**Annual Report and Accounts** **Charity No. 1124548 Company No. 6563119** **year ending 31st December 2021** 0 ## **Buxton Church in the Peak** **Directors’ Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2021** ## **Contents** 1. Reference and Administrative Details 2. Structure, Governance and Management 3. Objectives and Activities 4. Achievements, Performance and Public Benefit - 4.1 The Source - 4.2 Buxton Partnerships - 4.3 National & International Partnerships 5. Financial Review 6. Plans for the Future 7. Acknowledgements 8. Accounts for Year ended 31[st] December 2021 1 ## **1. Reference and Administrative Details** Charity name: **Buxton Church in the Peak** Registered Charity Number: **1124548** Company Limited by Guarantee Registered Number: **6563119** Charity's Registered Office: **The Source 7, Terrace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6DR** Tel: 01298 71975 (church office) Email: buxtoncitp7@gmail.com Directors (Trustees): Mr Jon Parsons _(Church co-leader)_ Mrs Jo Parsons _(Church co-leader)_ Dr Susan Read Mrs Debbie Lockyer Mr Charles Oakley Mr Simon Graham Mr Clive Gerrard Mr Julian Hayes Company Secretary: Mr Charles Oakley 116, Macclesfield Road, Buxton, SK17 9AD Tel: 01298 23935 Email: chas_oakley@yahoo.co.uk Finance Director: Mr Jon Parsons (acting) Bankers: The Co-Operative Bank 2 ## **2. Structure, Governance and Management** ## **Introduction** The Directors of Buxton Church in the Peak are pleased to present their Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2021. The Directors confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the charitable company comply with current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charity’s governing document, the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” issued in March 2005 and the requirement to report on “Public Benefit.” ## **Governing Document and Constitution** Buxton Church in the Peak became a registered charitable trust on 5[th] August 2001 governed by a Declaration of Trust and became a Company Limited by Guarantee from 1[st] January 2009. The church is now governed by a Memorandum of Articles and Association with a board of Directors and a church leadership team. Throughout 2021 Mr Jon Parsons, Mrs Jo Parsons, Mr Charles Oakley, Dr Susan Read, Mr Simon Graham, Mrs Debbie Lockyer, Mr Julian Hayes and Mr Clive Gerrard continued to serve as Trustees & Directors. Mr Jon Parsons was Chair of the board throughout 2021 and Mr Charles Oakley was Company Secretary throughout the year. ## **Management** When the church was first established, a leadership model typical of churches in the ‘New Frontiers’ group (to which Buxton Church in the Peak is affiliated) was adopted, with Elders overseeing the church. The Lead Elder of the church had principal responsibility for determining the spiritual vision and strategic direction of the church and was responsible for the management and pastoral oversight of the church and its ministries. This model of leadership was followed until the end of 2017. Jon & Jo Parsons were appointed as joint leaders of the church at the start of 2018, supported by a leadership team which was expanded to 6 people plus Jon & Jo themselves at the start of 2020; no elders were appointed during the year and since then the leadership team has continued to discuss the most appropriate future governance model for the church in the light of biblical concepts and other church organisations. Jon & Jo Parsons were responsible for the strategic direction of the church during 2021 along with overall management and pastoral oversight of the church 3 and its ministries. The leadership team met regularly to ensure the effective management of church affairs and pastoral responsibilities. ## **Selection and Recruitment of Directors** The “Articles of Association” state that "a new Trustee may be appointed by a resolution of the Trustees passed by a majority of the Trustees". A candidate's suitability for trusteeship is considered on the basis of their character, spiritual maturity and experience, both within the church and within their wider activities. The role of a church Director is explained to the candidate and their willingness and ability to serve the church by handling its financial and legal affairs is discussed with the leadership team and the existing Directors. All Trustees are Directors and vice versa. ## **Induction and training of Directors** Induction of new Directors is achieved through discussions and meetings with the existing Directors and by making relevant internal documents and Charity Commission publications available to familiarise new Directors with current organisational issues and relevant charity legislation. All Directors are encouraged to check updates on the Charity Commission website and attend training seminars on an on-going basis where these are relevant. ## **Risk management** The Directors meet on a regular basis to consider the financial, legal and organisational business of the church and are responsible for managing all risks relating to church activities and The Source premises (see Section 4.1). Ongoing activities of the church which may present a risk are regularly reviewed and measures are put in place to manage the risk: staff training, internal policies, public liability insurance, employer's liability insurance, indemnity policies, etc. The church has a Child Protection Policy with written guidelines for those working with under 18's. DBS checks and child protection training sessions are arranged for those working with under 18's. The church also has a Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy, accompanied by practice guidelines. There have been no “Serious Incidents” to report in 2021. 