Community Connections
How to make the most of local organisations that support community and voluntary organisations such as churches.
We would strongly recommend you consider contacting the following community organisations for skills-share initiatives (professional advice offered for free), knowledge of local funding sources and/or obtaining 1 to 1 support and training.
Community Voluntary Service (CVS)
Also known as Voluntary Action or Voluntary Community Associations. This is an important organisation for receiving support; here are the main CVS's in our Diocese:
Chester Voluntary Action (Cheshire West and Chester)
Halton and St Helens Voluntary Community Service (St Helens, Widnes, Runcorn)
Other community voluntary support organisations
Community Foundations. Community foundations run grant schemes. The best place to start is by phoning your nearest branch to talk through your project. Foundations in the area are as follows: Cheshire Community Foundation; Forever Manchester: Community Foundation for Merseyside
Cheshire Community Action This organisation provides advice and guidance for rural Cheshire, Halton and the Warrington.
Merseyside Funding Information Portal. Relevent to churches in Halton and Wirral. This free database is designed for the Voluntary, Community and Faith sector.
Skills-share initiatives. These match the skills and expertise of local businesses and professionals, kindly offered for free, with the needs of the voluntary and community sector. Here are two in our area:
Local authority (council) funding
Your council may have a Fundraising Officer and/or website advice. Each council may have a Members Budget and/or Local Forum funding. Also contact your local MP for advice and support. For example:
Cheshire West and Chester and also Members Budget
Gathering evidence of need for your project 1- national statistics
Index of Multiple Deprivation. Your parish and neighbourhood has been ranked against national indicators to show the level of deprivation in your area. You can find out your score and particular issues affecting your area:
Office for National Statistics (neighbourhood score). Type your postcode into the black box (top right) and click on the icons to show your score. The IMD score is the overall level of deprivation.
Church Urban Fund (parish score)
Church of England Research and Statistics 'parish mapping'. You can look up the church building and parish to find out basic information.
Gathering evidence of need for your project 2- local statistics
Community Voluntary Service (CVS). They may be able to direct you to research on local needs, assets and future plans for the area- see links at the top of this page
Local authority Community Officer Your council may have a post sometimes called a Community Development Manager, Community Resilience Manager, Locality Manager or similar title, who may be able to assist.
Parish Council. Ask their advice on finding out about local needs and assets
Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans. Consider how your church can link with local authority priorities, see point below as some examples
Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). Each local authority has produced a JSNA:
Current research and plans by local authorities, Ward Profiles and other Statistics. This includes:
Wirral Intelligence Service. This website by Wirral Council collates relevent statistics on life in the area and the latest reports. You can subscribe to a free monthly e-newsletter. Also see Wirral to contact your local Neighbourhood Constituency for further information about local priorities
Halton census and statistics, including Borough and Ward Profiles
High Peak Neighbourhood Plans. Also see Local Plan
Stockport- Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plans for Woodford and Marple
Warrington Central Regeneration Plan, Facts and Figures for Warrington (including Ward Profiles)