Parochial Church Council of St Oswald's Sowerby Annual Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2020
Incumbent: in vacancy Assistant Priest: Revd Pauline Percy
Independent Examiner: Mr William Pearson ACA, FCCA Bankers: HSBC Church Architect: David Beaumont Independent Financial Advisor: Ellis Bates Group
Website: www.stoswaldsowerby.org.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/stoswaldsowerby
Administrative information
St Oswald's Church is situated in Sowerby in North Yorkshire. It is part of the Diocese of York within the Church of England. The current correspondence address is: 162 Front Street, Sowerby YO7 1JN
Members of the Parochial Church Council
Members of the PCC are either ex officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. In 2020 the APCM was on 22 November 2020.
During the year the following served as members of the PCC:
| Churchwardens (ex officio): | David Tucker (joint Vice Chair) |
|---|---|
| Simon Birkbeck (joint Vice Chair) | |
| Assistant Priest (ex officio): | Revd Pauline Percy |
| Reader | David Brooke |
| Recognised Parish Assistants | Cecily Rands |
| Helen Irving | |
| Yvonne Bowling | |
| Deanery Synod (ex officio) | Gayle Hartley |
| Sue Binns | |
| Jill Drew | |
| Elected Members from 22 November | 2020 |
| Retiring 2021 | John Kennedy |
| Maureen Carr | |
| Pauline Alderson (Standing Committee) | |
| Morna Stoakley | |
| Retiring 2022 | Yvonne Bowling |
| Richard Halkyard | |
| Andrew McCormack | |
| Graham Merriam (Treasurer) (Standing C’tee) | |
| Retiring 2023 | Helen Irving (Standing Committee) |
| David Brooke | |
| Jane Jackson |
Structure, governance and management
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a corporate body established by the Church of England. It operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. The PCC is registered as a separate charity with the Charity Commission.
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All Church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.
In normal circumstances the full PCC meets six times a year or more as needed. (During the Covid-19 pandemic the PCC has met using Zoom.) The PCC is supported by the Standing Committee, consisting of Church-wardens, Treasurer and Secretary and Children and Youth Worker. In addition, there are a few working groups which report to PCC. Our Deanery Synod Representatives attend meetings during the year and report back to the PCC.
Objectives of the PCC
St Oswald's PCC works during the vacancy with the Area Dean the Rev Fiona Mayer-Jones in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also responsible for the management and maintenance of Sowerby Parochial Hall and Annexe. The Church, the Parochial Hall and the Annexe are normally well-used and valued community assets and a base for our service to members of the congregation and wider outreach to the parish as a whole. Sadly, during the pandemic, we have not been able to use the buildings to their normal extent.
Our Mission
At St Oswald's our Aims and Purposes are that we try to live out Jesus' call to love God and to love our neighbour.
Review of the year: Achievements and Performance
It can fairly be said that 2020 was a year unlike any other in living memory because of two factors: The Coronavirus pandemic and the continuing vacancy.
It was dominated by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic which emerged at the start of the year. Almost all aspects of church fellowship, such as a greeting each other, sitting together, the peace, taking communion and singing, were potent spreaders of the virus and were, therefore, largely proscribed during the year. The national response to the pandemic imposed massive restrictions on the normal freedoms of movement, association and worship and disrupted normal church life immensely.
St Oswald’s is normally open every day during daylight, but from 17 March 2020, following Government guidelines and on the advice of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, it was closed for all regular services, and later in the year only open for private prayer on Mondays and Thursdays. When services resumed, a socially distanced seating plan was implemented, no singing was allowed and all attending had to wear face coverings. Late in the year a small choir was permitted, pursuant to advice from the Diocese.
The St Oswald’s weekly news-sheet and the monthly Saints Alive magazine, which had been circulated as paper copies, were very rapidly and effectively converted to email format, giving new opportunities for input. The news sheet was expanded to include reflections, prayers and internet links to hymns and songs in order to facilitate worship at home. Printed copies were delivered to those without internet access.
