£200,000 in grants for faith project

The Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has announced a £200,000 government grant to support faith projects and volunteering groups, writes Sabrina Sweeney.

The scheme, entitled “Together in Service”, will run for two years and offer individual grants of £2,000 to support the work of existing multi-faith projects and help establish new ones.

Launching the initiative at Westminster Cathedral hall, Mr Pickles said the scheme would focus on different faiths working together for the benefit of society as a whole.

“Faith groups are united in their desire to make things better for the good of the whole community. Volunteers tirelessly dedicate millions of hours each year to strengthen our society from the simple acts of kindness such as visiting the elderly, to collecting for the needy or helping to clear up the local park,” he said. The scheme will be delivered by FaithAction, a network of faith-based and community organisations.

It will be based around a calendar of faith-based volunteering focusing on religious festivals, such as the harvest festival. Any faith group can apply for funding, but in order to avail itself of the grant, the event must benefit more than one religious group.