District group reports for Spring Synod 2016District Policy Committee (DPC) Report The DPC has met twice since the last Synod to consider the business of the District and its committees. The latter have reported separately. We have welcomed some new members to the DPC as we have thankfully filled some appointments.

We have received DMLN updates from Richard Armiger, Regional Co-ordinator (covering East Anglia and Beds. Essex and Herts) and Safeguarding updates from Linda Morgan.

We have discussed ecumenical matters, some of which come to Synod for approval. We have also received updates from Methodist Council and the Stationing Matching process (which is always a challenge).

We have considered the constitution of the DPC and will be making some revision to ensure all areas are represented.

We have also discussed some items from Methodist Conference.

We have planned a DPC Away Day for Saturday 14th May 2016 and will be considering the District Mission Statement and Group Coordinators’ job descriptions and will also be looking back over the period since Julian arrived – the last 18 months or so have been very busy and have flown by! Susan Eldridge - Secretary to District Policy Committee

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Worship GroupLOCAL PREACHERS REPORTWe held a District LP Meeting in the spring following up conversations that had taken place during the LP Weekend at Ditchingham in Spring 2015. This gave an opportunity for LP secretaries and Tutors to share their experiences. At the heart of our discussions was how we were to introduce the new WLP (Worship Leading & Preaching) scheme across the District, and secondly to make plans for the annual refresher Course, to be led this year by Julian Pursehouse, on March 12th at Wymondham MC.

The new course replaces Faith & Worship fully from this September although in East Anglia we have been part of the pilot since September 2014. Circuits will need to have put in place arrangements to train Worship Leaders and Local Preachers under the new scheme. But in order to support them and especially those circuits with small numbers of trainees and short of tutors we have arranged four Saturdays across the year at District level to take people through the Modules. Numbers are small this year, as they were on the pilot.

If circuits are doing it themselves the will need to train Tutors and Mentors and some training has already been undertaken. If they wish to use the District Tutorial provision they will still need to have mentors in place who understand the new scheme. So, much preparatory work to be done, but support available for all who ask!

As always we can see this as a threat or an opportunity. Those of us involved in the new scheme are not unaware of the challenges but equally convinced that it is a good approach that has the potential to develop high quality and mutually supportive Worship Leaders and Local Preachers.

Geoff Best - District LP Tutor1

Evangelism Group

Following up the information given at a previous Synod about various Mission initiatives in the District, DME Jack Lawson, Chairman Julian Pursehouse and I have begun visiting some of the places mentioned.

We had a very encouraging visit to the Ipswich Rural Mission Area, meeting their minister, lay workers and many of the volunteers. It was heartening to hear of the work that is being done in the four churches in this area, emphasising that rural Methodism does have a future, given the right circumstances. The welcome, and meal, we had a Capel St Mary was a delight, and the friends there were pleased to show us what they are doing. We learnt a lot and look forward to hearing more as time goes on.

A second visit was to Wymondham and Morley in the Norwich circuit. At Wymondham we saw how an excellent set of premises could be used to ensure that the church was a real part of the community, and we heard of the various interesting outreach activities that go on. We then moved to the tiny chapel at Morley. Though the congregation is small, it is growing, but the big news was the youth work there. In this little building there is a Mother and Toddlers meeting, a club for 7-11 year olds, attracting an average of 25 children, and a group of about 10 older children as well. We were able to suggest ways that the building could be adapted to better suit its needs, with an indoor toilet, more storage space and a bigger kitchen being priorities. It was very encouraging to find this village Christian church working with young people in such significant numbers.

We have another visit planned at the end of February, when we shall be looking at potential developments at St Ives. This is another church with real outreach activities and we want to see if we can develop these further.

Why are we doing this? Our hope is to identify some common denominators in these outreach activities and by doing so to offer advice to others who wish to spread the word of God in a way that is more effective in this contemporary society.

If you provided information on your mission activities previously, or have developed some since, and would like us to come to see what you are doing, we'd be delighted to hear from you. Please contact me and we'll do our best to arrange a visit.

John Evangelism Group Coordinator

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District Mission Enabler’s Report, Spring 2016This year’s report comes with a difference: it is my last. But first, let me update you on highlights of the past year, which has seen me

Delivering church project and grant funding days, as well as project monitoring and evaluation days with Richard Armiger.

