Booklet will help public bodies to value faith

A NEW publication has been launched which gives guidance for public bodies on working in partnership with faith groups.

'Working and consulting with faith communities,' produced by the East of England Faiths Council for the
East of England Development Agency and the Government Office for the East of England,
provides advice on finding information and resources, meeting people of different religious traditions, diversity training, discrimination and basic information about the beliefs and practices of nine major faiths.

Speaking at the booklet's launch, Lord Wilson, the former Head of the Civil Service who is now Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, said: "It's important that we recognise the role which faith
communities in the East of England can play at every level, from participating in forming regional strategy to offering a rich diversity of local faith-based support and activities.

"There is no shortage of new challenges for the region and, by the same token, many new opportunities to grasp. Faith groups are a marvellous resource for the region to draw upon, offering a wealth of volunteers, social cohesion and local knowledge."

The booklet can be downloaded at www.gos.gov.uk/goee/docs/186892/eefc_working_with.pdf

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