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2023-09-30-accounts

Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees’ Report and Accounts 1[st] October 2022 to 30[th] September 2023

Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

Our Vision: ‘To be a Christ centred people demonstrating the love of God in the community’

Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Trustees’ Report for the Year 1stOctober 2022 to 30thSeptember 2023 3
Reference and Administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and Advisers 3
Charity Status 3
Managing Trustees 3
Principal Advisers 3
Structure, Governance and Management 3
Governing Document 3
Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees 3
Induction and Training of Trustees 3
Organisational Structure 3
Baptist Union of Great Britain and South West Baptist Association 3
Relationships between the Charity and Related Parties 4
Risk Management 4
Objectives and Activities 4
Objects of the Charity 4
Charity’s Aims 4
Declaration of Principal 5
Charity’s Main Objectives for the Year 5
Charity’s Vision and Purposes 6
Mission Statements 6
Achievements and Performance
 7
Pastor’s Annual Report
 7
Administration Annual Report
 8
Servanthood Annual Report 8
Youth and Children’s Worker Annual Report 9
Family Support Worker Annual Report 10
Growth Groups Annual Report 10
Safeguarding and Pastoral Care Annual Report 11
Health and Safety Annual Report 11
Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club Chaplaincy Annual Report 12
Hospitality Annual Report 12
Worship Annual Report
 13
Communication Annual Report 14
Community Engagement Annual Report
 14
Premises Annual Report
 15
Stewardship - Treasurer’s Annual Report 15
Trustees Responsibilities in Relation to the Financial Statements 16
Signature and Declaration 17
Independent Examiner’s Report 18
Financial Accounts for the period 1stOctober to 30thSeptember 2022 19
Appendix 1 – Definition of Restricted and Designated Funds 22

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

Annual Report for the Year to 30[th] September 2023

The Trustees are pleased to present their report for the year 1[st] October 2022 to 30[th] September 2023. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

Reference and Administrative Details of the Charity, its Trustees and Advisers:

Charity Status

Brixington Community Church (Baptist) is a registered charity under the Charities Act 2011, Registered Charity Number 1139968.

Managing Trustees

The church is administered by the Managing Trustees of the Charity comprising: -

Minister and Chair of Trustees Reverend S Atkinson

Administrator Miss P Hill Treasurer Mr G Hughes Elders Mr N Fryer-Saxby Trustees/Deacons Mrs M Carvalho Mrs J Clark Mrs D Goodwin Mr M Greaves (From 23 November 2022) Mrs C Littlejohn

Principal Advisers Bankers CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ. Independent Examiner Bush & Co Chartered Accountants, 2 Barnfield Crescent, Exeter, EX1 1QT.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

The church’s governing document is a declaration of model trust dated 17[th] June 1974 which sets out the objects of the charity. The current land site has been occupied since 1972 when the first building was erected.

Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees

The Administrator, Treasurer, Elders and Charity Trustees (Deacons) are the Managing Trustees of the charity and are chosen from among existing church members who show the reality of their faith by the consistency of their Christian character and by their loyalty to the cause of Christ. Annual elections are held at the church Annual General Meeting by ballot. Nominees must secure a vote of at least 60% of those present and eligible to vote.

Induction and Training of Trustees

New Trustees appointed during the reporting period receive one-to-one briefings with the Chair of Trustees on operational policy, the Charity Trust Deed and Constitution. They are also briefed on the responsibilities of a Trustee based on the Charity Commission guidance booklet CC3 - ‘The Essential Trustee’ and in line with our Induction Policy.

Organisational Structure

The church is governed and regulated by its own members where all aspects of the work of the church are subject to the approval of church meetings which are normally held bi-monthly. The Minister of the church is a paid Managing Trustee and with the Administrator, Treasurer, Elders and Charity Trustees (Deacons) gives leadership to the church. The Administrator, Treasurer, Elders and Trustees (Deacons) assist the Minister in his role and are also responsible for preparing the business for the church meetings.

The Baptist Union of Great Britain and the South West Baptist Association

The church is part of the wider Baptist family and is therefore a member church of the South West Baptist Association (SWBA) and of the national body, The Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB). Both organisations are

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

registered charities. The church pays an annual subscription to BUGB based upon its membership numbers and donates to the BUGB Home Mission Fund for the Baptist Family in the UK.

Relationships between the Charity and Related Parties

Churches in Exmouth - the church is an active member of the ecumenical partnership of churches in the Exmouth area.

The church supports Open Door in Exmouth .

These connected organisations of the church exist as part of the work and mission of the church which are open to the community.

The church also allocates some of the Minister’s time to fulfil the role of Chaplain to Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club.

Exmouth Foodbank - the church works in partnership with Exmouth Foodbank and supports people in the local area.

