Grants and funding | The Church of England

A view of the nave of St Mary the Virgin, Walkhampton, as seen from the tower.

Government grants

This scheme helps small businesses and local communities by contributing toward the setup cost of a gigabit-capable full-fibre broadband connection.

The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) is part of Project Gigabit, the government’s programme to roll out fast, reliable broadband to homes and businesses that are not included in suppliers’ commercial plans.

To qualify for the grant, the resulting speeds must be at least double what was available before, and capable of delivering 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps) download speeds. This grant is likeliest to apply to wireless community broadband projects. If you're not sure whether your installation is eligible, ask your supplier.

Gigabit broadband voucher scheme information

2. Project Gigabit - GOV.UK

Project Gigabit is the government’s programme to enable hard-to-reach communities to access lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband. It targets homes and businesses that are not included in broadband suppliers’ plans, reaching parts of the UK that might otherwise miss out on getting the digital connectivity they need. The government is committed to achieving nationwide gigabit coverage and expects 99% of premises to have access to a gigabit-capable connection by 2032.

Find out more - Project Gigabit UK

Other funding options

Stained Glass Windows in St Michael and All Angels, Witton Gilbert

Most of our grants are focused on the conservation of our historic buildings, rather than the introduction of new technologies; however, it might be worth exploring whether the National Lottery Heritage Fund could help. If you're thinking of bringing connectivity to your church building, and hoping to raise funds locally, you might find our fundraising guidance helpful. Alternatively, if you're in an area with poor broadband or mobile coverage, there might be a supplier-led solution to funding in the form of pursuing a wireless community broadband project or NET CS's rural mobile coverage initiative. Parish Resources also publishes a list of charitable grants, which you can view by clicking the link below:

National List of Charitable Grants for Churches