Why have a ‘joining-up-the-dots’ conference?

Faith based groups often contribute to community cohesion as well as towards such communities' social and economic development. But, unfortunately, these groups often feel that they are small insignificant dots on the landscape. Some are well connected but working or co-operating with an even wider range of organisations might well improve their effectiveness.

FbRN UK believes that this needs to happen in a more ‘joined-up’ way, and so this conference was convened to facilitate joining up the dots. The conference encouraged faith based groups to find out about what different types of organisation are doing and how their own work can benefit from linking in to it. The conference also enabled organisations that are aiming to increase their work with faith groups to: build their profile with faith groups; achieve greater understanding about faith groups' needs and establish links with them.

This ‘joining of the dots’ is a part of FbRN UK’s key purposes which are:

• to assist the development of good practice in faith based social action, community development and community regeneration by linking practitioners for sharing good practice and mutual encouragement

• to act as a means of communication and contact between practitioners in communities, and those who make and implement public policy, in order to improve the context in which faith based social action, community development and regeneration takes place.

FbRN UK has been working along these lines since it was established by practitioners in 2002. The positive response to FbRN UK, by practitioners and policy makers alike, tells us that the work of ‘joining up the dots’ continues to be much needed and appreciated. If the enthusiasm and keenness displayed to talk to each other, share ideas and concerns as well as making connections is a good guide then the conference was tremendously successful in achieving our purposes.