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2020-12-31-accounts

LION WALK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY ACCOUNTS 2020


Charity Registration Number 1132811

LION WALK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2020

Pages 3 to 7 Report of the Trustees Page 8 Independent Examiner’s report Page 9 Statement of Financial Activities Page 10 Balance Sheet Pages 11 - 15 Notes to the accounts


There will be an opportunity at the Annual Church Meeting on the 19 April 2021 for Church Members to raise any queries they may have.


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Lion Walk URC Charity Accounts 2020 Examined & Signed

Report of the Trustees

The trustees present their annual report on the affairs of the charity, together with the financial statements and independent examiner’s report for the year ended 31[st] December 2020.

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland FRS 102.

Administrative information

Lion Walk United Reformed Church Charity is a local church of the United Reformed Church in Great Britain and is a member church of the Eastern Synod. It was registered on the 19[th ] of November 2009 as Charity Number 1132811.

The church is situated in the Lion Walk Precinct, Colchester, CO1 1LX.

The members of the Elders’ Meeting are recognized as the charity trustees. Those who served from the 1[st] January 2020 until the date this report was approved are:

The Revd. Kenneth M Forbes, Chris Samuel, Colin Roxby, Colin Hurford, Lynda Barnes, Claire Smith, Ian Ray, Serena Williams, Alan Bullard.

The church building, car park in Vineyard Street and the manse at 20 Reynolds Avenue are vested in the United Reformed Church (Eastern Province) Trust as custodian trustees and held for the benefit of Lion Walk URC in accordance with the trusts applicable to URC properties.

Structure, Governance and Management

The activities of Lion Walk United Reformed Church are overseen by the Elders’ Meeting of the Church in accordance with the provisions of the Structure of the United Reformed Church determined by the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church and supplemented by the rules of Lion Walk Church. The governing document of the registered charity is a statement adopted by the Church Meeting on the 17[th] August 2009.

The Elders’ Meeting is responsible for the financial administration of the Church and the care and maintenance of the church premises and the manse. The Church Meeting (all members are entitled to attend) gives general guidance on the life and work of the Church.

The members of the Elders’ Meeting are the minister in pastoral charge (if any) and up to 12 members of Lion Walk Church nominated and elected by the members of Lion Walk Church in Church Meeting. The Elders’ Meeting may also co-opt additional members to serve at any time subject to ratification by Church Meeting. Elders may serve for four years, retire by rotation but may be re-elected to a second term, after which they must stand down for one year.

The Elder’s Meeting is assisted in the administration of the Church and its property by committees established for Finance, Property and Outreach.

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Lion Walk URC Charity Accounts 2020 Examined & Signed

Objectives and Activities

As a local congregation of the United Reformed Church, Lion Walk URC seeks to advance the Christian religion through its activities, by providing facilities offered to the community and by promoting and hosting concerts and other events of religious and cultural interest.

The Elders’ Meeting is aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in ‘The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit’ and has regard to it in the administration of the Church. The Elders’ Meeting believes that the Church provides benefit to the public by:

As will be seen from these accounts, the Church has also raised sums for charitable causes during the year, which have been disbursed as follows:

Various charities/organisations, Colchester Soup Run and local welfare – £4,250 Christian Aid (Commitment for Life appeal) - £9,188 (includes Gift Aid) Colchester Night Shelter/Next Chapter (formerly Colchester & Tendring Women’s Refuge) - £656

The amount raised for the Commitment for Life appeal was slightly ahead of that collected in 2019 but owing to Covid 19 and the church being closed for a good part of the year, monies raised and able to be disbursed to good causes was down significantly in 2020.

Financial Review

This report was prepared by the Finance Committee.

The Church accounts have eight funds, each designed for a specific purpose as follows:

  1. General Fund – This is the Church’s general fund to which all income and expenditure goes unless specifically allocated to one or more of the following designated or restricted funds.

  2. Property Maintenance Fund – This is designated for the management and maintenance of the church’s property and derives most of its income from the portion of shop rents* allocated to the Church by the Eastern Synod of the URC. * These rents are derived from retail premises that occupy land owned by the URC within the Lion Walk Shopping Precinct in Colchester and leased to the owners of the precinct.

  3. Legacies Fund – This receives legacies left to the church and the fund is designated primarily for the purchase of new (or improved) equipment, but also, in recent times, for the purchase of flowers.

  4. Outreach Fund – This receives income from various sources and is designated for general charitable work, mostly by way of donations to local, national and international charities.

