Church volunteers from across the UK have gathered at Downing Street as the government recognized the vital role churches play in supporting local communities.
Earlier this month, the Secretary of State for Communities, Steve Reed, welcomed around 100 volunteers to Number 10, praising their service and describing them as “the backbone of our communities” and “the backbone of our country.”
Speaking to those gathered, Mr. Reed highlighted the inspiring work volunteers do, noting that it “doesn’t just inspire others in your local community; it inspires all of us sitting around the Cabinet table.”
“We can only make change happen if we do things differently,” he added.
“And that means working alongside all of you and working much more in partnership with you. We know this is an incredibly busy time of year for you all—a time when we remember the birth of Christ and the promise of joy, hope, and new life.
“A time when families and friends come together to share, celebrate, and cherish each other’s company. But it’s also a time of year when many families will struggle.”
Reflecting on the challenges many people face amid the cost-of-living crisis, he highlighted government measures such as the expansion of free school meals and breakfast clubs, as well as the lifting of the two-child benefit cap.
Mr. Reed concluded by expressing gratitude to the Church:
“So let me just finish by thanking you all again for the fantastic work of our churches and Christian charities across the country... the Christian faith, the Christian values that remain and always will be at the heart of our country.
“So often it’s the Church that is there at the important moments in our lives, holding communities together, supporting the most vulnerable, and reaching out to the most lonely.
“All of you are champions for your community. All of you represent the very, very best in Britain.”
Special guests included Great British Bake Off winner Jasmine Mitchell, who delivered a speech; Carrie and David Grant, who led the choir in song; and the Rev. Baroness Maeve Sherlock, who opened the event in prayer.
Volunteers from St. Andrew’s Church in Bedfordshire and St. Martin-in-the-Fields near Trafalgar Square were given special recognition after hosting the prime minister earlier this year.
