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← The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of The Upper Skerne

2023-12-31-accounts

PARISH OF THE UPPER SKERNE

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

ANNUAL REPORT

2024

At St Edmund’s Church, Sedgefield Sunday 12[th] May Commencing at 11.30 am

Annual Parochial church meeting Agenda

The Annual Parish Meeting for the Election of Churchwardens

  1. Welcome and opening prayer

  2. Apologies

  3. Minutes of the last meeting

  4. Election of Churchwardens

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting

  1. Welcome by the Chair of the Meeting

  2. Opening Prayer

  3. Apologies for absence

  4. Minutes of last meeting

  5. Matters arising

  6. Election of representatives of the laity to the PCC.

  7. PCC membership of Licensed Lay Ministers.

  8. Appointment of Independent Examiner for the PCC accounts.

  9. 10.Questions about parochial church matters.

  10. Consideration of PCC reports:

    • a. Electoral Roll

    • b. Report on the proceedings of the PCC and the activities of the parish.

    • c. Safeguarding report

    • d. Acting Treasurer’s report and accounts for 2023

    • e. Annual fabric report

    • f. Report on the proceedings of the Deanery Synod

    • g. Bereavement Groups

  11. Any other business

  12. Date of next meeting

  13. Closing Prayer

A meeting of the new PCC will follow immediately.

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Parish of the Upper Skerne

Minutes of APCM 30[th] April 2023 at 11am at St Alban’s Church, Trimdon Grange

The Annual Parish Meeting for the Election of Churchwardens

1. Welcome and Opening Prayer

  1. No apologies were received

3. Minutes of the last meeting

Proposed as a true record by Anne Gray, seconded by Brian Mutch. All in favour.

  1. Election of Churchwardens

There were two written nominations for churchwarden:

Michele Maccallam Proposed : Sharon Stephenson seconded : Judith Edgoose John Burrows. Proposed : Sharon Stephenson seconded Alison Hodgson

All in favour. Rev Elizabeth Bland declared both duly elected.

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting

1. Welcome and opening prayer by the Chair of the Meeting Rev Elizabeth Bland

2. Apologies for absence

Apologies received from: Margaret Mason, Vivienne Anderson, Martin and Alison King, John Burrows, Judith King, Alistair Irvine, Sharon Stephenson, Lise Agnew, Janet Deane, Chris and Julia Rowsby.

3. Minutes of last meeting

Proposed as a true record by Alison Hodgson, seconded by Michele Maccallam.

4. Matters arising

No matters arising.

5. Election (if due) of parochial representatives of the laity to the Deanery Synod.

John Burton, Brian Mutch, Michele Maccallam , agreed to continue as deanery synod reps. Anne Gray and Victoria Dobson proposed as additional representatives to Deanery Synod.

proposed by Michael King, seconded by Phillipa Cooper. All in favour.

6. Election of representatives of the laity to the PCC.

Rev EB read out the names of those nominated and asked if it was the will of the APCM to accept these people to be elected onto the PCC.

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St Alban’s – Sylvia Rutter and Victoria Dobson

St Catherine’s – Phillipa Cooper and Vivienne Anderson

St Edmund’s – Brian Mutch and Robert Elders

St Mary Magdalene’s – John Burton and Suzanne Hopper

St Michael’s – Michele Maccallam and John Burrows.

All in favour.

7. PCC membership of Licensed Lay Ministers

Bill Armstrong informed the APCM that lay ministers are not automatically exofficio members of the PCC, as was thought in the past.

Proposal: that the APCM agree to lay ministers being ex-officio members of the PCC (should they wish).

Proposed by John Burton seconded by Anne Gray. All in favour

8. Appointment of Independent Examiner for the PCC accounts

Proposal to accept Gordon Fletcher as Independent Examiner for Parish Accounts.

Proposed by Phillipa Cooper seconded by Michael King. All in favour

9. Questions about parochial church matters

No questions

10. Instrument of Governance

a. Term of office of Deanery Synod representatives

The Church Representation rules state that anyone who serves two consecutive terms as a deanery synod rep. may not be nominated for a third consecutive term. An APCM may, however, pass a resolution that this provision does not apply to the parish. Bill Armstrong asked the meeting to pass such a resolution as we have often found it difficult to fill these roles. The meeting should be aware that such a resolution can be rescinded by a future APCM.

Proposed : Robert Elders. Seconded : Michael King. All in favour.

b. Term of office of PCC members

Bill Armstrong asked the meeting to resolve that PCC members should be elected for a term of office of one year. This decision will be reviewed in 2025 and every 5 years after that.

Proposed : Michele MacCallam. Seconde d: John Burton. All in favour.

c. Recommendation to Bishop’s Council

Rev Elizabeth asked if it was the will of the APCM to put forward the Instrument of Governance for the parish to the Bishop’s Council, subject to the above amendments.

Proposed : Anne Gray, seconded: Nigel Gibson. All in favour

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11. Consideration of PCC Reports:

All above reports were accepted by the APCM.

Proposed by Phillipa Cooper, seconded by John Burton. All in favour

d. Acting Treasurer’s Report and accounts for 2022

Bill Armstrong has agreed to work as Acting Treasurer for the time being. He reported that although planned giving is stable, rising costs are going to be problematic and therefore working with Rev Paul Childs on parish giving will be essential to the parish.

Proposal to accept the parish accounts: Proposed by Alison Hodgson, seconded by Brian Mutch. All in favour.

e. Annual fabric report

In addition to the report in the APCM booklet, Michele wished to add that now St Michael’s has achieved Bronze Eco Award, the parish are working towards the same for its other churches.

f. Report on the proceedings of Deanery Synod

No additions were suggested.

Rev Elizabeth asked the APCM if they accepted the APCM 2023 report as a whole.

All voted in favour.

12. Any other business

Rev Elizabeth Bland announced her intended retirement in August. She feels it is time for her to step aside and assured the APCM that the parish is in good shape and will continue to thrive. She thanked everyone for the support and love she and Steve have been shown since first arriving in the parish.

Michael King expressed thanks on behalf of the parish to both Rev Elizabeth and Rev Peter for their hard work, love and care.

13. Date of next meeting

The next APCM will be 5[th] May 2024 at St. Edmund’s Church, Sedgefield

14. Closing Prayer

Rev Elizabeth closed the meeting with the Grace and thanked everyone for attending.

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A meeting of the new PCC will follow immediately

Agenda

- 1. Election of vice chair

Nomination : Brian Mutch

Proposed by Phillipa Cooper, seconded by Sylvia Rutter

2. Election of PCC secretary

Nomination: Julie Robson

Proposed by Victoria Dobson, seconded by Phillipa Cooper

3. Election of PCC treasurer (Acting)

Nomination: Bill Armstrong

Proposed by Robert Elders, seconded by Suzanne Hopper

4. Election of electoral roll officer

Nomination: Julie Robson

Proposed by Michele Maccallam, seconded by Victoria Dobson

5. Election of safeguarding officer

Nomination: Julie Robson

Proposed by Victoria Dobson, seconded by Michele Maccallam

6. Date of next meeting

The next PCC meeting will be on May 17[th] at 7pm in St Michael’s church.

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Written Reports for APCM 2024

Electoral Roll Report

The Electoral roll has increased by 4 (as shown in the table below). Many thanks to those who have helped in collating this information.

Church Attendance– Electoral Roll Church Attendance– Electoral Roll Church Attendance– Electoral Roll
Electoral Roll 2022/2023
186
Deductions 9
Additions 13
Electoral Roll 2023/2024 190
Distribution
St Alban 22
St Catherine 16
St Edmund 92
St Mary Magdalene 25
St Michael 35

Julie Robson Electoral Roll Officer

Annual Report on the proceedings of the PCC and the activities of the parish

Aims and Purposes

The PCC of the Parish of the Upper Skerne has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, once appointed, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has maintenance responsibilities for the Churches in the Parish.

Objectives and Activities

In August 2023, Rev Elizabeth Bland retired and associate priest, Rev Peter Robson, was officially licensed to the parish in October 2023.

A new Team Rector, Rev David Lucas was appointed in February 2024 and will join the parish in June, his installation taking place in St Edmund’s Church on 9[th] June. The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our churches and to become part of our parish community in the Parish of the Upper Skerne. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our services can involve the many groups that live within our parish. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament.

When planning our activities for the year, we have considered the Commission's guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the supplementary guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through:

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To facilitate this work it is important that we maintain the fabric of our Churches.

The parish churches continue their fortnightly pattern of worship, with the exception of St Alban’s which has a monthly Holy Communion service on the first Sunday of the month. Services are no longer available via Zoom as it was felt there was no longer a need for this. The parish notice sheets are still fortnightly and continue to be delivered both in person and also by email. Many thanks to all those who hand deliver the notice sheets. This has been very much appreciated for all those who are unable to attend church.

. Achievements and Performance

This is the eighteenth full year of meetings of the PCC of the Parish of the Upper Skerne. Since the last APCM, the PCC met in the following months– February, May, July and October (2023) and February and April (2024). All meetings were held in person.

The May meeting was a special PCC meeting to discuss the Parish Profile and Mission Courses as suggested by Rev Ruth Young. As a result of this, a Baptism Matters course was arranged and representatives from all of our churches attended. A Baptism Group was then established and new ideas have been trialled with great success, including the sponsoring of a children’s bible for all children baptised at St Alban’s and activity booklets for children attending baptisms.

The Communications Group has introduced a new format for the monthly parish magazine, producing a shorter, colour version. Questionnaires have been distributed to seek parishioners feedback on the new format.

Although we have a Facebook page, it is not updated regularly and as the administrator has been hard to track down it is felt that a new Facebook page should be set up. The parish website, and A Church Near You website are regularly updated. Julie Robson PCC Secretary

Safeguarding Report

: Safeguarding in the Parish of the Upper Skerne

Legally, the Parish has a number of requirements and responsibilities. The PCC was provided with all documents necessary to comply with its duty to have regard to the House of Bishop’s guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. This is reviewed annually.

Safeguarding Issues:

Over the past year there have been no safeguarding issues.

Safeguarding Training

Safeguarding refresher training at all 3 levels has mostly been completed by those requiring it, with just one or two outstanding courses to be completed.

The new online parish dashboard is now well established and updated regularly. It is a simple to use, online tool, accessed via computer or smart phone, that helps keep track of safeguarding in our churches. It keeps you up-to-date with local and national changes in safeguarding requirements. Green lights give assurance that we are

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complying with safeguarding requirements and amber and red lights highlight actions which need to be completed.

DBS checks were needed again as they now need renewing every 3 years. John Burrows (Validator) and Julie Robson (Administrator) to date, have completed the renewals for those needing them.

Julie Robson Parish Safeguarding Officer

Acting Treasurers Report and Accounts for 2023

Income returned closer to normal, following the exceptional situation in 2022. The total income was £178,397 which represents an increase of 34% over the parish income in 2021, a year which was still affected by the pandemic.

Planned giving across the parish remained stable. At a time when costs are increasing it needs to be noted that planned giving is falling well behind where it needs to be. Collections at services increased by 15% - a sign that the recovery from the pandemic has run its course. This figure includes collections at baptisms, weddings and funerals, as well as cash put in the plate on Sundays. There was an increase of 74.5% in fees from weddings and funerals as the number of weddings, in particular, returned to prepandemic levels.

Expenditure increased from £153,433 in 2022 to £210,716 – an increase of 37%. This was largely due to the spending of £43,500 on fabric improvements at St Edmund’s. This money was drawn from the Gordon Morris Bequest, a restricted fund. Other increases in expenditure were in parish share (33%), another indication of a return to normality after the pandemic. Future increases are likely to be much smaller. The Administrator’s salary increased by 9%, reflecting a cost-of-living increase. Utility bills increased by 49% as a result of the nation energy crisis. These were offset by a further fall in general running expenses (-8.5%). Clergy expenses remained stable but are likely to increase with the arrival of our new Team Rector.

All of the church accounts this year were in deficit – ranging from St Edmund’s (£8,185) to St Mary Magdalene’s (-£345).

Looking forward, there are factors which need to be considered. Our parish share pledge is to continue to increase in line with inflation. The static level of giving in the parish will inevitably necessitate some serious thought. After the visit of the Revd Paul Child to the PCC to talk about parish giving, the PCC made a decision, in principle, to recommend that our churches should seriously consider joining the Parish Giving Scheme. This is a decision which each DCC needs to consider at their next meetings. At another meeting, the Archdeacon of Durham asked us to review our current formula for allocating parish share among our churches. That review led to a relative reduction in the amount paid by St Catherine’s, and a relative increase in that paid by St Edmund’s. The adjustments were staged with the second phase due at the end of this year.

Rising energy costs and general inflation are also likely to continue to have an impact on our churches. One other factor is the decision to produce the magazine in colour. Last year the average monthly cost of photocopying was £82.50; this year it has been £208.20. This is a factor which needs to be considered in the coming review of the magazine format.

Bill Armstrong

April 2024

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Parish of the Upper Skerne Parish Accounts 2023

1. Summary of Accounts

RECEIPTS/INCOME RECEIPTS/INCOME Parish St A St C St E St MM St M
Voluntary giving
1 Plannedgiving £2,760.00 £825.00 £2,312.00 £21,485.27 £14,025.41 £13,602.00
3 Collections at services £317.45 £3,425.38 £4,307.60 £4,085.37 £6,642.98 £2,344.32
4 All other giving and voluntary receipts,
including special appeals (recurring and one-
off)		 £2,198.00 £269.00 £2,062.00 £17,830.11 £1,178.77 £2,135.52
6 Gift Aid recovered (planned giving and one-off
donations)		 £18,637.17 £909.74 £1,576.88 £7,951.18 £2,798.26 £3,738.47
7 Legacies received(capital value) £3,000.00
8 Grants(include recurringand one-off) £1,000.00 £1,000.00
Total voluntary giving
Activities forgenerating funds
9 Fundraisingactivities(grossproceeds) £1,424.09 £1,959.80 £3,155.45
Income from investments
10 Dividends,interest,income frompropertyetc. £111.49 £6,187.63 £314.16 £277.08
Church activities
11 Fees retained byPCC (weddings, funerals etc.) £30,331.00 £749.00 £1,925.00 £9,344.00 £3,994.00 £1,244.00
12 Trading activities (gross proceeds), NOT
fundraising		 £3,432.00 £120.00 £320.00 £1,126.48 £725.00 £670.00
Other incoming resources
13 Other receipts/income not already listed
PLEASE NOTE BRIEF DETAILS IN BOX E
£97,315.15		 £786.45 £72,060.31 £1,668.00 £6,000.00
Totals(from Financial Statements)
A RECEIPTS/INCOME
B COMBINED TOTAL £155,990.77 £6,298.12 £13,401.42 £145,494.44 £33,306.38 £33,166.84
PAYMENTS/EXPENDITURE
Costs ofgenerating funds
Costs of fundraisingactivities £125.50 £379.76
Church activities
Missiongivingand donations £6,544.00 £324.50 £982.29 £9,102.12 £2,153.57 £432.20
Diocesanparish share contribution £72,500.00 £2,750.00 £6,700.00 £27,000.00 £16,608.00 £16,650.00
Salaries,wages and honoraria £6,937.50 £484.00 £6,944.00 £771.00
Clergyand staff expenses £1,991.64
Church expenses
Mission and evangelism costs
Church running expenses (including
governance)		 £22,577.77 £1,480.30 £3,509.32 £10,094.70 £6,134.71 £4,061.47
Church utilitybills £1,597.27 £625.85 £7,140.19 £2,818.83 £1,429.84
Costs of trading £49.99 £320.00 £1,160.00 £807.00 £660.00
Major capital expenditure
Major repairs to the church building £43,500.43
Major repairs to church hall/other PCC
propertyincludingredecoration		 £4,410.00
New building work to the church, church hall,
clergyhousingor other PCCproperty.
Other expenditure
Other payments/expenditure not already listed
PLEASE NOTE BRIEF DETAILS IN BOX E
£47,771.18		 £1,560.00 £1,560.00 £48,612.44 £4,358.00 £12,889.50
Totals(from Financial Statements)
PAYMENTS/EXPENDITURE
COMBINED TOTAL £158,372.08 £7,712.07 £14,181.46 £153,679.38 £33,651.11 £40,912.77
-£2,381.31 -£1,413.95 -£780.04 -£8,184.94 -£344.73 -£7,745.93

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2. Consolidated Account

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted Endowment TOTAL TOTAL
Funds designated Funds Funds 2023 2022
Note £ Funds £ £ £ £
RECEIPTS/INCOME
Voluntary giving
1 Planned giving £55,009.68 £55,009.68 £54,833.20
3 Collections at services £21,123.10 £21,123.10 £18,328.78
4 All other giving and voluntary receipts,
including special appeals (recurring and one-
off) £6,140.21 £995.14 £19,521.05 £26,656.40 £20,253.04
6 Gift Aid recovered (planned giving and one-off
donations) £18,637.17 £18,637.17 £15,273.23
7 Legacies received (capital value) £3,000.00 £3,000.00 £103,366.36
8 Grants (include recurring and one-off) £1,000.00 £1,000.00 £17,261.72
Total voluntary giving £103,910.16 £995.14 £20,521.05 £125,426.35 £229,316.33
Activities for generating funds
9 Fundraising activities (gross proceeds) £6,539.34 £6,539.34 £7,314.71
Income from investments
10 Dividends, interest, income from property etc. £1,498.93 £5,391.43 £695.59 £6,890.36 £3,419.65
Church activities
11 Fees retained by PCC (weddings, funerals etc.) £30,331.00 £30,331.00 £17,383.40
12 Trading activities (gross proceeds), NOT
fundraising £3,446.48 £3,446.48 £4,327.61
Other incoming resources
13 Other receipts/income not already listed
PLEASE NOTE BRIEF DETAILS IN BOX E £5,763.87 £5,763.87 £271.66
Totals (from Financial Statements)
A RECEIPTS/INCOME £47,579.62 £0.00 £5,391.43 £695.59 £32,717.03
B COMBINED TOTAL £151,489.78 £995.14 £25,912.48 £695.59 £178,397.40 £262,033.36
PAYMENTS/EXPENDITURE
Costs of generating funds
Costs of fundraising activities £505.26 £505.26 £1,117.08
Church activities
Mission giving and donations £2,231.89 £17,040.79 £19,272.68 £14,466.01
Diocesan parish share contribution £72,500.00 £72,500.00 £54,500.00
Salaries, wages and honoraria £15,136.50 £15,136.50 £13,851.60
Clergy and staff expenses £3,380.44 £3,380.44 £3,401.83
Church expenses
Mission and evangelism costs
Church running expenses (including
governance) £33,256.61 £33,256.61 £36,335.55
Church utility bills £13,611.98 £13,611.98 £9,131.55
Costs of trading £2,996.99 £2,996.99 £2,244.99
Major capital expenditure
Major repairs to the church building £0.00 £43,500.43 £43,500.43 £17,830.31
Major repairs to church hall/other PCC
property including redecoration £4,410.00 £4,410.00
New building work to the church, church hall,
clergy housing or other PCC property. £0.00
Other expenditure
Other payments/expenditure not already listed
PLEASE NOTE BRIEF DETAILS IN BOX E
£1,052.45 £1,093.00 £2,145.45 £554.33
Totals (from Financial Statements)
PAYMENTS/EXPENDITURE
COMBINED TOTAL £149,082.12 £0.00 £61,634.22 £0.00 £210,716.34 £153,433.25
----- End of picture text -----

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3. Statement of Parish and Church Balances at 31[st] December 2023

----- Start of picture text -----
Parish St A St C St E St MM St M
CCLA £13,920.40 £79,449.73 £9,836.88 £15,808.34 £119,015.35
DBF £62,383.68 £10.24 £5,790.10 £68,184.02
Business £1,503.13 £3,618.32 £2,035.03 £23,265.79
£16,109.31
Current £11,900.89 £2,021.67 £5,257.15 £14,117.02 £25,072.70 £1,500.00 £59,869.43
TOTALS £11,900.89 £15,942.07 £85,253.27 £93,576.99 £38,527.90 £25,133.47 £270,334.59
Restricted Funds £913.02 £62,383.68 £99,514.06 £579.41 £163,390.17
Designated Funds £2,681.73 £2,866.83 £5,548.56
Endowments £3,094.35 £105.00 £1,209.29 £10,769.91 £15,178.55
----- End of picture text -----

4. Restricted and Designated Funds

St Catherine’s Building Fund (restricted)

Expenditure £9,084.97 Interest £3,014.54 End of year balance £62,383.68

St Edmund’s – Canon Eden Account (restricted)

Interest £5.05 End of year balance £10.24 St Edmund’s – Gordon Morris bequest (restricted) Expenditure £39,115.03 Interest £3,068.36 End of year balance £63,462.39

St Michael’s – various Trust Funds (restricted)

Interest £21.67 End of year balance £230.29

St Michael’s – Boiler Fund (restricted) End of year balance £370.41 PCC Account – AV equipment (restricted) End of year balance £221.02

PCC Account – Refugee Support (restricted) Income £1,240.00 Expenditure £3,800.00 End of year balance £692.00 St Edmund’s – various designated funds Income £1,260.97 Expenditure £108.25 End of year balance £3,942.70 PCC Account – youth work (designated) Opening Balance £954.73 No activity

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Annual Fabric Report

The two Churchwardens attended the Swearing in Service and have attended various training events during the year.

One or both of the wardens have attended all DCC and PCC meetings along with Ministerial team meetings, Steering Group, Worship Leaders’ meetings along with a presence on Environment, Governance, Communications and Baptism Matters Groups.

The five churches are generally in good condition with maintenance being carried out as necessary with all relevant approvals. Several of the churches are awaiting overdue Quinquennial Inspections which have not caught up following Covid-19, these are being actively pursued.

We thank Julie for all her hard work as Parish Administrator.

The Wardens have worked closely with Peter and Elizabeth, before her retirement, and look forward to working with our new Rector, Rev. David Lucas

Michele McCallum & John Burrows

Report on the proceedings of Deanery Synod

March 23: Held at St Aidan’s Billingham

Billingham parish update, with the return of Rev David Brooks after three years away. Genesis Project at Grove Hill Middlesbrough

Supporting children, to bring communities together to reach out to people and organisations, to work together to raise aspirations, tackle poverty, isolation, and loneliness.

St Chads

Food waste and affordable food

May:23 Held at St Marys Long Newton

Helping those in their 20s to 40s come to grow in faith.

Growing Faith, Talk given by Catherine Simpson, who works two days a week as a school Chaplin and delivers the Growing Faith initiative.

September 23: Held at St Pauls Bishopton Road

First meeting of new Triennium

January 30: Held at St Marys Norton

Focus on Discipleship

No meeting since.

I wrote the following in 2020, and it is still the same today.

Reflection: All very interesting, but still feel we are a long way off integrating into the Deanery, I feel that we are still a long way off from being a full part of what is actually going on, perhaps this will come about when the new Rector arrives

Brian Mutch Deanery Synod Representative

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Parish of the Upper Skerne Bereavement Support Service

BALM (Bereavement And Loss Meetings)

Over the last year I have continued working with bereaved people by scheduled telephone appointments and group sessions from all over Co. Durham.

1. Referrals.

BALM accepts self-referrals, but most service users are referred (via email or telephone) by NHS social prescribing co-ordinators, community psychiatric nurses, psychologists and other health-care professionals based at Sedgefield, Ferryhill, Spennymoor and Newton Aycliffe.

2. Reasons for referral.

These are by appointment and take place on Mondays and Tuesdays, usually 4 per day. They last up to an hour each.

  1. Group sessions .

These are at Ferryhill Ladder Centre on the first Tuesday of each month and Bishop Middleham Village Hall on the third Tuesday of each month. Revd Peter Robson co-leads the Bishop Middleham group sessions. Each session lasts 2 hours and attendance can vary between 3 and 10 service users.

5. Average monthly number of service users.

As an average monthly number, during the month of March 2024, numbers of different service users totalled 27 over 2 groups and 27 scheduled phone calls.

6. Finance.

BALM is financed by donations, mostly from occasional fund-raising events. Expenses consist mostly of booking a room in the village hall for 2 hours once a month. We do not have to pay for using the Ladder Centre, as they requested the sessions to be set up as one of their regular services. We occasionally buy appropriate books on the subject of bereavement, to help listeners and service users. Our balance currently is £395.81.

Janet Deane, 18[th] April 2024.

OSF (One Step Forward) - formerly Sedgefield Bereavement Support Group

Over the last year we have continued supporting bereaved people in our area, predominantly at our weekly Group Sessions held at St Edmund's church. In addition, we have continued providing daily support to regular members via our OSF WhatsApp Group. Although we're unable to commit to regular telephone support, we do provide telephone consultations on an ad hoc basis, as well as support via email or by service users messaging our OSF Facebook page.

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1. Referrals :

The majority of OSF service users come to us via self-referral, but some are also referred (via email or telephone) by Skerne Medical, NHS Care Co-ordinators, Social Prescribing Link Workers, Community Resilience Workers and other health-care professionals, based at Sedgefield, Fishburn, the Trimdons, Wynyard & occasionally Spennymoor. Sedgefield Co-op Funeralcare occasionally put newly bereaved people in touch with us too.

2. Reasons for referral :

Most service users come to us because they feel lost/isolated/bereft after losing a partner or close relative & need to talk through their grief in a confidential, nonjudgmental environment - by people who understand some of what they are going through. Third-party referrals tend to be for very similar reasons. Service users might be suffering from depression, or struggling with their mental health - or they may not have much human interaction, which only heightens their difficulties in attempting to come to terms with their grief. Some may have been bereaved very recently - others may be many years down the line when something happens which acts as a trigger, reawakening their feelings of loss & despair. New service users may first need a couple of telephone appointments before they feel ready to come along to a Group session, or they might wish to meet with the Facilitator in advance. There is no limit to the number of sessions people may attend. For some service users one session is enough to give them the confidence or lift they're seeking; others will attend weekly over a period of a few months; and others continue to drop in & out as they are able, over the course of several years. A handful of 'regulars' have been coming pretty much since the group was first set up by Panny Pighills 8.5 years ago.

3. Group sessions :

OSF meet weekly & our sessions are held every Thursday afternoon in The Welcome Room at St Ed's. Each session lasts 2 hours (2pm - 4pm) and attendance can vary between ca 8 and 16.

I facilitate the group sessions, along with the help of our other 4 Listeners. Last year we very tragically lost one of our original Listeners, Helen Masterman, which was an extremely difficult time for everyone, with the group seeking solace in one another. It also meant that sadly we were down to only 3 Listeners (Eileen, Jackie & myself). Fortunately, in May '23 we were able to welcome 2 new Listeners to the Group (Jo & Siiri). This meant that after the relevant Safeguarding training etc our numbers were looking healthy again, making it easier to accommodate one-to-one sessions (as part of the wider group environment) when these are requested from time to time. Sadly, one of our new Listeners, Siiri, is restarting full-time employment next month, so we will again be 4 (although happily she's requested to remain part of the wider group at large). Jo, our other new Listener is a nurse and can't always attend every Thursday, but we always ensure there are at least 2 Listeners present at Group sessions. During these sessions we have an Open Door Policy, thus ensuring that Walk-ins have access to bereavement support services too.

15

4. : Support via WhatsApp

One of our original Listeners suggested starting a Group on WhatsApp during Lockdown, to run alongside weekly telephone support calls (when we were unable to hold face-to-face sessions). The 'Group Chat' was originally a means for the group to keep in touch with one another, at a time when many were feeling anxious and were becoming increasingly isolated too. However, the Group proved such a popular & effective way of providing more frequent (daily) support, that it has remained in place ever since. This means that the group can have contact with each other outside of our weekly sessions if they wish & consequently several friendships have grown. It's encouraging to see how most of the group look out for one another, which has led to some getting together for lunch at weekends, joining other groups together, giving lifts to hospital appointments/the station & offers of shopping when ill etc. The Group Chat operates between the hours of 8am - 11pm & we currently have 20 members supporting one another in this way.

5. Finance :

OSF is a not-for-profit group & receives no funding -it is financed purely by voluntary contributions & occasional donations/fund-raising events. The group is grateful that there is no charge to use the Welcome Room - service users make a voluntary contribution (ca £1), which is then split equally between OSF funds (to provide refreshments, occasional flowers, print costs etc.) and Church funds (contributing to heating, lighting & upkeep of the church). Our balance currently is £384.85.

6. Average number of Service Users/month :

As an average monthly number, during the month of March 2024, the group totalled 26 (including 2 new Self-Referrals) & we held 4 Group Sessions.

7. A.O.B :

Other activities have included:

Sue Archer, 26[th] April 2024

16

Parish of the Upper Skerne

Parish Accounts 2023

1. Consolidated Account

Note Unrestricted
Funds
£		 Unrestricted
designated
Funds		 Restricted
Funds
£		 Endowment
Funds
£		 TOTAL
2023
£		 TOTAL
2022
£
RECEIPTS/INCOME
Voluntary giving
1 Plannedgiving £55,009.68 £55,009.68 £54,833.20
3 Collections at services £21,123.10 £21,123.10 £18,328.78
4 All other giving and voluntary receipts,
including special appeals (recurring and one-
off)		 £6,140.21 £995.14 £19,521.05 £26,656.40 £20,253.04
6 Gift Aid recovered (planned giving and one-off
donations)		 £18,637.17 £18,637.17 £15,273.23
7 Legacies received(capital value) £3,000.00 £3,000.00 £103,366.36
8 Grants(include recurringand one-off) £1,000.00 £1,000.00 £17,261.72
Total voluntary giving £103,910.16
£995.14
£20,521.05
£125,426.35 £229,316.33
Activities forgenerating funds
9 Fundraisingactivities(grossproceeds) £6,539.34 £6,539.34 £7,314.71
Income from investments
10 Dividends,interest,income frompropertyetc. £1,498.93 £5,391.43 £695.59 £6,890.36 £3,419.65
Church activities
11 Fees retained byPCC (weddings, funerals etc.) £30,331.00 £30,331.00 £17,383.40
12 Trading activities (gross proceeds), NOT
fundraising		 £3,446.48 £3,446.48 £4,327.61
Other incoming resources
13 Other receipts/income not already listed
PLEASE NOTE BRIEF DETAILS IN BOX E
£5,763.87		 £5,763.87 £271.66
Totals(from Financial Statements)
A RECEIPTS/INCOME £47,579.62
£0.00
£5,391.43
£695.59
£32,717.03
B COMBINED TOTAL £151,489.78
£995.14
£25,912.48
£695.59 £178,397.40 £262,033.36
PAYMENTS/EXPENDITURE
Costs ofgenerating funds
Costs of fundraisingactivities £505.26 £505.26 £1,117.08
Church activities
Missiongivingand donations £2,231.89 £17,040.79 £19,272.68 £14,466.01
Diocesanparish share contribution £72,500.00 £72,500.00 £54,500.00
Salaries,wages and honoraria £15,136.50 £15,136.50 £13,851.60
Clergyand staff expenses £3,380.44 £3,380.44 £3,401.83
Church expenses
Mission and evangelism costs
Church running expenses (including
governance)		 £33,256.61 £33,256.61 £36,335.55
Church utilitybills £13,611.98 £13,611.98 £9,131.55
Costs of trading £2,996.99 £2,996.99 £2,244.99
Major capital expenditure
Major repairs to the church building £0.00 £43,500.43 £43,500.43 £17,830.31
Major repairs to church hall/other PCC
propertyincludingredecoration		 £4,410.00 £4,410.00
New building work to the church, church hall,
clergyhousingor other PCCproperty.		 £0.00
Other expenditure
Other payments/expenditure not already listed
PLEASE NOTE BRIEF DETAILS IN BOX E
£1,052.45		 £1,093.00 £2,145.45 £554.33
Totals(from Financial Statements)
PAYMENTS/EXPENDITURE
COMBINED TOTAL £149,082.12
£0.00
£61,634.22
£0.00 £210,716.34 £153,433.25

2. Statement of Parish and Church Balances at 31[st] December 2023

Parish St A St C St E St MM St M £119,015.35
£68,184.02
£23,265.79
£59,869.43
£270,334.59
£126,999.62
£3,942.70
£15,178.55
CCLA £13,920.40 £79,449.73 £9,836.88 £15,808.34
DBF £62,383.68 £10.24 £5,790.10
Business £1,503.13 £3,618.32 £2,035.03
£16,109.31
Current £11,900.89 £2,021.67 £5,257.15 £14,117.02 £25,072.70 £1,500.00
TOTALS £11,900.89 **£15,942.07 ** £85,253.27 £93,576.99 £38,527.90 **£25,133.47 **
Restricted Funds £913.02 £62,383.68 £63,472.63 £230.29
Designated Funds £3,942.70
Endowments £3,094.35 £105.00 £1,209.29 £10,769.91

3. Restricted and Designated Funds

St Catherine’s Building Fund (restricted)

Expenditure £9,084.97
Interest £3,014.54
End of year balance
£62,383.68
St Edmund’s – Canon Eden Account (restricted)
Interest £5.05
End of year balance
£10.24
St Edmund’s – Gordon Morris bequest (restricted)
Expenditure £39,115.03
Interest £3,068.36
End of year balance £63,462.39
St Michael’s – various Trust Funds (restricted)
Interest £21.67
End of year balance
£230.29
St Michael’s – Boiler Fund (restricted)
End of year balance £370.41
PCC Account – AV equipment (restricted)
End of year balance £221.02
PCC Account – Refugee Support (restricted)
Income £1,240.00
Expenditure £3,800.00
End of year balance £692.00
St Edmund’s – various designated funds
Income £1,260.97
Expenditure £108.25
End of year balance £3,942.70

PCC Account – youth work (designated) Opening Balance £954.73 No activity

4. PCC Treasurer’s Report

Income returned closer to normal, following the exceptional situation in 2022. The total income was £178,397 which represents an increase of 34% over the parish income in 2021, a year which was still affected by the pandemic.

Planned giving across the parish remained stable. At a time when costs are increasing it needs to be noted that planned giving is falling well behind where it needs to be. Collections at services increased by 15% - a sign that the recovery from the pandemic has run its course. This figure includes collections at baptisms, weddings and funerals, as well as cash put in the plate on Sundays. There was an increase of 74.5% in fees from weddings and funerals as the number of weddings, in particular, returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Expenditure increased from £153,433 in 2022 to £210,716 – an increase of 37%. This was largely due to the spending of £43,500 on fabric improvements at St Edmund’s. This money was drawn from the Gordon Morris Bequest, a restricted fund.

