- What is the Tameside picture?
- Food Banks in Tameside
- Better off without them?
- Walking the Breadline: the scandal of food poverty in 21st-century Britain
- Faithful providers report
- EHRC guidance on religion and belief in the workplace
- How to pitch a tent
- Religion and the 2011 Census
- Post-religious Britain?
- Tameside East food bank now open!
- Religion or belief, equality and human rights in England and Wales
- Food Banks in Tameside
- Jubilee Debt Campaign multifaith project
- Tax Justice Bus Tour 2012 [CAMPAIGN - FAITHS UNITED]
- YouGov poll says public backs high quality RE
- Interculturalism – lessons from the field
- Secularism, racism and the politics of belonging
- Hate crime survey
- Serving deprived communities in a recession
- National Inter Faith Week 2011
- All Party Parliamentary Group on religious education
- Community relations in Hyde
- The role of faith groups in the Big Society
- Celebrating faith inspired local volunteering
- Inter faith Network E-Bulletin
- Faiths united meetings and events for 2012
- Diversity Calendar 2012
What is the Tameside picture?
9 food banks are in operation and 3 are in development. Over 90 people are involved with food banks and 371 families were supported in February 2013 with 3 days’ worth of non-perishable food usually given each visit, to a person or family. This level of demand is expected to increase. Food bank volunteers don’t give advice, but they listen, and may be able to give information about further help. Food bank help is confidential, and volunteers are not there to judge people.
For more information on food banks: contact Mohamamed on 0161 339 4985 ext 2020 or email mohamed.seedat@cvat.org.uk
Food Banks in Tameside
Evidence submitted to the Greater Manchester Poverty Commission suggests food poverty is increasing, leading to a rise in the number of food banks and demand for their services. The need for food banks is unacceptable, although the work they do is welcome and clearly much needed.
The Trussell Trust executive chairman, Chris Mould, said: "The sheer volume of people who are turning to food banks because they can't afford food is a wake-up call to the nation that we cannot ignore the hunger on our doorstep."
He added: "Politicians across the political spectrum urgently need to recognise the real extent of UK food poverty and create fresh policies that better address its underlying causes. This is more important than ever as the impact of the biggest reforms to the welfare state since it began start to take effect.”
This report challenges the public sector, which is often squeamish about funding faith-based organisations. Pound for pound, these organisations are delivering equal value to their ‘secular’ counterparts. Public bodies are often concerned that the faith sector provides exclusively only to people of a particular religion or denomination. This report shows that faith providers are embedded in their local communities and responsive to local needs. They are funded primarily from their own grassroots support and draw heavily on volunteers, which makes them more sustainable and resilient to government funding cuts. However, with more government support, they may be able to increase their capacity for the benefit of all.
More information: click here
Although the UK is the seventh richest country in the world, many people struggle to afford even the most essential of goods: food. This briefing highlights the rise in food poverty in the UK, where over 500,000 are now thought to be reliant on food parcels. Figures from the Trussell Trust, the biggest network of foodbanks in the UK, reveal that cuts and changes to the welfare system are the most common reason for people resorting to food banks. Church Action on Poverty and Oxfam are recommending, among other things, that the government conducts an urgent inquiry into the relationship between welfare changes and cuts, and the growth of food poverty.
More information: click here
Faithful providers report
A new report argues that local authorities stand to benefit both financially and through improved community relations if religious groups are brought into service delivery. The report investigates 20 faith-motivated organisations across a variety of policy areas, finding little evidence to justify fears over aggressive preaching. Faith is an important part in the lives of staff and volunteers, but it does not adversely impact on their service provision, instead leading some volunteers to go the extra mile. In fact, faith-based providers are especially effective in areas like drugs and alcohol rehabilitation, where a ‘holistic’ approach is valuable. The report also argues that, if religious groups in receipt of public money are required to work with organisations of other faiths when delivering services, the result could be improved integration, a greater sense of community and stronger local institutions.
More information: click here
EHRC guidance on religion and belief in the workplace
In February the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published guidance on religion and belief in the workplace based on the judgements in January of the European Court of Human Rights on four combined cases on religious freedom. The judgements affect the responsibilities of employers to put in place policies to protect religion or belief rights in the workplace both for the rights of employees and the rights of customers. While the cases were brought exclusively by Christians, the implications of the judgement apply to employees of any religion or belief, including those of non-religious beliefs.
More information: click here
How to pitch a tent
'How to pitch a tent' is an informative and accessible video introduction to the practice of Scriptural Reasoning, in which Jews, Christians and Muslims come together to study their holy texts. The demonstration takes place in the Bedouin Tent at St Ethelburga's Centre for Peace and Reconciliation. Tameside’s theological reflections meetings pursue a similar purpose.
Religion and the 2011 Census
The first numbers have been issued from the 2011 Census on religious affiliation. Analysts will be pouring over the figures for the next few weeks and months but one interesting fact that emerges from the raw figures is that religious diversity, far from being solely an urban phenomenon, is actually spreading throughout England and Wales.
More information: click here
Post-religious Britain?
