Development Fund

The Revd Rickey Simpson-Gray speaks at a Development Fund panel meeting

About the Development Fund

The amount of money available to parishes and benefices in the Diocese of Oxford is c. £1m each year over the next three years.

Grant applications to the Development Fund must support local projects that are missionally creative, reflect where God is at work in the community, and encourage wider learning across the diocese.

The Fund is open to all but aims to be particularly helpful to those parishes who, after paying Parish Share and other essential costs, have very limited financial resources to invest in missional activity. We know even modest grants can make a significant difference in such parishes.


1. Why you should apply

We are called to put into deep water and let down the nets: to tell the Christian story with love and hope and confidence.

Parishes, benefices and deaneries can bid for grants from the Development Fund to enable missional creativity and support local Christ-like Church projects.

As with any grant application process, there is a lot of information at first glance. We suggest reading the guidance on eligibility, priorities, and 'how to apply' in order, starting with the information below.


 

2. Our grants: eligibility and application deadlines

Two types of grant are available to support missional activity by any parish, benefice, deanery or chaplaincy in the Diocese of Oxford. Find out more:

Tier 1 - grants up to £2,500
Short term, one-off grants are available to parishes and benefices to support an event or to kick-start a new initiative. Grant applications will range from small modest sums up to £2,500.
Tier 2 - grants over £2,500/employing staff 
Grants are available for larger initiatives and long-term programmes that require substantial sums. An organisation may only make one Tier 2 application per year and, if successful, may not reapply to the Fund for at least 2 years after the last (successful) submission deadline date.
Any application which involves employment of staff should be made on a Tier 2 application form.  Grant applications in this tier will range from £2,500 to many thousands, though Development Fund grants will not normally exceed £80k in a single grant, or £200k over a maximum 5 years.


Who can apply

Any parish, benefice, deanery or chaplaincy in the Diocese of Oxford may apply. Applications linked to schools should be made through the relevant parish (or deanery). In most cases we expect applications to be signed by the parish incumbent (or for a deanery, the Area Dean or Lay Chair) and any grants paid to a PCC (or Deanery) account.

Application deadlines

There are four submission deadlines per year for Tier 1 and Tier 2 Grant applications. We will respond to applicants within two months of the submission deadline. 

Deadlines for 2023

Application deadline (midnight)

Decision to applicant by 
31 July 2023 30 September 2023
31 October 2023 23 December 2023
Deadlines for 2024

Application deadline (midnight)

Decision to applicant by 
31 January 2024 31 March 2024
30 April 2024 30 June 2024
31 July 2024 30 September 2024
31 October 2024 23 December 2024

Fund scope and restrictions

Scope
The Fund is open to supporting a wide range of missional activity. This includes (but is not restricted to) supporting initiatives which align with our areas of focus.

Please note that applications for grants to support Fresh Expressions of church and New Congregations and work to develop school chaplaincy or parish-school relationships should be made through the Development Fund to avoid the need for separate funding mechanisms.

Limitations and restrictions
There are some things which the Development Fund is not intended to support, such as routine repairs to buildings, payment of regular running costs (utility bills, insurance, Parish Share etc.) and activity which is already deemed to be funded by current financial arrangements. Since grant requests may exceed the available funds, the diocese may look less favourably on applications for work where other grant sources are available.
Essential infrastructure for mission

Over three years from 2021, Bishop’s Council has made available £200k per annum to assist with the provision of essential infrastructure required for churches to enable their mission. Those parishes currently without these facilities in a usable state can apply for a grant that could make a real difference in supporting their mission and vision for their community.

You do not need to apply separately for this funding – if your project meets the criteria, the Review Panel will automatically take this into consideration whilst reviewing your application.

Further information about the types of infrastructure covered and how to apply can be found in Guidelines for Applicants, available to download on our How to apply page.

You can find guidance to help you develop your Statement of Need on the Church Buildings page.


 

3. Priorities for the Development Fund

The aim of the Development Fund is to encourage church communities in five areas: 

  1. to become a more Christ-like church
  2. to encourage discernment
  3. to be missionally creative
  4. to learn together
  5. to support initiatives that are sustainable

Find out more about each of these priorities.


 

4. Guidance notes and application forms

Our how to apply page contains everything you need to make a grant application. 


 

5. Projects supported by the Development Fund

We have already supported over 150 parishes and deaneries with their mission development: be inspired by their stories of change and find out how the fund might support your vision and journey to become a more Christ-like church:


 

6. The Development Fund Review Panel

John Sykes, Diocesan Lay Chair, chairs the panel of clergy and laity who review applications. 

The Review Panel has a difficult task; it was already clear from the first round that applications are likely to exceed the money available. That's just one sign of the creativity and commitment to becoming a more Christ-like Church that is very apparent across our diocese.

Panel members
Name
Role
Lay/clergy
John Sykes (Chair) Diocesan Lay Chair Lay
Revd Canon Rachel Carnegie Associate Clergy member, Dorchester Benefice Clergy
Alison Eves Churchwarden, Burghfield Lay
Revd Canon Chris Bull Associate Archdeacon of Buckingham Clergy
Mark Humphriss Diocesan Secretary Lay
David Knights Diocesan Synod: House of Laity (Wycombe Deanery) Lay
Revd Paul Oxley St Mark’s, Milton Keynes Clergy
Alex Scott Diocesan Synod: House of Laity (Abingdon Deanery) Lay
Fafar Watts St Andrew's, Oxford Lay
     
Review Panel support    
Janet Rogers Common Vision Programme Manager; Secretary and Adviser to the panel Lay
Fiona McGrady Development Fund Administrator  Lay
Page last updated: Monday 15th May 2023 11:12 AM

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