Workshops: EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENT

Faith based organisations and local government in effective partnerships and joint working.

Led by: Rose Doran of the Improvement and Development Agency for local government, and Rachel Clarke Policy Officer, Leicester City Council

Rose Doran – Community Cohesion Adviser
Rose Doran is responsible for developing and managing the agency’s programmes of work on community cohesion and preventing violent extremism.  As part of her wider role on community cohesion she leads the IDeA’s work with local authorities on ‘faith, community and the public sector’.

Rachel Clarke, Policy Officer, Partnership Executive Team, Leicester City Council
Rachel represents the City Council on the Holocaust Memorial Day organising committee, working with the Leicester Council of Faiths and other key partners on delivering Leicester’s HMD event. She has collaborated with the Leicester Council of Faiths on responses to central government consultations on inter faith dialogue.

Rachel Clarke talked about significant faiths in Leicester, changing faith patterns, and the importance of faith partnerships and how the City Council built its links through the Council of Faiths, involvement on the Bishop’s Faith Forum and working with the Federation of Muslim Organisations (FMO). The work included capacity building with a specific remit to increase the participation of women and young people; safeguarding children in madrassas (e.g. health and safety, child protection, work with imams) and addressing the Prevent agenda – Mainstreaming Moderation. Positive aspects of partnership in Leicester include the ability to secure access into communities; recognition of faith groups’ role in social justice activities, inclusive activities & involvement; the support of faith leaders in making things happen, and having a forum for dialogue and reconciliation important when tensions arise. 

The workshop split into two groups and identified the following areas where local government could support faith based partnerships.

Faith literacy
Increased literacy for local authorities and understanding diversity within faiths is important, including complexities that might be present (e.g. faith & ethnicity), changing faith patterns (e.g. influx of new communities) and practical needs that might impact on service provision. 

Capacity building
Acknowledging differences in the level of faith communities’ understanding of local authority processes and structures (e.g. Local Strategic Partnerships, Local Area Agreements etc) and overcoming barriers through clear and transparent communication. There is an opportunity for this when Community Plans and supporting structures are being ‘refreshed’.
Faith communities need to familiarise themselves with local structures to enable them to participate effectively.

Good communication
Avoid jargon/acronyms wherever possible.
Aim for transparency when seeking faiths’ involvement in programmes. Explain why involvement is desirable and the purpose of a faiths/multifaith perspective and collaborate on outcomes.   

Connecting up and seeking wider engagement
Help to promote sharing understanding across faiths, bringing single faiths together and link  them with appropriate organisations such as  faith-based and secular such as local ‘umbrella’ groups. Note, the need to work not just talk together, and to encourage involvement of young people in interfaith/multi faith forums