Published: 26 February 2024
In our recent round of monthly smaller grants, we’ve awarded over £200,000 to churches and Christian charities across the UK and Ireland.
From mentoring young people in Northern Ireland, to conserving the heritage of a Scottish Abbey; we’re delighted to support a range of inspiring projects through our Community Impact and Building Improvement grants programmes. See some of the organisations to receive our latest funding boost:
Community Impact Grants
Onside Ministries, Surrey (working in Northern Ireland)
Onside Ministries is working to engage and mentor children and young people from some of the most disadvantaged areas of Belfast. Although ‘the Troubles’ have ended they still cast a long shadow over many parts of Northern Ireland, particularly North Belfast. These areas continue to be controlled by paramilitary groups and statistically have major problems with crime, substance abuse, anti-social behaviour, domestic violence and educational attainment.
Onside Ministries were approached by a youth worker in Ireland having seen how successful the organisation’s sport outreach had been in London. A £7,750 Community Impact Grant will help Onside Ministries to develop their work in Ireland and deliver free football coaching, a tailored life skills programme and mentoring to children from low-income families.
New Life Church, Manchester
New Life Church is situated in the heart of the Radcliffe West neighbourhood, a deprived area within Greater Manchester. Life is hard for local people, but often even harder for the significant number of refugees and asylum seekers who have come to live in the area in recent years. A lack of English Language skills can affect them settling, integrating and gaining employment.
A £6,250 grant is supporting New Life’s Embrace project, a well-established service that focuses on teaching refugees and asylum seekers the basics of the English language and gives them the opportunity to engage with a range of community integration activities.
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Cheltenham Street Pastors, Gloucestershire
The bustling nightlife in Cheltenham gives local churches the opportunity to serve their community in a very real way. The street pastors work together with the police, emergency services, and door staff at pubs and clubs to ensure people feel safe and have access to non-judgemental pastoral support.
Street pastors dedicate their time patrolling the streets between the hours of 10pm and 4am to ensure the safety of vulnerable people. A £750 grant from our Community Impact Grants programme will help them to continue this vital work.
Building Improvement Grants
All Saints Church, Staffordshire
All Saints Church is undertaking a programme of conservation work to ensure that its key historical features are not lost. With the support of a £9,350 grant, the church will conserve and repair its Royal Coat of Arms, various 17th Century paintings, tombs and historically significant stained glass windows.
The project will help the church to connect and share its heritage and stories with the local community.
St Anne's Church, Worcestershire
St Anne’s Church has been at the heart of its community since 1745 and is an important part of the town’s heritage. It serves as a venue for a range of community activities and facilities, and has great potential to serve its community even more. However, the church needs repair work to make it a more inviting space for the long-term.
£7,150 funding from the Building Improvement Grants programme will help to safeguard the building’s structure and redevelop the space as a Community Hub.
Paisley Abbey, Scotland
Paisley Abbey was founded in 1163 and is a beautiful building with a rich history. It welcomes thousands of visitors and worshippers for services and occasions, every year.
To maintain this building for future generations, Benefact Trust has awarded a £13,250 Building Improvement Grant to make urgent repairs to masonry and the roof.
