ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL (TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT) FOR THE YEAR 2023
C A M B O U R N E C H U R C H
J E A V O N S L A N E , C A M B O U R N E , C A M B R I D G E , C B 2 3 6 A F C H A R I T Y N O : 1 1 4 9 3 1 2
CONTENTS
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4 LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE - STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
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7 OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES 8 CORE STATISTICS 11 REPORT OF ACTIVITY FOR 2023 13 CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH WORK 14 SAFEGUARDING 14 BUILDINGS AND THE FABRIC OF THE CHURCH
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15 FINANCE REPORT
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE - STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Cambourne Church is a Local Ecumenical Partnership. This means that it is:
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the Anglican Parish Church of Cambourne in the Bourn Deanery of Ely Diocese, the Cambourne Baptist Church and member of the Eastern Baptist Association,
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the Cambourne Methodist Church in the Circuit of Cambridge, District of East Anglia, the Cambourne United Reformed Church in the Eastern Synod.
Administratively and legally, Cambourne Church receives support and oversight from Cambridgeshire Ecumenical Council as its Sponsoring Body and is accountable to the Partner churches/denominations through its Sponsoring Body. The Sponsoring Body appoints the Minister and indicates the membership and terms of reference of a Local Advisory Group.
Cambourne Church Council consists of 2 legal bodies, the Parochial Church Council (PCC) and the Ecumenical Church Council (ECC). The method of appointment for Parochial and Ecumenical Church Council (PCC & ECC) members is set out in the Church Representation Rules and Cambourne Church’s Governing Documents that were adopted in 2011. The ECC consists of the Minister(s), Church Warden(s) and 8 church members. Members serve for a period of 1 to 3 years. Elections are held annually at the Annual General Meeting.
The Church Council meets monthly and Church Meetings take place three times a year. Church Council members are the charity trustees, responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the church including deciding on how funds are to be spent.
Copies of Cambourne Church’s governing documents and this annual report may be obtained from the Church Office Team.
Minister
Revd Bill Miller (since September 2019)
Banks
HSBC, 5 High Street, St Neots, Huntingdon, Cambs.
CCLA – The Central Board of Finance of Church of England Deposit Fund
P A G E 4
Church Council & PCC Members during 2023
Ex- officio
Minister Revd Bill Miller (from end September 2019)
Church Warden (Elected annually at the AGM)
Jon Slater
Elected Trustees (7 in total)
Nigel Taylor (Elected for 1st term AGM 2023; Term ends AGM 2026) Pam Thornton Secretary of council - appointed annually by council from among the trustees (Elected for 1st term AGM 2023; Term ends AGM 2026) Martin Lee Treasurer - appointed annually by council from among the trustees (Elected for 3rd term AGM 2022; Term ends AGM 2025.) Julie Whitbread (Elected for 2nd term AGM 2021; Term ends AGM 2024) Tony Williams Chair of Council – appointed annually by council from among the trustees (Elected for 2nd term AGM 2021; Term ends AGM 2024)
Alison Butler (Elected for 2nd term AGM 2020; Term ended AGM 2023) Lucy Thompson (Elected for 2nd term AGM 2020; Term ended AGM 2023) Catherine Price (Elected for 1st term AGM 2020; Term ended AGM 2023) Jonathan Buwert (Elected for 1st term AGM 2023; resigned May 2023)
Co-opted Trustees
Catherine Price (from June 2023)
Non-trustee council member
Clare Cronin (from June 2023)
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Members who complete their three-year term are eligible to stand for a new term of office. The 2 Church Warden positions are elected on an annual basis.
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The total number of positions on the Church Council is 12.
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When there is a minister and or assistant minister these become additional ex-officio members
At the AGM in March 2024 there will be 2 Church Warden positions.
- 4 vacancies for church council members/trustees come round at the AGM 2024.
Partner Church Representatives during 2023:
Anglican (Deanery Synod) Hannah Heasley, Nigel Taylor
Methodist Ross McEwan, Vacancy URC Mary Bingham Baptist Kerrion Miller
P A G E 5
Safeguarding during 2023: Safeguarding Officer: Alison Butler (From April 2014)
Members of the wider Cambourne Local Advisory Group during 2023 in addition to representatives of Cambourne Church Council (Ross McEwan, Martin Lee, Bill Miller)
Ven. Alex Hughes Church of England Representative – Chair Revd Dr Geoffrey Cook Roman Catholic Representative Martin Lee Church Council Representative Revd Janet Tollington United Reformed Church Representative Jon Slater Church Council Representative Revd Bill Miller Ex Officio as Minister of Cambourne Church Revd Gale Richards Baptist Representative Revd Colin Watkins Methodist Representative [ Served by Revd Diane Kenaston (Cambridgeshire Ecumenical Council) – Secretary ]
Church Staff as of December 2023
Minister Ministry Team Leader for Children & Young People Administrators
Church and Offices Cleaner
Revd Bill Miller (full-time) Clare Cronin (full-time) Jacqui Huckle (12.5 hrs/wk) Hannah Heasley (12.5 hrs/wk) Cilla Mills (12 hrs/wk term, 6 hrs/wk school holidays)
The Vine School Governing Body as of December 2023
Foundation Governors: Dan Rainbow (Chair) Hannah Hearn Anne Rees 3 Vacancies Parent Governors: Maurice Hopper Nusrat Hassan Rob Metcalfe Staff Governor: Jo Stewart Local Authority Governor: Vacancy Associate Member: None Clerk to the Governors: Lynn Hilling Ex-officio: Peter Hynes (Headteacher) Revd Bill Miller (Cambourne parish) Steve Acklam (Methodist)
P A G E 6
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Cambourne Church is committed to being a Christian community which is open, prayerful and loving which serves Cambourne with the good news of the gospel and where disciples of Jesus Christ are made. In this commitment, we feel upheld and led by the Spirit of God who is present in all our activities, and to whom we seek to be attentive.
All are welcome at church services and activities. Membership of Cambourne Church is limited to those who have been baptised into the faith. Membership involves a mutual commitment between members and church leadership and a sharing in the life of the church. (See the membership leaflet for further detail.)
It has been the objective of the Church Council to facilitate all those involved with Cambourne Church to live out our six core GOSPEL values, deepening faith and encouraging wider community engagement:
P A G E 7
CORE STATISTICS
Attendance
The graphs below show the average attendance at the 9.30am and 11am services from 2012 up to and including 2023.
Attendance charts have not been included for 2021 as normal services were only permitted in the church building for small parts of each year due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
9.30am services
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40
30
20
10
0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
10.00am services
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
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P A G E 8
11.00am services
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140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
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Under 16 attendance
----- Start of picture text -----
9.30am 10.00am 11.00am
50
40
30
20
10
0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
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P A G E 9
Membership
Church membership currently stands at 91 (December 2023). This compares to 107 at December 2022. A membership audit was carried out in 2023.
In addition to being a Church Fellowship, Cambourne Church is also a Registered Charity and as such the Trustees (Church Council) are required by law to maintain an up-to-date list of the Membership.
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200
150
100
50
0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
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Occasional Offices
Christian Initiations include; Baptisms, Confirmations, Dedications and Welcomes. Funerals only include those services taking place at Cambourne Church and does not include services held at the Crematorium led by a Minister of Cambourne Church. Weddings only include those services taking place at Cambourne Church and does not include services held at other churches led by a Minister of Cambourne Church.
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Christian Initiations Funerals Weddings
25
20
15
10
5
0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
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P A G E 1 0
REPORT OF ACTIVITY FOR 2023
2023 was the first year since 2019 which has been entirely unaffected by statutory restrictions related to the COVID pandemic. Like 2022 it was a year of rebuilding and development.
Sunday Services are perhaps the central feature of our corporate church life. On ordinary Sundays there were two morning services – one at 9.30am and the other at 11.00am with the second service having a somewhat more contemporary feel and groups for children and young people. Throughout the year we continued the practice of having just one morning service on the first Sunday of the month at 10.00am, and in the autumn this service was rebranded under the name Sunday One. It is now the week when young people remain in the service, and when all ages join together at the end for communion. On the first Sunday evening of the month we have continued to run Sanctuary – a time of quiet guided prayer.
Special services have included our Good Friday and Easter services, a service of believers baptism, our outdoor Remembrance Service, the joint service in Comberton with other local churches, and some well-attended Christmas services. We
have also seen an increase in the numbers of requests for christenings and infant dedications, which dropped off during the pandemic.
Church life extends well beyond Sunday services, involving homegroups, social events, and various ministries. Highlights included:
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The Warm Hub operating as an important community space in the early months of the year in partnership with Hope CIC and Cambridgeshire ACRE
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The relaunch of ‘19 - the coffee house’ with a reaffirmation of its values and purpose, and with it also taking on some of the purposes of Open House which no longer meets separately
The Flower Festival in June which saw many people visit the building and engage with us
P A G E 1 1
- Church quizzes and meals strengthening the bonds of fellowship The continuing regular ministry of homegroups, Parish Nursing, 3Cs, Cherished, Ladies Night and ‘Space 2 Create’ Children’s and Youth ministry which is detailed in a separate report
Our staff team has seen important change across the year. At the beginning of 2023 our church cleaner and one of our administrators were off sick and we continued to run with a vacancy in the leadership of our children’s and youth ministry. However, by the summer all staff were back at work, and we had also appointed Clare Cronin, an experienced youth worker, to be our full time Ministry Team Leader for Children and Young People. Funding from the URC Eastern Synod has helped to fund her post. We are very grateful to God for that funding and for this fuller staff team.
Church Council has also seen changes in personnel and roles. Jon Slater became church warden at the AGM, as Ross McEwan stepped down from council after many years of service in a variety of roles. New trustees have come on board, and another change has been that Clare Cronin now attends and contributes to church council, albeit in a non-trustee position. Thanks is also due to Lucy Thompson and to Alison Butler for their work as trustees on council and their continuing contributions to church life.
Missional opportunities which have not thus far been mentioned have included our work in all four of the local primary schools, especially the Vine Inter-Church Primary School where we are involved in governance, in developing relationships, and in leading
worship. Through WCCYM we have been involved in work in Cambourne Village College. We have also delivered leaflets in the growing community of West Cambourne, and we did some carol singing there in December. West Cambourne is not currently in the parish, although there is some discussion within Ely Diocese about the boundaries being changed. Nevertheless, it is very much a part of our mission field with some of the residents already becoming part of our church community.
We enter 2024 with plans for various new areas of ministry and mission – signs of a church that is looking for opportunities to serve and to witness to the town in which we have been placed. We are grateful to all who contribute to the life of our church, and seek God’s blessing and guidance as we move forward in his ways.
