Mission resources include funding and training
 Latest Community Mission resources for churches and charities include funding sources, Big Society opportunities for small organisations and a four-week course covering money management essentials.
FUNDING
The next round of funding for the Youth Music programme is now available. Projects that provide structured, regular and progressive music-making activities for children and young people up to the age of 18 (or 25 if the young people are in detention, have special educational needs or disabilities). Grants of between £5,000 and £30,000 are available to projects that involve children and young people in decision-making, employ at least one trainee, last between six and 24 months in duration and have been constituted for at least one year. The closing date for applications is 27 June.
The Weavers’ Company Benevolent Fund offers up to £15,000 per year for up to three years to projects in the UK that help disadvantaged young people or offenders and ex-offenders between the ages of five and 30. Funding can be used for core costs such as salaries, general administration and training. The next application deadline is October 2011 and applications should be received by the middle of July to provide ten weeks for the trustees to consider them.
The Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards Scheme provides one-off grants of between £1,000 and £4,000 to projects that benefit children, the elderly, and adults and children with disabilities. There is a focus on those living around Tesco stores in the UK. Funding can be used for playground equipment, breakfast clubs, holiday play-schemes, befriending schemes, luncheon clubs, day trips and specialist equipment for disabled people. The deadline for applications to the children’s welfare grant is 30 June, and the deadline for applications to the elderly and people with disabilities grants is 30 September.
The Old Possum’s Practical Trust offers between £500 and £5,000 to local charities in the UK that work in the fields of artistic, musical or theatrical community work. There is a wide variety of possible projects that the trust would support. Focus is on projects that are sustainable and contextual to the local area. There are no deadlines for applications.
TRAINING AND EVENTS
Romance Academy is a respected, successful nationwide sex and relationships education initiative involving a 14-week intervention project addressing the underlying causes of risky youth behaviour, such as poor self-esteem, low aspirations and lack of positive family life. The cost of a one-day training course for two people plus all materials, a licence to use them and three years of online support is £300. Upcoming training days are taking place throughout the autumn in Birmingham, Nottingham, Perth, Bristol, London, Exeter and Cambridge.
Beyond the Streets is running two taster days to explore the issue of prostitution and trafficking in the UK. The first day will be held on 2 July at The Methodist Church, 6 Crestfield St, Kings Cross, WC1H 8AT and the second day will take place on 12 November at The Rahab Project in Reading, Alana House, 2 Southern Court, South Street, RG1 4QS. Both local projects have many years’ experience in this area. The day costs £20 and offers limited spaces, so don’t miss out. All are welcome. For further information and to book, email Beyond the Streets.
The 2011 Shalom Gathering, organised by East to West will be held on 1 and 2 September at Hodge Hill URC, Birmingham B36 8BG. It is designed to inspire, encourage and re-energise Christian youth workers working with, for and on behalf of marginalised young people. This year’s theme is what it means to be youth workers who act justly, love mercy and walk humbly. The keynote speakers are Pip Wilson, Jill Rowe, Nick Shepherd and Andy Burns. The event costs £32.25.
A new partnership between Stewardship, Alpha and Credit Action has resulted in The Money Course, a four-week interactive course covering money management essentials. It is designed for churches and other groups to run in their own communities to help anyone question their own attitudes to money and, if in difficulty, to help them through it. Training will take place on 9 September at Holy Trinity Brompton, London and on 17 September in Manchester or Leeds. For more information, download a course overview, and contact the money course team.
STORIES AND RESOURCES
Unshackling good neighbours is a new report from the government task force established to consider how to cut red tape, regulation and bureaucracy for small charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. As well as looking at what stops people giving their time and money, the report clarifies the current situation regarding registrations and licences (everything from showing videos to collecting on the street and offering food). It also debunks some perennial health and safety myths - many of which have featured in the Health and Safety Executive ‘Myth of the month’.
We all love a good story, and there are lots of them on the new Fresh Expressions DVD expressions: making a difference. Be encouraged and inspired by 28 stories from all round the country, showcasing how fresh expressions of church are making a difference to people's lives, and highlighting some of the key lessons learnt. The DVD costs £15 and can be ordered online.
Is there an individual or a project that has inspired you? Why not nominate them for an award? The Evangelical Alliance and Inspire magazine are looking for Local heroes for their Inspire Awards. There are three categories: an individual Christian in the UK who is an inspiring role model; a UK church making a dynamic impact on its local community and a UK-based Christian-run project serving its local area.
The Just People course was launched three years ago and many churches and small groups have found it immensely helpful in mobilising the whole congregation into local community engagement. The six-week course comes with a leaders’ guide and a DVD with case studies of churches around the country and is currently available at the discounted price of £10. There are also versions for use with youth groups and students.
Big Society opportunities for small organisations is a paper from NCVO’s Sustainable Funding team written to help not-for-profit organisations think about what you could do differently to establish a more stable financial footing. As well as a range of other free resources, if you are a voluntary or community group based in England, with an annual income of under £10,000, you could also get NCVO membership free. For more information, email NCVO.
 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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