Building identity
Key objectives
- Showcase the unique value of faith-based social action.
- Expand the Growing Good Toolkit by providing additional resources that help churches connect social action with discipleship and growth.
- Continue to support the Together Network, building a movement of faith-based social action that serves local communities.
- Work with local partners across England to provide personal care to those facing homelessness.
A strong sense of identity, and confidence, is crucial to individual well-being and social contribution. When people lack self-worth, they struggle to overcome challenges, which can lead to exclusion and poor mental health.
In 2023, we focused on empowering individuals through initiatives like Wayfinder, Positive Pathways, Catalyst, and the Growing Good Toolkit. By nurturing a strong sense of self and community, we help people overcome isolation, building the resilience and purpose necessary for a fulfilling life.
Positive Pathways
Positive Pathways is an outreach programme offering personalised support to people experiencing homelessness. The original project came to an end in 2023 after five years, with support being delivered to people experiencing homelessness 2,728 times and signposting being delivered 2,028 times across our partners.This tailored support helps individuals restore their self-worth and develop a clearer pathway to stability and independence, transforming their sense of identity and future prospects.
Positive Pathways is now in its next phase using the expertise of CUF and its partners to transition away from the immediate need support, to a focus on sustaining tenancies for those clients that are at that point in their journey.
Growing Good
In 2023, the Growing Good Toolkit had significant positive impacts on participating churches by enhancing their understanding of their local communities, boosting their confidence in their local mission, and cultivating relationships. A series of local and national training events and webinars equipped churches with locally rooted knowledge and overarching and skills.
Churches reported increased awareness of community needs and strengths, with 79% and 80% respectively acknowledging this growth. Additionally, 68% of churches felt more confident about sharing their faith through social action, and many took steps to integrate social action and discipleship, leading to holistic growth in both spiritual and numerical aspects.
Wayfinder
The Wayfinder programme supports people affected by homelessness by building strong connections with volunteer mentors. These mentors, often with personal experience of homelessness, provide relational support, boosting participants’ sense of identity, selfconfidence and emotional health. Many participants reported initial struggles due to trauma, grief, substance misuse, and poor physical health but found renewed confidence through the programme. In 2023 90% of participants named improved emotional wellbeing as the outcome they most wanted to work on.
Catalyst
Catalyst is a transformative leadership programme aimed at developing young leaders as positive role models in their communities. In 2023, Catalyst engaged a diverse group of 90 young people, helping participants build confidence, overcome self-doubt, recognise their potential and inspire change in their communities.
