New website promises more cost effective buying

With churches also feeling the squeeze on finances, a new website is being launched later this month to help them make savings on the things they need to buy.

ParishBuying.org.uk has been developed by the Church of England's Parish Buying Service and features favourable deals negotiated on a range of products and services such as gas and electricity, office supplies, IT software and fire safety.

The deals have been struck by the Church's two National Procurement Officers and are expected to save parishes around £10 million a year in total.

Stephen Marriott, Guildford Diocesan Secretary and chair of the National Procurement Group, said, “This new service is designed to save time and money.

"It has come from the thinking of a well-informed team in whose mind the needs and potential benefits is uppermost. It is timely too.

"I’m confident that it will be of potential benefit to every parish, particularly when many are finding the current financial climate challenging.”

In addition to parish churches, the service is also being made available to cathedrals, clergy, dioceses and church schools.

Dr John Preston, National Stewardship Officer, said: “This is not just about saving money, although we are aiming for annual savings of £10 million.

“The Parish Buying service will help parishes both to buy with confidence, knowing contracts have been professionally negotiated, and to be better stewards of their spending.”

The website is part of a wider effort in the Church to help parishes manage their spending.

Later in the year, parishes will be invited to take up training, from short sessions offering “20 ways to save your parish money”, to full-day “cost control training” aimed particularly at helping parishes that are embarking on major capital projects.

The website has been in its pilot phase since November and launches in full on 30 January.