## **Trustees’ Annual Report 2024–2025 Vineyard Community Church, Daventry** 

## Charity No. 1128805 

## For the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 

“Growing everyday people who are called to extend God’s Kingdom, love and life to our communities by following the person and the ‘Way’ of Jesus Christ.” 



The Trustees present their Annual Report for Vineyard Community Church, Daventry, covering the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. 

## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** 

## **Registered Charity Number:** 1128805 

**Charity Name:** Vineyard Community Church, Daventry 

**Also known as:** Daventry Vineyard 

**Principal Address: Operating Address:** 9 Cunningham Close 18a Benbow Close Daventry Daventry Northamptonshire Northamptonshire NN11 4JN NN11 4JP 

**Independent Examiner: Bankers:** Cassandra Helen Bodman Knight NatWest Bank 46 Common Street 9 North Street Revenstone Rugby Buckinghamshire Warwickshire MK46 5AR CV21 2AH 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** 

Vineyard Community Church is a registered charity duly constituted by a Trust Deed and operating as a Christian church. 

Trustees serving during the year: 

Rob Gee (Chairman) Gareth Chappell Nick Wilmot Svitlana Okoro 

## **APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES** 

The Chairman is entitled to appoint Trustees in consultation with the existing Trustees. 

## **ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE** 

Responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the church is delegated to the pastoral staff, led by the Senior Pastors, Rob and Angela Gee. 



## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** 

As set out in the governing document, the charity’s objectives are: 

- The advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Vineyard Churches UK Statement of Faith, Values and Priorities. 

- The relief of poverty and hardship, including support for the poor, needy, sick and elderly within Daventry, surrounding areas, and elsewhere as determined by the Trustees. 

- The furtherance of religious and secular public education. 

## **PUBLIC BENEFIT ACTIVITIES** 

## **Worship, Teaching and Discipleship** 

Weekly public worship services and regular midweek teaching and training continued throughout the year, providing opportunities for spiritual growth and community engagement. During this period, services were held at a local school, where positive relationships were built with staff and the wider school community. The church was included in the school’s Harvest Festival donations, strengthening partnership and mutual support. 

A dedicated prayer and worship gathering was held on the fourth Sunday of each month, encouraging both corporate and individual prayer. These themed sessions offered space for reflection, Scripture meditation and listening prayer, and were well attended. New prayer pathways were introduced to encourage broader participation. 

Weekly communion was also introduced, enabling the congregation to pause, remember, and pray for one another in smaller groups. 

## **Online Engagement** 

An online support group continued to provide regular communication, information sharing and pastoral support, ensuring that individuals remained connected and supported. 

## **Children’s and Youth Ministry** 

Children’s and youth activities continued to follow a structured biblical curriculum, supporting young people to grow in faith, friendships and confidence. The move to a new venue provided improved indoor and outdoor facilities, allowing children and young people to learn, play and develop in a safe and welcoming environment. 

## **Food Bank** 

Daventry Food Bank continued to provide emergency food and toiletries to individuals and families experiencing hardship. Strong partnerships were maintained with local churches, schools, statutory services and frontline care agencies. A dedicated volunteer team demonstrated resilience and commitment throughout the year, adapting to increased demand and operational challenges. 

## **Christmas Compassion Projects** 

The charity delivered a range of Christmas initiatives, including food hampers, children’s gift bags, elderly care packages, selection boxes and Advent calendars. These projects were made possible through the generosity of individuals, churches, schools, community groups and local businesses. 



## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** 

## **Sunday Worship, Teaching and Midweek Groups** 

The church met weekly for worship and teaching, with a continued focus on discipleship and the practical application of biblical teaching. While recruiting Life Group leaders remained challenging due to changing commitments following the pandemic, midweek groups were successfully held on Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday evenings, with growing attendance. Participants valued the opportunity to build relationships in a relaxed and supportive environment. 

A weekly coffee morning was also established, offering a welcoming space for connection, conversation and prayer. 

## **Children’s and Youth Work** 

Children’s and youth activities were delivered across four age groups: 

- Mini Grapes (0–3 years) 

- Little Vines (4–7 years) 

- Big Branches (8–11 years) 

- Vineyard Youth (12–18 years) 

Sessions were well attended and adapted to meet the developmental and spiritual needs of each age group. Leaders worked creatively to ensure that activities were engaging, age-appropriate and supportive. 

