HOMELESSNESS AND COMMUNITY ISSUES HEAD AGENDA AS BLACKPOOL MP MEETS FAITH GROUPS

 Homelessness and associated problems in the town, improving involvement in the community for young people and the role of the voluntary sector has headed the list at discussions between Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden and faith group representatives in Blackpool. 

Mr Marsden met nearly two dozen clergy and other representatives from different Christian and church denominations as well as others from the Jewish, Muslim and Baha’ai groups for a two-hour open discussion at the Whitegate Drive Resource Centre.

“This meeting builds on continuing contacts I have with a wide range of faith group individuals and representatives in Blackpool. I thought it would be very valuable to get some of their views in this format, particular on the day-to-day social issues and problems they and their members find themselves addressing regularly here”, Mr Marsden said afterwards.

“Faith groups play a very important part in supporting community cohesion and helping individuals and families who are in difficulty or isolated – the comments and feedback I find very helpful and will assist me in raising issues locally and nationally”. 

Mr Marsden heard concerns about how funding structures and procedures by statutory bodies were not always flexible enough to help people with homelessness or social problems and of pressures on the Night Shelter and street services provided by groups such as the Salvation Army groups in the town. How to strengthen families and support for stable relationships and to make sure that funding for faith groups to take on services was more flexible and properly planed in areas such as childcare and social enterprise was also high on the priorities of those attending.

The meeting heard from Pastor Augusta Bibril, who helped organise the Faith Groups get together, of plans for a Festival of Heritage and Culture in Blackpool involving faith groups for summer 2008.