Parish Development Fund
The Parish Development Fund provides financial support to local churches, with the aim of encouraging congregations to look beyond their walls and develop initiatives with a community-focus in response to local needs and issues.
We encourage congregations to work across parish boundaries and, where possible, to build meaningful partnerships with other churches, local groups and organisations. Read about the projects we currently support.
The Fund provides a number of grants and also administers the Priority Areas Staffing Fund. You can find out more about the grants available and criteria for applying.
The Parish Development team provides advice and support at all stages of the application and grant process. Read about some of the help they provide.
Latest news
Fit for Funding events
A series of free events for churches and projects about how to apply for funding. You can also find out about presbytery resourcing days where you can meet Development Workers to hear more about the work of the fund.
External Evaluation
An evaluation of the work of the Parish Development Fund.
Project Workers' Residential 2010
A report on this year's event, which included sessions on urban and rural poverty and the resulting community needs, and self-evaluation for service improvement, plus papers and presentations.
Vacancies within projects
A number of our funded projects employ staff to run and develop the project, and posts are advertised on our vacancies pages. To advertise vacancies within your project, contact the Parish Development Fund team by emailing pdf@cofscotland.org.uk.
About the Fund
The Fund was established by the General Assembly in 2002 in response to the Church without Walls Report to the General Assembly 2001. It was conceived as being a mechanism to stimulate new ideas, facilitate the establishment of partnerships and be the catalyst for new responses to need within communities.
Over the last five years the fund has allocated nearly £3.5million of funding through grants to 135 different congregations across Scotland.
Committee membership
The Parish Development Fund Committee is made up of 11 members appointed by the General Assembly. The convener of the committee is the Rev Rolf Billes. The committee has powers to co-opt up to six non-voting advisers with appropriate skills and knowledge. Members are appointed by the Church's Nomination Committee.
The Parish Development Fund team
- Co-ordinator: Vacant
- Administrator (part-time): Amy Norton Email: pdf@cofscotland.org.uk
- Development Worker (part-time): Jessie Bruce Email: jbruce@cofscotland.org.uk
- Development Worker (part-time): Susan Smith Email: ssmith@cofscotland.org.uk
Each member of the team covers a different area of Scotland.
You can also contact the team by emailing pdf@cofscotland.org.uk.