Southwell & Nottingham became a FairTrade Diocese in 2006.  This means that the Diocese has committed itself to:

• To ensure the diocese works well with other people, other churches and other agencies outside the church.
• To facilitate parishes and deaneries in joining with the mission of God by joining in the wider patterns of service to the community.
• And by the development of new projects and initiatives in response to changing demographics and social structures.
• Serving community - a connection point with other agencies and churches working together.
• Enablin change - engages with regeneration at individual, local, district, county/city and regional levels.

We reflect on social, political and economic issues from a biblical perspective, and work in partnership with others to build a more just, peaceful and inclusive society.  We alert people in the Diocese to needs and opportunities for service in contemporary society, and help parishes to develop an active Christian witness in response to their own local context.

We work with colleagues from all departments and with other Christian denominations and churches. We have a special responsibility to liaise with secular agencies.  We also work with other faith communities and with inter-faith organisations. 

We work with emphasis on equality & diversity across this department and the wider diocese.  Current priorities include:Racial Justice Sunday, CMEAC, Older People, Interfaith, working with the deaf community, Environment Policy, engaging with the world of work, Supporting Farming Families, Fairtrade Diocese and Open Churches.

Partnerships are celebrated and supported in a number of ways:
At local level via deaneries, Outer Estates Group, Rural Seminars;

at district and county level via Local Strategic Partnerships - One Nottingham in the City, The Nottinghamshire Partnerships for the county and with District LSP's;

At a regional level via East Midlands Chruches Forum, Social Responsibility Officer's Network.

Task groups have been set up to focus on certain priorties such as Diocesan Older Persons Advisory Group, Growing Greener Churches Group, Faiths Engagement Group, Open Churches Steering Group and Disabilities Advisory Group.

Links with the wider Voluntary and Community Sector are important and include good relationships with NAVO (Networking Action for Voluntary Organisations)in the County, NCVS in the City, and RCAN (Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire).  Contacts with the local CVS's are encouraged at district level.

Big Society - we are all aware of great changes in new government and we are organising or participating with a number of opportunities to try and understand and engage with new policies.

Please use the menu on the left handside to find out more