## **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 

1 



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 

2 



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•$wi¢iod
fvnds
Rè6trict6d
fund¥
EndowrThoni
funds
Total fund•
L••t
to1￿ t to th• n••1•￿ £
bith• n•ar••t£
to n•ar••t£
toth• nMr••l £
A1 Receipti
SUNDAY SERVICE & GI￿Al0
THURSDAY CRAFT & MEALiIGTrtT LUNCH
HALL HIRE
SMOP TAKINGS
HMRC- FURLOUGH PAY
GPANT- STOKE.ON-TRENT crry COUNCL
OTHER GRWITS ANO FUNDING
ML%eELLANEQUS INCOME & o￿AT￿￿45
Sub total(Gross income forARJ
tSA49
1.628
1.250
77.122
15.449
8.628
1.250
77.122
0,434
4,681
82,9¢0
7.02S
5.334
1.30D
•,21
118,552
700
•.9B5
113,134
113.134
A2 A88•t and In￿•tman1 lu• tabl•l
Sub total
11J,134
113,1J4
118,352
A3Pa
ShLARIES. MINISTERS
SALARIES- OTHERS
PAYE
L1GHTING. HEATING & WATER
LITERATURE. STATIONERY ETC
REPAIRS. IMPROVEMENTS. & CLEfv
PREACHERS SECS, GIFTS & TRIPS
ANNUAL PAYMENTS
CHURCH PHONE & INTERNET
FIXED PROFrr CAR SCHEME
SHOP EXPENSES
FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
CELLANEOUS EXPENSES
ASSEMBLIES OF GOO
VOLUNTEER EXPS. WORKWEAR& TRAINING
SAFEGUARDING EXPENSES THIRTYONE E￿HT
PENSIONS
CHURCH INSUPANCE
,419
J4.292
4.362
3.909
27,443
30,3M
3,820
3.8B7
34.2t12
4.3•Z
7.4•6
231
3J•
33•
133•
1.sfys
23.315
JASB
57
971
2.3311
1.505
2J,J15
3.458
97
971
1.745
2,3OD
23,076
1,400
1,123
743
222
J.177
2.933
113,750
&iTT
2.813
2.740
Sub lotal
113.750
A4 As¥•t and Inv••tm•nt purchau•. {M•
table
Sub total
Total payment$
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