Funder News: Benefact Trust making a lasting impact on communities with new-look grants programme

On 8th March 2022, Benefact Trust (formerly Allchurches Trust) launched with a vision to be one of the UK’s most impactful Christian grant-making charities and a mission to equip and empower Christian organisations to have a positive and transformative impact on lives and communities. Almost a year on, Benefact Trust are still clear on the lasting difference they want to make.

The Trust exists to make a positive and lasting difference to people's lives by funding, guiding, and celebrating the work of churches and Christian charities; empowering the most vulnerable and giving people, communities and places an opportunity to flourish.

During this time of crisis, they believe that this purpose has never been more important, and it’s essential that their approach to grant funding reflects what they hope to achieve. So, they’ve taken the decision to reshape their grant programmes, placing greater emphasis on the social impact they want to help facilitate.

Wishing to fund projects that make a real difference to people’s lives, they believe their new approach will help their beneficiaries address the social challenges they face today. Changes to their funding process also aim to make it easier to understand what grants are available, and how to go about applying for funding.

With the announcement of a new grant framework, the General Grants Programme will be closing permanently. Final date for submissions to this Programme is Monday February 27th 2023. From 28th February, funding for essential repairs and other building improvements should be applied for under their upcoming Building Improvement Grants programme. If you are undertaking more general community work and are requesting funding for revenue and capital costs, consider their new Community Impact Grants programme.

What is the Community Impact Grants programme?

Their Community Impact Grants programme, which launched earlier this month, goes to the very heart of their mission; to fund work that will:

‘Equip and empower Christian organisations to have a positive and transformative impact on lives and communities.’

The fund recognises that every community is different, each with their own unique characteristics and social challenges, and that churches and Christian organisations throughout the UK and Ireland are doing incredible work tackling issues such as poverty and homelessness, or helping people struggling with addiction, or loneliness, or with their mental health.

This funding programme aims to support projects addressing such social challenges as well as helping churches to grow their congregations and promote the Christian faith. From projects aimed at transforming the lives of young people to those that provide care for older people, the Community Impact Grants programme will help some of the most vulnerable and marginalised in our society to move forward in their lives, with hope in their hearts.

What is their new-look grants programme?

 Funding will be available under the following programmes:  

1. Community Impact Grants 
   • A ​programme of funding aimed at supporting projects that directly address the social challenges faced by some of the most vulnerable communities in our society.
2. Building Improvement Grants 
   • For the essential repair and improvement of buildings (this programme will launch very soon).
3. Heritage Skills for Christian Buildings Grants  
   • Focused on the preservation of essential heritage skills and careers through apprenticeships, scholarships, and training courses.
4.  Methodist Grants 
   • For building projects that support Methodist churches in their mission and ministry, with a particular focus on church growth, community engagement and accessibility.
5. Crisis Response Grants 
   • Grants to charity partners who are responding to specific emergency situations at home and abroad (Grants are not open to applications).

If you’re working on a project that you believe could have a lasting impact on people’s lives, where every individual has the opportunity to flourish in a vibrant, thriving community, visit their website for further information and support.

On 8th March 2022, Benefact Trust changed its name from Allchurches Trust Limited to Benefact Trust Limited, and its subsidiary, Ecclesiastical Insurance Group plc, also changed its name to Benefact Group plc.