Tuesday 30 September 2014

Tudor Trust Grants

 
Tudor particularly want to help smaller, community-led organisations which work directly with people who are at the margins of society: organisations which support positive changes in people's lives and in their communities.
 
Applications can be made at any time.  www.tudortrust.org.uk

Tackling Poverty Together -- CUF Newsletter

 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, September 29, 2014 1:54 PM
Subject: Tackling Poverty Together

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Together Network
 October 2014

Harvest vegetables

Sharing Harvest

If your church is still preparing Harvest services, you may want to look at our Harvest Resources, which link the bounty of harvest with the poverty of many in our country. 

View the Harvest Resources »


Advent

Get ready for advent

We have also produced resources for reflection during the Advent season that focus on the financial pressure many feel under in getting ready for Christmas. This short term pressure often leads to long term despair for the poorest in our society.

Archbishop Justin has advocated strongly against exploitative pay day loans and, of course, it is Christmas time when people feel the most financial pressure. Our Advent Resources help individuals and churches to engage with these issues.

We have produced a free online Advent Calendar with short videos, reflections and prayer for each day of Advent. You can explore Days 1 and 2 by clicking on the doors with photos. You may like to forward this link to friends and family or other members of your church.

We can send daily reminders and a link for the calendar if you register here.




"You can do things that
I cannot do.

I can do things that
you cannot do.

Together we can do great things.
"

Mother Teresa

Together

As the Church of England's response to poverty in this country, our aim is to inform, inspire, resource and support churches as they work to tackle poverty and build community. We take what Jesus says about loving God and loving our neighbours seriously.

We are passionate about bringing God's love, hope and justice to the poorest and most marginalised people in England, empowering them to transform their lives. And we believe the local church is uniquely placed to bring lasting change to its community. Find out more here.

And you can see how Church Urban Fund is investing in communities here.

Any help you or your church can provide in engaging with these issues or supporting this work means more lives can be  transformed www.cuf.org.uk/get-involved


Follow us on Twitter    Become a friend on Facebook    Visit our Youtube page   



Church Urban Fund, Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3AZ
T 020 7898 1647    F 020 7898 1601    E enquiries@cuf.org.uk    W www.cuf.org.uk
Registered Charity number 297483.


'Pray and fast for the climate'

 

an initiative to mobilise Christians to fast and pray on the first of every month for a

 

Saturday 1st November 2014 1.30 – 4.30 p.m.

St. Peter's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Lancaster

All are welcome for all or part of this free event which will include simple liturgical worship, prayer information stations and a film ..

You can download two different  posters for your noticeboard here.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/89023969/Climate%20event%20lancaster2014-11-1%20flier.pdf

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/89023969/Pray%20and%20fast%20for%20the%20climate%20flier%20%20monthly%20a5.pdf

Monday 22 September 2014

Homeless Sunday - 18 January 2015... preliminary information

For more information on what is planned see
 
 
Homeless Sunday 2015 reprises Homelessness Sunday, the only difference being a shortened name and a new dedicated website, still in the making at the time of writing (August 2014). The new website address is: homeless-sunday.uk (again, please do not try this link as it is not live yet). - See more at: http://www.housingjustice.org.uk/pages/homeless_sunday.html#sthash.cApj8Pek.dpuf
meless Sunday 2015 reprises Homelessness Sunday, the only difference being a shortened name and a new dedicated website, still in the making at the time of writing (August 2014). The new website address is: homeless-sunday.uk (again, please do not try this link as it is not live yet). - See more at: http://www.housingjustice.org.uk/pages/homeless_sunday.html#sthash.cApj8Pek.dpuf
meless Sunday 2015 reprises Homelessness Sunday, the only difference being a shortened name and a new dedicated website, still in the making at the time of writing (August 2014). The new website address is: homeless-sunday.uk (again, please do not try this link as it is not live yet). - See more at: http://www.housingjustice.org.uk/pages/homeless_sunday.html#sthash.cApj8Pek.dpuf

Church Credit Champion Network - Merseyside Co-ordinator

 
One day we hope to get a similar post running in Lancashire......
 
Together Liverpool and the Centre for Contextual Theology are looking for a dynamic and effective Merseyside Co-ordinator for the Church Credit Champions Network.

The Network aims to harness the resources of local churches to increase access to responsible credit and savings in their communities through support for community finance providers like credit unions. The Network has the active support of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Task Group on Responsible Credit and Savings and is at the cutting edge of the Church's response to exploitative lending initiated by Archbishop Justin in the summer of 2013.

The new Co-ordinator will work as part of the Church Credit Champions Network team, with primary responsibility for promoting and delivering the pilot activities of the Network in Merseyside. This will include helping churches engage with issues of money, credit and debt in their community, identifying and training a diverse and dynamic group of leaders, and helping them to turn goodwill and energy into tangible action which benefits community finance providers.

This is a fixed-term two year post and full details can be found on the Diocese of Liverpool website. Closing date for applications is 3 October 2014. Please pass on to anyone you think will be interested.

Friday 19 September 2014

Some current funding opportunities

 
 

ASDA Foundation Community Grants Programme

http://www.asdafoundation.org/grant

Max. Value: £ 20,000

Deadline: 30 Sep 2014

Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations to develop stronger better connected communities across the UK by targeting the key social issues that are affecting local communities.

Green Hall Foundation

http://greenhallfoundation.org/

Max. Value: £ 10,000

Deadline: 30 Sep 2014

Grants for UK registered charities undertaking projects that support the homeless, older people and church and community projects.

 

National Churches Trust - Community Grants

http://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/our-grants/community-grants

Max. Value: Discretionary

Deadline: 01 Oct 2014

Funding is available for projects which introduce facilities to enable increased community use of places of worship in the UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands.

Max. Value: Discretionary

Deadline: 01 Oct 2014

More research briefings on poverty from Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Follow the link
 
 
The article on Benefit Sanctions is especially relevant
 

Conditional welfare arrangements require people to behave in a certain way to access cash benefits, housing or support services.

These conditions tend to be enforced through penalties or 'sanctions' that reduce, suspend or end access to these goods.

This Round-up considers how effective welfare conditionality is, what the impacts are, how different groups fare, and to what extent it can be morally justified.

It finds that:

  • benefit sanctions are disproportionately affecting young people under 25, and there is evidence of severe impacts on homeless people and other vulnerable groups;
  • international evidence indicates that benefit sanctions substantially raise exits from benefits, and may increase short-term job entry; but there are unfavourable longer-term outcomes for earnings, job quality and employment retention;
  • there are concerns that welfare conditionality can have unintended consequences, including: distancing people from support; causing hardship and even destitution; displacing rather than resolving issues such as street homelessness and anti-social behaviour; and negative impacts on 'third parties', particularly children.

"Serious About Transformation" eNews: September 2014

 

From: Stuart Ashmore <stuart.ashmore=tearfund.org@mail211.atl101.mcdlv.net> on behalf of Stuart Ashmore <stuart.ashmore@tearfund.org>
Sent: 05 September 2014 08:59
To: Greg Smith
Subject: "Serious About Transformation" eNews: September 2014
 
This month: Welcome! / "Catalyst Update" / Cinnamon Network Micro-grants / "Book of Boaz" / "Churches that change Communities" / Bits & Pieces Is this email not displaying correctly?
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"Serious about Transformation"

September 2014

Welcome!

...to the September issue of "Serious About Transformation". Our 6th issue ushers in the start of Autumn, one of the truly physically transformative seasons of the year - as we gather in the harvest and watch green leaves turn to gold & russet, let's surrender our plans into the hands of He who provides...
2 Corinthians 9:10 says, "God gives seed to farmers & provides everyone with food. He will increase what you have, so that you can give even more to those in need." (Contemporary English Version). 

Our focus for this issue continues with the "Catalyst" programme, together with the Micro-grant programme - there's still plenty of opportunity to be involved in either...see below for further details.

As ever, please do let us know if there are any specific topics that you would like us to cover in future editions.

To find out more about us, what we do & how we do it, just click HERE & visit us online.


With many blessings,
The IMPACT UK Team
(e-mail us at: team.impactuk@tearfund.org)

 

'Catalyst Programme' - update

Since the start of the current funding round that began earlier in the year, we're very pleased to say that 18 churches are currently enrolled on the programme & receiving bespoke development support from their Advisor....and there's room for plenty more!

So, what is the "Catalyst Programme"?
Well, it's a flexible programme that envisions, equips & empowers the local UK church to connect with the community using the "Catalyst Code": 
STOPLOOKLISTEN & WALK...crossing the road to authentic Christian community engagement.

It's simply a process that helps the local church to realise its mission & vision for the local community and to develop, produce and implement relevant & sustainable social action programmes at the end.

Not sure if it's right for you? Contact Steve Shaw, the Catalyst Programme Advisor, for a chat regarding your circumstances.
Or, why not follow the Catalyst Programme on Facebook & Twitter.
 
