Report of the Trustees for 2020
The Charity continues to undertake its charitable objective.
The year began with a balance of £17,849 (previous year £20,578) and ended with a balance of £45,998 (previous year £17,849). There were 5 (previous year 4) regular donors providing £579 (previous year £564) average per month by standing order during the year. During the year 20 (previous year 6) one-off payments totaling £30,839 (previous year £1,087) were received.
Total Income £37,784 (previous year £7,857). Including regular donations of £6,945 (last year £6,770)
Total Expenditure £10,734 (last year £10,586)
Each payment, by the fund, was made in relation to a different set of circumstances. To ensure financial gifts were appropriate, the Trustees sought advice from clergy and church staff when necessary. Some requests for help also came via the Christ Church Frontline Team (Debt Advice). The trust continued to apply the approach set out in the expanded Object and Purpose adopted by the Trustees in January 2016. (Attached)
There have been a number of relatively large individual grants and some situations, which required more than one payment. Grants have been provided for a number of circumstances including lost employment, business failure, health and other causes of financial hardship particularly through the pandemic. A particular feature is the concentration of gifts around Christmas, to help with the pressures around that time.
The Trustees were pleased to be able to provide financial assistance through 27 (previous year 19) grants during the year.
Simon Cansdale as the Vicar, alongside Rod James, Judith Armstrong (Retired October 2020) and Louisa Stone (appointed October 2020) as Church Wardens and Paul and Carolyn Breakwell as administrative Trustees.
There is no doubt that the Trust’s interventions are of great assistance to those whose need is brought to its attention. The Trustees are very grateful for the generosity of both regular givers and those who gave one-off gifts.
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The Christ Church Early Church Fund (ECF)
The ECF was set up in May 1994 with this Object: “To provide financial support to needy members of Christ Church Winchester.”
The Trustees are conscious of their duty to fulfil the Object of the Trust responsibly and carefully. They agreed at their meeting of 25 January 2016 to provide an amplification of how the Trust's Object is interpreted two decades after its inception. The following is a guide to how the Trustees fulfil the Trust's Object.
The 'needy' are found in many different circumstances. The Trustees consider those in need as a result of financial, physical, spiritual, psychological and/or social problems to be eligible for consideration for support.
The pattern of worship, attendance and ministry at Christ Church has evolved over time. The Trustees' definition of 'members' includes people who receive pastoral care and ministry from Christ Church through activities such as Lunch Club, prison and hospital work, student outreach and Messy Church amongst others, in addition to those who are on the Electoral Roll.
The Trustees rely on Christ Church's clergy to advise them before making offers of financial help.