Money For Mission

September 2023 (Issue 49)

Monthly E-newsletter from the Finance & Stewardship Teams

Thinking About Generosity.....

"Easyfundraising" - Sign up to free webinar 26th Sept

Deliver Successful Fundraising Events - webinar 13th Sept

NEW! Increase Donations in Generosity Week with the PGS

Read Generosity Week Issue 3 Newsletter

NEW! - Try a Generous Church Check-Up

Book a Giving Review - For PCCs

Important Advice for Changing Energy Providers

Faith Will - Legacies for your church

Thank you - 2022 Return of Parish Finance

Parish Share report update

Henry Smith Charitable Grants

Movement For Good Awards

Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund

Sunday 10 September 2023. Trinity 14. Romans 13.8-end

Pay it forwards.

Getting a loan is easy in the UK! Taking them out may be easy, but paying them back may less so. Average personal debt in the UK excluding mortgages now exceeds £33,000. Such debt can become impossible to repay and lead to a spiral down into real poverty.

That loans are so commonplace makes it hard to see Paul’s teaching being taken literally today. 

A Malayan proverb says “One can pay back the loan of gold, but one dies forever in debt to those who are kind.” Society now encourages us to “pay it forwards”. Recipients of kindness, especially where they are unable to bless the original giver, might bless others in response to the blessings we have been shown. The initial debt may be left unpaid, but it is redeemed by a subsequent act of grace and generosity.



John Preston is one-time National Stewardship Advisor for the Church of England, and latterly Diocesan Secretary for the Diocese of Worcester

Easyfundraising Free Webinar!

Attend this easyfundraising webinar on Tuesday 26th September at 12 noon with easyfundraising manager Becky Coleman, and find out how to create a completely free, unrestricted, and accessible income stream for your church. Easyfundraising works with over 7,500 well-known retailers, so your church can earn funding every time anyone within your community shops online. To find out more and to register your church for easyfundraising click the link below.

Read Generosity Week Newsletter Issue 3

Read this 3rd issue of the Generosity Week 2023 Newsletter to gather more ideas on how you can communicate important messages about Generosity in your church.

The National Giving Team are producing this monthly newsletter until Generosity Week which runs from Sept 24th -1st Oct. Each newsletter includes ideas on how to celebrate Generosity Week in your parish and includes links to helpful resources. To read this edition click on the link below.

Important Advice when Changing Church Energy Providers



If you are looking for a new church energy provider make sure that you are obtaining a no obligation quote before signing any contracts.

We are currently supporting a church who thought they were receiving quotes but actually signed a very expensive contract, so be alert particularly if working with companies you don’t know well.



Consider approaching Green Journey for a quote, who work in partnership with the Diocese of Leeds (see link to details below). Please also take time to read our 10 Top Tips for Purchasing Church Energy below.

For further advice on energy contracts please contact Ian Fletcher, Diocesan Green Journey Link Officer at ian.fletcher@leeds.anglican.org.

Faith Will - Encourage Legacies for Your Church!

Christian Aid is working alongside the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, and the Quakers to encourage people of faith to remember their own church, and Christian Aid, in their Will. Find out how to hold a Faith Will moment in your church this September with direct support from the Christian Aid team.

For more information and to watch the Faith Will video, click on the links below.

2022 Return of Parish Finance

Thank you to all parishes who submitted their 2022 Return of Parish Finance helping to achieve a 90% submission rate. This important data is used both throughout our Diocese and the Church of England

Parish Share Report Update



For those who may have missed it, the July Share Report can be found here. Watch out for the August report landing on our website early September. July receipts were 4% ahead of the same month in 2022 but 14% behind the historic average. Year to date receipts of £5.8m are 3% behind 2022 and 16% behind the historic average.

GRANTS & FUNDRAISING NEWS

Henry Smith Charity

This charitable fund makes grants through its two funding streams:

• Improving Lives: Grants of between £20k and £70k per year for charities with an annual income of between £50,000 and £3 million. Grants can contribute to running costs, salaries and projects
• Strengthening Communities: Grants of between £20k and £70k per year for charities with an annual income of between £20,000 and £500,000, which are also based in an area within the 10% most deprived areas in England and Scotland. Grants will be to cover running costs.



There are no deadlines for applications - for more information on how to apply click the link below.

Benefact Group - How to Deliver Successful Fundraising Events

(Webinar on 13th September)

Another webinar from the Benefact Group, who are associated with the Church of England's corporate partner Ecclesiastical. This webinar will look at the wide spectrum of fundraising events and provide guidance on how to maximise income from your attendees and help your participants hit the ground running.

A reminder of our email addresses so you get the right support and advice:

For stewardship, income generation, parish finance, Parish Share and grant enquiries:

resourcingparishes@leeds.anglican.org or you can email Janet, Beth or Jenni directly.

For general finance queries including invoices, clergy fees and payroll:

finance@leeds.anglican.org or you can email Jane, Hayley or Jenni directly.