Bill Miller Tony Williams (Minister) (Chair of Church Council)
P A G E 1 2
CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH WORK
In the summer term, we visited every Year 6 class in Cambourne (across four different schools) to offer support as they move up to secondary school.
At the beginning of the new academic year, Little Church was set up to build and strengthen relationships with our youngest children and their families. Little Church now feels an established part of our children’s and youth ministry, alongside Young Church and Xtreme as part of our Morning Worship. Our Baby and Toddler Group continued to run on Wednesday mornings, providing a safe space for parents/carers and their children.
In the autumn term, we had the privilege of partnering with the Vine to develop a Prayer Space on the theme of ‘peace’. Each class was invited to participate in reflective activities about anxiety, war, conflict and reconciliation. At the end of October, we
hosted a Light Party for primary school aged children and their families. The aim of this event was to shine light on a dark night. We think we welcomed around 100 children and
their families to engage with activities on the themes of hope and light. Those families were invited to our Christingle Service— another opportunity to celebrate light. In December, we also welcomed three primary schools to the church for their Christmas Services.
We continued to work in partnership with West Cambridge Christian Youth Ministries (WCCYM). Young people and volunteers from Cambourne Church regularly attended WCCYM activities such as Cambourne Village College Christian Union, Discipleship Group and Thirst (a monthly youth service). We also worked in partnership with Romsey Mill to deliver a ‘Wellbeing Café’ on Friday afternoons.
We are very grateful to our teams of committed volunteers who choose to invest in the lives our children and young people and sustain these ministries.
Clare Cronin
(Ministry Team Leader for Children and Young People)
P A G E 1 3
SAFEGUARDING
Cambourne Church are committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of everyone within our community.
Cambourne Church follow the safer recruitment practice for people working or volunteering with children and adults and therefore these positions are subject to an enhanced disclosure from the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service).
Alison Butler the Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) for Cambourne Church attends the Ely Diocese Safeguarding Training and Network sessions each year. These network sessions provide PSO’s with a chance to get together to discuss any issues they have had in regard to any safeguarding matters. It is a way to learn from each other and receive any updates to the safeguarding training, policies, and procedures.
Alison Butler PSO processes all of the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) forms as part of her role. This is a criminal record check that all employed personnel and volunteers have to undertake to work with our children and young people. Alison works closely with our Ministry Team Leader for Children and Young People and our volunteers to ensure everyone receives the required training in safeguarding.
It is pleasing to hear that we have had a number of new volunteers during the year who have come on board and have undertaken safeguarding training. Thank you.
In November we held a Safeguarding Sunday Service where Alison gave a short presentation about her role as Safeguarding Officer. The information was also shared in a pastoral newsletter to provide the information to a wider number of people.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and if you need any advice please speak to Alison Butler.
Alison is an inspector who works for Care Quality Commission and brings a wealth of safeguarding experience to the role.
Alison Butler (Safeguarding Officer)
BUILDINGS AND FABRIC OF THE CHURCH
The building continues to be well used by the church, the Roman Catholic Church, personal hirers and more than 20 regular community groups.
A section of the flat roof above the kitchen was repaired following a drone inspection requested in our quinquennial report written in 2021. The ventilation shafts in the main hall are not working correctly and a fix is being investigated.
Jon Slater (Church Warden)
P A G E 1 4
FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
Introduction
The budget prepared for 2023 included some items of exceptional expenditure and we planned to draw from our reserves to cover these costs.
The planned exceptional spends were as follows:
Contract Cleaning. Our Church Cleaner had been on long-term sick leave since the summer of 2022 and a local cleaning company was contracted to clean our premises during the absence. This arrangement continued until the summer of 2023 when Cilla was able to return to work.
19 The Coffee House Relaunch. 19 reopened in June 2023 having been closed since the summer of 2022. Prior to the relaunch, we invested in a new coffee machine, as the previous one had failed after several years of service.
Ministry Team Leader for Children & Young People. At the beginning of the year, we advertised the full-time position for a revised Ministry Team Leader role for Children & Young People. We were delighted to welcome Clare Cronin to this role in June 2023. The United Reform Church (URC) provided invaluable support and advice during the recruitment process and awarded Cambourne Church an annual grant of £8,839 for the duration of Clare’s three-year contract. Notably, there were exceptional costs associated with equipping Clare with a laptop and necessary accessories.
In addition to these planned items, there were unforeseen expenses during the year. The hall projector failed in the summer and had to be replaced at a cost of £10,000. Furthermore, the kitchen dishwasher required replacement, and an inspection of the roof revealed unexpected roofing work that needed attention.
On a positive note, the new projector represents a substantial improvement and is expected to serve us well for years to come.
The focus of our annual gift day was raising funds for the replacement of the hall projector, and our congregation responded with wonderful generosity. Their contributions not only fully covered the cost of the new projector but also assisted in funding the unforeseen expenses. We are most grateful to the Catholic congregation, who also generously contributed to the new projector costs.
Through the course of the year, we needed to draw £13,485 from our reserves to address the exceptional items highlighted. Remarkably, this amount was less than our initial projections and at the close of 2023, Cambourne Church still held notable cash reserves. Our financial strategy involves drawing down these reserves in both 2024 and 2025 to support the expanded staff team. Our financial objective as a Church must be to grow and attain financial security by funding our annual expenses exclusively from our regular income, without dependence on our reserves.