  5. Organ Fund – This is designated for the routine tuning and repair costs of the church’s organ and pianos.

  6. Choir Fund – This fund was established in 2017 by way of a legacy from the estate of Eva Hopping, whose wish was that it be restricted for the support and development of music in the church.

  7. Special Collections – This restricted fund is simply a home for monies collected during the year (e.g. Commitment for Life and Christmas Appeals) where basically the money comes in and goes straight out again.

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Lion Walk URC Charity Accounts 2020 Examined & Signed

  1. Special Events – This fund was created late in 2018 and is designated to provide a means to manage fund raising events where an element of trading occurs and transactions (although going via the General Fund) could be clearly separated and tracked. Unfortunately, due to the Covid pandemic, planned events in 2020 that would have utilised this fund were all cancelled.

Reports on the funds follow. The figures shown in the accounts represent movements in the year.

General Fund (unrestricted)

2020 finished with a surplus of £12,549, considerably ahead of the £5,100 predicted in the budget.

This surplus has helped to increase the General Fund reserve, but it is still some way short of the amount considered necessary to safely cover Church expenditure (a reserve of 50% of the budgeted annual expenditure is a prudent operating level). For this reason, only £6,000 will be made available for Outreach use in 2021.

On the income side, offerings at church services including gifts made via standing orders and through the envelope scheme totalled £66,254 against a budget of £70,000. This shortfall was entirely due to cash collections being reduced because Sunday Services could not take place in church due to the restrictions imposed by the government to cope with the Covid 19 pandemic. Income to the fund from other sources, particularly lettings, were also impacted adversely for the same reason but, overall, the fund income was down less than 2% against budget and less than 3% compared to 2019 so a satisfactory result all being considered.

The expenditure incurred in the running and looking after the church estate decreased by 4% compared to 2019 and was 8% below budget for 2020. As the church was closed for long periods due to Covid 19 this was an unsurprising outcome.

Property Maintenance Fund (designated)

Income to the fund was down during 2020, again due to Covid 19, this time causing shop rent income to drop by more than £6,000. An unexpected breakdown of the church lift proved expensive to repair and, also in 2020, the regular safety inspection of the church tower fell due at a cost of more than £5,000. These events meant that the overall value of the fund fell during 2020 by almost £5,000.

The fund derives most of its income from shops within Lion Walk Shopping Precinct paying rent because they occupy land owned and leased by the URC. This however is offset by the precinct service charges levied on the church by the Precinct Management Company. In 2020 the service charges accounted for 45% of the rent income, a 5% increase over 2019. Despite the overall amount levied in service charges in 2020 being less than 2019, this was offset by a reduction in shop rent income.

Legacies Fund (designated)

This designated fund exists to hold any legacies received and put the money to use in making general improvements to the church. It is also used to pay for the provision of flowers. No new legacies were received in 2020.

Organ Fund (designated)

This is a diminishing fund established by a specific legacy that is used to meet the cost of organ and piano tuning, repair and maintenance. Based on average annual demand on the fund, it’s set to last until some point in 2022, after which the costs for the maintenance of the organ and pianos will be met from the Property Maintenance Fund.

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Lion Walk URC Charity Accounts 2020 Examined & Signed

Outreach Fund (designated)

The Outreach Fund currently derives income from any surplus from the General Fund, Communion Collections, Small Change Donation Pots, Cake Stall, Wednesday Concerts and any surplus from the Easter Breakfast and any social events held during the year.

A significant proportion of income (circa 60%) comes from the Wednesday lunchtime concerts but most of these in 2020 were cancelled due to Covid 19. The fund did receive a transfer of £2,000 from the General Fund but despite this the total income in 2020 was down 15% on 2019.

Donations made from the fund decreased by 9% in 2020 and this was due to the diminishing income to the fund, but monies donated helped 25 charitable organisations. A list of these can be found on page 16.

Choir Fund (restricted)

This fund was formed through a legacy from the late Eva Hopping, a life-long music teacher and steadfast supporter of musical enrichment in Lion Walk Church. The fund is used for the purchase of resources that support the musical enrichment of the church. No further income was received in 2020 nor payments made from the fund.

Special Collections (restricted)

In addition to the donations made from the Outreach Fund, the church continues to support the Colchester Night Shelter and the Colchester and Tendring Women’s Refuge (now renamed as Next Chapter) from collections made at various Christmas services and events, plus the URC ‘Commitment for Life’ appeal for Christian Aid at harvest time. The total collected for ‘Commitment for Life’ increased 4% from that of 2019 but the total raised from this and other activities was down by 29%, again owing to Covid 19 restricting activities.

