History

The Wolverhampton Faith Network was established in 2003 as the Thematic Network to represent the faith communities of the city and give them a voice at local strategic level. The Faith Regeneration Unit was created in 2005 specifically to help faith groups with project development and acquiring funding to help in regeneration of their communities.

The amalgamation of the WFN and the FRU is good news for both organisations and for the faith communities of the city. At the Civic Ceremony last June all three faith organisations, the Wolverhampton Faith Network, Faith Regeneration Unit and Wolverhampton Interfaith Council signed a Partnership Agreement that declared their intention to work closer together and support each other.

Out of the discussions and dialogue that preceded this declaration it became very clear that there was duplication in the remit of the WFN and FRU. This duplication was a waste of finances and resources and had the potential to cause confusion among member groups and strategic bodies. So talks took place to pursue the possibilities of an amalgamation and what positive benefits such an amalgamation would bring to each organisation and to the faith communities of the city. Therefore on the 14th January, 2008 the City of Wolverhampton Faith and Regeneration Network officially came in to being.

Anastase Rugirangoga and Julienne Mukansanga are joint leaders of PHARP (Peace Healing and Reconciliation Programme) in Rwanda and were our guest speakers for the launch. They gave an inspiring talk on how the church has helped rebuild communities after the horrors of the Genocide.

Chair, Revd. John Howard cut the cake to officially launch the WFRN and a presentation was given by Lead Officer John Waterfield about the work of the WFRN and the challenges and the opportunities for the future.

On behalf of all of us at WFRN: a big thank you to those who supported us on the day.