Evangelical Alliance - The church is a member of The Evangelical Alliance which is an umbrella grouping for Evangelical Christians in the UK. Formed in 1846, the Alliance aims to bring Christians together and help them listen to, and be heard by, the government, media and society.

Risk Management

The Trustees examine on a rolling basis all major strategic business and operational risks that the charity faces. Controls and action plans are developed to address any additional risks that are identified during this process.

Risk Assessments are carried out for each event held in the church to identify any risks posed, and these continue to be monitored on a regular basis.

Objectives and Activities

Objects of the Charity

The Charity is established for the purposes of the advancement of religion through the spiritual work of the church. These purposes include the provision and upkeep of a place of worship, carrying out religious services, the payment, housing and pensioning of a Minister of Religion and other persons employed for the purposes of a place of worship.

Charity’s Aims

Under the Baptist Union Declaration of Principle (See page 5), Brixington Community Church seeks to be an active Christian community/fellowship bringing Christian witness and care to the area known as Brixington within the town of Exmouth. The church also acknowledges its Christian responsibilities beyond the local community and seeks to engage in both national and international situations.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

Charity’s Main Objectives for the Year

The church continues to offer public worship on Sunday mornings together with a selection of Mid-week activities. We continue to stream our Sunday morning worship services through our YouTube page.

Conversations continued with those who are interested in discussing their faith and the possibility of baptism and church Membership.

The church continues to be involved in Mission activities locally, nationally and internationally.

  1. Locally – Exmouth Food Bank, the Open Door project including Haven, Seniors’ lunches, Coffee mornings, Messy Church, Brixington Family Support, Parent Pop In, Exeter Chiefs, Street Pastors and Who Let the Dads Out, plus other outreach events.

  2. Nationally - As part of Home Mission within the Baptist Union, New Wine and Sports Chaplaincy.

  3. Internationally - Supports two individuals on long term overseas mission in Mozambique and Romania, as well as supporting the Baptist Missionary Society.

The church continues to develop and grow through Fellowship, Worship, Discipleship, Servanthood and Evangelism.

The church premises are situated in an ideal location within Brixington which makes the premises attractive for a wide range of community groups, organisations and other charities. Where possible and appropriate, the church aims to recognise the needs of the community and organise activities and support groups to meet these needs.

Work has continued throughout the year to develop the church buildings into a hub serving the growing needs of both church and community. This year £14,480 has been raised towards this goal.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

The Charity’s Vision and Purposes

Vision

The Charity’s vision is ‘To be a Christ centred people demonstrating the love of God in the community’.

Purposes

Fellowship:

We believe we are called by God to be part of His family (the body of Christ) in Exmouth expressing our faith through love for others.

(John 13:35, Romans 12:10 & Hebrews 10:25)

Worship:

We seek to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, thus surrendering (offering) our lives as an act of worship.

(Psalm 95:6-7 & Romans 12:1)

Discipleship:

We seek to make disciples of all ages, encouraging people to grow and mature in faith by the study and application of the living Word of God through the power and the joy of prayer, which is at the heart of all we do and by the equipping (empowering) of the Holy Spirit who leads and guides us. (Acts 2:42, Hebrews 5:13-14 & 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Servanthood:

We believe that each person has been given gifts and talents to use to fulfil the plans and purposes of God in this and future generations by being fruitful and serving others.

(John 13:14-15, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 2:10 & 1 Peter 4:10)

Mission/Outreach:

We aim to actively seek the lost and be a door of hope in the community by demonstrating and declaring the good news of Jesus Christ because we are convinced that He is able to save all who believe in Him. (Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 19:10 & Acts 20:24)

Mission Statements

Fellowship

Church Family: We aim to encourage all people to live Christ centred lives. To:

Youth and Children’s Work : Young people are important to the life of the church. We aim to:

Worship:

Services: Worship is important to the life of the church and includes the study and application of the Word of God. We aim to:

Prayer: Prayer is important in everything we do. Therefore, we seek to:

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

Discipleship:

Church growth: We believe that God desires this church to grow numerically and spiritually. We:

Growth Groups: Growth Groups are necessary for the spiritual growth of the church. We seek to:

Servanthood:

Serving the community: Our aim is to demonstrate the love of God in the community by:

Buildings: Our aim is for the building to be an asset valued by both church and community by:

Mission/Outreach: We believe everyone has a role to play in mission and outreach. Therefore we:

Achievements and Performance

Pastor's Annual Report

This last year has seen the church celebrate its 50th anniversary. We are grateful for the saints who have gone before us who had the vision to plant a church in, what was, a small development called Brixington. This estate, which is part of Exmouth, has grown to over 10,000 people living in the area. The estate continues to grow with the new development of the Goodmores Farm site and over 350 planned new homes to be built.