Working with numerous church projects across the District—all at various stages of development. Among them are: Café TMC (Central Norfolk Circuit)—is now well up and running, as well as having hired a Lay Worker to help develop the project; Wicken Methodist Church’s ‘Come on In’ project marked its completion with a service on 27 February (Ely/Newmarket); Chesterton MC’s hoped-for redevelopment is still in planning stages, but looking achievable; Sudbury MC have reached their funding target to hire a Lay Worker; Walton Parish Nursing (Ipswich) has secured future funding; St. Ive’s MC (St. Neots/Huntingdon) is in the process of planning a redevelopment scheme for their buildings; Morley Chapel (Norwich) is considering funding to better facilitate their youth and community work.

Managing the District Mediation Team as they seek to help churches and individuals resolve their disputes in the spirit of Christian reconciliation. Delivering training with Richard Armiger for new mediators.

Continuing my service as a member of the District Policy Committee. Working with the District team on the Journey into Faith initiative theme: ‘Radical

Hospitality’. Administering the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator with presbyters, deacons and lay staff. Working with an enthused team on the District’s Journey into Faith initiative: Radical

Hospitality. Serving as a member of the grapevine editorial team.

Along with our District Chair, Julian, and John Hull (District Evangelism Coordinator), it has been my privilege to visit various mission initiatives and ‘Fresh Expressions’ of church across the District. It’s early days, but to date we have visited projects in the Ipswich Rural Area, Wymondham MC’s Town Green Centre and the youth and community work at Morley Chapel (Norwich Circuit) and the café church and attendant activities at St. Ive’s MC. There are more visits to come before I leave.

With that said, I don’t want to finish without saying how much it has meant to me to be a part of the life of this District for nearly 12 years. Of all the ministry and jobs I have done over the years, this has been the most ‘freeing’ for me, in that I have been able to use all the gifts that I believe God has given me. It has also been the most consistently enjoyable work I have done. Thank you for your welcome, collegiality, love and support.Blessings on you all,Jack Lawson, DME, 01953 601964 jnl1952@gmail.com

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Learning and Caring Group3

SAFEGUARDING NEWSLETTER SPRING SYNOD 2016 “CHANGING CULTURE”

SAFEGUARDING OUR CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS

IS AN IMPORTANT ROLE WITHIN OUR CHURCHES

In February I attended a three day Safeguarding Conference, this year’s theme being“Changing Culture” Our culture does need to change within our churches if we are to ensure that those attending church are kept safe and informed. Some may say we managed before but the world has changed and our safeguarding procedures need to be one of our priorities. Please keep Safeguarding on your Agendas and include your Circuit/Church Safeguarding Officer in meetings.

The Past Cases Review The PCR process commenced in Oct 2014. This District has had approximately 81 response forms sent into the PCR team. 56 cases were reviewed by Connexion and closed. There were 17 responses that needed work carried out, some of which we were already aware of and a number are still open and ongoing. The District still has 8 cases waiting allocation. So there is still work to be done.

Safer Recruitment PolicyWe also have a Safer Recruitment Policy and although at first it may seem a little complicated, with use it will become easier. Within this is a need for DBS checks who is and who should be, this is not an easy to know but if you follow the guidelines and have a job/role description for each role whether it is voluntary or not again they should become easier.

Foundation Training Many people will have reached five years since they completed the Module A training. A top up session is at present being produced for those people and a refresher/update session is being piloted for the Foundation Training. These should both be available in the spring.

Leadership Training The District has completed most of this training but there are still a few who need to attend a course. If there is anyone you know who needs training, please let me know. I now keep a database of those who have attended this training. We are facilitating two sessions a year for the Leadership Training.

Circuit Safeguarding Officers The Regional Trainers, Beds, Essex & Herts, and East Anglia District will be facilitating for the first time training for the Circuit Safeguarding Officers. There are two dates booked for Sat 7 May at Royston Methodist Church and Thurs 19 May 2016 at Bar Hill Methodist Church, these sessions will be from 10 – 4p.m.

Disclosure and Barring ServiceAll DBS checks should now be completed online. Unfortunately, we have a large number of DBS checks that are not up to date. ALL Local Preachers now need to be DBS checked and anyone on the Circuit Plan needs to have completed the Foundation Training and DBS checks. As we go forward into the new connexional year please check that your churches have the correct DBS checks. Also there needs to be role responsibilities to go with the work

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that is being carried out on behalf of the church. All this needs to be kept in an agreed place in each Church/Circuit.

