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2022-04-05-accounts

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Stow Gospel Hall Trust For the year ended 5 April 2022

Contents

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Legal and Administrative Information

Stow Gospel Hall Trust For the year ended 5 April 2022

Charity Name:

Stow Gospel Hall Trust

Registered Charity Number:

1159122

Trustees:

Mr A J Dunham (Chair)

Mr D L Wheatcroft

Mr G H Griffiths

Mr M G K Cooper

Mr C A Griffiths

Treasurer:

Mr D L Wheatcroft

Principle Address:

Pinewood St Edward's Drive Stow-on-the-Wold Gloucestershire United Kingdom GL54 1AW

Independent Examiner:

Kerry Taylor Oldfield Advisory LLP Santis House Curriers Close Coventry CV4 8AW

Accountant:

Oldfield Advisory LLP Santis House Curriers Close Coventry CV4 8AW

Bankers:

Barclays Bank Plc Cheltenham Area Branches Cheltenham Gloucestershire

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Legal and Administrative Information

GL50 1EL

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Report of the Trustees

Stow Gospel Hall Trust For the year ended 5 April 2022

The trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the Charity for the 5 April 2022. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on page 10 and comply with the Trust Deed and applicable law.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

The Charity is an unincorporated trust constituted by a Deed of Trust dated 22 July 1982, most recently amended by Deed of Variation dated 12 August 2014. The trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 07 November 2014 under Charity Registration Number: 1159122

Recruitment and appointment of new Trustees

The Trustees who have served during the year and since the year end are set out on page 2. None of the Trustees, nor any person connected with them, received any remuneration or expenses from the Charity in the year ended 5 April 2022.

The Trust operates one Gospel halls and Trustees are chosen from among the regular congregation of the halls. New Trustees are nominated by the existing Trustees or by the congregation and must be appointed by unanimous resolution of the congregation. They are selected according to their skills and experience and are expected to use both in furthering the objects of the Charity. Checks are made to ensure the Trustees’ eligibility to act and incoming Trustees are made aware of their responsibilities by the existing Trustees, who ensure that new Trustees read the Trust Deed and relevant Charity Commission guidance.

Wider Network

The Trustees maintain informal links with Trustees of similar Trusts with a view to pooling experience considered useful in pursuing the objects of the Trust. The Trust also maintains particular links with Oddington Gospel Hall Trust with which it shares members of its congregation.

Risk Management

The Trustees have identified and reviewed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and confirm that they have established systems to manage and mitigate those risks.

Objectives and Activities

Objectives and Aims

The charitable purposes of the Charity are the advancement of the Christian religion for the public benefit, including by the carrying on of the service of God in accordance with the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible as followed by those Christians forming part of the world-wide fellowship known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (the “Brethren”) and any other charitable purposes connected with Brethren. The core doctrine of the Brethren and proper practices in furtherance of certain aspects of doctrine are summarised in two schedules to the Trust Deed.

Public Benefit

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance to charities on public benefit.

Details of public benefit activities carried out by Stow Gospel Hall Trust can be found in the separate appendix to this report.

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Report of the Trustees

Main activities and achievements

The Trust provides and maintains one Gospel hall where religious meetings are held by the local Brethren community. Details of the origins, teachings and way of life of the Brethren can be found on the website - www.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org and in the schedules to the Trust Deed.

The trustees have also operated an Emergency Needs fund for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic and any resultant economic downturn. This is providing limited financial assistance by the way of grocery vouchers to households, who have experienced a recent and significant decrease in income due to the pandemic, such that it is likely to impact on the health and/or welfare of members of the household. The trust has appointed a Local Welfare Panel to manage the application process and to administer the vouchers to qualifying applicants.

Plans for future periods

With the commencement of lockdown restrictions in the UK the trust ceased using the gospel hall It operates. During the financial year, restrictions were eased sufficiently to allow the congregation to use the gospel hall for the Lord’s Supper (Communion). The use of the rooms was conducted in a manner which always complied with the government guidance, and the trust intends to continue using the rooms when it is safe to do so. The trustees do not consider that the Covid-19 pandemic will have any effect on the ability of the trust to continue as a going concern.

Meetings

Meetings held at the Gospel halls include the Lord's Supper (Communion), Gospel preachings, Bible readings and Bible addresses. There is a structured weekly schedule of meetings and, depending on the particular meeting, between 40 and 400 people normally attend these occasions.

The meetings are attended by the regular congregation and most are open to other properly disposed visitors. The notice board outside the Hall welcomes visitors and displays the times of Gospel preachings, along with a telephone number for those seeking further information or help. Gospel tracts, which are distributed by street preachers, also display this information.

