Irish Ecumenical Church Loan Fund

Overview

The Fund tries to make loans available to those working in the following areas; cross-community (i.e. mixed Protestant and Catholic) contact and peace and reconciliation work; ecumenical developments; church and other social outreach in areas of need; care for marginalised and vulnerable groups; aspects of proclaiming the Christian gospel. Most loans would be towards the cost of purchasing property or building and renovating property.

Typical recipients of loans would be;

• an adult education centre doing some building development;
• a cross-community (Protestant and Catholic) play group for young children in a rural area;
• a church residential centre for young people making links across church divides;
• a community group providing a range of services locally;
• a church-based community and social service organisation;
• a Christian reconciliation centre; a local youth group; an organisation working with homeless people to provide support and accommodation;
• a centre providing a variety of activities for disabled and able- bodied people.

ECLOF in Ireland provides loans both North and South of the border, in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

ECLOF in Ireland makes loans of up to UK£25,000 (c. €35,000) without reference to head office in Geneva, or slightly more if it is ratified there.

ECLOF loans are often used to top up available funding to meet the necessary finance required for a capital project to proceed, e.g. for building repairs. Loans are usually for a maximum of 5 years and current interest rates (2007) are around 4%.

The interest rate charged is currently 3-4% but subject to prevailing interest rates. Loans of over three years may be subject to an interest rate review at the three year stage (when the interest rate could be increased). Some security is required for loans; suitable possible security can be discussed with the Fund's secretary and a separate short paper is available outlining the options.

SPECIFIC CRITERIA

The Irish Ecumenical Church Loan Fund makes loans to:

• Support for bodies and projects that promote cross-community contact and peace and reconciliation work.
• Support for ecumenical bodies and for projects that promote inter-church understanding, contact and action.
• Outreach projects of the churches in areas of deprivation or special need (eg for youth work or service to the community).
• Support for organisations and projects in areas of deprivation and special need that seek to create employment, provide community services and in various ways combat marginalisation and exclusion caused by poverty and employment.
• Projects and organisations which provide support, care, treatment or rehabilitation of the sick, old and disabled and other marginalised and vulnerable groups in society.
• Initiating or extending the work of proclaiming the Christian Gospel and Christian standards of ethics by means of the printed word, films, broadcasting or other media.

How to Apply

Guidelines are available from the Fund. The committee of the Fund meets as necessary to discuss applications.

The committee of the Fund meets as often as necessary to process applications and is serviced by a secretary based in the Inter-Church Centre, Belfast. An information sheet is available on request and the secretary is happy to discuss potential applications with anyone.