Ten ways to save money for your parish Diocesan Synod 3 November 2012

1. Utility cost benchmarking Charity Funding Solutions (CFS) Set up in this diocese in 2007 1 in 2 parishes have used the service and over 240 have achieved savings Average savings of 20% Benchmarking service: compare your rates Free service with no pressure Sorted out VAT issues on fuel bills Noel Muddiman: 01279 303414

2. Energy Bulk Buying Parish Buying: Bulk purchasing pooling individual parish supplies Genuine ‘green’ options with Good Energy and Ecotricity

3. Oil National contract for heating oil supplies through Parish Buying Buying guide on line

4. Photocopiers Parish Buying 6 standard profiles Calculator feature: lease v buy Total cost of ownership But check your usage: Scanner and printer, plus Print Unit for bulk

5. IT Software Parish Buying Access to charity rate software pricing Includes discounts on PCC finance software licences

6. Office Products & Fire Safety Bulk discount through parish buying Average 35% saving on typical items But do benchmark locally

7. Insurance: regular payments Most churches in the diocese insured with Ecclesiastical under the ‘Group Scheme’ Premium payments 5 or 10 instalments: up to 4% admin charge 12 instalments: 0% admin charge As of July: 50 churches in this diocese paying an unnecessary admin charge

8. Insurance: review your excess Significant premium savings available by taking a voluntary excess: £100 standard excess on the Group Scheme Voluntary of £250 gives savings of approx 6% Voluntary of £500 gives savings of approx 13% But: Look at your claims history and how you would fund the increased uninsured amount EIG: 0845 777 3322

9. Parish Share Discount 1% discount for share payments over 12 instalments by direct debit/standing order Why: DBF has to hold less cash in low interest accounts 365 parishes (78%) now pay regularly

10. Housekeeping Major good news theme in budget consultation Set a budget Monitor income, expenditure, utility consumption, etc regularly 3 December: investment seminar for parishes Be ready for changes in gift aid: New wording for declarations Small gifts scheme from 2013 (possibly)

More information Parish Finance Office: Parish Buying: CFS: Terry Gray: 01245 294430 tgray@chelmsford.anglican.org Parish Buying: www.parishbuying.org.uk 0800 368 0887 CFS: Noel Muddiman: 01279 303414 Ecclesiastical: 0845 777 3322