Five Valleys Annual Report 1[st] April 2021 to 31[st] March 2022
Our Purpose
Five Valleys Christian Fellowship is a group of people that exist to:
1. LOVE AND WORSHIP GOD
2. MEET THE NEEDS OF CHURCH AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY
3. SEE PEOPLE BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS
4. JOURNEY TOGETHER IN FELLOWSHIP AS A FAMILY
5. REACH OUT TO THOSE THAT DON’T KNOW JESUS YET AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS HE HAS DONE IN OUR LIVES
Our Progress
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At the beginning of this year we were still partially impacted by the Covid regulations. This impacted how we were able to meet together as a congregation and limited some of our activities. However as we came out of Covid restrictions we strived to ‘come out well’ and also take some learnings from how we met and came together as a church throughout the pandemic.
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At the beginning of this year a lot of our Sunday meetings were held online. These worked well and we encouraged different members of the congregation to get involved and participate and share. A consequence of having meetings online was that it was easier for people to join and so we had a number of new people join our online meetings.
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When restrictions eased we started having some meetings outside in open spaces eg meeting on a local common.
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When restrictions eased we also encouraged members to meet up together in person, these were facilitated by holding ‘Connect Sundays’ where we encouraged members to meeting up in covid safe ways in person to foster connections when for so long we could only meet online.
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We held regular social events with the members once restrictions had eased eg afternoon teas, family games afternoons and walks.
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Monthly breakfasts were organised, some of these had to be online, later in the year these were organised in person at people’s houses.
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Throughout the year we also joined up with some other local churches, mainly Stroud Baptist Church, on some Sundays to foster relationships between local churches.
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Weekly Thursday evening meetings were organised for more in depth Bible studies. At the beginning of the year these were online, however as things opened up these were held in people’s houses, often over dinner.
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We were not able to organise a church camp this year due to the uncertainty around restrictions, however a number of members joined together to go to a separately organised family camp
Registered Charity No. 1124934
Administration address:
Five Valleys Christian Fellowship, Garden Cottage, Lower Newmarket Road, Nailsworth, GL6 0RW Email: office@fivevalleys.org Website: www.fivevalleys.org
together. We hope that in 22/23 we will be able to organise a church camp to bring the whole church family away together.
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With the arrival of further Covid restrictions in December 2021 we had to cancel a number of our Christmas events due to limits on numbers that could meet safely.
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Towards the second half of the year bi monthly Thursday afternoon ‘hangouts’ were organised in Stroud. We would meet together for lunch in a hall in the centre of Stroud, these were opened up to everyone, not just church members. These were a time of fellowship and engagement with people outside the church family.
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Our Little Giants ministry still had to scale back due to Covid 19 restrictions. However we did organise a few smaller scale family sessions for the children and families in our church, as well as organising social events for church families and children.
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Towards the end of the year we held in person worship events.
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Our pastors continued to support members of the fellowship who needed pastoral support, when possible this was done in person, and if not over the phone and online. .
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The Trustees continued to meet during this time, to ensure any potential financial, health and safety or safeguarding issues could be resolved. Also to ensure we were abreast of the changing restrictions and make plans.
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Thankfully there were no major negative issues that need to be reported to the Charity Commission.
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Just as important as all this is the unseen relationships that go on between everyone in our fellowship as people love each other and live their lives together as family. Despite the restrictions our members continued to support and love each other and where possible meet up.
Our Values
Doing all this we continued to try and further understand and live our values which are: Joint participation, Authenticity, Relationships first, Christ-like Character, Optimism, Sacrifice/Generosity, Courage, Teamwork, Creativity, Freedom/Flexibility and Simplicity.
Finances
At the outbreak of the pandemic the Trustees were concerned about the impact Covid-19 might have on our finances and the ability of our congregation to tithe. However in 20/21 this did not turn out to be the case and we started the year 21/22 with a healthy budget. This continued during the year and we ended the year with a healthy bank balance, this was also helped due to some sizable donations towards the end of the year. We started 22/23 in a good financial position and have pledged to be generous with the financial gifts that we have been given.
The Trustees decided not to furlough our Senior Pastor (the only member of staff)
Registered Charity No. 1124934
Administration address:
Five Valleys Christian Fellowship, Garden Cottage, Lower Newmarket Road, Nailsworth, GL6 0RW Email: office@fivevalleys.org Website: www.fivevalleys.org
During the financial year to 31st March 2022 total income was £97,077. £84,826 was from church member donations (mainly regular committed giving – tithes). Gift aid totalled £12,251.
Expenditure was £47,839 leaving a positive excess of £49,238. The majority of expenditure falls on staffing.
At the end of the year cash funds stood at £54,304.
The Trustees are pleased that during this financial year the accounts were positive and we increased cash reserves moving into 22-23. We anticipate expenditure will higher in the next year due to increasing our level of giving and organising more events for the members. Heather Conboy continued as bookkeeper and Matt Gorman as Treasurer.
Structure, governance and management
During this period the church was structure as follows:
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Senior Pastors – Steve and Katrina Woodcock are Senior Pastors of the church
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Eldership – Steve Woodcock as Elder-at-large with Steve Geers as Elder. Elders have spiritual oversight over the church.
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Trustee Board – the main role of the Trustee board during this period was mainly financial stewardship and charity governance, and not Strategic Leadership or Spiritual Oversight. This includes financial administration, and implementation of policies and procedures, including Safeguarding, Data Protection, Health and Safety and Financial policies.
Administrative Information
Five Valleys Christian Fellowship (Five Valleys) is a registered charity (no 1124934) covering the whole of the Five Valleys area.
