Funding priorities

Background

Cloudesley was endowed by the will of Richard Cloudesley made on 13 January 1517. The charity is now governed by a Charity Commission Scheme of 1980 as amended. Under the Scheme, half of the charity’s net income is required to be used to make ‘grants towards the upkeep and repair of the fabric of, and the maintenance of the services in, any churches of the Church of England in the London Borough of Islington’. The other half is to be used to support Islington residents with physical or mental health issues or who are disabled and in financial need, as well as the organisations working with them.

During 2019, the charity reviewed its Church Grants programme and funding priorities. A new funding programme for 2020-25 was launched in January 2020.

Church Grants Programme 2020-25

The charity’s Church Grants Programme for 2020-25 prioritises applications which address the upkeep and repair of the fabric of the church buildings, and includes the following:

Church grants

Main Grants Fund

Cloudesley operates two funding rounds in the Spring and Autumn of each year. It is expected that churches will usually only submit one application per round, applying for funds under a particular funding priority. The detail and related criteria for each of the funding priorities may be amended over the course of the programme. Those applying on behalf of PCCs/churches should read the latest guidelines each time they submit an application.

Church grants

Small urgent repair grants

Small urgent repair grants of up to £10,000 are intended to deal with urgent and unforeseen repairs quickly, resulting in an immediate improvement to the fabric of the church building. An urgent repair grant can be applied for at any point in the year.

Church grants

Top-up grants

To respond to rising costs, Cloudesley has introduced top-up grants to deal with unforeseen budget shortfalls arising before a project starts. Top-up grants can be up to a value of 10% of the overall project costs and no more than £10,000.

Church grants

Multi-church applications

Cloudesley can consider funding applications for projects and works which will benefit more than one of the eligible churches, providing the proposal fits within the charity's Church Object and current funding priorities. To help with the assessment of multi-church funding applications, Trustees have agreed some initial guidance. This guidance will be applied flexibly and is likely to be updated as we learn from any applications that are received.

Cloudesley seeks to be as helpful as possible in meeting the needs of applicant churches. The charity, however, must operate within the limits of its Church Object for which a grant can be awarded. Please do contact the charity’s office if you have questions about the Church Grants programme.

If you are disabled and the application form is inaccessible for you, access bursaries are available to help pay for support to complete it.

Access bursaries