Church Buildings Fundraising Support Officer

Overview

To provide specialist advice and – where appropriate –‘hands-on’ assistance to parishes on grants applications and other means of capital fundraising, for maintenance/repair/conservation of church buildings and capital improvement-works projects.

To offer encouragement, help and support to parishes in developing strategic financially-achievable approaches to maintenance/repair/conservation and sustainable use of their church buildings, including community engagement and wider uses, as well as energy-efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

Introduction

This is a new role, which uses partnership funding generously awarded by the Church Commissioners through the ‘Buildings for Mission’ grant scheme, to provide frontline support to parishes in Southwark Diocese on capital fundraising for the maintenance/repair/conservation and use of church buildings. This will help ensure that church buildings remain open and sustainable in the long term, and that they are available to the wider community for diverse use in a way which is complementary to worship and mission

The post-holder will focus on ‘hands-on’ assistance to our top priority churches, together with regular advice and support to around fifty further churches (ongoing) and to be available to others on a more ad hoc basis.

The role will provide a parish-facing frontline post, to complement existing staff roles helping to fulfil the Diocesan staff-teams’ aims to serve, support and enable the mission of God in parishes.

Main Responsibilities

Capital Fundraising

• Promote and facilitate access to sources of grant-funding, and encouraging parishes to think imaginatively about capital fundraising strategies and income-generation to maintain and develop their buildings, including to move towards Net Zero Carbon.

• Give advice and assistance to individual parishes on capital fundraising for works to church buildings, including: identifying possible sources of funding; advising on making grant-funding applications and assisting parishes where needed; and helping parishes develop broader financial strategies (including possible income-generating activities). This will involve having one-off or regular meetings with parishes, both in-person (at churches or office-based) and - where appropriate - through video-conferencing.
• Develop good knowledge and understanding of possible sources for grant-funding at national, regional and local level, and keep abreast of new opportunities and changes in the grants-giving sector. Be responsive to short-notice deadlines.
• Working with the Diocesan Giving team, provide guidance to churches on fundraising, in particular to identify potential revenue and funding sources for events, activities and new facilities, help prepare applications and carry out project development.
• Maintain relationships / proactively build and develop new relationships with key grant-making bodies and other sources of funding support and partnership including Local Authorities.

Church buildings strategic thinking

• Offer encouragement, help and support to parishes in developing strategic financially-achievable approaches to maintenance/repair and sustainable use of their church buildings, including community engagement and wider uses.
• Liaise closely with key colleagues and other diocesan staff in signposting and offering assistance to parishes on making their buildings fit-for-purpose and sustainable, especially in delivering the aims and objectives of Southwark Vision. This will include working alongside Net Zero Carbon specialist colleagues in furtherance of environmental objectives to address climate change.
• To work with others to integrate thinking about church buildings to unlock the potential of church buildings for mission and community outreach.

Grants distribution

• To support the process in allocating grants from John Marshall’s Charity to churches for their building projects.
• Administer the Minor Repairs and Improvements Grants Fund, which is aimed at long term sustainable use of church buildings. In particular: identify suitable projects, work with PCCs to obtain specifications and help carry out procurement, as necessary.
• Working with colleagues on the Net Zero Carbon programme, help administer a grants fund for energy-saving measures.

Communications

• Collaborate with the Communications Department to communicate fundraising news (and application deadlines) and guidance to parishes, as well as assisting with communications for wider church-buildings-related topics including celebrating and sharing news of successful grants awarded and projects completed.

Training, events and CPD

• Deliver appropriate capital fundraising training opportunities in-person and online, including organising workshops and participating in other diocesan-organised events.
• Develop useful information and resources (particularly online, through the diocesan website) giving guidance to parishes on grants and capital fundraising.
• Attend conferences and round-table events on capital fundraising and church-building development, representing the diocese when requested to.
• Take responsibility for personal/professional development in capital fundraising, attending suitable training events run by the Cathedral & Church Buildings Division, and other bodies and organisations, and reporting back to colleagues.

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Be responsible for taking a leading role in the Diocese’s participation in ongoing/periodic monitoring and evaluation activities, as required by the conditions of the Archbishops’ Council funding for the Support Officer role and the Minor Repairs and Improvements Grants.

The Ideal Candidate

Qualifications and Experience

• A relevant* degree, equivalent qualifications or relevant experience
• Knowledge and experience of heritage / community /religious grant-funding sources and how to access them
• Prior involvement in charitable fundraising for places of worship / charities / not-for-profit sector
• Experience of working with building owners/volunteers and wider community groups to build capacity and understanding
• Experience of working with volunteers in charitable / faith-based / community organisations
• Experience of handling applications / casework / administrative procedures
• Experience of processing and/or deciding applications for grants
• Experience of writing fundraising bids or completing

Skills and Knowledge

• Understanding of what is required for long-term and ongoing maintenance and sustainability of historic buildings / community buildings / places of worship
• Understanding of project finances, budgets and cash-flow
• Experience of managing/overseeing project finances, budgets and cash-flows
• Abilities in persuasion and advocacy, problem-solving, decision-making, project-planning, programmemanagement, research, and attention to detail
• Awareness of organisational-structures within the Church of England; Awareness of historic buildings legislation (Listed Building Consents, Conservation Areas) and the planning process generally
• Ability to understand proposals for building-works, through interpreting technical drawings/plans
• Appreciation of ecclesiastical architecture and historic buildings
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, and ability to influence organisations and groups
• Understanding of (and ideally prior involvement in) developing complementary (community and/or commercial) uses for historic buildings and/or places of worship
• Ability to present/deliver in-person and online training, and to organise such events
• Good IT skills, and familiarity with Microsoft Office (including Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint)
• Good numeracy skills, including experience in Excel and use of spreadsheets for analysis and reporting
• Understanding of VAT issues, including relevant HMRC (His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs) regulations and guidance

Personal Qualities and Behaviours

• A positive regard for and understanding of the vision, aims and ethos of the Diocese of Southwark and the Church of England, and the challenges they face
• Interest in and enthusiasm for places of worship, community buildings, and historic buildings; and ability to empathise and engage with community groups and with issues facing the historic environment
• A common-sense and pragmatic ‘can-do’ attitude; able to work resiliently under pressure
• A proactive and creative self-starter with initiative, and the capacity to: work with minimal supervision, prioritise effectively and work to deadlines
• People – orientated; ability to work with people from diverse and wide-ranging backgrounds; patience, tact, sensitivity, diplomacy, politeness, sense of humour; friendly and approachable; ability to explain complex issues to a non-specialist audience
• Collaborative team-player, and supportive of colleagues; able to build/maintain/develop relationships with crucial stakeholders (including Local Authorities and grant-giving bodies)
• A willingness to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekend
• Ability to travel to all parishes within the geographical area of the dioceses

About us

Southwark is a diverse and vibrant Diocese in so many ways, from the energy of the inner city to the beauty of the Surrey Hills. We are one of the largest Dioceses in the Church of England, serving the people of South London and East Surrey. We take joy in the distinctiveness and variety of God’s gifts and people. You will find churches that offer welcome, care and dignity in Christ’s name to their parishes; chaplains walking along side those in education, hospitals, and prison; and pioneering communities seeking to reach out and serve in new ways.

We seek to be Christ-centred and outward-focused in all we do.

To find out more, visit our website: 

https://southwark.anglican.org/