Advance Movement Uk

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £261,646 (2023 expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £200,000
• Geographic Focus: UK and Europe (primarily supporting churches in the Advance Movement network)

Contact Details

Website: www.advancemovement.com/nations/uk-and-europe/

Email: admin.uk@advancemovement.com

Phone: 01202 746938

Charity Number: 1180592

Overview

ADVANCE MOVEMENT UK (registered charity 1180592) was established to advance the Christian faith, with a particular focus on coordinating partnerships between churches, promoting and assisting with church planting, raising awareness of the Christian faith, and relieving persons in financial hardship. The charity operates as a grant-making organization with total income of £174,481 and total expenditure of £261,646 in 2023. The organization is part of the global Advance Movement network led by PJ Smyth, which extends to 5 continents and includes over 150 churches. The movement describes itself as “refocharismissional” – combining reformed theology, charismatic spirituality, and missional philosophy. ADVANCE MOVEMENT UK has 5 trustees and 10 volunteers, with no trustees receiving remuneration.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

TRAINING Grants:

• Theological Training Grant: £5,000 per year for up to 3 years - For candidates with proven ministry fruitfulness and significant future potential. Requires elder references, external interview, job offer with Advance church, and approved theological courses (currently Union School of Theology). Rolling application.
• Church Internship Grant: £15,000 per year for 1-2 years - For practical on-the-job leadership development. Requires healthy placement church, partial funding by placement church, candidate assessment, and elder qualification potential. Rolling application.

SENDING Grants:

• Full Church Plant Grant: Up to £200,000 over 3 years - For church plants with full movement backing. Requires movement team endorsement, completed church planter development, theological training, and detailed 3-year budget. Application by invitation/endorsement.
• Plant Support Grant: Up to £25,000 one-time gift - For more organic/local church plants. Requires external assessment, planter coaching, and 3-year plant plan. Rolling application.

SUPPORTING Grants:

• Smaller Church Grant: Up to £25,000 one-time gift - For churches under 100 attendees, over 5 years old. Requires leadership coaching commitment and mission engagement plan. Rolling application.
• New AMUK/E Joiner Grant: Up to £25,000 one-time gift - For new churches joining the movement. Requires doctrinal alignment, completed church planter training, and movement commitment. Application by invitation/endorsement.

Priority Areas

• Church planting initiatives aligned with Advance Movement values
• Leadership development and theological training for church planters
• Strengthening existing churches within the Advance network
• Supporting churches under 100 attendees to grow their mission
• Relief of persons in financial hardship (particularly church planters and leaders)

What They Don't Fund

• Building projects (explicitly excluded as this could “quickly empty AMUK/E funds”)
• Churches or individuals not aligned doctrinally and in values with Advance Movement
• General community projects outside church planting/strengthening focus

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: 5 trustees (names not publicly listed on Charity Commission register)

Volunteers: 10 volunteers supporting the charity's work

Global Leadership: PJ Smyth serves as Advance Global team leader and pastor of Monument Church

The charity operates with transparency, with no trustees receiving any remuneration, payments, or benefits. The organization has no trading subsidiaries and raises funds from the public without using professional fundraisers or commercial participators.

Leadership Quote: In 2020, PJ Smyth emphasized the movement's central message: “Fix your eyes on Jesus!” - reflecting the theological foundation underpinning their grant-making approach.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are processed on a rolling basis with no fixed deadlines. To apply for any funding category, contact admin.uk@advancemovement.com.

Application Requirements Vary by Grant Type:

For Theological Training Grants, applicants need elder references, external interview, and job offer with an Advance church.

For Church Plant Grants, applicants must have completed the Advance Church Planters Course (ACPC) or equivalent, completed the Advance Church Planter Development Tool, formed a coaching relationship with a recognized AMUK/E planter, and received endorsement from the AMUK/E team.