The District Safeguarding Group members including The District Chair and myself are:Peter Sorrell Independent Chair Jackie ColeRichard Elcock Deacon Ian MurrayRev Nigel Fox Richard Armiger

If you have any further queries please do contact me as below:Linda Morgan - East Anglia District Safeguarding Officer07787225230 e-mail: safeguardingea@btinternet.comDistrict Website http://www.eamethodist.org.uk

SABBATICALSFive presbyters are taking sabbaticals in the current year 2015-16:-Revd Steve Cullis (East Norfolk) has just taken the month remaining of his sabbatical in 2014 -15;Revd Derek Grimshaw (Ipswich) March to June 2016;Revd Solomon Joseph (RR Thetford, Diss and Mildenhall) received special permission to take a sabbatical from April to June 2016;Revd David Philo ((North Norfolk) February to May 2016;Revd Joanne Sherwood (Ely and Newmarket) July to September 2016.

The following ministers are expected to take sabbaticals in 2016-17:-Deacon Mark Attwood (East Norfolk);Revd Catherine Hutton (Norwich) May to July 2017;Revd Andrew Maguire (West Norfolk);Deacon Ian Murray (Cambridge) February to May 2017;Revd Eleanor Reddington (Central Norfolk);Revd Diane Smith (Ipswich);Revd Freddy Takavarasha (Norwich) March to May 2017, prospectus approved;Revd Betty Trinder (Central Norfolk);Revd Sharon Willimott (North Norfolk) At this stage it is likely that there will be at least three ministers on sabbatical during the year 2017 - 18. Revd Heather M Walker - District Sabbaticals Officer

19 February 2016

MWiBOur packed Autumn District Day was held at Diss Methodist Church. Heather Sorrell was inducted as President. Angela Macquiban handed on the President’s bible to Heather. During the two years of Angela’s presidency over £17,000 was raised for the work of Turning Point Trust, work with children living in the slum area of Kibera, Niarobi.

Heather’s chosen charity will be EACH, East Anglia Children’s Hospice. Staff came to introduce the work of the charity. In the afternoon Rev Pauline Greasley spoke about her work as a Chaplain at Norfolk and Norwich hospital. As usual this was a great day of worship, fellowship and challenge.

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Our bi-annual residential conference will be held at Belsey Bridge on March 5th/6th.The weekend will be led will be Anne Browse who is the national President of MWiB.The MWiB national conference at Swanwick is on April 15th -17th, led by Jill Barber, current Vice President of the Methodist Church. One of the workshops will be led by two of our District members.

Our Spring District Day will be held at Upwell Methodist Church on April 21st, speaker; Rev Jennifer Potter from City Road Church in London.The Autumn District Day is to be held at South Lowestoft Methodist Church, Oct 6th, speaker; Rev Michaela Youngson.

The Easter Offering envelopes will be in our churches and dedication services will be held around the district. This year’s focus is on work by World Mission to bring ‘Life in all its fullness’ to Dahlit women and girls. Last year, nationally, Easter Offering raised an amazing £427,500.On May 19th ‘Changing the world from the kitchen sink’, the display of the history of the work of Methodist women’s movements, at Epworth, Wesley’s birthplace, will be officially opened. It will become part of the on- going regular tour of the whole premises. May 21st, 3pm, at Westminster Central Hall a concert by Paul Field and Garth Hewitt will be held to give thanks for the work of MWiB in raising awareness of the plight of Dhalit people. Tickets available £5.00, all welcome.MWiB continues work to raise awareness of the sustainable Developmental Goals ( there are 17!). We had already been working on the previous goals and will continue to do so, especially gender inequality which is item 5.

Huge amounts of jewellery have been sent to the Alzheimers Association form our district. The charity hopes to have raised the sum of £200,000 in the year 2015. The appeal continues.The Dementia packs produced with MHA continue to be sold in great numbers and many churches have held training to raise awareness of how we can best help those who suffer from this illness.

In October the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women is being held in Houston, Texas. Our district MWiB has pledged to raise £1,000 to help fund a young lady from Latvia attend. Heather Sorrell

 Lay Employees' support group       Lay people are employed across the district; some have paid roles, some work in a voluntary capacity. Jobs vary from administrative to pastoral, from children's and youth work to running cafe church or rural chaplaincy - and fulfilling other needs.     It is part of each employee's contract to attend further training. The lay workers' conference takes place each March at High Leigh, Hertfordshire in March. Those from the District that attend find it very interesting meet people from all over the country and sharing similar joys and frustrations.     In East Anglia there is an opportunity to meet quarterly in March, June, September and December at Diss.

