Lancashire Methodist District

Being the December edition of Property Matters, the Connexional Property Team would like to extend their very best wishes to all our readers at this time.  During this season of Advent and Christmas, as a church we reflect on the needs of those around us.  How can the shared resource of our buildings help to meet some of those needs – a beacon in our communities to meet people where they are?  . . . Perhaps it might be those who might be struggling with the cost of living, a lack of a warm space or a place to stay, or with isolation and loneliness.  At the beginning of this edition we want to highlight some of the resources which are available and can be used to welcome those into our buildings at this time of year.

Since the There is Room short film launched on Saturday 19 November it has touched many people with its message that There is Room for you in God's world no matter who you are or what your circumstances.  The film is available to download from our website to use in services.

Please do continue to share on your social media channels - it's best to use the version on the Methodist Church YouTube Channel.  If you love the message of the film, please consider voting for it in the Smiley Charity Film Awards.

Resources

A reminder that you can download all our resources for services and events from our main resources page on our website. The theme for the Third Sunday of Advent is 'There is room for All of Nature'.  Don't forget that there are resources for schools and chaplains which use the There is Room service themes, an Advent Candle liturgy, a guide on how to make room in your church this Christmas and many other things to help encourage people into Church over this season.

Further Grant Opportunities for Warm Spaces

The funding section of the Respond to the Energy Crisis page has been updated to include some links for local authority grants.  Click here to view.  

As well, funding has been made available from the Connexional Priority Fund to support churches that are unable to access funding locally.  Click here to apply.

The Warm Welcome project offers resources for churches would like to set up a warm space.  A warm space will offer free and friendly space for those who are unable to heat their homes.  As well, the Evangelism and Growth team have produced helpful resources, including a videos and advice on how to set up a warm space.  Click here to learn more.

Dialogue autumn/winter 2022

Dialogue is now available to read online.

Stories include staying safe this winter, a jamboree of faith, conversation, fellowship and fun with 3GENERATE and more on our 150th year celebrations.  

Read Dialogue

Have a Happy Christmas

Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but special events and services, extra visitors and festive decorations in your church can increase the risks of accidents and damage. A little extra planning can help keep everyone safe.

Find out more

Reboot and refresh your fundraising

As we approach Christmas and the New Year, now is the time to take stock, reboot and refresh your fundraising.

We have put some top tips together to help you identify where to begin to help your church thrive, including links to further guidance and some new ideas for the New Year.

See our fundraising ideas

Christmas boost on your home contents insurance

If you have Methodist home insurance, you’ll be pleased to know you get a Christmas boost on contents in your home to cover those additional gifts.  

This applies to any family celebration, including weddings, civil partnerships and religious festivals, to cover gifts and additional items.

Learn more about home insurance

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas for 10 Methodist churches

Over £460,000 has been awarded to Methodist churches across UK in the latest round of Methodist Grants.

Find out more about the inspiring projects to receive this festive funding boost.

Read their stories

Keep safe when working in wintry conditions

With low temperatures and less daylight, winter can make surfaces perilous, and slip and trip accidents increase significantly.

There are plenty of factors to consider when avoiding these sorts of accidents. Ice and snow, poor lighting, excess water from rain and even gritting can all cause problems.  Take a look at our online guide to avoiding slips and trips in winter weather.

Helping Support Workers with long-term health conditions and disabled workers

HSE has published new principles and guidance to support businesses and help them create an inclusive approach to workplace health.

Employers can use the simple principles to create an enabling workplace culture, where disabled workers and workers with long-term health conditions feel valued and thrive. HSE's Talking Toolkit can help structure conversations with workers and potential recruits.

HSE has developed the guidance to help support Health is Everyone’s Business, the government’s commitment to better support the lives of disabled people.  Visit our disability website for information and guidance on health and safety for disabled workers.