Several services were pre-recorded and published on YouTube. We then began live, on-line services using the Zoom video-conferencing service. We have held Zoom services at fortnightly intervals since September 2020. ‘Morning Praise’ on the 1[st] Sunday and ‘Worship for All’ on the 3[rd] Sunday. These are followed by ‘virtual’ coffee time in breakout rooms. Many people have valued the opportunity to talk to each other which this provides. A special mention must be made of the work of Lay Reader David Brooke in organising this and in providing the leadership at many of these services. Christingle, Carol and Crib services were also held on Zoom in December.
These fortnightly services alternated with services of Holy Communion every other week in church. We are tremendously grateful to both Rev Pauline Percy and Rev Sandra Howells in being able to hold these services along with a mid-week communion service. Funerals were only able to take place with very limited numbers of people attending, at one stage at the graveside only, in order to reduce the chance of transmission of the virus. Crematoria were similarly extremely restricted in how many people were allowed to attend. Grateful thanks are due to Rev Pauline Percy, Rev Sandra Howells and other visiting clergy for conducting these services and to John Kennedy for his commitment and service in the role of sexton, and to the sidespersons who assist.
Confirmations, baptisms and weddings were entirely deferred.
Youth work and work with children and families has always been a strength of St Oswald’s, and this was very much the case during the pandemic. Pauline Alderson and Helen Irving along with their supporting team were responsible for maintaining this work to a very high degree, and even to increase contacts. Making use of Zoom, delivering bags with craft materials, Bible stories and creative prayer resources for each youth & kids club member, and even running the annual Holiday Club by Zoom. We held a Messy Church in a bag at Pentecost, a family Treasure Hunt around Sowerby and a celebration of Saints as our alternative to Halloween in October which ran alongside a Saints & Light Treasure Hunt in Sowerby village.
The Little Wonders toddler group set up meetings on Zoom for parents or carers with preschool children and a private Facebook group for keeping in touch. Craft & activity bags were delivered to all the families who meet weekly during term time. Some new families have joined.
‘Open The Book’, taking Bible stories into primary schools in the form of short acted-out dramas, continued in Sowerby, Sessay and Keeble Gateway Schools through January and February. This was then suspended as no visitors were allowed in schools. However, the ‘Open The Book’ team managed to record a Nativity in December 2020 which was then shown in four primary schools.
Godly Play, which makes use of the new Godly Play room in the Annexe and also by visits to schools, was unable to function in this form. However, the Godly Play leaders from Sowerby Methodist Church have led two of the Kids Club sessions per month via Zoom, using Godly Play stories and Feast sessions.
A number of events which are both a means of contact with the wider parish and a source of income were impossible during 2020. The Daffodil Festival at Easter and the autumn Coffee Cakes and Crafts event both had to be cancelled. There was however an outdoor, socially distanced Summer Fair held on the field near the annexe on 31 August.
Although there was no public service on Remembrance Sunday 8 November a small Act of Remembrance took place at the war memorial and the church was beautifully decorated with flowers and the outside walls with knitted poppies. Many thanks to Barbara Thornton and her team for continuing to provide flower arrangements and to Kath Reynard for tending the outdoor planters.
A Lent course was commenced in Orchid House, but this had to be curtailed as the pandemic intervened. A small study group amongst members from the 5 parishes was held in the autumn using Zoom which proved to be successful and will continue in 2021. The annual meetings, which should normally take place early in the year, were postponed and eventually took place by Zoom on 22 November.
Giving, Mission and Community
We continued to support Jigsaw Kids Ministries in the Philippines through regular gifts to CMS (to support their mission partner Tim Lee) and to Jigsaw directly. This project was also adversely affected by Covid-19, and the support of churches in the UK was vital to their continuance. We were inspired to hear from Tim Lee at one of our Zoom services about the ways in which Jigsaw had responded and adapted during the pandemic to meet the needs of the community it serves.
We regularly support Thirsk Community Works in their service to the wider community. Our harvest gifts and occasional offerings on special services (e.g., Christmas) have been given to them. We have a box in church available for non-perishable food donations towards their food bank.
A diocesan mission weekend was held between 13[th] and 15[th] March with the title, ‘Come and See’. We organised or participated in various events in the parish including an event with Bishop John at Orchid House, a Men’s Breakfast, a special Messy Church and a ‘Ladies Pamper Evening’.
The Parochial Hall is a valued community asset. During the pandemic almost all activities there, both church-related and community bookings, ceased. The 100 Club which raises funds towards the running costs was able to continue.
Pastoral work: The disruption caused by the pandemic, including the postponement of some hospital operations and radical changes in GP and dental services, together with loneliness caused by being unable to have visitors or get out to socialise, contributed to a high level of anxiety and distress in the community. Our pastoral Recognised Parish Assistants (RPA), Cecily Rands and Yvonne Bowling continued their support of elderly and vulnerable people as far as the Coronavirus restrictions allowed. A telephone support line was set up to keep in regular touch with members of the congregation during the first lockdown.
The ‘Singing for Joy’ sessions at Orchid House, Sowerby took place in January and February and a ‘This is my story, this is my song’ event (part of the ‘Come and See’ weekend in March) was enjoyed and well attended. Sadly, these sessions had to be stopped as a result of pandemic restrictions, but an out of doors half hour of carol singing brought a bit of Christmas cheer to residents in December.
The Mothers’ Union remained in touch with members by letter. Meetings were not possible. The Prayer Circle continued to operate throughout 2020 to support those in particular need of prayer. Many thanks to Jill Drew for coordinating this.
Farming chaplaincy : Yvonne Bowling continued her work as an assistant chaplain working under Rev Dianne Gamble to provide support to the farming community at the Auction Mart located in the parish.
Ecumenical relations : St Oswald’s values the covenant with the Methodist Church, but the pandemic prevented most ecumenical activities, including the Easter and Harvest parish leaflet distribution. However, a joint Christmas card (with the Salvation Army) was distributed using the delivery team. The children and youth team have continued to work ecumenically and joint online services were produced to celebrate Pentecost and Harvest. Churches Together: the normal Easter Walk of Witness and Christmas carol service could not take place. There was however a community drive-in carol service held at Thirsk Auction Mart on 20 December. This was very well supported with up to 100 cars attending each of two sessions.
Safeguarding
Elizabeth Allen continues as our Safeguarding Officer. All PCC members are DBS checked and must complete a Confidential Declaration Form and complete an on-line safeguarding training course. St Oswald's PCC has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have regard to House of Bishop's guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults).
Financial review : 2020 has been a challenging year. The PCC recognised early on that Covid-19 was likely to impact heavily on not only the PCC’s finances but our ability to meet our Freewill Offering of £61,200 to York Diocese. An appeal to the congregation raised just over £15,000 including Gift Aid. This enabled us to meet all our commitments with the consequence that our normal operating surplus for the year is £322 (2019 - deficit £9,703).
Our portfolio, in medium to low-risk investments, suffered a downward re-valuation of £3,250 but we still derived £1,286 dividend income. Our Hall income fell by some £7,000 and Plate Collections and Fees for occasional services also suffered. However, the finances at the end of the year are on an even keel although the Freewill Offering for 2021 has had to be significantly reduced in the light of ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. The congregation have, as ever, risen to this challenge most generously.
Reserves Policy
It is the PCC’s intention to spend those Reserves that are Restricted on their defined purposes, in due course. Unrestricted Reserves include an amount that is Designated for the Parochial Hall and the PCC aims to safeguard these for an ongoing plan of refurbishment. The remainder of Unrestricted Reserves represent approximately three months income which the PCC feels is the minimum that it should aim to hold for normal levels of activity.
The Vacancy
Advertising and interviewing for an incumbent took place twice during 2020, despite pandemic restrictions, and on each occasions the successful candidate declined the offer of the incumbency. The parish was without an incumbent for the entire year. A review towards the end of the year identified that the pattern of a large “urban” or non-rural church with one set of activities and aspirations linked to a cluster of smaller rural churches with different aims is problematic. The deanery has now proposed a re-shaping of parish ministry within this area as the present arrangement of multiple smaller benefices is no longer working effectively. A decision was taken that a priest in charge (PIC) should be sought, as part of that reshaping process. It is proposed that the new PIC will work with the 5 parishes of this plurality and within the deanery to work towards a new, larger team structure. The Vicarage remained unlet throughout the year as estate agents failed to find a tenant. In extremely difficult circumstances the Area Dean, Revd Fiona Mayer-Jones, provided frequent and valued support to the leadership team. We are very grateful also to the Revd Pauline Percy (Assistant Priest) and the Revd Sandra Howells (Retired Priest) for their ministry to us.
Thanks
Grateful thanks are expressed to all at St Oswald's who have worked so hard, sometimes in different ways from normal, and with so much dedication for the benefit of the church and wider community. May we continue to love God and our neighbours near and far as we seek to serve Christ in this place.
As the year ended, the prospect of a mass vaccination programme to suppress the spread of the virus and the further advertising of the vacancy offer hope for better in 2021 and our hope is always in Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
Approved by the PCC on 16th March 2021, and signed on their behalf.
David Tucker Simon Birkbeck
Churchwardens
Pamchlal Church Councll ol St O¥wald'¥ sOr Slat•rnent of Flnanclal Actsvlllos for th8 ythlrwthd 31¥t 0ocombpr2020 2020 2019 Total FundB Fur In¢omlng and fvum: Volurrtary Incomg Girj Ihwh GrftANI T&% ReluTr18 Other p1anrd GNbvJ 40.395 10.971 4.399 1,953 10.971 12.858 5.307 4,675 12.734 3.451 15.112 16.6&8 783 12.933 Inccffi8 Irom aoJMXrt 8 Wall bo¥ & 8ookstall 13 13 353 832 •9.545 F•98 Rocélved pcc Organ1 & C 8ell Rirmjers YDBF 9.574 9.574 10,378 1.570 682 5.1S4 110 110 4.533 InGOfflO from Events rKlay Coffee FuTh1 Rawro & Salè of 370 4.127 516 270 653 R•currlng Grant8 Waave & Rent 121 120 19,131 19,131 25.280 Parothial Hall Ir IrKrte 121 Parotslk81 Hall Eornir¥s from 11KJ CI Paroch1 Hall Dalm Recewd 5.517 1.071 5.517 1.071 12.453 2.708 2.708 1.201 13.444 Saints irKune Luncheon Club eamirvJs 1.201 1A89 1.286 1.286 Total Incomlng RHOU0¥ 116.158 474 121632 144,817 Exp8ndhur• on Charltable acWvJU08180• 31 115219 7.012 14311 154.520 N4t ITMl•dIkU1BTr b•for• gaInb&S4) on Irivosim 939 321 -9.703 Nat gaInl01) ¢)n In¥o8b 4250 -3,250 4809 Not mo¥•mrt of Funds .1311 418 4929 4.894 BalarK•¥ lthd 1 January 2020 35.807 171 45.872 Balan¢•8 ellwd 31 0ocwnbor20X+ 33h96 4553 JS.049 41,978
Parochial Church Council of St Oswald's Soworby 8alan¢e Sheet as at 31 Drtembar 2020 2020 2019 Flxed Assets 3.653 Current Assets Investments Debtors Bank Accounts P¥epaymenls Cash Balances 28,329 3.292 12.416 31,695 4,453 916 673 450 44.573 Creditors Sundry Credrtors- YDBF 100 Club Deposits fof followng year Candy donations received in advance 119 1,620 3,140 4879 2.772 6,000 8.7T2 Net Current Assets 39.049 41.978 Repr8sentsd by: Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 33,496 5.553 35,807 6,171 10 Net Funds 39.049 41.978 Approved by the Par(Khial Church Counul on 16 March 2021 and signe(I by.. Simon Birkbeck- Churchwarden
Parochial Church Councll of St Oswald's Sowefby Notes to the Finaneial Statements for tho year ended 31 December 2020 Accounting Policies Accounting Convention The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 and the Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practitr applicable lo Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102 (Charities SORP IFRS 102} and the ChanbesAct 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost &)nvention expt for the valuation of investrnent assets which are shown at market value. Funds General funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restn'th'ons regarding their use and are available for application on the general purwse5 of the PCC. Funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC are also unrestricted. The accounts include all transath"ons, assets and liabileS for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body or those that are inforynal gatherings of church nmbers. Incorning Resources Voluntary income and capltal source8 Collections are reeognised when received by or on behaff of the PCC. Planned giving receivable under Gift Aid is recognised only when receNed. Income tax recoverable on Gift Aid donations is recognised when received. Grant5 and legacie5 to the PCC a accounted for when received. Funds raised by events are accounted for gross. Sales of trkS and magazines are accounted for gross. Other income Income from the Parochial Hall