Published: 05 November 2024
Over £50,000 in Methodist funding is supporting a new church partnership in North Yorkshire as it aims to develop a welcoming and inclusive church and community hub.
Trinity St Andrew’s is Skipton’s newest church, born from a partnership between St Andrew’s LEP and Trinity Methodist Church. Both churches realised that by working together they could have more impact in their local community.
The founding churches have a strong tradition of serving their community, in an area that faces deeply entrenched social challenges, including:
• Social isolation – North Yorkshire Council identified loneliness as a major issue in the area with 30,000 residents experiencing chronic loneliness throughout North Yorkshire.
• Alcohol abuse – A 2021 House of Commons study suggested that over 64,000 people in Yorkshire are alcohol dependent.
• Fuel poverty – A significant issue in the local area. According to Citizens Advice North Yorkshire, more than a quarter of Skipton residents were living in fuel poverty in 2018. This has likely worsened as energy bills have soared in recent years.
• Disability and health issues – According to the Office for National Statistics, nearly one-fifth of Yorkshire residents live with a disability. In addition, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK, over 1,800 people in the Skipton and Ripon constituency live with dementia, a rate significantly higher than the national average.
Trinity St Andrew’s Church understands that more needs to be done to support the community through these challenges, and recognises that there’s a lack of inclusive spaces in the local area to support this range of needs.
To start the ball rolling, the church has moved its congregation and community support from its two original church sites to one site in Skipton. The building is more accessible, eco-friendly, and easier to maintain, but there’s still a way to go in terms of serving its community to the fullest.
With the support of funding, such as Benefact Trust’s Methodist Grants Programme (funded by donations from Methodist Insurance PLC), the church will make essential improvements to create a welcoming community hub; including building an extension, extending and refurbishing its kitchen, making accessibility a priority throughout, and adjusting the building’s layout.
Carrying out these improvements will ensure the church is as inclusive, accessible and welcoming as possible. This is incredibly important as many marginalised groups rely on the church to celebrate their faith, make connections, and access vital support.
Paul Playford, Senior Grants and Operations Officer for Benefact Trust, said: “Churches of all denominations have an important role to play in supporting local needs. This project is a fantastic example of collaboration - two churches recognising that, together, they can make a bigger impact in their community.”
Benefact Trust’s Methodist Grants Programme is funded by donations from Methodist Insurance PLC. Find out more about the grants programme, here.
