested' approaches.
The fund contributes to the delivery of the Government's inter
faith strategy as set out in
'Face to Face and Side by Side: A framework for partnership in
our multi faith society', published in July 2008 (
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/interfaithdialogue).
The fund aims to support local activities and initiatives that have
a direct link to one or more of the four building blocks set out in
this framework.
Faiths in Action welcomes projects aimed at women and young people.
It also encourages working in partnership, to improve local
communities through interaction and sharing of ideas.
Please note the intention of the Faiths in Action programme is to
fund projects/ activities running in one locality; not across one
or many localities or Government regions. Projects must have a
clear link to a named local project.
Funding will be awarded to successful organisations from April
2010, to be spent by the end of March 2011.
Please note that this round of funding will operate as a rolling
programme. That is, there is no formal deadline for receipt of
applications. Applications will be accepted in the date and time
order that they are received by CDF, until the total value of the
eligible, relevant applications received equals the overall value
of the fund.
Round 2 of the fund is currently open for applications. Completed
applications can be sent in at any time either electronically or by
post. For more information and to find out how to apply, please
visit,
http://www.cdf.org.uk/web/guest/faiths-in-action
If you have any questions that you cannot find answers to here,
please call the helpline on 01223 406533 or e-mail us at
fundingadmin@cdf.org.uk and we will help you with your queries.
03.01.10
Places available on Liverpool Community Spirit Adult Learner Course (please click at the link for more informationRun 1: 11th and 18th February
Run2: 25th February and 4th March
If you would like to book a free placeplease contact amanda.brown@community-spirit.org.uk or phone 0151 709 3171.
06.10.09
Faith in England's Northwest: How Faith Communities Contribute to Social and Economic Wellbeing
Faith communities make a significant contribution to the wellbeing of our region.
For almost 10 years the Northwest Regional Development Agency has worked in partnership with faith communities to develop an evidence based approach to their contribution to the life of our region.
One key finding in our research has been the strength of faith communities, their buildings and volunteers, in areas of highest social need. This evidence has supplied the rationale for a number of faith-based projects funded by the NWDA. It has also led us to promote faith community engagement with other public sector partners and has led in turn to the NWDA taking the Regional Development Agency lead role nationally on faith.
This latest NWDA-sponsored research explores how faith groups effectively contribute to the outcomes of a range of public policy agendas. They do so as they pursue their day-to-day traditional role at the service of the community.
23.12.09
The Henry Smith Charity - grants available
The Henry Smith Charity currently offers a range of grant programmes. Each has its own guidelines to help you apply. Please read the guidelines thoroughly before making your application.
The types of projects and services you can apply for a grant towards through our Main and Small Grants Programmes are listed on the What We Fund page of this website. The things we do not give grants for are listed on the Not Normally Funded page.
For further information go to the website www.henrysmithcharity.org.uk
23.12.09
Liverpool Community Spirit - a course exploring faith and cultue in your community.
For more information, please down load the attached leaflet
Published last night questions the myth of the pull factor upon which much of the Home Office's deterrent policy is based. "In-depth interviews with asylum seekers and refugees revealed that: Places available on Liverpool Community Spirit Adult Learner Course (please click at the link for more information
