County Durham has a rich Christian heritage and has long been a place of welcome for people of all faiths and none.
Churches and Faith groups have a presence in every community and are ideally placed to contribute to the County Durham Vision, where people live long and independent lives and communities are well connected and supportive of each other.
Faith groups have an important role in health and wellbeing and contribute to flourishing and resilient communities. They are actively involved in local social action, neighbourhood support networks, care homes, day centers, lunch clubs, foodbanks, refugee resettlement and a range of social and cultural activities for all ages and generational groups.
Faith communities are a rich source of volunteers and active citizens who daily contribute to social networks and enriching the social capital of the County.
Faith Engagement with Area Action Partnerships
In partnership with North East Churches Acting Together, a series of ‘Faith & Wellbeing’ events have been undertaken to facilitate better engagement between churches and faith groups and the Area Action Partnerships. AAPs continue to fund several faith-based projects across the county where these contribute to supporting the wider community. Individual members of churches and faith groups play an active role on AAP Boards and Task Groups.
County Durham Faiths Network
The County Durham Faiths Network is a small but diverse group of people made up of individuals from six different Christian denominations and eight other faiths or belief groups.
The group seeks to promote and foster interfaith dialogue in an atmosphere of mutual respect and to help people from different faith traditions and none to engage with one another to increase understanding and foster friendship.
For further information contact: countydurhampartnership@durham.gov.uk
Breakfast Seminars
An informal cross party elected members’ faith reference group initiated a series of breakfast seminars aimed at involving elected members, officers, partners and faith communities in roundtable conversations on challenging and timely topics. These seminars provide a safe space to air issues which face members and officers, and all involved in public life. They provide an example of how public bodies and faith communities can engage and work cooperatively in the public square.
For further information contact: countydurhampartnership@durham.gov.uk