Connect Church UK has been operating for over 80 years in an inner-city area of Birmingham. Its aims throughout this time have been to forge connections within the local community, build supportive relationships and provide a wider sense of belonging.
Social Problem
Modern life can feel relentless and disconnected. In this part of Birmingham in particular, where there is a multi-cultural, multi-faith community that also experiences deprivation and lack of access to services and opportunities, a sense of isolation and segregation can exist.
Solution
Connect Church UK both opens its doors to provide companionship, activities and faith services, and also reaches out to its neighbours to offer support and friendship. It runs many youth and community programmes to aid integration, widen life experiences and provide community interaction. It also works with a variety of charity partners to support projects across the UK and beyond.
Loan
A loan of £975,000 from Charity Bank has helped the charity to begin building a new, purpose-built church and community centre in a more central location. Charity Bank also helped to secure an additional loan of £225,000 from another social lender to complete the funding required.
Impact
After using various temporary locations since the sale of its previous property, this centre will give Connect Church UK the security and consistency of a permanent base. This stability, and the additional space, means the charity can continue to expand its current offerings. Plans include new programmes and social activities such as English conversation, homework clubs and creative pursuits, as well as the opportunity to invite other charitable partners in to run their own community projects. The more central location with excellent transport links will allow more people from a larger area to come and participate as well.
“What I loved about Charity Bank is that they helped us negotiate challenging moments with solutions, rather than just leaving us to deal with it alone.”
Tracee McAtear, Executive Pastor, Connect Church UK
About Charity Bank
Charity Bank is the loans and savings bank owned by and committed to supporting the social sector. Since 2002, we have used our savers’ money to make more than 1,000 loans totalling over £300m to housing, education, social care, community and other social purpose organisations.
Nothing in this article constitutes an invitation to engage in investment activity nor is it advice or a recommendation and professional advice should be taken before any course of action is pursued.