The United Reformed Church (East Midlands Synod) Incorporated
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. Don't spend time on an approach; the similar funders below support the same kind of work.
Key takeaways
- This funder's Synod Mission Fund is for United Reformed Church congregations, joint pastorates, Resource Areas and LEPs that include the URC, so a charity outside that group should not apply.
- Applications for continuing work are not funded unless they continue a project already supported by a Mission Fund grant, and no application will be considered without the support of the Synod Mission Development Officer.
- The largest grant named is £50,000 and cannot exceed 50% of the total project cost, so a request must be backed by other funding for the rest, and the grant range is not stated.
- The stated route is by invitation only, so contact the Synod Mission Development Officer first, check the cut-off dates ahead of panel meetings, and note that only one application per church per year will normally be considered.
- Nothing published on the fund says how competitive funding is, so the Development Officer's support is the step to plan around.
Overview
The United Reformed Church (East Midlands Synod) Incorporated is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 511712).
The Company exists to support the work of the East Midlands Synod of the United Reformed Church and its local churches in outreach and mission. It makes funds available to churches through grants for mission programmes and projects, and for buildings maintenance and development. The maximum grant is £50,000 and must not be more than 50% of the total project cost. Its annual report records £381,754 paid in its most recent year.
What they fund
Priority Areas
The foundation supports the East Midlands Synod and its local United Reformed Church congregations, helping churches develop their life, witness, outreach and mission. Its Synod Mission Fund serves single congregations, joint pastorates, Resource Areas and LEPs that include the URC, and supports projects with a clear mission purpose. Funding resources also cover church-building maintenance and repair, energy-efficiency work, assistance with local churches' energy costs, and projects supporting ministry or community service. The Trust can make limited grants and loans for the care of church buildings, and funds the acquisition of manses where there is no manse or the existing property is unsuitable. The Synod also offers support for assembly-accredited lay-preacher training and sabbaticals. Its Mission Fund favours projects that strengthen the local church's worshipping and serving community, with social action supported when it has a clear outreach or mission purpose.
Themes
- Local church mission
- Church building repair
- Energy efficiency
- Church energy costs
- Ministry and community service
- Lay preacher training
- Sabbatical grants
Geographic Focus
Derbyshire; Nottinghamshire; Lincolnshire; Leicestershire; Northamptonshire; Milton Keynes.
What they don't fund
- Synod Mission Fund only:
- projects where the mission purpose is not clear or does not fit within the overall Pastorate Profile
- projects that do not aim to strengthen the worshipping and serving community of the local church
- continuing/existing work, except where the application is to continue a project previously supported by a Mission Fund grant
- applications that do not have the support of the Synod Mission Development Officer
- Moorgreen Trust Fund only: churches other than churches of the former Erewash Valley Pastorate; expenditure other than capital expenditure
How to apply
Applicants use the Large Mission Fund Application Form.
Deadlines: Applications have cut-off dates ahead of Mission Fund panel meetings.
Who can apply:
- Synod Mission Fund
- Grants can be made to single United Reformed Church congregations and joint pastorates and Resource Areas and to LEPs which include the United Reformed Church.
- Normally only one application per church per year will be considered.
- All grant applications must have the support of the Synod Mission Development Officer.
Applying again: Synod Mission Fund: Where a church has received funding for a project, a second and further rounds of funding for that project may be considered.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- The project needs a clear mission purpose that fits the overall Pastorate Profile.
- Projects should strengthen the worshipping and serving community of the local church.
- All grant applications need support from the Synod Mission Development Officer.
- Projects involving children or young people need support from the Synod CYDO.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to The United Reformed Church (East Midlands Synod) Incorporated.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2021 | £2,395,500 | £2,655,081 | £81,993 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £3,757,534 | £1,179,059 | £111,920 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £4,748,451 | £1,575,425 | £235,312 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £3,120,581 | £2,038,594 | £291,292 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
| year to 31 December 2025 | £6,654,010 | £2,324,388 | £381,754 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2021; year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2023; year to 31 December 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2025: grants paid out in the year.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- urc5.org.uk
- urc5.org.uk/page/grants-and-funding · read on 30 October 2026
- urc5.org.uk/resources/synod-mission-fund · read on 30 October 2026
- urc5.org.uk/resource-category/grants-and-funding · read on 30 October 2026
- urc5.org.uk/page/synod-trust · read on 30 October 2026
- urc5.org.uk/page/synod · read on 30 October 2026
- urc5.org.uk/contact/general_synod_office_ · read on 30 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 December 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
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