Throughout its history, the Foundation has supported organisations that help communities to stay connected and therefore have funded religious buildings across the UK that are in need of repair or adaptations to ensure that they can be used by local people and groups.
This is especially important in rural and isolated areas where often the local church is the only public building that is still open whilst surrounding post offices and shops have been forced to close. Studley Methodist Church is an example of such a project. They applied to the Foundation for a grant towards the costs of improving access to the building and reconfiguring the interior to create flexible community spaces. The church had raised approximately half the funding required when they applied to the Foundation, including donations from the local community.
“The generous grant from Garfield Weston Foundation together with the money raised from the church members, enabled us to submit highly credible applications to other funding bodies. We feel the enhanced facilities have enabled us to open our church to the community by making better access for the disabled, inclusive activities and better kitchen facilities – all off which are open to everyone.” Thomas Roberts, Volunteer Fundraiser.