Other increases in expenditure were in parish share (33%), another indication of a return to normality after the pandemic. Future increases are likely to be much smaller. The Administrator’s salary increased by 9%, reflecting a cost-of-living increase. Utility bills increased by 49% as a result of the nation energy crisis. These were offset by a further fall in general running expenses (-8.5%). Clergy expenses remained stable but are likely to increase with the arrival of our new Team Rector.

All of the church accounts this year were in deficit – ranging from St Edmund’s (£-8,185) to St Mary Magdalene’s (-£345).

Looking forward, there are factors which need to be considered. Our parish share pledge is to continue to increase in line with inflation. The static level of giving in the parish will inevitably necessitate some serious thought. After the visit of the Revd Paul Child to the PCC to talk about parish giving, the PCC made a decision, in principle, to recommend that our churches should seriously consider joining the Parish Giving Scheme. This is a decision which each DCC needs to consider at their next meetings. At another meeting, the Archdeacon of Durham asked us to review our current formula for allocating parish share among our churches. That review led to a relative reduction in the amount paid by St Catherine’s, and a relative increase in that paid by St Edmund’s. The adjustments were staged with the second phase due at the end of this year.

Rising energy costs and general inflation are also likely to continue to have an impact on our churches. One other factor is the decision to produce the magazine in colour. Last year the average monthly cost of photocopying was £82.50; this year it has been £208.20. This is a factor which needs to be considered in the coming review of the magazine format.

Bill Armstrong

April 2024

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Indepondent Examiner's Report Report to the trlrtsteesl members of The P8r(KhNl Churth Council ofthe EcdesiastrAI Parish of the Upper Skeme 31° Decembw 2023 Charity no {if any) 1132664 Set outon pag•s I report to the trustees on my examination chantyllhe Tfusfi for the y98rende(13 1 the unts ofthe 8trAwe ¢vA3 Responslbllltles and As the charity tfusts ol the Tru6t, you are responsib￿ for th8 prep8ralion basis of report oflhe accounts in accordance with the iequiiements ofthe Charities Act 2011 Iyhe Acf). I reFX)rt in re8r￿t of my exaMinat￿Tr ofthe Trust's ￿rTh1nts carried out under sedY)n 145 ofthe 2011 Act and in Ggrrying out my eXamina￿n, I have followed the applthble Direc¢v)ns gNen by the Char4y Commissi)n under sectK)n 145(5llbl ol the Act. Independenl I have compbted my examinati￿. I conffifm that no material matters have examinerfs ststern￿t come to my attention l in connection with thg exAmuwtK)n which gives me cause to b81ieve that in. any matenal acctsunting records were not kept in accordance with sectvjn 130 of the Act OT the ac￿Unts do not accord with the accounting records I have concerns and h8ve corne acwss no matters in connection wilh the exarninat￿n to wh￿h attentKJn st￿uld tre drawn in ordgrto enable proper un¢Jerstanding of the 8(xounts to be reached. . Aease delete the words in the b￿CketS rftheydo not apply. Slgned: Date: Namo: Relevant professlonal qualificationl$l or body lif anyl- 6-Pti3 J- Yi fk x(ry- Address: ¥SI IER Octobgr 2018

Section B nisclosure Onty complete ifthe examtner needs to highlight matters ofconcem (see CC32, Ind8pendent examination of charity &counts'. direthns and guk1an¢e for examiners). Give h•r• brief details of any items thatth• examinèr w4¥he8 to di¥¢lose. IER October 2018

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl membors of The Par(￿181 Church coul￿11 of the EcdeSiasi￿al Parish of the Upper Skeme On a¢¢ounts forthe year 31st Decemter 2023 Charity no (rf any) 1132664 Set out on pages I report to the trustees ￿ my examination charty (Ihe Trusfi for the year ended 3 1 the unts of the aly)ve Responsibilities and As the charity trust￿ of the Trust, you are reswnsible for the preparation basis of report ofthe accounts in accordan￿ with the requirements of the CharitEs Act 2011 fthe Acr}. I report in resp&X of my examinatin of the TnJsVs &counts carried crtrt under SeC￿n 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination. I have followed the applK2ble DIrec￿nS gr¥en by the Charity Comrnission under secth)n 14515Mb) of the ACL Independent I have complet&J my exaMinat￿)n. I ￿n￿mI that no material matters have euminerfs statement ￿rne to my attenlKJn ) in connection with the ek•nlnalm￿ which gives me cause to believe thai in. any materhql respect: the Act or the accounts do not accord with the ￿unting records 4ith the exafflina￿n to whth attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper Underst￿Ing of the ￿)Unts to be reached. ' Please delete the w0￿S in the bwkets rfthey do not appty. Signed." Relevant professional qualificationls) or body (rf any): Address: 6rt 4Sfr IER October 2018

Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to hmjhlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity &ccMJnts: dir￿1￿)nS and g￿K￿an￿ for examiners). Give hero brief detsils of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018