faith communities – The Church of England in Parliament

Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about role of faith in urban regeneration

The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asked a question on the role of churches in urban renewal during a discussion on regeneration of high streets and town centres on 18th March 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham: My Lords, although the 10-year Pride in Place funding is a welcome step towards longer-term investment, and there are other funds available for town centre regeneration, some towns in Nottinghamshire, such as Mansfield and Newark, continue to face increasing vacancy rates, declining footfall and concerns about safety in the town centres. What assessment have the Government made of the role of churches and other community groups using vacant shops to set up services that create social capital locally? Will the Minister reassure the House that faith communities and charities are enabled to apply for the various funds?

Bishop of Lincoln asks about tackling child poverty

The Bishop of Lincoln tabled a question on facilitating consultation and collaboration with faith-based and voluntary sector organisations to deliver the Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty strategy on 3rd February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Lincoln: To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to facilitate consultation and collaboration with faith-based and voluntary sector organisations to deliver the Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty strategy, published on 5 December 2025.

Bishop of Norwich asks about inclusion of civil society and faith organisations in path to net zero

The Bishop of Norwich tabled a question on government steps to include civil society and faith-based organisations in work to reach net zero emissions by 2050 on 8th January 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to include civil society and faith-based organisations in work to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Lord Whitehead (Lab, DESNZ): Our recently published Energising Britain plan sets out how we will work with communities so that everyone can benefit from our clean energy superpower mission. It highlights how we are already engaging people and local organisations to design and deliver climate and nature policies that reflect people’s needs and views. The plan also outlines new ways to collaborate, including an annual “Energising Britain” event and the Youth for Climate and Nature panel.

Bishop of Chester asks about family hubs and local organisations

The Bishop of Chester asked a question on relation of family hubs to local and voluntary groups in communities, during a conversation on supporting parents in raising young children on 5th January 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Chester: My Lords, can the Minister comment on the way in which these hubs will relate to voluntary groups? I warmly welcome the Question, which seems important, and the introduction of the hubs, but in an age when parenting can get increasingly lonely, the many voluntary groups that provide community are essential, if it takes a village to raise a child.

Bishop of Sheffield asks about engagement between local authorities and faith groups

The Bishop of Sheffield asked a question on encouraging the use of covenants and charters to promote engagement and cooperation between faith communities and local authorities, during a discussion on use of the “advancement of religion” charitable purpose by charities on 26th November 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: My Lords, just two weeks ago, Sheffield City Council launched its faith and belief charter—a sort of service-level agreement between local faith communities and the local authority setting out what each might expect of the other for the wider benefit of our city. The charter assumes a shared commitment to the essential dignity of every human being, as created in the image and likeness of God. Will the Minister encourage the use of such covenants and charters between faith communities and local authorities, not least on account of their capacity to challenge precisely the behaviours identified in the Question put by the noble Baroness?

Bishop of Leicester asks about support for faith communities addressing safeguarding concerns

The Bishop of Leicester asked a question on government support for faith communities in addressing safeguarding concerns on 22nd October 2025, during a discussion on a Commons Urgent Question on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester: My Lords, the Church of England has in recent years been forced to face up to our own, significant failures in the areas of safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. We were far too slow to realise the devastating impact of safeguarding when it goes wrong, and we are even now struggling to put in place appropriate ways of ensuring accountability and of being led by survivors. Can the Minister therefore tell me what the Government are doing to support all faith communities in addressing safeguarding, to go beyond simply the requirements of the Charity Commission and to show that no group is above the law when it comes to safeguarding?

Bishop of Sheffield asks about engagement with charities and faith groups in procuring asylum accommodation

The Bishop of Sheffield received the following written answer on 15th September 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield asked His Majesty’s Government whether they intend to consult charities, faith groups, and frontline support services to deliver a more sustainable approach for procuring short-term accommodation for asylum seekers in line with the recommendations on the procurement of short term accommodation set out in the Office for Value for Money’s policy paper UK Infrastructure: A 10 Year Strategy.

Bishop of Sheffield asks about support of faith organisations in humanitarian work

The Bishop of Sheffield asked a question on support for faith organisations in humanitarian work on 23rd June 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: My Lords, I welcome the recent launch of the British Overseas NGOs for Development’s Faith in Development Working Group. Member organisations such as Tearfund, Islamic Relief Worldwide and World Jewish Relief, together with secular NGOs, are seeking to create a platform to facilitate, encourage and promote faith actors in international development and humanitarian work. What plans does the Minister’s department have to consult and collaborate with faith communities and faith-based organisations, precisely to mitigate the impact of ODA cuts on vulnerable children?

Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about role of third sector in rehabilitating offenders

The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asked a question on the role of faith groups and the third sector in supporting rehabilitation of offenders on 2nd June 2025, during a discussion on the recently published Independent Sentencing Review:

The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham: My Lords, I join other noble Lords in welcoming the publication of the review. My friend the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Gloucester regrets that she is not able to be in her place today, but I know that she has been raising many of the issues addressed in this review over several years. It is heartening that the review has looked at creative alternatives to prison that are rigorous and yet also address the root causes of people committing crimes in the first place, and has proposed effective ways of preventing people entering cycles of criminality and reoffending, as well as strengthening and protecting communities, which is in the interest of victims on all sides.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: