## **ANNUAL REPORT 2024** Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Ainsdale St John _Charity Number 1128996_ 1 2024 Annual Report St Johns Ainsdale – Final ## Contents Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 3 PCC Membership (to APCM 2025) ...................................................................................................... 5 Review of 2024 .................................................................................................................................. 6 Jackie’s Licencing service ............................................................................................................... 6 Worship and Pastoral Care ............................................................................................................. 6 Children and Youth Mission ............................................................................................................ 6 Uniformed Groups .......................................................................................................................... 7 Ainsdale St John CE Primary School ................................................................................................ 8 Natterjacks Day Nursery ................................................................................................................. 8 Community and Fellowship ............................................................................................................ 9 The wider church .......................................................................................................................... 10 Web and Social media .................................................................................................................. 11 Enabling Mission .............................................................................................................................. 12 Buildings and grounds .................................................................................................................. 12 Annual Financial report to 31 December 2024 ............................................................................... 12 Management and Governance.......................................................................................................... 19 Electoral roll ................................................................................................................................. 19 PCC ............................................................................................................................................. 19 Deputy Wardens........................................................................................................................... 19 Risk Assessments ........................................................................................................................ 19 Safeguarding Procedures .............................................................................................................. 19 New appointments ....................................................................................................................... 19 Administrative Information ........................................................................................................... 20 Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................... 20 Appendix 1 ...................................................................................................................................... 22 PCC Membership ......................................................................................................................... 22 PCC approved roles ...................................................................................................................... 22 Independent Examiner’s Report ....................................................................................................... 24 Independent Examiner’s Disclosure ................................................................................................. 25 2024 Annual Report St Johns Ainsdale – Final 2 ## Introduction So, as I pen this report after being the Vicar of St John’s for just short of a year I reflect on the many blessings, joys, the challenges, the enthusiasm and the love that I have received from each and every one of you. Which reflects our vision statement of sharing God’s love and serving one another. In this last year I feel we have grown numerically, but more so spiritually. We as a church family are deepening our faith through our thoughts, our words and our deeds. At our PCC away day in September we had a wonderful time of fellowship, and I felt a real sense of God’s presence as we met together. From there we were able to be open and honest about where we feel we are as a church and where we think God wants us to be. We have begun making steps towards our goals by adding different things into our worship and our outreach, and by being open to change with enthusiasm and vigour … even welcoming our pets into church with open arms! “ _Kindness to animals is Godly, in fact caring for them is part of our purpose_ ”, Proverbs 12 v10. I have seen and felt in my time here that the heart of St John’s is family, community and Kingdom building. Behind everything we do I see those encounters with God. The Kingdom is full of different people of all ages, and gifts. A community of people in which all are invited, welcomed and loved. We have so many wonderful things to be thankful here at St John’s. - For our wonderful PCC members who go above and beyond to ensure God’s will is fulfilled in this church and community. - Our mission team who are so enthusiastic in all things mission and outreach, and who are not afraid to step out in faith with many different approaches. - The Care team, whose love and compassion for others shines through, as God’s hands and feet in this community and beyond. - For our Little John’s team, for the joy, fun and nurturing that they bring to both the children, parents, grandparents and carers. - And for every single person who shares their God given talents with others to serve and grow this wonderful church family. I am inspired and blessed by each and every one of you. We continue to strengthen our links within the local community, with our school and nursery along with working ecumenically with CTiA, and supporting SASW Trust is a highlight of what we do here in Ainsdale. There are lots of things to give thanks for, lots to keep praying about. But most importantly that we are all open to receive the Holy Spirit in all that we do. So, as we look back on an eventful 2024, we can now begin to cast a vision for the next 12 months, and the future ahead. I leave you with this: _“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3 v12-14_ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful”. ## **Rev Jackie x** 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 3 Clockwise from top: Guides beach clean; Church worship group; our children’s corner gets lots of use; summer pet service; SONG musical theatre group rehearsing; Time for Tea legacy event; Little John’s baby & toddler group 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 4 ## PCC Membership (to APCM 2025) _Incumbent_ Rev Jackie Vasquez (PCC Chair) _Reader_ Eirlys Jessop _Churchwardens_ Chris Thursfield Peter Hancock (PCC Vice Chair) _Deanery Synod Reps_ David Phipps John Forshaw Helen Parker (PCC secretary) Jean Washbourne _Elected members (and trustees)_ Lindsay Jessop (PCC treasurer) Giles Davies Linda Davies John Forshaw Frank Hyland Patricia Jameson Chloe Ormrod Lesley Phipps Val Sinnott Chris Treble Ann Walton Members of the PCC are the charity trustees and are the ‘persons having the general control and management of the administration of the charity’ (Charities Act 2011, S177). 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 5 ## Review of 2024 ## Jackie’s Licencing service On 17 June we were delighted to welcome Jackie into our church family at the licencing service. The service was a joyous affair giving us the opportunity to thank God for sending Jackie to our church. The service was followed by a buffet which was hosted by our school. There was lots of cake. This enabled us to meet up with people from other churches. They were particularly impressed with our junior PCC who played a very active role in the licencing service. ## Worship and Pastoral Care ## **Growing in faith as we serve our community in Ainsdale** Our regular pattern of weekly worship continued through 2024 as well as leading whole school worship in church every Monday for over 200 ASJ children and staff. We also received positive comments for our special services for Harvest Festival, Easter, and Christmas. We are grateful to all those who lead our services and the worship band, organist and choir who lead our worship each week. Services are often followed by refreshments and we held several parish lunches and cake sales during the year. Our **Prayer Group** met on Monday afternoons which provided an opportunity for fellowship over a cup of tea followed by a period of prayer and quiet reflection – a welcome quiet time in our busy lives. Our **Bible Study Group** met on Tuesday afternoons. The year started by watching episodes from ‘Chosen’ which formed the basis of some interesting discussions. The group then read and discussed ‘the Shack’ which provided opportunities to consider some challenging questions. The **Care Group** are a valuable part of our ministry. During 2024 the care group assisted Jackie in visiting and bringing communion to people who were housebound in nursing homes or in hospital, and supported the bereaved by phone calls, visits and invitations. The prayer circle responded to those in need with prayers and sharing of requests. The **Men’s Group** continued to offer fellowship to those within and outside the church, meeting most weeks in one of the Ainsdale café bars. ## Children and Youth Mission It was wonderful to see our church grow as we welcomed new members and more families with their children into our church for worship, fellowship and social events. During our 10.30 services the younger children enjoyed craft activities, bible books, story bags and toys in our children’s corner, as well as opportunities to participate in worship songs, talks and prayers. Two services each month are informal and especially suitable for those with young children who can take an engage in worship using musical instruments, interactive prayer, songs and use of visuals. Five time a year these were Parade Services where we also welcomed our Uniformed Organisations. We want to give our young people a voice and for them to take leading roles in services by giving them opportunities to lead prayers and intercessions and Bible readings. Our **Junior PCC** met to plan and led two lovely services in 2024: a Parade Service and the annual Crib Service on Christmas Eve when a packed church enjoyed a wonderful start to our celebration of Jesus’ birth. Some members of Junior PCC are also part our worship band. Social activities and a Youth Alpha course are planned for 2025 to support our Junior PCC as they develop their Christian faith. We are very fortunate to enjoy close ties with our **church school** – children and staff. Church members led RE lessons and delivered ‘Christmas in a Box’ to Year 3 where the children learn more about the 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 6 roles of the principal characters in the Nativity story and take their own personal box home to share their experience with their families. Church members also led regular worship for the whole school in church as well as harvest, Christmas, Christingle and Easter services. Church hosted class services and other school community events during 2024 which were a great opportunity to build relationships with school families. These will continue in 2025 along with plans to start an after school club for children in years 3, 4 and 5. Church members also play an active leadership role in school as Foundation Governors – providing strategic oversight and ensuring the school's religious character and ethos are preserved and developed. We were delighted to welcome six children and four adults for **baptism** in 2024. It is very important to us that all baptisms are held in main Sunday services and that families are given an especially warm welcome. Each child is presented with a blanket crocheted by a church member and a children’s Bible and baptism candle. **Impact Youth** continued to meet in the Methodist Church during term times for 11 to 18 year-olds. The youth group, run by CTiA in partnership with SASW Trust. There were between 20 to 25 young people attending each week to enjoy chats with their peers, games on the big screens and a variety of sports. Halfway through the sessions there is a small meal, followed by plenty of cakes and cold drinks. **Little John’s Baby and Toddler Group** had another successful year averaging 35 children per week – mostly regular visitors with many more attending on a more casual basis. There is no doubt that we are providing a welcome space for parents, grandparents and carers while giving the children opportunity to socialise and have fun. ## Uniformed Groups All our Uniformed Groups have lots of fun, learn new things, do different activities, achieve badges and rewards, and enjoy spending time with friends and making new friendships and memories. All the groups actively participate in church parades and the Remembrance service on the green. Highlights included: ## 17th St John’s Guides - Holding a party to say thank you to Vanessa Riley for her years of service as unit leader; a brandnew leadership team started in 2024 - Cooking over open fires at Scarisbrick Hall - Beach clean and sand pictures on Ainsdale beach - Games on Ainsdale Green - A Christmas themed sleepover at Shirdley Hill with Christmas crafts and a movie - A Sefton wide fun day at Scarisbrick Hall - A water fight and picnic tea at Scarisbrick Hall - A Christmas Party with a professional DJ - Celebrating Chinese New Year with decorating paper lanterns and other fun activities - A visit to Southport Lifeboats with private tour - Fundraising with the Southport Hesketh Round Table and the Santa sleigh ## 15th Ainsdale Brownies - Collecting tins of dog and cat food for the RSPCA - Awarding Snowy Owl her 20 year service award - Trips to the lifeboat station and fire station - Sefton County 50th Birthday Bash at Scarisbrick - Brown Owl’s mum knitted the girls a poppy each to wear on Remembrance Sunday - Sleepover at Shirdley Hill (not a lot of sleep though!) plus crafts, games, movies and singalongs - Helping Santa and the Southport Round Table - Christmas jumper evening, raising £50 for Save the Children 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 7 ## 2nd Ainsdale Rainbows - Making cards and gifts for mothering Sunday - Making bird feeders - Thinking about Rainbows in other parts of the world - Being kind to others - Playing parachute games on the grass - Making mermaid masks for the Ainsdale Show - Visiting the life boat station and trying on the very large safety equipment they have to wear! ## Ainsdale St John CE Primary School As we reflect on another remarkable year at Ainsdale St. John's, we are filled with pride at the achievements, growth, and community spirit that have defined the school year. One of the highlights was the launch of our ASJ in Action parent workshops. These events provide a unique opportunity for parents to engage directly with our school’s curriculum, building strong connections between home and school to ensure parents are well-equipped to support their children’s learning at home. Our ASJ Ambassadors had an incredibly busy and impactful year including the creation of a new trim trail at the front of school - designed by our PE and play leaders and funded by the Friends of ASJ who continue to provide invaluable support to school. Community Champs worked alongside local police officers to raise awareness about speed limits on Sandbrook Road as a vital part of our ongoing commitment to helping our students engage with and contribute meaningfully to their community. A Prayer Space Day celebrated Pentecost, focusing on the power of the Holy Spirit. It was a beautiful time of reflection and prayer, where children explored deeper aspects of their faith in a hands-on way. School celebrated our commitment to physical education and mental wellbeing by receiving recognition with the School Games Gold and myHappymind Bronze awards. Other highlights included a Euros 2024 football tournament at the local 3G pitches and hosting the reception for Reverend Jackie’s installation. As of September 2024, Ainsdale St. John’s became a member of the Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust. We have already benefited from their support and expertise, and we look forward to the continued growth and opportunities this partnership will bring. While the year has been filled with joyous moments, we also faced a tragedy during the summer. Our community showed remarkable resilience, and through the support of staff, families, and our wider community, we have worked together to navigate the challenges. As it says in the Bible, " _The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it_ " (John 1:5). This message of hope and light continues to guide us as we support one another through difficult times. Thank you, as always, to Reverend Jackie and St. John’s Church for your unwavering support. We look forward to the year ahead with gratitude, excitement, and faith in the future that we will all shine brightly in all that we do. ## _Lorna O’Brien, Headteacher_ ## Natterjacks Day Nursery It was another busy year at Natterjacks. We have been working hard to improve our outdoor area at the back of nursery, putting in artificial grass and sunshades, as well as a more natural look with wooden elements for the children to engage in and enjoy discovering through play. We have all been affected by the Southport tragedy in the summer and have been supporting our families and staff. The nursery made a personal gift of a memorial bench for Elsie Dot Stancombe who 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 8 was very much loved by all of her Natterjacks family. The bench is a beautiful tribute to Elsie, who attended Natterjacks from a baby until she went to school. Her Bench will be placed outside nursery for everyone to enjoy and remember this beautiful little girl. Elsie’s Mum and Dad have set up a charity called Elsie’s story which is raising money to support children in different ways, terminal illnesses, associations that help children and their families. Please see their fantastic work on Instagram or Facebook @elsiedotstory. Nursery received some lovely reviews from parents which is very encouraging for our staff team. Following a spot inspection from Sefton Environmental Health, we were pleased to receive 5 stars for our food hygiene inspection again! The children enjoyed trips to the beach and community, and a visit from our friends at animal safari. The children very much enjoyed seeing Stitch the Shetland pony, Ant and Dec the goats and the bunny rabbits and look forward to another visit soon. The children are eager to learn about chickens and ducks, so hopefully we will have some eggs that will hatch just in time for Easter . We are looking forward to more new children starting their nursery journey and inviting new families to our ever-growing Natterjacks family. _Mai-Ling, John, Becca and the Natterjacks team_ ## Community and Fellowship ## Christian Aid Christian Aid is an international development agency that enables us to respond to Christ's command to care for all in need. Through his life and teaching, his death and his resurrection, he inspired his followers to love God, love their neighbours and long for justice. Our faith in God, and in his loving relationship with us, gives us confidence and hope that poverty can be ended, despite all that might stand in the way. For many years, St John’s has supported the work of Christian Aid and now works with CTiA to raise funds and awareness. In 2024 for Christian Aid Week, we held a ‘Big Brekkie and cake sale’ raising £580.70. Each church also held separate collections which raised another £1,056.60 bringing our ecumenical total to £1,637.30. This money will be used to change and save lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the world. We are also registered as an ‘Emergency church’ so that when disaster strikes, we are able to respond quickly. ## SASW Trust St John’s has been a long-time supporter of the SAST Trust, a local charity which works primarily in schools to create safe spaces where local children and young people can explore issues of life and faith in a caring and supportive way. In 2024 we continued to support the work of the Trust financially, prayerfully and through a church members being a Trustee. ## Support for charities In addition to supporting Christian Aid and SASWT, we continued to support other charitable work in 2024, financially or in-kind, including: - Compassion Acts - Christian Aid - SASWT - The Children’s society 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 9 - Ainsdale in Bloom - SONG - Queenscourt Hospice - The Spinal Unit Action Group We are thankful to all these charities for their valuable work. ## Eco Group Using the fifth Mark of Mission as our guiding principle ‘ _To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the earth_ ’, the Eco Group was very active in 2024. St John’s achieved the Eco Church Silver Award in September - one of only 1,300 churches in the UK. Recognition is based on the Eco Church survey which covers five key areas of church life: worship and teaching; buildings and energy; land and nature; community and global engagement; and lifestyle. There’s still a lot to do to maintain our status in the year ahead. Other highlights included: - Creating a magnificent Bug Chapel (built by Jay Vasquez) in the church grounds to compliment the bird table and feeders - A new relationship with the Ainsdale in Bloom community group who make a significant difference to the village environment - Awareness for our care for creation through monthly news sheet tips, prayers and especially around Harvest festival, including a Walk to Church event - The PCC re-committing to the support of the Church of England’s Net Zero 2030 programme. We also secured funding from the Liverpool Diocese Net Zero Quick Wins grant towards an upgrade of our heating controls to allow more efficient energy use. ## Events During 2024 we were pleased to continue with our programme of free and ticketed events for the whole community. Where appropriate the church ran a licensed bar at events to raise additional church funds. Also, we hold raffles which are a good fun activity and the sale of tea and cake is always popular. These additional activities raised welcome funds which help with the church running and heating costs. Events in 2024 were as follows: - Sefton Band concert - U3A band with tea and cake - Table top sale with tea and cake - Quiz and curry night - Octave Christmas concert The musical performances were enjoyed by all. The events were also an opportunity for the different congregations to meet in a social setting and also for us to meet new people from the community. ## The wider church ## The Deanery Synod The Deanery Synod met three times in 2024 to consider the wider picture of the deanery. Key areas of focus were: - To discuss the division of the Parish Share between the churches in the deanery. Parish Share is used to support clergy and there is a direct link between Parish Share and the number of clergy in the diocese. We appointed a Parish Share planning group to consider the issues arising. - Financial Issues – we are working on a suitable affordable outcome. 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 10 - To obtain an overview of the current position within the different churches – some churches have the support of a full-time incumbent, some share an incumbent and others have not had an incumbent for some time. - To gain better understanding of the bigger picture of what is happening in the deanery with each church sharing some of the events or activities that are happening in their church. - Fit for Mission: looking at how it could work in this area. We have been finding out more about the vision – bigger church making a bigger difference. - To consider how the small number of young people coming to church can be addressed. ## Churches together in Ainsdale We had another year of working together in every area that we are able. We held a number of successful joint events: - Lent Safari - Sunrise service on the beach on Easter Sunday - CTiA tent at the Ainsdale show, encouraging people to place their prayers on a prayer tree, write haiku poems and sharing hopes and dreams on a special tablecloth. We also had a craft area for the children - Sunday Tent service on the green at the Ainsdale show, with Jackie making everyone feel welcome for this special service of the year - Remembrance Sunday service on the green supported by our church choir. This is always well supported with lots of interest every year - Christmas carols in the Co-op - Our ecumenical youth group, Impact, is very popular with the young people All the activities received an enthusiastic response. ## Web and Social media Our website provides information on all our Services and Events and allows those far and wide to access information on our Church. Our main website www.stjohnsainsdale.org.uk site attracted 3,300 views in 2024, up 600 views on 2023. Our other site www.achurchnearyou.com attracted 9,261 views, up 2,470 views on 2023. We no longer live stream our 10:30am service on a Sunday but will live stream weddings & funerals on request. There is a link to our YouTube Channel on the website. Our Facebook page helps promote our place in the local community and much wider! In 2024, the page reached a massive 48,700 people … a brilliant 75% increase from 2023. The most popular page was about the Christingle Service on 29[th] December with the picture of Linda Davies dressed as a human Christingle reaching 11,600 people! Rev Jackie and Chloe Ormrod manage our Facebook page which includes bible verses and is a great opportunity to quickly reach those near and far with church updates and news of events. 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 11 ## Enabling Mission ## Buildings and grounds ## Church Building Repairs undertaken during the year included the complete renewal of lighting in the corridor and radiator repair. The latter is appearing more frequently and extensive work may be needed. The necessary fire and security checks were carried out as per schedule. ## Church Hall Replacement fire doors and repair to the single rear outside door carried out. Remedial work to the heating controls allowed nursery staff better management together with separation from the foyer/committee room temperature management. A satisfactory statutory fire inspection was made. Discussion held regarding the suitable renovation of the surface of the outside play area. ## Grounds Routine groundwork and general maintenance undertaken. The lawn area was maintained by a contractor. Tree maintenance and tidying was carried out in the Memorial Garden. ## Secret Garden Discussions held with the Merseyside Probation Service regarding undertaking initial ground clearing, the matter remains under consideration. The expectation is that work to transform the area will take place during 2025. ## Annual Financial report to 31 December 2024 ## Basis of Accounting The PCC continues to adopt the simpler Receipts and Payments (R&P) basis of accounting. This means that all income and expenditure is shown against the year in which the money is received / paid. ## Financial Summary 2024 was a relatively good year for St John’s. We have contained our costs and wherever possible sought best value. Our bank balances are shown below: |nk balances are shown below:||| |---|---|---| ||as at 31.12.23|as at 31.12.24| |Current account|£18,408|£14,207| |Savings / maintenance account|£11,405|£10,207| Whist this may look like a reduction, we were able to clear £14,000 worth of interest free loans during 2024 and we are now completely debt free. Thus, our reserves are £24,627 (as at 31.12.24) compared to £15,813 (as at 31.12.23). ## 2024 highlights Overall, our total income for the year reduced from £171,897 (2023) to £150,735 (2024), but this was due entirely to advance PGS / loan contributions in 2023 Our income over the next few years should remain fairly stable, if not increase – hopefully. Income highlights: 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 12 - Parish Giving contributions reduced from £74,400 in 2023 to £45,900 in 2024 – due to advance contributions in 2023 to help clear our loan with Charity Bank. Envelope collections remained stable at c £7,300 p.a. - Plate collections were up by 14% to £7,006 - Hall and Nursery rentals increased by 4% from £42,935 to £44,316 - Fundraising activity increased to give us a significant increase on 2023, to £2,377 - We also received one off grants of £3,500 Overall, our expenditure increased from £126,917 (2023) to £141,929 (2024) but this latter figure does include the £14,000 loan. Excluding the loan, expenditure is slightly down on 2023. Expenditure highlights: - Our Parish share is the main source of expenditure, remaining stable in 2024 at £81,800 - Salary payments increased in line with government guidelines to £8,500 - We incurred a one off cost of £5,000 to redecorate the vicarage - External clergy cover costs reduced from £6,986 (2023) to £ 4,179 (2024) - Utility costs (Gas, electric and water) increased from £14,259 (2023) to £16,184 (2024) During the year the trust received loans from trustees of £Nil (2023 - £19,000) and repaid £5,000 (2023 - £5,000). These loans were interest free up to the date of the scheduled repayment in 2028. However, during the year, the loan holders agreed to convert £9,000 (2023 - £Nil) of these loans into donations. Therefore, the amount owed on these loans at the end of the year was £Nil (2023 - £14,000). 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 13 Statement of Assets and Liabilities (by code) Cla$$ and nomlnal ¢od• G•n•ral D•$lgn•t•d R•$trl¢t•d Totsl La$t year Fixed Asset- Invesiments 6441." Shares & CBF Investments1691.0001016 Total 363 363 363 363 Curr•nt Ass•t . Cash At Bank And In Hand 6501." Co-op cuffent account 660 6521". Co-op savings account 12,776 10,208 22,984 1,431 14,207 10,208 24.415 18,408 11,405 29.813 Total 1.431 Liabilty - Agency Accounts 6699.. Agency collecbons 150 150 150 150 Toial Liabilty- Creditors.. Amounts falling due after more than one year 6610". Parishioner Loans Total 14.000 Nei total asseis 22,984 363 1.281 24.627 15,813 Represented by General Iunreslnctedl Designated - Investments Restricted- CAP Restricted- Flowe[5 Restricted- LittleJohns Restricled- MissK)n Restn¢led- Sequestration Restncled- Teacoffee 22,984 22,984 363 15,$51 363 1,851 61 469 285 61 469 285 1TI 12,2991 467 15,813 46e 466 1,281 24,627 Total 22,984 363 2024 Annusl Report St john's Ainsdsle Finalv 1.0 Page14 Tot•1 e4EOo ebJbei 737 737 6272 031ll- Reorng coi*a*ffts 1.172 1,172 .377 7.064 A¢ InL* eiytr*'. 