Our work in the community continues to play a key part of the vision and mission of the church. This work includes our youth and children’s work, our schools work, our outreach events, our food distribution, our work with seniors, our work with families and coffee mornings. We have also been part of the warm spaces initiative and continue to do so. With the cost of living increasing and affecting many, especially those on low incomes, we have been able to support people in different ways through our various activities which has been a blessing to many in our community. These activities would not happen without a small army of volunteers, and I am grateful for the time and energy they invest for the Kingdom.

One of the key focuses for the year has been looking at how we build a bridgehead into the community, taking every opportunity to share something of the love of Jesus. We have been encouraged because we have seen a number of new faces join us directly from the work we have been undertaking in the community.

This last year we have been greatly encouraged as we have opened the baptistry twice and seen five people pass through the waters of baptism. I am grateful to God for lives changed and transformed.

At the beginning of the year, we undertook a whole church study called ‘40 days of prayer’. This course helped us to successfully raise the importance of prayer within people’s own prayer lives and within the corporate prayer life of the church and I am pleased to report that we have seen a good attendance at our new monthly prayer meeting. I believe that prayer must underpin all that we do as a church, and we can never underestimate the power of prayer. As it says in James 5:16 ‘The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective’.

On Sundays we continue to live stream our service through our YouTube channel. The feedback we have received is positive especially for those who are unable to attend for whatever reason and also for those seeking to join us, it gives people a real flavour of what we are about. On average we are seeing between 30 to 50 views a week.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

We have relaunched our commitment to seeking God for the building development and this continues to be a work in progress. Our priority is to continue to focus upon building the church – that is the people. We are trusting God for what lies ahead.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Norman for his work as an Elder, for the times we have shared praying and seeking the Lord together. He has been a great support and encouragement to me during this last year especially with all the personal challenges that we have faced this year.

There are many opportunities ahead of us and I look forward to working together to seek God’s will for the future of Brixington Community Church. We know God has a plan for each of our lives and for the life of the church, thank you for being part of the journey in seeking to fulfil the vision of the church.

Reverend Simon Atkinson Pastor

Administration Annual Report

The Church membership currently stands at 79 and we have been delighted to share fellowship with a number of new faces this year, which we praise God for. Sadly we have said goodbye to a number of our church family during the year, namely – Jean Eccleston; Dave Fulls; Chris Beer; Pat Taverner; Tony Carvalho and Angela. They will be sadly missed, but fondly remembered.

There were five Baptisms this year which were wonderful celebrations of God moving in people’s lives.

This year has seen a renewed emphasis on the commitment to prayer within the life of the fellowship, and we know that with Gods help, we can achieve all that He wants us to accomplish.

The Elders and Trustees have met each month to carry out the church business and review all the necessary procedures. The Fire and Emergency Evacuation Plan has been re-written and updated this year, plus the Copyright and Complaints policies have been reviewed and revised to make sure that we are compliant with all necessary rules and regulations.

The Elders and Trustees meet regularly to support the Pastor in the leadership of the church. My thanks go to Christine Littlejohn who is standing down this year. She has been involved with the Communication side of church life and has done a sterling job on the Sunday overhead PowerPoint.

The Environmental Health Inspector visited for the annual inspection of the kitchen last October and I am pleased to report that the Seniors’ Lunch team retained the 5 rating gained last year. Given the constraints of our incredibly small kitchen this bears testament to the Seniors’ Catering Team, especially Diane and Katie who are the folk who field all the questions from the Inspector. So take a bow all.

A look back at the year: Our mission, as always, has been “To be a Christ centred people demonstrating the love of God in the community”. This has been done in a variety of ways, mainly of course, featuring food! Events to which the community have been invited have ranged from a Summer Fayre, a few successful BBQs, Seniors’ Lunches, Coffee Mornings and Parent Pop In to name a few.

I would just like to finish by saying a big ‘Thank You’ to all of you for your support of all the events that you help out at and have attended over the year. As always, a great job folks, thank you.

Tricia Hill Administrator

Servanthood Annual Report

Servanthood is a key ministry in Brixington Community Church (BCC). (See page 7 above).

Financial support: We continue to support two missionary workers: Elena in Mozambique and Andrew in Romania, our food distribution ministry and the Bible Society. This is funded by direct giving and by tithing our general income at 10%. It is encouraging to hear how Elena and Andrew are using the gifts to bless others. Likewise, the weekly distribution of food is enabling us to bless others in the community. BCC is grateful to the team that collects the food, which now includes fresh food, prepare the bags for individual and family requirements and distributes them to some 40+ homes.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

We remain reliant upon the Lord for all our needs, even more so as the UK economy faces some big challenges, that affect our personal incomes and expenditures. However, we have not let this restrict our reliance on God. This can be seen in Members deciding to adopt an annual budget with income slightly below predicted expenditure plus, in September, we welcomed Brandon to BCC. A young man from the USA, who for twelve months will be with us as our SWYM/INVEST student. We receive some external funding but BCC also has a financial commitment.

