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2021-12-31-accounts

EPPING FOREST COMMUNITY CHURCH trust

ANNUAL REPORT for 2021

• THE TRUST: Structure, Governance and Management

The Epping Forest Community Church (EFCC) Trust was constituted by Deed of Trust on 5[th] January 1999 and is a registered charity No 1074617.

The Charity Trustees during the year to 31 December 2021 were as follows:

The Deed of Trust allows that any person over the age of 18 meeting the Trust’s and the Charity Commissioners criteria is eligible to stand as a Trustee of EFCC. A new Trustee may be appointed by a resolution of the Trustees passed at a meeting of the Trustees at which there is the majority of the Trustees present. There must be a minimum of three Trustees at any one time with no maximum set.

At the beginning of the year the day-to-day affairs of EFCC were managed by our full-time employed Church Leaders, Rich Seaman and Katie Nicholson, ably supported and assisted by the five-strong voluntary Leadership Support Team. This structure was altered during the year as noted below.

EFCC owns, and is based out of, Grosvenor Hall, Grosvenor Drive, Loughton IG10 2LG.

• SUMMARY OF THE PURPOSES OF THE CHARITY

The objects of the charity remain as:

(a) to advance the Christian faith, in accordance with the Statement of Beliefs, in the Epping Forest District and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the World as the Trustees may from time-to-time think fit

(b) to relieve persons who are in conditions of need or hardship or who are aged or sick and to relieve the stress caused thereby in the said locality and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Trustees may from time-to-time think fit

(c) to promote and fulfil such other charitable purposes beneficial to the community in the said locality and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the World as the Trustees may from time-to-time think fit.

In summary Epping Forest Community Church exists to advance the Christian faith and serve the local community (and wider) in accordance with the objects of the charity and provides:

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• WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN 2021….

Despite the prevailing global conditions, and building upon what we had learnt through 2020, the emphasis of the church's activities continued to focus upon reaching out to, and serving, the local community.

Sunday morning meetings continued to be via Zoom for the first 7 months of the year. Small groups met via Zoom or in person as restrictions allowed up till July, after which, group leaders were free to make their own decisions about how best to meet and some groups ceased meetings until restrictions were ended.

A new Christians and young adults’ group started meeting together weekly from March. Along with support and teaching, part of the intention of the group is to develop young leaders.

We were able to successfully organise a “covid secure” Easter family event at Grosvenor Hall, despite the restrictions in place at that time.

In April, a homework club was set up, aimed initially at those who needed extra help catching up with missed work during the previous year and this ran until early July.

After the government announced an end to all restrictions from 19[th] July, we resumed Sunday morning inperson meetings, giving due attention to ventilation & spaced seating. Also in July, we introduced a short Sunday afternoon meeting at Grosvenor Hall, focused mainly on sung worship, testimony, words of knowledge, prophecy & encouragement.

Since September whole church meetings have been held in-person. Most small groups are also in-person, others have continued with Zoom to cater for those who are unable or unwilling to meet face to face. Additionally, we instituted a weekly outreach event in Debden Broadway taking place on Thursday mornings, inviting people to hear the gospel of Jesus, offering prayer and letting them know about the Church.

In the Autumn, 3 new groups were launched: an after school club for 8-12s, a recovery meeting for those dealing with addictions and a focus group for training people to hear God in the prophetic and words of knowledge.

On October 31[st] we ran an alternative Hallowe’en event outside the building, offering hot & cold drinks, snacks, children’s activities and giving away children’s bibles.

Several important Christmas events were still able to be held in December, including a children’s Christmas Party, the children’s Nativity Play, a candlelit Carol Service, and Christmas Day Lunch.

Despite everything, and with a bit of ingenuity and a stoic disregard for cold weather, we have been able to continue to baptise a good number of people into new life in Christ all throughout the year.

• CHURCH GROWTH IN 2021….

After almost 2 years navigating through restrictions & guidelines, the impact of not meeting together freely has been keenly felt. It has been helpful to pause and assess the bigger picture of why church exists, what its primary objectives are and what things are important to the people that comprise it - and this is an ongoing process.

There have been large fluctuations in numbers attending meetings and groups, both online and in-person, and this is still evident as we look ahead to entering the third year since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. During this year some people have moved away, or are now at other local churches, and some people regrettably have passed away. On the other hand we have been able to welcome many new people joining us, and we were particularly blessed to be able to welcome back several people who have been working abroad for several years on mission work especially in Africa and Asia – one person in fact has recently returned after nearly 20 years abroad.

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• WHO DOES IT ALL IN 2021….

