2021-03-31-accounts

TRUSTEES REPORT

HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH, ADMASTON

Period: 2020/21

Aim and Vision

The aim of the church is to bring glory to God through being a caring Christian community, discipling people in the way of Christ, and witnessing to the wider community.

Our vision is to see Christ build his church as many come to trust him as real disciples, know their sins forgiven, and are led and empowered by His Spirit; and to see other similar churches planted in the Telford area.

The above is in accordance with our Statement of Faith and our Values.

Objectives

The Objectives of Hope Community Church Admaston remain as set out in the Constitution dated 2[nd] July 2013:

“The objects of the CIO is to advance the Christian Faith, in accordance with the statements of belief appearing in the schedule “Statements of Faith”, for the benefit of the public in the North Telford area, in particular but not exclusively, through the provision of opportunity for prayer, worship, teaching, fellowship, communion, the public celebration of Christian festivals and evangelism to enlighten others about the Christian Faith, and the provision of pastoral care to the community.”

Achievements and Performance

This is our eighth Annual Report and covers the period 1[st] April 2020 – 31[st] March 2021.

Establishing a Church

This has been a very different year with lockdowns being in force for most of the period. Throughout the period, we have provided opportunities for worship and fellowship online and when permitted in person within the Covid guidelines.

At the start there were very large numbers of people viewing our services, though this reduced over time to more recently up to 40 views on Youtube and 40 views on Facebook each week.

Discipleship .

The two small groups have continued to meet on-line on a monthly basis. These have been stable.

We also initiated during the year “Microgroups”. These comprise 2/3 people meeting every week for about 20 minutes on line at a time that mutually suits them. About 10 people are participating in this and the feedback is positive. They may discuss a question from the weekly talk, or another Bible passage and then pray together.

Prayer

We have offered opportunities to pray together monthly on a Monday night, weekly on a Sunday morning, and weekly on a Wednesday morning. This has virtually all been on Zoom. Initially, there was a significant increase in those attending prayer. It is still the case that a Wednesday morning is better attended, but Monday nights are less popular than when we were meeting in person. Zoom seems to be the way forward for some gatherings.

Worship, Teaching and Communion

Each Sunday and at some other events opportunity for public worship has been offered to all who wish to participate. Tony Finch has continued to write new songs which has contributed to our worship. Others have also led worship from time to time. The worship team continues to develop in size and experience.

With worship being online, we have encouraged a greater level of sharing testimony. This has had a broad input from a variety of people – most have videoed themselves giving a story about God’s interaction in their life and/or shared a Bible verse that means a lot to them.

We have had no lunches or breakfasts together during this period.

Celebration of Christian festivals

We have had special events for Christmas and Easter. These have been fantastic Outdoor events and well attended. There has been a lot of organisation and preparation for these with a huge input form volunteers for which we are most grateful.

Evangelism

The change in the national situation has prevented many big organised events, though there have been some small family activities organised by St Christopher’s Trust in which church people have contributed.

There has been an encouragement for people to think about their own networks and how they can witness in those networks. This has been through both our own encouragement and using external resources and ideas.

Pastoral Care

We have coordinated pastoral care for needy members during lockdown periods and sought to ensure that people are contacted regularly.

Church members have also contributed actively to the local Covid19 group which has coordinated shopping for the whole community. As a church, we have also given regularly to the local Foodbanks and Community Fridge.

Ecumenical

The church has retained and developed close ties with other churches in the North Telford area. This is aided through the St Christopher’s Trust work. This has all been online during the period.

Regional Newfrontiers participation

The local Christ Central Shropshire region has been an important encouragement to the church leaders . There are regular leaders’ gatherings all of which have been online. The region also completed a “Building Leaders, Planting Churches” course in the period.

Beyond Telford

During the period, we have strongly supported churches conducting humanitarian aid and evangelism in Ukraine and Zambia through the charity BreadTrust. We have encouraged our congregation to sponsor children through the Compassion programme and in disaster response appeals.

Social Media

Over the last few years, Tony Finch has been leading our social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube. A large element of this has been producing his own songs for wider access. During the year, the YouTube channel has grown to nearly 3000 subscribers, and there is a high level of viewing from many countries which are high on the Open Doors persecution index.

Financial Review

Our income during the year was £30981 ( 2019/20: £27863).

Our expenditure during the year was £26278 (2019/20: £24573). Giving a surplus for the year of £4702 (2019/20: £3326).

Almost all giving is through standing orders and these are not currently materially impacted by the lockdown situation.

