How do we apply for a grant?
You need to write a letter or send an e-mail to the Clerk to the Trustees, giving the name and location of the Church and a brief (30 – 40 words maximum) description of the proposed work.
We regret that we are no longer issuing application forms for church grants for 2009, due to the high demand. Forms for 2010 will be available from 1 January 2010 onwards.
What happens then?
If we have funds available, you will be sent an application form, which needs to be returned completed within three months.
What happens if funds are not available?
For several years, demand for grants has substantially outstripped our available funds. We have therefore developed a policy of not issuing application forms unless we believe we are going to be able to make grants to the applicants.
If funds are not available, we will inform you and invite you to re-apply when the application forms for the next year are available.
What is required on the application form?
See an example of the application form (pdf - 40k). As you can see we have tried to keep the information required to a minimum. You may also wish to let us have more detailed information about the project, but this should only be included if easily available.
What happens when you receive the application form?
We will notify you that we have received it and contact you to arrange for the Surveyor to the Charity, John Hutchings, to visit the Church in order to write a report for the Trustees. He will normally spend 60 – 90 minutes with you. That report and your application will be considered by the Trustees at their next Meeting.
Can we start work on our project before the grant is given by the Trustees?
Basically – no. If the Surveyor arrives and finds that the work has commenced, he will not recommend a grant.
However, we recognise that sometimes work is necessary to protect the fabric of the church, and delay whilst we consider your application would put the Church at risk. In these circumstances, once we have received a completed application form, you may ask the Clerk for permission to start work, on the understanding that such permission does not commit the Charity to make a grant to you, but neither will it affect any offer of a grant from us.
Will we get a grant and if so, how much?
Once we have a completed application form, and if your application is for qualifying work for a qualifying Church, you can reasonably expect to receive a grant.
With the exception of work on organs, we are currently making grants of up to £5,000, although in exceptional circumstances this could be larger.
For work on organs, we will normally give a grant of £1,000. With these grants, the Surveyor does not visit the Church or write a report (see above).
When will we be notified of the grant?
A letter will be sent out on the day of the Trustees’ Meeting, together with a Blue Certificate which you will need to have completed in order to claim the grant – see an example of a Blue Certificate (pdf - 12k).
When can we claim the grant?
Once you have incurred expenditure on the project equal to the amount of our grant, you may claim it from us. You do not have to wait until the project is complete.
How long have we got to claim the grant?
The grant is valid for two years. However, you may apply for a further extension of a year after that.
How frequently can I apply for grants?
No application will be considered within two years of the previous grant to the same Church.
What is the situation with Churches in a Team or Group?
Each church is considered, and can apply, separately.
What works do you most commonly give grants for?
This list is not exhaustive, but may help:
Repairs to the roofs, walls, towers, heating and lighting systems, new toilets, crèche facilities, sound systems, provision of disabled access in the Church.
We are building a new hall extension which has toilets which also serve the Church – will this qualify?
Provided the hall and the Church are linked buildings and the toilets are available from both buildings, we will give a grant for this work.
We have been offered a grant under the Landfill Communities Fund. Can we use your grant as coming from a Contributing Third Party?
If you have been offered a grant by us, it may be used for this purpose. You will need to notify the Landfill Operator who will write to us directly to claim the grant.
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