In May 2020 we invited everyone in EFCC to put aside a week to pray, fast and ask God about the church. One outcome of this was the decision to implement a change in the leadership structure. Consequently, at the beginning of 2021 it was agreed to appoint each of the existing 5 members of the former Support Team into voluntary leadership, thus forming the new Leadership Team.

Later in the year, after a sabbatical, one of our former senior leaders made a request to step down from that role, in order to concentrate her skills & gifts in the area of outreach and young people - her growing desire and enthusiasm to work largely in the community made this a natural progression. Consequently, a new role of Community Outreach Worker was created, and she formally resigned from her leadership role on 1st October to take up this position. As well as undertaking both evangelistic & pastoral initiatives in Debden & Loughton the new role involves the mentoring of young adults.

Accordingly, our new Leadership Team now comprises Rich, plus Chris, Helen, Jodi, Nita, and Rob, and Katie is our new Community and Outreach Worker.

In addition to the above we still retain a fantastic group of both paid and voluntary staff and helpers, without whom we would be lost. Together they all look after every aspect of running the Church and I thank God for them!

Regrettably this year we have had again to “furlough” three of our staff for various periods of time during “Lock Down”, but we are grateful to the Government for their generous support through CJRS.

Nothing would be possible without the continuing unfailing generosity of everyone who supports us and, particularly this year when again times have been so challenging for everyone, we continue to be amazed by, and are so grateful for, all that has been given to us. This year, even throughout the continuing ravages of the pandemic, we have as you can see in the section below, yet again been able to make ends meet financially. Additionally, we have been greatly blessed with an extremely generous bequest from a wonderful and greatly missed couple.

• FINANCIAL REPORT

The Trustees were satisfied with the financial statement provided by our wonderful Treasurer and thank her most sincerely for all the work she undertook for the Trust. As referred to above the generosity of the members of EFCC and others continues to amaze us, and we remain so thankful for the financial investment people are making.

In 2021 total income (including legacy) was £239387 and total expenditure £147195 .

(The detailed figures are contained in the attached End of Year Financial Statements.)

The above income figure includes special collections and love offerings as follows: -

• Hope House Project £11350
• Fountain of Life Hospice £ 1250
• Indian orphanage appeal £ 3536

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From the collections received, we made regular monthly payments to the following:

Additionally, we have tithed a total of £10358 out of General Funds to various local, national and international organisations.

We have also received income from Hall Bookings, albeit still significantly reduced from previous years due to “Lock Down”, of £2001

AND FINALLY…

In conclusion I must again reiterate that all of the above represents just a fraction of the life and work of the EFCC Family, and I count it a great privilege and honour be a part of it.

Further, I would like to once more express a great big “THANK YOU” to all of you who have made it happen!

DATED 23rd[th] October 2022

Paul Blackham

Chairperson

For and on behalf of the Trustees – Epping Forest Community Church

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EPPING FOREST COMMUNITY CHURCH End of Year Financial Statements Year ending 31 December 2021 Notes to the accounts l. We received a legacy of £525 in March plus £84,479 in December. Total £85,004. 2. The value of the freehold property is an estimate of £500,000, as in the previous year. 3. The gain on the property valuation, the depreciation charges and the adjustment journals are included to bring the accounting records into alignment with the actual position. Page I

Receipts and Payments Account Totsl funds Prior 'ear funds Recelpts Planned gimng Cost Recovery for Specific Actwitifys General Donations- imported Irorn DC General giving sundry Sunday cash collections 89,184 30 83.670 100 440 84,211 Tol81 H8nnedgiwng 89,274 Collections and other giving Antonia Collection - ISF- M Gordon Coll&ction- Samaritan's Purse Collection- Tough Talk Collection - Wycliffe - D Maust Collection for Anchor project Collection for Hope House Collection- Indian Orphanage Collections Sp￿la1 Fountain of Lrfe- H05PI 400 6,228 1,200 950 5.948 5.490 11,350 3.536 6,301 1,200 550 5.423 6,370 4,867 6,575 2,620 35,906 1,250 36,352 Tot81 ColleL¥ions and oth&rgwng Other voluntsry receipts Legacy Pastoral Care Fund - Extern81 Pastoral Care Fund- llltemal 85,004 200 970 86,774 1,935 7,922 9,857 Total Other voluntary re￿p1S Grft Aid recovered Tax recovered on Gift ￿($ 25,478 25.478 28 766 28.766 Total GiftAid r8e0ve￿d Investment Income Gross Interest Income frorn Hall Bookings 166 2,001 2, 167 512 2,261 2,774 Tol81 Investment Income Totsl Receipts 239,387 1S9,516 Payments Missionary and Charitable Gming Afterschool club Children's work (special events) Food distribution to needy costs Fountain of Life- Hospice Gift- ISF - M Gordon Gift~ Samaritans Purse Gift- Tough T81k Gfft- Wycliffe- D Maust Gift fvr Hope House Gift- Indian Orphanage Gifts- Sundry Gifts from Pastoral Care Fund- ExEem&1 Gifts from Pastoral Care Fund- Internal Outreach Debden Special Collection5 345 93 1,500 7.480 1.650 3,437 7,220 14,312 5.030 207 1,721 4,405 293 3,137 7,237 1,375 3.100 6.720 10.108 3,864 75 2.891 2,842 6.686 11,651 59,695 10,358 58, C>53 Total Ms&onary 8nd Gh8ritable Giwng Clergy and Staffing costs Page 2