P A G E 1 5
Financial Overview 2023
The Finances of Cambourne Church are made up of 4 Funds.
These are:
£135,402 General Fund 19 Coffee House £4,179 Pete Mear Grant Fund £6,158 Chapel Fund £0.00
Total £145,739
Cambourne Church reported a net decrease in cash funds of £13,485 during the year as follows:
General Fund - £8,772
Designated Funds
19 Coffee House - £2,713
This was the net reported expenditure by the Coffee House which re-opened in June 2023. Investment in a new coffee machine was required before reopening. Additionally, restocking costs contributed to the reported deficit for the year.
Pete Mear Grant Fund No receipts/payments in year
This fund was created when a legacy gift was received in 2019 from Pete Mear’s estate of £6,358. The Pete Mear Grant fund was launched early in 2020 to support young people seeking to develop their skills in worship ministry. Grants of up to £200 (per application) are available for individuals.
Restricted Funds
Chapel Fund - £2,000
This fund was created in 2019 when a £2,000 donation was made towards the provision of a chapel at Cambourne Church. The donor requested that the funds now be used towards the acquisition of a coffee machine for 19 Coffee House and so these funds were transferred to the 19 Coffee House fund during the year.
Overall Position for 2023
Our total reported receipts for 2023 was £150,830 and total reported payments was £164,315 producing the reported decrease in cash funds of £13,485 identified above.
P A G E 1 6
Reserves Policy
Church Council has agreed a policy to maintain a minimum level of £50,000 in reserves.
This level of reserves will be reviewed annually against the requirement to maintain sufficient cash balances to meet a minimum of 6 months staff employment costs and an allowance for replacement of the main hall projector, which is nearing the end of its useful life.
Staffing
During the year the Church employed:
·Minister Bill Miller ·Ministry Team Leader for Children and Young People Clare Cronin ·Administrator (Job-Share) Hannah Heasley ·Administrator (Job-Share) Jacqui Huckle ·Church Cleaner Cilla Mills-Parton
The reported staffing costs include employer national insurance and pension contributions where applicable.
Staff members were reimbursed for travel and subsistence costs as reported under staffing expenses in these accounts.
There were no disclosable transactions in respect of Church Council members, persons closely connected with them or other related parties.
Further Notes to the accounts.
These accounts will be examined by an independent examiner (Mr Zubair Ahmed) and the signed examiner’s report will be included with the statement of accounts submitted to the Charity Commission.
There are no further notes to be considered.
February 2024
Martin Lee (Cambourne Church Treasurer)
P A G E 1 7
Cambourne Church : Accounting Policies
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts & Payments basis.
The financial statements have been prepared on the basis of historic cost. The financial statements include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the Church Council is responsible.
Funds
General funds represent the funds of the Church Council (CC) which are not subject to restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the CC.
Funds designated for a particular purpose by the CC are also unrestricted.
Restricted funds represent donations or grants received for a specific object or invited by the CC for a specific object. The funds may only be expended on the specific object for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of the year must be carried forward as a balance on that fund.
Incoming Resources
Voluntary receipts and capital sources
Planned giving, collections and donations are recognised when received. Funds raised by social events, fetes, parties and similar events are accounted for gross.
Other receipts
Rental receipts from letting the church hall is recognised when the receipt is received.
Resources used
Grants
Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding obligation on the CC.
Current assets
Short-term deposits include cash on deposit either with the CBF Church of England Funds or at the bank.
19 - The Coffee House Stock
19 - The Coffee House operates on small stock levels. Any individual items or collective items of a specific type falling under £50 are not included in the stock declared in these accounts.
P A G E 1 8
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Cambourne Church Flnanclal Slatements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 statement of Assets and Liabilities al Year End Unrestrrlcl DiL9nol¥d R-slri-l Ed Tolal YI 2023 Jotal Yr 2022 Cash Fvnds HSBC Cuffenl Account HS8C 19 Colfe? Hws? CBF D•p051 Accovnt 121.169.74 14,231.79 6,158.31 4.179.02 20,390.10 4,179.02 1523329 6,8?1.90 137.OV8.26 Total Curr•nlA•15 135.401.53 10.337.33 0.00 145.738A6 159223.45 Ass•tsr•knln•dlor Cumbovm• Chvich u Main Hall Prqector- ocqured June X)23 otl•ts & Grinder- acqured Moy 2023 Dlshwosher- ocqvked Avgvst 2023 Laptop & IT aqulpment- aequtr•d May X)23 £io.( £s.o)s £2.994 £1.397 PAGE 22
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this report and to the life of our church in 2023. May the glory go to God.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL (TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT) FOR THE YEAR 2023
C A M B O U R N E C H U R C H
J E A V O N S L A N E , C A M B O U R N E , C A M B R I D G E , C B 2 3 6 A F C H A R I T Y N O : 1 1 4 9 3 1 2
CONTENTS
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4 LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE - STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
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7 OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES 8 CORE STATISTICS 11 REPORT OF ACTIVITY FOR 2023 13 CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH WORK 14 SAFEGUARDING 14 BUILDINGS AND THE FABRIC OF THE CHURCH
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15 FINANCE REPORT
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE - STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Cambourne Church is a Local Ecumenical Partnership. This means that it is:
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the Anglican Parish Church of Cambourne in the Bourn Deanery of Ely Diocese, the Cambourne Baptist Church and member of the Eastern Baptist Association,
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the Cambourne Methodist Church in the Circuit of Cambridge, District of East Anglia, the Cambourne United Reformed Church in the Eastern Synod.
