Funding, events and community resources
 Funding opportunities for youth projects and a new website to help Christians live in a more sustainable way are highlighted in the latest issue of Community Mission's newsletter.
Funding
Porticus UK is a Roman Catholic trust that welcomes applications from community projects with a Protestant basis. Its focus is to fund projects that help the poor and marginalised through strengthening family relationships, enriching education, development of church and its ability to respond, and ethics in practice. It generally awards grants of between £10,000 and £25,000 and there is no application deadline. Phone 020 7024 3503 for more information.
O2’s Think Big programme offers funding to people aged 13-25 who would like to set up a project in their local community in order to make it better. There is a short online form to join the programme. If selected, the applicant will attend a one-day event and receive £300 to use within three months. After this, the next stage of funding can be applied for. Up to £2,500 is available at the second stage. Examples of past awarded funding include a dance club, music recording and outdoor activities. Funding cannot be used on salaries.
Training and Events
Churches looking for ways to respond to asylum seekers in their community, as well as those with current projects, are invited to attend ‘Help! There’s an asylum seeker in my church’ conference on 26 June at Brunswick Parish Church, Manchester. Jointly hosted by Boaz Trust, Churches Together, Church Action on Poverty as well as several other charities working with asylum seekers, the day will include current legislation about asylum, examples of successful community projects, befriending and ways to campaign for change. It is £15 waged and £10 concessions. To book download a booking form from the website and send a cheque.
In Livability’s training survey last year, many people asked for training on how their church can better understand disabilities and develop positive and appropriate responses to disabled people. Livability is hosting Beyond Disability: Creating a more inclusive and enriched church on 8 September in London. Facilitated by Pete Winmill, Assistant Director at Causeway Prospects. Pete has vast experience working with people with learning disabilities. There will be talks as well as activities that could be tailored and used in your church. To book phone 020 7452 2018.
Tearfund and Livability are jointly hosting The Community Mission Conference on 1 October at Westminster Chapel, London. Aimed at Christians who would like to see their community transformed, there will be inspirational talks by Nicky Gumbel, Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton and Alpha course founder, David Westlake of Tearfund and Krish Kandiah from the Evangelical Alliance. In addition, there will be workshops by Christians Against Poverty, Livability and others. Worship will be led by Andy and Jenny Flannagan. It is £20 if booked before 1 August and £25 after that. To book phone 020 7452 2018.
There is one month left to receive the early booking discount for Livability’s residential A Conspiracy of Hope: Creating the future one mustard seed at a time on 27-29 October. Facilitators Tom and Christine Sine will speak about the future of the church’s mission within communities in our rapidly changing world. Tom is the author of Mustard Seed vs McWorld and The New Conspirators. The event focuses on learning from each other and gives opportunity for reflection away from busy ministry. Held in Leicestershire at Hothorpe Hall, it is £140 for a shared room and £195 for a single room with the £20 discount for bookings before 30 June. To book, complete the booking form or, for more information phone 020 7452 2018.
Resources
A Rocha, a Christian environmental charity that helps people take care of God’s creation, has launched Living Lightly, a new website and monthly top-tips email to help Christians live in a more sustainable way. The website includes down-to-earth practical ideas on how to change your home, office and financial life in order to reflect God’s first call in Genesis to care for his world. There is also a forum where people can swap ideas. Ruth Valerio, author of L is for Lifestyle and founder of Living Lightly, also has a blog with links to resources that can inspire and give hope about the future of the planet.
 Community Mission is a partnership between Tearfund and Livability. Click here to sign up to future editions of their e-newsletter.
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