Employerfs N8t Ins General staff Leaders Development and Trdining Permanent Insurance Salaries Leaders Staff Pensions Youth Workers 2,699 3,606 445 394 65.562 4.387 3.266 3.472 861 390 69,747 4.306 1,500 ,544 Total Clergy ènd Sl8ffing costs 77,095 Church Running Expenses Advertising & publicty Children s worklsundayl Christian Resources Computer Expenses Equipment repairs & maintenance Events Office Supplies PAIAV sundry equipment & ￿paIrS Photocopier costs Refreshments & Kitchen Supplies Subscriptions & licen¢2$ Telephone and Broadband Web Sts Wom&n's Group Youth Group Expenses Youth Group Holidays & Outings Youth (>oup Soul Sur%ivor 93 547 57 594 791 23 131 108 1,388 91 102 14 182 395 642 924 153 105 177 274 508 859 143 320 3,951 Total chU￿h Running E¥pens&s 4,055 Hall Running Costs Caretaker Cleaning Covid 19 exp Electricty Gas Hall Maintenance & Repairs Insurance Water 100 4,150 4,142 597 979 1.290 476 1.492 631 9,611 275 619 2,544 1,523 87 9, 134 Total H811 Running Costs Co8chlMinibu8 Costs Minibu5 Expenses 57 57 Total Coadi/Mnibus Costs Assets Depreciation- FFF Depreciation- Motor Vehicle3 Depreciation- Sheds 12.9941 1,706 144 (7, 144) Total Assèts Totsl Payments 147,195 156,860 Excess of Receipts over Pay￿Ents 8rought forward balance 92.191 217,767 2,656 215.111 Gains & losse5 on revaluation 348,183 Other adjustments 41,966 700.107 CaTried forward balance 217,767 Page 3

Statement of assets and liabilities FIXED ASSETS Freehold Building (E) Furniture Fixtures and Fittings 500,000 15.000 Total £515,000 CURRENT ASSTS Natwest Bank Current Account Natwest Bank Reserve Account Kingdotn Bank Mission Housing Equity Loan Petty Cash Loan Given Total 54,638 49,690 50,647 30,000 347 830 £186,152 LIABILITIES CTL (£1,045) NET ASSETS £700,107 Page 4

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Roport to the trustgosl members of ir? On a¢¢ounts for the year ended Charity no (if any) Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trusv,) forthe ended31 I t Lo Li Responslbilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible forthe preparat¥)n of the accounts in accordancewith the requirements of the Charibes Act 2011 ('the Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Tntsys accounts carrted out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination. I have foifowed all the applicab￿ Directions given by the Charity CornmissKin under section 145(5){b) of the Act. Independent rthe charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am quarfred to examinevs statement undertake the examinatton by being a qualrfied rnember of linsert name of app[Icab￿ listed body]]. Delete I l rfnot applicable. I have complded my examination. I confim) that no materFal matters have come to my altentÈon in connection with ihe examination (other than that disclosed below ") which giv8s me cause to believe that in, any material respecl.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charitses Act" or the accounts did nol accord with the accounting records. or the accounts did r￿t comply with Ihe applicable requirements concerning the fomi content of accounts set oul in the Charilies (Accounts and Rep(￿) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement thal the accounts give a Irue and fairf viewwhich is r)ot a matter considered as part of an independent examinat￿)n. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in cfflnection with the examination to which attentron should be drawn in this ￿port in order to enabie a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ' Please delete the words in the brackets rfthey do not apply. Signed: Dats: -/,-/tsLL Name: hJ Relevant profossional qualifi¢atlon(s) or b¢yly IER Oct 2018

(if any): Address: *2 Section B Disclosure Onty complete if the examiner needs to highlight matend matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity account&. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brlef details of any items that the examiner wishes to discloso. IER Od 2018