Think Tank praises Christian involvement

FAITH GROUPS involved in the provision of services in four key areas of public life are praised in a new report from the left-leaning think tank ‘Demos’, entitled ‘Faithful Providers’.

The report examines faith groups providing services voluntarily with help of public money in employment and training services, services to young people, integration and cohesion and drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

It finds little evidence to support common criticism that such faith groups use the service they offer to make converts and that they discriminate in who they are prepared to help. It argues that “faithful providers are often highly motivated and effective, and often serve as the permanent and persistent pillars of community action within local communities”.

Those who work with young people and vulnerable groups are said to be “acutely aware of the need to keep religion in the background”.

The report urges faithful providers and their financial supporters to prioritise maintenance of their ethos and motivation at the expense of increasing the size and provision of their service provision.

Dif ferent faith groups should be encouraged to work together to tackle such local problems as unemployment and drug abuse. Local authorities should try to coordinate such work and at the very least try to prevent duplication.

The report recommends that local authorities undertake a ‘faith and service audit’ of their local communities to identify areas of further collaboration between faith groups.

Although the report sees dangers in ‘aggressive proselytising’ it sees nothing wrong with service providers openly discussing their faith, particularly with those who ask and are interested in learning more about religious questions.

The report stresses that financial considerations should not be the only reason for using voluntary faith organisations to provide services. Effectiveness and social value should also be considered.

In a controversial recommendation, the report urges progressives to work with justice-minded faith groups to address the roots of social problems rather than just with service provides. It praises the London Citizens campaign for a living wage.