Heritage Trust Network is delighted to be part of an alliance offering support to community groups wishing to establish a community business in their local church or place of worship.
Places of worship can make great locations for community businesses. From shops and cafes to post offices and farmers markets – a community business trades for the benefit of the local community and are typically owned and run by the local community. These businesses often struggle to find premises within the heart of a village or town – and over the years a place may have seen its last shop, pub, post-office, village hall close and with this the loss of an important service and an important social hub too.
Working together, places of worship and community businesses can re-invigorate their communities, identifying what essential services they need and how this can support local people too.
Benefits of locating a community business within your place of worship, grounds or buildings:
- generate income through rent
- increase investment in the fabric of the building
- deliver a valuable community service and reach out to more people
- open up new funding opportunities.
As part of an alliance of all faith organisations we have joined with the Plunkett Foundation to encourage churches to explore the benefits of supporting community businesses.
Plunkett Foundation is a UK-wide charity helping communities establish community businesses. In addition to developing and safeguarding valuable assets and services, community businesses can address issues of isolation, loneliness, wellbeing, work and training. The Plunkett Foundation, funded by the Allchurches Trust, is providing specialist advice and funds to encourage churches to explore the benefits of supporting community businesses.
If you think your church or place of worship could benefit and if you’d like to explore the opportunities talk to a Plunkett advisor via: aimee.evans@plunkett.co.uk or visit www.plunkett.co.uk.
