Community guide gets off the ground

A new guide will give churches and other faith groups practical help in developing local projects that benefit the whole community.

And a leading councillor has said he appreciates the vital role of churches in society.

The Bishop of Bradwell, Laurie Green, has worked in a partnership with Essex County Council to produce guidance on how churches can engage with the council in setting up and funding community programmes.

The guide is a mine of information, contact details and funding opportunities that will help church halls and other valuable community assets benefit. The guidance covers Thurrock and Southend unitary authorities as well as the county council area.

The partnership chairman, Essex county councillor John Jowers, said: “Faith groups play a key role in society. Their local leaders know an extraordinary number of people and contribute to many local initiatives. They can motivate people to work selflessly on projects for the good of the community.

“We have grown beyond the age when faith was a source of division, and are beginning to appreciate the vital role of faith communities in binding society together. Co-operationbetween different faith-based groups is much more common than we often realise, and is a reality in Essex. Moreover, faith groups commonly cross all sorts of barriers that otherwise may divide people, bringing together people of different income, class, occupation, race and age. For all these reasons they are a valuable part of our voluntary sector in Essex.”

The booklet is available, priced £2, from Simon Banks at Essex County Council, simon.banks@essexcc.gov.uk, 01245 430478 (cheques payable to Essex County Council) or from Diocesan Resources (resources@chelmsford.anglican.org), 53 New Street,Chelmsford CM1 1AT (cheques payable to Dioceseof Chelmsford).

---