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    We meet for coffee at 10am and have a speaker from 10.30am. Subjects vary; one of us may describe our work, we have heard details of safeguarding, the spiritual guidance of Celtic prayer and been led in bible study.    After lunch we discuss plans for future meetings and any concerns we may have and then end our days sharing communion with our chaplain, Rev Betty Trinder.      In June we go out together either to learn more about a particular aspect of some lay work - or for pleasure! We have spent a day with a hospital chaplain and gone to prison with one of our prison chaplains, visited Felixstowe docks and spent a day with an undertaker. Last June Rev Briant Smith chartered a wherry for a day so we could explore parts of the Norfolk Broads by water and another year Rev Jenny Pathmarajah showed us round Walsingham. If you know of any lay employee in your Circuit who would like to join us please let us know.

Rosemary Anderson.  reanderson1946@aol.com

World Church Action Team ReportWe should like to bring the following to your attention.• Latvia Link. We continue to explore ways of maintaining our link with Latvia. There is an opportunity for someone to attend a gathering of Friends of Latvia, set for July 1-3 in Riga, Latvia. If you would like more information, please contact Donna Ely: donna.ely@mybroadbandmail.com Tel: 01379 642791The District Methodist Women in Britain have agreed to give financial support to a Latvian representative to attend the World Assembly of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women. This will be held in Houston, Texas alongside the World Methodist Conference from August 31st to September 4th.• Mission Partner. Deacon Angleena Keizer has been well received by the members of Kollupitiya Methodist Church in Sri Lanka. She has become involved with refugees fleeing persecution in Pakistan, feeding the homeless as well as more mundane tasks such as learning how to put on a sari. We continue to support her with our prayers.• 21st World Methodist Conference. As already mentioned, this will be held in Houston and attended by 4 members from our District. We wish them a time of inspiration.• Methodists for World Mission. Conference to be held at Swanwick, 3rd to 5th June. Booking via allansmith@mwmbookings.org.uk• Raising awareness. If you wish to receive regular world church updates, please contact Sarah Friswell: sarah.friswell@btinternet.com

Deacon Donna Ely

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MHA East AngliaOnce again may I say thank you very much to all our supporters.At Christmas I received many beautiful cards to distribute to the homes in our area. Many were made by children, and others carefully crafted by groups in our churches. They mean so much to our residents.One church enterprisingly served cakes and coffee all summer to holiday makers, and raiseda wonderful sum in doing so. Others have held quizes, and events.

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At present MHA are looking at ways to help those suffering from dementia. One successful way is through Music Therapy. Music Therapists are introducing individual and group music to some of our residents with astounding results. This is quite costly so any fundraising for this initiative would be very welcome.I was delighted that Cromwell House in Norwich were able to receive the communion table and wall cross from one of our closed chapels. This was special as one of the residents came from that village, Barnby in Suffolk.We look forward to future support for MHA and if I can help in any way, do contact me.

Pam Bayliss - East Anglia Rep. for MHA.News from MHA Head OfficeAt Methodist Homes (MHA), we have the privilege of supporting and caring for around 16,000 older people, more than half of whom are members of our Live at Home schemes, living in their own homes. In 2015 we adopted a 10-year strategy which outlines our aim to increase the number of older people we serve directly to 50,000, together with the hope of influencing wider society as well. The area which will see the biggest growth is our community service, Live at Home, which aims to reduce social isolation and loneliness amongst the older population. Currently services include one-to-one befriending, lunch clubs, outings and exercise groups – but there is a real opportunity to become more innovative. We have initiated ‘Project Evolution’ to drive these developments and by April 2017 we will have established the right relationships, tools and resources to enable the Charity to directly reach more than 36,000 older people in communities through its Live at Home Schemes by 2025. The theme of the 2016 Methodist Homes Sunday Appeal on June 12th is ‘Creating Communities that Care’. The theme echoes what we are increasingly coming to see as one of the core purposes of everything MHA is involved in, whether in residential work, the activities of the Live at Home Schemes or in a growing desire to join with others in campaigning for a fairer society for older people. We address the issue of loneliness which highlights the need for people to be connected in a community of their choice and as the numbers of older people continue to grow, each of those three words will become increasingly important.Marking MHA Sunday is an opportunity to support the work which we are involved in, and it is also a way of ensuring that issues around the care and support of older people are included on our Church’s agenda, so that together we can look out for those in our community who can so easily be overlooked. There will be an Order of Service contained within our Spring Heart & Soul magazine. You can also download a copy and other resources at www.mha.org.uk or contact Lesley France on 01332 296200 or email lesley.france@mha.org.uk We all hope to receive kindness and respect in our later years and we know that sensitive, attentive caring can make a big difference to the quality of life. We ask for both your financial support and your prayers so that more older people will benefit from the loving, Christian based care MHA provides.

