THE Christian Funders' Forum, an umbrella group of grant-making trusts, gave its first social-action awards at Lambeth Palace, on Wednesday of last week.

The best church-based social action project award was given to Longton Community Church, and Sharpe Memorial Church of the Nazarene in Parkhead, Glasgow, was named as the best church building project.

The winner of the Mustard Seed Gold Award was Way4ward, a charity which works with black and other ethnic minority youth and adults who are at risk of getting caught up in crime or going to prison.

The best replicable project award was given to MakeLunch, who provide free lunches to poor children who normally receive free school meals during the school holidays.

Its founder and director Rachel Warwick said: "It's been fantastic to be here to celebrate so many amazing projects that are going on in the country and to be encouraged in what we're doing as well. Funding is such a massive part of charity work and so it's great to celebrate the fruits of that."

Matt Bird, chair of the Christian Funders' Forum, said: "It was such a privilege...to recognise and award these amazing churches and organisations, who are doing some incredible and innovative work... These projects represent the growing impact that churches are having in their local areas, working together to be the hands and feet of Jesus and make a real difference to so many lives."