Author: NDC Committee

Don’t forget if your church requires improvements and you’ve already saved up some funds, the SNU offers a match funded grant of up to £2000. The deadline for applications is the end of October 2022 so please ensure you apply if you want your church to be considered.

Find out more and how to apply here: SNU Church Improvement Grant

The SNU have announced that they are making a grant of £250 to Churches to help with heating bills. This will be organised by head office by 1st December, so no need to apply. The government have also announced a price cap for charities, again no need to apply, it will be given automatically for those qualifying for the reduced rate of VAT of 5%.

If anyone has any queries please feel free to get in touch.

SNU NDC Committee

Those of you who are studying the healing accreditation courses the district has the following HAS training days available;

Session No.	Location	Date	Time
* Session 1	Birtley SNU Church	Saturday 9th April 2022	10:00am till 12:30pm
Session 2	Darlington SNU Church	Saturday 25th June 2022	10:00am till 4:00pm
Session 3	Philadelphia SNU Church	Saturday 03th September2022	10am till 4:00pm
Session 4	Horden SNU Church	Saturday 12th November 2022	10:00am till 4:00pm

If like many churches your church is struggling for funding and require building works either before or after the number of storms in recent months, or are looking to carry out other works but unable. We have put together a number of known charities and options which your church could look at to try and assist your church:

Northern District Council Church Distress Fund: The SNU Northern District Council have a Church Distress Fund which churches can apply to in writing to the district secretary, this is a new fund recently setup so will only be able to provide very small grants. If churches or persons would like to donate to this fund please contact the district Secretary.

SNU Church Improvement Grant: The SNU currently offers a grant of up to £2000. The grant is match-funded so the Church will need to show it has some of the money towards the cost. Applications can be downloaded from the SNU website.

JV Trust: The JV Trust is a charity set up to help Spiritualist Churches in need. Applications can be made for assistance by letter once you have decided which of the 3 quotes you intend to accept, and they will require also copy of your last 3 years accounts to prove you need the financial help. It would be helpful to send them a copy of your 5 year plan and point out in the letter what other works you have already done etc.

Winifred Gandine Stanton Trust: A charity set up to help Spiritualist Churches and they will also ask for copies of the quotes and accounts etc as part of the application process. Application form can be obtained from the Clerk/Secretary Robert Dangerfield. Email winifredgstrust@gmail.com

The Ray Taylor Memorial Fund: A fund which helps with smaller grants up to £500 for example plastering or redecorating after building works. Applications have to be made via the SNU Trust. See their website at https://www.snutrust.co.uk/ray-taylor

The Bernard Sunley Foundation has a grant application scheme for larger grants, their website is at https://www.bernardsunley.org/form If planning permission is needed, this must be approved before an application is made. A full costing of the project will be needed. This charity supports capital projects including new buildings works for Churches with strong links to the community.

SNU: As a last resort for larger grants/mortgage proposals: Prepare and send a Business Plan to the SNU Finance Committee. Include: Precisely what you need – a move or new premises? How you have arrived at this crossroads? What will happen if the project isn’t carried out? What the total cost of your project is (provide quotes and Condition of Building Survey).What have you done to fundraise towards it so far? Who else you have applied to for financial assistance/grants and was this was successful? How much disposal income you have from regular activities to meet mortgage repayments? What extra activities you would be able to put on if you were able to carry out the works to get more money in? Suggest other proposals for future use of the new/renovated building, ie. Hiring rooms out? Could the project be funded with a grant and an affordable mortgage? Note for info: A mortgage of say £28,000 over 15 years would cost approx. £202 per month. £28,000 over 10 years would be £280 per month. Consider asking SNUT for quotes for repayment over a longer period to make it affordable?

Another few extra points to check:

Check your Insurance company out – do they have a grant application scheme?

Check your bankers – do they have a charitable fund set up?

Check Aviva Community Fund – they change their criteria from time to time.

Entrust / Suez Communities Trust – funding for listed buildings only.

The Northern District Annual General Meeting will be held at

Philadelphia SNU Church

Chapel Row, Philadelphia DH4 4JB

On Saturday 26th of March 2022

The meeting will commence at 2pm so please ensure you arrive prior to get seated

Please note that delegates and subscribing individual members

Must bring their credential cards and proxy forms must be accompanied by the credential card

FOB Collection will be taken at the door and all visitor’s welcome.