New research suggests churches regularly deliver more than a quarter of a million essential services across England.
That’s certainly true in Ribble Valley, where our amazing church communities provide warm spaces for those in need, dish up lunches for those who may not get a hot meal that day, and offer facilities for groups to help people of all ages socialise with others and receive advice.
I attended the launch of a report hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Faith and Society exploring how churches are providing essential services across the country.
The research, unveiled in Parliament, provides the first national picture of church-based community services and could pave the way for more collaboration with local government, health systems, voluntary and community organisations, and faith groups.
It was great to catch up with my constituent, the brilliant Peter Lumsden, who is doing important work across Lancashire to bring together the power of church communities with wider civic society, to improve and bring together our villages and towns.
I’ve been to many churches in this constituency and met so many of the people providing these essential services that help connect rural communities.
