Churches across the UK provide health related support services worth more than £8 billion, according to new research.

A report by the National Churches Trust, ‘The House of Good: Health’, published in October, revealed that churches are playing an increasing part in the provision of vital health related services for people in need, including youth groups, food banks, addiction support and mental health counselling.

The Madoch Centre in Perthshire was cited as an example of a church facility bringing young people together to improve health and wellbeing. Opened in 2017, the Centre is run by St Madoes and Kinfauns Parish Church. It is open seven days a week for both church and community activities, and runs a range of sports activities for local school children.

Anthea Bircham, Community Development Co-ordinator said: “Serving a semi-rural community, we can offer sport and other activities for young people in an inclusive environment which provides good role models to help them build strong relationships with others.”

The report said that the support provided by churches is worth an estimated £8.4 billion each year – the equivalent cost of employing 230,000 National Health Service nurses. It found that 29 per cent of church buildings provide or host mental health counselling, whilst 10.4 per cent host drug or alcohol addiction services and around 58 per cent provide or host foodbanks, with more than 40 per cent hosting youth services.

But NCT warned the health dividend was at risk because of the numbers of churches across the UK at risk of closure.

Claire Walker, Chief Executive of the NCT, said: “The UK’s 38,500 churches promote the positive mental and physical health that helps people thrive. They provide locations for health treatments. They prevent conditions that would otherwise send more patients through GP or hospital doors.”

She added: “These findings and figures are remarkable. But they’re also alarming. Because the UK’s church buildings are dangerously underfunded, with many in the most deprived areas falling into disrepair and facing closure. Around 3,500 have closed in recent years.

“Without urgent support, we risk losing this shock absorber for the NHS, and a vital safety net for the most vulnerable people in our society.”

NCT has launched a six-point plan, ‘Every Church Counts’, calling on all local authorities and public bodies to engage with faith groups and make more use of churches and church halls to host public and community services.