The Oxford Academy gets grant funding from Oxford Diocese

The Development Fund was launched in 2019 to help churches and since its launch it has donated over £1.5m to over 100 local church projects across the Diocese.

Grants to support Church of England schools in the diocese and children, young, people and families saw the largest share of awards with two school-based projects being awarded £60,000 and £66,000 respectively.

Read again: Co-op launches campaign to stop barbecue fires

The Rev Canon Dr Geoff Bayliss, Area Dean of Cowley, submitted an application to the Development Fund to recruit a chaplaincy team leader for The Oxford Academy and surrounding primary schools and was awarded £66,000.

The Bishop of Oxford Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft Photo: Steven Buckley

Rev Canon Dr Bayliss said: “Over the last couple of years there has been some wonderful ecumenical work in the schools of our deaneries using local clergy and partner organisations to help fulfil the schools’ commitment to their Church of England foundations.

“However, this support was limited and so the financial support from the Development Fund will help us to grow this area of work by appointing a full-time chaplain.

Read again: Shopkeeper was a community leader in Oxfordshire

“The money will be spread over the next five years to support the post holder’s salary and it is our hope that by the end of the five years there will be other funding in place. We heard just before Easter that we had been successful so are now starting the process of recruiting and hope to have someone in post by September.”

The Oxford Academy Picture: The Oxford Academy

Other recipients in Oxfordshire include the Icknield Benefice near Watlington, who were awarded £600 to help develop pastoral care and bereavement support by providing Cruse bereavement training to a lay led team.

Rev Daniel Thompson, Rector at Icknield, said: “Pastoral care can be complicated at the best of times due to the size of our benefice as we are spread across four parishes but with the onset of the pandemic, we were mindful of those who might fall between the gaps due to isolation and illness.

“Several volunteers began working with us to offer ‘in person’ support (in line with Government guidelines) and they were incredible throughout the lockdowns, but we wanted to empower them and help them grow in confidence in the often-delicate area of bereavement support.

Read again: Endeavour film crew takes over Oxford park

“Cruse Bereavement Care offer excellent training but at £600 it was beyond our budget, and we didn’t want to ask people to pay for it themselves as they had already done so much. Thankfully, the development fund has allowed us to pursue the training without having to draw on other funds and we will be able to support 10 volunteers through their training.

Pupils working on community projects at Oxford Academy

“This will be beneficial in a number of ways including helping the community to reconnect after a period of turmoil and trauma.”

The amount of money available to parishes and benefices in the Diocese of Oxford is about £1m per year over the next three years.