URC North Western
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
- URC North Western makes grants to local churches in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cumbria, parts of Cheshire and parts of Derbyshire, for mission development and for maintaining or improving church buildings, so a group that is not a local church is unlikely to fit.
- It does not accept unsolicited requests, so approach it first and apply only if invited.
- Its stated programme figures run from up to £150 for small grants to up to £2,500 for community audit grants, with warm hubs grants at £1,000, so size any request to fit within these.
- Synod grant applications close on 31 July for the September meeting and on 31 October for the December meeting, and larger children and youth work grants are considered at the March and September meetings.
- Proposals need to show how they advance the local church's mission, how the work will be sustained beyond the grant, and how it ranks against other demands on church time and resources, and grantees must report on outcomes and outputs.
Overview
URC North Western is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 511689).
URC North Western is a charity that exists to advance the Christian religion and propagate the gospel in accordance with the doctrines, principles and usages of the United Reformed Church, with particular responsibility for the North Western Province. It makes grants to local churches for mission development and for the maintenance and improvement of their buildings, and also supports community audits and work with children and young people. The annual report records £305,764 awarded in total.
What they fund
Priority Areas
The Synod makes grants to local churches for mission and building projects. Support includes mission development and the maintenance and improvement of church buildings, as well as community audits and work with children and young people in local churches. For building projects, applicants should address essential safety and maintenance needs. The Grants Committee considers how proposals advance the mission of the local church and Mission Partnership, the sustainability of the church and its activity beyond the grant period, and the proposal’s priority against other demands on church time and resources. It also considers alignment with the Synod’s overall mission and strategy. Successful grants carry reporting and monitoring expectations, including outcomes, outputs and sharing learning with other churches.
Themes
- Church mission
- Church building work
- Children and youth
- Community audits
- Warm hubs
Geographic Focus
Greater Manchester; Lancashire; Cumbria; parts of Cheshire; parts of Derbyshire.
How to apply
Church applicants use the Synod grant application and complete the summary section and Parts A–E.
Deadlines: Application deadlines are published annually ahead of quarterly Grants Committee meetings.
Application windows:
- Synod Grants
- Applications close on 31 July for the September meeting.
- Applications close on 31 October for the December meeting.
- Children and Youth Work large grants: Larger grants are considered at the March and September meetings.
What to send:
- Warm Hubs / Warm & Welcome Spaces grants: A copy of the church’s registration with the Warm Welcome campaign or with the local authority.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- The proposal should advance the mission of the local church and the Mission Partnership.
- The committee considers the sustainability of the local church and activity beyond the grant period.
- It considers the priority of the proposed work against other demands on the local church’s time and resources.
- It considers how the proposal advances the Synod’s overall mission and strategy.
- Successful grantees are expected to report on outcomes and outputs and share learning with other churches.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to URC North Western.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2020 | £510,152 | £1,440,330 | £503,689 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2020 |
| year to 31 December 2021 | £2,345,808 | £2,042,835 | £927,861 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £2,850,103 | £1,669,033 | £336,782 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £1,311,808 | £2,008,604 | £394,682 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £1,584,535 | £2,106,694 | £305,764 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
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 2020; year to 31 December 2021; year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2023: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2024: grants awarded in the year, as reported in the accounts.
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
- nwsynod.org.uk/grants · read on 30 October 2026
- nwsynod.org.uk/grants-committee · read on 30 October 2026
- nwsynod.org.uk/about-urc · read on 30 October 2026
- nwsynod.org.uk · read on 30 October 2026
- nwsynod.org.uk/children-and-youth · read on 30 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 December 2024)
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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At a glance
Applying to URC North Western?
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Applying to URC North Western?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required