Special Events (designated)

Due to restrictions imposed by the Covid 19 pandemic on running events where social distancing would be difficult or impossible, this fund was not utilised in 2020.

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Lion Walk URC Charity Accounts 2020 Examined & Signed

Comments and Conclusions

Governance Costs – We are required to ensure that these have a place in charity accounts, even though in our case they are modest. The examiner of these accounts makes no charge for her services and no remuneration is made to the church officers or members of the various church committees. We do pay for payroll services and for support relating to the software used to manage these accounts and for claiming gift aid. These amounted to £739 in the year.

Conclusion – The impact on the Balance Sheet of the restrictions caused by the arrival of the Covid 19 pandemic has not been as severe as initially feared and this has been achieved largely in church expenditure falling at a much greater rate than income. This, coupled with the actions taken in 2017 to address the then recurring deficit in the General Fund, continues to have a positive effect and means that once again some of the surplus achieved on the General Fund can be transferred to Outreach for the continuing support of good causes.

Despite a small decrease in the Property Maintenance Fund during 2020, the fund remains in a relatively healthy state to maintain the church to a good standard for some years to come.

Overall, these accounts show that the church finances continue to be in a good state to meet the aims and objectives of Lion Walk United Reformed Church Charity.


The foregoing report and the accounts were approved by the Church Elders on 19 April 2021 and are signed on its behalf by:

Signed

Kenneth M Forbes Chairman

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Lion Walk URC Charity Accounts 2020 Examined & Signed

Independent Examiner

No fee has been charged for the independent examination of these accounts.


INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

To the Trustees of LION WALK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Year ended 31[st] December 2020

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of Lion Walk United Reformed Church for the year ended 31[st] December 2020, which are set out on pages 9 to 15.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The Elders as Charity Trustees of the Church are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Trustees are satisfied that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (‘The 2011 Act’) and consider that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Church and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the Elders as Trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair” view and my report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

Signed: Independent Examiner

Diane Leacock FCCA

Date: 17 April 2021

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Lion Walk URC Charity Accounts 2020 Examined & Signed

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2020

Unrestricted funds

General Designated Restricted Total Total
Note fund funds funds 2020 2019
£ £ £ £ £
INCOME
Voluntary income 2a 89,436 642 1,460 91,538 91,716
Investment income 2b 6,955 6,956 -
13,911 14,840
Income from charitable activities 2c - 2,203 8,237 10,440 15,777
Other income 2d 17,670 42,601 -
60,271 64,224
- - -
- -
TOTAL INCOME 114,061 52,402 9,697 176,160 186,557
EXPENDITURE
- - -
- -
Fundraising events 3a - 42 -
42 1,260
Charitable activities 3b - 4,578 9,517 14,095 16,783
General church expenditure 3c 33,664 54,411 -
88,075 83,990
Ministerial costs 3d 67,848 - - 67,848 74,918
- -
- - -
- -
- - -
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 101,512 59,031 9,517 170,060 176,951
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before
transfers 12,549 (6,629) 180 6,100 9,606
Gross transfers between funds (2,000) 2,000 - - -
Net income/(expenditure) 10,549 (4,629) 180 6,100 9,606
Other recognised gains/(losses)
Realised gains / (losses) on investments - - - -
-
Unrealised gains / (losses) on investments 5 86,297 86,297
Net movement in funds 10,549 81,668 180 92,397
9,606
Total funds brought forward
1 January 2020 44,943 394,609 2,576 442,128 432,522
Total funds carried forward
31 December 2020 55,492 476,277 2,756 534,525 442,128

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Lion Walk URC Charity Accounts 2020 Examined & Signed

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2020

Note
Tangible assets
Long term Investments
4
Total fixed assets
Current assets
Debtors
(Short term) investments
Cash at bank and in hand
Total current assets
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets/(liabilities)
Total assets less current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
Provisions for liabilities and charges
Net assets
Funds of the Church:
6
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
Restricted funds
Total funds
31
December
2020
31
December
2019
£
£
-
-
-
-
386,297
300,000
386,297
300,000
-
10,210
108,428
107,868
39,800
35,717
148,228
153,795
-
11,667
148,228
142,128
534,525
442,128
-
-
-
-
534,525
442,128
55,492
44,943
476,277
394,609
2,756
2,576
534,525
442,128

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Lion Walk URC Charity Accounts 2020 Examined & Signed

Notes to the Accounts

1. Accounting Polices

Basis of preparation

The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified for the valuation of investments at fair value, in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2019)” applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

So far as appropriate, these accounts have been prepared with guidance from the United Reformed Church, and the particular practices used are described below.

