Ready-to-Go Projects - An Introduction

UPDATED NOVEMBER 2010

Would you like to start a community development project at your church?

Are you feeling daunted and don’t know where to start?

In this section, we’ve compiled details of organisations who have:

• a passion for helping churches be more effective in their community, and
• ready-to-go projects that have been tried and tested elsewhere.

These national organisations can give you the tools you need, as well as advice and support throughout the whole process of setting up your project in your local area.

For a downloadable version - click here.

Each organisation has provided details on benefits of the project to your community and church, what services they offer and what contributions the local church needs to make.

There are many advantages in partnering with a national organisation to set up a community project:

Projects start sooner
Churches can hit the ground running with pre-established procedures, promotional material and governance structures. There will be existing monitoring systems (and often specifically designed computer templates/packages).

More effective
Rather than starting from scratch, you can access the experience, best practice and learning from established organisations that have already gone through the process.

Reduces isolation and shares good practice
Running community projects can be isolating and tiring. These organisations have networks (through annual conferences and e-newsletters) that bring project workers/church leaders together to share learning, common problems and to
re-energise one another.

Less risk
These project models are established with clear protocols. You are not in it alone. If you face issues or problems, you have somebody at the end of a phone who can advise and support you. Consequently, it is easier for church leaderships to manage.

Finally, this partnership is not the same as becoming a local branch of a national organisation. These projects are owned and run by local churches and so have a high degree of ownership. Consequently they are successful at accessing the enthusiasm, finances, volunteers and prayer of local people.