For Recent Church Plants (1-5 years seeking support), there must be full doctrinal alignment with Advance, commitment to join the movement from pastor and church members, and AMUK/E team endorsement.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly specified. Given the rolling nature of applications and the need for endorsement and assessment processes, applicants should expect several weeks to months for review and decision-making.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. However, the movement has a strong track record - over the last 20 years, movement leader PJ Smyth has “personally played some kind of meaningful role in the successful planting of about 40 churches, with only three failures.”

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. Given the relational nature of the movement and rolling application process, unsuccessful applicants should contact admin.uk@advancemovement.com to discuss feedback and potential reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Doctrinal and Values Alignment: Full alignment with Advance Movement's “refocharismissional” approach (reformed theology, charismatic spirituality, missional philosophy) is essential. The movement emphasizes gospel health and theological soundness.

Completion of ACPC: For church planting grants, completion of the Advance Church Planters Course (ACPC) is mandatory. This two-year programme covers twelve areas of critical formation including character, calling, competencies, and context. Anyone leading an “Advance partner plant” is expected to complete ACPC.

Coaching Relationships: Applicants must form coaching relationships with recognized AMUK/E planters, demonstrating commitment to the movement's relational and developmental approach.

Movement Integration: Grants prioritize those committed to joining the Advance Movement network. The charity funds churches that will become part of their partner church network across UK, Europe, and globally.

Proven Track Record: For theological training grants, candidates must demonstrate “proven ministry fruitfulness in their local church as well as significant future potential.”

Endorsement Process: Full Church Plant Grants require endorsement from the AMUK/E team, indicating these are awarded to plants “recognized as having the support and backing of the movement as a whole.”

Success Story: GodFirst Barry, Wales, planted by Rachel and her husband in January 2019, started with six adults and five children in their living room. Through support from Grace London and the Advance network, they've grown to around 60 people on Sundays including more than 20 children - demonstrating the type of fruitful growth Advance seeks to support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Relationship comes before funding: ADVANCE MOVEMENT UK funds churches and leaders within their network. Building relationships with Advance churches and completing their training programmes (especially ACPC) is essential before accessing larger grants.
• Doctrinal alignment is non-negotiable: Full alignment with Advance's reformed-charismatic theology and values is required for all grants.
• Training investment pays off: Smaller training grants (£5k-£15k) can lead to larger church plant grants (up to £200k), making the training pathway a strategic entry point.
• Rolling applications favor prepared applicants: With no fixed deadlines, having all requirements in place (ACPC completion, coaching relationship, endorsement) allows for faster processing.
• Movement commitment is expected: This isn't funding for independent church plants - it's investment in growing the Advance Movement network.
• Avoid building project requests: The charity explicitly excludes building projects from funding to preserve resources for leadership development and operational support.
• Contact early for guidance: With multiple grant categories and specific requirements, early contact with admin.uk@advancemovement.com can help identify the right funding stream and ensure eligibility before formal application.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Lauderdale Trust
• ORDINATION CANDIDATES TRAINING FUND INCORPORATED TRUST LIMITED
• Congregational and General Charitable Trust
• John James Charitable Trust
• Gospel Partners Trust
• THE A S CHARITABLE TRUST
• St Boniface Trust
• Hockerill Educational Foundation
• The Anglo-Catholic Ordination Candidates Fund
• The Rank Foundation Limited

References

• ADVANCE MOVEMENT UK Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1180592&subid=0
• "Funding for Planting & Strengthening Churches" - Advance Movement: https://www.advancemovement.com/2024/03/07/funding-for-planting-strengthening-churches/
• Advance Movement 2020 Annual Review: https://2020.advancemovement.com/
• “Advance Church Planters Course: United Kingdom” - Advance Movement: https://www.advancemovement.com/courses1/advance-church-planters-course-united-kingdom/
• ACPC UK Overview Document: https://www.advancemovement.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/ACPC-UK-overview-2023.pdf (Referenced December 9, 2025)
• Find a Church - Advance Movement: https://www.advancemovement.com/find-a-church/
• ADVANCE MOVEMENT UK website: www.advancemovement.com/nations/uk-and-europe/