To find out more & download an application form:

Micro-grant Programme
 
The Cinnamon Network knows that a small amount of money can go a long way in helping a local church start a new community project. We are delighted to be able to offer a Micro-grant programme to any local church that wants to start one of our recognised best practice projects as follows:
  • In England(£1,500) offered by Tearfund's IMPACT UK Team working with the Network under the Government's Social Action Fund;
  • In Scotland(£2,000) with the Peter Vardy Foundation;
  • In Wales: (£2,000) with JW Laing Trust;
  • In Sussex: (£3,000) with Sussex Police
There are a range of different Community Franchises available - check out our website to see the current list & to download the relevant application form.

 Find out more

 

   

"Book of Boaz"

The 'failed' asylum seeker. 

Confused. Bewildered. Hungry. Cold. Scared. 
Or 
Illegal. Criminal. Guilty. Cheating. Dangerous. 

Which is it? 

Dave Smith set up the Boaz Trust ten years ago to fight the cause of the asylum seeker. Confronted with a media that can seem more determined to demonise than to tell the truth, and with a political class who appear happier to scapegoat than to stand for justice, this has not been an easy battle. Yet his biggest enemy has been the seemingly cruelly inefficient and impersonal bureaucracy that needlessly condemns so many asylum seekers to near-destitution and despair. 
The Book of Boaz is a story of how compassion and truth have inspired the author and others to shout for those who are too traumatised to even whisper for themselves. Dave Smith is a politically astute, articulate and straight-talking campaigner who is passionate about justice and freedom. His guide to the asylum world will leave you, like it leaves everyone who enters the system, with radically different views.

 

Available in paperback & Kindle editions at
Amazon, Eden.co.uk & other online book outlets.

 
 
 


'Churches That Change Communities'


A conference to inspire, equip and empower you and your church to increase your impact

"I am delighted to invite you to our fourth national Jubilee+ social action conference.  Our team works hard to provide the best possible opportunity for you and your church to be encouraged and equipped as you engage in the vital work of reaching those in need in our communities.  During the day we will combine prophetic teaching, seminars, networking and worship with ministry in the Holy Spirit.  You will also be able to meet representatives of various Christian social action franchises.  I very much hope you will join us!"

Martin Charlesworth, Team Leader Jubilee+

Saturday, October 11th - Citygate Church, Bournemouth

Find out more & book your ticket.

Bits & Pieces...

From time to time we come across lots of interesting bits & pieces that may, or may not, be of interest/use to you in your own local contexts.
Below are links to some of what we've come across this month:


Employment Vacancy: 

People & Development Assistant

Starting Salary: £16,854 - £18,393 (with further scope for progression) 
Closing Date: Tuesday, September 30th, 2014
Location: Bradford

TLG is a rapidly growing education charity, with a Christian ethos, supporting churches right across the UK to reach the need of children & young people who are facing educational disadvantage.

TLG is looking for an outstanding graduate who is excited about the opportunity to train on the job in all aspects of HR or Third Sector Management. We are looking for a candidate with a willingness to learn and a passion for developing excellent people to provide first class support to young people in crisis.

 

Closing Date: Tuesday, 30th September at 5pm

To find out more or apply visit: http://www.tlg.org.uk/web/jobsAndInternships

 


External Services: 
  • The storytelling secrets charities can learn from Gandalf
"Storytelling is not exactly new, but the way we do it has changed. Engaging with emotion and giving back to your audience are essential", says Laura Bolton.
 

Talk to any charity fundraising or communications professional about what's needed to engage with supporters online and they'll say "good content". But what exactly is "good content"?

Good content is about storytelling - people have been telling stories since time began, passing them down from generation to generation. However, about 70 years ago this process changed. Television altered the way stories were delivered - instead of people taking an active role in storytelling, they became passive consumers


           Click here to read the full article
 
  • Funding Opportunity
The Yapp Charitable Trust offers grants to registered charities with a total annual expenditure of less than £40,000 who are undertaking work with our priority groups:
  • Elderly people
  • Children and young people aged 5 – 25
  • People with physical impairments, learning difficulties or mental health challenges
  • Social welfare – people trying to overcome life-limiting problems of a social, rather than medical, origin (such as addiction, relationship difficulties, abuse, offending)
  • Education and learning (with a particular interest in people who are educationally disadvantaged, whether adults or children)
           Find out more
------------------------------------------------------------------
External links are selected and reviewed when newsletter is published. However, the IMPACT UK Team is not responsible for the content of external websites. This is because:
  • we do not produce them or maintain/update them
  • we cannot change them
  • they can be changed without our knowledge or agreement.
Some of our external links may be to websites which also offer commercial services, such as online purchases.
The inclusion of a link to an external website from this newsletter should not be understood to be an endorsement of that website or the site's owners (or their products/services).

