BID: Faith, Young People & Resilience

• Lead Member Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)
• Participating Members Bury Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Oldham Council, Trafford Council, Wigan Council
• Year 2025
• Type Policy Labs
• Bid

About the project

Summary of project idea

Young people from faith communities often experience lower levels of belonging and trust, while misinformation and crises can deepen division. Faith communities play a vital role in resilience, cohesion, and crisis response, yet their contributions are sometimes misunderstood or overlooked. This project, led by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) in partnership with Wigan, Trafford, Bury, and Oldham, will empower young people to strengthen resilience and cohesion in their communities.

Through workshops, scenario planning, and creative storytelling, young people will examine past faith-led crisis responses, explore the impact of misinformation, and develop practical solutions to bring communities together. By fostering interfaith collaboration, the project will build trust, equip young people with key skills, and enhance crisis preparedness. A key outcome will be a youth-led Faith, Cohesion & Resilience Toolkit, providing guidance for faith groups, councils, and communities.

Aligned with the Greater Manchester Faith, Belief and Interfaith Covenant, this project supports co-production, social partnership, and community leadership, creating a replicable model for councils.

What are the three key outcomes this project will achieve?

1. Young people will take a leading role in resilience and crisis response, developing the skills, confidence, and networks to challenge misinformation, strengthen cohesion, and support their communities in times of disruption.

2. Faith communities, councils, and young people will form stronger, long-term partnerships, embedding faith and youth perspectives into local crisis planning and ensuring communities are better connected before, during, and after emergencies.

3. A youth-led Faith, Cohesion & Resilience Toolkit will be developed, providing councils and communities with practical guidance, tested strategies, and real-world case studies to embed inclusive, faith-informed approaches to resilience.