## **Food Bank Impact** 

The rising cost of living continued to place significant pressure on many households. The Food Bank responded to ongoing and increased demand, supporting individuals who struggled to meet basic needs. 

Key outcomes for January–December 2024 include: 

- Approximately **2,200 volunteer hours** contributed 

- **1,424 referrals** supported (a reduction from the previous year) 

- Over **50,000 meals** provided 

- Direct support impacting **1,673 children and dependants** 

- Distribution of food valued at over **£65,220** and toiletries valued at **£22,050** 

Due to rising food costs and reduced donations, the Food Bank spent over **£2,700 per month** to replenish essential supplies. Despite these pressures, community support ensured that services were maintained without significant reduction. 

The charity again partnered with West Northamptonshire Council and Northamptonshire Community Foundation to distribute food vouchers during the summer of 2024. A cloud-based referral system designed by the Food Bank enabled efficient coordination across West Northamptonshire. 



Harvest Festival donations from schools, churches and community groups reached record levels, with volunteers managing daily deliveries over a six-week period. 

The Food Bank worked with over **450 referral agents** , including professionals from healthcare, education, housing associations, councils and charitable organisations. Corporate volunteers from local businesses also contributed time and skills, reporting positive and meaningful experiences. 

## **Christmas Compassion Ministries** 

During Christmas 2024, the charity: 

- Distributed **109 Christmas food hampers** to families and individuals in need 

- Provided **217 children’s Christmas gift bags** , ensuring no child was turned away 

- Distributed hundreds of selection boxes and Advent calendars 

- Delivered **188 Christmas care packages** to residents in three care homes and patients at Danetre Hospital 

Support from West Northamptonshire Council enabled the use of temporary premises to coordinate Christmas projects. 

## **Compassion Ministry Coordinator (CMC)** 

The Compassion Ministry Coordinator continued to play a vital role, managing communications, partnerships and volunteers while building strong relationships with schools, businesses and community organisations. The CMC also secured funding opportunities and represented the charity through school assemblies, public talks and meetings with local leaders. 

## **Overseas Children’s Charity Support** 

The church continued its support of Listening Hearts Street Children’s Ministry in Baja, Mexico. Funds raised enabled the provision of Christmas meals for over 200 street children, vehicle insurance to support ministry operations, and assistance with health insurance costs. 

## **SUMMARY** 

The year has been marked by transition, challenge and growth as the church settled into new premises and navigated varying levels of capacity and engagement. Despite these challenges, the church has remained committed to worship, discipleship and compassionate service. 

The Trustees are encouraged by the strong support received from the wider community, particularly for the Food Bank and Christmas compassion initiatives. The charity continues to serve the wider district with integrity, partnership and generosity. 

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to public benefit. They believe the charity continues to meet its stated objectives and anticipate further opportunities to extend its impact across Daventry and the surrounding areas as the church community grows. 



## **ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD** 01/04/2024 to 31/03/2025 

## **Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA)** 

|Incoming resources|Details|Unrestricted|Restricted|Restricted|Total for|Total for|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Generated funds||income funds|income funds||this period|last period|
|||£||£|£|£|
|Voluntary income|Incl Gift Aid|45,581||4,591|50,172|32,403|
|Activities for|Funding for Food Bank, sale of|4,190||63,449|67,639|98,526|
|generating funds|referral system/gifts for pastoral||||||
||support/Listening Hearts||||||
||**Total incoming resources**|**49,771**||**68,040**|**117,811**|130,929|
|Resources expended<br>Details||Unrestricted|Restricted||Total for|Total for|
|Costs for generating funds||income funds|income funds||this period|last period|
|||£||£|£|£|
|Charitable activities||7,335||35,620|42,955|43,158|
|Governance & Running Costs||31,087||35,146|66,233|74,921|
|Oversees Missions||804|||804|531|
||**Total resources expended**|**39,227**||**70,766**|**109,993**|118,610|
|_Net incoming/(outgoing) before transfers_||0||0|0|0|
||**Gross transfers between funds**|-||-|-|-|
|_+Net incoming/(outgoing) after transfers_|_+Net incoming/(outgoing) after transfers_|0||0|0|0|
||_Total funds brought forward_|26,595||91,592|118,187|105,489|
||**Total funds carried forward**|**37,139**||**88,867**|**126,006**|**118,187**|
|**Balance sheet**|||||||
|**Current assets**||Unrestricted||Restricted|Total for|Total for|
|||income funds|income funds||this period|last period|
|||£||£|£|£|
|Cash in the bank and in hand||37,139||88,867|126,006|118,187|
||**Net assets**|**37,139**||**88,867**|**126,006**|**118,187**|
||**Funds of the Charity**_Unrestricted_|37,139|||37,139|26,595|
||**Funds of the Charity**_Restricted_|||88,867|88,867|91,592|
||**_Total funds_**|**37,139**||**88,867**|**126,006**|**118,187**|
|Signed on behalf of all the trustees|Signed on behalf of all the trustees<br>Signature<br>Name<br>Robert Gee<br>Date<br>29/01/2025<br>~~ee~~||||||