In This Issue

Bits & Pieces...

Click each heading to find out more...  

 

Keep Up With Us

Follow on Twitter Twitter - IMPACT UK Team

Useful websites on Faith and Finance

 ECCR (the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility) worked last year in partnership with Quaker Peace and Social Witness to set up the website www.yourfaithyourfinance.org. Please do take a look at it.
 

There is also an interesting new ECCR project for the Christian community Ethical Money Churches (EMC) which it would also be good to get more widely known as local church communities in Lancashire may be interested in volunteering as pilot EMCs: www.ethicalmoneychurches.org

 

Monday 15 September 2014

'Reclaiming the Public Space: Archbishop William Temple 70th Anniversary Conference'

 
 

A reminder of the forthcoming conference 'Reclaiming the Public Space: Archbishop William Temple 70th Anniversary Conference' which will be held on Monday 10 November at the People's History Museum, Manchester.

We really hope that you can make it and would greatly appreciate it if you could forward this information to your colleagues/ students/ supporters.

Exploring the role of religion in contemporary public life, as well as looking at the legacy of William Temple's visionary thinking, the conference aims to bring together academics, clergy, community activists, and policy makers to learn from one another.

A diverse range of excellent speakers includes Prof Craig Calhoun (LSE), Lord Raymond Plant (KCL), Prof Linda Woohead (Lancaster) and Prof Elaine Graham (Chester) alongside practitioners such as Chris Mould (Trussell Trust) and Economist journalist Bruce Clark.

To read more about the conference please visit: http://williamtemplefoundation.org.uk/conference2014/

Tickets are £35 with a limited number of student tickets available for just £10.

Book now to avoid disappointment: http://williamtemplefoundation.org.uk/conference2014/

To stay up-to-date with this conference and all other William Temple Foundation activities please sign-up to our quarterly e-newsletter: http://t.co/1wXEM3QPye

A pioneering 'social action covenant'

 
 
 
  • Earlier this summer Archbishop Bernard Longley spoke about the issues faced by faith based organisations in the delivery of public services and he announced a pioneering 'social action covenant' to be launched in Birmingham this autumn. Click here to download his speech. The covenant is intended to encourage councils to work together more effectively with faith groups, to remove mistrust and promote collaboration across a range of projects. Read about it here. The covenant was devised by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Faith and Society and the Cathedrals Innovation Centre. The APPG and FaithAction are asking faith based service providers to get in touch: they would like to hear from you and are asking what your organisation is doing to affect community change and provide solutions to unmet needs and what barriers are you encountering? Click here to contribute.
  • LifePort: 1hr Workshop - Enabling the Church to have a bigger impact

    Here's a training resource some of you may want to use..
     
    ----- Original Message -----
    Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2014 5:51 PM
    Subject: LifePort: 1hr Workshop - Enabling the Church to have a bigger impact


    For the past few years, we have been running a training programme called LifePort. Its objectives are to enable the local Church to have a bigger impact in the communities they are connected with. And it is working. Seeing amazing results (300% Church growth in one year) and getting fantastic feedback.
    • Ever wanted to know why some of your projects fail whilst others succeed?
    • Ever wanted to know what were the key 40 factors that everyone needs to thrive?
    • Ever wanted to bridge the gap between projects?
    • Ever wanted to easily mobilise more Christians into ministry?
    LifePort provides answers to these questions and a lot more.

    Through our relationships with Tearfund, Hope, Jerusalem Trust and others, they have all encouraged us to roll LifePort out nationally. However, we also recognise that TIME is an issue for folk. So with that in mind, we have condensed the 1 day programme to a 1hr intense workshop.

    Have a look at our mini site (www.lifewhys.com/lifeport), watch the video, look at the presentation and the flyer. If any of its content resonates with you, get in touch.

    I look forward to hearing from you soon.

    Warm regards

    Mat

    Ps. We are based in Ashford, Kent, but operate nationally.

    PPs. We are also deliberatly making LifePort free, making it easier for people to get onboard - all we'd need to see covered is the cost of print (for the manual, see Twitter account for example) and travel. If folk would want to give a gift for the training, then would be great.

    PPPs. I was born in Littleborough too :D

    =================
    Matthew Eason
    LifePort Lead
    07595 45 25 27
    Twitter: @TheLifePort 
    www.lifewhys.com/lifeport