Swindon Churches Audit A survey of the churches contribution to community life in Swindon

Transcription

1 20 Swindon Churches Audit A survey of the churches contribution to community life in Swindon Report produced by the Churches Council for Industry and Responsibility for Swindon Churches Together

2 Foreword Facts are our friends! So said Bill Hybels to a gathering of church leaders as he commended the value of an audit in the life of a church. A meaningful audit demands time, money, commitment and expertise from many people and the results do not always make comfortable reading. Jesus declared the truth the reality sets us free and an audit can help us get beneath anecdote and aspiration to find data that challenges or supports our assumptions. This Audit, commissioned by Swindon Churches Together and ably conducted by ISR, the Churches Council for Industrial and Social Responsibility, provides us with a snapshot of Swindon s churches in 20. It may not be exhaustive, but it is comprehensive and is intended to strengthen the churches in our task of serving God and being good news to the people of Swindon. Those who study this report will find material for celebration and probably concern. Its pages contain plenty of evidence that Christians are focussed beyond themselves, highly engaged with the local community and addressing significant issues and needs. The Audit reveals the tremendous range of activities supported or sponsored by churches and raises the question of how churches might work more fruitfully with the Borough. The Audit reveals the number and variety of congregations that exist across the Borough, yet it also prompts questions about sustainability and how effective churches have been in drawing others to faith and belonging. However, it clearly reinforces the evidence from elsewhere that Christians are highly motivated to make a difference in their communities, stepping forward in response to need and to fulfil the divine injunction to love our neighbours as ourself. This report is not meant to sit on the shelf - the Executive of Swindon Churches Together recognises that the figures will soon become out of date. Rather the Audit is intended to be a catalyst for reflection, planning and action. Already it has provided a means of updating some information on an annual basis and it is my hope that some of the churches which have not yet engaged will benefit from the report s research and insights. We are hugely grateful to Simon Topping and his colleagues in ISR for the quality of their work on our behalf and to all those who have patiently taken the time to attend briefings and complete questionnaires. I welcome this Audit and pray it will be a blessing to the people of Swindon and those agencies which, like the Church, seek the wellbeing of our town and Borough. The Right Reverend Dr Lee Rayfield, Bishop of Swindon and Chair of Swindon Churches Together 2 P a g e

3 Table of Contents. Introduction Summary The churches Community engagement Social responsibility priorities Relationships with others Volunteering Working with Swindon Borough Council Achievements and challenges Training needs Comments 39 Appendices Acknowledgements Thanks to: All the churches who took time to complete the questionnaire. David Howell for most of the photographs. Street Pastors, All Saints Lydiard Millicent, Willows Counselling Service and Swindon Youth For Christ for permission to use photographs. Chris Durant for information and advice. Alistair Beattie, Chief Executive, Faithnetsouthwest. Bishop of Swindon s office for receiving completed questionnaires. ISR Audit Report Team: Simon Topping Jacqui Oliver Simon Bale Vena Prater P a g e

4 : Introduction. Swindon Churches Together Swindon Churches Together commissioned The Churches Council for Industry and Social Responsibility (ISR) to conduct an audit of churches and Christian groups and organisations within the area covered by Swindon Borough Council (SBC). The principal objectives of the audit were to: Record and measure the contribution that the churches within SBC make to the life of the Borough through their own activities, the use of their facilities by other groups and through their partnerships with others. Raise awareness among public bodies and community organisations of the churches contribution and, therefore, the importance of greater dialogue, consultation and partnership working. Encourage greater networking between churches and church organisations. Provide good quality evidence to support future funding applications from Swindon churches. Create an updatable database of the services and activities offered by SCT churches. Recognise, value and celebrate the work being done by churches in the area. The Ecumenical Council of the SCT and its executive seek to promote the wider work of the churches in the Borough, strengthen ecumenical links and speak as a representative body on important local issues. The following denominations and church groupings can have representation on the SCT Ecumenical Council: Baptist churches Black-majority churches Community churches Church of England Deanery Evangelical churches Methodist Circuits Moravian District Swindon Churches Together: a brief history 920s: records of a small ecumenical group meeting in the town from this time. 945: the Swindon Council of Churches was formed around this time. 969: the name changed to the Swindon and District Council of Churches. 973: The name changed again to Thamesdown Council of churches to reflect the fact that the Council included churches beyond Swindon Town. 997: When the Thamesdown District ceased to exist and Swindon Borough Council was formed the ecumenical group became known firstly as Swindon Churches Forum and then, in 2004, as Swindon Churches Together. The SCT presently functions with a regular meeting of the Ecumenical Council, open to representatives from all churches in the Borough, an executive appointed by the Council, working groups as required and a sub-committee: the Swindon Churches Social and Economic Group. 4 P a g e

5 Pentecostal churches Roman Catholic Deanery Salvation Army Corps Society of Friends (observers) United Reformed Church Synod Swindon Borough Unitary Authority: Swindon Borough Council Population: 98,792 Ecumenical groups and Christian agencies working within the Borough are also invited to the Council. There are currently 69 churches listed in SCT s directory of churches plus the following six roles and organisations: The Bible Society Street Pastors Chaplain to Economic Life in Swindon Police chaplain Chaplaincy to Great Western Hospital Chaplaincy to Swindon College Ethnicity: 93.4% White, 3% Asian, % Black British,.4% Dual Heritage,.2% Chinese or other. (Source: Office of National Statistics) Research for this audit suggests that there are, at least, a further 6 churches and church organisations in SBC that are not listed in the SCT directory, giving a total of 87 for all churches and church organisations (excluding the chaplains and chaplaincies listed above)..2 Methodology The central focus of the audit has been upon gathering quantitative data which could be used to measure the activities, partnerships and volunteering capacity of churches and church organisations within the Borough. A questionnaire was devised by ISR and approved by SCT. The questionnaire was designed principally to collect quantitative data from local churches and church organisations, although some questions asked for qualitative responses. Other qualitative data has been collected through interviews with representatives from churches and church organisations. The questionnaire was sent out to 83 churches and 4 church organisations identified as present within the SBC area. 49 questionnaires were returned and completed, giving a statistical return of 57% in total. This percentage has been used to extrapolate some statistics for the Borough as a whole. Extrapolated figures which relate to churches alone, (so not including church organisations with no congregation) are based on a statistical return of 53%. 5 P a g e

