The latest report from Theos has just been published:
Hannah Rich, Disunited Kingdom? Local Churches and the Riots of Summer 2024 (London: Theos, 2024).
Here’s a quick summary:
‘In Summer 2024, the most extensive outbreak of riots across England in over a decade took place, driven by anti-immigrant sentiment, civil unrest and online misinformation in the wake of the murder of three girls in Southport.
‘The local church played an important role in the response to the riots, both immediately and over the longer term in rebuilding communities. This report explores how local churches in places where riots occurred were well-placed to respond by: (a) leveraging their strong community networks in order to work with other faith and activism groups; (b) maintaining a trusted presence in the community even when the riots threatened the buildings; (c) holding institutional relationships with local police and being conduits for information; and (d) using their convening power to draw the community together for vigils and moments of much-needed reflection.
‘There are lessons to learn from these experiences, about the causes of the riots, the emergency response and what preventative measures might be developed going forward. There is a willingness from local churches to engage in the deep listening required to heal communities fractured by the riots, addressing the sense of disenfranchisement and material challenges, as well as correcting misinformation. We offer recommendations to national and local policymakers as well as to churches in how all might work together to improve cohesion and rebuild communities.’
A summary blog of the report can be found here.
A pdf of the full report is available here.
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