National competition to help churches address challenges 

Are you running a church-led project that's addressing emerging challenges in your community? Do you believe this work could be replicated across the country? If so, Cinnamon Network is inviting you to enter its 2022 Project Incubator Competition

Ten selected projects will be awarded a place on the Cinnamon Project Incubator in this year's competition. Described as an ‘MBA for church-led social action’, the Incubator programme runs over two years. During this time, participants receive training, coaching and networking opportunities to help them develop the capacity and capability to replicate across the UK.

The value of support provided on the Cinnamon Project Incubator is estimated to be worth more than £21,000.

Cinnamon is particularly looking for the following church-led initiatives:

• Working with women who have experienced abuse, including sex trafficking
• Supporting young people disproportionally impacted by COVID-19
• Responding to inequality and emerging needs in their communities

'Churches have been at the heart of the community response to the COVID-19 pandemic,' its press release stated.

'As our nation faces fresh challenges in the light of rising living costs, growing inequality, and war in Europe, Cinnamon wants to strengthen the church to respond.'

Five of the finalists will also get the opportunity to pitch their initiatives to a group of hand selected philanthropists and potential donors at the Cinnamon Incubator Final.

Cinnamon has been running the Incubator Competition since 2016 and has helped 35 initiatives, including Renew Wellbeing, Make Lunch, and The Healthy Church initiative to replicate their work across the country.

Gemma Gillard, founder of Truth Be Told, and winner of the 2019 Cinnamon Incubator Competition said, 'We would not be where we are today without the Cinnamon Project Incubator. The support, expertise, and encouragement we’ve received over the past couple of years has been invaluable.'

Amanda Bindon, Chief Executive of Cinnamon Network said, 'If we stop and consider all the challenges our nation faces, it’s overwhelming. And yet, in the heart of communities across the UK we see local churches responding in remarkable ways. Through the Incubator Competition, we want to find and nurture those great innovations, for the benefit of all.'

Cinnamon is grateful to partners Benefact Trust (previously AllChurches Trust), Bishop Radford Trust, the Trusted Executive Charitable Foundation and the Vardy Foundation for supporting the 2022 Cinnamon Incubator Competition.