6 2. Summary 2. The Churches A wide range of denominations, traditions and church models are found within Swindon Borough. The Church of England has the largest proportion of churches, forming 32% of the total. It is notable that the next largest grouping is comprised of churches constituted as Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs). This reflects a strong tradition of ecumenism with the Borough over many years (see side panel on p. 4). 80% of the churches have an urban setting. The remaining 20% have either rural or large village settings. Average weekly church attendance (8300) is equivalent to 4.2% of the population of the Borough. This is a significantly lower proportion than the national average which is 0%. The reasons for this low figure may warrant further investigation and could be connected to social and cultural factors that are particular to Swindon Borough. Approximately 6,000 people attend approximately 670 church run activities each week in the Borough of Swindon (including worship services and church run community projects). This gives an annual footfall of 832,000 for church run activities in the Borough. In addition to these 670 church run activities there are a further 360 non church run community groups who use church premises for their activities on a regular basis. Each church s commitment to maintain their premises and make them available for community use at rental levels which are viable for voluntary sector organisations is an often unrecognised but very significant contribution to both to the local economy and also to the promotion of stronger communities. 2.2 Community engagement The evidence gathered from the questionnaires demonstrates extensive engagement on the part of churches in Swindon within the local community. Approximately 325 community projects or community focussed activities are supported by churches in the Borough. 280 of 6 P a g e

7 these projects or activities are run by the churches or church organisations. On average each church actively supports or runs 6 community projects or activities. The evidence indicates that the churches in the Borough of Swindon make a significant contribution to the building and sustaining of local community life and to the provision of organised support for groups within the local community who are particularly vulnerable or marginalised. The issues which attract the greatest level of support from churches through involvement in community projects and activities are those of work with children and young people, the homeless and the bereaved. There is also a considerable amount of church community work focussed on the needs of the unemployed, older people, parents and people with learning disabilities. 2.3 Social responsibility priorities The four top social issues demanding a response from the churches were considered to be: the needs of older people, homelessness, poverty and international development. 2.4 Relationships with others Every church who returned a questionnaire indicated that they had an active relationship with at least one other church. These relationships principally took the form of shared services and study groups. As the section on community engagement has established, churches are working in active partnership with a wide range of community and social care groups and organisations, principally in the voluntary sector. The findings suggest that there are approximately 80 separate working partnerships between churches and voluntary/community, health and social care organisations. Churches relationships with local schools are particularly strong with evidence of approximately 60 active partnerships between churches, church organisations and schools. The completed questionnaires did not provide evidence of active relationships between the churches and Voluntary Action Swindon. 2.5 Volunteering Approximately 4800 people are involved in church based voluntary work and 3000 church members in voluntary work outside the church. The total volunteer hours offered by church members each year is approximately 60,000. When these annual volunteer hours are given a monetary value in which one hour of voluntary work is equivalent to 0 then the monetary value of the church members voluntary work within the Swindon Borough each year is equivalent to approximately 6. million. This figure represents a highly significant contribution to the local economy in a way that is often unrecognised both by civic bodies and local churches themselves. 7 P a g e

8 2.6 Working with Swindon Borough Council Although the data suggests approximately 60 working partnerships between the churches and Swindon Borough Council, much of the contact is related to one off events and one third of the contact between the council and the churches concerned issues around planning. Whilst most churches considered the Council to be very helpful in their contact with them, concern was also expressed that it may be harder for churches to access Council funding because of what was perceived to be a negative attitude on the part of the Council towards churches. Only three of the churches who responded to the questionnaire indicated that they had received funding from the Council in the previous twelve months. 2.7 Achievements and challenges Serving the community and building stronger links with community organisations were the most common ways in which churches described their greatest achievements over the last five years, followed by maintaining or improving the church premises and growth in numbers. These same achievements were also considered to be among the greatest challenges for the next five years. Additionally, ongoing financial viability figured as a significant challenge for many churches. 2.8 Training needs Major concerns about future funding were also expressed in the training needs identified by the churches. Training, advice and support in the area of funding was the highest concern of the churches, followed by training and support for community engagement and work with vulnerable people. 8 P a g e

9 Suggested areas for further consideration:. What is the constituency of Swindon Churches Together? Should SCT seek to represent all the Churches of the Borough? Does the present agenda of SCT include rural church concerns? How can SCT strengthen its links with small black-majority churches? 2. Given the extensive involvement of churches across the Borough in community project work, what steps can be taken to raise awareness of this work and engage strategically with other service providers (especially through the Swindon Strategic Partnership)? 3. Are there ways in which churches with experience in developing community projects can give practical support to other churches seeking to develop similar work? Can SCT help in this process? 4. Should church links with Voluntary Action Swindon be strengthened? If so, how? 3. The Churches 5. The economic value to Swindon of church based volunteering is significant. Is this contribution recognised by Swindon Borough Council and is it an argument for greater inclusion by SBC of the churches in their strategic partnerships and networks across the Borough? 6. What steps can be taken to explore SBC s policy towards the funding of church run community projects? 7. Is there scope for the Swindon churches to work more closely together in the area of joint lobbying/campaigning around local community issues in which there is a common interest?? 8. How can training and support be offered to churches in those areas which are of greatest concern, especially on funding and community engagement? 9 P a g e

