Grant funding information 2023 - 2024

Bob Butcher


** District grants now available for Manse Energy Performance Improvement and Warm Spaces - see further information below. **


The District Advance Fund (DAF)


Grants policy

Grant applications will be considered for work, satisfying one or more of the following criteria:
  • Work with children, young people and those in the 25 to 40 age group
  • New ways of being church
  • Mission initiatives
  • Ecumenical initiatives
  • Community based initiatives, especially in areas of new housing development
  • Development of property - prepared to consider up to 25% of the total cost of the scheme, with normally a maximum of £50,000, with a clear mission strategy
  • Extraordinary church repairs - prepared to consider up to 25% of the total cost, with normally a maximum of £50,000
  • Manse energy efficiency up to EPC standard C - up to 50% of the cost, with matched funding from circuit
  • Church energy efficient/Eco Church improvements - will consider grants for schemes up to £10,000 each, with matched funding from circuit or church
  • Training - grants will be considered on their merits for ministerial and lay training
For non-property grants, an annual report will be called for and evaluated by the District Grants Committee before the release of subsequent grants.
 
Applications Timetable

 

The District Grants Committee meet three times per year.  Applications for non-property grants to be considered at these meetings should be made on the District Grant Application Form.  Applications for property grants should be made on the Property Grant Application Form.  Forms should be sent to the Grants Secretary, Bob Butcher by:
  • 23 September 2023
  • 20 January 2024
  • 25 May 2024
This timetable allows time for queries and for circulation to committee members ahead of the meeting.

 

Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District Training Grants 

Training grants will be considered on their merits for ministerial and lay training, that supports the mission of the Church and is not otherwise available through the Learning Network, by the District Grants Committee three times a year.  An application form may be downloaded here.

Manse Energy Performance Improvement

Consideration by the District Grants Committee will be given for a grant to improve the energy efficiency of the manse property occupied by a Presbyter or Deacon with matched funding by the circuit, unless it already possesses a 'C' rating.  Click for an application form.

Warm Spaces Grants

The district is making available grants to local churches to assist in providing 'warm spaces' over the autumn and winter months.  The grant is £1,000, payable on approval of the application.  Churches must demonstrate how they intend to fulfil the purposes of the warm spaces initiative.  Please see Respond to the energy crisis this winter (methodist.org.uk) before completing the application.  A Methodist Church webinar is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIzxX9zAhqk.  Click for an application form.

Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District Benevolence Fund

Applications from lay and ordained - please contact the District Chair.

London Mission Fund

These funds are allocated annually to the District and distributed via the District Grants Committee.

The Osborne Trust

This is a trust established for the use of Methodist churches in the 'ancient county of Essex', administered by The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes, Central Buildings, Oldham Street, Manchester, M1 1JQ; e-mail: tmcp@tmcp.methodist.org.uk. Funding available for building and development work in particular. Applications are considered during the months of February, March, June, October and November.   Please click to download an application form for the Osborne Trust.

The Rock Trust

This Trust offers funding for residential courses and other youth activities within the former London North East boundaries. Please contact the Secretary, Bob Butcher, for information.  Please click to download an application form for the Rock Trust.

The Jean Richardson Fund

In the circuits formerly in the London North West District, to provide for exchange visits between young people in the UK and overseas.  Please contact Mr George Kulasingham, Treasurer of the London Methodist District, at admin@methodistlondon.org.uk.

The Joseph Rank Trust

Full details and guidance can be found on the Joseph Rank Trust website.  Applications must be sent to Bob Butcher for consideration by the District Grants Committee and then a hard copy sent to the Synod Secretary.  Applications must NOT be sent direct to the Trust.  Please check the Trust website for details of application deadlines.

Methodist Insurance Grants

Methodist Insurance Grants are awarded for building development, for mission, outreach and community benefit, with some demonstration of energy efficiency.  Recent changes to the Methodist Grants Programme mean funding is now also available for repair and maintenance projects.

Benefact Trust 

Benefact Trust was established to empower Christian organisations, giving them the means to make a positive difference in the lives of the people and communities they serve.

Benefact Trust's Methodist Grants Programme seeks to enhance the mission and ministry of the Methodist Church in the UK and Ireland.  The programme provides grants to Methodist churches to run building development projects that focus on church growth, community engagement and improving accessibility.  Applicants are also encouraged to demonstrate how their planned projects will give an environmental benefit.  In a recent update to the programme criteria, Methodist Grants are available for repair and maintenance projects that are essential for the ongoing mission and ministry of an organisation.  Grants of up to £100,000 are available.  Individual Methodist churches who are part of the Methodist Connexion are able to apply, along with Methodist circuits and districts.

National Churches Trust 

The National Churches Trust supports a wide variety of projects through grant programmes, helping to keep churches open for worship and community activities and allow them to continue serve people in all sorts of ways.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund

The National Lottery Heritage Fund helps people of all faiths and denominations to conserve, restore and make places of worship more available.  Projects funded include vital repairs, preserving architectural and historical features, researching the history of a building, helping congregations find additional uses for their buildings, providing new facilities, and creating new community spaces and social enterprises.
 

Application forms:


District Advance Fund

District Training Fund

Manse Energy Performance Improvement Grant

Osborne Trust Grant

Rock Trust Grant

Warm Spaces

Property Grant Application Form