Natalie Wainwright has been appointed as the Local Giving Advisor for Taunton Archdeaconry. In her new role Natalie will support the diocesan Giving and Funding Advisor, Gary Watson, in providing support to parishes within the Taunton Archdeaconry. She will have a particular focus on facilitating the adoption of new approaches and tools to help parishes maintain or increase local giving.
Natalie said, “Parishes face financial challenges as unique as they are. Having a member of the team walk alongside them as they explore various ways to overcome these challenges will, I hope, be welcome.
“The role fits well with my other commitments and provides a fantastic opportunity to increase the way I can serve and support churches in Taunton Archdeaconry.
”I hope to be a blessing to those I meet. I am ever the optimist, and like to think outside the box, I hope that I may bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to those parishes that have lost hope and feel they may have exhausted every avenue in their effort to maintain or grow local giving.”
Gary said of Natalie’s appointment, “I’m really pleased to welcome Natalie to the team. Her post has been made possible through funding from the National Church and comes at a critical time for many of our churches in Bath and Wells. With the financial challenges emanating from Covid and soaring inflation, it’s fantastic to now be able to offer more direct support especially as 2023 looks set to be a very busy year indeed for the Giving and Funding Team.”
Natalie is the second Local Giving Advisor in Bath and Wells; she joins Kate Mayo who holds the role in the Bath Archdeaconry. A third Local Giving Adviser is being sought for the Wells Archdeaconry.
Natalie said, “The role provides additional capacity within the wider Deanery and Parish Support Team, increasing the ability of staff to be proactive, as well as reactive, in responding to the needs of parishes. This gives greater scope to really get to know parishes and build relationships with church leaders, helping them to identify the needs, skills and other resources that will form part of the solution for sustaining and increasing local giving in each locality.”
Alongside her role with Bath and Wells, Natalie works for Somerset County Council as an Employment and Skills Coordinator, providing strategic oversight for several externally funded projects and coordinating the Somerset Employment and Skills Steering Group, a strategic partnership between businesses, local authorities and education providers. She also hold various voluntary positions within her home-town of Ilminster; she is a member of the PCC and Finance Committee at St Mary’s, The Minster, Ilminster. And when she is not working Natalie is a volunteer Puppy Raiser with Guide Dogs UK, she also loves dancing and musical theatre.