The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has been urged to help people ‘Go For It’ through its recently launched community innovation fund.
The Kirk's highest body discussed the initiative on 22 May 2013 at its annual gathering in Edinburgh, with the aim of pushing forward the work it supports.
The convener of the Church of Scotland's Ministries Council, the Rev Neil Dougall, presented a report on the work of the Go For It fund which gave out a third of a million pounds in grants to 12 groups within its first five months of operating. It is on track to distribute some £900,000 during the whole of 2013.
'Go For It' is about "funding change in Church and community and helping to transform local lives and communities", the Kirk announced.
The aim is community benefit, but any application must be able to demonstrate clearly its association with at least one Church of Scotland congregation.
“This has been a terrific success for us and we want more congregations to come forward with applications for funding in the coming year,” said Mr Dougall.
One project helped in the first main grant round was Befriend Motherwell, based in Dalziel St Andrew’s Parish Church, which works with isolated older people in the community.
As well as distributing larger grants, the fund awarded £30,000 in the first six months to smaller projects such as Carnwath Parish Church for ‘Midweek Musings’ which aims to build activities and programmes to help and engage local people.
The General Assembly commended the work of the 'Go For It' Fund in establishing means for resourcing local congregations, for praying for its continued successful development in the coming year, and for encouraging congregations to consider making applications for funding.
* More about 'Go For It' here: http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/serve/go_for_it
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The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is meeting in Edinburgh from 18-24 May 2013. Ekklesia co-director Simon Barrow and consultant Carla J Roth are there all week, reporting, liaising and commenting.
* Ekklesia reports and commentary from the 2013 Kirk General Assembly, plus those from 2012 and 2011: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/kirkgeneralassembly