Faith communities come together to deliver better outcomes

The discussion focused on tackling shared challenges — such as social isolation, inequalities and misinformation — while building on the spirit of the #LoveStHelens movement.

Leaders from various Christian denominations, along with Muslim and Jewish faith representatives, took part in the conversation, which was chaired by St Helens Borough Council Leader, Councillor Anthony Burns.

Hailing the meeting as a positive step forward, Councillor Burns said:

"Our borough has a proud history of standing together, especially through difficult times. Faith communities are at the heart of that — they support families, offer comfort, build connections and help us reach the most vulnerable.

"This conversation was about recognising that strength and working more closely together. By sharing our experiences and understanding the challenges our residents face, we can develop better, more cohesive solutions for St Helens."

Rachel Shuttleworth, Team Vicar at St Helens Parish Church, said:

"It was great to gather with friends and colleagues from across the faith communities. St Helens is a diverse place, welcoming to people of all faiths. I hope that as we work together more, we can support one another in all we do, serving the people of St Helens offering hope in hard times."

Zakariyya Patel, who has been the Imam of St Helens Mosque for the past three-years, said:

"One thing we took from this is how diverse our community is. We have all this diversity to make a positive place for ourselves and we need to learn how to live with other people as well. A big part of that is learning about other religions, communities and races."

As a result of the positive discussions, the council is now exploring the establishment of a St Helens Faith Forum — a regular space for dialogue and collective action between the council and local faith organisations.