Liverpool City Council has unanimously backed the Manifesto for Hope in our City Region, marking an important milestone for the initiative led by Churches Together in the Merseyside Region, with Together Liverpool.
The cross-party motion, proposed by Councillor Liam Robinson and seconded by Councillor Jane Corbett, was approved at a meeting of the full Council on 29 July as part of the 40th anniversary of the landmark Faith in the City report.
The motion welcomed the Manifesto for Hope’s nine priorities, recognising them as a positive contribution to building a stronger, fairer and more hopeful Liverpool City Region.
It also committed the Council to ask the city’s Chief Executive to establish an internal working group to consider each of the Manifesto’s priorities and to convene an interfaith forum in 2027 to explore future action and partnership.
The Manifesto for Hope was developed through conversations with churches, faith communities, civic leaders, voluntary organisations and local partners across the region.
Inspired by the legacy of Faith in the City and a call from Liverpool’s Members of Parliament for churches to speak more boldly into public life, it sets out a shared vision centred on the common good, social justice and the wellbeing of communities.
Speaking during the Council meeting, the Revd Dr Philip Anderson, Rector of Liverpool Parish Church and Chair of Liverpool’s Interfaith Network, highlighted three of the Manifesto’s priorities – true equality, faith in business and renewed hope – and welcomed the opportunities the motion creates for continued partnership between faith communities and civic leaders.
Revd Phil Jump, Chair of Churches Together in Merseyside, said:“We are delighted and humbled that our City Council is leading the way, not simply in supporting this vision, but evaluating its own activities in the light of it. This offers a tangible and influential example to stakeholders across our city.”
James Green, CEO of Together Liverpool, said:“This cross-party support is a significant moment for the Manifesto for Hope. It shows a shared commitment to putting the common good, social justice and the wellbeing of communities at the heart of decision-making. We look forward to working with the Council, churches and partners across the city to turn these priorities into practical action.”
Together Liverpool has been supporting the Faith in the City programme alongside Churches Together in the Merseyside Region, helping to create opportunities for churches, civic leaders and communities to explore how the Manifesto’s priorities can be lived out across the Liverpool City Region.
The Council’s decision marks an encouraging step in that journey, recognising the value of ongoing partnership between faith communities and civic institutions in addressing the challenges facing our region.
Find out more
Download the Manifesto for Hope in our City Region, and find out more about the Faith in the City programme.
