BETHEL CHURCH
Dunrobin Street, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 4NA
Minister’s report to the trustees for the year ending 5[th] April 2023
This is my twenty-third report as chair of trustees. This year Bethel has continued to increase its local community involvement, numbers of people attending our weekly events are steadily increasing, and we continue to forge new links and partnerships with individuals and organisations.
Local community involvement
Over the year the number of people attending Bethel’s Thursday three course lunch has increased to between fifty and sixty per week. New connections have been made with organisations who provide supported living accommodation for people with disabilities and the craft sessions for people with learning disabilities has seen a steady increase in numbers with up to seventeen people taking part each week. On Thursday 15[th] December eighty people attended Bethel’s Christmas meal and entertainment was provided by the local ukulele band, ‘Uke ‘n’ Sing’. Bethel was also able to support Swan Bank with the provision of their Christmas Day meals.
On Wednesday mornings, Bethel remains a distribution centre for Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank. On Friday 13[th] May we hosted Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank’s 10 year celebration for its staff and volunteers. A buffet was provided and over ninety people attended. On 4[th] November Bethel hosted Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank’s AGM and provided hot food for ninety people. A further hundred meals were provided for Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank for its open day in December.
During the winter months Bethel was part of the ‘Stronger Together Through Winter’ initiative and, partnering with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, is one of the ‘Welcoming Spaces’ which provides support to local residents. In December Bethel became a member of Coalfields community investment programme’s practical support initiative and one of Coalfields’ representatives partnered with us for a short period of time at our Thursday lunch.
Bethel’s charity shop continues to provide good quality clothes and household goods etc. for very reasonable prices. We work closely with local police, councillors, schools, and
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organisations to provide items for those who need additional support. All this is made possible because of the generous donations received.
Bethel church
This year has seen a steady increase in the number of people attending Bethel’s Sunday morning service, including young families. The Resurrection Breakfast took place on Easter Sunday, and it was attended by over fifty people. The people who attended were from the wide range of weekly activities as well as the Sunday service congregation.
To celebrate the Queen’s 70[th] Jubilee ‘Big Lunch’ on Sunday 5[th] June a roast dinner was served to sixty-four people. Again, this included people from all aspects of Bethel’s community work as well as new people who have since started to regularly attend the Sunday services.
During October and November, we ran the eight-week course Christianity Explored which was well attended. This was followed by a baptismal service in December and a dedication of one of the young children who has started attending with their family.
On 20[th] November we held a ‘thank you’ party for everyone who has supported Bethel over recent years. This event included live music by the Bethel Band and a buffet. Over one hundred people attended.
The Christmas party on Sunday 11[th] December was a time of celebration and fun and was attended by fifty people. Bethel’s carol service on 18[th] December was combined with a baptismal service and was a time of blessing for all involved.
Funding, grants, and donations
Donations have included £200 from MADL, £500 from Populus Housing, and £100 from the Masonic Charitable Foundation. Councillor Lilian Dodd provided £500 Ward Funding towards the cost of Bethel’s community Christmas meal.
Regular food and other essentials have been received from Tesco (Longton Extra, Meir Hay Express, and occasional donations from Meir Park), LIDL, Farmfoods, TWIST, KFC Meir, and Pak foods Dresden. Donations have also been received from DHL Nisa Stoke. These donations are all valuable in helping Bethel continue its work supporting people in our local
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area. Also, the fortnightly deliveries from Fareshare have contributed additional supplies. Throughout this year we have been providing between three to four hundred meals every week and have partnered with other individuals and organisations who have the same passion to help those who are in need in our area.
We are extremely grateful to Sandford Hill Primary School for providing milk and donating their Harvest contributions to Bethel. On Friday 9[th] September Bethel received 380 Walker’s pies from Stoke Football Club after cancellation of the match following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Also, the Community Champion at Tesco Longton Extra nominated Bethel as one of the charities and we received numerous chocolate eggs in their Easter Egg Appeal.
