Through your generous donations, the Parish Giving Scheme has processed nearly £1.5 million of donations and Gift Aid for our churches in 2023.
From the start of January, the scheme will move to be funded by Archbishops’ Council via a grant from the Church Commissioners, rather than funding from individual dioceses. PGS will continue to operate as a charity with its own board of trustees, but this will mean that parishes in dioceses which hadn’t previously signed up will now be able to benefit. The changes will make no difference to parishes in our diocese. We have previously paid diocesan membership to PGS thanks to funding received from the Benefact Trust, which we will now be able to use for other projects in the Diocese that help support the ministry and mission of our parishes.
The new year is a great time to think about joining the Parish Giving Scheme if your parish is not already involved. Last year, PGS began taking one-off online donations, which we have seen gradually increase over the year, and in August they partnered with GWD, who produce contactless devices, to provide churches with another way to take contactless payments.
In our diocese we also see twice as many people sign up to PGS for regular gifts in March and April, and so on the 28 February, Robyn Rooney, our Stewardship Officer, will be running a lunchtime session on how to relaunch PGS in Spring and encourage people to sign up in your church. More information about this will be available soon in the Diocesan training schedule.
If you are not yet signed up to PGS or would like to have a launch or relaunch push in the Spring, Robyn would love to hear from you and can be contacted at rrooney@cofe-worcester.org.uk.
