Background

  ‘We acknowledge that faith communities make a vital contribution to national life. Across the country,  followers of all faiths are working hard to address problems in their communities. They have the buildings, experience, volunteers and ‘reach’ that can put them at the very heart of service-delivery to many vulnerable groups’: Cabinet office News 30th July 2010 web sourced 16th August 2010.

 Faith based organisations (FBOs) are one of the largest, and most swiftly growing parts of the charity sector. They are also the subject of increasing attention from Government.
  
Yet much of the resources and good practice that is available in the wider Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) has a poor record of take-up from faith based organisations.  This means that these organisations are operating less effectively than they otherwise would be and the VCS is missing out on the resources and connection with community that these organisations offer.

Factors in this include:
 faith communities very often do not think of themselves as part of the wider VCS.
 they are therefore often unaware of wider networks and support services that would be available to them.
 they can also be unaware of good practice policies, procedures and structures in the wider VCS, and especially the concept of quality standards.
 they are sometimes nervous of losing their independence or compromising their values if they engage in contractual relationships with public bodies.
 public and voluntary sector networks are sometimes wary or suspicious of engaging with faith communities because they have anxieties about proselytisation.
 secular agencies and / or their staff often feel ill-equipped to deal with people or organisations of faith because of their own lack of faith literacy and desire to avoid offence.

For all of these reasons, FBOs are often unaware of, or uncertain how to choose or access, appropriate quality standards and processes that demonstrate impact and robust management systems.

For details of FbRN’s VISIBLE programme contact Jane Winter
janewinter@fbrn.org.uk 07734 962140