Bridging Divides - Faith, Policy and Social Justice
This is a conference specifically designed for senior leaders and decision-makers working in faith-based organisations. It is intended to create an opportunity to discuss the role that faith plays in helping many charities achieve their objectives, and to address some of the key challenges facing this unique group of organisations. We hope you will join us for what promises to be a thought-provoking and inspiring day.
We are currently working on the 2025 programme, look out for updates coming soon.

Programme
10 September 2025
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8.30AM - 9.20AMRegistration, coffee & networking
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9.20AM - 9.30AMChairs' welcome, Paul Parker, recording clerk, Quakers in Britain
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9.30AM - 9.50AMOpening keynote - Exploring the intersection of faith and policy
We are delighted to welcome Lord Khan of Burnley in his new role as Lords Minister for Faith. In this keynote address, he will share the Labour government’s vision for strengthening partnerships with the faith sector to drive social impact and develop stronger, more connected communities.
Lord Khan of Burnley, Lords Minister for Faith
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9.50AM - 10.30AMNavigating change: latest legal developments for faith organisations
This focused session will highlight the key legal developments shaping the charity and faith sectors in 2025. Delivered by Stone King, a leading charity and faith sector law firm, it will cover updates on governance, safeguarding, compliance, property, and employment law. The session will draw on practical case studies to illustrate how these changes play out in real-world scenarios, leaving you better-informed and equipped to navigate change and ensure compliance.
Harriet Broughton, Lee Coley, Rosamund McCarthy Etherington and Chris Sharpe, partners, Stone King
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10.30AM - 10.55AMNetworking & refreshment break
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10.55AM - 11.35AM1A. Faith, finance and climate justice across traditions
The climate crisis is one of the greatest threats facing humanity - and faith communities have a vital role in driving a just response. This session is led by Faith for the Climate, a small but influential organisation that coordinates the UK’s multi-faith climate movement. Punching above its weight, Faith for the Climate empowers religious groups to take action through sustainable practices, advocacy, and grassroots engagement. The session will explore how faith traditions are shaping climate justice, with a focus on transforming the global financial and economic system through specific calls such as a tax on major polluters, an end to tax avoidance and evasion, debt justice, and a more just financial system between the Global South and North - essential tools for unlocking fair and effective climate solutions.
Chair - Shanon Shah, director, Faith for the Climate
Additional speakers to be announced
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10.55AM - 11.35AM1B. Sacred Giving: harnessing faith traditions to inspire action and impact
This session will explore how different faith traditions promote generosity and community service. By examining the spiritual, ethical, and communal motivations behind these practices, it highlights actionable insights for charities seeking to deepen engagement, foster trust, and increase donations and volunteering. The discussion offers practical takeaways on how organisations can respectfully align their campaigns with faith-based values, build interfaith partnerships, and time appeals around key religious moments to maximise impact.
Rev Wendy Pawsey, head of giving, Evangelical Alliance
Additional speakers to be announced
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11.35AM - 11.40AMTransit time
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11.40AM - 12.15PM2A. Holocaust Educational Trust case study: virtual reality, real stories
As we mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps of Europe and the end of the Second World War, this is likely to be the last milestone year that survivors will be able to be part of commemorations. We mark this anniversary year in challenging times - antisemitism is rising globally, and the distortion and denial of the past is sadly all too common. This session will showcase the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Testimony 360: People and Places of the Holocaust, a ground-breaking free digital education programme that combines virtual reality with eyewitness testimony. In an age where the ethical use of technology is the subject of much debate, this initiative exemplifies how innovation can preserve truth, ensure legacy, and enhance education.
Karen Pollock, chief executive, Holocaust Educational Trust
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11.40AM - 12.15PM2B. Navigating Genuine Occupational Requirements: faith, equity, and belonging
This session will explore how faith-based charities interpret and apply Genuine Occupational Requirements (GORs) in varied ways - and the complexities this presents when striving to build inclusive, effective organisations. We'll hear from different perspectives on how to balance mission-driven roles with the need to reflect and relate to the diverse communities charities serve. Join us as we discuss how to create organisational cultures that support different belief systems, including non-belief, while ensuring equity, belonging, and impact remain at the heart of faith-led work.
Revd Ben Cahill-Nicholls, chief executive, Clergy Support Trust
Additional speakers to be announced
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12.15PM - 12.20PMTransit time
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12.20PM - 1.00PMESG under fire: What’s next for sustainable investing?
For decades, investors and trustees have aligned their investments with their values, driving momentum behind ESG and responsible investing. But in recent years, ESG has faced increasing scrutiny and backlash, creating new challenges for those committed to sustainable strategies. In this session, we’ll explore the origins of this backlash, its impact on the investment landscape, and how ESG investors can adapt. What does the future hold for values-driven investing? How can investors respond to regulatory shifts and political pressures? Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the next chapter of ESG investing - and how you can stay ahead.
Speaker from Rathbones to be announced
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1.00PM - 2.00PMLunch
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2.00PM - 2.20PMRegulatory update: Charity Commission developments impacting the faith sector
In a rapidly evolving world, the Charity Commission continues to update its guidance to support charities in meeting emerging challenges. This session offers key insights into the latest research on public trust and confidence, along with essential updates on revised guidance around paying trustees, safeguarding protocols and best practice governance. Designed for faith-based charities, this session is crucial for staying ahead of regulatory changes and strengthening both compliance and impact.
