Sussex Historic Churches Trust
Ride + Stride: Info for places of worship
Organiser's Brief
Thank you for being a local organiser for this year’s Ride + Stride. Ride + Stride plays a truly vital role in enabling us to continue helping historic places of worship of all denominations throughout Sussex. Last year we raised nearly £50k through Ride + Stride.
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The following notes and links are here to assist you but if you have any queries, please get in touch via our Contact page or by emailing contact@sussexhistoricchurchestrust.org.uk.
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First steps
Get your church/chapel signed up!!! Dozens of places of worship open their doors all day during Ride + Stride but if that's not possible, please feel free to denote specific hours.
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The easiest way to register your church is to check the details we already have for you in our password-protected 'church listings' area. You can amend your details as necessary. The password is church2025 - do click full instructions for a more detailed explanation on how to do this.
If you cannot open on Ride + Stride day, then please a) ensure your details are correct in the password-protected area AND b) ensure that there is a sign-in sheet available for sponsored participants to 'check in'.
All places of worship that took part in the last Ride + Stride should already be on our register with details supplied previously (eg open and manned, open but unmanned etc). If you're not sure whether your church is registered, please check our list from 2024​​ or visit our password-protected area.
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If you have any queries, please contact contact@sussexhistoricchurchestrust.org.uk. We will need the following details:
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Church name, town and postcode
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Level of Participation:
- open and manned
- open but not manned
- closed but can provide sign-in sheet -
Your contact details
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Publicise the event​
Publicise the event as much as possible in advance – at services, in meetings, in your local newsletters, on parish and other local noticeboards and on social media to encourage fundraising participants.
On the day, ensure that signage is clearly visible so participants and visitors know where to go and what to do.​
Download and print
Please download and print out sign-in sheets and RS07 Payment Request form
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On the day ... if you're open
The most important element is to provide sign-in sheets for participants.
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If you can, please provide drinking water. If you are able to supply additional refreshments such as cups of tea, that's great!
If you have toilets at the church or nearby, please ensure that participants can find these easily.
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On the day ... if you're closed
If your church is unmanned, please ensure that the sign-in sheet is placed near the entrance prior to the start of the event.
If you have available toilets at the Church or nearby, please ensure that participants can find these easily.
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Post-event checklist
Remind all participants to return their sponsor forms to you as soon as possible.
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Dealing with the money
Please read the following carefully. ​
Step 1
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Please collect ALL the money from your sponsored Ride + Stride participants for each place of worship. These funds should then be split 50:50 between the nominated place of worship and the Sussex Historic Churches Trust.
Step 2
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Forward the cheques, made out to Sussex Historic Churches Trust, to the Ride + Stride Treasurer, using this RS07 Payment Request form, along with the sponsorship forms with Gift Aid declarations. 50% of the amounts raised will then be returned to your church by bank transfer. The address for the Treasurer is Rotten Row House, Rotten Row, Lewes, BN7 1TN.
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Some churches prefer to have the sums paid to them and return 50% to the Trust. If you prefer that option, then it is still essential that you send the sponsorship form to the Ride + Stride Treasurer to enable Gift Aid to be claimed.​
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Please note regarding cheques: Please ensure that all cheques are made out to ‘Sussex Historic Churches Trust’. Banks will not accept endorsements on crossed cheques. Charities Aid Foundation vouchers are welcome.
Step 3
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Please ensure you post your cheques and forms to the Ride + Stride Treasurer by October 31 at the latest.
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Please do not send your cheques by recorded or registered post as there is unlikely to be someone in to sign at the time of delivery. To save costs we do not send out receipts.
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Please ensure you keep a copy of the information.
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If money is slow coming in send as much as you can by this date and the rest as soon as possible, repeating the procedure above.
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