News

Job Vacancy - Church Buildings Project Officer.  Click here for further details.

Our latest report, Our First Three Years, provides a summary of our achievements from 2008-2011.  For a free hard copy, please contact our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Training and Events

We organise mainly free events and seminars on a range of topics to help you manage, develop and promote your church, bringing in recognised experts and professionals. We repeat courses which are most successful, based on your feedback, including this extremely popular course:

Reviewing Your Visitors Welcome.
Saturday 11 February, St Martin's Church, Bowness on Windermere: See programme and a precis of the course. Now full but reservations taken for cancellations: email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone 07501 469373.

Conference on Heritage Buildings: Funding and Training
Friday 9 March, Carver Centre, Windermere
A compact conference with keynote speakers including Adrian Walker of Lambert Walker Conservation and Restoration Ltd Contractors, English Heritage, National Churches Trust as well as local expertise on how to incorprate training into building projects and where and how to apply for funding from those with success stories to tell. There is a subsidised charge of £15 for representatives of church councils to attend. See background information and booking form.

Creating A Faith Trail/Local Trail:Promoting your Church and its Heritage
Saturday 17th March, Holy Trinity, Kendal. Free training event.
Programme available here.  Creating a trail in your area will increase your local knowledge and build links with your community. This seminar will provide you with the tools you need to create your own trail; covering topics such as where to start and who to involve, how to publish and promote your trail and where to find funds. You will explore how you can link your place of worship to others by creating a faith trail, or by creating a local trail linking to other sites of interest such as shops, eateries, the landscape and other special buildings.

Places of worship hold significant interest to many people because of their art and architecture, history and genealogy. Incorporating your church or chapel into a local trail can help to create a wonderful day out . It is also a way of inviting people into your faith building; to appreciate and enjoy it. . Joanna Booth, the course leader, has recently worked with groups to produce two very successful Cumbrian trails:
Sacred Solway - a story of royalty, reivers, religious & rural life on the Solway
Railways & Religion - how non-conformism developed in the Western Dales
To book your free place contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 07501 469373

CVS Events 2012:

Funding Fair 29 March 2012 at Carlisle Racecourse more information to follow, but in the meantime contact the Carlisle Office on 01228 512513 or the Eden Office on 01768 800350 with your funding queries.

Upcoming CVS Courses:

Wednesday 1 February:  Managing Change Lesser Kings Hall, Hartington Street, Barrow LA14 5SR

Thursday 2 February:  Equality and Diversity Whitehaven Harbour Youth Project, Swingpump Lane, Whitehaven CA28 7LZ

Wednesday 22 February:  Communication Skills St Andrews Parish Rooms, St Andrews Place, Penrith CA11 7XX

Thursday 1 March:  Dealing with Difficult Behaviour Lesser Kings Hall, 57-59 Hartington Street, Barrow LA14 5SR

These Cumbria CVS courses are free for volunteers only.  To book your place, contact Monique Rebanks, Telephone 01768 800 350

Resources

CTfC recently held a Renewable Energy Symposium.  Information Pack 1 summarises the presentations on why our church communities need to engage with low carbon projects now, and how an Eco-Congregation can provide a model for action.  Information Pack 2 summarises the presentations on renewable energy/solar pv in church buildings

Other Organisations

Cumbria CVS provide regular e-news bulletins on funding and training.  To receive their newsletter, email here.

The Cumbrian Heritage Skills Initiative is run by the North of England Civic Trust, with an inspiring range of courses of practical heritage buildings skills, and practical opportunities for training and hands on opportunities.  The latest training brochure can be viewed here.

Neighbourhood Forums are an opportunity for you to get involved in issues affecting your area and to help decide how things could be improved. If your church can be used as a venue, attending a neighbourhood forum may be a good way of telling others. To find your local forum, click here.