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Communities Minister urges faith groups to inspire community action

Summary: Communities Minister Andrew Stunell this week encouraged faith based organisations to share their passion and experience with others to maximise their work to help people and improve neighbourhoods.

In a major speech to representatives of groups involved with social action across the country, Mr Stunell stressed that faith based community action is a key plank of the Big Society vision. Faith based organisations are well-rooted in communities and have a long track record of successful work to address social needs. They are also able to stimulate volunteering and financial resources.

Andrew Stunell said:

"Faith based organisations have long made an important contribution to local communities, and your work is going to become even more relevant in the months to come. Practical co-operation between churches, mosques, temples, gurdwaras, synagogues and the wider voluntary sector can become a huge force for good in building the stronger communities that are at the heart of the Big Society's purpose.

"There are some great examples of faith based providers that are thinking flexibly and reaching out beyond their own natural constituencies, whether of faith or of location. We want more organisations to follow this lead and take advantage of the emerging Big Society to make an even bigger difference in their communities."

Making the keynote speech at the Faith Based Regeneration Network national conference in London on 19 October, Mr Stunell fleshed out the Government's Big Society plans and challenged those attending to consider how best they can harness the increasing power at the local level in order to address the needs of the neighbourhoods they operate in.

The Minister issued a number of challenges to those at the conference. He asked what Government can learn from faith based organisations and what barriers Government could dismantle that would make it easier for faith based organisations to achieve their goals.

Andrew Stunell updated delegates on work that's already taking place to foster the Big Society, including in the four 'vanguard areas'. These four places are receiving targeted Government support to help resolve the bureaucratic barriers that get in the way of locally driven community development.

The Minister went on to say that organisations and projects that bring people with different beliefs together are especially important in helping to build a stronger, more integrated society. Inter Faith Week next month will be an opportunity to celebrate and encourage inter faith dialogue and social action.

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