Grant Stories

DAF Report 2022-23 DAF Report 2021-2022 DAF-Report-2020-21

December 2023- Leicester Menshed


Within the grounds of New Parks, Methodist Church has emerged a Menshed. What is a Menshed? 

"a place to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practice skills and enjoy making and mending. The difference is that garden sheds and their activities are often solitary in nature while Men's Sheds are the opposite. They're about social connections and friendship building, sharing skills and knowledge, and of course a lot of laughter." (mensshed.org.uk)

At a glance, New Parks- For men, life expectancy is 3.8 years lower than the Leicester average (75.4 years) and 7 years lower than the England average (78.6 years.) In addition, Suicide rates in men have increased significantly over the past few years.

With that context in mind, the Mission Enabler of Leiester West applied for a missional start-up grant to help begin a new menshed group. With some help from the Police Commissioner, an offer of a free large shed and several volunteers, the shed was made possible. 

The Methodist Church Menshed is more than just a physical space; it is a testament to the vision of the New Parks Methodist Church community. Conceived as a response to the need for a place where men could come together, share skills, and forge lasting friendships, Menshed, is a place for outreach and faith sharing. 

As the Menshed continues to grow in its infancy, its exciting to see the impact it will have in the years to come. 

To benefit from a missional start up grant, why not visit this page.


November 2023- Rothwell Methodist Church


Nestled in the heart of Rothwell, the Methodist Church stands as a beacon of community spirit and togetherness. Within its welcoming walls, a vibrant and engaging playgroup has been flourishing, offering a haven for children and caregivers alike. This nurturing space, facilitated by the Methodist Church, serves so many purposes.

The playgroup at Rothwell Methodist Church is more than just a gathering--it's a testament to the power of community, the commitment of faithful volunteers and a place of worship open to all.

Rothwell received a missional start-up grant from the District and its clear to see from the offering each Monday how this money has made a difference. Whether it be thermos cups for your hot drink or the exceptional messy play activities, the thought given to the group is second to none.

The opportunities that await for Rothwell Methodist Church are exciting and the grant from the District was an encouragement to explore those new horizons further.

So it is clear, In the heart of Rothwell, the Methodist Church playgroup isn't just a gathering--it's a celebration of togetherness and learning, a testament to the beautiful tapestry of community life. So if you're in Rothwell and looking for a playgroup why not pay it a visit on a Monday?




October 2023 Story- CAMEO PROJECT


On May 2nd 2023, the CAMEO Cafe officially opened its doors in the Stoke Golding Methodist Church. This moment was significant because the vision for the project began in 2020 lockdown.

This project was successful in achieving a District property grant.

In their own words, the project lead remarks:

"We were delighted that a group of Asylum Seekers were able to help us clear the old kitchen and cupboards under the stage. Their help was invaluable and it was wonderful to get to know some of them and hear their stories. The old schoolroom has been transformed into a light, welcoming, modern café, to serve the local community. The café is a place where all ages and dogs can come together. It has been wonderful to see support from across the circuit and we are excited to see how God will use Cameo Café as a vehicle for mission here in Stoke Golding in the coming months"

The District Mission Team Leader made the following remarks after a recent visit:

"The new cafe space manages to blend a professional cafe feel with the homely touches that the church seeking to be inclusive does well. The warm smiles as you walk through the door are noticeable, and so too is the buzz in the room. That homemade cake might also have something to do with that. Nevertheless, the space created offers fantastic missional opportunities which the District looks forward to supporting"

If you are inspired by what the CAMEO cafe has achieved why not pay a visit? The details can be found here -

Check back next month for another inspirational grant story.




District Advance Fund Grants

The District Advance Fund (DAF) provides grants for personnel and property projects that develop new work and/or further the mission of the church in line with the District's Criteria for Grants as described in the Northampton District Grants Policy Document. Please ensure that you contact the District Mission Enabler as soon as possible for guidance and the mandatory meeting and also that the application form and supporting information is forwarded to the District Treasurer by the due dates. Details of the criteria, the guidelines, contact details and the application dates are given in the Northampton District Grants Policy Document.

You can also see the details of grants that were made in 2021-2022 and the previous two years in the reports to Synod which are available here:

District Advance Fund Report to Synod for 2022-2023

District Advance Fund Report to Synod for 2021-2022

District Advance Fund Report to Synod for 2020-2021