Towards RFFs in London and the North East

Regional Faiths Network for the North East (RFN)

Background

The North East does not have a constituted RFF, but rather a Regional Faiths Network which could well evolve into a forum. This is being led by the Churches' Regional Commission in the North East (CRC). A Faiths Task Group was set up in 2006 comprising of all the known inter faith bodies in the Region. This group has agreed terms of reference which are currently out for consultation. Most of the inter faith bodies have taken an active interest and many are running focus groups as part of the consultation process.

The Faiths Task Group, which is the core of the Regional Faiths Network, meets monthly and organises regional events at least four times a year. It aims to develop local and sub-regional inter faith bodies across the region as well as to support those that already exist. It is addressing issues of concern to faith communities and stimulating public debate. The development of RFN is being funded through the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund and One North East (the Regional Development Agency).

Relationship to governance

Government Office for the North East (GO-NE) as well as providing funding for some RFN initiatives, is encouraging the development of the RFF. It has asked the Task Group to run a consultation day on the CLG Framework for inter faith dialogue and social action

It is envisaged that the RFN will provide regional representation for all its members. There is currently one faith seat on the Regional Assembly that is shared by two people. One is nominated by the Church Leaders Group, the other by the Faith Leaders Group. The RFN is working on the implications of the Sub-Regional National Review as it affects the Assembly.

CRC, representing the Faith Task Group, is involved in the faith alliance taking forward the work of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) in the North East.

RFN plans to work with local authorities, LSPs, and other public bodies. It is currently developing faiths training to help public bodies and faith communities to engage more effectively with each other. This is being funded by Government Office for the North East & One North East. The training will be based largely on "Understanding Faiths", a religious literacy resource developed by the CRC for Yorkshire & Humber, the Yorkshire & Humber Faiths Forum, CRC for the NE, and the Churches' Officer for the North West. "Understanding Faiths" was launched in the North East by the RFN.

Relationship to the VCS

The Chief Officer of CRC in NE leads on the faith strand in the Regional Voluntary and Community Sector Equalities Coalition. Through the Coalition, CRC receives a grant from One North East towards the work on the RFN as well as for other, related development of faith based social action.

Support for faith based social action

The Faiths Task Group envisage that the RFN will have supporting faith based social action as a key role. This has, and will include supporting faith representation on LSPs, organising forums on homelessness issues as they affect excluded groups such as Roma gypsies and travellers and returning offenders, and commissioning research on migrant workers and their families that will inform and underpin the development of the work. A project that is currently being planned, if funding from the EHRC is forthcoming, is to extend across the region the work of the Newcastle-based "Across Communities" Young People's Project which aims to empower young people's confidence and capacity alongside having their faith and cultural backgrounds validated in an atmosphere of trust and respect. The project brings many of the diverse communities together to work jointly on issues that affect them living in their communities (see case study in Section on Faith Based Social Action).

Resources needed to take this work forward

In order to achieve these aims RFN needs:

A small core team of paid staff to develop and implement
A stronger relationship with some regional bodies, for example the RDA and the Confederation of British Industry; this needs a greater willingness on their part to engage with the RFN.

Faiths Forum for London Project (FFLP)

Background

In 2005 the London Churches Group for Social Action funded a small scoping study undertaken by London Civic Forum to gauge the level of support for a Faiths Forum for London and to investigate the experience in other English regions. This provided the evidence to gain funding for a feasibility study funded by ChangeUP undertaken in the spring and summer of 2006.

The feasibility study had direct contact with about 150 organisations. The 'First Findings Report' of the study was launched in November 2006. The key recommendations included:

to set up a regional faith forum for London (FFL).
to provide, through the forum, a channel for faith communities to participate effectively in debates and decisions about regional social policy development.
to develop the forum's role in sharing information and good practice.

The London Development Agency provided funding for the initial development stages of the forum. Key activity over this period was based on the concern that while much progress had been achieved in establishing a clear desire for a forum, and an idea of what it might be, some of the essential issues of how this was to be achieved needed significantly more work.

The focus was on:

establishing unambiguous support for the project from key stakeholders including faith leaders from the major faith traditions represented in London.
establishing terms of reference and a model of governance that has sufficient support to allow the forum to move forward.
establishing an infrastructure plan which will include staffing (numbers, roles, job descriptions), an initial work plan and logistical requirements.

