• NEW IN 2008 – £250,000 a year in each of the next five years is available for initiatives with a clear focus on growth
• Applications are invited from parishes, benefices, deaneries and ecumenical groupings
• Grants may be one-off or committed to a project for a number of years
• There is no prescription for the kind of initiative as long as it is about growth and outreach and fits within a Growth Plan
• This funding is expected to go alongside funds raised locally and funds from other sources
• This is ‘new’ money from better management of our diocesan assets and other sources – not from Parish Share

Might a grant from the Mission Support Fund help you to fulfil your Growth Plan? If so ....

• Are you talking to other churches/parishes to see whether you might be more effective by doing something together?
• Are you in touch with your Rural Dean, Archdeacon and/or Bishop to seek their advice and support?
• Are you in touch with Ralph Barnett at Diocesan House for advice about other sources of funding?
• Would it help to talk with one of our diocesan committees or task groups to seek their advice?

This is one line in the budget that should not be under-spent! Application forms and detailed guidance notes can be downloaded to the right-hand side of this page.

Applications for the Mission Support Fund are decided upon at meetings of the Bishop Council which take place approximately every two months.  To be considered at a meeting they should be received at least 6 weeks beforehand to allow time for them to be assessed and feedback offered where appropriate.  The assessment group consists of two Bishops Council members, the Diocesan Secretary, a member of the Board of Finance and the Funding and Partnerships Officer.  Deadlines for applications are therefore as follows:

• 5 June (for a decision at the 10 July meeting)
• 21 August (for a decision at the 25 September meeting)
• 10 October (for a decision at the 21-23 November meeting)