Diocesan grants

This page includes details of funding available for different organisations.

See also: Church buildings: grants and fundraising →

LIFE Together Fund

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”
(Words of Jesus from John 10:10)
The Diocese of Gloucester’s vision of LIFE Together emerged from listening to stories from across the Diocese and noticing what was being lived. Together we committed to go out and share the transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that people may know life in all its fullness.

Our LIFE Together Fund aims to serve and engage communities through our five spotlight commitments, with a hope that people of all ages and backgrounds will be inspired to discover Jesus Christ for themselves, transforming lives and communities. To do this we invest, support, and empower people and organisations with great ideas from across the Diocese to drive change and growth in their local area.

If you are someone, lay or ordained, who has a vision and a path to realising it, whether that be starting gaming sessions for teenagers, or building a county-wide network of social enterprises, then we may be able to help you do that with some encouragement, support and finance.

Mission Grant Scheme

In support of LIFE Together, we have a Mission Grant Scheme to enable and encourage local mission initiatives. We are particularly keen to provide ‘seed-corn’ grants to help local projects get off the ground, but will also consider applications for larger sums up to £3,000.

A wide variety of missional activity will be considered. It may be money to help buy resources to start a Messy Church or holiday club, or a lunch club for the elderly. In the past, money has been given to help fund youth projects and evangelistic events. The key thing is that the work is consistent with the aims of LIFE Together. The fund wouldn’t normally support ongoing costs or maintenance repairs to buildings.

The fund is chiefly to support the work of local churches, chaplaincies and fresh expressions, but we will also consider applications from individuals and other entities, provided their objectives are consistent with the LIFE vision.

Initial information can be found by clicking here – Mission Grant Scheme Information.

An application form can be found at Mission Grant Scheme Application Form, once complete please return to Ruth Cameron

If you would like to know more about the Mission Grant Scheme please contact the Director of the Department of Mission and Ministry the Revd Canon Dr Sandra Millar – ku.gr1779471716o.coi1779471716dsolg1779471716@rall1779471716ims1779471716.

The Hibiscus Project

Grants for projects to enable a welcoming and caring church.

All worshipping communities can apply for a small grant of up to £350 from The Hibiscus Project to support projects that enable a welcoming and caring church.

Bishop Rachel said: “The Hibiscus Project has been developed in memory of Neil Todd. Neil was a victim of Peter Ball, and tragically took his own life in August 2012. We wish to commend his tenacity and courage and that of other victims and survivors.

“Neil was a nurse with a passion for caring for others. It was with this in mind that we wanted to provide a fund to support projects that care for and welcome people of all ages to engage in church life and worship.

“A small fund has been dedicated to helping local worshipping communities to deliver new and existing ways of ensuring that all people, no matter what age, are able to attend, participate and engage with church life and worship.”

This grant offers opportunities for supporting a wide range of projects or activities such as:

• holding a party to celebrate carers in the community;
• sending a member of your church on training in welcoming a specific section of the community (ie dementia awareness, accessibility);
• starting a monthly coffee morning for people who are lonely.

You can be as creative and imaginative as you like.

How to apply

Please contact The Revd Canon Dr Sandra Millar, Director of Mission & Ministry in the first instance.  Applications will be considered once a year in September.

Other funding opportunities and useful links

The Sylvanus Lysons Charity provides funding for local projects within the Diocese of Gloucester. Further details can be found on their webpage here: Sylvanus Lysons grant-making charity – Diocese of Gloucester (anglican.org)

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 for Charities – sustain, develop and grow – 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

Funding Directory | Discover Funding Opportunities Today — Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance – Voluntary and Community Sector’s funding bulletin

www.christianfundersforum.org

https://fundsonline.org.uk/

www.dsc.org.uk – Directory of Social Change

www.grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/ – App to help you find funders

www.thefundingnetwork.org.uk/

www.thegrowthhub.biz

https://charitysetup.org.uk/ help in setting up your charity

 

www.thinknpc.org Theory of change

See also: small grants and PCC loans