Launching ‘Faith in the City’

In an increasingly fragmented world, we must work harder to bring people together and ensure everyone feels empowered and accepted. Our Faith in the City initiative will help corporate leaders deal with faith matters more confidently and ensure we're meeting the faith needs of all the Square Mile's workers, residents and visitors.

The start of February marked the launch of Faith in the City at Mansion House. This landmark initiative will provide fresh insight into the faith and belief needs of those who work in, live in and visit the City, identify challenges and opportunities, and put forward ideas for the future.

Policy Chairman Chris Hayward and I discussed the importance of faith in an inclusive City that is open to all; the Faith in the City Co-Convenors Sughra Ahmed, Rabbi Alex Goldberg and Michael Wakelin outlined the aims of the project; and panellists Yunus Dudhwala (Barts Health NHS Trust), Rev Josh Harris (St Katharine Cree) and Louise Zekaria (Macfarlanes LLP) discussed the changing faith needs of the Square Mile.

The initiative will conduct an extensive programme of research, including surveys, focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders, as well as reviewing best practice from across the UK and internationally to develop recommendations for enhancing faith provision in the Square Mile.