The administrative address during this period was Five Valleys Christian Fellowship, c/o Sharon Mansell, Garden Cottage, Lower Newmarket Road, Nailsworth, GL6 0RW.
Trustees
The Trustees during this period were Jo Mansell (Chair from June 2021), Sharon Mansell, Pippa Birch (Became a trustee in June 2021), Simon Jarvis (Became a trustee in June 2021) and Rich Kerr (Stepped down from Trusteeship in June 2021)
Advisers
Registered Charity No. 1124934 Administration address: Five Valleys Christian Fellowship, Garden Cottage, Lower Newmarket Road, Nailsworth, GL6 0RW Email: office@fivevalleys.org Website: www.fivevalleys.org
As a church we are members of Churches in Community International. Our Senior Pastor, Steve Woodcock is accredited by this nationally recognised body. CIC provide us with love and support. http://www.cicinternational.org
During this period RiverView Portfolio, Chartered Management Accountants supported us with our financial strategy, policy and accounts.
http://www.riverviewportfolio.co.uk
During this period Thirtyone:eight helped support us with our Safeguarding Policy https://www.ccpas.co.uk/
Registered Charity No. 1124934 Administration address:
Five Valleys Christian Fellowship, Garden Cottage, Lower Newmarket Road, Nailsworth, GL6 0RW Email: office@fivevalleys.org Website: www.fivevalleys.org
Five Valleys Christian Fellowship Accounts to 31 March 2022 ReBlStered Charity Number: 1124934
Flve Valleys Christian Fellowship Accounts to 31" March 2022 Contents Page Independent Examlners Report Receipts and Payments Account Notes to Accounts Approval of accounts Riverview Portfolio Ltd l Market Hill, Calne. Wiltshire, SNII OBT
Five Valleys Christian Fellowship Accounts to 31" March 2022 Independent Examlnerfs Report to the trustees I members of Five Valleys Christian Fellowship I report on the accounts for the year ended 31, March 2022 which are set out on page 2. Respe¢tlve responsibilities of trustees and examiner The chariws trustees are responsible for the preparatlon of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111-the Act). The charity trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 of the Act) and that an indepèndent eX2mination is needed. It is my responsibility to= examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charties Act, to follow the applicable Directions given b¥ the Charity Commission lunder 5ettion 14515llbl of the Act, and to State whether particu13r matters have come to my attention. Bas55 of Independent examinerf5 report My examinatloll Wa5 carried out in accordance wlth General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those record5. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the ewidencethat would be required in aTTr audit. and consequently no opinion 15 given as to whetheT the accounts present a 'true and falr. view and the report is limited to those matters Set out in the statement below. Indèpendent examlnerfs statement In the course of my examination, no matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements.. accounting records were not kept in accordance wtth section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concerns and have come across no other mBtters in connection with the examination to which rny attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Grace Brown MAAT Rrvervrew Portfolio Itd Chartered Management Accountants l Market Hlll Calne Wiltshire SNIIOBT 23rd June 2022 Riverview Portfolio Ltd l Market Hill, Calne, Wiltshire, SNII OBT
Flve Valley5 Christlan Fellowship Accounts to 31" March 2022 Recelpts and Payment5 Account Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds Total 2022 Total 2021 Incoming Resources Donations- Gift Aid Donations- General Income tax recovered Events Income Bank Interest £84.016 £810 £12,251 £0 £0 £97,077 £84,016 £81 £12.251 £0 £0 £97.077 £40.872 £630 £10,910 £0 £2 £52.414 Payments Family Camp & Event Ex Teaching Resources Staff costs Refreshments Conferences and Venue costs Trav@1 Costs Printing, Postage & Stationery Professional Service5 Premises Expense5 Training Costs Subscriptions Insurance Gifts & Entertaining Donations Bank Charge5 Disptssal of Assets nses £246 £172 £21.875 £735 £2,632 £2,685 £649 £12.901 EO £373 £2,116 £256 £2,088 £1,086 £25 £0 £47.839 £246 £172 £21,875 £73S £2.632 £2,685 £649 £12,901 £0 £373 £2.116 £256 £2,088 £1,086 £25 £0 £47W9 £ic E106 £21,440 £7 El,518 £1,530 £652 £17,611 £0 £140 £3,332 £239 £500 £1,236 £5 £1,226 £49.642 Excess of recelpts over payments £49,238 £49,238 £2,772 Bank current and cash accounts I, April '21 Plus liobilitie5 movement in eriod Bank current and cash accounts 31" Mar'22 £17,935 £36369 £54,304 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES Cash funds HSBC Current Account HSBC Money Manager Event Funds Cash Tin- Ann Geers £51,333 £1 £2,795 £175 £54.304 Fixed assets Five Valleys Liabilities Creditors Pensions Payable £20,836 £0 1£891 Riverview Portfolio Ltd l Market Hill, Calne. Wiltshire, SNII OBT
Flve Valleys Christian Fellowship Accounts to 31 March 2022 Notes l. The financial statements of the Five Valleys Christian Fellowship have been prepared in accordance with the Church AccourÈting Regulations 2006 using the payments and receipts basis. Riverview Portfolio Ltd l Market Hill, Calne, Wiltshire, SNII OBT
Flve Valleys Christian Fellowshlp Accounts to 31" March 2022 Approval of Accounts These accounts have been presented to the trustees and members of Five Valley Christian Fellowship. The trustees and members have approved the accounts for the period ending 31" March 2022. In approval the accounts have been signed and dated by two authorised trustees or members Name (please print) F14i L 1 6 If2cH Signature Date Name Iplease print) JOAL)A ALLsdL Signature Date Riverview Portfolio Ltd l Market Hill, Calne, Wiltshire, SNII OBT