Autumn Appeal 2026
Twenty years SERVING THE CHURCH. Help us finish tHIS ONE well.
This year Resound Worship turned 20! What began with half a dozen songwriters in a lounge in North London has become a community of well over a thousand writers, writing songs for their churches.
Most years we run an autumn appeal, just to keep funding on an even keel, and this year it matters more than usual. We gave our supporters a break from crowdfunders and paid for two new recordings ourselves: the Jubilate album Gathered to Go and the Resound EP Community Songs Vol. II. Even with much of the work done in-house, they cost about £12,500. But we also got out to fewer churches and concerts than we'd hoped, and gave the 12 Song Challenge an eight-month breather after ten years, both of which usually bring in income. So this year's ask more of a stretch at £15,000.
We could cover it from some one-off income, but that money is meant to get next year's work started. So every pound you give before 31 December, when our financial year ends, is a pound we keep for 2027: for the new Songclub, local songwriting groups and our songwriting course – the real work of helping people write songs for the churches they love. Would you help us get there?
You're probably part of this story
You might sing a Resound song on Sundays. You might have written a song a month with us in the 12 Song Challenge, or sat in the circle at Wydale or House of Bread. Perhaps the podcast has kept you company on a dog walk. Most people who support Resound do so because it has helped them, and they want others to have the same.
"As a novice songwriter the 12 Song Challenge has nurtured a creative streak in me, and some of my songs have been well received in church. So thank you!" — Louise, Shropshire
Where we're heading in 2027
Our model has never been about finding one big song. It's about many small songs that make a real difference in real churches. Next year we want to see many more of them, written by many more people, and it's the most exciting year we've planned in a long time.
The 12 Song Challenge returns on 1 January. For ten years it has gathered and grown writers, with newcomers alongside old hands, all writing to serve their churches.
A new Songclub: our biggest step forward. Our online platform has become the engine room of the 12 Song Challenge. Now we're rebuilding it as a year-round home for your songs, your co-writing and your songwriting friendships, open to more writers, groups and churches. It will emerge during 2027 as the foundation for our next chapter.
Songwriting groups in every town. We're releasing our local Songclub model: a simple set of principles and tools to help writers from different churches gather where they live, write together, and hear new songs sung across their town.
A new songwriting course. Six video sessions for groups, from first steps to confident writing. It will work as a starter for new groups or a refresher for experienced writers.
More retreats. Wydale and the House of Bread fill every year, so we're planning more accessible weekend retreats in more regions.
New songs to share, including Community Songs Vol. III, and new outlets beyond the Resound Worship and Jubilate streams.
A bigger team. To make all this possible, we aim to add capacity focused on community, events and retreats.
Alongside this appeal, we're seeking grants and larger gifts for these bigger projects. If you might help with one of them, I'd love to hear from you.
"Resound's community is a safe place to grow in the art of songwriting. In a discouraging world, people need to know this exists for them." — Darren, Southwest England
Where we're heading in 2027
The 12 Song Challenge returns on 1 January.
A new Songclub, our biggest step forward: a year-round home for your songs, co-writing and songwriting friendships.
Songwriting groups in every town, so writers from different churches can meet, write together and share songs locally.
A six-session songwriting course for groups, and more weekend retreats in more regions.
New songs to share, including Community Songs Vol. III.
How Can I Give?
Give a one-off gift
Choose an amount, or give whatever you like. If you're a UK taxpayer, Gift Aid adds 25p to every £1.
Give monthly
Regular gifts are the most important form of giving for any charity, because they let us plan ahead. Choosing a monthly amount sets up a new monthly gift.
Already give monthly? Log in to change your existing gift instead.
Other ways to give
You can also give to the Song & Hymn Writers Foundation through:
Stewardship, CAF or Charitable Giving
Bank transfer or cheque: email admin@shwf.org.uk and we'll send you the details.
If you're considering a larger gift, or would like to talk about supporting one of our 2027 projects, I'd love to hear from you. Email joel@resoundworship.org.
Thank you
Thank you for helping us enrich the song of the church, one song, one songwriter and one church at a time.
Joel Payne
Executive Director
P.S. However much you give, thank you. If you can't give right now, sharing this page helps too.