The Accident Book

The HSE Accident Book is a valuable document that organisations can use to record accident information.  The Accident Book can be used to record details of all work-related accidents, including injuries from accidents at work that employers must report under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).  The book contains 50 perforated accident record forms and is designed support users in complying with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Old houses are often branded as draughty and energy inefficient.  

This is not necessarily the case as they were designed to work with their environment. Properly repaired and maintained, they can perform well.  Click here to read more.

As well, Historic England are offering a free webinar for installing heat pumps in historic buildings.  

Click here to find out more.

It has been 20 years since the last significant improvement works were undertaken at St James Road Methodist Church in Southampton when The Link was constructed, which connected the church sanctuary and church hall.  Since that time, the church has witnessed significant growth in numbers, spiritual witness, forms of worship, use of the building and links with the surrounding community. Following a number of vision days, prayer and reflection, it was considered by the local trustees to be the right time to develop the premises further so that the community aspect of the church work could be significantly enhanced with the aim of making the church the Community Hub in the locality.  Thus, The Connect project began.  

Click here to read the rest of the story.

More Methodist churches are signing up to be part of the Eco Church award scheme operated by A Rocha UK. Participation in the Eco Church awards for the 12 months until June 2022 shows an increase of 70 percent for Methodist Churches over the previous year.  There are now more than 640 Methodist and LEP churches registered for Eco Church, with four churches having achieved Gold.  Click here to read more.

There is updated technical advice on Managing Easy Access to Listed Buildings is available on the Cadw website. It explains how to plan and improve physical access to listed buildings in Wales. It uses real-life examples, ranging from minor improvement works to high-quality modern design solutions, to show how better access can be achieved. The guidance is intended to help all those who own, manage or occupy listed buildings, including Churches, in Wales. It should also assist those who plan alterations or advise on alternative forms of service provision. It is especially relevant for those listed buildings that offer services to members of the public, such as catering, banking or shopping, or which people visit for leisure, work, worship or education purposes.  Click here to read more.

National Highways have designated funds that are separate to their core work of operating, maintaining and improving England's strategic road network. It is ring-fenced funding that is used to invest in and support initiatives that deliver lasting benefits for road users, the environment and communities across England. 
Click here to learn more about the critieria to apply for funding.

The Department for British Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) are looking for testing users who meet the following criteria:

• Contacts with the authority to apply for support on behalf of their organisation/building with access to information such as invoices, building records and heating bills
• Representing organisations operating in buildings that are non-domestic, off the gas grid, and using large quantities kerosene for heating (for instance above 10,000 litres per year)
• Contacts would need to be able to participate in remote usability testing sessions of around 60 minutes, with internet access and Microsoft Teams enabled. We can offer a payment of £50 per interview

If your organisation meets any of the above criteria and would like to help test the proposed support package for non-domestic alternative fuel payment, please contact Jonathan Sweetman and Christina Ehlers.

Did you know about the Conservation News, Training and Funding page on the Methodist website?  

If not, then we recommend that you take a look.  It contains all sorts of useful information and dates for training events as well as links for possible funding opportunities.  Click here to view.

TMCP are pleased to advise that a new telephone system has been implemented.  This will enhance the way Managing Trustees and their professional advisers can contact their team.  Click here to read more.

Transforming Churches and Communities offer an update to list of grant providers as well as some fundraising training events.  Some featured funders include:

• Sir Stewart Halley Trust
• Hodge Foundation
• Bishop Radford Trust

Click here to view further funding information.

Listed Building Advisory Committee (LBAC) Meeting Dates:  

• 24 January 2023 - Deadline for paper is 3 January 2023
• 18 April 2023 - Deadline for paper is 28 March 2023
• 18 July 2023 - Deadline for paper is 27 June 2023

Supporting the Methodist Connexion

Methodist Insurance has been protecting the property of the Methodist Church since 1872.  We are a Public Limited Company owned by shareholders and independent of the Methodist Church. The company operates like a mutual by returning most of our profits back to our community in the form of a significant financial contribution to the Methodist Connexion.  Find out more.