Swindon CIO Return 2022 - 2023
Activities
The Trustees, the elders of the Church of God in Swindon, with the church members, aim to achieve the objects through a variety of activities requiring personal, social and spiritual skills. Our aim is to reach out, engage with and support those who live in the community. We do this by offering to the community, services that manifest our Christian faith, together with a variety of innovative activities and events. As we share with the local community, we also provide financial support to those in need by working together with local charities.
Planning for the year beginning April 2022 took place, knowing that UK government restrictions continued to be eased in the previous year. We reviewed our activities and learned how best to work within them. We also benefited from the regular use of technology to offer online events and activities. The combination of meeting inperson and online has broadened our programme. As previously we would produce a programme that could be adapted and improved as required. We would remain aware that broadening our provision must go hand in glove with our continuing responsibility to provide safe environments for everyone we engage with.
We were very pleased that so much had been restored in April 2021 to March 2022, however established events involving larger numbers - Quiz Nights, Light Lunches, Carols by Candlelight, Christmas Charity Craft Fayre and our CAMP for children – were cancelled. We aim to review and, where possible, to restore these activities & events this year. With additional freedom we aim to pursue our engagement, locally, with those who have particular needs. We would do this in partnership with local charities who have like ambitions.
With our Sunday Morning Services ( SMS ) restarting early in the previous year we look forward to welcoming everyone, especially families, to these popular events. Live streaming the weekly activities - the Remembrance of Christ and the Wednesday Prayer & Teaching time - is important to those who have still not been able to attend because of health issues or those who are distant from us.
Honeycomb continues each Sunday evening, providing a benefit for many people who are restricted. The short talk, broad prayer focus and social time has enabled friendships to grow between members of 3 churches. Our monthly Bible Studies and our Thursday morning prayer time also remained on-line.
Some of our members would continue to provide personal, valued support for individuals and families. We will develop our involvement with Julia’s House , a local Christian Hospice, as well as Operation Christmas Child and will look for other local causes to engaged with.
We are aware that to some degree the effects of lockdown, and COVID itself, remain with us. The wellbeing of many will need continued care. Fresh air for those able to benefit from walks and good company, home visits to those unable to get out easily will both be priorities, and BBQs for all.
The church’s Phase 2 Working Group continued their work on behalf of the church members. Resources from central church funds are being pursued in order to enhance and improve the provision for future growth in all areas of church activities. Achievements
We have pressed forward this year to restore and revitalise our established activities. Having learned the need for care we have held true to our core objectives at the same time as developing common ground with new friends. When restrictions were lifted we reviewed our practice and, guided by our safety officers, considered our circumstances before easing our ways of working. We have retained the careful arrangements for the Remembrance, our weekly communion ( Bread & Wine ) service – sprayed surfaces, use of hand cleanser, personal selection of bread, use of individual disposable cups, removal of items after the service – and have gladly reverted to the singing of hymns.
SMS (Sunday Morning Service) has returned with adult and children’s groups, together with the Praise Band. Through the year new friends, most with children, have been regular attenders. Some searched us out via the church website, others met us through local contacts and personal friendships. This pleasing encouragement has been sustained through the year and continues for the vast majority. We are very thankful to our loving God.
The Christmas Charity Craft Fayre returned in November and was well attended. Our weekly Wednesday Prayer & Teaching time has been held in homes and in the Piggery at different seasons. As with the Remembrance - our communion service - we continue to live-stream both activities. They continued to give more people the opportunity to be part of the activity – those caring for children or housebound adults and those unable to travel.
Some events, shared online, have continued that way. Our Sunday evening Honeycomb draws people who live some way from each other, Thursday’s early morning prayer time lend themselves, and the monthly Bible Studies is convenient for most.
Once more we have been increasingly aware of the effect on the lives of some who need regular support - financially, emotionally as well as spiritually. We recognise our lack of understanding and expertise in many areas but are glad that we work alongside and can learn from those with professional experience.
The SE CAMP committee chose to locate their week for younger ones at a purpose build centre, but ELEVATE, for teens and twenties, opted for the tents and continued at Flaxlands. Local young people, and camp workers from the church, attended and helped run these successful annual events.
We have established a continuing involvement with, among other groups, Julia’s House, Operation Christmas Child and Boxes of Hope, and take part in local events in Royal Wootton Bassett.
The Phase 2 Working Group continued their work, as they pursue the best options for all concerned.
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner s Report Report to the trusteesl members of On accounts for the year ended Charity no (if any) Set out on pages I report to the trUStS on my examination of accounts of the above charity ('Ihe Trusf) for the year ended Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan with the requirements of the Charities A¢X 2011 ("the Act'}. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under sectson 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination; I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent trhe charity's gross income exc&ded £250,000 and l am qualified to examinerfs statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of applicable listed body]]. Delete [ ] if not applicable. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ') which gtves me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accountsng records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act" or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Chanties (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words In the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: z. Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body , AL. 4) fy2-+A (L IER Oct 2018