Inspired North East
Inspired North East is working across the North East to support local church congregations considering or embarking upon church development projects, by providing information, advice and support for some of the key preparation stages of a church development project.
Top stories:
Campaign to save the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme - historic church buildings will soon lose the right to a special VAT refund on repairs, which will push up the effective cost of repairs by 20%. The LPWGS currently enables refund of 100% of VAT on repairs and maintenance work to Listed church buildings, professional fees and repair works to fixtures such as bells and organs. However, this scheme is due to end in March 2011. Act now to support this campaign: write to your local MP! Click here for more details of the campaign. To help you to respond, we have drafted a model letter which you are invited to adapt and send to your local MP. You can download this here, and you can find your MP here.
Planning for Church Development Projects - one-day workshop event on 9th October to be led by Maggie Durran. More information and booking form here.
Churches Tourism Association Convention 2010 - a 'must' for anyone involved in encouraging visitors to churches - more information here.
Please see the menu below for access to further information and resources.
About Inspired North East
Our focus is upon:
- Encouraging and empowering congregations and communities to resource, manage and maintain their buildings in environmentally and financially sustainable ways
- Building upon what is already happening
- Stimulating local vision
- Signposting sources for information and advice.
The initiative is rooted in an understanding that church buildings are for sharing with everyone, of all ages and abilities, for worship and nurture of faith, for cultural events, community and learning activities, for welcoming strangers, and for telling the story of people and place.
Professional and practical help will be aimed at empowering communities to manage their own church buildings effectively and avoiding church buildings becoming ‘closed for public worship’ where there is another viable option. We do not manage individual development projects: rather, weprovide help and advice to those involved with local churches to develop their own capacity to manage and to apply directly to particular funding sources.
Areas covered and how to get in touch
1. The Church of England Diocese of Newcastle, including Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland and Newcastle parishes located in the counties of Durham and Cumbria:
- Inspired North East Development Officers Andrew Duff and David Lovie (working on a job-share basis), based at Church House, North Shields (full address below).
- E-mail InspiredNE@newcastle.anglican.org or telephone (0191) 2704116
2. The Church of England Diocese of Durham, including County Durham, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Darlington and Stockton on Tees:
Inspired North East is part-funded by English Heritage and the Church of England Dioceses of Newcastle and Durham.
More information within this section