**Whitefriars Church, Rushden (Charity Number 1130312): Trustees’ Annual Report for 2021**
## **Background**
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of Whitefriars Church, Rushden, has the responsibility of promoting the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical in the parish. It became a registered charity during 2009, with the PCC members being registered as its trustees. It has complied with its duty of ‘promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church’, and in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to public benefit, guidance published by the Charity Commission.
## **Review of activities in 2021**
This is an outline summary of the activities of the church: more detail of some areas will be found in the Vicar’s Report.
During 2021, the Church initially continued to provide pre-recorded services because of the restrictions that were in place in the fight against Covid. There were some outdoor services offered, for example at Easter. From September, indoor services restarted with much restricted numbers and social separation. Stepping Out activities on the second Sunday of the month, and a range of other activities through the week, some provided primarily for church members and others aimed more at the wider community also restarted from September. Stepping Out is an initiative of missional communities which have been set up around a range of activities, with the specific intention of encouraging church members to invite friends and neighbours to have contact with the church. The Well, started in 2017, suffered greatly during the pandemic and, primarily because of insufficient leadership capacity and lack of venue, this was closed down towards the end of the year with members encouraged to join the main congregation in Whitefriars. The PCC has regularly discussed the format of services and any restrictions to be applied.
The PCC met six times during 2021. The sub-committees met several times between PCC meetings. Areas of PCC discussion and action during 2021 included a review of the church’s safeguarding policy and appropriate training for those holding DBS clearances, updates on the church’s youth work and its staffing and funding. PCC meetings also included active monitoring of church finances, and consideration of issues from the wider church, through reports from Deanery, Diocesan and General Synods and the Rushden & Higham Council of Churches.
The work of our employees: Emma Croxon has continued to develop as Children and Families Minister; Lizzie Moesbauer, who joined us as a youth work apprentice in September 2018, continued with her degree course at Ridley College. Sara Owst has continued to provide administrative support for the vicar and staff team on a part time basis.
Regular monthly visits to residential homes in the parish are still to restart: this is under direction from the homes which have struggled greatly during the pandemic.
**GDPR** : there have been no reported breaches of data and the church continues to function within the guidelines laid out in the General Data Protection Regulations. The continued use of Church Suite has been invaluable in enabling safe communication with members of the church within the GDPR guidelines.
**Safeguarding** has always had a high priority within the church. Our Safeguarding Policy has been updated in line with the new guidelines laid down by the National Safeguarding Team and the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisors. All members of the church are encouraged to complete a basic safeguarding training programme that takes about 20 minutes. All those who have contact with children and/or adults at risk also hold current DBS certificates and higher levels of Safeguarding training that is appropriate to their role within the church. The church has a nominated Parish Safeguarding Officer and an Assistant Safeguarding Officer: the assistant is also a Diocesan Safeguarding Trainer. There have been no major safeguarding issues reported. The church has ensured that all those who may have been potentially at risk as a result of the Covid19 pandemic have been contacted on a regular basis and help has been provided as required and appropriate.
## **PCC membership**
At the annual meeting of 2021, the following were either serving or elected to the PCC.
_Vicar_ Revd. Chris Youngman _Wardens_ Hannah Barker Matt Croxon _Diocesan Synod members_ Andrew Presland (General synod) _Deanery Synod representatives_ Richard Holley Steve Holman _Elected members_ Glenda Dodds (2022) Celia Underwood (to 2022) (Safeguarding) Cheryl Stainer (to 2022) Nick Amis (to 2023) Simon King (to 2023) (Vacancy for y/e 2023) Melvyn Hunter (to 2024) (PCC secretary) Lucy Jekyll (to 2024) Jeremy Smith (to 2024)
## **PCC committees and groups**
_Standing and Resources Committee:_ transacts business as required between PCC meetings, including overseeing the finances of Whitefriars Church, drafting the annual budget, monitoring income and expenditure and promoting planned giving.
_Bridge Management and Minibus Management:_ carry out routine checks on the state of the Bridge and ensure that safety checks and routine maintenance are carried out; ensure that the minibus is correctly maintained and insured.
_Mission Committee:_ promotes a range of mission and outreach activities including mission support, both in this country and overseas. Much of this is promoted to the congregation through the vicar’s bulletin.
Each of these committees has a chair whose responsibilities include ensuring that sub-committees within each meet regularly, that meetings are properly minuted and reports returned to the PCC, management of the budget allocation, ensuring that expenditure is kept within the amounts allocated.
Melvyn Hunter. PCC Secretary 2022
**Vicar’s Comments on Financial report 2021**
The importance of regular giving via the Planned Giving Scheme (PGS) was apparent in 2021 in that generally our income held up well in spite of not gathering for worship for most of the year. Thank you to all who give in this way. Having projected a considerable shortfall in 2021, we received some generous new giving (both regular and one off), for which we are very grateful. So having been on track to cover our budgeted expenditure for most of the year, it was disappointing to end the year with a small shortfall. This was the result of a number of people who changed their giving because of a change in their financial circumstances or because they decided to move away from Whitefriars, in some cases to worship elsewhere.
As a result, our total income to the general fund was £98,337 and expenditure was £100,461. After transfers (primarily to Bridge Reserve) our General fund reduced by £2,399 to £14,366. This is below the level of reserves we would like to hold (2 month’s expenditure) and we would like to restore this quickly. Our youth fund grew slightly to £1,783 its income more than covering its expenditure and the Mission fund created by a substantial gift in 2020 stand at £25,519.
The overall giving across General and youth funds is shown graphically below.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Whitefriars Church
General/Youth Income and
Financial report
summary expenditure 2021
120000
General Fund 2021
Income
100000
Planned Giving £ 95,155
Other income £ 2,583
Total £ 97,738 80000
Expenditure 60000
Away Giving £ 10,829
Parish Share £ 70,068
40000
Ministry £ 13,181
Administration £ 5,294
Total £ 99,372 20000
Youth Fund
0
Income Inc2021 Exp2021
Planned Giving £ 13,966
GF Parish share GF Ministry YF Ministry
Expenditure
Other/away GF Admin
Ministry £ 12,606
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Budget 2022**
Because the reduction in income happened at the very end of 2021, we are now facing a shortfall in our 2022 budget, of around £8,400 which would provide sufficient to cover our general expenditure, recover the shortfall in reserves and provide £2,000 towards the cost of Bridge repairs which will be needed in the not too distant future. Please do consider what you can give in response to God’s generosity to us. Because inflation is running at over 7% the inflationary increase to our PGS income would almost cover our budget. We trust in God, through the faithfulness of his people, to cover our every need.
Independent Examinerfs Report
Report to the Parochlal Church Councll (PCC) of WHITEFRIARS CHURCH, RUSHDEN
on the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2021
Respertive responsibillties of Trustees and Examiner
The PCC are responslble for the preparation of the accounts. They consider that an
audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Att 2011 (the
Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It Is my responslblllty to:
é examlne the accounts under sectlon 145 of the Charitles Act,
to follow the procedures lald down in the general Dlrections glven by the Chadty
Commlssion {under section 145(5)(b) of the Charitles Act), and
to stale whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Baslj of Ind•p•nd•nt ex•mln•r'• •tatem•nt
My examlnatlon was carrled out In accordance with general Directions given by the
Charity Commisslon. An examinatlon includes a review of the accounting records kept
by the PCC and a comparlson of the accounts presented wlth those records. It also
Includes conslderatlon of any unusual items or disclosures In the accounts and seeking
explanations from the PCC concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken
do not provlde all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no
oplnion Is glven as to whether the accounts present a 'true and falr. view and the
report Is limlted to those matters set out in the statement below.
Ind¢Sndent ex•mln•rfs st•t•m•nt
In connertlon wlth my examinatlon, no matter has come to my attention:
l) which gives me reasonable cause to belleve that in, any materlal respect, the
requlrements:
to keep accountlng records In accordance with settion 130 of the Charities Act:
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with
the accounting requirements of the Charities Art have not been met.. or
2) to which, In my oplnlon, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understandlng of the accounts to be reached, apart from the statement of assets
and liabilities (by fund), which could te expSSed more dearly. I have given the
church guldance on thls matter.
Signed:
Date: 24.1.2022
ERIC UNFORD, 21 St. Marys Wayi Roade, Northampton. NN7 2PQ