Bristol Churches City Fund: Support for Welcome Spaces 2023 Campaign
BCCF is aiming to raise £60,000 to support churches to run welcoming spaces for a second winter, or other churches to start a welcoming space for the first time.
Over the last few years, a combination of Covid-19, conflict in Ukraine, and other national and global pressures has resulted in a cost-of-living crisis the likes of which we haven’t seen for many years.
This has had a profound impact on the lives of many people, with individuals and families struggling to feed themselves and heat their homes, and an increased sense of isolation and hopelessness.
In the Autumn of 2022, there was a call to set up a network of Welcoming Spaces across Bristol. Over 100 were established, with a third being based in churches, most of which had smaller congregations and located in the more deprived parts of the city. It was amazing to see these churches opening their doors and local residents rediscovering their local church, experiencing a place of community, welcome and warmth.
Through this, new friendships and relationships have been developed, and many churches are experiencing a fresh connectivity and relevance with their local community.
As we move towards the Autumn and Winter of 2023, we’re seeking to raise funds to provide further support for these local churches – we expect even more to be opening their doors as Welcoming Spaces over the coming Winter.
Alongside providing a welcome, and often food, there is a proposal to offer further support to those attending these Welcoming Spaces. This might include support for mental health and wellbeing (through Kintsugi Hope); financial advice and support (through CAP); support for families and children (e.g., after-school clubs, etc.).
These churches have limited resources, and we’re therefore seeking to encourage the Christian community across the city to give generously into the Churches City Fund to enable us to provide funding for these initiatives.
Our hope is to raise £60,000 over the coming months to support this work, which we hope will be match-funded through other sources. We would therefore encourage you to be as generous as possible as we seek to resource and equip churches across the city to share God’s love with the most needy.