Birmingham’s Faith Covenant has today (October 3) been formally signed by Cllr Tristan Chatfield – the city council Cabinet Member for Transparency, Openness and Equality.
Back in 2014, the council was the first local authority to respond to a call from the All Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Faith and Society for all local councils across the UK to sign a newly developed ‘Faith Covenant’.
The Faith Covenant was developed by the APPG on Faith and Society as a tool to facilitate partnership working between local authorities and faith groups. It is a joint commitment between faith communities and local authorities to a set of principles for working together, which aims to build trust and promote open, practical engagement on all levels.
Birmingham City Council has remained fully committed to the covenant ever since its launch, but given his portfolio’s remit, Cllr Chatfield wanted to formally note his support for its principles and to reaffirm the City Council’s commitment.
Cllr Chatfield said: “The challenge that local authorities like Birmingham City Council face have been well documented – and the role that faith communities have played in the past to help tackle hardship and need in our neighbourhoods cannot be underestimated.
“That’s exactly why we need something like the Faith Covenant, to provide a set of working principles that help everyone get the best out of the partnership that exists between councils and faith groups, as shape and nature of public services continues to change.
“By working together, our response and how we serve the people of Birmingham can only become stronger – which is exactly why I wanted to put my name to the Faith Covenant.”
