Fund raising strategy

Funding Means 1. The £523,000 so far secured comes essentially from National and Circuit Funds of the Methodist Church, and from the prospective proceeds of the sale of residential building land adjoining the church.

Funding Means 2. The Church community is committed to raising £460,988.50 by personally committing to give and raise this sum. This means in addition to supporting our work our 170 members are offering to make additional payments over a three year period. This is by weekly giving, standing orders etc ands by organising and supporting fund raising events.
Total £460,988.50

This means each member on average will seek to give or raise approximately £2881.18 per member over the period of the scheme.

Funding Means 3. A small working party has researched a number of national and local databases and identified appropriate Trusts and grant awarding bodies that could support the proposed scheme. It is proposed to apply to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust for a substantial Grant, to the Staffordshire Environmental Trust and to about 20 smaller local and national trusts for grants towards the capital costs of the scheme.

The development programme envisages the demolition works commencing in late summer 2006 subject to funding being in place.

SUSTAINABILITY
We propose that the centre should be self supporting. We are only seeking capital costs which are non-recurring. Currently we are able to ‘balance the books’ and we calculate that the more efficient use, together with room rents, will cover the increased running costs. (See appendix g). While volume may well increase from 10%-20% the reduction by 15% of utility costs and increased lettings will offset increased costs. If the development proceeds it is proposed to develop a sound management practice including the employment of appropriate staffing. We are a not for profit organisation and any surplus will be reinvested.

The Church and Centre recognise the challenge that has been set but see it as vital to grasp the window of opportunity we currently have to ensure the long term security of the work currently undertaken and future work.