Administratively and legally, Cambourne Church receives support and oversight from Cambridgeshire Ecumenical Council as its Sponsoring Body and is accountable to the Partner churches/denominations through its Sponsoring Body. The Sponsoring Body appoints the Minister and indicates the membership and terms of reference of a Local Advisory Group.
Cambourne Church Council consists of 2 legal bodies, the Parochial Church Council (PCC) and the Ecumenical Church Council (ECC). The method of appointment for Parochial and Ecumenical Church Council (PCC & ECC) members is set out in the Church Representation Rules and Cambourne Church’s Governing Documents that were adopted in 2011. The ECC consists of the Minister(s), Church Warden(s) and 8 church members. Members serve for a period of 1 to 3 years. Elections are held annually at the Annual General Meeting.
The Church Council meets monthly and Church Meetings take place three times a year. Church Council members are the charity trustees, responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the church including deciding on how funds are to be spent.
Copies of Cambourne Church’s governing documents and this annual report may be obtained from the Church Office Team.
Minister
Revd Bill Miller (since September 2019)
Banks
HSBC, 5 High Street, St Neots, Huntingdon, Cambs.
CCLA – The Central Board of Finance of Church of England Deposit Fund
P A G E 4
Church Council & PCC Members during 2023
Ex- officio
Minister Revd Bill Miller (from end September 2019)
Church Warden (Elected annually at the AGM)
Jon Slater
Elected Trustees (7 in total)
Nigel Taylor (Elected for 1st term AGM 2023; Term ends AGM 2026) Pam Thornton Secretary of council - appointed annually by council from among the trustees (Elected for 1st term AGM 2023; Term ends AGM 2026) Martin Lee Treasurer - appointed annually by council from among the trustees (Elected for 3rd term AGM 2022; Term ends AGM 2025.) Julie Whitbread (Elected for 2nd term AGM 2021; Term ends AGM 2024) Tony Williams Chair of Council – appointed annually by council from among the trustees (Elected for 2nd term AGM 2021; Term ends AGM 2024)
Alison Butler (Elected for 2nd term AGM 2020; Term ended AGM 2023) Lucy Thompson (Elected for 2nd term AGM 2020; Term ended AGM 2023) Catherine Price (Elected for 1st term AGM 2020; Term ended AGM 2023) Jonathan Buwert (Elected for 1st term AGM 2023; resigned May 2023)
Co-opted Trustees
Catherine Price (from June 2023)
Non-trustee council member
Clare Cronin (from June 2023)
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Members who complete their three-year term are eligible to stand for a new term of office. The 2 Church Warden positions are elected on an annual basis.
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The total number of positions on the Church Council is 12.
-
When there is a minister and or assistant minister these become additional ex-officio members
At the AGM in March 2024 there will be 2 Church Warden positions.
- 4 vacancies for church council members/trustees come round at the AGM 2024.
Partner Church Representatives during 2023:
Anglican (Deanery Synod) Hannah Heasley, Nigel Taylor
Methodist Ross McEwan, Vacancy URC Mary Bingham Baptist Kerrion Miller
P A G E 5
Safeguarding during 2023: Safeguarding Officer: Alison Butler (From April 2014)
Members of the wider Cambourne Local Advisory Group during 2023 in addition to representatives of Cambourne Church Council (Ross McEwan, Martin Lee, Bill Miller)
Ven. Alex Hughes Church of England Representative – Chair Revd Dr Geoffrey Cook Roman Catholic Representative Martin Lee Church Council Representative Revd Janet Tollington United Reformed Church Representative Jon Slater Church Council Representative Revd Bill Miller Ex Officio as Minister of Cambourne Church Revd Gale Richards Baptist Representative Revd Colin Watkins Methodist Representative [ Served by Revd Diane Kenaston (Cambridgeshire Ecumenical Council) – Secretary ]
Church Staff as of December 2023
Minister Ministry Team Leader for Children & Young People Administrators
Church and Offices Cleaner
Revd Bill Miller (full-time) Clare Cronin (full-time) Jacqui Huckle (12.5 hrs/wk) Hannah Heasley (12.5 hrs/wk) Cilla Mills (12 hrs/wk term, 6 hrs/wk school holidays)
The Vine School Governing Body as of December 2023
Foundation Governors: Dan Rainbow (Chair) Hannah Hearn Anne Rees 3 Vacancies Parent Governors: Maurice Hopper Nusrat Hassan Rob Metcalfe Staff Governor: Jo Stewart Local Authority Governor: Vacancy Associate Member: None Clerk to the Governors: Lynn Hilling Ex-officio: Peter Hynes (Headteacher) Revd Bill Miller (Cambourne parish) Steve Acklam (Methodist)
P A G E 6
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Cambourne Church is committed to being a Christian community which is open, prayerful and loving which serves Cambourne with the good news of the gospel and where disciples of Jesus Christ are made. In this commitment, we feel upheld and led by the Spirit of God who is present in all our activities, and to whom we seek to be attentive.
All are welcome at church services and activities. Membership of Cambourne Church is limited to those who have been baptised into the faith. Membership involves a mutual commitment between members and church leadership and a sharing in the life of the church. (See the membership leaflet for further detail.)
