The next round of Give To Go Green has started, and the diocese is encouraging all churches, both those already on their Net Zero Carbon journey as well as those just starting out, to get involved.
Give To Go Green is a match-funding pilot project from the Church of England, doubling donations from local fundraising towards carbon-cutting building projects.
The Diocese of Leeds has been part of the first two rounds, with fundraising for round 2 taking place until December this year.
In round 1, eleven churches raised £57k in just 6 weeks in their community, which was matched by the Give To Go Green scheme.
The eleven churches taking part in round 2 are aiming to raise almost £77k, for a variety of different projects including insulation, roof repairs, solar panels, and LED lighting.
During the first round of Give To Go Green, St Mary the Virgin Embsay with Eastby took part and raised £5,000 to go towards the installation of an electric heating system, moving away from their old gas boiler.
Peter, the project co-ordinator, said: “Give To Go Green provided a focus for fundraising in our community and that the response from the community exceeded our expectations.”
The team at St Mary’s have worked hard to reduce their carbon footprint, becoming our diocese’s first Gold Eco Church, and now having installed electric heating, they are able to declare themselves as Net Zero Carbon for the first time.
The Revd Canon Marion Russell, vicar at the church, said: “We began this in response to the Church of England’s commitment in 2020 to be carbon net zero by 2030, coinciding with our beginning a replacement plan for the aging gas boiler.
“I am deeply grateful for everyone – within the congregation and in all our various partners – who have addressed the considerable practicalities of this vision and made it possible here.
“God’s work of ongoing creation is seen in people, in things, and in vision and targets– a big thank you!”
The process for round 3 will be similar to the first two rounds.
Churches can apply with details of their carbon-cutting building projects between November 2024 and March 2025, with a mid-point check in January for any applications submitted at that point.
If successful, churches will be supported in using digital giving mechanisms to take donations during a six-week targeted fundraising campaign.
Donations taken during this period, up to a previously agreed amount, will be matched by the Give To Go Green project.
After fundraising, churches will have 12 months to complete their project.
Applications are open now and will close on Sunday, March 16, with successful churches notified on Monday, April 7.
Churches can hold their six-week fundraising period any time from Saturday, May 17, to Sunday, September 28, 2025
There is a mid-point application assessment taking any applications submitted before Sunday, January 26, with successful churches notified on Monday, February 10.
Churches successful in this earlier stage can hold their six-week fundraising anytime from Sunday, March 23 to Sunday, June 29, 2025.
Successful churches will be invited to a variety of webinars to offer advice and support in fundraising and digital giving
Get in touch with Beth Vickers-Smith, beth.vickers-smith@leeds.anglican.org, if you have any questions about the GTGG process.
You can also read through the Application Pack here.
The Application Form is available here.
The link to information on our website is here.