Welsh Church Act Fund: Boost Your Worship Experience with a New Sound System
Churches and places of worship are at the heart of every community, bringing people together through shared beliefs, values, and traditions.
However, in recent years, attendance has slowly been declining. In fact, 27% of adults who identify as Christian don’t regularly attend church, which is an 8% drop since 2018.
One factor could be the growing challenge of keeping up with the digital age. With so much content, information, and advice available online, churches and places of worship now face strong competition for people’s time and attention.
Therefore, upgrading your space with modern technology is one way to bridge the gap, and a high-quality PA system could make a big difference.
Good sound matters; clear, powerful sound ensures every sermon is heard, music is uplifting, and events are engaging. And the Welsh Church Act Fund could help cover the costs.
In this article, we’ll explore what the Welsh Church Act Fund is, how to apply, and how Spartan AV’s House of Worship AV Installation service can help you set up the perfect PA system for your church.
Upgrading your space with modern technology is one way to bridge the gap, and a high-quality PA system could make a big difference.
What is the Welsh Church Act Fund?
The Welsh Church Act Fund is a charitable trust providing vital financial support to churches, chapels, and places of public worship, as well as constituted community groups and charities.
To qualify, organisations must be located in a county in Wales, and funded projects must have long-term benefits to residents and the community.
What the Fund Can Cover
The Fund supports a wide range of projects, including:
Education initiatives
Restoration and maintenance of buildings
Advancing art and literature
Social and recreational activities
Promoting the welfare of the elderly
Supporting people on low incomes or those who are sick or disabled
And other charitable purposes
While not explicitly listed, audio visual upgrades can qualify if they clearly benefit the community, such as improving sound for events, services, and activities held in the space.
This is essential for modern churches, so they can continue to attract the public to their facilities while ensuring their services are accessible to all.
How to Apply for Funding
The Welsh Church Act Fund operates on a rolling basis, with applications open each year. However, the exact rules, deadlines, and amounts available vary depending on your local council.
For example, Caerphilly Council offer a maximum of £5,000, with up to £60,000 total available for local organisations and projects.
Whereas large projects in Rhondda Cynon Taf can expect up to £50,000, with the Fund covering up to 80% of the cost sum if the applicant contributes the remaining 20%.
Remember, these figures are just examples, as every county applies its own criteria.
The most important first step is to contact your local council to confirm funding limits, deadlines, and application requirements before you apply.
Once you know the requirements, you can start preparing your application, which should cover the following areas:
Confirm Your Project Size: Whether it’s small, medium, or significant, this is an important step to ensuring you apply for the right funding amount.
Outline Your Plan: The more detail, the better. You’ll need to explain the purpose, costs, and intended benefits for the residents and community.
Link to Community Impact: You need to clearly show how the project will benefit residents, as community value is central to the Fund’s mission.
The most important first step is to contact your local council to confirm funding limits, deadlines, and application requirements before you apply.
As well as the benefits we’ve already covered earlier in the article, some of the benefits could include:
Improved worship experience
Better community engagement
Enhanced accessibility for the elderly or hard-of-hearing
Supports large events, e.g., weddings, funerals, community concerts
Future-proofing the space
How to Set Up a PA System for a Church with Spartan AV
Once your application has been accepted and you’ve received the funding, it’s time to set up the PA system.
But, how do you set up a PA system for a church? That’s where we come in.
As part of our House of Worship AV Installation service, our expert AV technicians can install the equipment and train your team on how to use it.
Here’s a breakdown of the steps we’ll take to install your new PA system:
Assess the Needs: Depending on your funding, we’ll need to make the most of the budget. So, we’ll assess the size of the congregation, types of services provided, and how music and spoken word will sound in the space.
Choosing Equipment: It’s important that the right equipment is used in the space; there’s no need to buy into products that ultimately won’t be used, and our team can create the perfect solution for you, whether it’s microphones, speakers, mixers, or amplifiers.
Plan the Layout: As professional AV technicians, we can accurately assess and plan the best layout for your PA system so your visitors experience optimal sound coverage and accessibility.
Professional Installation: With over 14 years of experience in the industry, we’re a leading regional AV installation company. Therefore, you can trust us to install your new PA system with care and precision, avoiding feedback, poor clarity, and technical headaches.
Training: Finally, once everything is set up and operational, our friendly team will take the time to train all necessary personnel on how to use the equipment. This step is just as important as the assessments and installation, so we won’t leave until you’re confident in your ability to use the equipment.
There you have it, that’s how we can help you set up a PA system in a church or place of worship.
But a new PA system isn’t the only option. Spartan AV can also help make the most of your Welsh Church Act Funding by further enhancing your church’s offering with state-of-the-art screens to improve accessibility and cameras to record or livestream services and events.
These additions will not only improve the worship experience for those in the building, but also extend the reach to members of the community who can’t attend in person.
Spartan AV can also help make the most of your Welsh Church Act Funding by further enhancing your church’s offering.
Get in Touch for House of Worship Audio Visual Support
We hope this guide on how to set up a PA system in a church has helped you feel ready to explore the Welsh Church Act Fund. It’s an incredible opportunity for places of worship to upgrade their facilities, enhance services, and benefit their community.
If this article has inspired you to take the next step, Spartan AV is here to help.
We have expertise in House of Worship AV installation, providing bespoke AV solutions that fit both your needs and your building’s unique character. From traditional stone walls to high ceilings, we understand the acoustic challenges older places of worship face and how to overcome them.
Our end-to-end service covers consultation, design, installation, and training, so you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your new system will be easy to use and built to last.
We’re based in Cardiff but work all over the UK, and we have installations in Newport, Bristol, Swansea, Monmouth, London, and even Glasgow. So, wherever you need house of worship AV solutions, we can support you.
Get in touch on 02920 481797 or quotes@spartanaudio.co.uk to find out more about how we can help with your next AV installation.
