Together Lancashire in ........ East Lancashire

Monday, 14 April 2014

What makes a good society?

Faith plays a pivotal role in our society. Many churches exist not as closed gatherings; but as communities with a deep concern for everyone living in their neighbourhood.

These communities were encouraged to tell their story, and asked, 'What does a Good Society mean to you?'

What has emerged are many great projects that illustrate a dedication to caring for others, and a commitment to solid community-building.

Church of England: Church and Community Fund - deadline 30 June 2014

The overall aim of the fund is to grow the Church of England and develop its capacity to engage with the whole community. Parish churches, deaneries, dioceses and other bodies connected to or working in partnership with the Church of England can apply for funding for projects that: Significantly expand the Church's engagement with neighbourhood renewal; Seek innovative ways of developing established community projects so that they either grow existing or evolve into new communities of Christian Faith; Replicate models of successful community engagement across the wider church. The level of grants available range from £10,000 to £20,000; except for the theme relating to the replication of projects where grants awarded can be up to £60,000.
http://www.ccfund.org.uk/apply/meetingdeadline-dates

Friday, 11 April 2014

More on the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hunger and Food Poverty

Supplementary to our invitation to all food banks to a meeting on 29th April where you can talk with us and Ed Saville who is co-ordinating the response from the Diocese;

You may wish to send your own independent views to Frank Field MP or Rt Revd Tim Thornton. Frank could be addressed through House of Commons and Bishop Tim through House of Lords.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Hunger and Food Poverty announced in February 2014 that it will conduct a parliamentary inquiry into hunger and food poverty in Britain. The inquiry will be chaired by the Bishop of Truro, Rt Rev Tim Thornton, and Frank Field MP (Lab), the Chair of the APPG. The Group's officers, Laura Sandys MP (Con) and Sarah Newton MP (Con), will form the core of the inquiry team and will be joined by Emma Lewell-Buck MP (Lab), John Glen MP (Con) and other members of the APPG.
The APPG on Hunger and Food Poverty was established in October 2013 by Frank Field MP and Laura Sandys MP, in order to investigate the root causes behind hunger, food poverty and the huge increase in demand for food banks across Britain. More information can be found on the website of its Chair, Frank Field: http://www.frankfield.com/campaigns/appg-hunger-food-poverty.aspx
The preliminary terms of reference for the APPG inquiry are as follows:

i. To understand the circumstances behind, and the rise in, the number of food banks in this country;

ii. To look at the geographical spread of food banks and understand more fully who runs them.

iii. To examine access to affordable food and the sustainability of our food model.

iv. To consider alternative sources of food aid provision and the desirability of these bodies becoming permanent features of the welfare state.

v. To ask how adequately food aid providers are meeting immediate and long-term needs.

vi. To investigate the source of food aid providers' supplies - how much is supplied by consumers and institutions?

vii. To discover the food choices available to clients when using food aid providers.

viii. To make recommendations.