1.1 Classification of funds and accounts

The eight funds in operation during 2020 and their use and purpose have been described on pages 5 & 6 of these accounts. All the Designated Funds, which have been set aside for specific purposes, can be returned to the General Fund at any time if the Church Meeting so decides. Restricted Funds are those which cannot be returned to the General Fund and, at present, the only examples are the Choir Fund and Special Collections Fund.

1.2 Fixed Assets

The land and buildings of the Church’s town centre property (including the car parks and the Manse) are not capitalised as the Charity Commission has recognised that they are held in trust for the Church by the United Reformed Church (Eastern Province) Trust as custodian trustees and are recorded in the Trust books. The contents of the Church premises being provided for in the Property Maintenance Fund.

Long term investments are included at market value. The Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) includes the net gains and losses arising on revaluation at the year end.

1.3 Income & Expenditure

Income includes cash received (or when its receipt is considered certain - excepting tax recovery on Covenanted and Gift Aid income, which is only recognised on receipt). Expenditure is recognised when payment is made or when a liability has been incurred, but no payment has been made. A legacy is credited in the year it is received.

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Lion Walk URC Charity Accounts 2020 Examined & Signed

LION WALK URC - NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

NOTE 2: INCOME
2(a) Voluntary Income
Freewill offerings
Car Park donations
Gift Aid
2(b) Investment income
Interest from investments
2(c) Income from Charitable Activities
Donations & appeals - Outreach
Wednesday Concerts
Commitment for Life appeal
Christmas appeals
Communion collections
2(d) Other Income
Shop Rents
Flat rental and lettings income
Other inome
Christ Church and Chappel URC contributions
Special events
TOTAL INCOME
General
Fund
Designated
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
2020
Total
Funds
2019
£
£
£
£
£
66,254
66,254
72,124
3,577
3,577
2,819
19,605
642
1,460
21,707
16,773
-
Unrestricted
89,436
642
1,460
91,538
91,716
6,955
6,956
13,911
14,840
6,955
6,956
-
13,911
14,840
1,093
1,093
397
997
997
3,895
7,908
7,908
8,337
329
329
2,778
113
113
370
-
2,203
8,237
10,440
15,777
-
35,671
35,671
41,251
12,980
-
12,980
16,331
2,280
6,399
8,679
1,779
2,410
474
2,884
2,711
-
57
57
2,152
17,670
42,601
-
60,271
64,224
114,061
52,402
9,697
176,160
186,557

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Lion Walk URC Charity Accounts 2020 Examined & Signed

LION WALK URC - NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Unrestricted

NOTE 3: EXPENDITURE
3(a) Fundraising expenditure
Ticket refunds - cancelled event
Other
3(b) Charitable activity expenditure
Wednesday concerts
Commitment for life
Donations & appeals - Outreach
Christmas appeals
3(c) General Church expendture
Heat, light & water
Rates and insurance
Telephone
Printing, postage & stationery
Church keeper
Organist/music
Junior church
Professional fees
Sundry
Service charges
Routine maintenance
Lift maintenance
Tower maintenance
Organ / piano maintenance
Manse maintenance
Church housekeeping
Bank charges
Recurring fees
3(d) Ministerial Costs
Minstry & Mission
Minister's expenses
Pulpit supply
Manse
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
General
Fund
Designated
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
2020
Total
Funds
2019
£
£
£
£
£
-
42
42
-
-
-
1,260
-
-
42
-
42
1,260
-
300
300
950
9,188
9,188
8,774
3,950
3,950
5,068
328
329
657
1,991
-
4,578
9,517
14,096
16,783
8,283
-
8,283
9,024
7,402
-
7,402
7,312
1,763
-
1,763
1,848
859
-
859
1,242
5,033
15,090
20,123
19,316
6,000
6,000
5,950
65
65
-
900
900
1,080
212
10
222
5,927
16,113
16,113
19,262
10,041
10,041
6,935
6,079
6,079
2,299
5,126
5,126
-
215
215
1,132
1,737
1,737
-
928
928
1,350
182
182
328
2,037
2,037
985
-
-
33,664
54,411
-
88,075
83,990
61,800
61,800
66,876
4,267
-
4,267
5,594
150
-
150
677
1,631
-
1,631
1,771
-
-
67,848
-
-
67,848
74,918
101,512
59,031
9,517
170,060
176,951