The four major areas of financial actual expenditure were

Staff Costs £15612 (59%) – increased due to the full year employment of an Administrator and an increase in Roland West’s hours (see below). Giving £3679 (14%) – this has increased from last year due to our financial position.

Outreach £1751 (7%) – this increased for the expenses of us running the outdoor services

Magazine and other printing costs £1480 (6%) – this reduced as we did not distribute magazines during the lockdown

Equipment £1236 (5%) – this increased as we purchased equipment for recording and streaming online.

The church continues to benefit from the Government Gift Aid scheme receiving a total of £5320.

Financial Policies

The Trustees have a reserves policy which requires that the church holds a balance equivalent to 3 months of expected operating expenditure.

Structure, Governance and Management

During the year, Roland West, Tony Finch, and Kevin Croker have continued as Trustees, while Nick James resigned due to other commitments. The trustees met once during the year, but had other regular contact to resolve arising issues.

In line with the Charity Commission guidelines, the Trustees intend to appoint an Independent Examiner for the Financial Accounts.

During the year, the leadership team has continued with Roland West, Susan West, and Tony Finch. The leaders have continued to meet online fortnightly to review all matters of church life and development.

Hope Community Church is strongly reliant on volunteers who play an essential role in the life of the church in many ways. There are rotas for a variety of specific jobs. A good level of pastoral care has been noted. Our thanks go to all participants.

During the 2020/21 year Roland West (senior church leader) has been paid £11400 for 2.1 days per week (2019/20: £9780 for 1.8 days per week). This is done on a contracted basis and includes all ongoing expenses. Only purchases on behalf of the church are separately recovered. Roland is absent for all Trustee discussions with regards to this matter. The other Trustees have extended the contract from April 2021 for a further 12 months initially on the same basis but with the intention of considering of an inflationary adjustment to monies paid.

This report is approved by the Trustees on the 19[th] April 2021 and signed on their behalf by Roland West (Chairman).

Charity Name No (if any) Hope Community Church, Admaston 1152758

Receipts and payments accounts

For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01/04/20 31/03/21

Section A Receipts and payments

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds
funds funds funds
to the nearest
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A1 Receipts
Cash Giving 344 - - 344
Gift aided Giving 17,878 2,900 - 20,778
Income from Gift Aid 4,720 600 - 5,320
Other Gifts and Income 4,539 - - 4,539
- - - -
- - - -
- - - -
- - - -
27,481 3,500 - 30,981
Sub total (Gross income for AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total - - - -
Total receipts 27,481 3,500 - 30,981
A3 Payments
Giving 3,679 - - 3,679
Staff costs 15,612 - - 15,612
Rent 849 178 - 1,027
Children's work - 26 - 26
Food - 65 - 65
Advertising - 1,480 - 1,480
Outreach - 1,751 - 1,751
Insurance 176 - - 176
Miscellaneous 2,463 - - 2,463
Sub total [ 22,779 ] 3,500 - 26,279
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - -
Total payments 22,779 3,500 - 26,279
Net of receipts/(payments) [ 4,702 ] - - 4,702
A5 Transfers between funds - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 14,966 - - 14,966
Cash funds this year end 19,668 - - 19,668
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

			Unrestricted		Restricted
Categories	Details		funds		funds
B1 Cash funds	Cash at Bank Cash in hand	and in hand Total cash funds	to nearest £ 19,658 10 - 19,668		to nearest £ - - - -
	(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))		OK	OK
			Unrestricted		Restricted
			funds		funds
B2 Other monetary assets	Details		to nearest £ - - - - - -		to nearest £ - - - - - -
B3 Investment assets	Details		Fund to which asset belongs	Cost (optional) - - - - -
B4 Assets retained for the	Details		Fund to which asset belongs	Cost (optional) -
charity’s own use					- - - - - - - -
			Fund to which		Amount due
B5 Liabilities	Details		liability relates		- - - - - (optional)
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees		Signature	Print	Name
			Roland West

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CC16a
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Last year

to the nearest £

-

-

-

-

Endowment funds

to nearest £ - - - -

OK

Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - -

Current value (optional) - - - - -

Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional)

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Date of
approval
4/27/2020
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To whom it may concern

HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH ADMASTON Charity 1152758 Year to 31st March 2021

I have examined the accounts and records of Hope Community Church Admaston and have found them to be in perfect order and balancing to the penny with suitable evidences for all income and expenditure.

I recommend these accounts therefore as a suitable record of the charity's financial actiovities in the year to 31st March 2021

F Camier

F Camier 12th September 2021