Contact
01452 835529
Or write to:
LIFE Development Officer
Church House
College Green
Gloucester
GL1 2LY
Development Fund News
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Guidance notes and forms are available here:
Risk management
Project risks pro forma
LIFE Development Fund applications and HR
(As above, but a Word doc)
Bank Details Form
Organisation Information Sheet
Outcomes, Activites and Targets Guidance
Outcomes, Activities and Targets Form
Copy of Revenue and Capital Budget Templates
Please contact us using the details above to make an application.
Grants are considered for revenue projects, with grants usually awarded for between one and three years. Capital costs are not normally funded, although they may be considered in exceptional circumstances.
Applications for grants of up to £3,000 should apply, if eligible, to the Mission Grant Scheme, through the Department of Mission and Ministry.
In February 2015, Bishop’s Council approved the launch of the new Diocesan Development Fund to support the work of churches and communities across the diocese.
The assets of the Fund, which include the proceeds from the sale of Glenfall House, enable it to make grants of up to £400,000 p.a. for at least 10 years.
Following an open recruitment process, eight Stewards were originally appointed by Bishop’s Council to oversee the work of the Fund. The first grants were awarded in November 2015. From January 2019, the new LIFE Development Fund Committee (a sub-committee of Bishop’s Council) oversaw the Fund and awarded grants. During 2023, a new funding framework will be developed and implemented. In the meantime, funding decisions will be made the the LIFE Liaison Group, with the Archdeacons.
Applications are received based on the four key strands of the LIFE vision. We are keen to support projects which are innovative and collaborative. Applicants are therefore encouraged to research what others are doing locally, regionally and nationally, and to explore the potential for partnering with other churches or community groups, before submitting an application.
Role of the LIFE Development Officer:
- to provide support and advice to applicants during the application process
- to plan and prepare for LIFE Liaison Group meetings, and prepare and circulate papers before the meeting and minutes after the meeting
- to notify applicants of the outcome of their application and provide them with support for the next steps of the process
- to monitor spend from the annual budget, and keep financial records
- to provide an annual review to Bishop’s Council of how the money has been spent
- to keep Diocesan staff informed of activity from the Fund
- to work with the Communications team to make sure that stories are shared of the difference funding has made to projects
Share your story
If you’ve completed a project and would like to share your story, we’d love to hear it! Please fill out this simple form.
Funding long term sustainable ministry
The Archbishop of York Youth Trust feedback
#OneDiocese blog by Claire Power-Browne, Co Leader of TIC+ – Diocese of Gloucester (anglican.org)
http://gloucester.anglican.org/2020/new-debt-centre-planned-for-gloucester/
Meeting Dates 2023
Please note that a review of how all funding is awarded is taking place, and the LIFE Development Fund Committee has come to an end. In the interim, the Diocesan LIFE Liaison Group will make decisions on funding applications. A new process will be developed and approved by Bishop’s Staff Team and Bishop’s Council, and full details of this will be shared with applicants and grant recipients in due course. In the meantime, a table of dates for initial and full applications can be found in the link below. Please contact the LIFE Development Officer for further information.
For those applicants who are also considering applying for funding to Sylvanus Lysons Trust, their meeting dates for the rest of 2023 are below:
14 July
17 November
Further details about Sylvanus can be found on their webpage here: Sylvanus Lysons grant making charity – Diocese of Gloucester (anglican.org)
No funding applications were considered at the LIFE Liaison Group (LLG) meeting in April 2023. In February 2023, the LLG awarded funding to Shalom Groups in the Forest of Dean, for their work on digital inclusion. They also awarded funding to the Parish of West Cheltenham towards the salary and associated costs of a parish youth worker. Capital funding was also awarded to Gloucester Cathedral, for the installation of new furniture in the Lady Chapel (candlesticks, lectern, altar, font) in memoriam to Bishop Michael.
In November 2022, funding was awarded to Roots Coffee and Community towards their running costs, in order to provide them with a strong basis from which to launch their new project, Roots Refills.
In September 2022, funding was awarded to continue the Gloucester Ministry Experience Scheme – an opportunity for people aged between 18 and 30 to consider their vocation and calling by spending a year in teaching, discipleship, placement in local worshipping communities and community projects, and developing a rule of life in community with other scheme participants. Funding was also awarded to enable the Gloucester funerals project to extend out to all deaneries during 2023 and 2024, providing a central resource and support for funerals across the Diocese. Trinity and St Paul’s Churches in Cheltenham received funding towards the setting up and initial running costs of a SPEAR project – providing training and support to young people who are not in employment, education and training (NEETs).
In June 2022, funding was awarded to 4Front Theatre for taking performances and workshops into primary schools across the Diocese. Funding was also awarded to Viney Hill Christian Adventure Centre towards the cost of supplying and installing a high ropes activity at the centre. Further funding was awarded to Teens in Crisis, to enable them to train two further counsellors for young people.
Please contact the LIFE Development Officer for further information about these and other applications.
Members of the LIFE Liaison Group
- Diocesan Secretary
- Deputy Diocesan Secretary
- Director of Finance
- LIFE Development Officer
- Director of Mission and Ministry
- Director of Education
- Diocesan Missioner
- Will Mansell (Grace Network)
- Archdeacons (for grant-making decisions only)
Other funding opportunities and useful links
Support for charities in developing specific projects and longer term resilience: For Charities | Pilotlight
Support for charities and parishes from the Benefact Trust: Advice and Resources | Benefact Trust
Invest Leadership Programme for Gloucestershire Charities: Invest Programme – Gloucestershire CF
There are some alternative way of funding posts that might meet the criteria for an apprenticeship – take a look at the information below to see if apprenticeship funding might be suitable for you:
Use of the Apprenticeship Levy; Apprenticeship Funding Application Form May 2019
www.actionfunder.org – matching up businesses who want to invest in community projects, with charities delivering those projects
www.acf.org.uk – Association of Charitable foundations
www.glosvcsalliance.org.uk – Voluntary and Community Sector’s funding bulletin
www.dsc.org.uk – Directory of Social Change
www.grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/ – App to help you find funders
https://calendar.glosvcsalliance.org.uk/calendar
https://www.inspiringimpact.org/ – free guidance on planning your project, using data to increase the impact of your project, creating a culture that embraces learning
https://charitysetup.org.uk/ help in setting up your charity
https://www.startandgrowenterprise.uk/ – support for start-ups and new entrepreneurs in Gloucestershire
Learning Programme 2022 – Barnwood Trust
https://www.thinknpc.org/resource-hub/creating-your-theory-of-change-npcs-practical-guide/
See also: small grants and PCC loans