This report looks at what people of no religious faith believe, arguing that this group is much more interesting and complex than has long been thought.
To review the report click here
Tameside East food bank opens
Tameside East food bank opened on 3 December 2012. St John’s Dukinfield, Holy Trinity Stalybridge and New Life Church Ashton have formed a partnership and joined up with the Trussell Trust. The aim is to help local people in need. Food is donated by church members and the general public. A massive starting boost saw a launch weekend collection arranged nationally between Tesco and the Trussell Trust, with nearly 2 tonnes of food donated by the generous public. Local agencies decide who is in need and can give that person or family a voucher to present to one of the distribution centres.
For more information on Tameside East Food bank or any other food banks in Tameside, contact Mohamed Seedat email mohamed.seedat@cvat.org.uk or Philip Carlin email carlin@phonecoop.coop
Tackling child abuse linked to faith or belief - Thursday 7 February 2013, Nottingham
Abuse linked to faith and belief is an issue for all services with safeguarding responsibilities for children and young people. The tragic deaths of Victoria Climbie and Kristy Bamu made the headlines, but police have actually investigated over 80 serious incidents of child abuse linked to faith and belief. Abuse may result from attempts to ‘cleanse’ a child believed to bring bad luck or to be possessed by evil spirits. However, exploiting a fear of the supernatural is also used to ensure compliance with trafficking and sexual exploitation.
The National Working Group on Child Abuse Linked to Faith or Belief recently published a National Action Plan to tackle the issue. This follows consistent pressure to take a more proactive, multi-agency approach, including prevention as well as supporting victims. The Learning Day on 7 February will include speakers who were members of the National Working Group and who have some of the most extensive practical experience on this issue in the UK. It is an opportunity for service managers and practitioners to:
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Extend their knowledge of child abuse linked to faith and belief.
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Understand the messages of the National Action Plan for service providers.
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Hear about practical measures which have been put in place to address the issue.
More information and to book: click here
Food Banks in Tameside
Hunger is not just an issue in developing countries today. Even in seemingly prosperous communities, there are many people living on the edge of poverty and Food Banks have been able to help thousands of individuals and families who have experienced a crisis of some type. All it takes is a sudden, unexpected event – a bereavement, illness, benefit delay, redundancy or theft – to throw people into a genuine crisis.
Food Banks provide local families and individuals with at least three days’ worth of essential food supplies before social care infrastructure can come into play. Some Food Banks operate on referrals. Shocking figures from the Trussell Trust report that its food bank network had fed almost 110,000 since April compared with a total of 128,697 in the whole of 2011-12.
There has been a rapid growth in the number of Food Banks across Tameside. Groups organising Food Banks share a simple vision: that people should have food to eat and know where their next meal is coming from. Food Bank developments, however, can only be part of a vision for living together where we all care for one another and recognise that interdependence is a healthy model for our common life.
For more details on Food Banks in Tameside please contact Revd Philip Carlin email carlin@phonecoop.coop
Jubilee Debt Campaign multifaith project
The Jubilee Debt Campaign is inviting all faith leaders to sign a letter to be delivered to the Prime Minister calling for him to seize the moment and proclaim a new Jubilee, rooted in the idea that people around the world should not be permanently shackled with burdens of unjust or unpayable debts, some accumulated before they were born.
More information: click here
Religion or belief, equality and human rights in England and Wales
A new Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report concludes that the law on equality, human rights and religion or belief is likely to remain unsettled and that there are a number of areas in which the law is unclear, under strain or vulnerable to challenge. The research suggests that the most productive level of engagement is with those on the ‘front line’ of decision-making, such as policy-makers, practitioners and workplace managers. This places the focus on the use of equality law and human rights standards and principles as a framework for day-to-day decision-making on implementation rather than litigation. Where the principles established in legal cases are contested, it is important that public debate is conducted in good faith and with respect for the integrity of different perspectives, however irreconcilable they may appear to be.
For information: click here
Tax Justice Bus Tour 2012 [CAMPAIGN – FAITHS UNITED]
Seven weeks, 50 towns and cities across Britain and Ireland, one goal: Tax justice for the poorest communities locally and globally. This autumn, Christian Aid and Church Action on Poverty are joining forces to take the campaign for Tax Justice on the road, with a seven-week Tax Justice Bus Tour.
For more information: Click here
YouGov poll says public backs high quality RE
Good quality religous education is widely understood to be at risk of being squeezed out of the curriculum despite it being highly valued. New research shows over half (53%) of all adults in England and Wales who gave an opinion say RE should remain a compulsory subject. 58% agreed it is beneficial for all pupils to participate in RE lessons. This rose to a majority (63%) among 18-24 year olds.
Interculturalism – lessons from the field
After 60 years of community relations policies— from assimilation, to multiculturalism, to community cohesion, to a new, Big Society approach— this Interculturalism report asks are we anywhere nearer to solving the problems of integration? And while we're at it: what actually are the problems associated with integration? Based on recent research into the frontline activities the report includes consideration of how integration can be promoted in an age of austerity and the skills community groups need for this.