It has been the objective of the Church Council to facilitate all those involved with Cambourne Church to live out our six core GOSPEL values, deepening faith and encouraging wider community engagement:
P A G E 7
CORE STATISTICS
Attendance
The graphs below show the average attendance at the 9.30am and 11am services from 2012 up to and including 2023.
Attendance charts have not been included for 2021 as normal services were only permitted in the church building for small parts of each year due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
9.30am services
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40
30
20
10
0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
10.00am services
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
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P A G E 8
11.00am services
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140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
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Under 16 attendance
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9.30am 10.00am 11.00am
50
40
30
20
10
0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
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P A G E 9
Membership
Church membership currently stands at 91 (December 2023). This compares to 107 at December 2022. A membership audit was carried out in 2023.
In addition to being a Church Fellowship, Cambourne Church is also a Registered Charity and as such the Trustees (Church Council) are required by law to maintain an up-to-date list of the Membership.
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200
150
100
50
0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
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Occasional Offices
Christian Initiations include; Baptisms, Confirmations, Dedications and Welcomes. Funerals only include those services taking place at Cambourne Church and does not include services held at the Crematorium led by a Minister of Cambourne Church. Weddings only include those services taking place at Cambourne Church and does not include services held at other churches led by a Minister of Cambourne Church.
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Christian Initiations Funerals Weddings
25
20
15
10
5
0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
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P A G E 1 0
REPORT OF ACTIVITY FOR 2023
2023 was the first year since 2019 which has been entirely unaffected by statutory restrictions related to the COVID pandemic. Like 2022 it was a year of rebuilding and development.
Sunday Services are perhaps the central feature of our corporate church life. On ordinary Sundays there were two morning services – one at 9.30am and the other at 11.00am with the second service having a somewhat more contemporary feel and groups for children and young people. Throughout the year we continued the practice of having just one morning service on the first Sunday of the month at 10.00am, and in the autumn this service was rebranded under the name Sunday One. It is now the week when young people remain in the service, and when all ages join together at the end for communion. On the first Sunday evening of the month we have continued to run Sanctuary – a time of quiet guided prayer.
Special services have included our Good Friday and Easter services, a service of believers baptism, our outdoor Remembrance Service, the joint service in Comberton with other local churches, and some well-attended Christmas services. We
have also seen an increase in the numbers of requests for christenings and infant dedications, which dropped off during the pandemic.
Church life extends well beyond Sunday services, involving homegroups, social events, and various ministries. Highlights included:
-
The Warm Hub operating as an important community space in the early months of the year in partnership with Hope CIC and Cambridgeshire ACRE
-
The relaunch of ‘19 - the coffee house’ with a reaffirmation of its values and purpose, and with it also taking on some of the purposes of Open House which no longer meets separately
The Flower Festival in June which saw many people visit the building and engage with us
P A G E 1 1
- Church quizzes and meals strengthening the bonds of fellowship The continuing regular ministry of homegroups, Parish Nursing, 3Cs, Cherished, Ladies Night and ‘Space 2 Create’ Children’s and Youth ministry which is detailed in a separate report
Our staff team has seen important change across the year. At the beginning of 2023 our church cleaner and one of our administrators were off sick and we continued to run with a vacancy in the leadership of our children’s and youth ministry. However, by the summer all staff were back at work, and we had also appointed Clare Cronin, an experienced youth worker, to be our full time Ministry Team Leader for Children and Young People. Funding from the URC Eastern Synod has helped to fund her post. We are very grateful to God for that funding and for this fuller staff team.
Church Council has also seen changes in personnel and roles. Jon Slater became church warden at the AGM, as Ross McEwan stepped down from council after many years of service in a variety of roles. New trustees have come on board, and another change has been that Clare Cronin now attends and contributes to church council, albeit in a non-trustee position. Thanks is also due to Lucy Thompson and to Alison Butler for their work as trustees on council and their continuing contributions to church life.
Missional opportunities which have not thus far been mentioned have included our work in all four of the local primary schools, especially the Vine Inter-Church Primary School where we are involved in governance, in developing relationships, and in leading
worship. Through WCCYM we have been involved in work in Cambourne Village College. We have also delivered leaflets in the growing community of West Cambourne, and we did some carol singing there in December. West Cambourne is not currently in the parish, although there is some discussion within Ely Diocese about the boundaries being changed. Nevertheless, it is very much a part of our mission field with some of the residents already becoming part of our church community.
We enter 2024 with plans for various new areas of ministry and mission – signs of a church that is looking for opportunities to serve and to witness to the town in which we have been placed. We are grateful to all who contribute to the life of our church, and seek God’s blessing and guidance as we move forward in his ways.
Bill Miller Tony Williams (Minister) (Chair of Church Council)
P A G E 1 2
CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH WORK
In the summer term, we visited every Year 6 class in Cambourne (across four different schools) to offer support as they move up to secondary school.
At the beginning of the new academic year, Little Church was set up to build and strengthen relationships with our youngest children and their families. Little Church now feels an established part of our children’s and youth ministry, alongside Young Church and Xtreme as part of our Morning Worship. Our Baby and Toddler Group continued to run on Wednesday mornings, providing a safe space for parents/carers and their children.