3Sd 11.677 soo 0450- 3pec* or ¥ecii¢ x*peois t.361 JJ9 7,567 rD1 - Lewi 45 3.5UC •7.761 IM6 si All IfpLrt eigb* Q9D1 - IgenÈr•i s,1 1:3J. Cr￿tfv ¢*￿￿1 WlnQS- 1 ?9D. 1•.11¥ 0910- i 4vc. C¥ Trtye lup. ¥•ts1 11Q1 - e* 4so 3.411 raiyno •,L .3ry 42.9)5 .366 1trJ1 . Irorn th¥es 1LTr. ioc*ty 10 10 103 103 100 2024 Annusl Report St john's Ainsdsle Finalv 1.0 Page15 qi i CoXi-F knknli 17IthY 7É￿_ 252 I￿_￿kIl￿rrw 15P En￿1& Tl 5_F>XYE 21C1-Q￿y* I￿. FkLUry (￿) 14ts. Itwqp Lpjthul 21￿- t￿5. 5P ic 2024 Annusl Report St john's Ainsdsle Finalv 1.0 Page16 These annual accounts have been approved and signed for and on behalf of the board of trustees, at our APCM on Sunday 25[th] May 2025. They were also approved by our Accountants on 28[th] May 2025 – pages 24 and 25 refer. ## Signed: _Lindsay D Jessop_ Lindsay D Jessop, Treasurer ## Donations and Legacies The congregation at St John’s has responded by regular giving in difficult financial times. If you are considering making a significant donation or leaving a legacy in your Will, please discuss this with our Treasurer or the Wardens. Giving back to the church through our Wills can help sustain our Church and its mission in Ainsdale. 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 17 ## Charitable support Despite another difficult financial year, St John’s continued to support other charitable organisations such as SASWT, through direct donations and in-kind support such as making the church building and car park available for others to use. In addition, we make the church freely available to school and Uniformed Organisations, the latter making welcomed donations for the use of our church. We are also proud to help support SONG, the award-winning junior theatre group, who rehearse regularly in Church on Sunday afternoons and make regular donations to St John’s for the use of our main building and committee room. ## In summary The PCC took the decision to continue funding key mission activities including SASWT. Our annual donation of £2,000 was made in late 2024. We also continued to pay our Parish Share in full to support the wider work of the Diocese and those churches impacted worse than us. Natterjacks also helped us to maintain a healthy financial status by honouring their monthly payment and service charges for leasing the church hall. The service charge and third-party hire charges were increased during 2024 to help cover our increased utility costs. Service charges are reviewed at 6 monthly intervals and hire charges annually. We continue to honour all invoices, pay our parish share, and maintain a credit balance on our current and maintenance accounts. Overall, 2024 was financially, a relatively good year. We must remain prudent and continue to control our costs to ensure this continues into the future. 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 18 ## Management and Governance ## Electoral roll All church members are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. As at 31 December 2023 the Roll stood at 136. During 2024 there was a net decrease of 4 (2 entries added; 6 removed) resulting in 132 on roll as at 31 December 2024. ## PCC Individual PCC members, as Trustees of the Church, receive information, instruction and training when deemed appropriate. This may include information about Trustee responsibilities, health and safety, risk assessment and safeguarding procedures. The full PCC met ten times during 2024 with an average level of attendance of 74%. The PCC is the decision-making body of The Church with any Committee making recommendations to the PCC for consideration. In September 2024 we held a PCC awayday at Christ Church Ministry Centre. We started the day with a very enjoyable breakfast followed by some interesting and constructive discussions about how to further develop our church at St John’s. ## Deputy Wardens We have a team of deputy wardens who give the wardens invaluable support throughout the year: Val Sinnott Jean Washbourne Lindsay Jessop Kate Corey David Price Rob Williams ## Risk Assessments Procedures are in place to manage risks and minimise their impact on the wellbeing of church and hall users. Action in the main areas of risk is managed as follows: The PCC routinely review **health and safety and fire arrangements** and any relevant risk assessments. The wardens carry out regular inspections as part of their duties. Matters noted were either rectified or reported to the PCC for further action. The fire system and exits in the church and hall were maintained in working order and inspected by certified competent persons in accordance with the safety requirements. The electrical system and equipment are subject to statutory inspection. During the year the generic risk assessments were applied to manage **operational risks** . There were no activities requiring additional risk assessments. The PCC continue to require a condition of hire that all hirers provide suitable and sufficient risk assessments to cover their activities. ## Safeguarding Procedures We are compliant with all the relevant documentation and checks. After the events of last July, we have reviewed our safety arrangements for groups in church. We are also mindful of vulnerable individuals within our congregation and follow necessary procedures. Safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone and any concerns should be passed on to the Parish Safeguarding Officer