Practical ministry: Our Development Plan has been revised by the Leadership Team and will be brought to the AGM in November. The most significant change is to make our desire to build bridges with the community our top priority. This includes prayer and encouraging personal friendships, in addition to the many weekly activities. BCC is grateful to the various volunteers that faithfully ensure these activities are provided and used to reach the community. Building stronger bridges in relationships we pray, will enable people to respond to the gospel message.

Norman Fryer-Saxby Trustee Responsible

Youth and Children’s Annual Report

Shine: Our weekly children's club ‘Shine’, continued to operate successfully. We adjusted the club time from 16301730 to 1530-1630, specifically targeting children leaving their respective primary schools. This proved to be an effective strategy, resulting in an average attendance of 7-8 children, with a peak attendance of 13.

Messy Church: As an outreach program this has continued to be hugely successful, catering to the needs of both children and their families. Our attendance records show an average of 17-18 children and 12-13 parents/guardians on a monthly basis. It is noteworthy to mention that Messy Church is equally significant for the Adults who attend with their children, as it is for the children themselves. A recent incident where a parent's friend joined the session, prayed with members of the volunteer team, and later embraced Christianity by getting baptised illustrates this point. Moreover, our outreach has helped new families take their first steps Messy Church into the Church. The work we have done in local primary schools has

Messy Church

played a crucial role in spreading the word about Messy Church.

Who Let the Dads’ Out?: This year, we hosted five 1½ hour sessions of 'Who let the dads out?' under the acronym WLTDO?. Although the attendance numbers were not as high as previous years, the smaller group size allowed for more meaningful conversations and deeper connections with each participant. This was particularly valuable given that the majority of the dads and guardians who attended came from non-church backgrounds. For some, this was also their inaugural visit to a church building.

Children, Youth and Families: Our most attended event was the Easter Funday, which drew in 96 children and youth, accompanied by 88 family members and caregivers. A team of 17 volunteers made the event possible, and the overall attendance reached 201 individuals. We also conducted a three-day holiday club during the February half term, with an average of 53 children attending each day, along with their parents. Our annual Bright Lights party in October and the Christmas party in mid-December were also wellEaster Funday attended, with 39 children and 28 parents/guardians present at the Bright Lights party and 41 children and 24 parents/guardians present at the Christmas Party.

Holiday Club

The parents and families have demonstrated their gratitude for the efforts put in by the church, with numerous compliments and a handful of thank-you cards from some of the children.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

Schools work: Over the past year, we have had the privilege of visiting two primary schools in the Brixington area. At Brixington Primary Academy, we conducted weekly assemblies for children aged between 5-7 years, focusing on a theme chosen by the school using the PSHE (personal, social, health, and economic) education scheme. This approach ensured that the assemblies were relevant and topical for the children and school. We also conducted three whole-school assemblies at the school, with two of them being held at our church building during Christmas and Easter. We conducted similar school assemblies at Bassetts Farm Primary School, but customized them to suit an older audience, as the children were in key stage 2 (8-10 years of age). Additionally, we continued our work at Exmouth Community College, where I assisted the Haven team from Open Doors Exmouth in running a lunchtime hub, providing a space for children to play games and discuss their ongoing activities.

New Team Member: We are pleased to announce that Brandon Sweat has joined us as a new trainee with South West Youth Ministries (SWYM). Brandon is participating in a gap year program called Invest, supported by the South West Baptist Association and SWYM. During his tenure, he will remain with the Church for one academic year while assisting with various children and youth programs. At the same time he will be studying theology. This arrangement benefits both parties, as the Church receives a young and enthusiastic helper with a passion for sharing the gospel with children and youth, while he is gaining a year's worth of experience and knowledge to take back to his home Church in the United States of America.

Bradley Goodwin

Youth and Children’s Leader

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Brandon at his best!
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Family Support Annual Report

Floating Support by Brix Family Support : We continue to help local families who need support. This work is undertaken by our Floating Support Worker. Clients are supported in their own homes with all types of advice and practical help. The full service has been unavailable for a while due to health reasons.

Food Bag Deliveries: This takes place on a Thursday where we collect food from local supermarkets via the Fair Share Scheme and sort, pack and deliver to those in need in the local community. This year the team has given out 1165 bags to feed 4044 people. We are grateful for the support we receive from church members who donate food or money to this project and to the volunteers who week by week undertake this service.

‘Parent Pop In’: This is our free Toddler group, including a community café, that takes place on Thursday afternoons from 1300 to 1515 during term time. During the year we have seen between 14 to 30 people attending each session. I would like to thank the team of Bradley, Ammie, Debby, Michelle, Maria and Simon for their commitment to this event.

