Lincolnshire Methodist District

Lincolnshire Methodist District is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1134228).

Lincolnshire Methodist District exists to advance the mission of the Methodist Church across most of Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, mainly by supporting its circuits. Its District Advance Fund supports personnel, property or projects, and its Emergency Welfare Fund gives churches quick access to small grants for social need in their communities. The District also has almost £95,000 to help churches and circuits move towards net zero, and it awarded £178,790 in its most recent reported year.

Priority Areas

Lincolnshire Methodist District describes grants for Methodist churches and circuits. Its District Advance Fund supports personnel in churches and circuits, property schemes and ecumenical work, with grants mainly for District or Connexional priorities in mission and ministry. Separate funding routes support churches and circuits seeking to improve energy efficiency in church buildings, and Methodist churches, circuits or closely linked organisations addressing critical need in their communities. The District Resourcing Mission Group assesses applications; its stated considerations include mission alignment and public benefit. Applicants are encouraged to discuss projects before applying, and the District expects a circuit contribution where possible.

Themes

• Mission and ministry
• Church personnel
• Church property
• Ecumenical work
• Energy efficiency
• Community social need

Geographic Focus

Lincolnshire; North Lincolnshire; North East Lincolnshire.

Submit the application form and all associated documents by email; applicants can ask their circuit administration for help if emailing is difficult.

Deadlines:

• District Resourcing Mission Group applications have a 30 September deadline ahead of the usual late-October main meeting.
• DAF applications under £2,000 can be submitted at any time.
• Emergency Welfare Fund applications have no deadline and are considered as received.

Application windows:

• District Advance Fund
  • Applications are due by 30th September; applications for under £2,000 can be submitted at any time. If residual funds are available after the first grant meeting applications made later in the year may be considered.
  • The main meeting for dealing with applications is usually in late October with the deadline for applications 30th September.

Who can apply:

• District Advance Fund
  • All applications must have a clear mission objective in line with the priorities identified in Faithful and True.
  • Please note that all applications require the prior support and approval of the circuit meeting.
• Emergency Welfare Fund: Applications should primarily be from Methodist churches, circuits or projects in Lincolnshire Methodist District however applications from organisations closely linked with the Methodist church in Lincolnshire could be considered.
• Action for Hope – Net Zero Grants Scheme
  • Churches/Congregations must be registered as an eco-church.
  • Churches must have a Growth Plan (formerly Mission Action Plan) which includes consideration of creation care and climate justice within it.
  • An application must be consistent with the Growth Plan/Mission Action Plan.
  • The church must agree to share its story – this could be locally or nationally.
  • Circuits must be registered as an Eco-Circuit.
  • Circuits must have a Growth Plan (formerly Mission Action Plan) which includes consideration of creation care and climate justice.
  • The proposal must be consistent with the Growth Plan/Mission Action Plan.
  • The circuit has a project plan which includes the building (s) current carbon footprint and an estimate of the footprint once the project is complete as well as a feasibility assessment to ensure that the proposed changes are appropriate to the context.

What to send:

• District Advance Fund
  • The Circuit/Church Growth Plan (formerly known as Mission Plan).
  • A project proposal or business plan demonstrating how it meets the policy and has achievable and measurable goals. This should include a full budget and contractors’ quotations if applicable.
  • Copies of Church/Circuit accounts including reserves policies.
  • The Job Description and Person Specification (where applicable).
  • Copies of confirmation letters from other grant providers.
  • For a property scheme, the Property Project ID must be quoted on your DAF application form.
• Action for Hope – Net Zero Grants Scheme
  • A completed application form.
  • Quotes or evidence of a tendering process as appropriate.
  • A property project logged online in order that the grant can be drawn down.
  • Include the latest set of church or circuit accounts.

What the charity says:

• Applicants are encouraged to make enquiries before submitting an application, so the group can discuss the project and offer advice.
• DAF applications must have a clear mission objective aligned with Faithful and True priorities.
• Ecumenical applications receive priority where the Methodist Church is a partner.
• Applicants are expected to include a circuit contribution where possible.
• The Resourcing Mission Group looks for evidence of comparative quotes, or competitive tendering for larger schemes.
• The project should show how it will be financed when the grant ends.