18 September 2024

• 8.30AM - 9.10AM
  Registration, coffee & networking
• 9.10AM - 9.20AM
  Chair's welcome - Paul Parker, recording clerk, Quakers in Britain
• 9.20AM - 10.10AM
  Panel - Steering faith organisations through turbulent waters

  In today’s world, faith-based organisations face unprecedented challenges as they operate in an environment of increasing societal polarisation and escalating religious tensions, both locally and globally. This session will delve into some of the complexities facing our panel, and examine leadership strategies for building organisational resilience and fostering unity within diverse teams. How can a foundation of faith shape our approach to conflict and become a tool for building social cohesion?

  Panellists - Christine Allen, executive director, CAFOD, Maurice Helfgott, chair of trustees, World Jewish Relief, Zara Mohammed, secretary general, Muslim Council of Britain and Patrick Watt, chief executive, Christian Aid

• 10.10AM - 10.40AM
  Regulatory update - Charity Commission

  Session details to be announced.

  Colette Bennett, Charities Engagement Manager, the Charity Commission

• 10.40AM - 11.10AM
  Networking & refreshment break
• 11.10AM - 11.50AM
  Faith investors and the ESG backlash

  Faith investors were among the earliest ESG investors, recognising that profits had to be consistent with their beliefs, and aware of the negative impacts that activities could have on humanity and the environment. For many years, an ever-growing number of investors, of all faiths and none, joined us on this journey – but now a backlash has started. With this growing backlash against ESG investing, what should faith investors do?

  Christophe Borysiewicz, investment director, Rathbones

• 11.55AM - 12.35PM
  1A. Transforming digital giving in the Church of England 

  With card having overtaken cash as the preferred form of payment and the explosion of online giving because of the pandemic, the Church of England has undertaken a five-year giving strategy to embed digital giving in 50% of parishes. Working in partnership with regional colleagues, the National Giving Team gave over 2,000 contactless devices away at face-to-face training events throughout the country: working in a range of contexts from the smallest rural countryside church to the biggest national Cathedrals, undertaking a major upskilling in the digital literacy of church volunteers. In 2023 alone, churches across the country received digital donations and payments of almost £14 million. Join this session to hear how this cultural change project unlocked new partnerships, generated new income for missional opportunities and strengthened its legacy proposition.

  Grace Emmett, national digital giving manager and Eleanor Stead, head of giving, Church of England

• 11.55AM - 12.35PM
  1B. Safeguarding - exploring the intersection of faith and abuse

  Cases of domestic abuse are at an all-time high. Many survivors with a faith feel that some specialist services and society, in general, are unable to understand their experiences of abuse, and their barriers to accessing support due to their religious identity, their faith community and any spiritual abuse that they may experience at the hands of their perpetrator. At the same time, faith and spirituality can play a crucial role in healing. The Faith and VAWG Coalition exists to build bridges between members of faith communities and domestic abuse specialists. Join this session to deepen your understanding of the intersection between faith and abuse, as well as practical advice for spotting the warning signs through to offering the appropriate support.

  Huda Jawad, Executive Director, Faith and Violence Against Women and Girls Coalition
   

• 12.35PM - 1.35PM
  Lunch, networking and time to visit exhibition
• 1.35PM - 2.15PM
  2A. Muslim Civil Society: Tradition, Transformation, and Tomorrow

  This session will examine generational and social shifts impacting UK Muslim civil society, highlighting evolving perspectives and priorities. It will consider elements such as; the changing role of faith-based anchor organisations in communities, the value of Zakat in tackling poverty and strengthening communities, the diversification from international humanitarian aid to addressing pressing local issues within the UK itself, and real life examples of faith-based social impact. Importantly, it will prompt reflections on how such shifts are mirrored across various faith communities, offering valuable lessons for different faith-based organisations navigating similar transitions.

  Chair - Jehangir Malik, faith & civil society advisor and director, British Muslim Civil Society Report
  Dr Abdul Haqq Baker, chief executive, Green Lane Mosque Community Centre 
  Tuffail Hussain, director, Islamic Relief UK 
  Zamzam Ibrahim, climate activist 

• 1.35PM - 2.15PM
  2B. Faith and philanthropy: Understanding and unlocking Donor Advised Funds (DAFs)

  Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) are becoming an increasingly popular, tax-efficient and admin free structure for charitable giving. This session aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of DAFs as a philanthropic tool and how and why faith-based organisations might benefit from them. Join us if you are interested in new ways to engage donors and stewarding long-term mutually beneficial relationships.  

  Annika Greco Thompson, relationship manager (philanthropy services) and Megan Wilcock, relationship manager (next gen), Stewardship

• 2.20PM - 3.10PM
  Tensions and transformations: The road ahead for faith charities and government

  With the recent election of a new Labour government, there is a renewed hope for closer collaboration with the charity sector. This marks a significant shift from recent years, where the relationship between faith charities and government has encountered strains exemplified by high-profile incidents like the withdrawal of funding from the Inter Faith Network. As we stand at this pivotal moment, faith communities and organisations are looking for clarity and vision from the new government. The vital role of faith as a valuable societal resource, particularly in supporting marginalized and impoverished communities, advocating for social justice and fostering unity, underscores the urgency for renewed cooperation and a shared vision between faith-based initiatives and government entities.

  Hassan Joudi, former trustee, Interfaith Network
  Rachel Lampard, director of social action and justice, Methodist Church
  Gareth McNab, director of external affairs, Christians Against Poverty
   

   

• 3.10PM - 3.30PM
  Networking & refreshment break
• 3.30PM - 4.10PM
  Closing keynote: Navigating Israel and Palestine with our communities in the UK

  For this important closing keynote discussion, we welcome three key representatives from FODIP, a faith-based dialogue organisation whose main charitable objective is to improve relations between faith communities in the UK, to help us broach the difficult and emotive topic of Israel/Palestine. We are operating in the context of increasing polarisation, with incidents of Islamophobia and Antisemitism on the rise which demand that we prioritise cohesion and unity more than ever before, both within our own organisations and in a wider context. We invite our speakers to share their expertise in dialogue, to enable positive conversations on this difficult topic, even when those engaged have radically different perspectives. 

  Sadia Akram, programme director, Dr Jane Clements, founder and co-chair and Rabbi Warren Elf, co-chair and treasurer, FODIP (Forum of Discussion for Israel/Palestine)

• 4.10PM - 4.20PM
  Chair's closing remarks - Paul Parker, recording clerk, Quakers in Britain
• 4.20PM - 5.20PM
  Networking reception

Great ways to save!

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3. Attend with your team!
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With thanks to our sponsor: 

With thanks to our exhibitors: 

15 Hatfields
Chadwick Court
London
SE1 8DJ
020 7827 5920
 

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