A new report, Faith and the Future: Faith-Based Organisations in Modern Britain, has found nearly three quarters of Gen Z (72%) believe faith-based organisations are the key to societal change.
Trust in faith groups is strong among younger generations, with 44% of Gen Z expressing greater trust in faith-backed bodies than secular charities and 42% trusting them equally.
Concerns such as mental health (33%), homelessness (31%), and youth crime (21%) are at the forefront. Many say secular services alone have not been sufficient in tackling these issues.
The research, commissioned by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) and conducted by Research Without Barriers, surveyed over 2,000 UK adults. It highlights a growing public confidence in faith organisations’ ability to meet social problems, particularly among younger generations.
Gen Z is typically considered to be people born between mid-1990s and early 2010s.
Two-thirds of Millennials (67%) also expressed higher-than-average trust in faith groups.
This growing confidence aligns with recent political shifts, including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with faith groups through a dedicated faith minister and formal faith covenants.
The report cited evidence from young people whose lives have been changed by faith-backed organisations such as 21-year-old Armani from London. After years of trauma, gang involvement, and depression, she found hope through a youth group connected to UCKG.
“I urge the government to collaborate more closely with faith-based organisations to tackle critical societal challenges like homelessness, mental health, and youth crime. My own journey is proof of faith’s transformative power in rebuilding lives and communities,” she shared.
Her testimony reflects the sentiment of many Gen Z respondents who see faith groups as providers of both material aid but also emotional support, filling gaps where secular institutions struggle.
Bishop James Marques from UCKG said: “Faith is more than prayer—it’s action. The church must remain engaged in supporting the vulnerable. As we mark 30 years in the UK, we continue expanding initiatives such as Night Angels and Cook Out to Reach Out, providing food and hope to those in need.”