Grants to help set up a Friends Group
Many churches are future proofing the long term fundraising for their church building by setting up a Friends Group that involves the wider community in their parish, drawing in both those who are churchgoers and those who are not. It is commonplace that everyone in the parish refers to the church as ‘our church’ and experience is that many who are not churchgoers value the building, not only as a place of worship, but as a place of beauty, history and heritage. They are very happy to join in with fundraising in order to contribute to its preservation for future generations. There are several examples where sums of £250,000 or more have been accumulated over the years by such Friends Groups.
The SHCT has joined up with the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich to encourage the creation of new Friends Groups in Suffolk by running a ‘Get Going” grant scheme, which invites PCC’s to apply for a £500 grant, whether to set up a new Friends Group or get a lapsed Friends Group going again. The scheme is open to churches and chapels of all denominations.
Click here for the ‘Get Going’ grant scheme application form.
The Diocese has gathered a lot of helpful advice on the how’s and why’s of a Friends group which can be accessed by this link CofESuffolk Friends Groups The Diocese will be responsible for the gathering and dissemination of materials and advice and the SHCT will run the grant scheme. Email shct@btconnect.com
You can also watch the video “We’re lucky, we have Friends” here for further insight.
The Friends of All Saints Holbrook enjoying their summer gathering in the churchyard