OASIS CHURCH FELTHAM TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Year Ended 31[st] December 2023
Registered Charity No. 1054392
Trustees Annual Report - Year Ended 31[st] December 2023
OASIS CHURCH FELTHAM
CONTENTS
| CHARITY INFORMATION | 2 |
|---|---|
| Trustees Annual Report - Year Ending 31 December 2023 | 3 |
| Governing Document | 3 |
| Objects of the Charity | 4 |
| Organisational Structure | 4 |
| Activities and Achievements for Public Beneft | 4 |
| FINANCIAL REVIEW | 6 |
| Overview | 6 |
| Reserves Policy | 6 |
| INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT | 7 |
CHARITY INFORMATION
ORGANISATION
OASIS CHURCH FELTHAM 11 Spring Road Feltham Middlesex TW13 7JA
Tel: 0208 844 1948 email: info@oasisfeltham.co.uk
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Trustees Annual Report - Year Ended 31[st] December 2023
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BANKERS
HSBC 128 High Street Slough Berkshire SL1 1JF
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
ACCOUNTANCY & TAXATION SERVICES Luke Silver 25 Ellicombe Close Minehead Somerset TA24 6DQ
Tel: 07710 456376 email: luke-silver@puresilver.org.uk
TRUSTEES
Richard Smith (Chairman) Bernard Hogben Elaine James Joel Mwangi Camillus Osubor
Trustees Annual Report - Year Ending 31 December 2023
The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and financial statement of accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2023.
Governing Document
Oasis Church Feltham was registered as a charity with the Charities Commission on 1st December 1993, and is controlled by its governing document, a Trust Deed and Constitution for an unincorporated charity.
The Trust Deed and Constitution were amended on 8 April 2014 inline with the Assembly of God’s recommended specimen model document for Unincorporated status. The Trust
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Deed and Constitution were again amended on 15 September 2014 to correct two typographical errors:
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It stated that the churches Financial Year ran from January to September - it has now been corrected, our financial year runs from January to December.
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The church was said to hold its AGM in September of each year - it has now been corrected, the church AGM is held in May of each year.
Objects of the Charity
The objects of the Church (“the Objects”) are for the benefit of the public:
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i) to advance the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement in such ways and in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Church Council from time to time may think fit;
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ii) to relieve sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health by the provision of funds, goods or services of any kind including through the provision of counselling and support in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Church Council from time to time think fit; and
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iii) to advance education in such ways and in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Church Council from time to time may think fit.
Organisational Structure
Oasis Church Feltham operates autonomously under its local leadership, comprising of the Senior Minister and Elders, but is an affiliated member of the Assemblies of God of Great Britain and Ireland.
In line with its governing document, trustees are appointed to the board by the recommendation of the chairperson and by a majority vote of existing trustees.
The Trustees agree to meet at least 4 times a year to discuss and make decisions in relation to the affairs of the charity to ensure that all of its activities and achievements provide public benefit for the community. The Church Management Team authorises the delegation of limited powers to the Core Leadership Team in order to enable smooth operation of activities. The Trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in deciding which activities the Charity should undertake.
Activities and Achievements for Public Benefit
The primary objective of OASIS CHURCH FELTHAM, as set out in its Constitution, is the advancement of the Christian faith to all age groups within the local community of Feltham.
The main achievements of the Charity during the year have been the continuation of support, teaching, and outreach to all who come into contact with the Charity. The Charity continues to fulfil its ongoing objectives in advancing the Christian Faith within the local community.
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This year we have also been able to significantly upgrade our visual resources with a new wide screen projector and screen. This has equipped us to facilitate a missions conference for AoG, and also and hosting several movie nights. We have also hosted a Missional Academy with Your Mission. We have also upgraded the WiFi connectivity in the church to allow our community to have good connectivity to internet services during our services. Use of the IOS and Android Bible App within church is extremely popular.
Sunday Services
2023 has been a great year where we have seen new people joining the church with an average weekly attendance of 57, peaking at 87 for a child dedication service.
We started the year, since our first Sunday fell on New Year’s Day, with Brunch rather than having a regular service. There was a great atmosphere of conversation as we ate a cooked breakfast together. We ended the brunch with a moving devotional at the end.
Throughout February we focussed prayer with 21 days of prayer and fasting to pray for the year ahead and the issues facing our country and the world at large.
On 23 July we had a baptism service with a number people being baptised as they declared their faith in Jesus.
It was great to welcome Teen Challenge, in October, to share about the work they do with addicts and hear testimonies about those who have recovered and how their faith in Christ is changed their life for the better. A real encouragement for our congregation to hear how God is working.
We heard about the work of Wycliffe Bible translators in November, helping to translate the Bible into native languages with their mission to make the Word of God accessible to all people groups around the world. An opportunity for them to raise awareness and support from those within our congregation.
Christmas was special as we tried to do something special each weekend through December starting with Christingle, then a film called ‘Why the Nativity?’, and then our traditional carol service on Sunday 17 December. Since Christmas Eve was on Sunday we had the Sunday service, but did not hold a Christmas Day service.
Worship Team
The worship team continues to provide great support for our main Sunday service and we are grateful for the Musicians and singers who have volunteer their time and talents. It is a great blessing for the church to be able to gather people in worship of God.
Children’s Department
Oasis Kids (Sunday School) is has a growing number of children attending each Sunday and we and we are presently maintaining two classes to cater for both key stage one and two and to a lesser extent with the aid of parents for early years. We continued to try and recruit volunteers which continues to be difficult. We break over the
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Summer as this facilitates family holidays for both our leaders and families within the church.
Youth Department
Pulse (Youth Group) continued over the first half of 2023. Our Youth Pastor stepped down from July and so we have been unable to run a Friday Night Youth after the Summer break.
Community Group
The Hive (Community Coffee Morning) continues to run every Friday morning between 10 am and 12 pm with a good core of people attending. Occasionally they will have a lunch together as well which has been a great bonus for those attending.
Life Groups & Prayer Group
We broke up 2023 with a season of Life Groups running and then Prayer Group running, using the school half-terms and end-of-terms to change over. The Wednesday morning Life Group continue to run throughout the whole year only take breaks on school breaks and over the Summer.
Young Adults
Young Adults runs every 2 weeks on a Tuesday, and is very similar to a Life Group but is aimed at those aged 18-30. They continue to run very well often having some social times together, usually with food, as well at times of Bible Study and discussion.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Overview
The charity has remained financially solvent through the generous giving of its members and supporters. We continue to pay off the church mortgage including over payment to reduce the loan term, and thus reduce interest costs.
Reserves Policy
The trustees aim to set aside 6 months running costs as adequate reserves to ensure that its ongoing commitments can be fully met as a charity. We are currently running at around 3 to 4 months reserves. We continue to build up the reserve levels as income from our members and supporters allow.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD:
Richard Smith - Senior Minister/Trustee
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT
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