This year the Diocese of York has launched a new fund through which Archdeacons are able to make small discretionary grants to parishes towards building related costs, or activities that support the strategy for growth, where they have insufficient local income or reserves to meet them.
The grants are not to be used to pay staff costs; applications should be supported by a brief summary of the project or problem together with a statement of the current financial position of the PCC.
The Archdeacons' Grants replace the previous discretionary grant schemes operated by the Diocesan Board of Finance including the Quinquennial Inspection, Repairs and Archbishop's Mission Fund grants. The change reflects a careful reassessment of the financial challenges being faced by very many parishes on the one hand, and the Common Fund to which every parish contributes its Free Will Offering on the other.
To download a grant application form go to
dioceseofyork.org.uk/running-your-church/parish-finances/diocesan-small-grants.
At the time of writing there are still funds available for 2021.