At Christmas Bethel was again one of the charities nominated in the Tesco and Aspire’s Christmas Toy Appeal. Additionally, donations of food and toys for Christmas were received from ‘Step up Stoke’ and TWIST.
Conclusion
We are grateful to all those who have supported Bethel this financial year through various donations, finances, prayer, and volunteering. Whilst this year has shown a financial deficit of £621.64, Bethel remains committed to supporting the local community.
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perkKI To Section A Receipts and payments Unr•$wi¢iod fvnds Rè6trict6d fund¥ EndowrThoni funds Total fund• L••t to1 t to th• n••1• £ bith• n•ar••t£ to n•ar••t£ toth• nMr••l £ A1 Receipti SUNDAY SERVICE & GIAl0 THURSDAY CRAFT & MEALiIGTrtT LUNCH HALL HIRE SMOP TAKINGS HMRC- FURLOUGH PAY GPANT- STOKE.ON-TRENT crry COUNCL OTHER GRWITS ANO FUNDING ML%eELLANEQUS INCOME & oAT45 Sub total(Gross income forARJ tSA49 1.628 1.250 77.122 15.449 8.628 1.250 77.122 0,434 4,681 82,9¢0 7.02S 5.334 1.30D •,21 118,552 700 •.9B5 113,134 113.134 A2 A88•t and In•tman1 lu• tabl•l Sub total 11J,134 113,1J4 118,352 A3Pa ShLARIES. MINISTERS SALARIES- OTHERS PAYE L1GHTING. HEATING & WATER LITERATURE. STATIONERY ETC REPAIRS. IMPROVEMENTS. & CLEfv PREACHERS SECS, GIFTS & TRIPS ANNUAL PAYMENTS CHURCH PHONE & INTERNET FIXED PROFrr CAR SCHEME SHOP EXPENSES FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT CELLANEOUS EXPENSES ASSEMBLIES OF GOO VOLUNTEER EXPS. WORKWEAR& TRAINING SAFEGUARDING EXPENSES THIRTYONE EHT PENSIONS CHURCH INSUPANCE ,419 J4.292 4.362 3.909 27,443 30,3M 3,820 3.8B7 34.2t12 4.3•Z 7.4•6 231 3J• 33• 133• 1.sfys 23.315 JASB 57 971 2.3311 1.505 2J,J15 3.458 97 971 1.745 2,3OD 23,076 1,400 1,123 743 222 J.177 2.933 113,750 &iTT 2.813 2.740 Sub lotal 113.750 A4 As¥•t and Inv••tm•nt purchau•. {M• table Sub total Total payment$ 113.756 113.796 111,913 Not of recoipts/(paynwnts) A5 Tr•nsf•rs ts•1•¢n fvrids A6 Cash funds last y•ar •nd Cash funds this year end 622 622 6.638 38.116 37A94 38,116 37,494 31A78 38,116 CCXX R1 accounts ISSI 02102r2024
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustg9s1 members of THE 8ETHEL CHURCH On accounts for tho year ended YEAR ENDED 5th APRIL 2023 Charity no lif any) 1052513 Set out on pages 1AND2 I report to the truste8s on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {-the Trust") for the year ended 0510412022. R•8pon81bllltles and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111.the A¢t-). I report in resp8Ct of my 8xamination of th8 Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in caryin9 oul my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515Xbl of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have comè to my attention in connection with th6 examination which gives me cause to believè that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kepl in ac¢ordan¢e with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do nol accord with the accounting records Independent examln•r's statement I hav8 no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enabl8 a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete Ihe s in Ihe brackels if they do not apply. Signèd: Date: 2* Name: GLE GEFiALD PARKES M8E Relevant professional quallflcatlon(s) or body (rf any): CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT Address: THE MANSE. TEMPLE STREET. FENTON. STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST4 4NW. Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). IER October 2018