Transforming Communities Together joins the Diocese of Lichfield team
Transforming Communities Together (TCT) is being integrated into the Diocese of Lichfield to continue its crucial social justice work with churches and communities.
TCT was established in 2014 as a joint venture between the diocese and the Church Urban Fund’s (CUF) Together Network to help churches and local organisations tackle poverty and the causes of poverty in and around the Black Country, Staffordshire and northern Shropshire. Its mission is to partner with others, seeking the common good, working for justice as people of hope, so that communities may flourish and those who are vulnerable, isolated, and disadvantaged might enjoy life in its fullness.
Various challenges, including the changing nature of the national funding landscape, the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis led to a strategic review of TCT’s work at the start of 2023. As a result, the TCT Board of Trustees has agreed that TCT will be integrated into the Lichfield Diocesan Board of Finance.
The Rev’d Adam Edwards, Acting Group CEO at CUF said: “TCT have been a strong member of the Together Network from the very beginning. They’ve helped shape the Network's future, strategy, and theology, create and deliver programmes, and share resources and ideas. We’re looking forward to continuing to work closely with the Diocese of Lichfield and supporting their commitment to social justice work, in particular the growing Places of Welcome network across Staffordshire and the Black Country.”
The Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Rt Revd Sarah Bullock, Chair of TCT’s Board of Trustees, said: ‘’We are excited to be moving to working as fully integrated members of the diocesan team to support our diocesan direction of travel, to meet the needs of parishes and communities expressed through our Shaping for Mission process and our focus on living out the 5 Marks of Mission in word and action.’’