Funding the new building

From the very beginning of the project, we knew that we had to balance our desire for a worthwhile building with our ability to pay for it. The current evidence is that we have got it about right: the building is as large as can reasonably be fitted on to the site and provides adequate facilities, while just being affordable.

The design brief was to provide maximum value for money, and every effort has been made to keep the cost down without sacrificing anything essential.

If anyone needs detailed information about the cost of the project or a copy of our business plan, this is available on request.

A solid foundation

Serious fundraising began over 10 years ago when it became clear that a new building was needed. By April 2005 the total raised had climbed to £300,000, and this more than doubled by the end of May 2006. We saw that year as a test of our ability to raise the required funds, and the project received the go-ahead on the basis of the progress made.

At this point almost all the money raised came from personal donations and from fundraising activities organised within the church.

We used a lo-tech visual aid - the "wall of bricks" - to illustrate donations and pledges made in the year up to May 2006. The bricks did not all represent the same amount, but all were equally needed in order to reach the target

Looking outside: External funding

Once we went public with the project, the way was open to applying to charitable trusts for funding.

Each charity has its own priorities for allocating funds, and in each case we have had to assess whether we fall within those criteria and, therefore, whether an application for funding would be appropriate. The effort involved has been well worthwhile, as we have obtained funding from a wide range of charities.

Contributions from some commercial and other organisations have also been received. These are listed below, along with the charitable trusts.

Thank you!

It has been a great ecouragement to us to receive donations from a wide range of charities: local and national, large and small. For some of the smaller trusts, their contribution represents a significant proportion of their annual spending.

We recognise our responsibility to ensure that our use of the building fulfils the aims of those who have supported us.

• The Allchurches Trust Limited
• Baron Davenport's Charity
• The Bernard Piggott Trust
• The Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation
• Bewley Charitable Trust
• The Bryant Trust
• Central Networks
• The Cook and Wolstenholme Charitable Trust
• Diocese of Birmingham
• Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust Incorporated
• The George Henry Collins Charity
• The GMC Trust
• Grimmitt Trust
• The Jarman Charitable Trust
• National Churches Trust
• K Haberson
• Margaret Piggott Trust
• Maurice and Hilda Laing Charitable Trust
• Richard Cadbury Trust
• The Roughley Charitable Trust
• Selly Oak Community Chest
• The Sparkhill Trust
• The William A Cadbury Charitable Trust
• W E Dunn Charitable Trust Limited

Putting the fun into fundraising

Raising a million pounds or so is a challenging task, but the experience has been a surprisingly enjoyable one.

This is thanks in part to a principle that we have followed throughout: that every contribution is valued, whether large or small, in money or time. The effect has been to strengthen us as a community and keep everyone involved as the momentum of the project has built up.

Our members are constantly thinking up new fundraising ideas. A Talent Auction raised several thousand pounds when lots ranging from holiday accommodation to home-laid free range eggs went "under the hammer". The sale of home-made greetings cards has proved a profitable way of applying our creative skills, while a sponsored parachute jump set new standards for bravery.