10 3. The churches 3. Church type Table lists all the churches to which questionnaires were sent according to their denomination or church model. Table 2 lists the churches who returned completed questionnaires according to their denomination or church model. Table Denomination/ Number church model Baptist 5 Brethren Church of England 28 Evangelical 3 Free/Community 6 Local Ecumenical Project 0 Majority Black 3 Methodist 7 Moravian Non-denominational 4 Organisation 4 Pentecostal 2 Quaker Roman Catholic 5 Russian Orthodox Salvation Army 2 United Reformed Church 4 Table 2 Denomination/ Number Church model Baptist 3 Brethren Church of England 20 Evangelical Free/Community 4 Local Ecumenical Project 6 Majority Black 0 Methodist 5 Moravian Non-denominational 0 Organisation 3 Pentecostal 0 Quaker Roman Catholic 2 Russian Orthodox 0 Salvation Army United Reformed Church Total 87 Total 49 Chart indicates the proportional breakdown of the different denominations and churches within the Borough of Swindon. Chart 2 indicates the proportional breakdown of the different denominations and churches who returned completed questionnaires. The two charts indicate that, whilst the proportions vary a little and some church groupings returned no questionnaires, the collection of returned questionnaires is broadly representative of the proportional presence of the various church groupings within the Borough of Swindon. 0 P a g e

11 Chart Churches in the Borough of Swindon Baptist Brethren Church of England Evangelical Free/Community LEP Majority Black Methodist Moravian Non-denominational Organisation Pentecostal Quaker Roman Catholic Russian Orthodox Salvation Army URC Chart 2 Completed questionnaires Baptist Brethren Church of England Evangelical Free/Community LEP Majority black Methodist Moravian Non-denominational Organisation Pentecostal Quaker Roman Catholic Russian Orthodox Salvation Army URC P a g e

12 3.2 LEPs in Swindon Swindon Churches Together is separate from the Sponsoring Body which has responsibility for the maintenance and support of Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs). Single congregation LEPs: Central Church Church of Christ the Servant Westlea Church Toothill Church All Saints Lydiard Millicent St Marys Lydiard Tregoze Holy Trinity Shaw St Timothy s (The Dorcan Church) St Pauls (The Dorcan Church) The Eldene Centre (The Dorcan Church) Denominational churches in LEP partnerships: Bath Road Methodist Church (Old Town Partnership) Christ Church Church of England (Old Town Partnership) Immanuel United Reformed Church (Old Town Partnership) Lawn Community Church (Old Town Partnership) Salvation Army Swindon Citadel (Old Town Partnership) Queens Road Methodist Church (Parks and Walcot Partnership) St Johns Park Church of England (Parks and Walcot Partnership) Other LEPs: Great Western Hospital Chaplaincy Swindon College Chaplaincy New College Chaplaincy 2 P a g e

13 3.3 Church location 3 of the churches which completed the questionnaire were rural or large village and 36 were urban. In total in the Borough there are 7 rural churches and 66 urban churches (and church organisations). Charts 3 and 4 give the respective percentages of rural and urban churches which completed the questionnaire and rural and urban churches across the whole Borough. Chart 3 Chart 4 church context (all churches in Swindon Borough) church context (churches who completed the questionnaire) rural (9.54%) urban (80.46%) rural (26.53%) urban (73.47%) 3.4 Church Attendance Each church was asked to give a figure for its average weekly attendance for all church services. When the average figures of those churches which completed the questionnaire are added together the total church attendance figure is % of the churches in the Borough returned their questionnaires (this figure excludes church organisations who returned questionnaires but do not have congregations). An extrapolation of the total church attendance figure for all churches in the Borough gives an approximate weekly average total of 8300 people attending churches in the Borough. The latest population figure given by the Office of National Statistics for SBC is 98,792. These figures suggest that weekly church attendance in SBC represents approximately 4.2% of the Borough s population. This figure does not represent the total number of church-goers in the Borough as there is an increasing number of regular church-goers who may only attend church once or twice a month 2 (although some people will attend more than one service each week). This average weekly attendance figure is noticeably lower than the national average of 0%. 3 The reasons for this low figure may relate to social and cultural issues specific to Swindon and further investigation may well be useful. ONS Mid 2009 Quinary Estimates for 2009 Statistical Wards revised 25-Aug See the 2007 Tearfund report Churchgoing in the UK. 3 Ibid. 3 P a g e

14 3.5 Congregation size Table 3 breaks down the church attendance figures according to congregation size. The table indicates that nearly a third of the churches have congregations of 30 or under and nearly a half have congregations of 50 or under. Table 3 Weekly attendance Number of churches Percentage Under (Organisation - no cong. 2) Congregational Age Range Table 4 and chart 5 breaks down the church attendance figures according to age. Only 36 of the 49 churches or church organisations gave a breakdown of these figures. Table 4 Chart 5 Age range Number in congregation Under Over Over 65 (37.0%) Congregational Age Range (34.58%) Under 6 (8.93%) Age Range 6-25 (9.46%) Worship Services The completed questionnaires highlighted a wide range of worship service styles and timings. Table 5 lists the different descriptions given of the styles and timings of services and the number of churches who hold services of that description. 4 P a g e

