Recent Publications

Faith in England's Northwest: How Faith Communities Contribute to Social and Economic Wellbeing: October 2009

Faith communities make a significant contribution to the well-being of the Northwest. This report, based on research undertaken by the Change Institute for the Churches' Officer for the Northwest and supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), provides an in-depth evaluation of the contribution faith groups make to communities in the Northwest and assesses their success in fostering social and economic well-being.

This report follows two previous research reports funded by NWDA in 2003 and 2005, which surveyed more than 2,300 faith communities across eight faith groups and assessed the economic impact of their activity. The findings of the earlier research pointed to faith groups making a multi-faceted contribution to individual and community well-being. This study sought to explore and articulate this contribution in greater detail. It examines why faith groups become involved in social action, how their activity fits with wider policy agendas and what is distinctive about what they bring. The study comprised a literature review and 12 comprehensive project case studies.

The research was timely because an increased focus on the role of the Third Sector has also made faith groups more prominent in national public policy and service delivery agendas. Its findings confirmed that most faith groups are rooted in their local communities and provide a level of continuity and sustained support that is hard for other voluntary organisations to match. Their central role within communities can generate local trust, commitment and financial or in-kind resources. The complete document can be downloaded below.

Faith in England's Northwest: How Faith Communities Contribute to Social and Economic Wellbeing: October 2009 Power Point Presentation

In presenting the new NWDA research on faith communities around the region many people have asked that the power point presentation be made available. Accordingly it is now being posted below. Accompanying notes have been added to most of the slides for the use of anyone who wishes to give their own power point presentation of the research. The text can be accessed under 'view' followed by 'notes page'. It is recommended that you print these notes out in full before reverting to 'slide show' for your presentation. The complete presentation can be downloaded below.