Book before 31st May to take advantage of our early bird ticket offer of £12.50! Lunch and refreshments are included in this price.

Small steps, big difference

Church buildings have been used for a range of activities beyond worship for hundreds of years. They are perfectly placed to provide essential local services, enable wider social connections, be venues for local businesses, and thrive as exciting multifunctional and versatile places that can transform and strengthen communities.

But as custodians of these wonderful buildings, it’s not always easy to work out what is possible, where to start, and what help we can get to achieve this.

Join us at St George’s Church in Kidderminster to explore the ways in which we can unlock the potential of our church buildings to help to build stronger and more resilient communities.

Through a range of presentations and relevant case studies, themes will cover the extraordinary value that churches have in transforming their local communities, the importance of working in partnership to meet local needs and provide essential services, and the potential to develop them as income-generating business ventures.

There will also be practical advice on developing your project, how to avoid common pitfalls, and the ever-important opportunity to raise your own questions.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Bishop Martin Gorick, Bishop of Dudley, Diocese of Worcester
• Community Businesses in Church Buildings – Suzie Middleton, The Plunkett Foundation
• The House of Good Report – Eddie Tulasiewicz, National Churches Trust
• What can go wrong? – Becky Clark, Church Buildings Council
• The Crossing the Threshold Toolkit – Wendy Coombey, Diocese of Hereford
• Rev Amy Wearing, Upton Baptist Church