I am amazed that the links between the community and all the Church events and activities are gelling so well. The awareness of our Church and our interaction with love in the Community is spreading. The connection between the community and Church The Team events is growing, promoting an awareness of the church in the community. This leaves us feeling inspired to reach out in love to share the hope of Jesus with others.

Please keep praying for families to come into contact with our Church activities. Praise the Lord for His work and provision.

Kay Atkinson

Family Support Worker

Growth Groups Annual Report

We are committed to encouraging people in their faith journey and our Growth Groups play an important role in fulfilling this. They provide an opportunity for people to discuss issues of faith and study the scriptures together, pray and encourage each other.

There are currently 7 Growth Groups that meet regularly and one of those meets online. The percentage of people attending a group regularly is over 70% of the fellowship.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

I would like to thank our Growth Group leaders for the time they invest in preparing, leading and caring for their groups each week.

Reverend Simon Atkinson

Trustee responsible

Safeguarding and Pastoral Care Annual Report

Safeguarding: Brixington Community Church (BCC) aims to provide a safe and creative place for children, young people and adults who are in a vulnerable situation, to be valued and nurtured.

The church has a robust safeguarding policy structure in place and a reporting procedure for issues of concern which is updated annually in line with the South West Baptists safeguarding recommendations.

Our policy demonstrates that every member of the fellowship has a part to play in creating and valuing a safer community. Within the policy there are also guidelines for 'best practice' for all who work alongside the vulnerable, along with an efficient and prompt system to respond to any safeguarding issues surrounding children, young people or adults in a vulnerable situation. Significant updated information on digital communication with young people, abuse of trust, live streaming and working with alleged and known offenders, has been expanded and incorporated into the policy this year.

The policy statement is read annually to the fellowship at the AGM, who are reminded of our collective responsibility for the well-being of all and the reporting procedure in the event of any concern.

Our safeguarding team of Lead Trustee, Safeguarding Administrator, Youth Worker and Family Support Worker meet every 6-8 weeks with an agenda of overview and support. Our relationship with the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) workers and the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) team, ensures that the Lead Trustee can process any urgent reported concerns within 24 hours to the appropriate authorities or support services.

All who work alongside the vulnerable groups are Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked and have received 'Safe to Grow' and 'Safe to Belong' training. In addition, our existing policy for 'Working Alone' is also implemented into our working practice. A risk assessment is prepared and carried out before any activities, both on and off-site, can take place. These risk assessments also include activities such as senior lunches and youth work.

The Lead Trustee reports to the church Trustees at their monthly meetings.

Pastoral Care: The primary purpose of Pastoral Care at BCC is to care, support and nurture people so that the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is a resource for every situation.

Although the primary responsibility for Pastoral Care lies with the Pastor, he is assisted by the Elders, Trustees and Growth group leaders.

Pastoral Care is also exercised through the prayerful and practical support through smaller Growth Groups. The ‘WhatsApp’ prayer chain exists for members of the fellowship facing immediate crises, to request prompt prayer support from a significant number of fellowship members who are part of this chain.

During the winter months the church will continue to be a 'Safe and Warm place' offering fellowship, a warm drink and warm space to anyone experiencing problems of loneliness and heating poverty.

The church office and growth group leaders have remained a point of contact for anyone experiencing difficulties with shopping, medication collections, hospital appointments, or needing a re-assuring chat or visit during these difficult times, whilst exercising all the required precautions during this year.

It has been heartening to see how caring and supportive all fellowship members have been for one another during this year.

Jill Clark

Trustee Responsible

Health and Safety Annual Report

Brixington Community Church continues to maintain a good Health and Safety record for 2022/23.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

In my first year I have endeavoured to familiarise myself with the existing paperwork and policies held on

administration files at Brixington Community Church. It is at this point I would like to record my thanks and appreciation to Tricia, for her dedication and willingness in helping me achieve this, in my new role.

The immediate challenge is to make sure that all events taking place at BCC continue to be carried out in the safest way possible, this is largely achieved through risk assessments.

Behind the scenes, I have spent a considerable amount of time producing an action plan. In time, I hope to implement some of the actions to ensure that a good understanding of our individual and collective health and safety responsibilities are at the forefront for everyone at BCC.

To date, in addition to the action plan, I have formulated an updated Fire Evacuation Policy and contributed to updating BCC’s Health and Safety Policy. In June, a full practice fire drill was carried out, followed by further training for Duty Deacons and the implementation of personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) paperwork.

To conclude my report, a big thank you to each one of you for looking after each other and keeping each other safe!

Every Blessing

Michael Greaves Trustee Responsible

Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club Chaplaincy Annual Report

Being the Chaplain at Exeter Chiefs provides a great opportunity to be a witness to the players and staff alike. It is a ministry of presence where you are able to build relationships so when the challenges of life come you are a familiar face. I do not look to instigate faith conversations but take the opportunity to share my faith when asked. The role of a Chaplain is to provide pastoral and spiritual care by having a listening ear; to encourage and offer support when it is needed; to those of faith and those with no faith alike.

