Build 90,000 social-rent homes a year, JRF urges
THE Government must increase the supply of homes for social rent, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation urged last week. The charity’s latest analysis suggests that many households on low incomes are paying rents that they cannot afford, in the private rented sector. It argues for increasing the supply of homes for social rent by 90,000 a year for the next 15 years, and sets out the level of investment that the Government should commit itself to at this autumn’s Comprehensive Spending Review.
Commission on Families and Households seeks evidence
THE Archbishops’ Commission on Families and Households launched a six-week appeal for evidence last week. Established in March, it is co-chaired by Professor Janet Walker and the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler, and charged with reporting on “the current pressures facing families and households and to make recommendations about how they can be helped to flourish”. It will be highlighting “the good and the positive in what’s working well and how that can be built on, drawing on Christian theology and tradition”, and is seeking input from people with experience in “promoting the well-being of children and young people in stable loving homes” and “building and sustaining strong couple relationships and reducing conflict in families and households”. The deadline for evidence is 18 November, and the Commission is due to report in November 2022.
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PCCs warned about end of fund-raising platform
THE philanthropy charity Stewardship is urging PCC treasurers to respond to the announcement by Virgin Money Giving that it will close its donations and fund-raising platform on 30 November. It is thought that many treasurers will not be aware of this, and that they need to take action to ensure that online donations continue. One option suggested is to set up a Stewardship giving account.
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First for choir of St John’s College, Cambridge
THE choir of St John’s College, Cambridge, will include both male and female voices — adults and children — for the first time from 2022, it was announced last week. No other Oxbridge college choir of its kind combined the voices of males and females in both adults and children, it said in a press release. Men and women will be largely recruited to the choir from the student body of the college. Boy and girl choristers admitted into the choir are educated at St John’s College School. The total number of choristers will increase from 20 to 25.
Cornish award in memory of heritage expert
THE diocese of Truro and Cornwall Council are inviting entries for a new award established in memory of Nick Cahill, a historian whose expertise, the announcement says, “left no corner of Cornwall or aspect of our heritage and historic environment forgotten”. The Nick Cahill Award will reflect his “passion for churches and chapels”, recognising excellence in design and craftsmanship in restoration or improvement projects involving ecclesiastical buildings. “Exciting design interventions and more modest conservation, restoration or modernisation projects in ecclesiastical buildings and churchyards across all faiths and denominations” will be eligible. For more information, email Paul Holden at pholden02@gmail.com