03 February 2005

Faith Communities Contribute up to £94.9 Million per Annum to the Region's Economy

Faith communities in England's Northwest contribute between £69.6 million and £94.9 million per annum to the region's economy it was revealed today.

Made public for the first time at an event supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and Manchester City Council, these impressive statistics form part of an independent assessment of the significant economic value attributed to faith communities in the Northwest.

The report 'Faith in England's Northwest: Economic Impact Assessment', takes into account the economic value of:

- 45,667 faith volunteers in the Northwest generating between £60.6 million and £64.4 million per annum

- Premises made available by faith communities in the Northwest generating between £574,755 and £811,472 per annum

- 697,114 faith visitors and tourists to the Northwest generating around £8.4 million per annum

Held at Manchester Town Hall, Manchester Faith Leaders are hosting an event to mark the publication of the report, Faith in England's Northwest: Economic Impact Assessment; the launch of the proposed North West Forum of Faiths; and the 'opening' of faithnorthwest.org.uk, a website dedicated to faith communities in the region.

The NWDA places a great emphasis on working in partnership to solve the challenge of regenerating our communities. The Economic Impact Assessment report recognises the importance of faith communities in the drive to improve the quality of life in our region, and the proposed forum and website will enable their continued involvement this process.

Steven Broomhead, NWDA Chief Executive, said:
"The NWDA is pleased to support this unique event which brings together the Northwest's faith communities to ensure they are involved in the regeneration of England's Northwest. Faith communities make a valuable contribution to the regional economy and the drive to improve our local communities. They have an excellent record of bridging the gap between the affluent and the deprived, with their infrastructure and volunteer network. As key stakeholders in the region's future, it is only right that they should be consulted and involved in the regeneration process. We are happy that the North West Forum of Faiths and the faithnorthwest website will enable them to do exactly that."

Monsignor John Devine, Churches' Officer for the Northwest, said:
"The major faith communities, including Baha'i Buddist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh will welcome this report.  It provides robust evidence that they are serious players in the economic and social life of the region.  45,000 volunteers at neighbourhood level contribute £94 million per annum to the Northwest economy."

Councillor Afzal Khan, Manchester City Council's lead member on race issues, said:
"We are delighted that Manchester Town Hall is to be the venue for this important event.  Manchester's population is one of the most culturally and racially diverse of all authorities in the UK.  We are proud of our reputation as an exciting, vibrant city where different faith communities live, work and play together.  We welcome this opportunity to acknowledge the vital role they play in the cultural and economic life of Manchester."

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Notes to Editors

Faith in England's Northwest: Economic Impact Assessment report provides an independent assessment of the significant economic value attributed to faith communities in the Northwest prepared by DTZ Pieda Consulting.

Key findings from the report

It is estimated that faith communities in the Northwest generate between £69.6 million and £94.9 million. This includes:

- 45,667 faith volunteers in the Northwest generate between £60.6 million and £64.4 million per annum.

- Premises made available by faith communities in the Northwest generate between £574,755 and £811,472 per annum

- 697,114 faith visitors and tourists to the Northwest generate around £8.4 million per annum

If consideration is taken for the 2,029 places of worship who did not respond to the survey 'Faith in England's Northwest: The Contribution made by Faith Communities to Civil Society in the Region' a higher estimation of between £90.7 million and £94.9 million can be attributed to faith communities in the Northwest.

- Overall faith communities in the Northwest generate between £90.7 million and £94.9 million per annum to civil society in the Northwest

For further information and to view a copy of the 'Faith in England's Northwest: Economic Impact Assessment' report, please visit: www.faithnorthwest.org.uk

Or please contact Claire Hodgkinson, Senior Press Officer on 01925 400232 or 07980 713279 or Claire.Hodgkinson@nwda.co.uk  

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) is responsible for the sustainable economic development and regeneration of England"s Northwest and has 5 key priorities: Business Development, Regeneration, Skills & Employment, Infrastructure and Image.