Why are we raising funds for the Church Urban Fund?

2008 will see a major fund-raising drive to raise £500,000 for the Church Urban Fund from Chelmsford Diocese. Since 1987 CUF has given more than 191 grants totalling nearly £2.5 million to projects and organisations in Essex and East London. The Fund supports faith-based social action projects in their mission to be good news.

CUF tackles deprivation at the grass roots, attracts external funds and helps projects to be self-sustaining. As well as this it helps to keep the Church’s mission remain relevant to local communities.

But funds raised 20 years ago are due to be exhausted around now. So CUF is being re-launched as part of a national strategy. The approach is to create a structure that liberates and empowers deaneries and parishes to create local projects with full support from the centre. Deanery champions will be organising local fundraising initiatives and events throughout 2008.

Canon John Spence who is leading the fund-raising drive, has said: “By setting a target for new funds, we can help to ensure that we reach every part of the community, particularly those in greatest need, we help to address those needs and we remain relevant among neighbourhoods that might otherwise reject us”.

Historically the Church Urban Fund’s roots were in the “Faith in the City” initiatives. Today the “U” might stand for “Universal”; for there are areas of deprivation in every corner of the Diocese from Harlow to Harwich, from Barking to Brightlingsea.

CUF supports projects working with those in the most deprived areas and on the margins of society. This includes projects tackling:

• The marginalisation of young people, children and families, older people and women.
• Homelessness.
• Crime and prostitution.
• Health and wellbeing.
• Refugee and asylum seeker destitution.

CUF adds value by attracting external funds. A survey of CUF funded projects found that, for every £1 given by Church Urban Fund; another £8 is leveraged from other sources (Mustard Seed Report, 2005). CUF is continuously developing partnerships in order to enhance its impact at local and national level.

To find out more, follow these links:

• CUF Sunday - 1st June
• How does the Church Urban Fund work with communities in Essex and East London?
• Did you know? Deprivation in Chelmsford Diocese.
• The bigger picture - Deprivation in Britain today.
• What they say about the Church Urban Fund.
• Bishop of Chelmsford lends support to the campaign.
• How can you help?