During this period the faiths forum was housed within the London Civic Forum which provided structural and programmatic support.

This work is now almost finished and FFL will bring together:

regional organisations and groups from the major faith communities of London
local multi faith groups
local faith communities and faith based organisations.

The work of the Faiths Forum will focus on enabling more effective access to public life by London's faith communities. FFL is currently (February 2008) advertising for an experienced development worker who will:

complete the organisational and constitutional arrangements to enable the Faiths Forum for London to gain independent status
organise a range of pilot programmes to demonstrate the value of the Faiths Forum for London to the faiths sector, the public sector and other interested parties in London.

It is expected that the forum will be formally launched in the Autumn of 2008 and will be a free-standing organisation by April 2009.

Relationship to governance

Governance of the London region is unique compared to other English regions. The Greater London Authority (GLA) has an:

Elected Mayor with direct executive powers for Metropolitan Police Authority, London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority and Transport for London. The Mayor also heads the London Development Agency (LDA).
Elected London Assembly representing the 32 London Boroughs plus the City of London.
The Faiths Forum for London Project (FFLP) has relationships with four functional bodies:-
LDA – FFLP has received development funding and has been engaged with the London Civic Forum (LCF) to prepare the next stage of development of the Faiths Forum for London (FFL).
GO-London
London Councils (the umbrella body representing the 32 London boroughs plus the City of London)
GLA which has a separate Secretariat.

FFLP also works with:

London Boroughs Faiths Network (LBFN) – London has 5 sub regions, North, South, East, West, and Central. London, unlike the other English regions, is unique as it is comprised of boroughs. LBFN links Borough Officers to faith communities
Lee Valley Park Authority – The Lee Valley Regional Park stretches 26 miles along the banks of the River Lee, from Ware in Hertfordshire, through Essex, to the Thames at East India Dock Basin.
London Resilience Team for Emergency Planning and Preparation
Metropolitan Police Service, Community Engagement Team
Transport for London, Equalities Team and Communities Engagement Team

Issues in relation to FFL and governance structures

London region has a bigger population than the other regions. Compared to the other regions, the diversity in London is on a macro scale therefore some of the tensions have a sharper focus. Faith issues are often dealt with alongside issues to do with equality and race. FFL has sometimes encountered an attitude among regional governance staff that starts from 'how to redress the historical wrongs?' and this can lead to a culture of blame where faith communities can be seen as part of the problem. It does need to be acknowledged that in some cases some faith communities have been at fault. However, the majority of faith communities have a wider agenda which is about creating a better and a more just society.

Lack of capacity on the part of FFL as it is new

Because FFL is a recent development, some government officers already have their own contacts in the faith communities. Currently the FFL is in the development period so it is about building good relations, trust and confidence. It needs to prove that it will help to reach deeper and broader faith representation, which is regionally more diverse geographically and `grass roots oriented'.

London region has a wide range of governance bodies and for a small body such as FFL to maintain good relationship is challenging. Fortunately the high levels of staff turnover in governance bodies experienced in other regions, does not happen in London.

Relationship with the VCS and other structures

FFLP works with London Boroughs Faiths Network (LBFN) which links Borough Officers to faith communities. London Civic Forum has been key in the development of the FFLP (see above in Background).

Support for faith based social action

FFL does disseminate relevant material to faith based organisations, run seminars and training and facilitate networking. During the current consultation period, FFL will decide whether it will undertake support for social action.

Other organisations that support groups engaged in faith based social action in London include:

Some local boroughs, for example – Camden, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of Westminster.
VCS and LSP – vary from borough to borough.
Borough Deans – Network of ecumenical borough deans established by the Greater London Churches Council in 1976.
National faith based organisations in London also benefit local groups – eg. Faith Regen, CANDL, CUF, United Synagogue Community Development Group.

London Citizens – originated from TELCO East London Citizens, which is a diverse alliance of active citizens and community leaders organising for change. Although it is non faith based a third of its members are faith groups. It gives support to local groups on community empowerment.

Resources needed to take the work forward

FFL is still in the development phase and the answer to this depends on what work it decides to undertake.