and/or Vicar so that appropriate steps can be taken. ## New appointments The following new appointments were made during 2024: Chairperson: Jackie Vasquez Deputy Chairperson: Peter Hancock Secretary: Helen Parker 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 19 ## Administrative Information St John’s Church is situated in Ainsdale, a suburb of Southport. It is part of the Diocese of Liverpool within the Church of England. The address of the Church is: 627-629 Liverpool Road Ainsdale Southport PR8 3NG The PCC is a body corporate and operates under the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 and the Church Representation Rules 2017 and was registered with the Charity Commission on 3 April 2009. PCC members (trustees) who have served from 1 January 2024 until the date this report was approved are shown in Appendix 1 along with the specific church roles approved by the PCC. ## Acknowledgements We would like to thank all the volunteers who work so hard to make St John’s the caring and vibrant community it is. Some of them you see at the front during services and other events but many more work tirelessly behind the scenes making people feel welcome, setting things up, preparing food and drink, keeping the buildings looking lovely, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all, and supporting the finances and administration. Their names are too many to mention individually but we are hugely grateful for their continued dedication, selfless service and good humour. If you are interested in joining or helping with any of the activities highlighted in this report, then please make contact with the leaders listed – they would love to hear from you! |PCC,wardens and welcomers/sidespeople)|Chris Thursfeld and Peter Hancock| |---|---| |Choir|Paul Ellis| |Worshipband|John Forshaw| |St John’s Care Group|NancyLloyd Parry| |Children andyoung people’s ministry|Linda Davies| |Impactyouth club|Linda Davies| |Baptisms|Linda Davies| |Little John’s|Chris Thursfeld & Clare Lord| |Guides|Jackie McKee| |Brownies|Amanda McCarter| |Rainbows|Pam Davies| |Refreshments &parish lunches|Nina Haddock| |DeanerySynod|Jean Washbourne,David Phipps,John Forshaw,Helen Parker| |Ainsdale St John’s CE Primary School|Lorna O’Brien (Headteacher)
John Forshaw(Chair of Governors)| |Natterjack’s Day Nursery at St John’s|Mai-Ling & John Duckworth (Owners/managers)
Becca Phillipson(NurseryManager)| |Eco Group|Chris Treble| |Church Buildings andgrounds|Frank Hyland| |Finance,Givingand Fundraising|LindsayJessop (Church Treasurer)| |St John’s Website|Chris Doragh| |St John’s Facebook Page|Jackie Vasquez| |Electoral roll|Paul Olive| |Christian Aid|Eirlys Jessop| |Churches Together in Ainsdale(CTiA)|Jean Washbourne and Eirlys Jessop| |Safeguarding|Chris Thursfeld| **Approved by the PCC on 25[th] May 2025, and signed on their behalf by Jackie Vasquez (Vicar)** ## _Jackie Vasquez_ _________________________ 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 20 Clockwise from top left: family Parade service led by our Junior PCC; hosting a Christingle service for Ainsdale St John’s school; Parish lunch after a Sunday service; celebrating mothering Sunday; one of the Guide leaders earning a well-deserved Sefton Star Award 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 21 ## Appendix 1 ## PCC Membership |PCC Membership||| |---|---|---| ||**To APCM 2024**|**From APCM 2024**| |Incumbent|Interregnum|Jackie Vasquez from 17 June PCC
Chair| |Reader|Eirlys Jessop|Eirlys Jessop| |Churchwardens|Chris Thursfeld - PCC Chair
LesleyPhipps – PCC Vice chair|Chris Thursfeld
Peter Hancock – PCC Vice Chair| |Deanery Synod Reps|Jean Washbourne
David Phipps
Helen Parker
John Forshaw|Jean Washbourne
David Phipps
Helen Parker
John Forshaw| |Elected PCC Members|Giles Davies
Linda Davies
John Forshaw
Peter Hancock
Maggie Hilton
Frank Hyland
Patricia Jameson
Lindsay Jessop - Treasurer
Chloe Ormrod
Val Sinnott
Ann Walton|Giles Davies
Linda Davies
John Forshaw
Maggie Hilton Resigned 23 July
Frank Hyland
Patricia Jameson
Lindsay Jessop - Treasurer
Chloe Ormrod
Lesley Phipps
Val Sinnott
Chris Treble
Ann Walton| |Co-opted members of PCC|We currentlyhave two vacancies for co-opted members|| ## PCC approved roles |PCC approved roles|| |---|---| |PCC Chair|Jackie Vasquez| |PCC Vice chair|Peter Hancock| |PCC Secretary|Helen Parker| |Treasurer|LindsayJessop| |Bankers|The Co-Operatve Bank| |Independent Examiner|John Moores University (JMU)– the AccountancyClinic| |Electoral Roll Ofcer|Paul Olive| |SafeguardingOfcer|Chris Thursfeld| |Online stats ofcer|Paul Ellis| |Children’s Work Co-ordinator|Linda Davies| |Health & SafetyAdvisor|Frank Hyland| |Gif aid Secretary|Heather Treble| |Church calendar and hire bookings|Deb Bishop| |Responsibilityfor Church Website|Chris Doragh| |Responsibilityfor Church Facebookpage|Jackie Vasquez and Chloe Ormrod| |Chairperson of ecogroup|Chris Treble| |Dayto dayManagement|Jackie Vasquez and the Wardens| 2024 Annual Report St John's Ainsdale Final V 1.0 Page 22 **St John’s Church Easter Window** 23 2024 Annual Report St Johns Ainsdale – Final V1.0 ## Independent Examiner’s Report 24 2024 Annual Report St Johns Ainsdale – Final V1.0 ## Independent Examiner’s Disclosure 25 2024 Annual Report St Johns Ainsdale – Final V1.0