In recent years, in addition to providing grants for individual students and clergy, the Charity has been able to support several organisations and initiatives which include:-
The North East Religious Resources Centre (known locally as the Religious Resources Centre or the ‘RRC’) has two regional centres: one at Church House, St John’s Terrace, North Shields and one at Cuthbert House, Stonebridge Lane, Durham.
The Religious Resources Centre’s aim is to advance Religious Education, understood in it’s broadest sense in educational and faith contexts. The Religious Resources Centre is open at both of its sites Monday to Friday, and on ten Saturdays in the year.
Membership is open to all though it is particularly relevant to students, teachers and ministers. Extensive resources to support religious education, learning and literacy are available in a wide range of media including: artefacts, topic boxes, story-bags, Godly Play, written and audio visual resources. In addition the Religious Resources Centre reviews and catalogues appropriate online, and downloadable, materials.
The Religious Resources Centre also provides advice, guidance, assistance and training to those involved with the teaching of Religious Education. The centres are increasingly used by small groups wishing to study together and by those training with Lindisfarne College of Theology.
For 24-25 £50,000 of funding was awarded which enabled the Trustees of the Centres to consider their future strategically and develop a two year plan. Their aims include:
To visit the RRC please visit:
www.resourcescentreonline.co.uk
Durham Diocese is committed to the development of chaplaincy in FE colleges. The final year of this project has helped two churches build relationships with local FE colleges and develop plans for chaplaincy, supported the development of existing and potential chaplaincies in nine schools and one sixth form centre (including a learning community and peer support network), trained eight people in the Bishop’s Certificate in Chaplaincy and continued the work of the Educational Chaplaincy Enabler. The Diocese has now obtained National Church funding for three FE chaplaincy projects, building on the work funded by the Trust.
Whitburn Academy has developed a hub for RE teacher training, the only one of its kind in the North-East. The funding provides bursaries to trainees and also funding for a bespoke Subject Knowledge Enhancement course for individual students. Since 2018, the bursary top-scheme has helped to directly recruit seven RE ITT students and support a further eleven. Trainees have tended to remain in the North East and at least one is now employed by Whitburn Academy.
The funding in 2024/2025 was used to support the work of the Religious Education Adviser. Their work included New Headteacher inductions, sessions on Planning and Leading Collective Worship and Preparing for SIAMS, a conference on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice and termly network meetings for RE leads in schools. This work will continue in 2025/2026.
This is a national education project giving children the opportunity to ask questions about science and the Christian Faith. The funding covered the salary of a Schools Development Officer whose role covered the recruitment and training of undergraduates and post graduates in Durham and Newcastle to deliver sessions in schools in the North East.