2022-03-31-accounts

TRUSTEES REPORT

HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH, ADMASTON

Period: 2021/22

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 ninth Annual Report and covers the period 1[st] April 2021 – 31[st] March 2022.

Establishing a Church

This has been another different year with lockdowns in force for part of the period, significant incidence of Covid in the local community in some periods, and some feeling especially vulnerable unable to gather. Therefore, throughout the period, we have provided opportunities for worship and fellowship online as well as in person as permitted.

A few people have not returned post-Covid lockdowns, but this has been more than offset by others who have joined with us. There have been a variety of reasons for people joining with us including some who have come as a result of watching the online services. Most of these new people are believers who have not been part of any church for some time.

Discipleship .

We increased the small groups from two to three towards the end of the year. This has been a great encouragement with several of the new people joining the new daytime group.

The “Microgroups” started in the previous year dwindled, and only one of the groups remains. These were started in lockdown and may partly reflect the changes as people returned to more normal life.

Prayer

We have offered opportunities to pray together monthly on a Monday night, weekly on a Sunday morning, and weekly on a Wednesday morning. The Wednesday morning has remained on Zoom, but the Monday evening has been “hybrid” with some joining in person and others on-line.

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. There has been an expansion in the regularity of others leading worship so that there is now a monthly rota between 3 worship leaders. Others also occasionally lead.

Durign the year we have covered the following themes: “Do You Know Him?” which was a series in conjunction with other Telford churches looking at Jesus; an overview of Genesis; training in Evangelism; the 2[nd] coming; Hope’s values; Worship in all of life; and the book of Philippians.

We recommenced lunches and some breakfasts together during this period. The lunches have been well attended.

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

People from the church have begun to re-engage during the year with the Evangelistic work organised by St Christopher’s Trust as things have re-opened. We have also recommenced distribution of the Hope Magazine to about 4000 homes: we have had good participation from volunteers in this distribution.

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 or while suffering with Covid 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.

Social activities

A core characteristic of the church has been regular breakfasts and lunches together as well as other opportunities to eat together and have socials. These stopped during Covid. The lunches have restarted and we have had occasional breakfasts. However, the socials have not yet restarted: this is due to a combination of covid-awareness and the capacity of volunteers to recommence.

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 through both online and in person prayer regularly and occasional special events such as the Good Friday service.

Regional Newfrontiers participation

The local Christ Central Shropshire region has been an important encouragement to the church leaders . There are regular leaders’ gatherings. There have also been in person and online events at a national/international level which have been of great encouragement.

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. We have also begun support of The Children’s Mission in Uganda with financial contributions towards them building a school. The Mission produced a video of their progress for us at Admaston.

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 from 3000 to 3500 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 £30952 ( 2020/21: £30981).

Our expenditure during the year was £30689 (2020/21: £26278). Giving a surplus for the year of £263 (2020/21: £4702).

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 £16296 (53%) – increased due to inflationary increases Giving £5930 (19%) – this has increased from last year due to our financial position.

Rent £2753 (9%) – up from previous year £1027 to pre pandemic level Magazine and other printing costs £2275 (7%) – up from previous year £1480 to pre pandemic level

The church continues to benefit from the Government Gift Aid scheme receiving a total of £5425.

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, after the end of the year, Helen King was also appointed as Trustee. The trustees met formally only once during the year, but had other regular contact to resolve any 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 2021/22 year Roland West (senior church leader) has been paid £12000 for 2.1 days per week (2020/21: £11400 for 2.1 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 2022 for a further 12 months with some inflationary increase with the intention of considering of further inflationary adjustment to monies paid.

This report is approved by the Trustees on the 25[th] April 2022 and signed on their behalf by Roland West (Chairman).

	Charity Name Hope Community Church, Admaston	Charity Name Hope Community Church, Admaston	Charity Name Hope Community Church, Admaston	Charity Name Hope Community Church, Admaston	Charity Name Hope Community Church, Admaston	No (if any) 1152758	No (if any) 1152758	CC16a
	For the period from		Period start date 01/04/21		To	Period end date 31/03/22
Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts			3500 850 4350 4350 108 358 2275 777 381 451 4350 4350 Restricted funds to the nearest £		Endowment funds to the nearest £		Total funds 692 20815 5425 4020 30952 30952 5930 16296 2753 108 358 2275 777 381 1811 30689 30689 263 19668 19931 to the nearest £	Last year to the nearest £
Cash Giving	692
Gift aided Giving	17315
Income from Gift Aid	4575
Other Gifts and Income	4020
Sub total(Gross income for AR)	26602
	263						263
	19668						19668
	19931						19931

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

06/25/2022

1

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories B1 Cash funds B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use	Details Cash at Bank and in hand Cash in hand Details Details Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))	to nearest £ 19529 402 19931 OK to nearest £ Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates	to nearest £ OK to nearest £ Cost (optional) Cost (optional) Restricted funds Restricted funds Amount due (optional)	to nearest £ Endowment funds
				OK
				to nearest £ Endowment funds
				Current value (optional)
				Current value (optional)
				When due (optional)

B5 Liabilities

Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees

Signature	Print Name Roland West	Date of approval
	Roland West	16/06/2020

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

2

06/25/2022

HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH ADMASTON Charity 1152758

Financial Statements

For the year to 31st March 2022

I have conducted a review of the accounts and the records supporting them. e records examined are well structure, complete and ordered and no deficienc ere apparent. The management processes in place appear to be fully adequate

I have not conducted a full audit and have relied upon explanations provided by the church in reaching my conclusion.

am happy to recommend these accounts as fully representative of the financia transactions of Hope Community Church Admaston during 2021/22

Ian Newcombe

Ian Newcombe 16th June 2022