In the summer of 2022, the national Church agreed and announced its 2023-31 spending plans. These plans include the creation of Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment (SMMI), which is to enable the strategic priorities and the bold outcomes of the Church of England’s Vision and Strategy for the 2020s.
SMMI is an ongoing commitment over nine years. The vast majority of this funding will go directly to dioceses to advance their plans for the Vision and Strategy in local parishes and communities across the country, called the Diocesan Investment Programme.
A second stream of People and Partnerships Funding will supplement the direct investment provided to dioceses to frontline mission and ministry, with the intention to address key gaps the Church as a whole is facing to deliver the Church's Vision and Strategy and includes a small level of grants in the form of partnership, innovation and research funding.
The Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board distributes the SMMI funding on behalf of the Archbishops’ Council. The Board also tracks the effective delivery and impact of existing funded mission projects across the country.
Below is a short video summarising and introducing this programme of investment.
Ongoing Programmes Funded in 2017-22
This work builds on work in recent years whereby national funding has supported dioceses to undertake significant programmes to support local parishes develop mission within particular geographical areas and demographic groups, to develop and deliver diocesan-wide transformation programmes and to increase the number of newly ordained ministers. More details on this funding and the work it has supported can be found in the Strategic Investment Board's annual reports.
- 2022 SIB Annual Report (3.07 MB)
- 2021 SIB Annual Report (3.47 MB)
- SIB annual report 2020 (10.95 MB)
- SIB annual report 2019 (7.61 MB)
- SIB annual report 2018 (2.62 MB)
- SIB annual report 2017 (4.78 MB)
In the winter of 2021/22, the SIB commissioned an independent review of Lowest Income Communities Funding and Strategic Development Funding, chaired by Sir Robert Chote. The review published its findings in March 2022 and the full report is available below. The SIB welcomes its findings and is considering how best to implement them to help the mission of the Church.
- Independent Review of LInC & SDF Report (1.11 MB)
The principles which govern the programme are as follows:
- Relational & supportive – Active partnership with external partners and local church leaders, working together to enhance programme plans and being Spirit-led
- Transparent & honest – Openness about decision-making processes to maintain trust, and a commitment to share the lessons of funding (successes and failures) to maximise its impact
- Intentional – Funding is linked to a plan setting out what change is anticipated and how it will be achieved
- Empowering – Those receiving funding are helped to build capacity so they are in a better position to lead and sustain frontline mission
- Evidence-based and realistic – Respecting local knowledge, decisions about funding are based on high-quality evidence integrated with practitioners’ understanding of their context
- Humility, recognising this is God’s work – Recognising success is dependent on God, excited and curious to learn what God will do, and trying to share our own skills with humility.
Want to know more about the Church of England Vision?
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