GRANTS AND FUNDS FOR MISSION IN THE METHODIST CHURCHThis page is intended for all who are seeking funding support for projects and new work in our Circuit.
This is not where to look if you are seeking funding for property maintenance – including extensive projects to replace existing buildings.
This is where you look if what you are proposing is new.
Steps for a successful project
1. Think about your church and what ministry you believe you could offer that you are not doing already. Talk to your friends in the church, your Minister and the Church Stewards.
2. Examine your church mission policy and your last church review. Does this help or hinder your vision? If it helps, good but if it needs re-writing, then share the idea with the Church Council.
3. Work out whether what you want to do is a training project or a development project.
For example:
A Training project would include bringing in a teacher or trainer to help you do something new, like run a youth group or start a singer’s group. Or you may wish to attend a course, training event or undertake some study in UK or elsewhere.
A Development project would be something that enhances your mission: perhaps you want to employ a youth worker or pastoral worker in order to make contact with a section of the community your church isn’t reaching at present. It could be you need to do some work on the church property in order to make it better equipped for your work – perhaps you need toilet facilities for the disabled because you’re starting an activity for a group of people in wheelchairs, or you need to redesign part of the building because you are working with elderly people who have mobility issues.
4. In consultation with your Minister and through the Church Council, apply to the appropriate fund for support:
5. Sources of Funding
Local Church Funds: Especially invested funds, some of the capital of which might be used if appropriate.
Circuit Funds: Especially the Circuit Advance Fund, which is available for either ‘one off’ or longer-term support for both property, undertaking projects and for employing people. The decision to apply should be shared with the Superintendent Minister as the project develops, who will advise you on the best way forward to ensure maximum benefit.
District Funds: The District Advance Fund makes grants for development work both on property and in terms of projects and people.
The District Development Fund makes grants for training events and courses. These can be a single day or run over a period of time, and may be ones you want to organise yourself for others, or events that you want to attend.
An Application form, Notes and Course Evaluation form can all be downloaded from here:
Application form for Grant.pdfNotes re application for Grant.pdfCourse evaluation.pdf