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The Bridge Project -Responding to and Challenging Poverty

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The Bridge Project works with churches in Durham Diocese to respond to and challenge poverty in their local communities.

The North East is a region of great strength, resilience and generosity, yet it is also a place where many people face significant challenges. Poverty takes many forms, including lack of financial resources, food insecurity, limited opportunities, social isolation and poor physical and mental health. Through the Bridge Project, we support churches to recognise these realities and to bring hope in practical, faithful and sustainable ways.

Challenging Poverty is a strategic priority for Durham Diocese. The Bridge Project focuses particularly on three priority areas: addressing child and youth poverty, responding to isolation among older people, and reaching out to asylum seekers and refugees, recognising both their needs and the gifts they bring to our communities. The project exists to help clergy and congregations discern how God is calling them to respond in their own context.

53% of parishes in Durham diocese are in the 20% most deprived nationally*

*Index of Multiple Deprivation

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At its core, the Bridge Project is about building bridges: between churches and their communities, between lived experience and local policy, and between congregations and partner organisations. We support churches to identify local needs through listening, relationship-building and co-design, ensuring responses are shaped alongside those with lived experience rather than imposed solutions. We also help churches respond to material need through active involvement in community initiatives, particularly where poverty most affects children, young people and older adults.

Alongside this, the Bridge Project encourages churches to work collaboratively with local authorities, charities and other churches, helping to amplify impact and challenge unjust systems. By strengthening partnerships, churches are better equipped to influence provision, advocate for change and create joined-up responses to poverty.

How can the Bridge Project help you?

  1. We offer coaching and ongoing support for clergy and PCCs

  2. We help discern local needs and priorities

  3. We support you in building effective partnerships

  4. We offer access to small grants scheme and support with fundraising

  5. We host training events to build confidence and skills.

Whether you are exploring first steps or developing an existing project, the Bridge Project is here to walk alongside you as together we seek to bring hope, challenge poverty and write a different story for our communities.

Please get in touch with us.

Visit the ‘Challenging Poverty’ page from Diocese of Durham.

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