Comms Officer (Voluntary post) | The Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund

Background

The Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund (BGCF) is a charity which reaches out to disadvantaged and vulnerable people across the Diocese of Guildford in the name of Christ. Grants are offered to projects initiated by Church of England churches (and those in active partnership with them) to assist in fulfilling any aspect of the Diocesan vision, Transforming Church, Transforming Lives. BGCF gives grants to a range of community projects including those which:

• Support people with disabilities and mental ill-health
• Provide facilities and services for older citizens, children and young people
• Support families and disadvantaged communities
• Provide practical help for the financially challenged
• Offer training and skills programmes

Funds are raised via collections at services conducted by one of our bishops, such as inductions, licensing and confirmations, and by Bishop Andrew’s Lent Appeal. In recent years we have also run a sponsored walk in the autumn.

The task

The comms officer is responsible for promoting the Lent Appeal and any other fund-raising activities which may be organised and for keeping the Fund website up to date (training is available from the diocesan comms team). Occasionally there may also be opportunities for stories based on the impact of a grant on a project which has received a donation.

The target market is primarily clergy, parish staff and congregations of churches in the diocese.

The means are currently:

• Via the weekly Diocesan newsletter, Parish Brief, sent by the diocesan comms team to incumbents, other clergy and key staff and churchwardens in parishes on a Tuesday afternoon.
• By email to parish administrators – a list is available.
• Social media: BGCF has a Facebook page and the Diocesan Comms Dept supports the fund via its own social media outlets.
• The Fund website.

In recent years, a video clip or video clips have been made to support the Lent Appeal. Sometimes this has taken the form of a trustees interviewing via Zoom one of the organisations which has received a grant from the Fund. Sometimes it has been a straightforward appeal from the Bishop. 

Two pull-up display stands and a supply of flyers are held at Willow Grange, the Bishop’s office.

There are usually three trustee meetings a year in February, June and October.

For more details: Richard Peters or 07967 496819.