Faith Covenant Update: New Signatories and Growing Momentum » FaithAction [ ![FaithAction logo](https://www.faithaction.net/wp-content/themes/faithaction-child/img/fa-logo-new-2.png) ](https://www.faithaction.net/) Faith—too significant to ignore! # Faith Covenant Update: New Signatories and Growing Momentum Posted on [November 2, 2023](https://www.faithaction.net/blog/policy-and-government/2023/11/02/faith-covenant-update-new-signatories-and-growing-momentum/ "12:48 pm") in category [Policy and Government](https://www.faithaction.net/blog/policy-and-government/) by [Matt Allen](https://www.faithaction.net/author/matt-allen/ "View all posts by Matt Allen") ![](https://www.faithaction.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_0111-700x300.jpg) Members who have been following our work for some time will know about the [Faith Covenant](https://www.faithandsociety.org/covenant/). For those who don’t, the Faith Covenant is a framework to facilitate effective partnership working between local authorities and faith groups. It has been adopted by 28 local authorities to date, including three new signatories who signed in September during [Faith in Partnership Week 2023](https://partnership.faithaction.net/). ![](https://www.faithaction.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/map-1123-flat.png) Momentum continues to grow around the Faith Covenant as local authorities realise the potential it has to sustain the kind of cross-sector collaboration we saw during the pandemic. Central government are recognising this too, and a key recommendation coming out of the recent [Bloom Review](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1152684/The_Bloom_Review.pdf) encourages all local authorities to sign up to some kind of charter with faith groups. We hope to see this translate into further interest in the Covenant. ## **New Signatories** ![](https://www.faithaction.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/the-west-midlands-combined-authority-has-signed-the-faith-covenant.jpg) When the **West Midlands** signed the Faith Covenant in September, they became the first combined authority in the country to do so. Walsall and Sandwell councils signed on the same night, and Dudley signalled their intent to add their signature soon. Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, signed the Covenant as a signal of [commitment on behalf of the WMCA to work even more collaboratively and consistently with diverse faith communities to deliver a better connected, more prosperous, fairer, greener, and healthier region.](https://www.wmca.org.uk/news/mayor-signs-wmca-up-to-faith-covenant/) ![](https://www.faithaction.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_0110-scaled.jpg) Looking ahead, in mid-November **Sheffield** will be signing their own Faith Covenant in an event involving the Council, Bishop Peter Wilcox, various other faith leaders, and South Yorkshire Police and Fire and Rescue. They intend to sign the Covenant as an initial step towards embedding an ongoing process of multi-sector engagement, including an annual Faith Summit and quarterly consultations, dialogues and forums. ## **Inter Faith Week 2023** Inter Faith Week (hosted by the [Inter Faith Network](https://www.interfaithweek.org/)), is an annual opportunity to strengthen relationships among faith groups and between people with religious and non-religious beliefs. This year’s Inter Faith Week will be held from 12-19 November. Why not take this opportunity to have a conversation with other local faith leaders and your local council about adopting a Faith Covenant locally? When adopting the Faith Covenant, faith communities and local authorities jointly commit to a set of principles that guide engagement, aiming to remove any mistrust and promote open, practical working on all levels. We’ve seen this turn isolated faith forums into integrated members of the local voluntary sector, create vehicles to deliver social action projects in partnership (such as a social prescribing programmes), and create clear channels of communication between councils and faith groups which have proved vital in times of crisis. For more information, head to the [APPG website](https://www.faithandsociety.org/resources/) and check out the following resources: - [The Faith Covenant: A primer for faith communities](https://www.faithandsociety.org/resources/) - [The Faith Covenant: A primer for councils](https://www.faithandsociety.org/resources/) - [Keeping the Faith 1 & 2](https://www.faithandsociety.org/resources/) You can also still view all of the resources and video recordings from our recent Faith in Partnership Week [here](https://partnership.faithaction.net/). ###### Join the Conversation [ X-twitter ](https://www.x.com/FaithActionnet) [ ](https://bsky.app/profile/faithaction.net) [ Facebook-f ](https://www.facebook.com/FaithAction/) [ Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/faithactionnet/) [ Linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithaction/) ###### Become a Member now! Get the latest news and invites to upcoming events straight to your inbox. [Sign up!](/membership/) ###### [Latest from the Blog](/blog/) [ ![](https://www.faithaction.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Faith-Covenant-Guidance-Launch-700x300.jpg)## Launching the Faith Covenant Guidebook by FaithAction As we come to the end of Faith in Partnership Week 2026, we are delighted to announce the launch of the new Faith Covenant Guidebook! This is your first port of call for key information on the Faith Covenant initiative – what it is, why \[…\] ](https://www.faithaction.net/blog/faith-in-partnership/2026/09/11/launching-the-faith-covenant-guidebook/ "Launching the Faith Covenant Guidebook") ###### [Latest News](/news/) [## Join Footsteps and West Midlands Combined Authority as they launch their Sacred Spaces, Resilient Places report The charity Footsteps, in partnership with West Midlands Combined Authority and students from Birmingham City University’s architecture and design department, have produced a report on climate adaptation and community resilience at Places of Worship in the West Midlands, and will be launching their new report \[…\] ](https://www.faithaction.net/news/general/2026/10/02/join-footsteps-and-west-midlands-combined-authority-as-they-launch-their-sacred-spaces-resilient-places-report/ "Join Footsteps and West Midlands Combined Authority as they launch their Sacred Spaces, Resilient Places report") [## Change is here to stay! It has not been an easy time for the faith and community sector, particular for those who are striving to serve their local communities, as is the case for our network members. The FaithAction team has always sought to be close to the ground, not \[…\] ](https://www.faithaction.net/news/general/2026/10/02/change-is-here-to-stay/ "Change is here to stay!") [## Martha’s Rule rolled out at every A&E department in England The NHS has committed to expanding Martha’s Rule to A&E departments, meaning that patients or family members can demand a review of a patient’s care if a patient is deteriorating and they are concerned this is not being taken on board. Named for Martha Mills, \[…\] ](https://www.faithaction.net/news/health/2026/09/25/marthas-rule-rolled-out-at-every-ae-department-in-england/ "Martha’s Rule rolled out at every A&E department in England") [## Housing Justice Annual Conference 2026 Join faith and community providers to reflect, share sector updates and develop best practice together. The Annual Housing Justice Conference is a day dedicated to Faith and Community projects across the homelessness sector coming together to learn and connect. The conference will have sessions on \[…\] ](https://www.faithaction.net/news/general/2026/09/04/housing-justice-annual-conference-2026/ "Housing Justice Annual Conference 2026") [## Get involved with Healthwatch England’s survey on hospital discharge experiences When it came time to leave the hospital, was the right support in place? Could you leave when you were meant to? Or did you have to stay in the hospital for longer than was necessary? Healthwatch England wants to learn more about your experience \[…\] ](https://www.faithaction.net/news/health/2026/09/04/get-involved-with-healthwatch-englands-survey-on-hospital-discharge-experiences/ "Get involved with Healthwatch England’s survey on hospital discharge experiences") ###### Friendly Places ![](//www.faithaction.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Friendly-Places.jpg)"I believe that there is a significant and positive role for faith communities to play in the support of mental health." "I pledge to support faith groups in my community to become Friendly Places which welcome and support those struggling with their mental health." 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