Small Grants Fund | transform-newham

What was The Seed Fund for Newham?

The Fund was set up to help both Christian Believers and other peoples of Newham to fulfil their vision for the good of local people and the area. It was primarily aimed at releasing those who are not in church leadership or other full time church work.

The informal committee which ran The Seed Fund worked with Transform Newham and was also part of a network across the nation which distributes grants on behalf of another Christian community trust. The work closed at the end of 2018.

The fund lasted for 13 years.

It helped 230 different groups with grants up to £5,000, sometimes repeated in a second and a third year.

Total gifted was £1,500,000.

How did it work?

We normally supported projects which had a delivery team in which some were Christians, who were drawn from more than one congregation. Both informal groups and registered charities were welcome.

We generally funded a project for a year at a time with a maximum of three years. We considered things like equipment, room hire, insurance, publicity, part-time staff hours, a ‘bridging grant’ until larger promised grants arrived.

JESUS’ TEACHING and NARRATIVES - this was for individuals and partner organisations who engaged in direct communication of Jesus’ teaching and narratives, on an invitational basis (which might have included Christian outreach or mission events).

CHRISTIAN SOCIAL ACTION - this represented individuals and partner organisations who were motivated by Jesus’ teaching and narratives, which in turn impacted the public in a beneficial way (eg. challenging social injustices; loving your neighbour; poverty response etc.)

COMMUNITY SOCIAL ACTION - this represented individuals and partner organisations who were not consciously motivated by Christian faith, but whose work aligned with furthering the common good (eg. building community; breaking down division and developing understanding; loving your neighbour etc.)

In the latter years we particularly liked projects which:

provided a welcome to new people and fostered community in the Royal Docks or on the QEOP.
responded to poverty and hardship.
reduced barriers between faiths and cultures.
addressed or challenged social barriers around disability.
focussed on health, wellbeing (physical and / or mental) and physical activity including sport.
delivered for children and young people
supported the elderly in some way.

What was The Seed Fund for Newham?

​

​​The Fund was set up to help both Christian Believers and other peoples of Newham to fulfil their vision for the good of local people and the area. It was primarily aimed at releasing those who are not in church leadership or other full time church work.

The Fund was set up to help both Christian Believers and other peoples of Newham to fulfil their vision for the good of local people and the area. It was primarily aimed at releasing those who are not in church leadership or other full time church work.