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New research conducted for the Church Urban Fund, CUF, shows that 10 million adults a year in England use community services from churches. This is more than half of all those who access these services. The wide range of support includes food banks, luncheon clubs and night shelters along with relationship courses, financial advice and access to computers and the internet.

The results of a survey, which accompany a new report from CUF think tank Theos, show that churches in England reach around 10 million people each year through their community activities, excluding regular and other church services such as baptisms, weddings and funerals. Over half (51%) of all adults who say that they, or a member of their family, had accessed community services in the last year, did so via churches or church groups. This equates to just over 10m adults -providing a significant social footprint.

In a foreword to the Theos/Church Urban Fund report Good Neighbours: How Churches Help Communities Flourish, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby said: "This report demonstrates the scale and nature of that love for neighbour in practical action. It shows that relationships are at the heart of every community, and that churches are at the heart of local communities. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that the Church is part of the solution for building community blessing at every level."

The research project set out to understand the impact of local churches in deprived communities in England; looking at what churches do, and also how and why they do?

Researchers spent time in 12 relatively deprived parishes across England, interviewing residents, church members and local leaders and observing church-based projects. The findings underline the importance of Church contact which forges 'neighbourliness', concluding that strong relationships and social networks, which churches offer, can help communities become more resilient in the face of social and economic change.

Holy Trinity Church, in North Ormesby, Middlesbrough which serves an area in the top 0.5% most deprived parishes in England, was one of the case studies. Its centre is open seven days a week providing a wide range of activities in response to needs in the community with around 4,000 people passing through its doors each month.

The report also states that churches are aware of working closely with other faith groups and statutory agencies but nevertheless concludes that the community engagement grows from nothing other than Christian commitments and practices and a desire to "seek the welfare of the city".

Holy Trinity Parish Church, in North Ormesby, Middlesbrough serves an area in the top 0.5% most deprived parishes in England. The Trinity Centre, adjacent to the church is open seven days a week providing a wide range of activities in response to needs of the community. Child poverty and lone parenthood are very high, 55% and 49% respectively and the Trinity Youth & Children’s Project offers a safe place for children and young people to grow, learn and have fun together. Weekly after-school clubs, holiday activities, trips and residentials offer opportunities to learn new skills and enjoy experiences that families could not otherwise afford.The church became one of the distribution centres for Middlesbrough Food bank in 2012, serving people in North Ormesby and across East Middlesbrough.

Addressing food poverty has been a key concern, so in addition to the Food Bank the church has been working with Middlesbrough Environment City (MEC) on two great projects. A community growing scheme uses ground at the rear of the church to grow fresh fruit and veg, and as part of the weekly Families Drop-in, run by local mums, they have been hosting a slow-cooker course, on how to cook healthy, cheap meals in a slow cooker. There is also a partnership with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau financial education team. They visit the community café, which serves around 300 people each week on market day, and offer support and advice around shopping on a budget, managing utility bills and much more.

The Rev Paul Hackwood, Executive Chair of CUF, said: “Many people wrestle with the problem of poverty in this country and I am delighted that this report shows that churches are providing such a huge and significant part of the answer. We cannot underestimate the importance of neighbourliness in helping people and communities flourish.”

Paul Bickley of Theos, the report’s author, said: “Most people know that churches and other faith based organisations do a huge amount in areas of high deprivation, but the nature of churches’ engagement isn’t well understood. The research shows that it’s not just what churches do, but how churches think and operate, that helps them give something distinctive to their communities. They do offer material and practical support, but they also offer relationships and social connection – in a word, neighbourliness”.

Pictured: a mosaic, created by all age members of community groups at Holy Trinity is based on Ezekiel 47, a passage chosen by the vicar the Rev Dominic Black. “The image that has been created is symbolic of what we want to be as a parish church, a place where life and goodness flows out of all parts of North Ormesby, creating a community where everyone is able to flourish and grow.”