Trusts And Foundations Fundraiser

The Discover DeCrypt Trustees wish to appoint a self-employed fundraising consultant to undertake fundraising to achieve at a minimum the matched funding target (circa £92k) for submission of The National Lottery Heritage Fund Round 2 bid for The Sanctuary Project in St Mary de Crypt Church, Gloucester. The work will need to be carried out between July 2024 and July 2025 with all matched funding pledged by that end date and any surplus funding contributing to unrestricted reserves.

Introduction Discover DeCrypt undertook a major Heritage Fund project between Jan 2018 and March 2022. This capital project saw the reimagining of the church and adjoining Tudor schoolroom buildings. The project saw the Victorian pews removed (and repurposed), a lift (sympathetic to the buildings) installed, new toilet facilities, new heating system, new fire and intruder system, new lighting scheme and a new kitchen. Underfloor heating was installed within the nave and a new floor laid. The schoolroom was made safe and usable as it had reached the point where it was unsafe for the public to access. There was new interpretation in both the church and schoolroom.

An important aspect of this project was community outreach as the buildings sit within the city centre and had lost much of the original congregation and community. After the initial capital phase, three years of operational support was designed to help embed the charity within the community through volunteer recruitment, workshops, activities, concerts, art exhibitions and theatre. The church has also grown over this period, with regular services, weddings, funerals, and christenings.

The Sanctuary Project is the next phase of the Discover DeCrypt Story. It will see the conservation and interpretation of important Mediaeval and Tudor Wall paintings, Mediaeval stonework, and Victorian stained-glass windows. As well as the conservation work, the Sanctuary area and the elements within it will be researched and interpreted for the visitors to understand and enjoy. A very important part of this project is community engagement and audience development including giving students and the wider public access to conservation and heritage skills.

This role is funded by The National Heritage Lottery Fund thanks to National Lottery players.