MORE than 40,700 people were supported by Bristol diocese, “a diocese united in compassion, creativity and commitment”, throughout last yr, an audit has found.
Its report, published on Monday, says that 1634 volunteers contributed 121,660 hours of service, and 40,773 people were “supported by social motion activities”.
The three commonest needs that churches met were in constructing community and community cohesion (33 per cent), reducing social isolation (12 per cent), and supporting families (11 per cent), the report says. “Overall, the findings show a diocese united in compassion, creativity and commitment, acting as a strong force for Gospel change.”
The diocese worked in partnership with a Christian charity, the Cinnamon Network, to perform the 2025 Social Action Audit. A complete of 108 parishes, representing 64 per cent of the churches within the diocese, responded to the survey. Ninety-seven of those described themselves as “energetic”, within the sense of delivering not less than one social motion over the past 12 months.
The survey found that 418 activities were delivered, including toddler groups, foodbanks, youth groups, community cafés and lunch clubs, mentoring programmes in schools, bereavement support, and mental-health groups.
To “sustain or develop social motion activities”, further funding was needed, 83 churches reported. “Sustained financial support is important for keeping their volunteer-led projects viable and for enabling more ambitious social motion in areas of high need,” the report says.
Fifty-nine parishes reported collaborating with charities, schools, statutory agencies, community groups, or other faith organisations. Fifty-six “expressed a desire to develop these relationships further”.
The report also suggests that volunteer shortages remain a challenge: 52 churches said that they needed more. Although the diocese, within the audit, was “deeply grateful” for existing volunteers, phrases akin to “we want more people power” and “our core team may be very small and ageing” appeared repeatedly.
In a foreword to the report, the Acting Bishop of Bristol, the Bishop of Swindon, the Rt Revd Neil Warwick, said: “Parishes across the diocese act as beacons of hope to their local communities.”
The diocesan secretary, Richard Leaman, said: “The findings reflect what a lot of us already knew: that our parishes are right at the center of their neighbourhoods, offering places of welcome, comfort, and hope.”