4 ## **3. Objectives and Activities** ## **Charitable Objects and Aims** The “Memorandum of Association” states the Objects of the Charitable Company as: - (a) “to advance the Christian faith” - (b) “to relieve sickness and financial hardship” - (c) “to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare” As a Christian charity we aim to clearly proclaim the gospel message in a relevant and lively way and show the love of Jesus by bringing love, hope, peace and encouragement to people, especially where there has been despair, grief, loneliness, poverty and other negative life experiences. ## **Vision and Strategy** We aim to be a church that sees lives changed, by Jesus, one at a time by being: - a community where people from all backgrounds can come, just as we are, and feel welcome to **belong** - somewhere that we can discover and experience God’s love, forgiveness and kindness towards us, through Jesus, that we may **believe** and trust in Him - a place where we can put our faith and trust in Jesus, where He can transform us by his love, through the Holy Spirit, that we may **become…** the people that God always intended us to be. We want to serve our town and beyond by working alongside other churches, charities and organisations, that we might provide caring support for those in need in Buxton, the surrounding area and beyond. ## BUXTON church in the peak a community where people can belong, believe and become… 5 ## **4. Achievements, Performance and Public Benefit** The Directors confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission. At Buxton Church in the Peak, we believe that we provide a range of significant public benefits through our activities: - _providing different contexts throughout the week, where Christians can worship_ - _enabling local Christians to put their faith into action through a variety of social projects both locally and overseas_ - _providing financial support to organisations helping local people in difficult circumstances such as Choices Counselling and the Buxton Food Bank_ - _resourcing charitable works overseas which aim to improve public health and develop sustainable communities_ - _providing humanitarian aid to overseas charities and disaster appeals_ As a charity the impact we want to make is difficult to measure in qualitative or quantitative terms but can be observed over time by seeing individual lives improved and circumstances transformed. Regular attendance and growth in numbers attending meetings is a helpful indicator that an activity is working well, but would not be our sole measure of effectiveness as our objectives relate mainly to having a beneficial effect on people's lives, which often involves incremental changes over time. The amount of charitable giving and the willingness of church members to give their time, skills and money to help others can also be seen as a measure of success, for without their commitment and faithful service, we could accomplish very little. At the start of 2021 church activities were still being heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions on gatherings and social interactions. In order to keep the church community together and to provide a point of contact and support for members, regular Sunday morning virtual meetings were held using the ‘Zoom’ platform, with live worship, a sermon and an opportunity for church members to interact with each other. The leadership regularly reviewed the situation to enhance the experience for church members. As government guidance relaxed and social gatherings were allowed to resume, in-person church meetings recommenced with due regard to guidance and sensitivity to the more vulnerable members of the church. Sunday morning and mid-week meetings had resumed by the end of the year, with a facility such that members could participate in meetings remotely via ‘Zoom’ whenever possible. By the end of 2021 Buxton Church in the Peak had resumed its usual pattern of meeting in 2 congregations, both at the Source building: Sunday morning and midweek. In total the church was regularly gathering about 35-55 adults and 6 children across both of its meetings. Each congregation provided a different context and environment for people to meet and worship God. Sunday morning gatherings were a more conventional modern church meeting with lively worship and a sermon and the mid-week meeting in the Source was led by Mr Jon Parsons based around a committed and diverse group of people meeting each week to share a meal together before having a time of worship and bible study. The number of people joining meetings (and hence the effective membership of the church) has reduced significantly since before the pandemic and this has had a consequential impact on the extent