Published: 05 December 2023
In our recent wave of monthly smaller grants, we’ve awarded over £375,000 to churches and Christian charities across the UK and Ireland.
Christmas is a time for giving and we’re delighted to support lots more fantastic projects through our Community Impact and Building Improvement grants programmes. Take a look at some of the organisations to benefit from our funding:
Community Impact Grants
Aruka, Motherwell, North Lanarkshire
A £9,400 Community Impact Grant will help the charity, Aruka, to develop a 12-month pilot project to establish faith-based support for people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction in North Lanarkshire.
Sadly, Scotland has one of the highest drug death rates in the developed world and 15,000 drug-related hospital admissions each year. Lanarkshire has the fourth highest drug death rate in Scotland.
Aruka will partner with two local churches to provide frontline services that offer wellbeing support, faith-based recovery, and advocacy for other support services.
EMMS International, Edinburgh
A £5,900 grant from Benefact Trust will support EMMS International with their project to help people living with dementia.
The grant will go towards their Gardening Workshop which encourages exercise and stimulation for dementia patients; helping to strengthen their bodies, improve independence, and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.
It will also support the Community Lunch Club which helps people with dementia to get a balanced and nutritious diet. Maintaining a healthy weight can be difficult, many people struggle to eat and drink as dementia progresses.
EMMS international are offering activities to enhance people’s lives, bridging a gap which health providers are too stretched to provide.
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Logos Ministries International, Belfast
Logos Ministries International have the opportunity to travel into secondary schools and help young people to address the issues they’re facing and how faith can help support these issues.
£10,000 of our funding will help to grow their work and inspire this generation of young people through relevant, modern, and engaging learning programmes.
Building Improvement Grants
Gloucester Cathedral
An £8,250 grant to Gloucester Cathedral will support the conservation of its 14th-century cloister, including the completion of work to restore the North Nave. The need for this project was highlighted in the quinquennial inspection in 2019, confirming that the cloisters are at risk and in urgent need of maintenance.
The work will not only secure the future of the world’s finest fan vaulted cloister, but it will also develop a new generation of talented stonemasons.
At least eight craftspeople will get the opportunity to work on the project and gain a degree in Heritage Skills. The cathedral will also showcase ‘conservation in action’, giving visitors the opportunity to meet the masons and learn about how built heritage is maintained.
Poolewe and Aultbea Free Church, Ross-shire, Scotland
Poolewe and Aultbea Free Church is a rural church based on the North West Coast of Scotland. The church is open to everyone with welcome arms and has a committed and friendly congregation.
The building is structurally sound and has been well maintained for its 120-year lifespan, but it’s restricted by its current set up. The church is lined with pews, the heating system is inefficient, the décor is tired, and the bathroom and kitchen need refreshing.
With the support of a £12,000 Building Improvement Grant, the church will transform the space so that is can be used for more than just church services. The plan is to create a warm space which can be used for work with schools, community lunches, mums and toddlers groups and outreach opportunities.
*Header Image: Gloucester Cathedral Cloister, credit Kevin Lewis