15 Table 5 Worship service description Number of churches Sunday Morning( Holy) Communion/Eucharist 0 Sunday Morning Sung Communion/Eucharist 3 Sunday Morning Holy Mass Sunday Morning Sung Mass 3 Sunday Morning Worship 4 Sunday Morning Service 2 Sunday Morning Family Worship/Service 5 Sunday Morning All Age Worship 4 Sunday Morning Parade Service Sunday Morning Traditional Service Sunday Morning Contemporary Service Sunday Morning (no description) 4 Sunday Evening Worship/Service Sunday Evening (Holy) Communion 3 Sunday Evening (Holy) Mass 2 Sunday Evening Café Church Sunday Evening Informal Worship Sunday Evening (no description) Mid-week Service 2 Mid-week (Holy) Communion/Eucharist 4 Mid-week (Low) Mass 4 Mid-week Prayer Service 6 Mid-week Messy Church 2 Saturday Mass Saturday Messy Church Total 98 An extrapolation of the total of 98 weekly church services for all the churches in the Borough gives a final total of 75 weekly services. 3.8 Other non worship church run activities The following section records details of those church run activities which principally focus on serving the needs of church members and adherents. Some of these activities, however, also draw in members of the community who have no direct association with the worshipping life of the church (for example some members of lunch clubs and youth clubs). These groups could equally have been included in the later section on community engagement. They have been included here because groups and organisations in this section were all asked for attendance figures. It was not possible to achieve accurate attendance figures for the groups and activities listed in the section on community engagement. 5 P a g e

16 3.8. Bible study/fellowship groups 39 churches indicated that they run regular Bible Study or Fellowship Groups. Of these, five churches only ran their groups during Lent. Not all churches gave exact numbers for Bible Study and Fellowship Groups but the information supplied suggests that there are approximately such groups operating within those churches which completed questionnaires, at various times during the year. An extrapolation for all churches in the Borough would give an approximate figure of 250 groups. If it is assumed that each group has an average of 0 ten members then this would give a total attendance figure of Church run senior youth clubs 27 churches indicated that they run senior youth clubs (-8). 9 of these clubs take place mid-week, 5 take place during or after the Sunday morning service and 3 take place on Sunday evening. The average attendance figure for these youth clubs was 2, giving an approximate attendance total of 325 for all the youth clubs recorded in the questionnaires. Extrapolating the figures from the audit for all churches in the Borough would suggest that there are approximately 48 church run youth clubs in the Borough with an approximate attendance of 580 young people aged to Church run junior youth clubs 9 churches indicated that they run junior youth clubs (4-). 0 of these clubs take place mid-week, 7 take place during Sunday morning service, one on Sunday evening and one on Saturday morning. The average attendance for these youth clubs was 3, giving and approximate attendance total of 250 for all the youth clubs recorded in the questionnaires. Extrapolating the figure from the audit for all churches in the Borough would suggest that there may be 34 church run youth clubs in the Borough with an approximate attendance of 450 children aged 4 to. These figures point to an approximate total attendance figure of just over one thousand children at church run junior and senior youth clubs in the Borough. This figure does not include those attending uniformed organisations based at churches Church run marriage preparation courses. 9 churches indicated that they ran marriage preparation courses Church run parents/carers and toddlers groups There are 20 parents/carers and toddlers groups listed as run by the church. The average attendance of each group is 28, giving a total attendance figure of 560 for those churches which completed questionnaires and a projected figure of 000 for church run groups Church run pre-school groups One church run pre-school group was recorded in the survey. 6 P a g e

17 3.8.7 Church run groups for older people (lunch clubs, friendship groups etc) There are 25 groups for older people listed as run by the church. The average attendance of each group is 27, giving a total attendance figure of 675 for those churches which completed the questionnaire and a projected figure of 200 for church run groups within the Borough Church run arts activities (music, singing, dance, drama etc) There are 3 church choirs recorded by the survey with an average attendance of 8, giving an approximate attendance total of 235 for those choirs recorded by the survey and an extrapolated total of approximately 23 church choirs and 400 members across the whole Borough. 6 church bands or music groups are recorded in the survey (no attendance figures), 3 dance groups (no attendance figures), 2 art groups (no attendance figures), one drama group (45 members) and one Puppet Team (2 members) Other church run activities Five tea and coffee drop in/chat groups are listed (with a total attendance figure of approximately 80). Two holiday clubs (combined attendance of 70). Two church walkers/ramblers groups (combined membership of 47). Two food clubs (combined membership of 55). Three Mothers Unions. One men s group (no attendance figures). One theological studies group (attendance 8). One leadership training group (no attendance figures). One Hebrew class (no attendance figures). One Christian bookshop. The average attendance of these other groups recorded by the survey is 25, giving an approximate attendance total for the 9 groups of 475, which, when projected for all churches within the Borough gives a figure of approximately 850. The extrapolated figure for the total number of church run activities described in this section (including worship services) across the Borough is Total attendance at church and church organisation run activities 40 of the 49 churches and church organisations which completed the questionnaire gave estimates of the number of people who participated in activities run by the church each week (including worship services). This total was When this figure is extrapolated for all 87 churches and church organisations within the Borough the figure comes to approximately This is equivalent to just over 8% of the total population of the Borough. 7 P a g e

18 3.0 Church owned transport No church or church organisation which completed the questionnaire has its own transport (eg minibus, people carrier). One church indicated that it uses the Dial a Ride service to transport some people to Sunday services. 3. Non church run groups using church premises The audit has revealed the role that many churches play within the Borough in providing rooms and facilities for community organisations which are run separately from the local church (though may involve church members as members and leaders). Table 6 records the range and number of non-church run groups meeting on church premises. Table 6 Group Number of groups Beavers 5 Cubs 5 Scouts 6 Rainbows Brownies 9 Guides 8 Day Centres/Luncheon Clubs 2 Martial Arts groups 4 Women s Institute 3 Keep Fit groups 8 Jumble Sales 6 Ladies/women s groups 4 Pre-school groups 9 Parents/carers & toddlers 8 Art groups 3 Neighbourhood Watch Learning Difficulties groups 2 Senior Citizens groups 2 Holiday Clubs Exam Boards 2 Other churches 5 Dancing groups 3 Music groups 9 Choirs 6 Slimming groups 5 Drama groups 5 Dog Clubs 4 Breakfast Clubs Walking groups Cafes 2 Other faiths Nurseries Bell ringers 2 Schools 8 Sports groups 3 Total 65 8 P a g e

