Faith-based charities are being invited to apply for a new £1m government fund aimed at projects that strengthen engagement between local and national government and faith groups.
The Faith New Deal Pilot Fund is aimed at supporting faith-based organisations to use their resources effectively within their community and build trust between local authorities, national government and faith groups.
The government said it wanted to recognise the role these organisations have played during the pandemic and build on what it described as “a new normal”.
It said it hoped to embed this partnership working to help co-design solutions to social problems and commission services.
Funded pilots will be innovative projects to strengthen engagement between local and national government and faith groups to test what can be achieved when they work together.
The programme will fund projects to tackle social issues, including those arising from the impact of the pandemic and to support the recovery efforts of communities.
Grants of up to £200,000 are available.
The outcomes from the pilots will be captured and fed into a set of partnership principles for sustainable collaboration between national and local government and faith communities called a Faith Compact.
Best practice will also be shared on the development of new partnerships, the mechanisms for delivery and the impact on local communities.
The deadline for bids is 14 October.
For more information and how to apply click here.