Funding and community resources
 In their latest newsletter, Community Mission highlight
Gordon Brown's interview about Christianity as well as how evangelism links to community work. There is also funding for laptops for community projects.
Funding
 The rail and bus company, First, has a funding stream for communities in which they operate. Its aims are to support projects that make a positive difference to young people, health or the environment. There are no funding limits or application deadlines but the project must be in an area that First operates. Complete the online application form and email it to First or send it to the address on the website.. There are no funding limits or application deadlines but the project must be in an s. Complete the and it to First or send it to the address on the website. |
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The Volant Charitable Trust, set up by the author JK Rowling to support charitable purposes, is accepting applications from projects that alleviate poverty, with a particular focus on women’s and children’s issues. For grants of £10,000 or under in Scotland, applications must be made through the Scottish Community Foundation. For grants in England, there is no limit and funding is available up to three years. The deadline for the next round is 29 January, 2010. Read the guidelines or complete an online application. Due to limited capacity, the trust is not able to answer general enquiries.. For grants in England, there is no limit and funding is available up to three years. The deadline for the next round is 29 January, 2010. Read the or complete an . Due to limited capacity, the trust is not able to answer general enquiries.. For grants in England, there is no limit and funding is available up to three years. The deadline for the next round is 29 January, 2010. Read the or complete an . Due to limited capacity, the trust is not able to answer general enquiries., set up by the author JK Rowling to support charitable purposes, is accepting applications from . For grants of £10,000 or under in Scotland, applications must be made through the . For grants in England, there is no limit and funding is available up to three years. The deadline for the next round is 29 January, 2010. Read the or complete an . Due to limited capacity, the trust is not able to answer general enquiries.
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Training and Events
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The Churches Child Protection Advisory Service is an independent Christian charity providing professional advice, support and training to churches on safeguarding children and dealing with those affected by abuse. Their Facing the Unthinkable training days are held across the country each year and give churches practical advice on making church safer for children, dealing with abuse allegations, and recruiting volunteers to help with children. There are many dates in early 2010. The cost is £19.50 per person and this includes a workbook. There is also a group offer. For more information, phone Karen Ledger on 0845 120 4550. training days are held across the country each year and give churches practical advice on making church safer for children, dealing with abuse allegations, and recruiting volunteers to help with children. There are many dates in early 2010. The cost is £19.50 per person and this includes a workbook. There is also a group offer. For more information, phone Karen Ledger on 0845 120 4550.
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Stories and Resources
Churches looking for structured help in engaging with their communities can make use of two new resources. Discovery, recently launched by Tearfund’s UK team, is led by a facilitator and involves creative activities, Bible study and community research and will lead to increased integration with the community. Email Tearfund for an informal discussion on Discovery. The Just People course, a six-week interactive course for churches looking to get more involved, was developed by Tearfund and Livability and is available for £25. In Time to get a piece of the action, read about how Assemblies of God is using both resources to increase its community focus., recently launched by Tearfund’s UK team, is led by a facilitator and involves creative activities, Bible study and community research and will lead to increased integration with the community. Email for an informal discussion on Discovery. , a six-week interactive course for churches looking to get more involved, was developed by and and is . In , read about how is using both resources to increase its community focus.
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The discussion about the role of evangelism in church community projects is all too common. In Tony Uddin’s weekly Community Mission blog, On the frontline, he recently argued that evangelism is often sidelined in community work but that Christians are called to discipleship and this involves drawing people to Jesus. To explore this issue further, Livability is hosting ‘We don’t do God’, a training event for Christian community projects to discuss these issues, in January (London) and February (Leeds). Their events page will have details over the next month., he recently argued that . To explore this issue further, Livability is hosting , a training event for Christian community projects to discuss these issues, in January (London) and February (Leeds). Their will have details over the next month.
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Gordon Brown, in one of his most open interviews, shares his views on Christianity and how faith should interact in public life. Interviewed by Premier Radio, the Prime Minister argues that Christians should not separate their faith from their work and social action. He also encouraged Christians, especially those working to end UK poverty, that the government will not sideline their faith. Using his comments in funding applications and in communication with the local council could help to back up the Christian distinctiveness of community projects. Christian Today has a summary of the interview. Premier Radio has the complete interview. . He also encouraged Christians, especially those working to end UK poverty, that the government will not sideline their faith. Using his comments in funding applications and in communication with the local council could help to back up the Christian distinctiveness of community projects. y has a . Premier Radio has the .
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With spending cuts being discussed by both major political parties, Church Action on Poverty highlights the cuts in benefits for those seeking work and refugees in its new Close the Gap campaign. In Hitting where it hurts most, Niall Cooper challenges the Church to speak out so that the poorest in our society do not bear the burden of the economic crisis. campaign. In , Niall Cooper .
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Churches and community projects hoping to use Christmas as a time to increase their engagement with their communities can take part in an exciting initiative. Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas children’s appeal, has produced a how-to guide for churches to act as a community drop-point for the shoeboxes that local schools and community groups put together. There is also an opportunity for churches to have a greater impact through acting as a processing centre.
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