19 In addition to these generic groups listed above the survey has also recorded an extensive list of particular community organisations, charities and other bodies which run some or all of their activities on church premises. Table 7 list these groups: Table 7 Name of organisation Number of groups using church premises Swindon Counselling Service Swindon Restore Trio Childcare Wiltshire Family History Society The Bible Society 2 UK Sucrologists Voice 2 Community Mental Health Team Co Anon Narcotics Anon Harbour Group Alzheimer s Society Relate Cruse Amnesty International Open University Victim Support U3A Alpha Debt Counselling Swindon Stroke Group Highworth Fairtrade Group Alcoholics Anonymous Kumon Maths Club New College Goddard House National Trust Highworth Historical Society Wroughton History Group Blood Transfusion Service SBC Youth Club Swindon & Cricklade Railway Society Parish Council Calm Trust Maranantha Society Total The churches who completed the questionnaire recorded a total of 203 non church run community groups who use church premises for their activities. An extrapolation of this figure for all churches in the Borough would give an approximate figure of 360 groups. 9 P a g e

20 ReStore ReStore is a charity set up by the Swindon Christian Community Projects and is a sister charity to Swindon Foodbank. It emerged from the observation that many people who were receiving food from the Foodbank felt they had nothing to do and were seeking a greater sense of purpose in their daily lives. ReStore gives people seeking volunteering opportunity something worthwhile to do. The project runs a charity shop, restores furniture in its own workshop, offers gardening services and will be acting as an outlet for the Foodbank. At present ReStore has 50 registered volunteers and is aiming to recruit 00 in total. ReStore Director Alex Pollack with a volunteer. Street Pastors Swindon Street Pastors Swindon is an initiative of the local churches, working together with the Police and the local Council. It is part of a national initiative run by a charity called the Ascension Trust. Street Pastors minister to those in Swindon pubs and clubs, working to be a prayerful listening and caring presence of Christians from local churches between 0pm and 4am on weekends. Street Pastors Swindon launched in September 2007 and has given thousands of hours of service to the night-time economy of Swindon. 20 P a g e

21 4. Community engagement The previous section (3.) has listed those community groups who use church and church organisation premises but which have no formal involvement on the part of the church or its members (although individual church members may be involved in these groups through their own choice). This section lists social and community projects in which churches and church organisations who completed the questionnaire are actively engaged. Some of the community activities described in this section are run by the churches or church organisations themselves, others are run by other organisations but are given active support by church members. Table 8 Homelessness Project Church or Christian organisation Number of churches supporting project The Filling Station 7 Booth House 2 Gloucester House Foodbank St Luke s Breakfast Club 4 Roundabout Cafe 3 Swindon Night Shelter 3 Open House Gateway Furniture Project Emmaus Bristol Threshold Housing Stoneham Housing No No 2 Table 9 Debt Counselling Project Church or Christian organisation Number of churches supporting project Christians Against Poverty 4 MoneyWise No Table 0 Unemployment Project Church or Christian organisation Number of churches supporting project The Front Room 3 The Foodbank 8 Gateway Furniture Project St Lukes Breakfast Club 4 Restore 2 2 P a g e

22 Table Promotion of Local Food Project All Saints, Lydiard Millicent Harvest Festival Society of Friends lunches Roundabout Café Christ Church With St. Mary Veg Garden Swindon Farmers Market Gateway Church Cafe Church or Christian organisation No Number of churches supporting project Table 2 Promoting Fairtrade Goods Project Church or Christian organisation Number of churches supporting project Fairtrade Movement No 2 Table 3 Environment Project Church or Christian organisation Number of churches supporting project Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Open Churchyards Recycling Eco-congregation Walk To Church Sunday Gateway Furniture Project No 6 Table 4 Drug/alcohol abuse Project Church or Christian organisation Number of churches supporting project St Lukes Breakfast Club 4 Freedom in Christ Course Drug/alcohol Addiction Counsellor Open House Gloucester House Positive Futures No 2 22 P a g e

23 Table 5 Bereavement Project Church or Christian organisation Number of churches supporting project Church pastoral support 9 Annual Bereavement Care Service Willows Counselling Service ISR chaplains Bereavement Counsellors Bereavement Support Group 3 2 Table 6 Crime Prevention/Community Safety Project Police Community Support officers (PCSO) surgeries/visits Church or Number of churches Christian Organisation supporting project No 5 Table 7 Health and Fitness Project Church or Christian organisation Number of churches supporting project SBC Health Ambassadors No Community Health Worker weekly visit Prospect Hospice Healthy Cooking on a Budget course Seven-a-side football team No No Table 8 Carers (people looking after a dependent relative) Project Christian Carers Fellowship Informal church support Church or Christian organisation Number of churches supporting project 0 Table 9 Refugees and Asylum Seekers Project Church or Christian organisation Number of churches supporting project The Harbour Project No 7 Informal church support 5 Table 20 Migrant workers Project Church or Christian organisation Number of churches supporting project Informal church support 23 P a g e

