Inclusive North

As many Muslims mark Eid al-Fitr today, OBV has condemned attempts by senior politicians to demonise Muslim public prayer and normalise Islamophobia. ‍ Operation Black Vote expresses deep concern and unequivocal condemnation following remarks made by Nick Timothy, the Conservative Party’s shadow justice secretary, who described Muslim public prayer in Trafalgar Square as an “act of domination”. Those remarks were then defended by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and further inflamed by Nigel...

On 20 January 2026, leaders, practitioners, and volunteers from across Lancashire gathered at St Luke's Church, Blackburn for the Lancashire Movement Summit - a significant moment for the growing Movement for Recovery. The summit brought together people from faith communities, charities, the NHS, local authorities and civic services to explore how we can work more intentionally across sectors to address health inequalities, social isolation and increasing pressure on public services....

A newly released State of the Sector 2025  report highlights the significant scale and impact of the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector across Lancashire and Cumbria, while also outlining key challenges that could shape its future. A Sector at the Heart of Communities The data reveals a vast and diverse civil society landscape operating across the region. In total, there are 9,421 regulated organisations  contributing to the social fabric of Lancashire and...