Faith-based groups feel compromised

Church-based community workers have difficulty
gaining access to government funding and feel discriminated against
because of their faith, a conference heard last week.

Delegates attending a conference on
regeneration held by disability charity the Shaftesbury Society
said they felt restrictions were put on their work, which meant
that their Christian principles were being compromised.

They also reported that they felt there was a
lack of information about key regeneration initiatives aimed at
grass roots organisations.

Church-based community groups said that, like
other groups, they have sometimes been hindered by a lack of
understanding about how the regeneration initiatives actually
operate.