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For more information on how we use our fundraised income and what we aim to achieve, with your help, over the next 10 years download ‘A Year in Our Life’ at www.mha.org.uk/about-mha/our-publications/ or contact us for a copy.In November 2015 MHA was delighted to win the Laing Buisson ‘Excellence in Dementia Care Award’ for our work with music therapy. This interactive therapy enables people with dementia to express themselves and engage with their surroundings. Family and friends frequently comment on how much more expressive and communicative their loved ones with dementia become once they begin the therapy, and how it eases stress and agitation. This therapy is provided without charge in all our Homes with dementia care, and is financed from our fundraised income.

Action for Children At Christmas most churches in the district raised money for Christmas in various ways such as singing carols, holding bazaars and of course the Christmas collections.In the Cambridge circuit three village churches, Toft, Dry Drayton and Histon raised almost £1000.00 between them at their Christmas Carol Services. Wesley Church, Cambridge raised just over £1000 with sales of Christmas cards, carol singing and Christmas Collections. In January they held a "Holy" Beetle Drive which raised £140 and are now selling marmalade.I must mention the Cambridge Business Man, Charles le Strange Meakin, a partner at accountants KPMG in Cambridge who swapped a family Christmas Day to drive 848 miles from John O'Groats to Lands End in a 1937 French car. He made it in 22 hours and raised £11000 for Action for Children.

Sheila Turner, District Action for Children Coordinator and Action for Children contact in the Cambridge Circuit

Nationally Action for Children are suggesting that Spring is the perfect time to try something new. Now that the bitter cold of winter is a distant memory and we're coming out of hibernation, they suggest putting away devices and getting creative, messy and playful. If you look on their website they have lots of ideas.

An extract from the Action for Children February NewsletterIn Bury St Edmunds we have one of the Action for Children schemes that are in operation – the West Suffolk shared housing. This scheme operates to assist young people, between the ages of 16 – 25 who have left or are in the process of leaving the care system. The scheme has houses which offer assistance for independent living. They offer counselling and support including befriending, advising on food preparation, reminding and non-specialist counselling where this does not overlap with similar services provided as personal care or personal support.This year Trinity Church in Bury St Edmunds decided that this would be their project for Harvest Festival and everyone was given a brown carrier bag with a list of suitable items to go in it. The response was overwhelming and hundreds of bags full of food and toiletries were taken to the Action for Children unit. Not only did the church support, but we also have close contact with a local school for Children with specialist teaching needs and they also supported Action for Children with their Harvest Festival gifts; some of the students had decorated hessian bags in which they placed their harvest items. We continually have a basket in church for people to place their items for this unit, which is emptied monthly.

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Debbie Borda, Superintendent in the Bury St Edmonds CircuitIn the Ipswich Circuit Elmsett holds a Christmas Concert every year for the whole Village with the Elmsett Fellowship Brass Band and village organisations taking part. The collection goes to Action for Children.On Christmas Eve we gather at Elmsett Methodist Church to sing carols around the Christmas tree again with the band and the collection goes to Action for Children.

Marilyn Watisham, Elmsett Methodist Church in the Ipswich Circuit

Last year Ramsey Methodist Church sent £615.94 to Action for Children.We had a coffee morning in November, and as usual the collection at the Christmas Day service was sent to Action for Children. The combined total was £216.10.In addition I open 30 Home Collecting boxes in the autumn. They contained £399.84 last year.This year as a new venture 10 people have taken Count your Blessings sheets for use through Lent. I am grateful for the support of Abbi Lang from Action for Children.

Eileen Baker, Action for Children representative, Ramsey Methodist ChurchIn 1991 a small group from Halesworth and Wenhaston Methodist Churches formed a support group for NCH, as Action for Children was known as then. In its heyday a variety of fund raising events were held, but these have diminished over the years due to depleted numbers of active members. The current activities are basically restricted to:- one street and one store collection a year, offerings at Wenhaston Christmas morning service and a Songs of Praise in July, emptying of home and counter boxes and “Count your Blessings” in Lent. In the 25 years, in excess of £26,000 has been collected.