is recognised when due. Income from bank investments Bank interest entiuements are accounted fof as they accnje and appear gross. ResotsTces expended The diocesan parish share is accounted for when it is paid. The PCC has paid rts full share within the year. Balance Sheet- Fixed Assets Consecrated property and moveable church furnishings Consecrated and beneficed property of any kind is excluded from the acUnts by S1012al of the Charities Act 2011. Moveable church fumishings held by the VKar and Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC, and which require a faculty for disposal, are accounted as inalienable property unless consecrated. They are listed in the church's inventory which can be inspected at any reasonable time. For inalienable property acquired prior to 2000 there is insufficient cost infomiation available and therefore such assets are not valued in the accounts. Expenditure incurred in the year on consecrated or beneficed buildings, indrvidual items undef £1000 or on the repair of movable church items acquired before 1 January 2CMJO is wrttten off. other Flxtures and FittSng8 Depreciation is provided al 10% of cost on Hall Fumrture and Equipment which is calculated lo write off the cost less residual value of each asset over its useful lrfe_ Indivtsjual rtems of equipment with a purchase Pri of £1000 or less will be wrttten off as the asset is acquired. Net Incomingloutyoing Resources 2020 2019 This is slated after charging-. Depreciation and other amounts written off tangible fixed assets 405 405 Reporting ountanYS fees 250 250
2020 Total 2019 Tot•1 Fur Fun¢ts Pr11 OfknTrJ 61.200 61.200 Salarlgs, HOnrI• and YDBF YDBF C8ThJY Sataiies aThl (¢081S 5.184 11.095 11.&12 11.332 Organi%t and chr. Oco Ser¥Kxs 1.185 3.325 705 21.214 14,ri85 18.08S VTh¢arage Costs M¥eage 1.127 243 381 1.127 243 381 913 815 784 )fKars Mwion (AJbEa( Trainiry & Restyj 282 1149 1149 3.400 Church Runnlng Costs Ckanirg InsurdrKe 1.357 1.150 3.762 272 1.016 1C#) 1.498 050 272 1.016 Repar5 gan 1.978 100 4.498 11.74B Church Ullll Gas Waier Rates Ewrioty 3.702 2.731 201 1.470 4,402 494 4562 Church Admlnhtradon ¢pUter. Phone & BroadbaTh PrOfeSnal Fees Brokwa9e and c¢)Mmi5sh Fees iicen(s ar subs 1.154 738 276 276 452 870 659 4.105 7.274 218 3.347 4633 218 3.347 Copler Costs rseas Missian. from c¥n Furx15 3.451 3A51 3.451 7,251 5.756 9.606 Co¥ts olgonoratlng funds Parothial Hal Inote 121 Operatiry costs 10.814 10.814 11.650 Cay mOY pathj to Churth Cost ofcopymw Saints the Luthn Club Costs cl Pa o¥er ¢0 Hal 2.708 2.708 301 232 8.196 232 1.264 11.676 3.641 14317 26,646 Fabrk Costs Architecl's Faes Fabric Costs 10.230 10,230 115,219 7.092 14311 154.$20
Investments During 2009 the Church became entsed to the Arthur Dreyhelter Thomp50n Trust Fund following the death of the residuary lrfe tenant. The investments are quoted in the acnts at market value as at 31* December 2020. The use of this fvnd is unrestricted. Debtors 2020 2019 Hall Hire GiftAid and Tax Credits from HMRC Due from Benefice parishes & others for administrative costs & copying Due from eleclty as a result of excess direct debit payments 785 780 809 918 3.292 2,623 652 1,178 4N53 Bank Accounts Church Parochial Hall Deposit '&)werty Candy {Nole 10) 1,578 1,834 3,004 6.000 12,416 2.179 147 3,140 5.466 Creditors: Falling due within one year and more Sundry Creditors-YDBF Hall 100Club- 2021 subscripb.ons Donations from Thiisk Methodist Circurt to be spread over 5 year5 commencing 2017 (see note 10) 119 1,620 2.772 6,000 8.772 3,140 4.879 Analysis of Ngt Assets by Funds Unrestrlcted Restricted Total Fixed Assets CurTentAssets Current Liabilit Fund Balance 3,248 33,020 2,772 33.496 3,248 44,573 8,772 39,049 11,553 6,000 Unrestrleted Funds Designated funds are induded in unrestricted fvnds and are for the maintenance and improvement of the Parochial Church Hall. See note 11 10 Analysis of Restricted Funds 111r2020 Movernent In Movement Out 3111212020 