Getting Involved

Getting involved

Our three churches each have groups of wonderful, friendly volunteers who make our parish a warm and welcoming place. New volunteers are always very welcome.

Volunteering

How can I get involved?

Helping with fund raising and community events like coffee mornings and bingos. Do you have a little bit of time to spare to help serving up a warming beverage or delicious bite to eat? Are you full of fundraising ideas you would like to share? Would you like a creative outlet or have a flair for spreading the word about events? Do you have the knowledge and know how to help secure grant funding? We would love to hear from you if you would like to get involved!
Assisting with grant applications. Our church councils are proactive in trying to secure funding to keep our churches safe, watertight and preserving their beauty. Would would appreciate guidance from anyone who has experience in making funding applications.
Churchyard working parties – serious gardening skills or just love being outside? We try to keep our green areas beautiful and run a few churchyard working parties during spring and summer each culminating with some delicious refreshments.
Do you have a talent for baking? Join our “ladies (and gents!) of the teapot” baking and serving up delicious homemade cakes at St Andrew’s, Beesands on Sundays throughout the warmer months.
Flower arranging and seasonal decorating – our fantastic flower arrangers adorn our churches with beautiful floral displays. If you would like to join our rota you are very welcome. On a less regular basis we also need help with seasonal displays and placing of candles. If you think that you could help please get in contact.
Church cleaning and brass polishing - Our beautiful churches require regular cleaning to keep them a pleasant place to visit and worship. Keep fit, have a chat and maybe make some new friends as part of our church cleaning team. Our rota means your team usually cleans about once every six weeks.
If you live locally and are free in the morning and late afternoon one week every other month could you help with unlocking the church to visitors in the morning and locking back up at night?
Joining the Parochial Church Council. The executive committee who, with the priest in charge, steers the life of the church in its mission, witness and service in the parish of Stokenham with Sherford and Beesands and consists of clergy and churchwardens of the parish with the majority being lay representatives)
Be added to the Electoral role Church Representation Rules online - part 1 | The Church of England
Do you have any unique skills we haven’t even thought we need? Please get in touch there are always new projects afoot!

If you would like more information about volunteering please contact our parish office by phone or email

View volunteering opportunities

Donations for the upkeep of our churches

Our wonderful volunteers work tirelessly to raise funds to keep our churches in a good state of repair. Due to their age and the toll of the coastal locations the funds needed are considerable

Any donations are very gratefully received.

Please see our Facebook page for updates on our fundraising projects.

Regular giving

Thank you for considering making a donation. You can set up a standing order if you would like to make a regular donation to our churches.

Please contact the Parish Office office@ssbparish.co.uk for more information.
One off donations

If you are visiting St Michael's in Stokenham there is a card machine at the back of the church where you can make a card payment.

We can allso accept cheques and online banking payments. Please contact office@ssbparish.co.uk as the payment details may depend on the specific church that you would like to donate to.

We currently do not have the facility to accept card payments online or by telephone.
Gift Aid

Parochial Church Councils are charities. Income tax which has been paid on donations to churches can be recovered from HMRC. The process for recovering this money is called Gift Aid.

How does it work

If you are a UK taxpayer, all you have to do is give the Church a simple Gift Aid declaration. This can be done via office@ssbparish.co.uk

Do you qualify?
Providing you pay enough tax (income and/or capital gains) to cover the amount the church reclaims in the same financial year, you are entitled to use Gift Aid. For example, if you wish to Gift Aid your charitable donations that total £100 in one year, you will need to have paid at least £25 in to the taxman in respect of that tax year.

What's more, one single Gift Aid declaration can apply to all past donations you have made over the past 4 years and to all future donations you make.

If you are a higher rate taxpayer looking to reclaim tax from your donation, all you have to do is remember to include details of your charitable gifts on your tax form.

https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/finance-giving-and-christian-stewardship/gift-aid

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Opportunities

Bell ringing

Would you like to give bell ringing a go?
Our teams at Stokenham and Sherford are looking for new ringers. The team at Stokenham meet at 7pm Monday's and the team at Sherford meet at 8pm on Tuesday.
For Stokenham contact the captain of the bell tower jeremedarke@btinternet.com or for Sherford office@ssbparish.co.uk.
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Church opening and Closing

If you live locally and are free in the morning and late afternoon one week every other month could you help with unlocking the church to visitors in the morning and locking back up at night?

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Flower arranging and seasonal decorating

Our fantastic flower arrangers adorn our churches with beautiful floral displays. If you would like to join our rota you are very welcome. On a less regular basis we also need help with seasonal displays and placing of candles. If you think that you could help please get in contact.
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