Faiths 4 Change incorporating Operation Eden

Inspired by the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, Operation EDEN enabled volunteers from faith communities in Liverpool to work in partnership with other local residents to create small scale environmental projects that transformed Merseyside communities. Projects undertaken included community food growing, a recycling service for housebound people, and cleaning up the Leeds Liverpool canal in Bootle town centre. Volunteers received support from the Project Team, including one to one advice, training, network events and grant funding to develop projects.

In Anfield, Liverpool, a Pentecostal church – Liverpool Lighthouse – receiving donations of furniture, needed to create a showroom to enable local people to view the low cost, good quality furniture available. The Al Ghazali Multi Cultural Community Centre, set up by members of Liverpool’s Muslim communities, wanted to create a space where young people could come together to grow their own food and learn to care for the environment. Operation EDEN was able to support Liverpool Lighthouse and Al Ghazali with training, networking events and grant funding to make both projects a reality.

In total EDEN supported 57 projects which involved more than 1500 volunteers and over 200 partners including faith communities, local authorities and residents groups.
The project is supported by world faith communities.

Now, a new regional project Faiths4Change has received funding of just over £1 million to use the experience gained through Operation EDEN to develop a multi-faith, environmental transformation project in urban areas within Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Burnley and Preston. The funding is mainly from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), the Environment Agency and local authorities.

www.faiths4change.org.uk

John Devine, Churches Officer for the Northwest and patron and board member of Operation EDEN said:

“Research undertaken by the NWDA has demonstrated that faith communities are strongest in areas of highest social need, Operation EDEN was a perfect example of how statutory and voluntary bodies could work in partnership with faith communities to engage with hard to reach groups in the community. With further funding now being given to the Faiths4Change programme, we can take those lessons forward and continue to allow people in deprived areas to enhance their skills and make positive changes to their environment.”