United Reformed Church wants poverty to end and for everyone to vote as General Election is announced

THE United Reformed Church (URC) is encouraging all voters to engage in the upcoming General Election, to take place on:- 4 July 2024, and to use it as an opportunity to urge political leaders to end poverty in the UK.

At its 2023 General Assembly, the URC made a resolution that:- "calls upon political leaders to make a commitment towards the eradication of structural poverty in the UK". It also encourages churches and church members to raise these issues with candidates in the lead-up to the next General Election."

The URC is a member of the Let's End Poverty movement. Let's End Poverty was inspired by national movements such as the Jubilee Debt Campaign and Make Poverty History, where large coalitions of civic organisations and individuals were able to influence Government policies for the common good.

The Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson, URC General Assembly Moderator 2023-2024, said:- "I am calling for us to actively encourage our communities, staff and congregants to ensure they are registered to vote in the upcoming General Election. I make particular reference to those from demographics historically under-represented in the voting process, ie young people, ethnically-minoritised as well as economically disadvantaged communities, renters, recent movers and non-UK nationals who are eligible to vote. Our advocacy for them and our participation in elections are a testament to our commitment to shaping a society that is mindful of its responsibilities towards fair representation and justice for all."

The URC has more than 1,200 congregations across Scotland, England and Wales, including:- Local Ecumenical Partnerships and a digital congregation.

The denomination has a history of speaking out against injustice and of supporting people in need.

A recent report by the think tank Theos (2023), states:- "A clear strength of the URC is its vibrant activism or, as 1 survey respondent put it, 'its unrelenting generosity to the local community'. All the churches we visited as part of the research had at least 1 project or initiative of building relationship with, and serving, its local community. In many cases, despite their small size, churches were involved in multiple projects, engaging a variety of groups and responding to a variety of needs."

The Joint Public Issues Team, of which the URC is a partner, has released a number of resources for churches to help them engage with the General Election. To access the free resources, visit:- JPIT.UK/Election.

Groundbreaking citizens' panel on policing launches recommendations in Liverpool

THE outcome of an unprecedented exercise in participatory democracy, as the UK's 1st ever citizens' panel on policing and community safety launches its strategic recommendations.

A diverse assembly of Liverpool residents convened under the:- 'Building Bridges, Safer Communities' project led by national charity Revolving Doors aimed at bridging the gap between:- policing and the communities they serve.

Drawing on a months long deliberative process, participants developed a comprehensive answer to the question:- "How can we prevent crime and improve community safety for everyone and particularly marginalised groups in Liverpool?"

Reconvening panel members will launch the recommendations to key local decision makers in the City, including the Police and Crime Commissioner, Chief Police Constable and local MPs.

Proposing transformative approaches to fostering public safety, they emphasise a popular desire for prevention, community engagement and investment in services.

Key recommendations include:-

1. Greater investment in youth and social services and mental health resources to tackle the underlying causes of crime.

2. Struggling families to be given additional support and connected to strengthened public services.

3. Release of funds to tackle inequality, empower communities and promote active citizenship.

"These prevention-first recommendations are not just reflective of Liverpool's aspirations for a safer community but also serve as a proactive blueprint for change which should be considered nationally. The panel's recommendations are very clear: they want root causes to offending addressed, families and young people supported and also the local community coming together to celebrate the diversity of the City." commented Pavan Dhaliwal, CEO of Revolving Doors.

The Citizens' Panel, facilitated by experts Shared Future CIC, ensured a wide array of community voices were heard and incorporated into the final recommendations. Jez Hall from Shared Future noted:- "This panel should mark a significant step forward in how communities can directly influence policies on safety and policing in the UK."

Chief Constable Serena Kennedy from Merseyside Police said:- "Understanding the views of our diverse communities, particularly around public safety and prevention is vital to us, so we welcome the work of the Citizens' Panel in Liverpool. Policing has always had a vital role to play in preventing crime and harm, and as the National Lead for Prevention, it is something that I wholly stand behind. By intervening early and thinking about problem solving we can prevent issues from escalating, improve life chances and support communities in the future, which will make a huge difference to all across Merseyside."

Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, commented:- "Listening to the voices of people across Merseyside is at the heart of my work. It is critical to good decision making, so I welcome the input and views of the Citizens Panel on such a wide range of issues. I look forward to attending the event to update them on the progress we are making in the areas they have identified."

Jo Richmond, Director of Safer City and Communities for LCC, said:- "Liverpool City Council (LCC) welcomes the launch of the Building Bridges, Safer Communities Report as a valuable piece of insight into community engagement and empowerment. This aims of this report aligns closely with the Council's objectives of safe, thriving, empowered and compassionate communities for all and we will share its recommendations with all the key partners at the Citysafe Board."