Funding Faith based Projects The Myths and the Magic Susan Rundle Development Officer

The Myths… The Church of England is a massive organisation that doesn’t need our money The Church of England has loads of money – our money is like a drop in the ocean All church projects are ultimately about converting people Churches don’t have proper governance

Churches can’t get money from grant making trusts Churches are different from other community projects Churches discriminate against other faiths or based on gender/sexuality Churches are too set in their ways and can’t respond quickly to need/demand The Myths…

The Magic… Nearly 80% of church buildings are used for additional purposes beyond worship, including community activities (National Churches Trust 2011) Playgroups Concerts Lunch clubs Tea dances Kids discos Counselling services Debt advice Friendship groups Business hub Community hub Community centre Uniformed organisations Fitness groups Slimming clubs

The Magic… An estimated 1.4 million members of church congregations volunteer in some capacity in their church building along with an estimated further 200,000 people from the wider community (National Churches Trust, 2011) Many who volunteer in churches also volunteer in their communities – e.g. as school governors, running uniformed organisations etc.

The Magic… Cinnamon Trust Faith Action Audit 2015 Time given by Christian faith projects to their communities is valued at over £3 billion a year The faith sector annually delivers 220,000 social action projects, by approximately 125,000 paid staff and 1,910,500 volunteers Paid staff and volunteers are actively working with people from all ages and with men and women in almost equal measure.

The Magic… St George’s Crypt, Leeds – Project supporting homeless and vulnerable people in Leeds – Provides meals, overnight accommodation, hostels, addiction support, support to move on – Serve over 30,000 meals a year – Over 40 members of staff (25% are former clients) – Over 80 volunteers Emergency care centre Two hostels Two shops Catering/café Addiction support Long term support

The Magic… St George’s crypt Funded by donations, trading income and some grants Vision to be 100% financially self supporting “We don’t preach at them. If they want that, there are lots of places they can go. That’s not what the Crypt is for. It’s about welcome; about being a safe and comfortable place to rest, to eat, to be clothed”

The Magic… Wakefield cathedral – £6.4 million project £3.65m from Heritage Lottery Fund Much of the rest from funders who ‘don’t fund church’ including: – Coalfields Regeneration Trust - £100,000 – Wakefield Council - £200,000 – Not just a refurb! Social outreach Heritage education Musical outreach Community hub

The Magic… Christ Church, Sowerby Bridge – Set up a Community hub during the 2015 Boxing Day floods – Received and distributed donations (duvets, blankets, beds, food and cleaning equipment) – Provided coordination for all key agencies working both during the floods and in the aftermath – The Halifax MP, Holly Lynch set up a parliamentary office in Church to give people advice and help

The Magic… Christ Church, Sowerby Bridge Broadband project to bring broadband to church so can continue to respond to the communities needs Developing role as community hub

The Challenges… Funding for unlisted buildings Funding for building repairs Funding for revenue projects – particularly salary and on costs – Youth/families work – Community engagement – Activity costs Explaining/understanding the structures without it being too complicated! Funding for feasibility studies/community research

Questions?

Contact Stewardship, Funding and Development Team Church House 1 South Parade Wakefield WF1 1LP Susan Rundle - Development Officer