CHELTENHAM NETWORK CHURCH
TRUSTEES REPORT 2021
E F Brown (Chair) – C R Hughes (Treasurer) – C Brown – L C Power – S J Robinson – A Tickle
Charity no 1079714
General Management
The trustees continue to be closely involved in the affairs and management of the church. They met formally five times during the year, twice in person before covid restrictions and then three times via ‘Zoom’.
The Trustees have focused their efforts as follows: Replacement of Treasurer following Chris Hughes’s retirement Safeguarding and staff matters Engagement with the South Cheltenham Council – Co-opted by Vicar as required Representatives at the BMO Visitor's Council of Reference Meeting – co-opted by the vicar Working together with Emmanuel Church
At the beginning of the year we welcomed Colin to the board of trustees and Robert Atkins stepped down.
All the trustees have completed ‘Safeguarding’ training provided by the Gloucester Diocese
Coming out of lockdowns and with the easing of Covid restrictions we found ourselves unable to return to our previous building (a local secondary school). Through our engagement with South Cheltenham Team churches we formed a relationship with local church Emmanuel whose vicar died during 2021. We are now working together, meeting in the Emmanuel building and sharing our vicar and their facilities. The Trustees and PCC are working with the Diocese to find a way forward as we hope to continue with the arrangement and formalise details.
We continue to be an integral part of the South Cheltenham Team and enjoy an excellent working relationship with the leaders and members of the other churches in our area.
Finance
The treasurer attends trustee meetings and keeps the trustees up to date on all financial matters
Following the start of the pandemic two years ago, 2021 has been another year of consolidation for CNC. Giving was marginally lower (£712) but overall income at £72952 was slightly higher (£1300)
due mainly to tax reclaimed on gift aid. Expenses were almost identical at £74885 giving a balance on
31st December 2021 of £24404.
Historically we aimed to keep around £25000 as a reserve, but in 2021 the trustees decided that this could prudently be reduced to £20000. Our income dropped by some £2000 per month during
2019/20 and since February 2020 we have been paying the Diocese £500 less per month to cover
Sarah’s salary. By changing the reserves policy, we have been able to make a number of extra
payments to the Diocese to bring CNC up to date with its commitment as at the end of December
2021.This was also helped by the fact that we are no longer paying any rent (ave £850pm).The
trustees and treasurer will review things regularly with a view to returning to paying the diocese the
required monthly amount as soon as we can.
Two small savings accounts held with Virgin money have been closed as the interest rate is now too
small to make it worthwhile keeping them.
As a matter of good financial governance, CNC aims to have reserves of at least £20,000. In addition, we have over £9400 in the Building Fund.
The trustees are regularly looking at expenditure and are working on a more formal budget going forward.
The outgoing treasurer remains a member of the church and supports the new treasurer with a full handover and continuing advice.
The annual accounts for 2021 have been independently examined and approved by the Trustees.
The church has a policy of giving away 10% of our annual income to other charitable causes that come within the objects of the Trust.
Ethiopia
The income for this account has gradually reduced over the last few years. One quite generous charitable trust has now been wound up and we no longer receive anything from them. Also, a Manchester church who have supported this work have decided to stop. This leaves only a few personal financial supporters plus a small monthly amount from CNC. The trustees therefore took the decision to close the account. We are now redirecting our donation to Tesfa Trust who administer a child sponsorship scheme for Ethiopia.
Following the death of Jember in January 2021, the account that we held for her personal needs has been closed. Funds were returned to the one donor still contributing to that account.
Public Benefit
The trustees confirm that the general guidance on public benefit given by the Charity Commission has been duly considered and that the charity has complied with its duty to have due regard to public benefit. In particular this is seen in several activities:-
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We continue to financially support a local family organisation called 'Family Space'. It
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provides many services for disadvantaged families and works in partnership with Cheltenham YMCA. Two of our members also work regularly for them. We put together “shoeboxes” for Family Space to support families struggling financially at Christmas.
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We made monetary donations and food to local food banks including the Mayor’s charity.
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We made monetary donations to local charities; for example: mental health and young people’s charities plus GARAS, supporting refugees in our area, Christians against
Poverty and Street Pastors. One of our members also volunteers with our local Christians against Poverty group.
