Several major faith festivals start over the next few weeks or so, including Lent and Ramadan.

Each of these include a time of giving–to focus on our faith as well as giving to care for ourselves, our families, communities and planet.

 

How to Give:

If you are looking for ideas for giving at this time, you may wish to consider:

• Giving time to your local community through volunteering – VolunteerBrum can match volunteers with local volunteering opportunities.
• Giving food, hygiene products or household goods- to your local foodbank (see the Food Justice Network map) or to another Charity or Voluntary, Community, Faith or Social Enterprise group. If you run a business, you can donate new, surplus products to the West Midlands Multibank who will distribute these to children and families in need.
• Giving up something – fasting is a feature of many of these faith festivals – temporarily giving up something for a specific period of time to focus on our faith and/or our personal, community or planetary wellbeing– whether it be food, alcohol, chocolate, meat, switching off lights or using the car. Make sure you are also considering the wellbeing of your organisation’s employees and volunteers who are fasting at this time.  
• Giving money to a local charity -or Voluntary, Community, Faith or Social Enterprise group. Make sure you follow the Charity Commission and Fundraising Regulator’s Giving Guidelines to ensure you give or receive money safely:

• checking the charity’s name and registration number on the Charity Register at www.gov.uk/checkcharity  – most charities with an annual income of £5,000 or more must be registered  
• making sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information 
• being careful when responding to emails, texts and online messages or clicking on links within these 
• contacting the charity or finding out more online about it to understand how it is spending funds  
• looking out for the Fundraising Badge – the logo that says ‘registered with Fundraising Regulator’ – and checking the Fundraising Regulator’s Directory of organisations committed to the Code of Fundraising Practice  
• a face-to-face collector should have a licence from the relevant Local Authority 
• If after making these checks anyone thinks a collection or appeal is not legitimate, they can report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or filling in an online form. 
• Charity Trustees – Charity Commission Charity fundraising: a guide to trustee duties has recently been updated. This guidance explains what trustees need to do to comply with the law relating to the management and control of their fundraising

 

Faith Communities in Birmingham:

Many communities across Birmingham will be marking faith festivals at this time.

According to the 2021 Census, 69.8% of people in Birmingham stated that they had a faith or religious affiliation. Specifically:

• 34.0% are Christian
• 29.9% are Muslim
• 2.9% are Sikh
• 1.9% are Hindu
• 0.6% are “Any other Religion”
• 0.4% Buddhist
• 0.1% are Jewish

(24.1% of people in Birmingham have no religion, and 6.1% of people in Birmingham did not answer).

The Birmingham Faith Community Map shows locations of places of worship across the City.

Birmingham Council of Faiths, who co-ordinate the Faith Community Map, also support faith and interfaith activities.

BVSC is a signatory to the Birmingham Faith Covenant, supporting the many Faith-based organisations we work with, which comprise an estimated one third of Birmingham’s Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector.

 

About Faith Festivals:

Find out more about just some of the different faith festivals coming up – Ramadan and Lent (there are many more!) and their focus on giving here:

Ramadan – 17/18 February – 18/19 March

Ramadan is a Muslim festival which remembers the month the Qur’an (the Muslim holy book) was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammed. The dates of Ramadan change each year, and won’t be officially announced until the day as either the 17^th or 18^th February, as this relates to the sighting of the moon, based on Lunar cycles. Muslims mark the end of Ramadan by celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast – they won’t eat or drink anything during daylight hours – between dawn and sunset. Fasting allows Muslims to devote themselves to their faith and reminds them of the suffering of the poor. Children, some older people, those who are sick or pregnant are exempt from fasting.

Many Muslims will pray and attend special services in Mosques during which the Qur’an is read.

They will also give through Zakat and Sadaqah. Zakat is a mandatory form of charity, calculated as a specific percentage of a Muslim’s savings, and is intended to purify wealth and support those in need. Sadaqah is a voluntary act of kindness that can be given at any time in any amount, expressing compassion and generosity.

 

Further Information:

BBC Bitesize information for teachers on Ramadan

NHS Employers have produced some guidance on how to support your workforce during Ramadan

The Muslim Charities Forum additionally provides helpful information and resources on giving safely.

 

Lent – 18 February – 2 April

Lent is the period of six weeks (40 days not including Sundays) leading up to Easter, the most important festival in the Christian calendar. The dates of Easter, and of Lent, change each year as this is based on a Lunar Calendar – the cycles of the moon.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday –the day after Shrove Tuesday also known as Pancake Day, where traditionally pancakes are made to use up foods Christians would not be eating in lent. On Ash Wednesday many Christian churches hold services during which Christians are marked on the forehead with a cross of ashes – a sign to say sorry for any wrongdoing.

During Lent, Christians pray, fast and give.

Lent allows Christians to remember Jesus’ fasting and praying in the desert before he began his work for God.

Some may fast by abstaining from food altogether for a period of time, others may give up specific foods only, such as meat, fish, eggs, fat or milky foods.

Some may just give up luxuries such as chocolate, cake, coffee or alcohol.

Giving is also encouraged and some Christian-based charities run Lenten campaigns for funding, donations or acts of kindness for community or planet.

Further Information:

BBC Bitesize information for teachers on Lent

Christianity.com: 70 ideas for What to Give Up for Lent: 2026 Fasting Guide

Stewardship 40acts: Do Lent generously

 

 

More About Faith Festivals:

The SHAP Calendar of Religious Festivals provides further information on many Faith Festivals.

Faith Festivals and activities taking place in Birmingham are also promoted by Birmingham Council of Faiths. You can contact them and sign up to their newsletter here.

 

Promote Your Organisation:

If your Faith or Voluntary Community or Social Enterprise sector organisation is doing something special that you would like us to promote, please let us know at [email protected]