Funding, training and events for Christian projects
The Community Mission newsletter includes details of funding opportunities for community projects including children's summer schemes and building projects.
There is a training event for churches providing housing services and well as inspirational real life stories about how communities are being transformed.
Funding
The Lankelly Chase Foundation recently released its 2009-2014 aims and these include projects working to promote the arts, break cycles of abuse, provide alternatives to custody, restore those with mental illness and strengthen communities. Applications for up to £15,000 for three years are accepted at any time. In addition, their summer activities programme is accepting applications until 8 May 2009 for children’s summer schemes. For more information, download guidelines and applications for both grants or phone 01235 820 044.
Allchurches Trust provides grants to churches for building projects, renovation and community initiatives. There is no deadline for applications. Read case studies of awarded funds, complete an application form, email them or phone 01452 336 370.
Training and events
CAP Money is a three-session course on budgeting and basic finance that can be used within churches or as a community outreach tool. Developed by Christians Against Poverty, the course comes with a DVD of teaching but also relies on facilitation by Money Coaches. For a one-off fee of £100, three Money Coaches can be trained and all course materials included. The next Money Coach training event is 25 April in Bristol. To book email CAP, complete the online form or phone 01274 760 720.
Responding to Homelessness: The Churches’ Role is being hosted on 18 June at St Paul’s Church, London, W1U 3HW by Housing Justice. This day will unite Christians of many denominations who are providing services for those who are homeless or campaigning on homelessness issues. It is £25 for Housing Justice members and £40 for non-members. To book email Housing Justice or phone 020 7723 7273.
Stories and resources
The Boaz Trust, a Christian charity providing much-needed housing to destitute asylum seekers in Manchester, began with no staff, funding or office five years ago but relied on God’s direction. Since then they have grown slowly and now manage eight homes for asylum seekers and provide food and clothing to 70 destitute to asylum seekers. Read their inspiring story.
The Poverty Site monitors poverty and deprivation in the UK and is produced by the New Policy Institute and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. With helpful statistics and research, this site also explains indicators of poverty using graphs.
Most churches and community projects are required to carry out PAT testing on their portable electrical items. Employment Plus, a social enterprise started by The Salvation Army to provide training and employment to those who have experienced homelessness, offers professional PAT testing across the country to charities and businesses. For more information visit their website or phone 0800 652 4276.
The Community Mission website has Biblical and theological articles available for churches and community projects. Comforting the disturbed and disturbing the comfortable is a brief analysis of Jesus’ encounters with people in the book of Matthew. It finds that those who had a positive interaction with Jesus tended to be poor and marginalised. This article is useful for sermons, Bible study groups and individual reflection.
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