Ready-to-go projects

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.

Ready-to-Go Projects - Debt - CAP Money

DEBT AND MONEY MANAGEMENT
Christians Against Poverty (CAP Money)

Summary
Your church can partner with Christians Against Poverty to provide a debt counselling service for those living in debt and poverty on your doorstep, or you can enable people to get to grips with their finances before they fall into debt through CAP Money, a three-session money management course.

Ready-to-go projects - Debt - Christians Against Poverty

DEBT AND MONEY MANAGEMENT
Christians Against Poverty - Debt Counselling

Ready-to-Go Projects - Debt - Community Money Advice

DEBT AND MONEY MANAGEMENT
Community Money Advice (CMA)

Summary
Community Money Advice can provide you with the basic legal and practical steps to set up a Debt Advice Centre in your community, and will help you through each stage of the process.

Ready-to-Go Projects - Employment/Training - SAFE Choices Programme

EMPLOYMENT/TRAINING
SAFE Choices Programme

Summary
Choices is a practical outreach tool for churches. It is a course which helps people on low incomes gain confidence, take control of their lives and make life-changing choices.

Ready-to-Go Projects - Employment/Training - Spear

EMPLOYMENT/TRAINING
Spear Course

Summary
Spear is an interactive six week programme for 16-24 year old unemployed young people. It addresses the causes of underachievement, such as the absence of motivation, life skills and qualifications.

Ready-to-Go Projects - Foodbanks - Trussell Trust

FOODBANKS
The Trussell Trust

Summary
Starting a foodbank is a great way to help those in crisis in your own community, by providing boxes of nutritionally balanced food and support. The foodbank collects tinned and dried food from the public at supermarkets, churches, schools and other local groups. The Trussell Trust will provide you with a complete toolkit, training and support for running a foodbank project.

Ready-to-Go Projects - Health - Parish Nursing Ministries

HEALTH
Parish Nursing Ministries UK

Summary
A church or group of churches can appoint a Parish Nurse who works part-time or full-time, on a paid or voluntary basis, developing a service that is complementary to NHS provision. The nurse could promote exercise, walking groups, healthy eating etc. and will also offer personal health advice, and promote the integration of spiritual care with physical care.

Ready-to-Go Projects - Homeless/Housing - Emergency Accommodation

HOMELESS/HOUSING
DePaul Nightstop UK

Summary
Nightstop is the provision of emergency accommodation for single homeless 16-25 year olds exclusively in the homes of approved volunteers. The host offers a bed for the night, meals, an opportunity for the young person to bath and wash their clothes and a friendly listening ear. Depaul Nightstop UK offers guidance and consultancy services, concerning the processes and the spectrum of issues involved in setting up and operating a local scheme.

Ready-to-Go Projects - Homeless/Housing - Winter Night Shelters

HOMELESS/HOUSING
Church Winter Nightshelters

Summary
Housing Justice, a national Christian organisation, provides advice, resources and training to enable groups of churches (at least 7) to run night shelters for rough sleepers over the winter (normally January-March). Each church provides space, facilities and volunteers on 1 night per week each.