'Practical Impact', the first CUF Xchange  annual conference took place at St John's Ladywood in Birmingham on 27th  February 2008. The event brought together over 140 activists from grassroots faith-based projects working in poor and disadvantaged communities across England.

Highlighting the work of the Office of the Third Sector, and the local Compact, we were pleased to welcome Lauren Smith and Catherine Tyack from the Office of the Third Sector and Helen Baker from the Commission for the Compact. Highlighting the valuable contribution of faith-based projects in communities Lauren Smith  said "The Office of the Third Sector recognise the valuable work faith-based projects are doing in often really difficult circumstances. It's really important that faith-based organisations have the capacity to fully engage and participate with the all opportunities locally and regionally, and that your voice is heard."

In his speech Stephen Lowe the Bishop of Urban Life and Faith affirmed the distinctive contribution of faith-based projects. "Welfare to work, health, physical and mental, crime and disorder, educational under achievement, housing policy, the democratic deficit as it is called, are all problems stuck in their own silos of government activity... We make a difference when we see the whole person with their different needs, economic, physical and spiritual." You can read the full speech here.



Referring to urban policy, Stephen Thake from the Quirk Review highlighted the role faith-based projects in poor communities have to nurture social networks. "A new landscape has opened up that is beyond the reach or remit of either the public or private sectors. These are neighbourhoods and communities living with high levels of stress. Increases in poverty give rise to evidence of distress - whether measured on the street - in terms of crime, neighbour disputes, vandalism and civil disorder - or within the home - in terms of domestic violence, alcohol and substance abuse or poor health... A tipping point occurs when the distress becomes acute and rapidly escalates. Why does it happen then? The answer lies in the wearing away of social capital – the networks and bonds that holds us together. Police and public service providers recognise this situation. Over the years they have learn't to cope with situations where a break down in civil order, in families, in individuals takes place. What they now have to address are neighbourhoods epitomised by community fractiousness and the symptoms are legion." You can download the full PowerPoint presentation here. You can download the full speech here

 
The conference included information about free consultancy funded by Capacity Builders related to governance. You can find out more and request your free consultancy here.

Thanks to all who attended. The feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive, with lots to feed into the planning for next time. You can email additional feedback thoughts and comments to Nick Waters at CUF Xchange.