Start with a one-page case

Before you approach any funder, write the project down on a single side of A4. A clear case answers four questions: what are you doing, why does it matter, who benefits, and what will it cost. Funders read hundreds of applications. The clearer the page, the better the chance.

Keep the language plain. Name the parish, the building or the activity, and the parishioners or wider community who will gain from it. Attach photographs, a quote from the parish priest, and a simple budget showing total cost, money already raised, and the gap you are asking the funder to fill.

Talk to the diocese first

Every parish project sits within the wider mission of the Diocese of Shrewsbury, registered charity 234025. Speak to the Finance team at the Curial Offices before you write to outside funders. They can advise on diocesan small grants, on how a project fits with the property and faculties process, and on whether the diocese itself can contribute or match-fund.

Contact: Curial Offices, 2 Park Road South, Prenton, Wirral CH43 4UX, 0151 652 9855, info@dioceseofshrewsbury.org.

National Catholic funders

Two national bodies should be on every parish list:

1. The National Catholic Fund. Administered through the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, this supports projects that strengthen Catholic life and witness across the country.
2. Allchurches Trust (now Benefact Trust). One of the largest grant-makers for churches in the United Kingdom, supporting repairs, community use, and mission projects across denominations.

Heritage and fabric funders

If your project involves the church building, four routes are worth knowing:

1. National Churches Trust. Grants for urgent repairs, accessibility, toilets and kitchens, and project development. They publish clear guidance on eligibility and application windows.
2. Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. If your church is listed, you can reclaim the VAT on eligible repair and maintenance work. This is not a grant in the usual sense but a refund, and it can save thousands of pounds on a major project.
3. The Heritage Fund. Larger projects with a heritage and community-engagement element may qualify.
4. Historic England. For listed buildings on the Heritage at Risk Register, specialist grants are available.

Local community foundations

The diocese covers Cheshire, Shropshire, the Wirral, and parts of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Derbyshire. Each area has a community foundation that distributes grants from local donors and dormant trusts. Look at:

• Community Foundation for Merseyside (covering Liverpool and the Wirral).
• Forever Manchester (Greater Manchester).
• Cheshire Community Foundation.
• Shropshire Community Foundation.

These bodies are particularly helpful for community-facing parish projects: warm spaces, foodbanks, youth work, and outreach to those who are isolated.

Diocesan grants

The diocese itself holds funds that can support parish work. Routing is via the Finance team at the Curial Offices. Write a short letter to Finance with the one-page case, the budget, and confirmation that the parish priest supports the application. Allow several weeks for a response, longer if the request needs Trustee sign-off.

Putting the application together

1. Write the one-page case and have the parish priest read it.
2. Get two written quotes for any building or contractor work.
3. Confirm parish reserves and parishioner fundraising contributions in writing.
4. Check the funder's guidance carefully. Each one publishes priorities, exclusions, and word counts.
5. Submit on time and keep a copy. Track responses in a simple spreadsheet.

After the application

Most funders take eight to twelve weeks to respond. Some require a site visit. If you are awarded a grant, read the offer letter carefully. There are usually conditions: drawing the money in stages, providing receipts, supplying photographs of the completed work, and a short written report. Meet these conditions promptly. Funders talk to one another, and a parish that reports well becomes the parish a funder will support again.

If an application is declined, ask for feedback. Many funders will say briefly what was missing, and the answer often points to a stronger second attempt elsewhere.

Where to ask for help

The Curial Offices are the right first call: 0151 652 9855 or info@dioceseofshrewsbury.org. The Finance team can also signpost to specialist advisers when a project is large or complex. The diocese is a registered charity (234025), and major works will need diocesan approvals as well as funder approval, so early conversation saves time later.