26 January 2012
13,000 Church of England parishes can now benefit from reduced
prices for essential utilities and services. A new website (www.parishbuying.org.uk),
developed by the Parish Buying Service, is offering churches
savings on £200 million worth of services each year.
Favourable deals have been negotiated on a range of products and
services including gas and electricity, heating oil, photocopiers,
stationary, IT software and fire safety, by the Church's two
National Procurement Officers.
"This is not just about saving money, although we are aiming for
annual savings of £10 million," says Dr John Preston, National
Stewardship Officer. "The Parish Buying service will help parishes
both to buy with confidence, knowing contracts have been
professionally negotiated, and to be better stewards of their
spending."
Stephen Marriott, Guildford Diocesan Secretary and who chairs the
National Procurement Group, says, "This new service is designed to
save time and money. It has come from the thinking of a
well-informed team in whose mind the needs and potential benefits
is uppermost. It is timely too. I'm confident that it will be of
potential benefit to every parish, particularly when many are
finding the current financial climate challenging."
The service is not just aimed at helping parish churches.
Cathedrals, clergy, dioceses and church schools can also benefit.
During 2012, training resources will also be offered to parishes.
These will range from "20 ways to save your parish money" short
sessions to full-day "cost control training" aimed particularly at
helping parishes that are embarking on major capital
projects.
The website opens fully on 30th January 2012, having been in its
pilot phase since November 2011.