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St Andrew's messageboard
Community Mission
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Dear Peter,
When crime, violence and community breakdown appear to increase, it can be tempting to lose hope in our ability to make a difference. Our community work can seem a drop in the ocean, especially when the gap between rich and poor continues to widen. We hope that this month’s highlights will encourage you – both through new funding opportunities and through resources that will build your confidence in the gospel of Jesus.
As we reflect this month on tragedies like the earthquake in Haiti, we can also choose to reject apathy and respond accordingly (although not all of us will raise £120,000 like this London child!).
God Bless,
Jill Clark
Community Mission
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  The Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards Scheme provides one-off donations between £500-£4,000 to local community projects that benefit children, older people or adults and children with disabilities. Funding can be used for things like equipment, resources, holiday schemes and befriending programmes. There are two application deadlines each year. The next deadline for work with older people and people with disabilities is 31 March. Applications for work with children can be made between 1 May and 30 June. Read the application questions, apply online or phone the helpline on 0845 612 3575.
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The Nationwide Foundation offers grants of £5,000 to registered charities with incomes under £500,000. Their funding priorities are community projects that support survivors of domestic abuse and older people, in order to decrease financial exclusion, solve housing issues and support families. The grant covers core costs and any project is welcome to apply provided that it has been at least a year since their last application, whether successful or not. Read the tips for applicants, exclusions, download the application form, or phone 01793 655 113.
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Allchurches Trust aims to promote the Christian faith by giving grants, normally up to £5,000, to churches of many denominations and church community projects that need to repair or preserve their buildings. Recipients of grants can apply again after two years. Read about churches that have been successful, download an application form or phone 01452 873 189.
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Community Foundation Network is a national body supporting 55 charities across the UK that provides funding to local community projects. Over 95% of the population of the UK has access to at least one community foundation that provides funding. Their funding priorities are broad and include most local community projects. Read about what they fund, what is unlikely to be funded and find a local community foundation.
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The Centre for Social Justice Awards will award £10,000 to community projects and charities fighting poverty with practical, entrepreneurial, passionate strategies. The deadline for applying is 22 February but there is no application form. To apply, post or 500 words or less on how your project tackles poverty and turns lives around. Shortlisted projects will be notified by 20 March. Read about past winners or download the application guidelines.
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 Scripture Union Scotland is hosting Beauty for Ashes: A Place for Us? on 20 February in Glasgow or on 27 February in Dundee. Its purpose is to help churches include and work with vulnerable children and their families. Dr Keith White, author of The Growth of Love, will discuss what churches need to do to include children. There will be practical workshops on gang culture, spirituality and challenging behaviour. It costs £10 per person waged and £5 per person unwaged. To book, complete the booking form or phone 0131 445 9923 for more information.
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Fresh Expressions is hosting Changing the Landscape: Fresh Expressions and the long term on 5 March at the Epic Centre in Lincoln. Dr Rowan Williams, The Archbishop of Canterbury, is the keynote speaker and he will focus on the future of fresh expressions of church including the theological, financial and accountability implications. The event is aimed at anyone interested in reaching those normally off the church’s radar. It is £25 per person including lunch. Read more about the event or book online.
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In response to requests from churches working in predominantly Muslim areas, Livability is hosting Mission in multi-faith communities on 10 March at Salvation Army International HQ, London. The day is facilitated by Richard Sudworth, author of Distinctly Welcoming. Richard also runs a community project in a diverse part of Birmingham. The day will focus on how to maintain a distinctive Christian approach in a multi-faith context and will discuss evangelism. It is £20 per person including lunch. To book, contact or phone 020 7452 2018.
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The National Estate Churches Network is a group of church leaders, workers and community workers who live and/or work on housing estates in England. Their aim is to ensure that housing estate ministry is promoted and well resourced. They now host three regional events. On 17 March, All Saints, South Oxhey, near Watford, will present their involvement in the BBC2 series The Choir. On 15 June, Holy Trinity, Tulse Hill, will host an event about four challenging estates nearby. And on 13 October, St Edmund’s Living Well, Dartford, will share how it developed a new health centre. Each day is £5 per person. To book, contact or phone 020 7932 1122. Their website will be updated with this information soon.
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Measuring real success in your community project: statistics, anecdotes and transformation is being hosted by Livability on 14 April in response to the current climate of lengthy monitoring forms and fear of failure that surrounds community projects. It is being held at St George’s Centre, Leeds and is £20 per person including lunch. The day is focused on what it means to be effective and how to communicate this to others. To book, contact or phone 0113 350 8070.
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 Many Christians are discussing the best way to get involved in mission where they live. This is referred to by many as incarnational ministry and John Hayes, founder of mission order InnerChange, has written Submerge: Living deep in a shallow world about his experiences both in inner city Los Angeles as well as abroad. A free download of chapter five is available from Livability’s Community Mission website. In it, he discusses ways to model Jesus’ lifestyle while realistically considering our passions and skills. Submerge is £10 and available by contacting or phoning 020 7452 2018.
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Housing Justice, Church Action on Poverty and Scottish Churches Housing Action recently produced 12 Baskets: a practically helpful handbook for churches and individuals about how to help people survive through the economic crisis. Chapters on housing, food, finances, work and ethical lifestyles are included as well as links to other resources. The Housing Justice website has free copies to download.
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For churches and Bible study groups looking for study material during Lent, the Just People? course offers six sessions on compassion, justice and how your church can effect change locally and globally. It includes a handbook with a guide to each session, including a DVD of talks and activities. Many churches have found that Just People? caused a shift from inward to outward focus and included those not normally involved in other church activities. Read stories of churches that have completed the course, the thinking behind the course, top tips or order it online for £25.
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For many Christians involved in local community ministry, theology that can both challenge and support is essential. Lesslie Newbigin, preacher, pastor and evangelist from the 1930s to the 1990s, has inspired many Christians to have confidence in the gospel as public truth. Jon Kuhrt, Director of Community Mission at Livability, reflects in Proper Confidence in the Gospel that Lesslie Newbigin gave us clear teaching on the mission context of the UK and the need to discuss the doctrine of election, even if it causes disagreement.
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Tower Hamlets, east London, contains some of the most extreme deprivation in the country. Tony Uddin leads a church and community project, where the population is 40% Bengali. Read Tony’s honest accounts of urban life and thoughtful reflections on their Christmas mission as well as how to mourn over sin in On the Frontline – a blog from the East End.
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Posted on 8 Feb 2010
Information on these pages does not necessarily reflect the views of St Andrew's URC Cheam
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