Bells Charity SaintsAive Mexico 2021 Trip Oakes Weekend Martin Ridsdale Lighting Fund Lunch Club Sowerby 'Candf 898 898 3,451 1,201 1.168 3.451 301 900 1,168 1,951 614 2.708 6.171 1,951 250 268 632 2,708 7.092 6.474 5,553 Saints Alive is the residue of money handed over from the Saints Aive account that has not been used for production costs in 2020. The Bells account 15 a long-standing fund from which repairs are taken over lime. Mexico 2021, The Oakes weekend, Lunch Club and the Lighting Fund are all held as fund-raising inwrro or deposits against projects suspended by Covid-19 which will be spent in due course.
11 Sowerby Candy This account is a ioint venture ben Sl Oswald's Church and Sowerby MethJ1$t Church. It is vehicle for raising money to support children's and youth work. The activity is reflected in St Oswald's accounts as a restricted fund ft)r convenience and transparency. Gifts have been received from the Thir5k Methodist Circuit which. for prudence, have been spread over current and fvlure years. A gtft of £5353.75 recetved in 2018 was used in full for the development of the Annexe. As at 31112r2020 the status of these gifts is as follows". Year In which Gift Received 2017 Gift Received Paid over to St OswaFd's by 31112r20 5,197 4,197 To pay over in 2021 and beyond 2020 5.177 177 Total 10,374 4,374 1.(h)O 5.000 6,000 12 Parochial Hall 2020 2019 Income Lettings Earnings from 100 Club Donations received Totsl Income 5,518 12,453 1,071 480 7,069 13,706 Operating Costs for the year Caretaker Cleaning Materials Gas Electricity Water Insurance MIlIaneOuS repairs Gas cerbficate and boiler repairs Fire Protection & PAT Testing Grass Cutb'ng Depreciation of Equipment 5.026 147 1,788 583 310 672 935 324 4,965 357 2,243 763 278 408 1,077 432 109 613 405 588 405 Total Operatlng Costs 10.814 11.650 Exceptional Expendiiure for the year New Kitchen- not transferred to Fixbjres and Fith"ngs Remainder of expenditure in Annexe 748 114 5,296 240 Total Exceptional Costs 5.536 D8ficit for the year 4,607 4,480 Fund Balance at 1 January 2020 7.599 14,732 Sub-total 2,992 11,252 Krftchen equipment transferred to Fixtures and Ftitings al Nel Book Value 3.653 Residual Fund Balance at 31 December 2020 2.992 7,599 This fvnd is designated birt not restricted.
Independent examinerf5 report to the Trustees of The Parochi?I Church Council of The Ecclesiastical Parish of St Oswald Sowerby I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2020 which are set out on pages 7 to 12. Respective responsiblllties of the Trustees and Independent Examiner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audrt is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the general Dirertions given by the Charity Comrnission (under section 145{51{b) of the Charities Act}, and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of Independent Examlnerfs Statement My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination indudes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes con5i(leration of any unLssual items or disclosures in the accounts. and seekir¢g explanations from the management committee concerning afty such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a full audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts. Independent Examlnerfs Statement In o)nnettion with my examination. no matters have come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect= accounting records were not kept in accordance wrth s. 130 of the Charities Att; or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records- or statutory fees were not accounted for COectlY I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which, attention shcmjld be drawn in order to enae a pr r understanding of the accounts to be reached. William Pearson FCA FCCA The Barker Partnership Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors 17 Central Building5 Market Place Thirsk North Yorkshire Y07 IHD Date: ZE/oK /2oLI