OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2021-12-31-accounts

Names ofthe charit y trustees who mana ge the charity
Trustee name Office {ifany) Dates acted ifnot for whole year Name ofperson {orbody) entitled
to a
oint trustee
if an
Brian Addington Chair ofTrustees Church Meeting
Rachel Litchfield Secretary Church Meeting
Pauline Todd Treasurer Church Meeting
Pat Cox Deacon Church Meeting
Dilys Leeder Deacon Church Meeting
Roger Smith Deacon Church Meeting
Jocelyn Harper Trustee Church Meeting
Names of the trustees fo rthe charit y,
if any, (fo
r exam pl e,
any custodi an
Name Dates acted if not for whole ear
Congregational Federation Ltd
(Custodian Trustees)

S
of
S
of
ummary

the objects of
the charity
To advance the Christian
religion
in the Elstow
/ Bedford area, for the benefit of the
public; and maintain
links with the wider Congregational
Federation.
set out in its
governing
document.
To meet the objectives ofthe charity:
We hold weekly services on a Sunday.
With the easing of Covid 19regulations
we started meeting
in the building
again, from 1"August 2021, and also offered
some ofour meetings
via Zoom.
Our Office Holders
met regularly
throughout
the year.
Initially
via Zoom, and when
restrictions
permitted,
in person, to monitor our ongoing
work; responses
to the
pandemic;
and make the necessary
arrangements
regarding
all the issues that
need our attention.
Within the restrictions
of Covid
l9 we have sought to sustain
fellowship
with all of
our number;
and maintain
a positive benefit to the community
by the existence of
the Charity we manage.
Due to not all of our contacts being comfortable
using
Summary
the main
activities
of Zoom, we have made regular phone calls, supplied
monthly
newssheets,
and
service sheets, to preserve
links among the Fellowship,
and provide as much
support as we have been able, taking
into account the various regulations
brought
undertaken in by the Government
to reduce the spread of Covid 19.
for the public
benefit
in
relation to
these objects
(include
Due to the pandemic
regulations,
several of our previously
regular events: [Bible
study and fellowship;
Coffee mornings;
Tots Time;
Men's Fellowship
breakfasts;
and occasional meetings]
did not take place for most of2021. It is possible that
Tots Time will not restart, as a number
ofthe regular attendees
have moved on.
within this However,
when the Government
Guidelines
permitted,
our Coffee morning
section the restarted —following
all the necessary
guidance,
and we were pleasantly
surprised
statutory
declaration
how many ofour 'Pre-Covid'
contacts, returned
to meeting
in the building.
that trustees All ofour meetings
are open to anyone who would
like to attend.
Our services via Zoom
have had have been joined by people who in the past benefited
from being part of our Charity,
but
regard ta the for a variety of reasons have moved to other parts ofthe country.
guidance
issued by
Charity
the At our Office Holder meetings,
some agenda
items may be ofa confidential
nature,
and
not open to non-Office
Holders.
Commission
on public
benefit)
There is no charge made to attend any, or all, ofour events.
When Covid regulations
permitted,
we have given attendees
the opportunity
to make a financial donation
to
support the work of EBCF; many continue to support
our work with a regular Bank
Transfer ofmoney to the Fellowship's
account, or a cheque,
payable to the Fellowship.
2021 was a challenging
year for many, despite this, a significant
number
of our contacts
can testify to the benefit they obtain by being part of EBCFand sharing
fellowship
with
others —as the Covid restrictions
through
the year permitted.
As part of our oversight
of our engagement
with our contacts, the Trustees keep in mind
and seek to pay due regard to the issue of public benefit guidance
issued
by the Charity
Commission,
We are also aware ofthe need to protect people, (especially
during
the Covid Pandemic);
property
and the environment.
Indeed,
many would say that these are a natural
outworking
ofthe Christian
Faith which shapes our actions.

~ ~ e
~
~
~
r
Summary
ofthe
main
Like other Charities,
(and the rest ofthe world) many ofour achievements
during 2021
(and 2020) were shaped
by Covid 19regulations.
achieve- We started the year with a significant
number
of Covid related
restrictions.
In line with
ments of the Government's
Road Map, we took gentle steps to open up the building
to more of
the charity our pre Covid activities.
Via Zoom, and in the building,
our Sunday services have
during
the year
been open to any who would
like to attend.
A significant
number ofour folks found
that with a bit of 'coaxing' they were able to manage to operate Zoom, and benefit from
interacting
with others.
Most ofour attendees
follow that time honoured
Christian
tradition
of making a financial
donation
towards
the ongoing
work of EBCF. In
accordance
with our objectives, some of the money raised is given to outside causes
to alleviate
poverty and need; and some ofour income is given to organisations
which
promote the Christian
faith; our greatest expenditure
relates to keeping the property
in
a good condition.
Fellowship
gatherings
were again somewhat
limited
in 2021 due to the prevailing
restrictions
around
Covid 19. A number
of our contacts gathered
(within the prevailing
' guidelines)
fora Christmas
meal, at a local Garden Centre
in December.
All who
attended
greatly enjoyed not only the food, but also being with other people!
Throughout
the year the Trustees
regularly
monitored
our financiaI position and
continued
to give due diligence to the funds being used in accordance
with our
Charitable
purposes;
and ensure assets were available
when required.
The Trustees consider that all known
risks around
reduced
income —due to the
building
being used less, (because of Covid) and anticipated
expenditure
on our large
stained glass window
in 2021 were given due consideration.

e s~
~ ~ r 0
~ ~ ~~ ~0
~ 0
0
4 ~ 0 1
I
0 f
I
I
~ 0 ~
~I
f
IS
I~
~0
~~
~ r r r 0 ~ r
r
0
r
0
0
r
e
0
e
i@
~
~l ~ 0 ~~ 0 s s o o o
~1 ~ ~ r r r r ~~ ~
~~ ~ ~~
'~ I
~0 ~I w
~
~
&
~
4
W
~ y IO 0 H
~ 0 f 0 ~ 0 o s s s e e ~ f ~
I
0 ~ ~0
~~
~~ ee e P
~~
~~