Reaching out to support children, young people and families is now a reality for Princes Risborough thanks to a grant from the Diocese of Oxford Development Fund.
The grant will allow St Mary’s church in the town to employ a much-needed children and families worker to support those in the community. The fund, established in 2019 to divulge up to £1million a year for the growing needs of communities in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes, has now granted more than £4million. In this latest round, more than £200,000 has been awarded to a variety of projects. This time round there was a focus on reaching out to children, young people and families, like the project at St Mary’s.
Team Rector the Revd David Williams said: “We know we need a children and families worker as we know the need is there, which we have established through asking our volunteers and going in to the schools and community. Our volunteers, who are absolutely amazing, just don’t have the time to do the job full time in their spare time. They have jobs and families.
“Having someone committed to the role means we’ll have someone who can spend time planning and thinking creatively and networking with others like the Wycombe and Aylesbury Youth for Christ groups.”
St Mary’s will be match-funding the role for three years in partnership with the diocese.
Other awards include:
• St James, Bierton – to produce early-stage project documentation for the creation of a multi-purpose space in the church to build on existing mission and outreach.
• Dorchester team – to develop links with four local primary schools by running a children’s opera project with Opera Brava on their production The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
• St Mary Magdalene, Great Hampden – to develop mission beyond what happens on a Sunday morning by installing AV equipment as part of a wider reordering of the church.
• St Mary's, Wheatley – to grow a new congregation by setting up a new junior choir supported by the Director of Music and an Assistant Director of Music.
• St Paul's, Wokingham – to complete a feasibility study for work to improve usability and accessibility in the church to expand missional activities.
• St Mary's, Bloxham – to support a project to reach out and serve the needs of others and welcome all into the body of Christ by installing new facilities in the church.
• St Nicolas, Newbury – to carry out a feasibility study for improving the warmth, accessibility and flexibility of the church building to align it with the vision for mission and ministry.
• Bracknell Parish – to employ two lead workplace chaplains in order to expand the town chaplaincy ministry in Bracknell.
• St Andrew's, High Wycombe – to reduce physical barriers to engagement with the community by improving access to the church building.
• St Frideswide, Water Eaton – to commission early stage project documentation for redevelopment of the Church Centre to support mission and ministry over the next generation.
• St Frideswide, Oxford – produce early stage project documentation for servery improvements in order to cater better for the community meal and for witness to all who come into the church.
• Wycombe Deanery – to deliver an integrated strategy to inspire schools, churches and people in the Deanery by employing a deanery leader for youth and children’s work.
• Flackwell Heath – to develop and grow the church’s mission and ministry to children and families by employing a children’s minister for three years.
The deadline for the next round of grants is 30 April. Find out how to apply, and what the criteria are.