Partnership Resources
This section contains a range of resources developed to support and assist Partnerships in getting up and running. The Guidance Documents will be added to over time and any amendments reflected in the date and version number.
Sharing your Ideas
The 'Sharing your Ideas' document highlights the ideas and approaches taken from the responses that Partnerships made to the 'Partnership - One Year On' review process. You can read the document here (pdf - word)
Guidance Documents
First Steps
Partnership Guidelines – First Steps (pdf - word)
Issued in April 2017 this 16-page document provides some initial information for partnerships across a wide range of aspects. It includes an outline remit for a Partnership Development Group.
Detailed Guidelines
Over time we will be issuing more detailed guidelines covering a range of key aspects of partnership development. Please provide us with feedback on these and how they might be improved upon.
Some Thoughts about Producing a Partnership Development Plan (pdf - word)
This document, first issued in June 2017, offers advice and suggestions about producing a Development Plan for your Partnership. The ‘template’ included in the appendix is just an example that you may wish to adopt, adapt or ignore. It is purely fictitious but hopefully contains enough realistic prompts to give a general idea of the approach.
Financial Guidelines for Partnerships
The Diocesan Finance Team has developed guidelines to assist partnerships in setting up a Partnership Bank Account and establishing a Partnership Finance Committee. These documents and others are available below:
Letter to Partnership Deans – Finance and Administration in new Partnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions on partnership finance.
The previously published Guidelines for Parish Finance Committees are also available.
The Role of Chair of the Partnership Development Group
We have been asked for advice about the role of the role of the Chair of the Partnership Development Group and the sort of skills such a role requires. This document might provide a useful starting point.
Chair of the Partnership Development Group – Role and Skills
Other Resources
Pointing the Way:
Reflections from across the Diocese
Issued in May 2017, this 8-page document provides a concise summary of the first part of the very substantial ‘Pointing the Way’ report discussed by Bishop Séamus and the Board of Trustees at their residential meeting in January 2017. The themes it contains emerged from the listening exercise that took place during Forward Together in Hope and draw from the numerous questionnaire responses, meetings and informal conversations.
Formation Development:
Content previously displayed in this section has been moved to a permanent location ('Discipleship Resources') within the Department for Adult Formation area of our website and is available to view here.
Liturgical Ministries Toolkit:
The Department for Liturgy have created a Toolkit which is designed to assist us to review in a positive way how Sunday worship especially is celebrated in the parish and to consider how we might wish to enhance the experience of it in our community, or whether we might be able to share any good practice with others.
Read more about the toolkit and how it can support partnerships and parishes in Liturgical Formation area of our website here.
Youth Ministry Toolkit:
The Youth Ministry Toolkit is an online resource, providing ideas, inspiration and practical help and information for partnerships in our Diocese. This resource will aid partnerships to respond to the needs of young people and encourage them to take their place in the Church and contribute to the wider community.
Partnership Matters
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