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Three members of the church take a regular part in the work of the "Street Pastors' in Cheltenham. This involves being out on the streets on week-end nights to care for many young people to get them home safely. This had to be suspended due to the pandemic but started up in the Summer.
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A “marriage preparation course” has commenced in March 2022; it is envisioned that we will run one or two such courses each year. It was open to all but mainly for those with little or no church background.
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An ‘Alpha’ course for those seeking to learn more about the Christian faith was held in the autumn via Zoom. It was open to all but mainly for those with little or no church background.
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The church services, children's work and other meetings are open to all and enable individuals and families to have a greater sense of well being and be in community with one another.
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Various Networks have commenced such as a cycling, hiking and more are starting up in the future which are open to all and the main aim is to reach non-church members.
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We run a mother and baby group attended by any local new mums.
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We support groups run by Emmanuel open to all such as toddlers.
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We hold monthly social events for local 20s and 30s; this is open to all.
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We host a monthly Saturday Brunch aimed at the local community rather than church members.
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We held a concert to raise funds for Ukraine within 4 weeks of the war starting.
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We run a popular youth group both during Sunday mornings and on a weekday evening. These are open to all.
Mrs E F Brown (Chair of Trustees)
CHELTENHAM NETWORK CHURCH Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from 01.01.2021 31.12.2021 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds to the nearest£ Total funds Lasl year tolhe nearèst to Ihe neaTest£ to the rwgt£ tothe nearest£ A1 Recel NoNlFr AID GIFT AID DONAnoNs TAxRECME OTHER DONATIONS BANK INTEREST EVENTS SUNDRIES d,895 $0,145 13,525 3,940 78 4375 51,075 13.74S 6,840 116 7,848 41627 11.914 8,622 341 930 220 2.900 370 370 75 ub ota rvss incom AR) 72.953 568 77.521 7Y.425 Asset and investment sales. see table . tota 72,963 4.568 77,521 77,425 A3Pa mer EMPLQYMENT COSTS CONFERENCES DONATIONS YOUTH WORK OFFICE COSTS RENT OUTREACH EVENTS GLOUCESTER DIOCESAN QIJOTA SUNDRIES 8.1S7 8,157 8.201 14.050 20.800 6,995 6.995 6.304 113 2,920 151 342 46,50Q 3.2B2 76,353 146 150 49,XJO 2.523 74.767 1.841 15.891 Sub total 4.364 90,656 A4 Asset and Investment purchases, (sèe table) 119 Ifg Sub totsl 119 109 74,886 15.891 90,777 76,462 Nel of re¢eipts/{payments) - A5 Transfers bethen funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 1,933 11,323 13,2S6 963 26,33 21,474 10,152 47.811 34,556 47,81 I CCXX R1 accounts ISSI 27102r2010
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestri¢ted funds to neaiest£ Restricted funds Endowment funds Categories Details io neaie5tÈ to nearest£ B1 Cash funds 24404 10.152 Tolal cash funds 24,404 10.152 ac¢(¥JnVs11 Unrestricted funds to nthryre6t£ Restricted funds to ntafest£ Endowment funds to nearest£ HMRC GIFT AD TAX DUE 1,173 47 Fund towhlch asset bolon Cetails Cost lopllona Currentvalue Fund to whlch 8sset bejon Currentvalue tional Cost loplional B4 Assets retalned for the charity's own use PUBLIC ADDRESS & PRESENTATION EQUIPblEf4T UNRESTRICTED 535 Fn towhich Amountdue When due na DtailS B5 Llabllities Signed by one or two ttU5tee5 (Xl behalf of all the tru5tee8 D8te of roval Signature Print Name O. o v4uqFtL--S CCXX R2 accounis ISSI 27m2r2010
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 CHELTENHAM NETWORK CHURCH On accounts for the year ended 31" DECEMBER, 2021 Charity no (if any) 1079714 Set out on page* I report to the tmstees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {Ihe Trust.) for the year ended i I I I i/ lox I Responsibilities and As the chanty trustees of thé Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Yhe 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 section 145(5)(bl of the Act. I have completed my eXanatIOn. I confirm that no mateTial matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material resped: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the a(Unts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's statement I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. . Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Slgned: Date: Name: fr4LrfEO Relevant professlonal qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: IER -Fa I c -AlVI October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32, Independenl examination of charity accounts: directions and guidan for examiners). Glve here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018