The Catalyst Social Action Fund is an initiative amongst UK Catalyst churches which seeks to help churches begin and expand projects serving disadvantaged people within their communities. Having run the fund for two years, we have now supported fifteen projects through it serving disadvantaged people across the country. Some of the stories of these projects have been absolutely incredible, from the pioneering Baby Basics project working with vulnerable mums in London, to the Treasure Trove group in Southampton supporting children with additional needs and disabilities, to the Job Club in Leeds tackling unemployment, low confidence and isolation. The Social Action Fund is making a real difference in real communities across the country, and it’s back ahead of 2020!
There are two types of funding available:
- 1. Feasibility Study: An opportunity for those looking to begin a social action project to receive funding to help investigate the needs in their local area, how you could seek to meet those through a new project, and the impact it could have on those outside the church community. There is a maximum of £1500 available from the CSAF for funding for a Feasibility Study.
- 2. New project or expansion of an existing project: An opportunity for those who are about to begin or have already begun a social action project to receive funding to support the establishment or expansion of the work. There is a maximum of £5000 available from the CSAF for funding for a new project or an expansion of an existing project.
Applications are now open and will close on 29th November, with a decision made on successful applications in early January, and money available immediately after that. To apply, click here to find and download an application form, and click here to find a list of guidelines which the panel will use to help assess each project and decide on the allocation of funds. Completed applications, along with any other questions or enquiries, can be emailed to social_action@catalystnetwork.org
Andrew Simpkins from Jubilee Church Coventry has been part of the panel over the last two years assessing applications, and last year put together an online webinar with more in-depth advice about how to fill in a grant application form. This might be particularly helpful to those who are new to the grant-writing process. A few details have shifted slightly, but it should still be helpful to anyone writing an application this time around. You can watch that by clicking here to view it on Vimeo.
Catalyst is a movement of churches raising world-changers across the nations
