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WALES PRESS RELEASE 11 03 08

FAITH COMMUNITIES CONTRIBUTE OVER £100 MILLION TO
WELSH ECONOMY

First Minister welcomes “groundbreaking” research into the contribution of faith groups Work undertaken by faith groups in Wales contributes the equivalent of over £100 million* to the Welsh economy, according a report launched today.

The report, Faith in Wales: Counting for Communities is the first of its kind in Wales. It includes statistics of all the main religions in Wales – Christian, Baha’i, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh – and was carried out by Christian group Gweini, working in partnership with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA).

First Minister for Wales Rhodri Morgan said in a forward to the report that he welcomes the “groundbreaking research” and expects it will be of “great importance” for fostering better understanding and awareness of faiths and cultures in Wales.

Speaking at today’s launch Social Justice Minister Dr Brian Gibbons said that the report was an important milestone in better understanding the faith communities in Wales.

“I would like to thank all those who were involved in this research since for the first time ever we have estimates for the contribution of faith communities to society in Wales. The detailed evidence will help improve and strengthen interfaith relationships and will foster greater understanding and respect between different faiths.

“The Welsh Assembly Government has a proud record of working with all communities and has long recognised the important contribution made by all the faith communities to life in Wales.”

The report highlights useful areas, such as the extent of volunteering in faith communities, and covers sectors such as youth, tourism, health and the Welsh language.

Rev Elfed Godding, the National Director of the Evangelical Alliance Wales, a founding member of Gweini, said: “One of the messages we want to get across in this report is that faith communities want to work with government to tackle problems in Wales. Faith communities are well placed to provide public services, especially as they are often in touch with hard-to-reach people.

“We believe the information in this report reveals that faith communities are leading the way within certain fields – there is often a lack of statistics in Wales for the voluntary sector, and this will enable us to see what is being done and where the gaps are.”

UK PRESS RELEASE 11 03 08

ARCHBISHOP WELCOMES LANDMARK REPORT - FAITH COMMUNITIES CONTRIBUTING OVER £2 BILLION TO BRITAIN

A landmark report published today suggests that the contribution of faith community congregations to the UK economy is well in excess of £2.1 billon.

Demonstrating the extensive contribution of faith community congregations (not para congregation faith based bodies) in relation to welfare provision, language, faith tourism, building use etc, the report - Counting for Communities - reveals just what a crucial a role faith has to play in contemporary society.

Commissioned by voluntary sector bodies working with the Welsh Assembly Government, the audit demonstrates that faith community congregations contribute £102 million to the Welsh economy per annum, which if projected upwards on a proportional basis for the UK as a whole would mean faith community congregations are contributing at least £2.1 billion.

‘The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Dr Rowan Williams, has warmly welcomed the report. ‘“Counting Communities demonstrates just what an extensive and valuable role faith communities play in today’s society. The contribution made by Christians and people of other faiths to public life in Wales that is revealed in this report, offers both example and encouragement to us all. I hope that the report is widely read, not only in Wales, but also in all parts of the United Kingdom. People of faith looking to promote better understanding of the benefits of partnership between different faith communities and between faith and government will find much in it to commend.”

Wales’ First Minister Rhodri Morgan, meanwhile, writing in the foreword states that the study will ‘surprise a good many both within the “faith sector” and more widely across the public and voluntary sectors through the sheer scale and breadth of the faith communities’ contribution that it reveals. Faith communities have played a key role in the history of Wales and even today offer a range of vital services which complement and enhance the work of government.’

President of The Council of the Christian Voluntary Sector in Wales, Rev Julian Richards said, ‘The findings of this audit demonstrate that the faith sector’s contribution to the benefit of society is not confined to the past but is a present reality in today’s Britain. This report signals to government and all involved in the delivery of welfare provision that the churches and faith based communities have a very strategic role the play in community development.’

The report Faith in Wales: Counting Communities has been produced by Gweini: The Council of the Christian Voluntary Sector in Wales and the Wales Council for Voluntary Action. It will be launched today at the Brazz Restaurant in the Wales Millennium Centre, adjacent to the National Assembly for Wales. The keynote speaker will be Dr Brian Gibbons AM, Minister for Social Justice.

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