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Background

Background 

According to the 2001 census, 74% (380,000) of Sheffield's population affiliates with a faith tradition. There are more than 400 faith groups in the City, representing at least 15 religions and a wide variety of denominations within them.  Such faith groups often have strong connections with the most marginalised and excluded people within the City, because their presence is deeply embedded in both local communities and in minority cultures.  Individual faith communities with their resources (buildings, volunteers, skills and expertise, etc), also have great potential to offer a positive contribution to the regeneration and future of the City.

A brief history of the development of Sheffield Faiths Forum is documented in the Sheffield Faiths Forum Timeline. The impetus for the formation of the Sheffield Faiths Forum arose from the "Sheffield Faith Network" and progressed by a Steering Group in conjunction with the Faith Leaders Group, overseen by OFFER.

Structure

OFFER has held a database of groups, agencies and individuals connected with the City's faith communities for some time.  This database is known as the "Sheffield Faith Network", and includes bodies operating at different levels within the City, such as Sheffield Faiths Leaders Group (currently led by Bishop Jack Nicholls), city-wide interfaith initiatives (eg. Sheffield Interfaith), and interfaith initiatives at a neighbourhood level (eg. Burngreave Community Action Forum).

The informal relationship between Sheffield Faiths Forum and the "Sheffield Faith Network", as well as to the Yorkshire and Humberside Faiths Forum and Sheffield First (the Local Strategic Partnership) is shown here.  Groups in the "Network" may engage in the work of the Forum at a level each feels comfortable with, but they have a role and remit which extend beyond that of Sheffield Faiths Forum and have lines of accountability outside of the Forum.