24 Table 2 People with Learning Disabilities Project The Green Hut Chaplaincy of Learning Disability Home Roundabout Café Thursday Fellowship Interactive Arts Group Adult Learning Difficulties Group Crowdys Hill School Uplands School Informal Church Support Church or Christian organisation No No No No Number of churches supporting project 3 5 Table 22 People with Mental Health Problems Project Willows Counselling Roundabout Café Rethink Together (Willow Tree House) Informal Support Church or Christian organisation No No Number of churches supporting project 3 6 Table 23 Other Project Swindon Youth Offending Team Swindon Pregnancy Counselling Centre National charities National charities Church or Christian organisation No No Number of churches supporting project Summary of data on community engagement The questionnaire returns indicate that most churches are actively engaging in a range of community projects within the Borough (and beyond). 66 church run and 26 non-church run projects or activities supporting the community were listed as having active participation from church members. To this figure can be added the 25 church run groups for older people, the 20 church run parent/carer and toddler groups and the 46 church run youth clubs whose details were recorded in an earlier section (3.8). This gives us a total of 83 separate church run and non-church run community projects or activities in which those churches who returned questionnaires are involved. When this figure is extrapolated for all the churches in the Borough we have an approximate total of 325 separate community projects or activities in which churches within the Borough are engaged. Many churches are supporting or running more than one community project or activity, so that when the number of churches supporting the range of community projects listed above 24 P a g e

25 is added up we have a total of 297 individual contacts made by those churches. When this figure is extrapolated for all churches this gives a figure of approximately 530 individual supporting relationships established by churches with community projects or activities. This gives an average of 6 separate community projects or activities run or supported by each church in the Borough. Another 27 churches recorded informal support for vulnerable groups within the community. Chart 5 shows where churches are concentrating their activities in the area of community engagement and includes the data on work with children young people, older people and parents/carers and toddlers. The chart indicates that there is a significant emphasis upon support for work with young people, the homeless and the bereaved. The data also indicated a focus on the needs of the international community with significant support for promoting fair trade. Chart 5 children and youth homelessness bereavement older people fairtrade parents/carers and toddlers unemployment learning disability carers mental health drug/alcohol environment other local food refugees debt counselling health/fitness migrant workers crime prevention number of church run community projects supported by churches number of non-church run community projects supported by churches P a g e

26 The Front Room The Front Room is an ISR project which provides support, information and encouragement to people seeking employment, especially the over 40s. A lunch is also provided. The project encourages those who come along to share both good and bad experiences and can direct people to external advice services. It meets weekly at St Augustine s Church. Swindon Retail Chaplaincy ISR has developed retail chaplaincy in Swindon since Trained volunteer chaplains, both lay and ordained, have provided chaplaincy to Asda Walmart, the Outlet Centre and the Coop in Old Town. The retail chaplains seek to be a Christian presence in the midst of economic activity and offer pastoral support to both workers and shoppers. College Chaplaincy Broadgreen Breakfast Club The Breakfast Club, based at St Luke s Church Hall offers support and a free cooked breakfast to homeless and destitute people in Swindon. It also provides advice on housing, health, employment and benefits through the outreach workers from Threshold Housing Link, the Housing Department from Swindon Borough Council and a Community Nurse who visits the Breakfast Club at least once a week. A multi-faith chaplaincy team operates at both Swindon College and New College, providing consultation and support to students of all faiths and none. Members of the Swindon College team are available for informal lunch time conversations on a daily basis. Police Chaplaincy Chaplaincy to Wiltshire Police was initiated in 2005 by ISR with the appointment of a Chaplain to the Force. Since that appointment a large number of voluntary/local chaplains have been appointed to serve local police stations in both Swindon and Wiltshire. The chaplains are primarily a pastoral resource to those who work in Wiltshire Police, but they also form a natural community link between Church and Police. 26 P a g e

27 All Saints (Lydiard Millicent) Peoples Puppets All Saints Peoples Puppets was formed in It is based in West Swindon and is open to children over 8 and adults. The puppet team trains fortnightly and puts on its productions at schools, residential and nursing homes etc. The project received a SBC Grassroots Grant for productions at schools and colleges. Swindon Night Shelter Gateway Furniture Project This project of the Gateway Church gives furniture and other items for the home to those in need using a referral system via agencies in Swindon. It has helped 60 families in the last year. Since 2009 the shelter has offered instantly accessible accommodation for the homeless. It is open twice a week, on Fridays at Elim Church on Osbourne Street and on Saturdays in St. Mary s Church. The shelter provides a hot twocourse meal, the opportunity for clean clothes and a wash and a place to feel accepted, warm and loved. The project is supported entirely by donations from the local community. Five volunteers run the shelter each night. Swindon Foodbank The Swindon Foodbank offers practical and immediate help to those facing a sudden crisis. It gives foodboxes containing enough food for 3 days. Social Services, Health Visitors and doctors etc issue Foodbank vouchers which can be exchanged for foodboxes at the Foodbank distribution centre. The project is funded by local people and all the food is donated locally. Volunteers sort and pack the food into foodboxes. The Foodbank is run by Swindon Christian Community Projects. 27 P a g e

28 5. Social responsibility priorities Churches were asked to prioritise from -5 those social issues demanding a response from their church community, with being the highest priority, 2 the second highest and so on. Of the 49 completed questionnaires 0 churches did not feel they could prioritise in this way, or gave other unlisted social responsibility priorities. Chart 6 gives a value of 5 for the highest priority, 4 for the second highest priority and so on. Chart 6 Social responsibility priorities older people poverty homelessness international development disabilities work mental health unemployment disaffected youth debt environment Refugees ex-offenders housing abortion racial justice prison work single mothers & carers addiction young familes embryology Number of churches P a g e

