Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council adopts ‘Faith Covenant’
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council agreed to adopt a ‘Faith Covenant’ at a meeting of its Full Council on Wednesday evening, in support of the Council’s commitment to invest in inclusive communities.
Faith Covenants were established in 2014 by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Faith and Society to facilitate partnership working between local authorities and faith groups. The Covenants are used as a tool to develop activity around uniting communities to better serve their residents. So far twenty-eight local authorities across the country have formally adopted Faith Covenants.
WHBC recently received an approach from a number of local faith groups to consider adopting a Faith Covenant for Welwyn Hatfield. The Council already has a good track record of working in collaboration with the faith sector. There is regular engagement at a civic level with local faith groups in the planning and organisation of events such as Holocaust Memorial Day.
At an operational level, the Council works in collaboration with faith groups on community outreach activities through its Community Partnership team, including attending monthly meetings of the Welwyn Hatfield Inter Faith Group which celebrates its 20th year this year. The Welwyn Hatfield Faith Covenant supports the ethos and intention of the local Inter Faith Group which is to promote tolerance, understanding and mutual respect between the various religious groups in the borough.
Cllr James Broach, Executive Member for Governance at Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, said:
“This week is Inter Faith Week, so it was fitting that at Wednesday’s Full Council we agreed to adopt a Faith Covenant for Welwyn Hatfield. The adoption of a Faith Covenant will enable us to further strengthen and build on the great work that is already being undertaken between the Council and faith communities. I look forward to seeing our partnerships with the local faith groups continuing to grow in an open, respectful and collaborative way for the benefit of the whole borough.”
Valerie Skottowe Chair of the Welwyn Hatfield Inter Faith Group said:
“We are delighted that the Council is adopting a Faith Covenant with the faith communities of the borough. It is particularly appropriate at this time that people of faith come together in friendship. What a wonderful way to celebrate the 20th year of Welwyn Hatfield interfaith.”
The Welwyn Hatfield Faith Covenant can be found on the Council’s website
More information on the Welwyn Hatfield Inter Faith Group can be found on the Inter Faith Group’s website