Women of Faith Conference in Birmingham Highlights Role of Religious Women in Community Change

More than 100 women engaged in community work across Britain gathered at Birmingham University for the "Pride in Place: Women of Faith Conference" this week. The event was organized by the Women's Faith Forum and focused on the role of faith communities and women in delivering social change.

The conference was connected to the UK government's "Pride in Place" initiative, which aims to strengthen community cohesion in towns and cities across England.

Co-founders Laura Marks and Dr. Jagbir Jhutti-Johal said women are closely connected to their communities and experienced in creating spaces of well-being, but their contributions are often unnoticed by policymakers and funders.

"Women of faith are doing the work every day. They are running food banks, mentoring young people, supporting families in crisis," said one conference speaker. "It is time that work was recognized and resourced."

Participants came from Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, and Sikh backgrounds. The conference included workshops on community organizing, advocacy, and building partnerships with local government.

The Women's Faith Forum was founded to amplify the voices of women from diverse religious backgrounds who are working on social issues. The organization advocates for greater inclusion of faith communities in public policy discussions.

The conference comes as faith-based organizations across the UK are facing funding pressures. Several speakers called on the government to increase support for community organizations, particularly those serving disadvantaged areas.

A follow-up conference is planned for later in 2026, with a focus on economic empowerment and financial literacy for women in faith communities.