New: Treasurer Forum Meeting

10th June at 6pm

Based on feedback from across the Diocese, we are pleased to announce the launch of our new Treasurer Forum in 2024 and invite you to attend. This online forum will feature informative talks from Diocesan staff and our treasurer ambassadors, along with a Q&A session and networking opportunities with fellow treasurers. Please sign up to join us in our first forum meeting on Monday, 10th June, at 6pm by registering with the link below.

Give To Go Green Round 2

Information Webinar: Thurs 6th June at 12pm

Following the success of the first round of Give To Go Green in March, the Diocese of Leeds has been invited to take part in round 2. Give To Go Green is a match-funding grant scheme that doubles locally raised donations for carbon-cutting building projects. Churches will run a short, targeted fundraising campaign, and take donations using digital giving, with training and support at each stage.

Join our Information Webinar on Thursday 6th June at 12pm to find out how the scheme works, what projects are eligible, and the application process. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask any questions. Please sign up for the webinar using the link below.

Please have a read through the Project Pack here, and if you would like to find out more, or ask any questions, do be in touch with Stewardship Officer, Beth, at beth.vickers@leeds.anglican.org.

Applications for Give To Go Green are open now, and will close 28th July. Apply here!

Digital Giving - Getting the Most out of Your Device this Summer

Along with the warmer weather, you may be receiving more visitors in your parish and in your church buildings. Now is the time to make sure you have your giving mechanisms set up to make it as easy as possible for visitors to give to your church.

On the Diocesan website there is a suite of Digital Giving Case Studies, with examples of churches across the diocese who are using their digital giving mechanisms effectively, to raise income for their church. Find these by clicking the link below.

Some of the top tips include:

• Keep your contactless device somewhere visible, with clear signage explaining how and why to give
• Create a small team to look after the device, ensuring it is kept plugged in and switched on whenever the church is open
• Make the most of QR codes to point people towards your online giving pages, along with an explanation of why to give and a big 'Thank You'

If you want to find out more about digital giving, purchasing a device, or setting up an online giving page, do get in touch with the Stewardship team at resourcingparishes@leeds.anglican.org.

Start Planning Your Generosity Week for 2024 and Book in a 1-to-1 Planning Session

This year’s national Generosity Week will be from Sunday 29 September until Sunday 6 October. 

It covers two Sundays to give churches double the opportunity to explore generosity 

when they meet on a Sunday morning – one to consider God’s generosity to us, and 

the other to prayerfully work out our response to that generosity.

Get in touch with the Stewardship team at resourcingparishes@leeds.anglican.org to book in a session to go through the Generosity Week resources. We will discuss the service resources, and help you to plan the two Sundays, as well as any mid-week activities.

This year's resources are now available and there will be follow up mailings at the end of each month until Generosity Week. You can find more information about Generosity Week at the link below.

Top Tips to Increase Church Income Webinar - 18th June 1pm & 6pm

Join the Stewardship team as they explore different opportunities to increase income for your church. Find out how to make the most of what you already have, through communication and promotion, as well as exploring new ideas for income generation.

Click the link below to register for the webinars: Tuesday 18th June, 1pm. and repeated at 6pm

New Resources to Promote the PGS - Recorded Webinar

Watch the recorded webinar from Stewardship Officers Beth and Janet, explaining how to use the current PGS resources, as well as giving a demonstration on how to use the new resources. You can find the recording for the webinar, as well as the links to download the new resources by clicking the button below.

The PGS team has recently created some additional flyers and posters using Canva. This is a free graphic design tool, available online. To find out more about Canva, click here.

If you would like some support in using these resources, do be in touch with the Stewardship team at resourcingparishes@leeds.anglican.org.

easyfundraising - Funding for Churches

Churches have recently received a share of £68,346, in the easyfundraising “Donation Day’. Your church can get a share too in the next Donation Day by signing up to the easyfundraising platform.

Through this free to use website, thousands of online retailers will donate money to your church when you and church community shop with them. Retailers include Tesco, trainline, eBay, Argos, Just East, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, Asda, Booking.com and 8,000 others.

Every three months, the donations your community have raised through their shopping is paid to your church, to spend on whatever you need.

easyfundraising is completely free and is trusted by churches across the UK.

To find out how your church can be part of the next easyfundraising Donation Day pay out in August, simply set up your free fundraising page at the link below.

Data Developments - Free Treasurer and Gift Aid Secretary Training

Data Developments provides software, services and training for churches to support church administration, accounts and finances.

In June, Data Developments are running two free training courses:

• Treasurer Training: A 4-week course taking place each Monday evening (5-6pm), starting on the 3rd of June. This training course introduces and explains a variety of topics around church finances and accounts.
• Gift Aid Secretary Training: A 3-week course taking place each Tuesday lunchtime (1-2pm), starting on the 11th of June. This course introduces Gift Aid, GASDS and best practice.

Parish Share Reports

April receipts of £980k were £141k/17% above the same month last year and so YTD receipts are now £22k/0.7% ahead 2023.

You can find the latest Parish Share report on the website here.

Diocesan Church Buildings Grants

The next application deadline for the Diocesan Church Buildings Grants is Sunday 30th June. The application form was revised at the beginning of 2024 to reflect additional funding into the scheme from the Church of England.

Click the link below to find more details, and to access the application form. If you have any queries do email resourcingparishes@leeds.anglican.org, or telephone Janet Edmond (Senior Stewardship Officer) on 07376 525684 or Alena-Rose Douglas (Church Buildings Support Officer) on 07933 509860

Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust (YHCT) Grants

The YHCT supports all Christian churches across Yorkshire, providing funding for repairs to the church fabric, as well as conservation of fixtures and fittings. New work and improvements or re-ordering are not eligible.

They are actively encouraging churches to apply and the next deadline for applications is Friday 23rd August 2024, with the next grant committee meeting on Friday 11th October.



Please find more information on this funding opportunity at the link below.

You can find helpful documents to download, including FAQs and grant guidance notes.