We are sharing stories from a few projects supported by previous rounds of the Development Fund.
A new after-school club for local families in Henley-on-Thames is supported by a grant from the Development Fund.
The Families on Fridays after-school club for primary school-aged children and their families started in September 2021 at the beginning of the new school term. It aims to provide a space where parents can meet together, children can play, and church families can bring their friends to help build relationships beyond the school gates.
Peter Greenman, Children’s worker at Trinity at Four, leading the project, talks about the after-school club:
“We provide a cafe space for parents to chat and relax whilst their children can play and hear a little bit from the bible. The grant from the Development Fund enables us to kick-start with a good range of toys and resources for the children as well as serve coffee and cake for the adults.
“We are really excited for the opportunities Families on Fridays can bring and the chance to bless local families and build lasting relationships with them. In the future, we hope to continue building good relations with local schools and encourage people to find a welcoming and supportive place in the church.
“We are also hoping, longer term, to occasionally expand the usual one-hour session to a regular longer session where we can provide a meal and offer parents the time to explore the bible and Christianity.”
Families spent many months inside during the pandemic with schools closed and little opportunity to socialise with one another, so the after-school club is offering the space for families to form these new friendships. The after-school club is a relaxing and informal space for Christian parents to share their faith with other parents and the opportunity for questions and conversations about Christianity.
Peter shares some of the feedback from parents:
“It has been really encouraging to hear from parents who have been coming along to the club, that they have enjoyed and appreciated the time and space to meet with other parents. We have also had mums from our mum and baby group, which was running during the pandemic, joining us. It is great to know that we can maintain these contacts and that the after-school club is a much needed and important space for them.”
The Development Fund
The Development Fund was launched in 2019 to enable missional creativity and assist churches in the Diocese of Oxford with their visions to become more Christ-like and support their local communities. Since its launch, the fund has donated almost £2 million to more than 100 local church projects across the Diocese of Oxford.
The Development Fund is open to all parishes and benefices in the Diocese of Oxford and especially those with limited financial resources to invest in missional activity. Applications are now open for the next round of funding and close on 31 July 2022, find out more and apply on the Development Fund page of our website.