Published: 16 January 2007
Role for Faith Based Groups in UK Welfare
The role of faith based groups in ensuring people have access to welfare services will be of growing importance over the coming years according to Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform, Jim Murphy.
Mr Murphy announced that he will be hosting a national seminar in the coming weeks that will bring together faith organisations of all persuasions to discuss how they could contribute further to the welfare state and what more the Government can do to facilitate this.
Speaking during a visit to Alpha Building Services & Engineering Ltd in East London, where they work with local faith organisations to help people into work, Jim Murphy said:
"I want to see a greater role for faith based groups in UK welfare delivery.
If we are to successfully tackle problems like poverty, long-term unemployment and benefit dependency then we need to ensure that people have access to the services and support that the welfare state offers.
I believe that faith based groups offer an invaluable link into communities and individuals who may at first be reluctant or unsure of how to engage with the state and the programmes that are there to help them.
What I want to do now, is see how we can take this further.
I will be hosting a seminar in London where the country's leading faith organisations will be able to come and talk about their own experiences, but more importantly what more they feel can be achieved and how best we go about doing this."
Jim Murphy said that there were examples both here & abroad of groups having a positive influence in the provision of welfare services and he wanted to see that increase.
He continued:
"We share a common cause in wanting to see an end to poverty and help people maximise the opportunities available.
We are already working closely with faith organisation in some parts of the country, but I strongly believe that faith based groups can have a much wider role in UK welfare delivery.
Many faith groups are active in some of our poorest communities offering support and advice to some of the most vulnerable members of society.
In Australia for example the Salvation Army, Mission Australia and Centrecare all have a long history of involvement in welfare delivery, helping those people who traditionally have shied away from the state. I see no reason why the same can not happen here."
Jim Murphy praised the work Alpha BSE have undertook with Employment Focus and local faith organisations to help people back into training and the workplace.
He added:
"This is a great example of helping people into the workplace who otherwise may have remained on benefits.
It shows that where people are given the opportunity to do so they will take advantage of it. In many cases that route to work or support and skills can come from organisations with strong connections in the local community and we should seek to take advantage of that and encourage it where we can."
Further information
Employment Focus
Salvation Army (Australia)
Mission Australia
Centrecare
ESRC – Faith-based voluntary action
Faith & Public Policy Forum - King's College London
VS Magazine article – Beyond Belief
Faith Based Community work – report on seminars
Article: Soul Providers
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Supporting Partnership in the North West’s Third Sector
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