Grants are offered to projects initiated by Church of England churches
(and those
in active partnership with them. The Fund gives grants to a range of
community projects including those which:
· Support people with disabilities and mental ill-health
· Provide facilities and services for older citizens, children and young people
· Support families and disadvantaged communities
· Provide practical help for the financially challenged
· Offer training and skills programmes
What type of projects do we support?
Our key focus is to raise funds to support faith-linked projects and groups within the area of the Diocese of Guildford; projects that address needs at a local level and are committed to their local communities. Here are a few examples of recent projects.
Supporting those suffering in lockdown
A £2,500 grant has been made to support Crossways counselling which
provides a professional and confidential counselling service to all in the
Haslemere area,
regardless of sexual orientation, religious or ethnic origin.
It offers help to individuals suffering from a variety of conditions including
stress, depression, anxiety, redundancy, relationship difficulties, bereavement
and abuse. Crossways does not make a fixed charge for counselling sessions –
clients are invited to contribute on a sliding scale according to their ability
to pay. Although counsellors offer their services voluntarily, rent, travel and
administrative overheads means that each session costs at least £45. All are
Christian counsellors and Crossways has support from five churches in the area.
Jane Saunders, director of Crossways, says: “We are very grateful for this
grant from the Bishop’s Communities Fund, which will help us shorten our
waiting list. For many people facing difficulties, the lockdown is making
things worse.”
All Saints' Children's Worker
A £6,000 grant has been made to All Saints’ Church, New Haw, to assist
with the employment of a children’s worker. The aim is to help build engagement
with and 
to provide Christian input to schools and nurseries in the parish as
well as working with local families and childminders and sustaining other
children’s activities which are run by volunteers. There are two primary
schools in the parish and most young families in the area are finding that both
parents need to work to make ends meet. This work is often part-time and
flexible and a number of families are living in deprivation. “This is enabling
us to connect with children and families in new and exciting ways,” says the
Revd Andy Reid, Vicar of All Saints’. “Bethany, our Children’s Worker has
introduced ‘Tots Praise’ on Wednesday mornings which is attracting 30-35 people
each week and bringing a more faith-based focus to our Wednesday evening group
for Years 3-5.”
St Saviour's Families Support Group
The work of the Special Families Support Group attached to St Saviour’s
Church in Guildford is being supported by a £600 grant from the Bishop of Guildford’s
Communities Fund. The Group works with about 40 families in the Guildford
area
who have a child or children with a disability or special needs. It
provides a network for parents to build friendships and access mutual support
and advice, including information about local agencies and services, runs
a monthly coffee morning and organises outings for families during school
holidays. Ongoing practical support, listening and care are also offered.
Jeanne Kalorkoti, who runs the Group comments: “The families we support
have children with a wide range of disabilities. Our coffee mornings feature
speakers who can offer advice and information, but just as important, parents
meet others coping with similar family circumstances.”
Community bridge in Epsom & Ewell
A £9,800 grant has been made to support a new project for foodbank
customers 
in Epsom and Ewell who have complex ongoing issues. Jonathan Lees,
who manages the foodbank for Churches Together says “We find that food poverty
is often just the tip of the iceberg, and unless we can help clients address other
problems, it is very difficult for many to improve their situation and move
on. This grant from The Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund, will
enable us to employ a part-time paid co-ordinator and worker, which is key to
getting this ambitious project off the ground.
Cellar Café, Godalming
The Communities Fund has provided £3,600 towards the core costs of
running The Cellar Café in Godalming. This is an arm of the
Warehouse Christian Trust and its principle objective is to provide a secure,
affordable and friendly place for
disadvantaged and vulnerable people in the
community to meet and discuss problems amongst themselves and with café staff
and volunteers who can also offer practical support. A free meal is available
to any who come in need, and an art group, run in partnership with the Watts
Gallery, provides the opportunity for people to find fulfilment and friendship,
together with a sense of purpose. Jacky Beale, a trustee of The Warehouse
Christian Trust said: “It’s not obvious in a town like Godalming, but two
wards have the highest level of overall deprivation in the Borough of Waverley
and the highest risk and incidence of mental health issues in Surrey. We are
very grateful for this continued support which will help us to cope with the
increasing needs of our customers.”
Mental health initiative in Cove
A pioneering initiative by two church members in Cove, Farnborough is
being supported with a grant of £2,000. ‘Open Door’ started as the vision of
Sally Brett, 
a community worker and Sue Davis, a pastoral assistant at St John’s
Church, Cove, to help those isolated by mental health difficulties, loneliness
or struggling to cope with life for whatever reason. It provides a drop-in
facility on the first three Wednesday evenings of each month and offers a
listening ear, a place to make friends, signposting to other services and a
home-cooked meal. “It has been a very challenging and rewarding experience,”
says Sue. “Our first year has proved that the need is there and we feel that we
are making a real difference to people’s lives. We are immensely grateful to
BGCF for the grant which will help with the costs of running the group –
including food, equipment and transport for trips out.”
Coffee and cake at East Molesey
St Mary’s Church, East Molesey has received a grant of £3,000 to help
support the growth of their successful community café. This offers hot and cold
drinks and
home-baked snacks at affordable prices, with a soft play area for
the under-fives on Wednesdays and Thursdays. On Fridays there is a quieter
environment for those without young children. The café regularly attracts 50-60
parents and 40-50 children a day and its opening hours have now been extended.
The Revd Richard Lloyd, vicar of St Mary’s, said: “Our café is both a blessing
to the community and an opportunity to reach out to those who do not currently
come to church.” The surplus from the sale of food and drinks is paying off the
cost of buying the soft-play equipment, and the BGCF grant will help pay the
salary of the part-time manager until this has been achieved.”
Jolly John’s Breakfast Club
Bishop Andrew visited the breakfast club at St John's CofE Primary
School in 
Dorking recently. The Club was started by the school four years ago,
with support from the Bishop of Guildford's Communities Fund, to provide a good
healthy breakfast for those children who want it and to help those parents who
find themselves under pressure in the morning. The club has had a significant
positive impact on those children using the club in terms of attendance,
punctuality, concentration and behaviour in class.
The Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund is the working name of the Bishop of Guildford’s Foundation which is a registered charity no 1017385 and a company limited by guarantee registration no: 02785207. Registered address: Willow Grange, Woking Road, Guildford, Surrey GU4 7QS. Its trustees are:
The Rt Revd Andrew Watson, Bishop of Guildford
(Chairman)
Mr Michael Bishop (Treasurer)
Mrs Louise Kenyon (Secretary)
Mrs Debbie Harrison
The Revd Claire Isherwood
Mr Richard Peters