## **NOTES TO ACCOUNTS** 

## **Basis of accounting** 

These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historic cost in accordance with: 

- Accounting and Reporting by Charities – Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2005); 

- And with accounting standards 

## **Change in basis of accounting** 

There has been no change to the accounting policies (valuation rules and methods of accounting) since last year and no changes have been made to accounts for previous years 

## **Accounting policies** 

This standard list of accounting policies has been applied by the charity. 

## **INCOMING RESOURCES** 

## **Recognition of incoming** These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when: **resources** 

|**Recognition of incoming**<br>**resources**|These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:|
|---|---|
||●<br>the charity becomes entitled to the resources;|
||●<br>the trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and|
||●<br>the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.|
|**Incoming resources with**|Where incoming resources have related expenditure (as with fundraising or contract|
|**related expenditure**|income) the incoming resources and related expenditure are reported gross in the SoFA.|
|**Grants and donations**|Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the charity has unconditional|
||entitlement to the resources.|
|**Contractual income and**|This is only included in the SoFA once the related goods or services have been delivered.|
|**performance related grants**||
|**Gifts in kind**|Gifts in kind are accounted for at a reasonable estimate of their value to the charity or the|
||amount actually realised.|
||Gifts in kind for sale or distribution are included in the accounts as gifts only when sold or|
||distributed by the charity.|
||Gifts in kind for use by the charity are included in the SoFA as incoming resources when|
||receivable.|
|**Donated services and**|These are only included in incoming resources (with an equivalent amount in resources|
|**facilities**|expended) where the benefit to the charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and|
||material. The value placed on these resources is the estimated value to the charity of the|
||service or facility received.|
|**Volunteer help**|The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in|
||the trustees’ annual report.|





## **Investment income** 

This is included in the accounts when receivable. 

**Investment gains and losses** This includes any gain or loss on the sale of investments and any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value at the end of the year 

## **EXPENDITURE AND LIABILITIES** 

**Liability recognition** Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources. **Governance and running** This is a grouping of costs of running the charity. It includes staff salaries, heating, lighting, **costs** rent, travel expenses, administration, licenses and subscriptions. **Grants with performance** Where the charity gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of **conditions** service or output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the SoFA once the recipient of the grant has provided the specified service or output. **Grants payable without** These are only recognised in the accounts when a commitment has been made and there **performance conditions** are no conditions to be met relating to the grant which remain in the control of the charity. **Support Costs** Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, eg allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage. 

## **ASSETS** 

**Tangible fixed assets for use** These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least **by the charity** £500. They are valued at cost or a reasonable value on receipt. **Investments** Investments quoted on a recognised stock exchange are valued at market value at the year-end. Other investment assets are included at trustees' best estimate of market value. 

**Stocks and work in progress** These are valued at the lower of cost or market value. 

## **ADDITIONAL POLICIES** 

Gift aid is accounted on the date it is received from HMRC. 



