CHELTENHAM NETWORK CHURCH
TRUSTEES REPORT 2023
E F Brown (Chair) – C Brown (Treasurer) – R Atkin - 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.
The Trustees have focused their efforts as follows: 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 Continuing to develop our relationship with Emmanuel Church – sealing our partnership for the next 4 years and beyond.
All the trustees have completed ‘Safeguarding’ training provided by the Gloucester Diocese.
We continue to work together with Emmanuel Church, meeting in the Emmanuel building and sharing our vicar and their facilities. The church has become blended as one homogenous group of people. We still hold our trust in the greatest esteem and work to fit the Bishop’s Missional Order which means outreach and meeting the needs of the community.
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.
Giving was much the same as the previous year, but overall income at £83583 was higher. Expenses were almost identical at £82549 giving a balance on 31st December 2023 of £30416.
We continue to have been pay 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 2023. 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 but in the meantime the adhoc payments ensure we are not running up any debt to the Diocese.
As a matter of good financial governance, CNC aims to have reserves of at least £20,000. In addition, we have over £8000 in the Building Fund.
The trustees are regularly looking at expenditure and are working on a more formal budget going forward.
The annual accounts for 2023 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.
Our vicar took 5 months adoption leave this year whilst she settled her new children into family life. The church was pleased to support her and her husband then and going forward in this challenging time. We were fortunate to be “lent” a curate for that period who helped us to continue with the running of the church and all the events.
We ran a church weekend away which included members of the regular Sunday congregation plus a few fringe members. We could subsidise the cost for some people for whom the (reasonable) cost was prohibitive enabling the event to be open for all. Part of the agenda for the weekend was exploring how we can meet the needs of the community both spiritually and practically.
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.
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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, refugees and asylum seekers, and young people’s charities plus Street Pastors. One of our members also volunteers with our local Christians against Poverty group.
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We held a service on Refugee Sunday where we highlighted the work and issue in Cheltenham. We made a donation to the local support 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.
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A “marriage preparation course” has not been run this year but it is envisioned that we will run one such course each year. It was open to all but mainly for those with little or no church background.
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We were not able to run an “Alpha” course this year but one is planned for 2024.
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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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Together with Emmanuel we run events such as a weekly toddler group which are open to all.
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In the summer holidays, we ran the weekly boardgame club for 8-19s.
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Our youth worker also ran work experience over the summer holidays for two school leavers.
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We ran a Halloween event – a totally free event where children (with parents) were invited to pop in during their “trick or treat” journeys for more treats such as glitter tattoos, doughnuts, hot drinks, hunting for sweets and chat. This was a huge success, really appreciated by the community and enjoyed by all.
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We run popular youth groups both during Sunday mornings and on a weekday evening. These are open to all. On a Sunday morning it is for ages 11-18 and on a weekday there are two – one for 11-15 and one for 16-19s.
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At Christmas, we ran outreach services at a local school and at Church for all; additionally, we sang carols at a local pub.
Mrs E F Brown (Chair of Trustees)
CHELTENHAM NETWORK CHURCH STATEMENT OF FINANCES YEAR ENDED 31.12.2023
31.12.2023
| BALANCE AT 31.12.2022 | £29,383.11 | note 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RECEIPTS | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
| NON GIFT AID | 3043.99 | 2699.00 | |||||
| GIFT AID | 54010.09 | 53905.00 | |||||
| TAX RECLAIMED | 13588.00 | note 2 | 13692.50 | 3043.99 | |||
| BANK INTEREST | 281.93 | 176.57 | 54010.09 | ||||
| CHARITIES AID DONATION | 3240.00 | 3240.00 | 3240.00 | ||||
| NETWORKS | 7900.00 | 1514.19 | |||||
| DESIGNATED GIFTING | 0.00 | 3448.98 | |||||
| SUNDRIES | 1518.66 | 536.00 | |||||
| 83582.67 | 83582.67 | 79212.24 | |||||
| £112,965.78 | |||||||
| PAYMENTS | |||||||
| EVENTS | 8088.40 | 0.00 | |||||
| EMPLOYMENT COSTS | 8328.00 | 8142.00 | |||||
| EQUIPMENT | 901.99 | 333.14 | |||||
| MISSION/NETWORKS | 1064.95 | 2034.00 | |||||
| DONATIONS - GENERAL | 2915.00 | 4170.00 | |||||
| ETHIOPIA | 0.00 | 1836.19 | |||||
| YOUTH WORK | 5728.83 | 4761.13 | |||||
| OFFICE COSTS | 617.91 | 1770.36 | |||||
| MUSIC & VIDEO LICENSE | 0.00 | 284.09 | |||||
| RENT / HEATING /etc. | 0.00 | 0.00 | |||||
| INSURANCE | 385.07 | 330.48 | |||||
| SUNDRIES | 74.91 | 258.32 | |||||
| PARISH SHARE | 53506.00 | 46960.00 | |||||
| DESIGNATED GIFTING | 938.00 | 2093.75 | |||||
| WEBSITE REBRANDING | 0.00 | 1260.00 | |||||
| 82549.06 | 82549.06 | 74233.46 | |||||
| BALANCE AT 31.12.2023 | 30416.72 | ||||||
| REPRESENTED BY : | |||||||
| CURRENT ACCOUNT | C.A.F. | 15012.53 | |||||
| SHAWBROOK BANK |
FIXED TERM | 15404.19 | |||||
| 30416.72 | |||||||
| LESS UNPRESENTED CHEQUES | |||||||
| 30416.72 |
NOTES TO ACCOUNTS
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1. Represented by:
Current Account CAF £14,222.11
Shawbrook Bank £15,161.00
£29,383.11
2. Tax reclaimable in due course at 31.12.2023 Gen.fund £1,067.50
3. The following accounts are also held :
31.12.22 receipts 31.12.23
a) Building Fund account CAF £1,421.44 £26.68 £1,448.12
S'brook £8,000.00 0.00 £8,000.00
4. DONATIONS ARE SHOWN BELOW
TANZANIA £350 MID.COTS.EV.ALLIANCE £45
C.Y.F.CHRIST £600 Mthly S/O
FAMILY SPACE £1,200 Mthly S/O
LIFE CHURCH-ELDERLY) £720 Mthly S/O
SPONSORSHIP SCHEME)
£350 £2,565
£2,565
£2,915
5. The book value of assets at 31. 12. 2023 was £1,500
Insurance value was £6,227
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I have examined the books,vouchers & bank statements of Cheltenham Network Church in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 & certify that the statements of finances are true & accurate records of the accounts for the year ending 31st December,2023
C.A. BROWN D.PALMER TREASURER INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts . Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees Cheltenham Network Church On accounts for the year ended 3111212023 Charity no (if any) 1079714 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ('the Trust.) for the year ended 3111212023. Responsibilities and basi8 of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examinerfs statement come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ') which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charrties Act; or the accounts did not accord with the accounting COrdS,. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the fonn and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Signed: Date: 2* Name: PA Relevant professional qualification{s) or body (if any): Address: kih)ts GLg IER Oct 2018