UK Government inadequate in engaging with faith: Independent review by Colin Bloom

An independent review by Colin Bloom and a team of civil servants titled "Does Government 'do God?'" was published on Wednesday. 

- ANTONIA FILMER

The launch in the Thatcher Room in Parliament was attended by faith leaders and MPs. The review was commissioned by Boris Johnson in 2019, and Bloom, the government's Independent Faith Engagement Advisor, offers thanks to many ministers for enabling its completion.

The review involved 21,000 responses that overwhelmingly demonstrated faith is alive and making an extraordinary and valuable contribution to society. The UK is a successful multifaith country with strong protections for people to practise their religion, faith, or belief. As that landscape continues to develop, so must the collective understanding. However, what Bloom calls "faith literacy" amongst public servants is not comprehensive or current, which makes policy creation difficult. Bloom argues that government engagement with faith would be better if it was not tacit. He is recommending a new cross-departmental role of an Independent Faith Champion and Office to improve understanding, communication, and education in public service (NHS, police, schools, councils, and Whitehall).

Beyond full-time education, Bloom suggests that "out-of-school settings such as yeshivas, madrassahs or Sunday schools" should be formally registered and regulated to safeguard the mental and physical safety of children.

The review finds that regardless of changing religious demographics in England and Wales, faith provides a positive framework for society and helps address some of the most pressing social challenges such as loneliness, poverty, and mental health.