of other activities that the church has been able to undertake. However, in addition to the 2 church meetings, a number of Life Groups regularly met throughout the year (‘virtually’ at first, and then in person) to share together, pray and study the Bible. ## **4.1 The Source** The Source building is wholly owned by Buxton Church in the Peak. It is equipped to operate as a café from the ground floor and has offices used for church administration. It also has a small counselling room, a larger training room, lift access and toilet facilities for the disabled. During 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the coffee shop previously run from the Source building closed. Up until the Covid-19 restrictions came into force in March 2020, the rooms at the Source were used as a venue for a range of church and community projects: - Weekly Sunday morning meetings with live worship - ‘Story Café’ – a Christian meeting drawing attendees from across the Peak District organised by the Derbyshire Village Mission. - “Little Church” on a Wednesday night. The Training Room and Counselling Room were also used by a number of local agencies and groups. Since the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions the building has only been used on a regular basis for church meetings on Sunday mornings and mid-week. In prior years, the church has supported a Christmas meal held at the Source Café on Christmas Day for approximately 50 local people (not just church members) who would otherwise be alone, using food and gifts donated by local businesses. This was not possible in 2021 due to the pandemic, but instead (as happened in 2020) the ingredients for approximately 150 Christmas meals were packaged and distributed to families and individuals around Buxton known to be in difficult financial circumstances or who were going to be alone on Christmas Day. In addition, over 50 fuller Christmas hampers were prepared and provided to families in greater need and a number of fully cooked meals were also delivered. This was all undertaken in collaboration with the Residents of Fairfield Association who support people living under challenging conditions. Across these 2 projects, it is estimated that over 400 individuals were helped. 7 Despite these uses for the building, the associated costs of maintenance and regular running costs have become increasingly burdensome on the reducing resources of the church, and a drain on the church finances which could otherwise be used to further the charity’s charitable objectives. The decision was taken at the end of 2020 to place the building on the market at an asking price of £500,000 in early 2021. During the year there has been considerable interest in the building and 3 offers were received at the full asking price at different times, but for different reasons each of those offers fell through and at the end of 2021 the building had not been sold. The Leadership Team continue to review the situation in the light of the church’s vision and strategy, the ongoing use of the building and the church’s financial situation. ## **4.2 Buxton Partnerships** We have been privileged to support and work in partnership with several other local groups with which we have much in common, although the extent of these activities has been inhibited by the Covid-19 pandemic: - As part of our efforts to offer pastoral care to the community of Buxton we have continued to actively support the **Churches Together in Buxton (CTiB)** initiative of a **Town Chaplaincy** : a group of volunteers drawn from the churches of Buxton who make weekly visits to willing businesses in the town to offer practical care and prayer support. - We continued to support **Choices Counselling** financially. ## **4.3 National and International Partnerships** Buxton Church in the Peak is a member of the Catalyst network, part of the New Frontiers family of churches. As such, throughout 2021 we were involved with a range of activities in conjunction with ‘Catalyst’ and benefitted from events and support provided by them. In 2021 we continued our support for the **Turning Point Trust (TPT** ). TPT is a Christian charity working in the Nairobi slums. Their mission is to demonstrate God's heart for the poor through programmes that relieve poverty, restore hope and transform lives amongst vulnerable children and their families. We see this partnership as very significant in the future of Buxton Church in the Peak. ## **5. Financial Review** ## **Financial Position** Our income for 2021 was £68,513 (£52,678 in 2020) and our expenditure was £55,955 (£64,358 in 2020), of this expenditure on Church staff costs were £35,165* (£34,595* in 2020). 