Stephen has praised the impact of the Faith Covenant in fostering collaboration between local authorities and faith communities, marking ten years since the initiative was launched.
Speaking at a Westminster event evaluating the Covenant’s success, Stephen, who is the former Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Faith and Society, said: “A lot of councils were pleasantly surprised by how positive their experience of working with faith groups turned out to be. If you wanted to work with willing volunteers, who were able to make an impact, had great premises and could reach into parts of the community that government often doesn't have much access to, then faith groups were the ideal partners.”
The Faith Covenant, first proposed by David Lammy MP and supported by the APPG on Faith and Society, provides a framework for local authorities and faith organisations to work together effectively. Its importance became particularly clear during the COVID-19 pandemic, when church-led food banks and community support services were in high demand.
Sir Stephen added: “There is increasingly, at the heart of government, an understanding of just how important this is. It’s not just that faith groups are happening to do useful things – it's the faith itself which is inspiring, equipping, and motivating people to make these very positive contributions in their communities.”
The government has recently launched a new ‘Civil Society Covenant’ to encourage collaboration with secular organisations, a move Sir Stephen believes was “likely inspired by” the success of the Faith Covenant.