It may seem unexpected at first, but when you think about how many places of worship are located on prime real estate — near a football stadium for example — you can begin to see why there is so much potential for revenue. Many churches specifically are already benefiting from renting out their empty spaces on JustPark and are making a healthy income.
One example is Birmingham City Church, which generated tens of thousands of pounds in its first six months of renting out its parking spaces on the days they weren't in use by church visitors. The funds were then invested back into essential repairs and community projects. St Pancras Parish Church in London even earned enough funds to replace its roof.
JustPark has also recently been approved by Parish Buying, the Church of England's bulk-purchase scheme, as an accredited supplier, meaning we are a trusted partner in delivering steady income streams for organisations that need the support.
Ian Flanagan, Head of Operations at Birmingham City Church, says the benefits of using JustPark have far surpassed their expectations.
"We are delighted with our partnership with JustPark. Revenue is high and the support we receive from our relationship manager is excellent. We are looking forward to utilising the funds from our parking spaces to help the church work going forward, as this will only benefit those that interact with the BCC family."
Below we’ve answered some of the key questions we get asked by places of worship on how they can monetise their unused space to help maintain their property, do repairs, or give back to the community:
Q. If someone is reading this and considering signing up to JustPark, what is the first thing they need to do?
If you have car parking spaces that aren’t being used to their full capacity, then you can get in touch via a form on our website, or simply give us a call on our business line at +44 20 3835 5995. We will then follow-up with you to talk you through the set-up process. Following that, there is still no commitment on your part, but we will share a tailored proposal with you that can be presented to your Parish Council, Vicar or whoever might need to sign off the plan.
Once everyone is happy, you complete a confirmation form, we get you set-up on the JustPark app and you can start earning revenue. The entire process can be completed within three days.
Q: What support is offered during the setup process?
We help with the sign-up process and setting up the listing for church approval. We also provide monthly check-ins and an annual review with an account manager to ensure everything is running smoothly. In addition, our backend system, Luna, gives you access to information about upcoming bookings to help get the most out of your car park.
Q: What do churches need to know about offering out their spaces?
The aim is for there to be no extra work on your side, just a busier car park and more money coming in. JustPark is very flexible around the time, days, and number of spaces you make available and so we work around you to make sure that parishioners aren’t impacted.
Q: Do car parks need to be available all the time?
Not at all, we allow churches to maintain control over their car parks and adjust availability to suit their needs. Many churches have busy weekends or evenings, so availability can be tailored accordingly. Also, if you live near a sporting venue, for example, you might decide to only offer parking on the days that the venue is in use. It is completely up to you when you want to offer the spaces, and how many spaces you want to make available.
Q. What type of parking spaces perform best?
Parking spaces at churches in areas popular with shoppers, commuters, or day trippers are generally popular and perform well. As well as close to facilities with high footfall, like near a hospital or airport.
Q: How does JustPark promote the available spaces?
Spaces are listed on the JustPark website, accessible to our 13 million registered drivers. For more visibility, JustPark can also provide on-site signage enabling churches to notify and attract passing drivers.
Q: How successful have other churches been with JustPark?
JustPark currently has more than 60 places of worship around the UK, renting out spaces on its app, including those in St Albans, Canterbury, London, Manchester, and Birmingham dioceses. As well as those mentioned above, one London Church earned more than £100k last year alone.
Q. How much work is involved once the spaces are live?
Once the spaces are live, the input required by the parish itself is minimal. It is simply a case of updating us if any dates and times of availability change for any of the spaces, and keeping an eye on any insights you are keen to glean from Luna. As well as check-ins with our accounts team, and for those we can be flexible with your own needs.
Q: How does partnering with JustPark affect church insurance?
Partnering with JustPark should not change the church's insurance or operations.
Q: How can churches address concerns about vandalism when renting out their car parks?
In our experience, vandalism incidents are rare and JustPark provides 24-hour customer support. All drivers are also registered with JustPark, giving more control over who uses the car park than may previously have been the case.