## **Analysis of incoming resources** 

||Analysis|This year|Last year|
|---|---|---|---|
|||£|£|
|**Voluntary income**|Voluntary Donations|37,142|23,055|
||Gift Aid Receipts|13,030|9,348|
||**Total**|**50,172**|**32,403**|
|**Activities for generating**|Funding for Food Bank, sales of Online Registration system &|67,639|98,526|
|**funds**|Listening Hearts Contributions|||
||**Total**|**67,639**|**98,526**|
|**Analysis of resources expended**||||
||Analysis|This year|Last year|
|||£|£|
|**Charitable activities**|Community Serving Projects, training and leadership|42,916|43,689|
||development, children and youth work, compassion|||
||ministries.|||
||**Total**|**42,916**|**43,689**|
|**Governance and running**|Salaries|55,180|65,091|
|**costs**||||
||Utilities and Building Maintenance|9,817|7,960|
||Travel Expenses|39|44|
||Administration & PR|192|941|
||Licences & Subscriptions|1,046|885|
||**Total**|**66,274**|**74,921**|
|**Oversees Missions & Other**|Listening Hearts Children’s ministry|804|531|
|**gifts**||||
||Visiting ministries|0|0|
||**Total**|**804**|**531**|





## **Paid Employees** 

## **Staff costs** 

|||This year||Last year|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||£||£|
|Gross wages, salaries and benefits in kind||55,180||65,091|
|Employer’s National Insurance costs||0||0|
|Pension costs||-||-|
||**Total staff costs**|**55,180**||**65,091**|
|**Average number of full-time equivalent employees in the year**|||||
|The parts of the charity in which the employees work||This year||Last year|
|||number||number|
|Charitable Activities||1||1|
|Governance||0.5||0.5|
||**Total**|1.5||1.5|
|**Tangible fixed assets**|||||
|**Cost or valuation**|Description|||Value|
|||||£|
||Worship Equipment|||500|
||||**Total**|**500**|





ril 2024- 31" March 2025
Accounts
resented for
ard Communit Church Daventr
Vine
Charit No. 1128805
Examinerfs Un
ualified Re
ort

I ￿P)rt on the ol the Trust fc* the year ended 31" M￿h 2U25
Chaimwn
TTeasurff
Tr4bStee
Trustee
Rob Gee
Ga￿th Chappell
N￿k Wlmot
SviY8na Okowo-Byk
r15iknli
The charity's trustees a￿ responsible fof the preparatKJn of the &cotJnts. The charrty's twslees
consider that an audit is ￿t required fr)r this year under sectwi 144121 of Ihe charit￿ Act 2011 (the
2011 Act) and that an Independent exanwn*K¥n is needed.
11 is my reskN)nsibilty to..
examine the ￿e￿nts under secb'on 145 of ts 2011 Act",
lo follow the Fff0￿dure$ laKJ th)wn in the general ￿re￿¢M)S given by Chanty ComrThs8
under sectson 14515llbl of the 2011 Act. and
to state whether particular matter5 have lo my attention.
Ba*s of this
My examinabon was camed out in accordance with the general Directi￿$ given by the Chanty
Commission. An examinabon includes a remew ol Ihe ￿XIn￿n9 records kept ty t1￿ thanty and
companson of the ￿counts Presented wrth those fecofds. 11 a150 ineludes Cons￿eratIon of any
unusual Items or disclosures in the accounts. and seekirvj extyanations from you as trustees
con￿mIng any such matters. The wc¢edures undertaken do not provide all the evHlertt that wouky
be required In an audit and consequently no op'nion Is gNen as to Nthether the accoLbnls P￿Sent
and Pair and the repcvt ￿ limrted to those maliers set c4Jt in Ihe stateff*nl ttk)w.
In conneth.on my ewAnatK*n, no matter ha5 c<￿ to my attentK>n.'
ich me reasonable caLW lo bdieve Uwt in any material respxt th• requirements..
lo keep accounting records in accordance wrth section 130 01 the 2011 Act, aThJ
lo prepare xcounls which accord with the acwinb"rKJ rwds aThJ 1>>n￿ wth thg
accounting requirements of the 2011 A
have not teen w*t". or
121 to vthith, in my opin￿n. attents(m shC￿k1 be dr*m in order lo a proper understandirKJ of t
¢(yJnts to be reached.
- Qossaoclf@ I,LP
Addfess. Itf cioje HLTttJJdl, guD
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