Building Resilience and Strengthening Partnership: Highlights from the BHFA AGM 2026
May 15, 2026
Brighton & Hove Faith in Action (BHFA) welcomed trustees, faith leaders, civic partners, and community representatives to its 2026 Annual General Meeting — a gathering focused on partnership, resilience, and the role faith communities continue to play in public life.
This year’s AGM marked ten years since the establishment of the Faith Covenant in Brighton & Hove, celebrating a decade of collaboration between local authorities and faith communities.
Faith, Community, and Public Service
The keynote address was delivered by Daniel Singleton, CEO of FaithAction, who reflected on the pressures currently facing communities across the UK: the cost of living crisis, growing political and social polarisation, and the impact of global conflicts on local civic life.
Despite these challenges, Daniel highlighted the important role faith communities continue to play in strengthening local resilience.
Drawing on examples from across the country, he spoke about how trusted relationships between faith groups and public services became vital during COVID-19 — supporting vulnerable residents, delivering food, and helping people remain connected during periods of isolation.
Central to his presentation was the continuing importance of the Faith Covenant: a practical agreement encouraging local authorities and faith communities to work together openly and constructively.
Brighton & Hove was highlighted as a positive example of how sustained partnership can lead to meaningful impact, particularly around issues such as homelessness, health inequalities, and community wellbeing.
Daniel also discussed the development of the emerging Civil Society Covenant, designed to strengthen relationships between government and the voluntary sector, while emphasising that faith communities must be recognised as genuine civic partners.
Throughout the discussion, he stressed the importance of practical action over symbolism.
Building Common Ground
A recurring theme throughout the AGM was the challenge of maintaining social cohesion during periods of increased tension.
Daniel reflected on how international conflicts and polarised public debate can create division within local communities, while also encouraging organisations to focus on shared local responsibilities and practical cooperation.
One of the strongest areas of common ground, he suggested, is the shared commitment across many faith traditions to support vulnerable people and strengthen belonging within communities.
A Year of Partnership and Community Engagement
Project Coordinator Tim Jones presented an overview of BHFA’s work across Summer and Autumn 2025.
Key projects included collaboration with Refugee Radio to help faith leaders develop more informed and meaningful responses to refugees and asylum seekers, alongside continuing work on homelessness prevention, interfaith dialogue, and civic partnership.
BHFA also contributed to the "Beyond Food Banks" project, exploring how emergency food provision can evolve into more holistic support through advice services, resilience-building, and community connection.
Young people and education remained a significant focus, with interfaith dialogue sessions taking place in schools across the city and continued support for SACRE and Religious Education initiatives.
The AGM also celebrated the success of the "Faith in Our City" podcast, which has now released two series featuring faith leaders, trustees, civic representatives, and community voices. The podcast has reached listeners in more than eighteen countries and continues to create space for thoughtful conversations around faith, identity, and public life.
Alongside this work, BHFA confirmed plans to further strengthen relationships between civic authorities and faith communities through a renewed Faith Council structure in 2026–27.
 |
 |
 |
Governance, Finance, and Looking Ahead
Chairman Stuart Diamond reflected on what he described as one of the most operationally demanding periods in the organisation’s history.
He noted that increasing community anxieties, rising faith-based hate incidents, and pressure on public services had required BHFA to move beyond relationship-building alone and towards a more active operational role supporting community stability and frontline engagement.
BHFA reported reduced income during the year ending July 2025, linked largely to the conclusion of several grant programmes and delays to statutory funding renewals. As a result, difficult decisions were taken during 2026, including the closure of the organisation’s office and a reduction in staff hours.
Despite these challenges, trustees confirmed that BHFA remains fully compliant with Charity Commission requirements and continues to strengthen governance, safeguarding, and financial oversight.
Looking ahead, priorities for 2026–27 include:
- Expanding refugee welcome and integration work.
- Developing homelessness prevention partnerships.
- Strengthening youth engagement and schools programmes.
- Growing the "Faith in Our City" podcast.
- Renewing and deepening the Faith Covenant with Brighton & Hove City Council.
- Thanks and tribute was paid to retiring trustee Rabbi Andrea Zanardo
- The AGM also confirmed the election and re-election of trustees, including Helen Rose, Manal Ahmed, Robert Brown, and Claire Ashenden.
The meeting closed with thanks to outgoing Chair Stuart Diamond, who is stepping down from the role while remaining as a trustee.
As BHFA enters the next chapter of its work, the message throughout the AGM remained clear: strong relationships, practical cooperation, and sustained dialogue continue to matter deeply in the life of the city.