Colette Bennett, charities engagement manager, Charity Commission
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2.20PM - 3.10PMFaith, Power and Trust - Safeguarding and the risk to reputation
In faith communities, safeguarding is not merely about compliance - it is a theological and ethical imperative that lies at the heart of spiritual care. This session will focus on the practical realities of safeguarding within faith settings, from navigating power dynamics in spiritual leadership to balancing pastoral care with professional boundaries. With growing uncertainty around forthcoming IICSA recommendations, and in the wake of high-profile scandals such as the Church of England’s, faith groups face increasing scrutiny. Some are now declining to offer social care due to reputational risks. This session will explore how communities can move beyond a 'tick-box' approach by embedding safeguarding into every day decision-making and equipping staff with the ongoing training needed to build trust and accountability at every level.
Justin Humphreys, chief executive, Thirtyone: eight
Sukhvinder Kaur, chair/faith and exploitation lead, Sikh Women’s AidMichael Wegier, chief executive, Board of Deputies of British Jews
Additional speakers to be announced
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3.10PM - 3.25PMOptional Grounding Meditation
Join us for fifteen minutes of guided stillness. This optional practice offers a moment to reset and reconnect before we continue with the afternoon’s discussions – whether you choose to participate or simply observe.
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3.25PM - 3.45PMNetworking break
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3.45PM - 4.15PMSession to be announced
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4.15PM - 4.45PMClosing keynote - Unlocking the power of community to affect change
Matt Finch has been a Methodist minister for over twenty years and is currently part of the national team supporting pioneers and those creating new Christian communities across Britain. He regularly contributes to Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2, bringing reflections on faith, hope, and everyday life to a wide audience. His work takes him into the complex realities of people’s lives, where he sees - given the right support - how ordinary people can find extraordinary hope, even in the hardest places. He founded the UK’s first CALMtown in St Ives, a grassroots movement putting wellbeing at the heart of community life. CALMtown has helped reduce stigma around mental health, encouraged people to care for themselves, and empowered communities to look out for those who are struggling. In this uplifting keynote, he reminds us of the power of community to affect change.
Rev Matthew Finch, trustee, CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
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4.45PM - 4.50PMChairs' closing remarks
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4.50PM - 5.50PMNetworking reception
Prices
Great ways to save!
- Early-release tickets
Book your place asap to save a massive £150 off your ticket price. Limited number of tickets available so book today to avoid disapointment! - General release tickets
Book your place now to save £80.00 off the ticket price. - Attend with your team!
Ensure your whole team benefits from a great day's learning. With the Charity Team Ticket you can send up to four people for a greatly discounted rate.
Early-release tickets (before 4 July) | General release tickets (before 1 August) | Final release tickets (after 1 August) | |
Charity delegate | £99 | £169 | £249 |
Charity Team ticket (up to 4 team members | £249 | £460 | £649 |
Venue
15 Hatfields
Chadwick Court
London
SE1 8DJ
020 7827 5920
Terms and conditions
- Payment
- Registrations will not be fully confirmed until correct payment is received. If you have any issues with payment, please contact [email protected]
- Programming
- Please note that speakers and topics were confirmed at the time of publishing, however, circumstances beyond the control of the organisers may necessitate substitutions, alterations or cancellations of the speakers and/or topics. As such Civil Society Media Ltd reserves the right to alter or modify the advertised speakers and/or topics if necessary. Any substitutions or alterations will be updated on our web page as soon as possible.
- Event attendance
- Delegates are required to observe and comply with all laws, regulations, rules and requirements relating to COVID-19 and which Civil Society Media has adopted as part of its operations. Civil Society Media will communicate the COVID-19 Measures to you from time to time including and without limitation via pre-Event emails, its social channels and the event website
- Civil Society Media reserves the right to alter or remove its COVID-19 Measures at any time in response to the latest guidance or legislation from the UK Government or as otherwise deemed necessary by Civil Society Media in its discretion.
- Civil Society Media reserves the right to eject you or refuse you entry from the event if, in our reasonable opinion, you are refusing to comply with any COVID-19 Measures without reasonable grounds.
- Cancellation or reimbursement
- On receipt of your booking form, your place is confirmed. Delegate substitutions are allowed. Refunds on cancellations will only be issued (less a 15% administration charge) up to and including 30 days prior to the event. Refunds will not be issued after this date. Confirmation of cancellations MUST be in writing and sent to [email protected]
- Individual registrants who registered as part of a discounted group registration are not eligible for refunds, unless the entire group cancels. Registrations may be transferred to another person from the same organisation at any time.
- Corporate tickets - Please note we only have a very limited amount of corporate delegates places available. If you would like to take up one of these places, please email [email protected]. Please do not book online at the charity rate. Any corporate bookings made online will be refunded, minus a 15% administration charge.
- Postponement or Cancellation of the Event by the Organiser
- Should we have to cancel or postpone we will endeavour to give you as much notice as is reasonably possible.
- In the event that we have to postpone, we will transfer your ticket to the next alternative date.