Faith Action Audit

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URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED!
Bristol Faith Action Survey - please sign up!

There is going to be a Faith Action Survey in Bristol, taking place in February.

It is one of more than 60 surveys being organised by the Cinnamon Network (1) across the UK. it aims to capture details about the activities being done by the faith communities to benefit the people around them. When this has been done in other places, the faith communities have been vastly encouraged to see the extent of their activities, and the information has enabled a real dialogue to open up with the local authority and statutory authorities, enabling much better cooperation and partnership.

A lot more information about the survey is available online (2). But the urgent need right now is for churches and faith-based groups to sign up so that they can be sent a link enabling them to complete the survey.

I need to provide the list to the Cinnamon Network by 28 January, so I need the details from you by the end of Monday 26 January.

You can sign up here:
http://mad-bristol.org.uk/audit/contact_signup.php

If you have any questions about this, please email me, Paul Hazelden, at: paul a_t hazelden d_o_t org d_o_t uk. Please pass this request on to the relevant person if you cannot complete the form. Also, please pass it on to any faith-based group in Bristol who may not have received this message. Thank you very much.

Every blessing,
Paul Hazelden

(1) Cinnamon Network: http://www.cinnamonnetwork.co.uk/faa-startsurvey/
(2) More information: http://www.bristolnetworks.org.uk/FaithAudit
http://mad-bristol.org.uk/audit/links.php

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Introduction

The Cinnamon Network has invited over sixty local church networks from across the UK to serve their communities by leading a Faith Action Audit.

Bristol is one of the local church networks taking part in this audit.

Purpose

The audit seeks to achieve a number of things.

At the local level:

It will measure the quantity and provide evidence of the quality of the social action activities being undertaken by the churches and other faith groups.
It will will provide evidence for the impact and value of this activity.
It will strengthen the confidence of the faith communities and help them recognise the significance of the work they are doing.
It will help the local authorities, police and other agencies understand why they need to work more closely together with the faith communities.

At the national level, the Cinnamon Network plan to use the results of the audit to engage with the incoming Government to ensure the work of faith communities is taken into account from the outset.

It will provide a national picture of what the faith groups are doing.
It will enable us to compare the strengths and weaknesses of the work being done in different places, and to learn from one another.
It will provide a springboard for engagement with the new Government, so that they can plan to work in partnership with the faith groups to make the whole country a better place.

Background

The Cinnamon Network is doing this because it is passionate about the transforming difference that local churches and faith-based organisations make in their communities.

They have already undertaken several audits in Chester and other places, and have seen the impact of these audits. Most importantly, the audits have proved to be a vital tool for building effective relationships with the local statutory bodies.

Past audits have identified the rich diversity of projects and the number of people involved, encouraged the faith communities by the amount and quality of the work being undertaken, and established the need of the local authority, Police and other statutory bodies to engage with the faith communities more effectively.

Details

The audit is scheduled for January and February 2015, with the results being published in May shortly after the next General Election.

The Cinnamon Network will provide the survey tool and various other forms of support. After the audit is complete, they will analyse the data, provide us with 500 copies of the audit results and help us to arrange a launch event to publicise the audit in Bristol.

However, we in Bristol have to do the local leg work. We must identify who needs to participate in the audit, and encourage them to complete it. In a city the size and diversity of Bristol, these are both major challenges.

Participation

We need the support of faith community leaders, and also the help of many volunteers from across the city.

Paul Hazelden (as the local ‘champion’, and acting as part of a working group which acts as the 'sponsor') is responsible for coordinating the audit in Bristol; but this can only be a success if the churches and faith communities support it, and if a good number of volunteers help to locate and network with the people and groups who need to take part.

The initial challenge is to communicate - to tell everyone about the audit and help them understand why it is important. The audit is a tool to record social action: it's a place to log all the good work that you do, and provide evidence of the the significant contribution that your faith group / charity / organisation makes.

This audit has the potential to transform the relationship between the faith communities and the city, but we need your support if it is to be credible and effective.

Support

The Bristol Faith Action Audit is being supported by the following.

Bishop Renford Brown: Chair, Bristol Black Churches Council
Rev Nigel Coles: Senior Regional Minister, West of England Baptist Association
Majors Ian and Jean Harris: Divisional Commander, South Western Division, Salvation Army
The Rt Revd Mike Hill: Bishop of Bristol, Diocese of Bristol
Rev Tracey Lewis: Chair, Bristol Multi-Faith Forum
Major Ian Mountford: Chair, Churches Together in Greater Bristol
Rob Scott-Cook: Celebration Network of churches and Woodlands Group of churches
Rev Ruth Whitehead: Moderator, South Western Synod, URC
Rev Dr David Hart: Superintendent Minister, Bristol & South Gloucestershire Methodist Circuit

If you would like your name and organisation to be added to this list, please contact Paul.

Further Details

An introduction to the Cinnamon Faith Action Audits can be found at:
www.cinnamonnetwork.co.uk/cinnamon-faith-action-audits/

Bristol Faith Action Audit Facebook Page:
www.facebook.com/bristolfaithactionaudit

More information about the survey:
www.cinnamonnetwork.co.uk/faa-startsurvey

To find out more please contact Paul.