29 Willows Counselling Service Willows has operated as a training agency since 985 and a counselling service since 995. It provides its services either from the Willows centre or from a number of satellite rooms in Devizes, Marlborough, Highworth, Cirencester and Peasedown. It also has a number of outreach projects on local estates in Swindon. The service, originally a joint initiative of the District GP Committee and Thamesdown Council of Churches, seeks to offer counselling and support to individuals and couples in need of help and recovery through counselling. The Roundabout Café The Roundabout Cafe is housed on the ground floor of the Pilgrim Centre and is open to the public six days a week. It is staffed by mixture of volunteers and paid staff. There are long and short placements for people from Gloucester House, a centre for recovering alcoholics. The cafe also offers work experience placements for local schools. The Filling Station The Filling Station is a weekly Christian initiative to help homeless people in Swindon. A team serve, soup, hot and cold drinks, hotdogs, cakes and biscuits from Queenstown Car Park twice a week. The team not only seek to build relationships by talking to the people who come along but they also hand out a care package which contains some bare essentials to help them get through the week. The service is also supported by local homeless housing centres, such as Threshold Housing, who provide outreach workers who can connect people with other support services for the homeless in Swindon. 29 P a g e

30 Swindon Youth For Christ (SYFC) SYFC is a Christian Faith based organisation which has been working with young people in Swindon for over 60 years. Its mission is to take and be Good News, in relevant ways, to young people in Swindon. SYFC is involved in a wide range of schools and youth work. It runs a number of lunchclubs and afterschools clubs. In schools it also leads assemblies supports school lessons and runs a relationships education programme called LUSH. SYFC also supports local community youth clubs and runs a number of youth work projects. It works in partnership with churches, schools, the police, the local authority as well as many volunteers and other organisations. 30 P a g e

31 6. Relationships with others 6. Working with other churches Every church which completed the questionnaire indicated that it has taken part in activities with other churches over the past twelve months. Table 24 lists the various activities described and the number of churches which are engaged in those activities. Table 24 Activity Number of churches who indicated they were involved in activities of this type Lent Study groups 4 Lent lunches 3 Alpha courses 2 Easter services 7 Christmas Services 3 Joint Services 23 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Links with other faith groups Eight churches indicated that they had links with other faith groups. Table 25 lists those groups and the number of churches or church organisations that have links with them. Table 25 Group Number of churches with a link to the group SBC Faith Forum 2 Swindon Interfaith Group 4 Buddhist Meditation Group SACRE Students Informal links Partnerships with other groups and organisations The data from the survey indicated that many churches are working in partnership with other groups and organisations. Table 26 lists these organisations in separate categories and indicates how many of the churches or church organisations which completed questionnaires work in partnership with organisations in that category. The final column extrapolates these figures for all the Swindon churches. Appendix gives the full list of organisations. 3 P a g e

32 Table 26 Partnership category Voluntary/Community organisations Statutory body Local business Police/crime prevention initiatives Health and social care organisations Schools/colleges Number of church partnerships Extrapolated figure for all Swindon churches Schools The survey has highlighted a strong relationship between many churches and their local schools. 40 of the 49 churches and church organisations who completed the questionnaire indicated that they had some link with at least one local school. Details of the links are given in table of the 49 indicated that at least one member of their church or organisation was a school governor. Swindon Youth For Christ has extensive involvement with many schools in Swindon. Details of their work is described separately on page 30. Appendix 2 gives a list of all the schools which have links with churches and church organisations according to the survey. Table 27 Nature of school relationship Number of participating churches or church organisations Assemblies 4 School visits to church 6 Youth/schools worker 5 Schools team Church meeting in school School concerts/services in church 5 School governors 3 After school clubs Unspecified links Hospitals In addition to general pastoral visiting at Great Western Hospital by clergy/church leaders and church members, seven churches indicated that they had volunteer chaplains/hospital visitors linked to GWH and the hospital chaplaincy team. One church noted that some of its members formed part of the chaplaincy team at Prospect Hospice, and one church recorded that it was involved in the GWH annual carol service. 32 P a g e

33 6.4 Future plans for partnership work Eleven churches indicated that they had plans to develop new work with other organisations during the next twelve months. The organisations with whom the churches are planning to work are: Swindon Borough Council (2), Age UK, the Army, Holy Trinity Brompton, Willows Counselling Service, Mid-Counties Co-operative, Swindon Youth For Christ (2), Stanton House Hotel, The Fairtrade Foundation, Swindon Foodbank, the Diocese of Bristol. Great Western Hospital Chaplaincy Team The multi-faith hospital chaplaincy team seeks to offer spiritual and pastoral support and promotes a holistic approach to health care. The chaplaincy provides a room for prayer and contemplation and oversees a group of volunteer chaplains/hospital visitors. Swindon Interfaith Group The Swindon Interfaith Group acts as a resource for contact and dialogue between faith groups, promoting respect and challenging ignorance. It holds regular meetings for discussion and the exploration of cultural diversity. The StoweAway The StoweAway is a community group for the people of the new Wichelstowe housing development in Swindon. Set up by local churches and working in partnership with Sovereign Housing and other relevant organisations the group seeks to provide resources and activities that will bring the community together. The StoweAway is also the name of a community portacabin which is used as a base for some of the project s activities. These activities include a group for preschool children and parents, an after school club, and an open youth club. 33 P a g e

