Strengthening links between faith based and non-faith organisations.
We put people with people and that is where the 'Transformation' often occurs.
Supporting large conferences around a key issue, gathering a small group of like minded people wanting to make a difference, raising the voices of people with lived experiences, linking people and projects, highlighting concerns.
Our strengthening links work largely exists around six key themes that we are actively engaged in: food poverty, mental health, modern slavery, homelessness, financial inclusion and climate emergency.
But also we are able to respond to key issues around equality and social justice using our 'Tools For Change' toolkits. We showcase and link the huge wealth of faith based work in these areas both locally and nationally and take that to a wider audience within Cornwall.
Examples of our Strengthening Links work are below:
Racial Justice Sunday Toolkit for Cornish Churches
In February 2021, we partnered with Churches Together in Cornwall, All Saints Church Highertown to develop a Racial Justice Sunday Toolkit for Cornish Churches. With contributions from Marcus Allyene from Black Voices Cornwall and Rev. Patrick Gilbert, BAME Champion for Truro Diocese the toolkit contains a number of prayers, reflections, and sermon ideas to help Churches and faith groups in Cornwall observe Racial Justice Sunday.
Developed as resource to promote action around Racial Justice Sunday on the 14th February 2021, the toolkit is designed for use throughout the year for Churches and faith groups in Cornwall to take action in their communities and help to bring about long term structural change. The toolkit is for Christians of all denominations to join together in affirming the equality of all people and to make a commitment to becoming actively anti-racist.
Churches Together in Cornwall: Unity Group
Another organisation that we've partnered is Churches Together in Cornwall (CTC). Transformation Cornwall is a member of the CTC Unity Group.
The Unity Group developed from the CTC Future Paths July 2019 report, which showed the need for consultation with local Churches Together groups, Local Ecumenical Partnerships and other ecumenical initiatives, to develop more effective networking, gather data on what the groups are currently doing, what they would like to do, and what help CTC might offer them.
In November 2019, the CTC Unity group launched S.A.M. (Social Action Mapping) for Cornish Churches to locate and strengthen projects and initiatives supported by churches throughout Cornwall. You can read more about S.A.M. HERE
Roger Mills, CTC Ecumenical Missioner says: ’Transformation Cornwall is a key player in Churches Together in Cornwall, linking us to faith-based social action across the county, bringing hands-on experience of issues, needs, hopes and fears, together with expertise in formulating practical solutions.’
A Day on Faith and Mental Health
An example of our strengthening links work was a partnership with Truro Diocese and the Department of Spiritual and Pastoral Care at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to host ‘A Day on Faith and Mental Health’ on October 5th 2019.
The aim of the day was to raise awareness and promote discussion among the faith and mental health communities in Cornwall. The day was a huge success with over 100 people joined together in Truro Methodist Church.
The day was mapped by a comprehensive resource document so people could be guided and follow up work with speakers and local and national initiatives in this area.
Evaluation recorded:
- 91% of respondents rated the day as good or excellent
- 75% of respondents increased their understanding of the Cornish Faith Community
- 84% of respondents increased their understanding of mental ill health
- 77% of respondents gained insight of how faith and mental health connect
- 87% of respondents will do more work in this area as a result of the event
- 76% of respondents made contacts to follow up
Organisations we've partnered