A number of players have a faith and attend church close to where they live when they have opportunity to do so.

This is my thirteenth year as Chaplain to the club, and many of the players and staff refer to me as Rev. This year I again had the opportunity to lead a time of remembrance at the club before a game, which meant there would be over 10,000 people marking the moment of remembrance. It is a privilege to serve the club as their Chaplain.

Reverend Simon Atkinson

Chaplain to Exeter Chiefs

Hospitality Annual Report

In reflection of the past year, we are immensely grateful to God for the many blessings and the sense of unity and purpose that has defined our community activities and events. This report outlines the highlights of the year emphasising our gratitude, successful events and aspirations for the future.

We begin by giving thanks to God for the blessings and opportunities bestowed upon us throughout the year. Our successes are a testament to His grace, guidance, and unwavering presence in our community. We express our deepest gratitude for the growth and positive impact we have achieved collectively.

Coffee Mornings: A Vibrant Hub of Fellowship

The Coffee Mornings held weekly have been a significant source of joy and connection for our community. The fantastic atmosphere and engaging discussions have made it a beloved event. The Friday coffee morning was appreciated by all who came during the 18 months trial period, but this has not proved to be the best day for either church or community members. Nor has it achieved the aim of re-establishing the link with Seniors’ Lunch members returning after lockdown. Thank you to Katie and the team for their efforts during this time. The average attendance of 16 attendees reflects the consistent engagement and enthusiasm of our members. We are

particularly grateful for the interesting Guest Speakers and the creative crafts that have enriched these gatherings. The Shoeboxes Workshops have added another dimension to the event. This initiative has allowed us to spread joy

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

and support to those in need through crafting shoeboxes filled with essentials and love. We cherish the impact and the sense of purpose it brings to the children in Romania.

Seniors' Lunches: Celebrating Life and Wisdom

The Seniors' Lunches have consistently provided a lovely atmosphere, good food, and a platform to celebrate birthdays and listen to amazing Guest Speakers. The average attendance has been encouraging, fostering meaningful connections and enhancing the lives of our seniors. A special acknowledgment goes to Mrs Jean Honey and her dedicated team for maintaining high standards for this event.

Parent Pop In: A Warm Gathering

Parent Pop In continues to be a cherished event, fostering enjoyable moments for children and their Mums/Caregivers. The provision of snacks, light meals, teas, coffees, and cake adds to the welcoming atmosphere, encouraging community bonding.

Messy Church: A Delightful and Popular Event

Messy Church remains a popular and delightful event, greatly appreciated by attendees and volunteers alike. It represents a unique opportunity for spiritual growth and fellowship, and we are thankful for the positive impact it has on our community.

Ongoing Prayers and Future Aspirations

We remain committed to our mission of community engagement and spiritual growth. We consistently pray for better attendance at all our events, especially Coffee Mornings and Seniors' Lunches, recognizing them as valuable outreach tools. We also extend our prayers for more volunteers to join us in this meaningful journey, understanding their indispensable contribution to our success.

Acknowledgments

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all involved in making our events successful. Our sincere thanks go to our Pastor Rev. Simon Atkinson, Mrs. K Atkinson our Family Support Worker, Mr. Bradley Goodwin our Youth Worker, Mrs Debby Goodwin our Events Co-ordinator and all our invaluable volunteers. Your dedication and efforts have enriched our community and enhanced the impact of our events. May God bless you richly for your selfless service.

In conclusion, we celebrate the growth, unity, and blessings of the past year. We look forward to a future of continued community engagement and spiritual enrichment, aiming to touch more lives and spread love and positivity in our community.

Maria Carvalho

Trustee Responsible

Worship Annual Report

W ith O ut R eservation S erve H im I n P raise, continues to describe what we seek to do, and it is important to the life of the church. To focus our attention and service on worship being seven-day’s a week and not just on a Sunday is central to our life in Christ. We aspire to radiate the love of God in our communities as well as in the church. How we seek to do this can be found in our Mission Statement on page 6.

Meeting together on Sunday mornings is a valuable opportunity to express praise

and thanks to God. It is great to see individuals coming to know Christ, being baptised, and attend on Sundays. Our time together on Sundays is reflective of how the Holy Spirit is working through the life of the church, and our worship during the week.

We continue to stream our Sunday Services and our viewing figures remain encouraging with an average of 60 to 100 views each week.

Norman Fryer-Saxby Trustee Responsible

Communication Annual Report

A booklet called ‘Discovering Who We Are’ has been produced this year. This helps people to understand more about the life of Brixington Community Church - what our purpose is, what we believe, what we do, our finances and who the leadership team are. This will be handed out to people who want to know more about us and are investigating becoming a member of the church.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

At the moment we are reviewing the website with a view to making it more user friendly and up to date. A team has been set up to do this.