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Lion Walk URC Charity Accounts 2020 Examined & Signed

FIXED ASSETS

Unrestricted Funds

FIXED ASSETS Unrestricted Funds
Note 4: LONG TERM INVESTMENTS
The investment assets held at the balance sheet date
comprise:
COIF - Charities Investment Fund
COIF - Fixed Interest Fund
COIF - Charities Property Fund
COIF - Charities Ethical Fund
Note 5
The movements on investments over the year were:
Brought forward 1 January 2020:
Additions
Realised gains
Unrealised gains/(losses) on revaluation
General
Designated
Restricted
Funds
Total
2020
Total
2019

£
£
£
£
£
133,088
133,088
85,000
94,068
94,068
85,000
83,965
83,965
80,000
75,176
75,176
50,000
-
386,297
-
386,297
300,000
General
Designated
Restricted
Funds
Total
2020
Total
2019
£
£
£
£
£
-
300,000
-
300,000
300,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
86,297
86,297
-
Unrestricted Funds
-
386,297
-
386,297
300,000

The unrealised gain is the result of the revaluation of the fixed asset investments previously held at cost. Investments are valued at bid value as at the balance sheet date and the surplus or deficit arising from this revaluation is shown within ‘net gains / (losses) on investments’ on the face of the SOFA.

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Lion Walk URC Charity Accounts 2020 Examined & Signed

LION WALK URC - NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Note 6: Movement in the funds

Unrestricted Funds
General Fund
Unrestricted
Sub total General Fund
Designated Funds
Property Maintenance Fund
Sub total Property Maintenance Fund
Outreach Fund
Sub total Outreach Fund
Legacies Fund
Sub total Legacies Fund
Organ Fund
Sub total Organ Fund
Special Events Fund
Sub total Special Events Fund
Total Designated Funds
Restricted Funds
Special Collections fund
Sub total Special Collections Fund
Choir Fund
Sub total Choir Fund
Total Restricted Funds
TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
Opening
Funds
1st January
2020
Incoming
Outgoing
Transfers
Closing
Funds
31st
December
2020
£
£
£
£
£
44,943
114,061
(101,512)
(2,000)

55,492
44,943
114,061
(101,512)
(2,000)

55,492
377,449
135,797
(54,188)
-

459,058
377,449
135,797
(54,188)
-

459,058
2,643
2,845
(4,576)
2,000

2,912
2,643
2,845
(4,576)
2,000

2,912
12,415
-
(10)
-

12,405
12,415
-
(10)
-
12,405
2,102
-
(215)

-
1,887
2,102

-
(215)

-
1,887
-
57
(42)
-
15
-
57
(42)

-
15
394,609

138,699
(59,031)

2,000
476,277
-
9,696
(9,516)
-

180
-
9,696
(9,516)
-
180
2,576
-
-

-
2,576
2,576
-
-
-
2,576
2,576
9,696
(9,516)
-
2,756
-
442,128
262,456
(170,059)
-
534,525

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Lion Walk URC Charity Accounts 2020 Examined & Signed

Good causes supported with donations in 2020

Acorn Village 1,000.00
£
AmnestyInternational 50.00
£
Ethiopiad 100.00
£
Essex Carers Support 100.00
£
MACS 100.00
£
Five Talents 100.00
£
Citizens Advice Colchester 100.00
£
Freedom from Torture 50.00
£
Anne Robson Trust 100.00
£
Suffolk Refugee Support Group 100.00
£
Re-cycle 100.00
£
Tree Aid 100.00
£
Colchester Food Bank 200.00
£
Combat Stress 100.00
£
UNHCR 300.00
£
St Helena Hospice 100.00
£
Sue Ryder 150.00
£
Alcohol Research 100.00
£
Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation
100.00
£
Colchester & TendringGrassroot s
200.00
£
Rob George Foundation 100.00
£
Colchester Night Shelter 328.00
£
Friends of St Joseph School 300.00
£
The Next Chapter 528.00
£
Concern Worldwide 100.00
£
Total 4,606.00
£

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Lion Walk URC Charity Accounts 2020 Examined & Signed