Secularism, racism and the politics of belonging
‘Secularism, Racism and the Politics of Belonging' is a collection of papers that were presented at conferences in 2010 and 2011 co-organised by the Runnymede Trust and the Centre for Research on Migration, Refugees and Belonging at the University of East London. The contributors address issues of migration, racism and religion.
Hate crime survey
Tameside Hate Incident Panel (THIP) are a group of local partners (Police, Housing Associations, Tameside Council and Victim Support) who meet every 6 weeks to look at Hate Crimes within Tameside. THIP are in the process of launching a new campaign to look at all aspects of Hate Crime such as race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity and disability.
This will focus on supporting victims rather than targeting the perpetrators. They are asking members of the public to help them understand what the focus of the campaign should be. Fill in the survey online.
Deadline: End of May 2012.
For more information: Email: shain.miah@tameside.gov.uk Tel: 0161 342 2412.
Serving deprived communities in a recession
This report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows that local authorities in the most deprived areas bear the greatest burden of the public sector funding reductions. Some of the highest ranking local authorities on the Index of Multiple Deprivation are losing the most while some of the most affluent local authorities are losing the least. 
National Inter Faith Week 2011
IF IF IF Experience - Influence of Faith, Impact of Faith and Inspiration of Faith
During National Inter Faith Week in November 2011 the Greater Manchester Inter faith Group hosted an interactive conference on the Influence of Faith, Impact of Faith and Inspiration of Faith.
Summary of table top discussions: 
IF IF IF summary document
IF IF IF summary documentAll Party Parliamentary Group on religious education
The Religious Education Council for England and Wales (REC) announced on 17 February that a new All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) is being set up which will ‘focus on safeguarding the provision of RE in our schools and explore how the subject can continue to deliver a valuable dimension to the education of all children and young people.’ The REC will be providing the secretariat of the APPG. The APPG will draw on earlier cross-party support for the inclusion of RE in the English Baccalaureate.
Community relations in Hyde
Statement from ‘Faiths United Tameside’ about community relations in Hyde. 
Faiths United Tameside is a network represents the Faith Communities across Tameside. Many people recognise that a religious faith can support the well-being of individuals and of communities, particularly in times of trouble.
We wish to recognise the distress and hurt that has been suffered by Daniel Stringer-Prince and his family, following the horrible attack on Daniel. We commend the dignity shown by his mother Cheryl. With her, we wish to support Tameside Police in their investigations, and note the support that the Police are receiving from the Asian communities in Hyde.
As people who live in Tameside, we want to draw attention to the generally peaceful way in which different people can get along in the towns where we live. We are committed to moving forward, and learning how to understand each other’s way of life. We believe that the vast majority of us care, even for the person who is different from us.
We believe that all members of society have the right to representation and respectful dialogue and would urge the whole of the local community to use this opportunity to declare peacefully their opposition to any form of extremism and the promoting of any political agenda which is not rooted in the local community.
Despite the problems that we will always face in our daily lives, and the things that are bound to go wrong, what divides us and makes us fearful of each other will always be weaker than that which unites us, that is, our common humanity.
We call for calm, for people to support our life together in Tameside in simple friendly ways, and for a commitment of all people of goodwill to do their bit to mend and promote community relations in Hyde.
The role of faith groups in the Big Society
At the end of last year a prominent committee of MPs (the House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee) published a report entitled The Big Society to examine ‘what the Big Society project means for Whitehall and whether the implementation of this policy is on track to succeed.’ The report considers in great depth the ways in which the government, both national and local, engages with the ‘Big Society’ and tackles the rolling out of policies that fall under this term. It goes on to ‘propose a number of steps to change the way the civil service and local authorities commission and manage contracts for public services.’
Of particular relevance is the section entitled ‘The Role of Faith Groups’ (paragraphs 137 – 143), which notes a breadth of views on the participation of faith groups in the delivering of local public services including those of Lord Sacks, the Chief Rabbi, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association. The report recognises the potential benefits of faith groups helping to deliver public services but cautions against the exclusion of those who work in multi-faith contexts or those of non-religious beliefs who can also help in this way.
Celebrating faith inspired local volunteering
All faith communities have within their ethical teaching the values of compassion, care and social justice. One of the ways that their members put these values into everyday practice is through volunteering. In 2012 a special project called ‘A Year of Service’ will be taking place. In each month, for A Year of Service, faith communities will be hosting a day or days of volunteering and inviting people of other faiths and non-religious beliefs to join in. There will also be workplace volunteering opportunities. For more information: www.ayearofservice.org.uk
Inter faith Network E-Bulletin
Inter Faith Network May 2012 E-Bulletin provides updates on National Inter Faith Week, release plans for 2011 Census Statistics, New RE Subject Framework and the Equality and Human Rights Commission Strategic Plan. It also includes information on projects, funding opportunities, resources and training and lots more…Faiths united meetings and events for 2012
Diversity Calendar 2012
This 'Diversity Calendar' for 2012 includes over 260 important dates including holy days, special events, festivals and bank holidays, and also notes awareness months.
'Diversity Calendar' for 2012 includes over 260 important dates including holy days, special events, festivals and bank holidays, and also notes awareness months.