I also produce a weekly PowerPoint presentation for Sunday mornings which informs people about upcoming events and activities for the following two weeks.

An upgraded ‘switcher’ has been purchased to improve the online streaming of Sunday Services. This enables the service to be relayed into the smaller hall and also includes the family news segment after the service.

Christine Littlejohn Trustee Responsible

Community Engagement Annual Report

My role, as the title suggests, is to engage with the community and make those connections with non-church members to encourage new people to attend church activities.

During the past year I have had great pleasure in leading several events including our milestone 50[th] birthday celebrations in February. This took place in the form of a dinner and dance style event with live entertainment and a 3-course meal.

In May we celebrated the King’s coronation with a fair and BBQ . There was live entertainment on an outdoor stage and numerous stalls and lots of flag waving. Several outreach opportunities were had at this event and it was a great success with a number of new families joining in.

A large fair was held in the Summer, supported by outside businesses, which included Exmouth in Bloom, the Candle Lady and Face Paints by Cara. This was a very well attended event, and everyone enjoyed the conversations and BBQ.

In August another community BBQ was held. This was to celebrate a baptism service where three people took the next step in their faith journey by going through the waters of baptism.

Support of other events in church such as Messy Church, Shine youth club and Parent Pop-in has also been given. These are regular events held here at Brixington which have a great importance to our outreach into the community and have a constant turn over in numbers.

I also host a lot of the events and support the teams that help me to make them a great success. One way of doing this was to help put together a welcome leaflet for Goodmores, a new housing development in Exmouth, to welcome each family into the estate when they move in, complete with a small gift of one of our church pens.

To help engage the community with the events and happenings at church, a variety of social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube are employed. YouTube is used to stream Sunday Worship ‘live’ and on Facebook there is a church page where people can contact us with enquiries and post comments. On Facebook we have two groups, one is for Parent Pop In, where the latest information about the group can be found, and the second is for the Youth and Children’s events where posts about the different youth and children’s events are published, as well as for sharing photos of the groups and events. My thanks go to Bradley and Ammie for their help with this.

Our outreach has been great this year and we are seeing new members joining us and new families coming to our events all the time, and we pray that this continues. All these projects have generated monies for the church and we have been able to put some of it back into our community projects and support for our families.

We are still looking into auctioning an Exeter City FC signed football to raise more funds.

Debby Goodwin Trustee Responsible

Premises Annual Report

The chief expenditure this year has been the replacement of the main Fuse Board which needed bringing up to current standards. All the tree stumps were removed on Health and Safety grounds in July. All the remaining chippings will be removed shortly, which will make mowing so much easier. The annual servicing of the Heaters has been carried out recently and all have passed the annual Gas Safety check and are in good working order.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

Testing of all Smoke Alarms and checks of Fire Extinguishers are carried out on a weekly basis and results recorded in the Fire Safety Logbook.

Checks of the building are carried out on a regular basis and any defects noted and repairs subsequently undertaken by in-house or external trades people. Keeping up with the ‘lawn’ mowing and gardening tasks is always a challenge and time consuming.

My thanks, as ever, go to Chris Wright for his valued assistance and advice.

Tricia Hill

Trustee Responsible

Stewardship - Treasurer’s Annual Report As part of the Church’s vision and values, the role of the Stewardship team is to provide good stewardship of the church’s financial resources by:

Each year at the AGM the Treasurer presents a draft budget on behalf of the Trustees for the new church financial year. Once approved by members, this is then monitored monthly throughout the year and circulated to the Trustees with an analysis by the Treasurer of income and expenditure issues, projections and trends.

The Trustees would like to express their sincere thanks to members and friends for consistent and generous giving in 2022/23 in what has proved a more challenging year for many people's personal finances. God's timely provision, both for the ministries of the church and its fixed and running costs, is testament again to meeting the needs within the fellowship and out to the wider local community.

INCOME

This was the first year of setting a "deficit" budget insofar as the budget targets for income and expenditure were different, reflecting a faithful but realistic approach to the levels of anticipated giving set against likely expenditure, with any shortfall being covered by church general funds/reserves.

Sources of income included regular giving, donations, legacies, Gift Aid, property letting, premises hire, and some small grants funding. While church members have felt led to give generously including legacies - and consistently again as in the previous year's giving - nevertheless the overall income of £112,142 (excluding the Building and Development Fund BDF) was 7% less than the target of £120,720.

The year target of £70,000 for weekly offerings was 6% lower at £65,667 primarily reflecting changes in people's personal circumstances/finances. These gifts provided 55% of total income (excluding the BDF). Income was maximised by Gift Aid refunds from HMRC of £15,150 which contributed 13% of income and also contributed to BDF.

