Faith in England’s Northwest:
How Faith Communities Contribute to Social and Economic Wellbeing

Faith communities make a significant contribution to the wellbeing of our region.

For almost 10 years the Northwest Regional Development Agency has worked in partnership with faith communities to develop an evidence based approach to their contribution to the life of our region.

One key finding in our research has been the strength of faith communities, their buildings and volunteers, in areas of highest social need. This evidence has supplied the rationale for a number of faith-based projects funded by the NWDA. It has also led us to promote faith community engagement with other public sector partners and has led in turn to the NWDA taking the Regional Development Agency lead role nationally on faith.

This latest NWDA-sponsored research explores how faith groups effectively contribute to the outcomes of a range of public policy agendas. They do so as they pursue their day-to-day traditional role at the service of the community.