In the autumn term, we had the privilege of partnering with the Vine to develop a Prayer Space on the theme of ‘peace’. Each class was invited to participate in reflective activities about anxiety, war, conflict and reconciliation. At the end of October, we
hosted a Light Party for primary school aged children and their families. The aim of this event was to shine light on a dark night. We think we welcomed around 100 children and
their families to engage with activities on the themes of hope and light. Those families were invited to our Christingle Service— another opportunity to celebrate light. In December, we also welcomed three primary schools to the church for their Christmas Services.
We continued to work in partnership with West Cambridge Christian Youth Ministries (WCCYM). Young people and volunteers from Cambourne Church regularly attended WCCYM activities such as Cambourne Village College Christian Union, Discipleship Group and Thirst (a monthly youth service). We also worked in partnership with Romsey Mill to deliver a ‘Wellbeing Café’ on Friday afternoons.
We are very grateful to our teams of committed volunteers who choose to invest in the lives our children and young people and sustain these ministries.
Clare Cronin
(Ministry Team Leader for Children and Young People)
P A G E 1 3
SAFEGUARDING
Cambourne Church are committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of everyone within our community.
Cambourne Church follow the safer recruitment practice for people working or volunteering with children and adults and therefore these positions are subject to an enhanced disclosure from the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service).
Alison Butler the Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) for Cambourne Church attends the Ely Diocese Safeguarding Training and Network sessions each year. These network sessions provide PSO’s with a chance to get together to discuss any issues they have had in regard to any safeguarding matters. It is a way to learn from each other and receive any updates to the safeguarding training, policies, and procedures.
Alison Butler PSO processes all of the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) forms as part of her role. This is a criminal record check that all employed personnel and volunteers have to undertake to work with our children and young people. Alison works closely with our Ministry Team Leader for Children and Young People and our volunteers to ensure everyone receives the required training in safeguarding.
It is pleasing to hear that we have had a number of new volunteers during the year who have come on board and have undertaken safeguarding training. Thank you.
In November we held a Safeguarding Sunday Service where Alison gave a short presentation about her role as Safeguarding Officer. The information was also shared in a pastoral newsletter to provide the information to a wider number of people.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and if you need any advice please speak to Alison Butler.
Alison is an inspector who works for Care Quality Commission and brings a wealth of safeguarding experience to the role.
Alison Butler (Safeguarding Officer)
BUILDINGS AND FABRIC OF THE CHURCH
The building continues to be well used by the church, the Roman Catholic Church, personal hirers and more than 20 regular community groups.
A section of the flat roof above the kitchen was repaired following a drone inspection requested in our quinquennial report written in 2021. The ventilation shafts in the main hall are not working correctly and a fix is being investigated.
Jon Slater (Church Warden)
P A G E 1 4
FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
Introduction
The budget prepared for 2023 included some items of exceptional expenditure and we planned to draw from our reserves to cover these costs.
The planned exceptional spends were as follows:
Contract Cleaning. Our Church Cleaner had been on long-term sick leave since the summer of 2022 and a local cleaning company was contracted to clean our premises during the absence. This arrangement continued until the summer of 2023 when Cilla was able to return to work.
19 The Coffee House Relaunch. 19 reopened in June 2023 having been closed since the summer of 2022. Prior to the relaunch, we invested in a new coffee machine, as the previous one had failed after several years of service.
Ministry Team Leader for Children & Young People. At the beginning of the year, we advertised the full-time position for a revised Ministry Team Leader role for Children & Young People. We were delighted to welcome Clare Cronin to this role in June 2023. The United Reform Church (URC) provided invaluable support and advice during the recruitment process and awarded Cambourne Church an annual grant of £8,839 for the duration of Clare’s three-year contract. Notably, there were exceptional costs associated with equipping Clare with a laptop and necessary accessories.
In addition to these planned items, there were unforeseen expenses during the year. The hall projector failed in the summer and had to be replaced at a cost of £10,000. Furthermore, the kitchen dishwasher required replacement, and an inspection of the roof revealed unexpected roofing work that needed attention.
On a positive note, the new projector represents a substantial improvement and is expected to serve us well for years to come.
The focus of our annual gift day was raising funds for the replacement of the hall projector, and our congregation responded with wonderful generosity. Their contributions not only fully covered the cost of the new projector but also assisted in funding the unforeseen expenses. We are most grateful to the Catholic congregation, who also generously contributed to the new projector costs.
Through the course of the year, we needed to draw £13,485 from our reserves to address the exceptional items highlighted. Remarkably, this amount was less than our initial projections and at the close of 2023, Cambourne Church still held notable cash reserves. Our financial strategy involves drawing down these reserves in both 2024 and 2025 to support the expanded staff team. Our financial objective as a Church must be to grow and attain financial security by funding our annual expenses exclusively from our regular income, without dependence on our reserves.
P A G E 1 5
Financial Overview 2023
The Finances of Cambourne Church are made up of 4 Funds.
These are:
£135,402 General Fund 19 Coffee House £4,179 Pete Mear Grant Fund £6,158 Chapel Fund £0.00
Total £145,739
Cambourne Church reported a net decrease in cash funds of £13,485 during the year as follows:
General Fund - £8,772
Designated Funds
19 Coffee House - £2,713
This was the net reported expenditure by the Coffee House which re-opened in June 2023. Investment in a new coffee machine was required before reopening. Additionally, restocking costs contributed to the reported deficit for the year.
