York’s ‘Mustard Seed’ features in national Church’s 2023 strategic investment report
The latest report on the Church of England’s strategic investment shows how funding in the last year has prioritised doubling the numbers of children and young people, and revitalising parishes for mission.
In the year 2023, Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Funding (SMMI) awarded £60 million to Church of England projects and parishes plus an additional £29 million to support lowest income communities around England.
Alongside the focus on growing the church younger and more diverse, funding prioritised parts of society where other sources of support have been withdrawn.
There was also a new structure, with a single Board – the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB) – set up to distribute funding on behalf of the Archbishops’ Council.
The latest assessments in 2024 also show that the vast majority of projects funded over the past ten years of strategic funding are proving effective.
The Church of England has committed to £1 billion of local investment across England over nine years, in line with its priorities of bringing Jesus’s message to people from all backgrounds especially those who are younger.
Of the 92 Strategic Development Fund (SDF) projects supported since 2014 the vast majority were successfully completed or making good progress towards their targets, with just over 70 projects currently active.
Mustard Seed - York
With the support of strategic funding, the Mustard Seed project in the Diocese of York has seen incredible growth and impact working with communities on the edge of the diocese, in Hull, Middlesbrough and the coastal communities, an area where many people struggle to make ends meet.
Working in five deaneries, at the heart of the programme are ‘Stepping Up’ learning communities, where lay people grow deeper in their faith as disciples of Jesus and explore how to develop mission in their local community. At the end of their year-long Stepping Up journey, people are invited to ‘Step Up’ in mission, using their gifts and experience to share God’s love in the local community. Watch their story below: