## **BETHEL CHURCH** ## _**Dunrobin Street, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 4NA**_ ## **Minister’s report to the trustees for the year ending 5[th] April 2024** This is my twenty-fourth report as chair of trustees. During the year, Bethel has remained successful in its regular community activities and continues to help local people who are in need of extra support. ## **Local community involvement** Bethel’s Thursday three course lunch remains a popular weekly event and this year we have incorporated the colouring and craft activities for people with learning disabilities into the same room as the meal. Numbers attending the meal and craft continue to steadily increase and we are now serving between 65 and 75 people each week. New connections have been made with organisations who provide supported living accommodation for people with learning disabilities. In March we retained our level 5 Food Hygiene rating. Our Christmas meal on Thursday 14[th] December was attended by 104 people. We also supported Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank and Swan Bank Church with the provision of their Christmas meals. On Wednesday mornings, Bethel remains a distribution centre for Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank as well as a Community Lounge which provides information and advice. In June we hosted a frontline professional meeting for Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank and provided a buffet for 75 people. On Friday 17[th] November we hosted and provided food for Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank’s AGM which was attended by over 100 people. _Uke ‘n’ Sing_ continue to use our building every Thursday to practice and on Friday 2[nd] June they performed a concert at Bethel which raised £240.00 for our community activities. On 10[th] August, Karen Pfeiffer and Paul Weaver performed another music concert which raised a further £330.88 for Bethel. Bethel’s charity shop continues to provide affordable clothing and household goods. We also work closely with local police, councillors, schools, and other organisations in providing a variety of goods to those who need them. We remain grateful for the generous donations which help to make this possible. 1 ## **Bethel church** The number of people attending Bethel’s Sunday morning service has remained steady this year. On Easter Sunday 60 people shared in the Resurrection Breakfast and these included members of the congregation as well as people from the various weekly activities. Staff and residents from 4 different residential homes for people with learning disabilities joined in the breakfast. This year various members of Bethel have helped to raise funds by engaging in different sponsored events. These included a sponsored cycle, abseil, and silence. On Saturday 21[st] October there was a sponsored 25-hour drumathon which included an open day in the afternoon and 2 concerts in the evening. The event was opened by the Deputy Lord Mayor, Lyn Sharpe and we are grateful for the support received from the Community Champion at Tesco Longton Extra as well as the staff at Sandford Hill Primary School for their donations towards the cost of the buffet. The drumathon raised £1640.81. A Christmas music concert was held on 9[th ] December and a carol service on 24[th] December. The carol service included the baptismal of 4 people from the church. ## **Funding, grants, and donations** Generous harvest donations were received from Sandford Hill Primary School, Alexandra Junior School, as well as St Mary and St Chad’s church. Also, in December, Christmas food donations were received from Staffordshire University, _All Things Werrington_ , and Farmfoods. These were distributed to families within our area. At Christmas Bethel was nominated by both Tesco Longton Extra and Tesco Meir Hay Express for the Tesco and Aspire Christmas Toy Appeal. Additionally, donations of food and toys were received from _Step up Stoke_ and TWIST. Regular food and other essentials have been received from Tesco (Longton Extra, Meir Hay Express, and Meir Park), LIDL, Farmfoods, TWIST, KFC Meir, and Pak Foods Dresden. Donations have also been received from DHL Nisa Stoke. The fortnightly deliveries from Fareshare Midlands have contributed additional supplies. Throughout the year between 300 and 400 hundred meals have been provided to individuals and families every week as Bethel 2 continues to partner with other individuals and organisations who have the same enthusiasm for helping people in our area. Financial donations have included £216.34 from MADL, £500.00 from Populus Housing, £100.00 from the Masonic Charitable Foundation, £100.00 from TWIST, £30.00 from a member of TWIST, and £1500.00 from Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank. Councillor Lilian Dodd helped towards the cost of Bethel’s community Christmas meal with £500.00 Ward Funding. ## **Conclusion** We remain grateful to all those who support Bethel through various donations, finances, prayer, and volunteering. This year has seen an increase in financial receipts of £5874.59, but expenses have increased further meaning that at the close of the financial year there is a deficit of £15813.47. Despite financial pressures, Bethel remains committed to its valuable work supporting the local community. 3 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perlod To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted fund• Restricted funds Endowment fund8 Total funds Last y•ar to th• n••r••t to th• nMrnBt£ to th• n•arn•t £ to th• n••r•¥t £ lo th• n••r••t t Al Rg¢elpts SUNDAY SERVICE & Alo THURSDAY CRAFT & MEALILIGHT LUNCH HAIL HIRE SHOP TAKINGS 10.033 12,721 1,239 72,133 12.721 2,23• 72,133 8.628 1.250 77,122 OTHER GRANTSANO FUNDING MISCELLANEOUS INCOME & DONATIONS Sub total(Gross income ft)rAR) 716 20.367 119,001 700 9,985 114134 119.009 A2 A•s•t and Inveslm•nt 84188, Iso0 table). Sub total Total rnc•lpts 119.009 114134 A3P nl• SALARIES & PAYE LIGHTING, HEATING & WATEA LITERATURE. STATIONERY ETC REPAIRS. IMPROVEMENTS. MAINT & CLEAN PREACHERS SECS., GIFTS & TRIPS ANNUAL PAYMENTS CHURCH PHONE & INTERNET FiXEO PROFIT CAR SCHEME SHOP EXPENSES FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT M￿cELLANEOUs EXPENSES ASSEMBLIES OF GOD VOLUNTEER EXPS, WORKWEAR & TRAININC SAFEGUARDING EXPENSES THIRTYONE..EIGHT PENSIONS CHURCH INSURANCE 75,667 9,112 1.334 75,667 9,112 68,143 3,909 198 2,089 339 616 2,339 1.505 23,315 3,458 57 978 448 22Z 3.177 2,933 1147a• 971 2,067 1.881 23,838 4,847 13 2,461 791 23B 3,549 871 2,007 23,038 4,047 IJ 2,461 791 238 3.$6S 134022 Sub total 134022 A4 A88et and Snvestmenl purchases. (see tabl• Sub total Total pa ents 1¥•22 134,022 113.756 Net of ￿celp￿(payrnentsj AS Transfers botw•en funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds thls ￿ar end 15,813 15,813 37,494 21,681 37,494 21.681 38,118 37, CCXX R18ccounts ISSI 0310212025 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unr05triGtod funds Rostrictod funds to £ Endowmont funds Categorles Details to n•arnst £ Bl Cash funds BUSINESS RESÉRVE 17.351 PIAkNIGENERAL ACCOUNT 1718 8UILDNGFUND CASH IN HAND Total cash lunds , 21,Ul 1•gr•• balarth vAth re[￿pts ar￿ paynents, a¢ttyJntlJ Unrestrlct•d fundi to n••r￿tt R•strlct•d funds Endowm•nt funds ' Detalls to n••r••i É B2 Olher monetary assets Fund lo a•s•t b•lon Detalls Colt loptlon•ll l<>nal B3 Inv••tm•nt a88•t8 Funti lo whlch a•••t b•lon Dotalls Colt loptTranall Cuff•ni v•lu• lon•1 4 Assots rotalnod for the charlty's own u•• t• r•lat•• Detalls N•bll lonal 85 Llabllltle$ Signed by one OT trusteos on bghBN of all Ihe truste85 Signature Print Name Dole of roval 31212< CCXX R2 accounts ISSI 0310212025 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts ••+ Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of THE BETHEL CHURCH On accounts for the year YEAR ENDED 5th APRIL 2024 Charity no (if anyl 1052513 Set out on pages 1AND2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ('Ihe Trust.) for the year ended 0510412024. RO￿￿tIeS 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 2011 ("the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under se¢tion 145(5)