The work of faith communities is not just for the now, but here to stay

Leonie Lewis MBE Tuesday 23rd March 2021 09:56 EDT
 

As a committed Jewish woman, I have been engaged in the faith sector both professionally and voluntarily for over 25 years. I am particularly motivated by how collaboration leads to respect and understanding. 

Our world has been turned upside down in the last 12 months since the start of lockdown, but the pandemic has also demonstrated the value of the faith sector to Government, charities and more importantly the needs of the general public.

Faith groups, including places of worship have provided food to ameliorate food poverty, activities to comfort the elderly, isolated and lonely, delivered shopping and medicines to their members which has amounted to countless volunteering hours making people’s lives and instilling hope in many of us. 

The current roll out of the vaccine has also given many of us hope that we may be able to visit and hug our loved ones soon. In a report by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) found that 72% of BAME communities were unlikely/very unlikely to get the vaccine.

In my capacity as Trustee of Faiths Forum for London and a Charity and Community Consultant, I am currently working to promote the Covid-19 vaccination to hard to reach groups and  have collaborated with Vaxi Taxi, a programme led by Dr. Sharon Raymond which helps patients access temporary clinics set up in faith and community centres across London, along with Faiths Forum for London. 

When the faith sector partners with the NHS, and the local authority collaborates in a true trusting relationship the result is that many more people coming forward for vaccinations. 

In the London Borough of Hackney, the Chassidic and Charedi Jewish community recently collaborated with the local authority,the NHS and other agencies in the Borough and this helped maximize the rollout in the local community but most importantly recognised the value of maintaining and developing the relationship going forward. 

What I want people to take away is that the faith sector is possibly the most trusted sector by the most vulnerable people and it needs confidence to demonstrate this, sadly many still don't understand its influence and its offering.

The relationship between faith communities and local authorities must be enhanced in order for communities to have an active role in decision making and strategic planning beyond the vaccine roll out and covid-19. The work of faith communities is not just for the now, but here to stay. 

The faith sector is possibly the most trusted sector by the most vulnerable people and it needs confidence to demonstrate this, sadly many still don't understand its influence and its offering.


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