Pete Mear Grant Fund No receipts/payments in year
This fund was created when a legacy gift was received in 2019 from Pete Mear’s estate of £6,358. The Pete Mear Grant fund was launched early in 2020 to support young people seeking to develop their skills in worship ministry. Grants of up to £200 (per application) are available for individuals.
Restricted Funds
Chapel Fund - £2,000
This fund was created in 2019 when a £2,000 donation was made towards the provision of a chapel at Cambourne Church. The donor requested that the funds now be used towards the acquisition of a coffee machine for 19 Coffee House and so these funds were transferred to the 19 Coffee House fund during the year.
Overall Position for 2023
Our total reported receipts for 2023 was £150,830 and total reported payments was £164,315 producing the reported decrease in cash funds of £13,485 identified above.
P A G E 1 6
Reserves Policy
Church Council has agreed a policy to maintain a minimum level of £50,000 in reserves.
This level of reserves will be reviewed annually against the requirement to maintain sufficient cash balances to meet a minimum of 6 months staff employment costs and an allowance for replacement of the main hall projector, which is nearing the end of its useful life.
Staffing
During the year the Church employed:
·Minister Bill Miller ·Ministry Team Leader for Children and Young People Clare Cronin ·Administrator (Job-Share) Hannah Heasley ·Administrator (Job-Share) Jacqui Huckle ·Church Cleaner Cilla Mills-Parton
The reported staffing costs include employer national insurance and pension contributions where applicable.
Staff members were reimbursed for travel and subsistence costs as reported under staffing expenses in these accounts.
There were no disclosable transactions in respect of Church Council members, persons closely connected with them or other related parties.
Further Notes to the accounts.
These accounts will be examined by an independent examiner (Mr Zubair Ahmed) and the signed examiner’s report will be included with the statement of accounts submitted to the Charity Commission.
There are no further notes to be considered.
February 2024
Martin Lee (Cambourne Church Treasurer)
P A G E 1 7
Cambourne Church : Accounting Policies
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts & Payments basis.
The financial statements have been prepared on the basis of historic cost. The financial statements include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the Church Council is responsible.
Funds
General funds represent the funds of the Church Council (CC) which are not subject to restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the CC.
Funds designated for a particular purpose by the CC are also unrestricted.
Restricted funds represent donations or grants received for a specific object or invited by the CC for a specific object. The funds may only be expended on the specific object for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of the year must be carried forward as a balance on that fund.
Incoming Resources
Voluntary receipts and capital sources
Planned giving, collections and donations are recognised when received. Funds raised by social events, fetes, parties and similar events are accounted for gross.
Other receipts
Rental receipts from letting the church hall is recognised when the receipt is received.
Resources used
Grants
Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding obligation on the CC.
Current assets
Short-term deposits include cash on deposit either with the CBF Church of England Funds or at the bank.
19 - The Coffee House Stock
19 - The Coffee House operates on small stock levels. Any individual items or collective items of a specific type falling under £50 are not included in the stock declared in these accounts.
P A G E 1 8
Combourn• Chvrch . nancIal Statem•nls l¢( lh• Y•ar End•d 31 D•c•mb•r 2023
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Jpporto15p•¢ln¢ Uzrnote Goma WCCYfvA Compassion Rwal Briti5b LegbD ChrlslKin A Ukralne HumanllarKJn Appeal JlrrmVsN¥hl Shelter 1,725. 1,500. 750 352 99 10 1.725.ryJ 2.011.25 1.9Y). 1.5W 336 137B3 750. 352.LbJ 91.35 10.tyj 4.188 105 om 4.436J5 OA) 0.00 4.436.35 1.788.08 PAGE 21
Cambourne Church Flnanclal Slatements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 statement of Assets and Liabilities al Year End Unrestrrlcl DiL9nol¥d R-slri-l Ed Tolal YI 2023 Jotal Yr 2022 Cash Fvnds HSBC Cuffenl Account HS8C 19 Colfe? Hws? CBF D•p051 Accovnt 121.169.74 14,231.79 6,158.31 4.179.02 20,390.10 4,179.02 1523329 6,8?1.90 137.OV8.26 Total Curr•nlA•15 135.401.53 10.337.33 0.00 145.738A6 159223.45 Ass•tsr•knln•dlor Cumbovm• Chvich u Main Hall Prqector- ocqured June X)23 otl•ts & Grinder- acqured Moy 2023 Dlshwosher- ocqvked Avgvst 2023 Laptop & IT aqulpment- aequtr•d May X)23 £io.( £s.o)s £2.994 £1.397 PAGE 22
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this report and to the life of our church in 2023. May the glory go to God.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Rèport to the trusteèsl members of Cambourne Church On accounts for the year ended 31 Dember 2023 Charity no {if any) 1149312 Set out on pages Pages 19 10 22 I report to the trustees on my 8xamination of the accounts of the above charity 1.the Trust") for the year ended 3111212023. Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for Ihe preparation basis of report of the accounls in accordance with the requiremenls of the Charities Act 20111.the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounls carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515)(b} of the Acl. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention {o#w than t}t di661060beleY'l in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect: accounting records were not kepi in accordance with section 130 of Ihe Act or Ihe accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examlnerfs statement I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in conneclion with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in Ihe brackets if fhey do nol apply. Signed: Date: 1.ts3.X*. Name: Relevant professional qualification{s) or body (if any): Address: riA45 fLy IER October 2018
Section Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of ¢on¢ern {see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018