W h o a r e F I G ? ….
Actually, FIG stands for "Finance Initiative Group", and it is a committee of the PCC, set up in early 2021, and charged with seeking out and recommending to the PCC fundraising ideas and initiatives. The PCC then take responsibility for implementing any proposals that they accept, but having a separate body looking into ideas frees the PCC from that thought process.
You will not always see the immediate result of FIG’s work. However, fundraising generally has increased over the last few years partly as a result of FIG’s contribution.
Through their efforts with a variety of grant-making bodies and trusts, awards have been received towards the cost of various necessary works, e.g. the new boilers. The organ refurbishment is a slightly more substantial project, and whilst the initiation of the appeal began on FIG, this is now managed by a separate appeal team.
A link will be available next month.
Grant-making bodies who have supported us since 2021 includes the Garfield Weston Trust, the Sussex Historic Churches Trust, the Ian Askew Charitable Trust, the Benefact Trust and the Beatrice Laing Trust. Their generosity is hugely appreciated and has allowed the Church to be managed and maintained to its current beautiful standard.
Contact is also being made with businesses that are local or have interests that are local, either by direct approach, or through the Neighbourly website, to which we are
nowadays contributors.
Current members of FIG are Piers Coleman (chair), David Knight (vicar), John Shaw, Karen Schofield, Jamie Buchanan and Peter Bassett.
They meet every six weeks and are in regular contact between meetings.
There is always much to be done and much to discuss.
FIG do believe that it is vital to acknowledge and celebrate those who give. They want to show to those grant-making bodies and trusts how much we appreciate their support, and similarly we want to feature those individuals in whose memory or on whose behalf valuable and substantial donations have been made. We are working to create a benefactors’ board which might allow us to achieve this.
Having said all that, everyone is very aware that there are many good folk who have contributed by regular giving as well, and that is immensely appreciated too.
In addition, the Friends of Fletching Parish Church have themselves raised substantial funds in the last 30 years, and it is vital that FIG has a productive and constructive
relationship with them.
FIG are always looking for new ideas and their doors are always open to any parishioner or supporter who wish to contribute on any particular subject, or as a committee member. Anybody interested should please make contact with any member of the Group,
or the Vicar himself, via the Vicar’s contact details - fletching.vicar@gmail.com
Piers Coleman
April 2024