34 7. Volunteering The survey identified 522 people as being involved in the management of their church or church organisation in a voluntary capacity. An extrapolated figure for all churches in the borough would give a figure of approximately 930. Forty of the forty nine churches and church organisations who completed the questionnaire gave an approximate figure for the number of people who regularly support the church s activities as volunteers (not including those involved in church management). This figure was 540 which, when extrapolated for all churches in the borough gives a figure of When this figure is added to the total for those involved in church management we have a final approximate total for volunteers of This is approximately 60% of the weekly attendance figure. 7. Volunteering hours Churches were asked to give estimates of the number of hours per week that church members offered in supporting the activities of the church as volunteers. These figures were broken down into different age groups and time blocks. The results are given in table 28. Table 28 Age Hours offered Over 70 Final hours/ week total 2 hours/week 4 hours/week hours/week Total Forty one of the churches or church organisations who completed questionnaires supplied estimates of volunteering hours. This gives a projected number of church based weekly volunteering hours for all the churches and church organisations in the Borough of In a full year these figures give a total of 454,220 hours of church based volunteering within the Borough. In order to establish a monetary valuation of this church based voluntary work, one hour of voluntary work is assumed to be equivalent to 0 of paid work (hourly wage plus on costs). On this basis the annual monetary value of church based voluntary work within the Borough is approximately 4,542, Non-church based volunteering by church members Churches were also asked to supply an estimate of church members who were involved in voluntary work outside the church on a regular basis. For many larger churches it was not 34 P a g e

35 possible to supply such a figure but estimated numbers were given by twenty eight of the churches and church organisations who completed the questionnaire. The total figure given by these churches for individuals doing voluntary work outside the church was 734. When this figure is projected for all the churches and church organisations in the Borough the total figure is 303 individuals. The questionnaire did not ask for an estimate of the number of hours given by individuals each week to voluntary work outside the church as it was felt that it would be difficult to obtain these details. If, however, it is assumed that each individual offers one hour a week to their voluntary work outside the church then this gives us a figure of 56,676 hours for the year with a monetary value of,566,760. When this monetary value is added to the monetary value for church based voluntary work we arrive at a figure of just over 6. million pounds. This figure represents the monetary value of the voluntary work carried out by Christians within the Borough each year. 8. Working with Swindon Borough Council Churches were asked to give details of their contact with Swindon Borough Council over the previous twelve months and to evaluate that contact. 26 churches indicated that they had had some form of contact with SBC. The details are given in table 29. Table 29 Details of contact Number of churches Number of separate contacts (some church made more than one contact on the same issue in the year) Planning 6 28 Education 2 Environment 6 6 Event organisation 7 7 Funding 2 3 Community safety 4 9 Council inspection Seeking care and support Other 3 5 Table 30 gives churches evaluation of their contact with SBC. Each church was asked to respond to the question: thinking about all your contacts with the Council over the past year, how helpful has the Council been? Table 30 Evaluation Number of churches Very, they are always happy to help 5 Quite, but could do more to help our organisation 4 Of limited value we get very little support and help 5 35 P a g e

36 Comments under other are listed in Appendix 3. Churches were also asked what they felt the Council could do differently to support their church s activities. Six churches felt that SBC could help with greater financial support for the community work undertaken by the churches. Three responses suggested that the Council had a negative attitude towards supporting the work of churches because of their faith base and that this restricted the churches access to council funding. Linked to these comments one response called for the Council to improve its liaison and communication with third sector youth work organisations. Two comments focussed on very specific issues to do with the use of premises and difficulties over recycling collection. 9. Achievements and challenges 9. Achievements Churches were asked to list their greatest achievements and successes over the last five years. Chart 8 lists the different ways in which churches described their achievements and the number of churches who described their achievements in that way. Chart 8 Achievements over last five years Serving the community Stronger links with community orgs Maintaining/improving premises Growth in numbers Stronger links with schools Developing small groups Bringing people to faith Being a Christian presence Financial stability Work with young people developing lay/ordained ministry Improving team working Promoting volunteering Stonger links with local business Being a welcoming church Stronger links with other churches number of churches The list of achievements indicates that, for many churches, a measure of their achievement as a church is closely link to the strength of their relationships with the local community and other groups and organisations within that community. The three churches which identified being a Christian presence as their key achievement were all rural churches. 36 P a g e

37 9.2 Challenges Chart 9 lists the different ways in which churches describe their greatest challenges for the future. Chart 9 Greatest challenges for the future Community outreach Finance Maintenance of premises Church growth Engaging with young people Team working Finding new volunteers Ageing congregation Keeping going Pastoral care Maintaining LEP Finding new minister Finding larger premises Time and energy Promoting greater use of premises number of churches As the figures on past achievements also indicated, community outreach is central to many churches sense of purpose and vision for the future. The figures also indicate a considerable concern over financial viability and property maintenance. Additional interviews conducted with three church leaders indicated that there are further concerns over the very high workloads experienced by many clergy and also the difficulties in recruiting new volunteers. Both these challenges had the potential to encourage churches to look inwards to keep the church going rather than outwards to community needs. 37 P a g e

38 0. Training needs Table 33 lists the areas in which churches felt they could benefit from further information, advice, training and skills. Table 33 Training/advice need Number of churches Funding 23 Community safety Community engagement 5 Supporting vulnerable people Project/team management IT skills 6 Work and employment issues 6 Church growth Environmentalism Understanding modern culture The responses to the question on training needs again highlights a significant focus within the churches on community engagement, but also considerable concern over access to funding.. Comments At the end of the audit questionnaire there was an opportunity for respondents to share any other comments. Two comments noted that the questionnaire was not shaped in a way that enabled them to fully describe the nature of their church s activities. One of these comments suggested that the questionnaire was shaped predominantly around the agenda of urban churches and social action. This respondent s church was principally focussed on children s work and the questionnaire did not provide an opportunity to describe this work in detail. The second comment similarly indicated that sufficient space in the questionnaire was not given to detail the principal focus of their work which was in the area of pastoral care and evangelism. One respondent noted that, as a community church, which did not own its own building its ethos in serving the community was centred on encouraging and equipping church members to join in and serve what was already happening rather than to develop its own programme of activities. 38 P a g e