Overview

The economic impact assessment research, undertaken on behalf of the Yorkshire and Humber Faiths Forum was commissioned to demonstrate with evidence that faith communities make a considerable economic contribution to the region, a contribution that has largely been un-quantified and often undervalued.

The findings are significant. Faith communities employ the equivalent of 540 full time staff and give one million hours of time on a voluntary basis. This has an economic replacement value of around £282million. Adding to this the £10million in equivalent rent by the use of faith buildings for social projects and £4million from day-visitors and tourists to faith heritage sites the total contribution to the Yorkshire and Humber economy is around £300million per year.

Brief

As the event organiser for the conference, Plug and Tap’s objectives included:

  • Launch the economic impact assessment report, Grace & Generosity.
  • Inform people of the research work of the Yorkshire & Humber Faiths Forum.
  • Write, create, design and produce a booklet and DVD to demonstrate with evidence that faith communities make a considerable economic contribution to the region, a contribution that has largely been un-quantified and often undervalued.
  • Encourage people to attend to find out the results of the research and to make them consider opening their own doors.
  • Illustrate some of the vital work of faith communities encouraging others to open their doors.
  • Provide a full event management service for a one day conference and creation of publicity material for the event.

Project Delivery

Plug and Tap helped publish the full Economic Assessment Report after also having being involved in the proofreading of the document.  Once this had been completed Plug and Tap designed and created the summary report, Grace & Generosity.  To illustrate this report Plug and Tap commissioned Digistories to illustrate some of the vital work that is being carried out across the region.  A database was created and invitations to the launch event were distributed both electronically and by traditional mail.  Guests and speakers were contacted by Plug and Tap with special provisions made for these at the event.  Plug and Tap provided a full event management service including collating the invitation responses, workshop allocation, audio visual and venue matters and health and safety requirements.

Outcomes

  • Over 100 attended the launch including key influencers such as Isobel Mills, Deputy Regional Director of Parliament and Communities Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber.
  • Local Press coverage.
  • National coverage in faith media.