Grants are available for churches and Christian charities to adapt to the challenges and opportunities presented by the coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis.
Funding body: Allchurches Trust Limited
Maximum value: £ 50,000
Application deadline: None specified
Background
The Allchurches Trust is a registered charity formed in 1972. The Trust makes charitable grants to the Church and the Christian community from income derived from the Ecclesiastical Insurance Office PLC.
Objectives of Fund
The funding is intended to enable churches and Christian charities to meet changing needs within their communities as the longer-term impact of the coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis becomes clearer.
Value Notes
Grants of up to £50,000 are available.
Organisations cannot apply for a specific grant amount and instead are asked to provide information on the cost of the project and a high-level budget. Guidance on how to provide a high-level budget is available on the Allchurches website.
Match Funding Restrictions
Successful applicants will receive a grant covering between 10% and 80% of the costs, depending on the cost of the project and (where applicable) the level of need in the community (which is assessed based on applicable deprivation indices).
Organisations can apply regardless of what stage their other fundraising efforts are at. However, they should be able to show that at least some funds are in place, and that there is a realistic funding plan in place to meet the costs of the project.
Who Can Apply
Churches, cathedrals and Christian denominational bodies, and Christian charities in the UK and the Republic of Ireland are eligible to apply.
- Churches will normally need to be part of a denomination that is a member of Churches Together in England or the equivalent in Scotland, Wales and Ireland, or belong to a local ecumenical “churches together” group.
- Organisations that have received a grant from the Allchurches Trust within the last two years can apply for a Hope Beyond grant, as long as the application is for a different project.
Location
United Kingdom and Ireland
Restrictions
The following are not eligible for funding:
- Schools and other educational establishments.
- General “business as usual” running costs.
Eligible Expenditure
The funding is for innovative, impactful projects that will enable people, organisations and communities to flourish in life after lockdown, building resilience and encouraging hope.
Projects that address at least one of the following three key themes are eligible:
- Projects responding to the issues of loneliness and isolation exacerbated by the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic where new and/or enhanced support is being proposed. This could include enabling improved accessibility to buildings/activities and measures to ensure buildings are coronavirus/COVID-19 safe.
- Projects focused on growing community resilience and promoting mental and emotional health and wellbeing, including the provision of mental health and wellbeing support groups and 1:1 counselling for people of all ages (including clergy).
- Projects focused on growing technological capability and resilience, particularly increasing digital capacity and provision, and supporting those without online access to get online through training and support.
The grants are to be used to implement new ways of working and introduce new and/or enhanced support and activities to meet changing need as a direct response to the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. The grants can cover:
- Capital costs, such as adaptation of buildings and the purchase of equipment.
- Project-related salaries and some other revenue costs (to the end of 2021), such as training of staff and/or volunteers, hire of buildings and/or equipment, and promotion and marketing of new activities.
How To Apply
Applications for the Programme are considered on a rolling basis. There is no fixed deadline while funds are still available.
The Trust normally aims to respond to applications within three months.
Applications must be submitted via the Trust’s online application form.
The flyer for the Programme, guidance documents and FAQs are available on the website of the Trust.
Useful Links
Allchurches Trust
Allchurches Trust – Hope Beyond