8 During the year we gave £10,586 to support the work of other churches and charities in Buxton, the UK and in Africa. At the end of 2021 the Church’s assets, including the Source building and its contents, totalled £488,069. The worsening financial position noted in the 2020 annual report continued into 2021 and while not made significantly worse by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the opportunities to rectify the situation were limited. The church successfully applied for Covid Business Support Grants totalling £24,500 during the pandemic (£2,000 was received in 2020). Hence, despite there being an apparent increase in income of £15,835 compared to 2020, without the one-off grants there has been underlying decrease in income of £8,665. Expenditure during the year decreased by £8,403 largely offsetting the decrease in income, but 2021 was an unusual year with less activity then usual and little maintenance carried out on the building which in a normal year would have increased our costs significantly. _* this figure includes National Insurance and PAYE tax_ ## **Remuneration of Trustees** The governing document for Buxton Church in the Peak allows for the renumeration of trustees where those in receipt are either church leaders, or providing specialist skills. The following Trustees were remunerated for the stated amounts during 2019 for services to the church, _excluding_ their Trustee activities for which they were _not_ renumerated: Jon Parsons (church leader): £ 5,409 Jo Parsons (church leader): £17,450 Julian Hayes (specialist skills): £ 3,347 ## **Reserves Policy** The Directors have considered the level of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the charity's needs, based on the charity's size and the level of financial commitments held. Our current policy, and practice, is to maintain the reserve at £9,000. ## **6. Plans for the future** For 2022 our plans include the following: 9 **Church vision** : to develop a vision for the future of the church that will engage and enthuse church members and guide strategy and decision making over the coming years. **Church unity** : to continue to look for opportunities to work more closely with other local and regional churches. To seek ways to build church ‘community’ amongst the membership and provide pastoral support where there are needs amongst our membership. **Local support** : to continue to look for ways to support local charitable works with a Christian ethos. **Leadership** : to involve more church members in the running of the church by serving in various capacities and taking responsibility for ministries. **Overseas links** : to explore the possibility of developing closer links with the Turning Point Trust, working with the poor in Kenya. **Longer Term Plans** : to pray for, and follow leads, for a new church building out of which we can run a range of ministries and also meet on Sundays. **Finance:** to sell the Source building and bring ongoing costs in line with forecast income. ## **7. Acknowledgements** The Church relies on the generous hearts of individuals and God’s provision to fund its activities. So much of the work done by the church is done voluntarily by an incredibly committed church membership. The Directors are very grateful to all those who have contributed with finance, prayer, gifting and time throughout the year to enable us to have achieved so much. 10 ## **8. Accountant’s Report for Year ended 31[st] December 2021** The following report was prepared and independently examined by Layton-Lee Accountants. 11 BUXTON CHVRCH IN THE P siaiemeni of Fmancial Aetivit* For the year ended 31 DeceM￿r 2021 FuTrJ5 Fund5 Fund5 Volurthary ifiCI)mè: 38,052 8,087 41.031 9.020 24.SC•J Bank Ini•rnst 32 RcNJn live lo dsow<* r*ms 2.￿$ 08.513 09.102 52.a7B 38287 38267 38.Y3 The Swrce ¢< 7.032 18.>37 10.0 539 10.SBg 10.Q8 .952 539 50.491 12.561 23.405 45t.963 475,458 487.137 013 1881169 475 458 12 BU￿oN CHURCH IN THE PEAK Statement of Financial Aciivities For the year ended 31 December 2021 31_1121 31.12.20 N￿e$ NON CURRENT ASSETS TatYJl>k assets 10 450.oc 4￿,1)00 CURRENT ASSETS Deirtors Cash al be￿ hand 11 12 1,598 38253 39,851 25.593 27.4C6 CREDITORS ArrKyJnt5 fdli due withn one star Net Cwrent Assets 1,782 38.1)69 25,458 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 488.069 475,458 INCOME FUNDS Restncted funds Unrestncled funds 14 452.013 36.056 451,963 23.495 488.069 475,458 These ffinanc￿ d*ement8 were aFpro¥ed by the tnJstee8 on 2511012022 behatt by. ChArlè* Oèklèy 13 BUXTON CHURCH IN THE PEAK I1￿5 to the FinxKial S¢*meDts for the year ended 315¢ December 2021 i. rM)MATK)NS AND GRPXT$ Totsl Tdat 2120 20 3.118 32.348 6.497 fyftA￿ daW￿d 8.087 8.￿7 I GIIANTS T(tsl 20 INVE$ThENTS Ttstal 20 OTHER ACIMTE$ 20 hir• 1595 CHiIICH RUIINIIG COSTS T(lal 20 20X 34.865 Pa￿ fees Venue rerts 713 7t3 91 41 73S mewinw> 8 Pa*Lval Tr3iniry 8 Cwleregjw￿1 845 325 38267 14 BUXTON CHURCH IN THE PEA]( to thè Fin•￿111 Ststements forthe year ended 31st December 2021 & THE StXIRCE BUIU)IIIG COSTS Total 2020 Repai & r*s 521 52t 1.745 3.Q78 1478 1.753 420 420 16.367 T. CHARITABLE P£7MllES Trtal 2020 Colin 8.750 3.439 Ch￿$ & Lrtde 8bessry Other io.ox* 10.S9 10.628 SUPPORT COSTS Toul T¢4al 9,939 15 BUXTON CHURCH IN THE PEAK g. TRUSTEES Pw5(•5 (Llvth ￿&serI.. 5.4CQ 17.450 3.347 Ha>p5 Ispec4*%t skills 262Q6 111. TAIMLE FIXED ASSETS L*KI & Bulthr C•*t At31 t*cerrtv%J21 4S].(IJO Ar 31 C*cwtr.W20 31 C*cethr%121 t31 f*wts2UZI 45D.Q 11. DEBTORS 12. CASH AT BANK AND IN HAIID #1 C¢mn¢Arx4XXrt (vnresl￿I￿ 26.Q78 .013 14.376 16 BUXTON CHURCH IN THE PEAK pkt*s to the FinaTrBial Sla*emen15 for th? Qnd￿ 315¢ OeGembw 2D21 1& CR￿￿TORs 1,782 1.782 I& IIKOME FiW40S 2.013 450.(X Taft9￿1￿ 355éts I￿,0c 452.013 #l Cunwt [urw￿*￿ 20.978 14.37 .2 Cash In h￿d 11.7821 11.9481 1,807 L4.495 17