Report says contribution of faiths to society ‘more pressing’ after Covid-19
Study commissioned by the British Academy and the Faith and Belief Forum says religious groups help promote social cohesion and provide crucial community services
An interfaith report published this week argues that the contribution of faith to society is likely to become “more pressing” after the coronavirus pandemic.
The findings are detailed in ‘Cohesive Societies: Faith and Belief’, by the thinktank Theos, was jointly commissioned by the British Academy and the Faith and Belief Forum (FBF) which charts social cohesion policy in the UK and examines the practical impact of the faith and belief sector in society.
Among the case studies that the report’s author Madeleine Pennington drew on was the Peace by Piece interfaith programme initiated by the West London Synagogue to promote positive Jewish-Muslim relations locally.
Another is the long-standing secondary school linking partnership between JCoSS and Tawhid Boys, with students touring museums and galleries together, and even jointly visiting Arsenal Football Club.
FBF director Phil Champain argued that faith and belief groups were “best viewed as an asset to society and not as a problem to be solved”.
He said: “This report clearly shows that integration issues are better addressed by approaching faith and belief communities in a spirit of partnership, recognising the positive role they can play in creating a more connected and cohesive society.
“Many faith groups already play a central role in bettering social cohesion while also providing crucial services in their local areas. By working to build better relations between our diverse communities, we can unlock even more of this potential for positive change.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
