We aim to support churches, other faith and community-based organisations that strengthen communities and families.  The work seeks to build positive and inclusive relationships between people, increase a sense of belonging and reduce isolation.

We welcome applications from churches, as well as other faith and community-based organisations operating in:

• County Durham
• London
• Lincolnshire
• Norfolk
• Northumberland
• Tees Valley
• Tyne & Wear

Proposals or organisations that deliver in one of the following priority areas:

Building Stronger Communities

• People in the most disadvantaged communities coming together to address what is important to them – we expect proposals to be either:
  • working in areas with the highest deprivation; or 
  • from organisations led and for minoritised communities - including black, minoritised ethnic, LGBT+ and disabled communities, as well as communities of women.
• Community responses to support people who are refugees or homeless
  • proposals that enrich and improve people’s lives, as well as meeting basic needs

Delivering Better Outcomes for Families and Carers

Projects or organisations that provide in-depth whole family support to:

• families facing poverty or other challenges
• unpaid carers and their families

All proposals should:

• Align closely to one of the priority areas listed above.
• Demonstrate that they are both community rooted and focused.
• Be from organisations that have a board, staff and volunteers that reflect the people they work with and the communities that they work in.
• Demonstrate they promote positive mental wellbeing with the people they work with, as well as staff and volunteers.
• Work with people in an asset-based way i.e. focus on what is strong, not what is wrong.
• Show that they are person-centred, build positive inclusive relationships, promote wellbeing between people and increase a sense of belonging.
• Be from organisations that provide support for people as long as they need it, whilst ensuring people are supported to take control of their own lives.
• Be from organisations that are paying employees the Real Living Wage. If your organisation is currently unable to do this, please contact us to discuss.

We make awards of between £10,000 to £120,000 in total.

Awards can be for up to three years.

Note that we will not generally award a grant that is over 50% of an organisation’s annual income in any given year.

We consider grants and loans or other social investments.

As a flexible funder, we consider awards that cover core, unrestricted, project or development costs.

In exceptional circumstances we fund capital costs; where there is an obvious lack of alternative local facilities.

As part of an award we can support costs towards the wellbeing of leaders, staff and volunteers.

• Work solely focused on young people or older people
• Individuals
• Proposals designed solely for the advancement of a particular faith
• General appeals or financial support for costs that have already been incurred