The Southwell and Nottingham Diocesan Board of Finance

The Southwell and Nottingham Diocesan Board of Finance is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 249359).

The Board is the financial executive of the Southwell and Nottingham Diocesan Synod, and exists to promote, assist and advance the work of the Church of England in the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham. Its Church Growth Programme has three funds: the Growing Disciples Fund, which is open to all, and the Resource Church Capacity Fund and the Revitalisation Church Capacity Fund, which are invitation only. Its annual report records £589,000 awarded in the year it covers. The Growing Disciples Fund offers up to £5,000 a year, the Resource Church Capacity Fund up to £25,000 a year for an initial 2 years, and the Revitalisation Church Capacity Fund up to £30,000 a year for an initial 2 years.

Priority Areas

The Board makes grants to the National Church towards a proportion of its central costs and the cost of training for ministry, and to connected charities and other charitable projects that it considers further its objects. Through the Growing Disciples Fund, it supports parishes to grow their mission and ministry, including strategic growth plans, outreach initiatives, community events, discipleship materials and interns. Its Church Growth Programme also supports Resource Churches and church revitalialisations with plans for growth and transformation. Applicants to these programmes are churches or parishes in the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham; the Growing Disciples Fund is open to eligible churches, while the capacity funds are invitation-only.

Themes

• Church growth
• Mission and ministry
• Ministry training
• Church revitalisation

Geographic Focus

Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham.

For the Growing Disciples Fund, churches apply online through the relevant fund link; the Programme Management Office processes submissions before they go to a panel for decision.

Who can apply:

• Growing Disciples Fund
  • Parish is within the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham.
  • The applicant parish is not part of a specific missional design through CGP or in receipt of SDF, Resource Church Capacity or Revitalisation Church Capacity funding.
• Growing Disciples Fund, Resource Church Capacity Fund, Revitalisation Church Capacity Fund: The applicant parish has a clear missional design (strategic plan / the HOW of Growing Disciples).
• Growing Disciples Fund: The applicant parish will have a clear and effective Growing Disciples Plan in place, evidencing clear alignment with Diocesan vision.
• Growing Disciples Fund, Resource Church Capacity Fund, Revitalisation Church Capacity Fund: Clear measurement framework aligned to shared outcome framework, as captured in Growing Disciples Plan.
• Growing Disciples Fund: There will be a financial contribution from the applicant parish.
• Growing Disciples Fund, Resource Church Capacity Fund, Revitalisation Church Capacity Fund: The applicant parish will be on track with Parish Share payments and in line with the parish’s trajectory
• Growing Disciples Fund: The applicant parish should commit to monitor progress and provide a short written report upon completion.
• Resource Church Capacity Fund, Revitalisation Church Capacity Fund: Church is within the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham.
• Resource Church Capacity Fund: The applicant church is one of the 29 resource churches identified and has been invited to apply.
• Resource Church Capacity Fund, Revitalisation Church Capacity Fund
  • The applicant church is not part of a specific missional design through CGP.
  • The applicant church will have a clear and effective Growing Disciples Plan in place, evidencing clear alignment with Diocesan vision.
  • There will be a financial contribution from the applicant church.
  • The applicant church should commit to monitor and report termly on progress using the Growing Disciples Plan, identifying priorities, risks, learning and next steps.
• Revitalisation Church Capacity Fund: The applicant church is one of the 35 church revitilisations identified and has been invited to apply.

What to send:

• Growing Disciples Fund: Applications must include a Growing Disciples Plan.
• Resource Church Capacity Fund, Revitalisation Church Capacity Fund
  • Applications must include a Growing Disciples Plan and a full church-wide financial forecast.
  • Submission of a financial forecast providing a breakdown of costs for each year over the period for which the grant is requested is required as well as long term sustainability planning.

Applying again: Growing Disciples Fund: Churches can reapply for a new £5,000 grant each year. Each application will be assessed separately as it is received.

What the charity says:

• A parish should have a clear missional design and a Growing Disciples Plan aligned with the diocesan vision.
• A parish should set out a clear measurement framework aligned with the shared outcome framework.
• A parish should make a financial contribution and be on track with Parish Share payments.
• A parish should monitor progress and provide a short written report upon completion.