Faith-based charities raise £16.3bn annually but are hampered by lack of awareness about their work and a hostile environment, according to a report out today.
NPC analysed Charity Commission data, conducted a survey and carried out qualitative research with charities, funders and stakeholders over the course of 18 months.
What a difference faith makes – insights on faith-based charities highlights that while faith charities make up a large chunk of the sector there are a number of misconceptions about them which need to be addressed.
It also highlighted changes in the political climate which had had resulted in “what some would say is a hostile attitude, for instance towards Muslim charities”.
Rachel Wharton, consultant at NPC and one of the report’s authors, said: “Among the wider public, the public and private sectors, and the voluntary sector, misunderstanding around faith values and a lack of awareness of different beliefs is a barrier to working more effectively.”
NPC has now called on the sector to collaborate more with faith charities.
Wharton added: “We recommend that the sector recognises the unique characteristics and resources that faith-based charities have, learn more about different faiths and think about how faith might impact their work.
“For some people, faith is an integral part of their identity; recognising this and incorporating it into service delivery could create greater impact for beneficiaries. This lack of consideration at the moment means the sector is missing out on a vital opportunity to deliver better services, often to the most vulnerable.”
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