N Hatcher, Lowestoft and East Suffolk CircuitIn Newmarket they have about 20 League of Light box holders which they open in October/November. Norman Cobbum, Newmarket CircuitIn the Huntingdon and St Neots Circuit the door-to-door collection done in September every year raised £589.36 last year.There is an annual Gift Service for AfC, where a speaker from the charity usually comes along to give a talk about local AfC activities in the area and to collect our gifts/money. Last year, we had John Innes, a Children's Service Co-ordinator based at Woodland Lodge, which is a Short Break Centre in Huntingdon.Richard is doing a bike ride in aid of AfC on Saturday April 30th, covering about 57 miles and visiting some of the churches in their circuit en route (if anyone would like to sponsor him, please get in touch with Rev Katy Dunn!).

Richard Dunn, local organiser in Hilton, St Neots & Huntingdon CircuitIn the Ely Circuit - The Ely support group raised approx £2,500 last year, the Book stall

at Martha's cafe in Haddenham Methodist church £204.96, AfC Sunday from Ely, Haddenham & Burwell £592.43, a Tuppenny Rush at Haddenham £36.60, The Home Collecting Boxes Ely, Haddenham and Stretham £477.32, Haddenham Village Carol Service £179.85, Carol singing at Tesco, Ely £696.32, Christmas Cards sold at Haddenham £150 and 2 members from Haddenham took part in the cycle ride to Cambridge and raised £100.

Barbara Galley, Haddenham Methodist Church in the Ely Circuit

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ADMINISTRATION GROUP REPORTFinance & Property1. The budget for 2016/17 has been sent to the Circuits. All District Accounts are

provided in the District Treasurer’s Report.2. District accounts for Connexional year 2014/15 will all be presented to Synod

for approval.3. The District Property Consents Panel members are Roger Pauley (District

Property Secretary) Julian Pursehouse, Shaun Cushion, Paul Hornsby, Paul Harris, and Aileen Fox; need to be appointed

APPROVE: Accounts for 2014/15.ADOPT: the Budget for 2016/17 & receive rest of the report.Personnel & Grants1. A reminder to all circuits receiving a Ministry & Mission Grant that a report is

now required annually by the Grants & Personnel Committee to review the work & progress of the project. For District grants which are more than £5,000 per annum, the district requires a monitoring and evaluation report in line with the above.

2. The District offers training on how to approach making Grant applications, and also with Monitoring & Evaluation reporting. Please speak to Jack Lawson on 01953 601964 or Mike Wilson 01223 527560 about either of these issues.

3. Since my last report new schemes receiving District grant funding include Diaconal appointment at Downham Market, West Norfolk 14/20 (£113,300 DAF) Walton Parish Nursing – Ipswich Circuit 14/2 (£45,000 DAF) Bursary Scholarship to Wesley House (£25,000 DAF) and Lay worker to Sudbury – Bury St Edmunds 14/3 (£10,000 DAF). At time of writing uncommitted capital in the DAF is £80,633. All District grants awarded by the Grants and Personnel Committee are subject to ratification by District Policy Committee.

4. Proposed Administration Group Representatives to Synod for 2016/17: Mr Paul Hornsby, Mrs Barbara George, and Mrs Aileen Fox.

5. The District Grants Policy: Agreed 5th September 2012.The East Anglia District of the Methodist Church will consider making grants for work/projects that meet all of the following criteria:That the work/project:-

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1. relates directly to ‘Our Calling’ in at least one of the four constituent parts2. relates to at least one aspect of ‘The Priorities for the Methodist Church’3. relates directly to at least one aspect of the District Policy4. meets the objectives of the Circuit Mission Policy5. is innovative and/or involves risk-taking6. will also be supported by Circuit monies

In addition, grant applications will be viewed positively if every effort is made to obtain grant money from sources outside Methodism and/or if they are for projects which are environmentally friendly. District Officers are available to advise and support grant applications at each stage of the process, if the conditions below have been met.District grants are not normally more than the amount also granted from Circuit resources. Unless exceptional circumstance, grants will not be given retrospectively for property schemes or ministry and mission projects.

Please be aware of the following conditions:District grants will only be awarded when the District Policy Committee is satisfied that the Circuit concerned has sufficient Safeguarding policies in place and that Circuit employees or volunteers have completed appropriate training.District grants for the employment of lay personnel will only be awarded when the District Lay Employment Committee has been consulted and approved the arrangements for the relevant post(s).A Circuit, and any local church in that Circuit, will only receive grant money for new projects (of any kind) when satisfactory Monitoring and Evaluation reports have been received from existing projects.

ANDREW KING. – Group Coordinator Administration

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