Alongside its regular Coffee mornings and Seniors’ Lunch activities for local people and church members, as a Community Church it also hires its premises to link with local community groups, hosting activities including craft sessions, a model gaming club and a carers group, as well as private hire and being a regular polling station. Together these regular sources provided nearly 7% of the church’s income to meet its costs.

The Building and Development Fund (BDF), set up to Build the Church both as a fellowship and as a Community Hub, is a major and ambitious commitment for the church. With the impact of rising inflationary building costs and charges, the original Building project is now estimated at over £6 million, and the church continues to seek guidance for the best way forward. In the meantime, a total of £14,479 was raised from members' ongoing giving and donations to exceed the year target of £10,000 and take the total BDF fund during the year to over £323k.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

The availability of suitable grants and the capacity to achieve them has reduced the amount received in previous years. However, savings investments - primarily BDF funds - have been affected in a positive way by rises in interest rates throughout the year and brought a welcome return of £5611 interest from a mix of one-year and two-year bonds.

EXPENDITURE

The expenditure budget represents the various areas of ministry and church activity covering Fellowship (Community, Children and Families outreach), Worship, Discipleship (including training and development of staff and volunteers) and the committed/ fixed costs under Ministry support (including staffing, payroll and pensions), Administration, Finance and Property-related spending.

The overall expenditure budget of £126,830 came in on target at £124,052. On a positive note this reflected spending from grants, legacies and donations for Family Support, Food Distribution, the Jubilee Fund and the church's tithe giving to other ministries (see below). However, there was significant property-related expenditure for roofing and other maintenance of the church premises, and remedial repairs and replacement at the let property at Marcom Close. Staffing-related costs comprised around 51% of total spend.

The Expenditure budget also includes the church’s corporate tithe giving to the work of other Christian organisations both locally and nationally. This includes the Baptist Home Mission Fund (HMF), Baptist Missionary Society (BMS), Bible Society, Exmouth Open Door's community support activities locally, and to church members working in Romania and Mozambique. This year's total of £12,230 equated to 10.5% of income.

Pension Deficit

The Baptist Union and the Trustees of the Baptist Pension Scheme agreed that the deficit recovery contribution from each participating employer in the scheme would reduce to just £1 per month from August 2022. In the Assets and Liabilities section of the Accounts we have therefore included a liability of £12 due within the one year. No liability due after one year has been included as we are unable to quantify the figure.

Reserves Policy : It is important to note that as part of its total reserves and BDF investments, and in line with the annual assessment of financial risks under the church's Stewardship (Finance) Policy, the Trustees have stipulated that unrestricted "emergency" reserves of £52,000 are maintained within the church's working reserves of £101,598 (year end). This is made up of £25,000 to ensure salaries and related costs can be met in the event of extenuating or extraordinary circumstances e.g. impending church closure, staff reductions, and £27,000 to cover regular operating costs for a 3-month period if the church cannot maintain an adequate level of net income for any unforeseen reason.

My thanks as always to Katie Hughes and Sally Vince for their highly valued support and continuing commitment every week throughout the year toward ensuring that stewardship of the church’s finances does what it should.

Most of all, a big Thank You again to all members and friends as you have felt led to celebrate God's generosity by being generous yourselves.

Geraint Hughes Treasurer

Trustees Responsibilities in Relation to the Financial Statements

The law applicable to Charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the Charity's financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Signature and Declaration I declare in my capacity as Chair of Charity Trustees that:

Signed: Dated: 22 November 2023

Reverend Simon Atkinson Pastor

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF BRIXINGTON COMMUNITY CHURCH (BAPTIST)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 30 September 2023.

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144() of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and 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 Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of explanations from you as trustees concerning any 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 the 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:

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:

  2. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and

  3. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act. have not been met; or

  4. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

Financial Accounts for Period 1st October 2022 to 30th September 2023

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

Financial Accounts for Period 1st October 2022 to 30th September 2023 continued

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

Financial Accounts for Period 1st October 2022 to 30th September 2023 continued

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

Appendix 1

Definition of Restricted and Designated Funds

Restricted funds

These are funds that can only be used for particular, restricted purposes within the Church’s objectives and ministries.

Designated funds

These are funds designated by the Trustees for specified purposes or projects.

Building Development Fund

These funds are for the preparation and eventual building of a new Brixington Church and Community Hub.

Outreach and Community Mission Funds

Money donated for the sole purpose of mission and community outreach projects in Exmouth and specifically in the Brixington Community.

Youth and Children’s Funds

This is where grant monies, donations and subscriptions from weekly activities are placed to purchase items and equipment to support the young people’s work and related activities.

Baptist Missionary Society (BMS) and Home Mission Funds (HMF)

Monies are held in these funds pending donations to the BMS and HMF solely for their respective use.

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