BETHEL CHURCH
Dunrobin Street, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 4NA
Minister’s report to the trustees for the year ending 5[th] April 2021
This is my twenty first report as Chairman to the trustees. We began this year with all church services, activities, and the charity shop closed due to the first COVID-19 lockdown in the UK. But our work within the community never stopped as we began delivering food parcels and other essentials to people who were isolating, individuals and families in crisis situations, as well as local residential homes.
Local community involvement
Throughout the first lockdown we delivered 6710 food parcels which equates to over 50,000 meals. We also remained open on Wednesdays as a distribution centre for Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank and supported other distribution centres which were unable to open due to volunteer shortages.
We continued throughout the lockdowns to work closely with Councillor Lilian Dodd, Jack Brereton MP, and local police officers who referred people to us that needed help. Some of our volunteers received official cards of thanks from Ian Dudson, Her Majesty’s LordLieutenant of Staffordshire, for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are grateful to have received regular food donations from Tesco, Lidl, KFC, DHL, and Nisa (Stoke). This year we have also teamed up with Fareshare Foodcloud and received our first delivery from them on 10[th] June 2020. These fortnightly deliveries have helped us to continue feeding those in need in our community. Also, in October we were grateful to Michelle and pupils from Sandford Hill Primary School who collected tins for us as part of their Harvest celebration.
On Thursday 10[th] September we reopened Light Lunch, abiding by strict Government rules concerning COVID. The first week 21 people attended including Jack Brereton MP who came along to show his support and he enjoyed a meal with us. The numbers of people attending gradually increased to 43, but unfortunately in November there was a further lockdown and the church activities had to close again.
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Sadly, we were unable to engage in our usual Christmas activities this year, but instead we handed out almost 100 Christmas hampers to various households. We were also grateful for a donation of 70 turkeys from Wayne Walker which were distributed to local families.
Bethel church and charity shop
Church services were only open physically for a short period of time between 11[th] October and 5[th] November. However, some of our members engaged with our food distribution and community support activities. We are thankful for those church members who have continued to support us this year through volunteering, regular monetary donations, and their prayers.
Unfortunately, the charity shop has also been limited in the time it could open this year due to three lockdowns in England. However, when it was allowed to open, the shop continued to raise much needed funds for the charity. Thankfully we managed to retain our staff due to the Government’s furlough scheme.
We are grateful to everyone who has continued to support our shop through donations and purchases. We would particularly like to thank the Salvation Army in Kidsgrove and Tesco Longton Extra for their generous donations of clothes and other goods. The amount brought in by the shop this year was £37,496.20.
Funding and grants
On 6[th] April 2020 we received a £1000 grant from the Community Foundation to support us in the delivery of food parcels. A further grant of £880 was received in September from the Community Foundation which helped us to continue the work. A grant of £500 was received from Groundworks and Councillor Lilian Dodd gave us two Ward Funding donations amounting to £1200. Also, Jack Brereton MP kindly recommended us to Western Power because of the community work we were doing during the COVID pandemic, and we received £1500 in July. A further £250 was received from Silito Housing and £1000 from Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank.
In November the local PAK Foods Stoke store nominated us for an £800 donation from MADL (making a difference locally) which operates through all Nisa independent stores. This was gratefully received.
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To help with the distribution of our Christmas hampers Councillor Lilian Dodd gave us a further £500 Ward Funding.
Ward Fundings were also received from Councillor Maqsoom and Councillor Ali amounting to £800 and £176 respectively.
Further grants, relating to the charity shop, were received from Stoke-on-Trent City Council amounting to £39,338.42.
Conclusion
This has been an unusual year, but we have continued to find ways of reaching out and helping the community around us. We are extremely grateful for all the financial support we have received through donations, funding, and grants as well as the personal support from individuals who have prayed for us and offered voluntary support.
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Bethel Church, Dunrobin Street, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 4NA
Financial Report for Year Ending 5th April 2021
Sources and applications
Sources
| Offerings Gift Aid Light Lunch Hall Hire Shop HMRC - Furlough Stoke-on-Trent CC Funding & Grants etc. Other Sources Total Applications Salaries - Ministers Salaries - Others PAYE Lighting, Heating & Water Literature, Stationery etc. Repairs, Improvements, Maintenance & Cleaning Preachers Secs., Gifts & Trips Annual Payments Church Phone & Internet Fixed Profit Car Scheme Shop expenses Food & Entertainment Miscellaneous Assemblies of God Volunteer expenses, workwear & training Thirtyone:Eight Pensions Church insurance Total Surplus for the year 29,432.47 £ |
7,562.80 £ - £ 1,153.36 £ 20.00 £ 37,496.20 £ 26,770.47 £ 39,338.42 £ 7,356.00 £ 5,926.28 £ 125,623.53 £ |
|---|---|
| 25,283.82 £ 24,748.63 £ 2,611.34 £ 5,140.78 £ 572.15 £ 2,941.78 £ 539.71 £ 923.48 £ 1,820.29 £ 2,085.75 £ 22,375.80 £ 932.12 £ - £ 380.00 £ 48.20 £ 225.80 £ 2,735.66 £ 2,825.75 £ 96,191.06 £ |
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF BFfHEL CHURCH FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2021 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity I'the Trust") for the year ended 5th April 2021. Responslbilitie5 and basls of report As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts In accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {the Act). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Art and in carrying out my examtnation, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commisslon under Section 14515llb) of the Act. Independent examinerfs ststement I have completed my examination. I confirni that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect: the accountin8 records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Art or the accounts did not accord wth the accounting records or, the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 21J)8 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair. view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in orderto enable a proper understandin8 of the accounts to be reached. Westfield House Woodhouse Lane Biddulph Stoke on Trent ROSAUND HULME Chartered accountant Date 10th December 2021