Generous grant from Benefact Trust will help Quakers flourish
Quakers in Britain have been awarded £200,000 by Benefact Trust to support Quaker communities and meetings to thrive.
Benefact Trust, one of the UK's most impactful Christian grant-making organisations, has donated the grant over three years towards Quaker local development workers (LDWs).
Benefact Trust joins two other grant-making trusts, Bader Philanthropies and WF Southall, who are supporting the work with grants of £100,000 each over two years.
Together, the grants will allow staff to enable Quaker communities to be inclusive, welcoming and diverse, as well as supporting Quaker role holders and helping to simplify meetings.
The Quaker programme proved an excellent fit for Benefact Trust's Transformational Grants Programme, which offers funding for Christian organisations to increase capacity, reach, impact and spiritual growth, enabling them to forge connections with more people and communities.
[QUOTE-START]
Quaker social justice work relies on our vibrant Quaker communities
- Paul Parker, Recording Clerk
[QUOTE-END]
The LDW programme, which began as a pilot in 2016, now boasts 11 workers and more are being recruited, with the goal of placing an LDW within easy reach of every Quaker community by the end of 2022.
Paul Parker, Recording Clerk of Quakers in Britain, said: “Quaker worship, where everyone has an un-mediated relationship with the divine, has provided a warm home for many and we want to continue extending and strengthening our welcoming faith community.
“Quaker social justice work, which continues to help create a more just, merciful and loving world, relies on our vibrant Quaker communities.
“We are deeply grateful for the support of Benefact Trust and the two other trust funders, Bader and WF Southall, which will enable Britain Yearly Meeting to ensure that the Local Development Worker programme can support Quakers and Quaker communities to thrive."
Chloe Ewen, Grants Officer for Benefact Trust, said: “We're delighted to support Quakers in Britain with a grant to expand their innovative LDW programme.
“Having specialist workers on the ground within Quaker communities will help to grow and strengthen modern Quakerism. With diversity and inclusion at the core of their work, Quaker communities can continue to thrive, stay relevant, and welcome people of all ages and backgrounds."