A study has found that 72% of young Brits have more faith in religion than the government when it comes to tackling real-world problems.
The findings come as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledges to connect with and support faith groups – having recently appointed a new minister dedicated to such partnerships, Lord Wajid Khan.
The new research was commissioned by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) in conjunction with Research Without Barriers to find out how important religion is to younger generations.
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Perhaps surprisingly, it revealed that three in four Gen Zers (aged 18-28yo) believe that faith-based organisations are key in solving the most pressing issues in Britain today.
At the top of their concerns are mental health (33%), homelessness (31%) and youth crime (21%).
Meanwhile, two-thirds of millennials (aged 29-44yo) also expressed higher confidence in religious communities addressing societal issues.
One member of Gen Z who says her turn to faith was “life-saving” is Armani, 21, from London.
After growing up in a “broken” family and witnessing a lot of violence from a young age, she was left with a deep sense of trauma and once older, got involved with a gang.
Armani said: “I felt worthless and blamed myself for the anger and violence around me.
“What began as a relationship for attention [the gang membership] quickly escalated.
“I was exposed to violence, police chases and constant danger.
“The adrenaline masked my emptiness for a while.”
Armani felt “trapped” in that lifestyle and soon turned to drugs and alcohol as a method to cope with her emotions.
The turning point in her life came when she talked to a group of young people from the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG).
She said: “They were vibrant, full of joy and seemed free in a way I had never experienced.
“They invited me to one of their meetings and I decided to see what it was all about.
“At first, I was sceptical.
“I had tried so many ways to escape my pain but nothing had worked.
“Yet something about the people I met at the church felt different – they spoke of real transformation.”
While this transformation didn’t happen overnight, Armani slowly began to heal.
She added: “The church taught me discipline and consistency; two things I never really had.
“Gradually, I noticed a shift.
“With renewed purpose, I committed to giving back.
“Now, I work with children, helping them develop and grow. Seeing their progress brings me immense joy and fulfillment.
“You don’t have to carry your pain forever.
“My own journey is proof of the transformative power faith can have in rebuilding lives and communities.”
Armani hopes her story will encourage the government to engage closely with faith-based organisations in a bid to tackle the growing challenges in society.
Gen Z participants in the UKCG survey said that a stronger focus on community outreach (38%) and greater transparency (35%) is needed.
The church, which offers a 24-hour helpline and WhatsApp support service, also found that 44% of those under 26 expressed a greater trust in faith groups than in secular charities.
“Faith isn’t just about prayer,” said Bishop James Marques of UKCG.
“It’s about taking action to support those in need.
“Over the past 30 years, we’ve learned how vital it is to offer accessible prayer services, which is why our full-time branches are open daily, including all Bank Holidays.
“We welcome the findings of this research – they reaffirm the vital role faith organisations play in tackling today’s challenges and support our missions to make faith more accessible for the busy lives of the younger generation.
“However, we can’t do this alone.
“[There’s] a strong call for greater collaboration between government and faith groups.
“If we want sustainable solutions, we need partnerships that bridge the gap between religious organisations and public services.”
The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. began in 1977 in Brazil by Edir Macedo and now spans worldwide, with over 38 full-time and eight part-time churches in the UK.
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