Bibles and an extensive range of other Christian reading material are on display at the halls and visitors are free to help themselves.

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Report of the Trustees

Spreading the Gospel message and the life of a Christian

The Gospel halls are a base from which the regular congregation and others who attend the meetings are encouraged to spread the Christian Gospel, in word and deed.

Members of the congregation would usually participate in a programme of street preaching where Gospel tracts are provided free of charge by the Charity to such preachers to be handed out to interested members of the public. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic this has not been possible during the financial year, but the congregation aim to continue this once it is safe to do so.

In carrying out this work, the congregation considers itself to be living out its faith in practice, as particularly exemplified in the following extract from the schedule to the Trust Deed on living a Christian life:

Funding

Funding is sought through gifts from the congregation and Gift Aid is claimed on eligible donations. Funding is sometimes received from other charitable trusts with complementary objectives.

Financial Review

In the year ended 5 April 2022 the Trust had a modest deficit of incoming resources over resources expended. This is mostly due to non-monetary items such as depreciation.

Total voluntary income received this year was £42,301 compared to £46,417 in the previous year.

All funds held were unrestricted funds.

Reserves Policy

The Trustees have considered the level of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the charity's needs. This is based on the charity's size and the level of financial commitments. The Trustees aim for the Charity to hold approximately £25,000 in a current account to meet the day to day expenses, plus an allowance for any urgent repairs and capital expenses and currently the Trust is building up funds for future investments. The Trustees will endeavour not to set aside funds unnecessarily. Free reserves accumulated in excess of the minimum will be used at the discretion of the Trustees for the strategic development of Stow Gospel Hall Trust. The Trustees aim to ensure that the charity will be able to continue to fulfil its charitable objectives even if there is a temporary shortfall in income or unexpected expenditure by raising a funds appeal.

Free Reserves at the year end were £86,057 ( 2021: £72,769)

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Report of the Trustees

Statement of Trustees Responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the Trust Deed require the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the Charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the Trust Deed. 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. All transactions have been reviewed and approved by two trustees.

On Behalf of the board:

..................................................................................

Mr D L Wheatcroft (Trustee)

..............................................................

Date

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Report of the Independent Examiner

Stow Gospel Hall Trust For the year ended 5 April 2022

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Stow Gospel Hall Trust for the year ended 5 April 2022.

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

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 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 statements below.

Independent Examiner's Statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. The accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. The accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair 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.

...................................................................................................

Kerry Taylor Oldfield Advisory LLP Santis House Curriers Close Coventry CV4 8AW

7 September 2022

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Statement of Financial Activities

Stow Gospel Hall Trust

For the year ended 5 April 2022

Statement of Financial Activities
Stow Gospel Hall Trust
For the year ended 5 April 2022
Statement of Financial Activities
Stow Gospel Hall Trust
For the year ended 5 April 2022
UNRESTRICTED
FUNDS
DESIGNATED
FUNDS
RESTRICTED
FUNDS
TOTAL FUNDS
2022
TOTAL FUNDS
2021
Income and endowments:
Donations and Legacies:
Collections
25,794
-
-
25,794
25,157
Contributions from the Congregation
-
1,800
-
1,800
8,400
Gift Aid Donations
8,612
-
-
8,612
7,050
Income Tax refunds
405
-
-
405
634
Other Donations
5,690
-
-
5,690
5,176
Total Income and endowments:
40,501
1,800
-
42,301
46,417
Expenditure:
Running Meeting Rooms (note 9)
54,064
-
-
54,064
51,012
Congregation Support (note 9)
-
3,900
-
3,900
7,875
Cost of donated services (note 4)
8,445
-
-
8,445
8,361
Total Expenditure:
62,509
3,900
-
66,409
67,248
Net Income/(Expenditure)
(22,008)
(2,100)
-
(24,108)
(20,831)
Net Movement In Funds
(22,008)
(2,100)
-
(24,108)
(20,831)
UNRESTRICTED
FUNDS
DESIGNATED
FUNDS
RESTRICTED
FUNDS
TOTAL FUNDS
2022
TOTAL FUNDS
2021
Reconciliation of funds (note 11)
Total Funds bought forward
1,627,889
525
-
1,628,414
1,649,246
Net movement in funds
(22,008)
(2,100)
-
(24,108)
(20,831)
Total Funds carried forward
1,605,882
(1,575)
-
1,604,307
1,628,414

The notes on page 11 - 18 form part of these financial statements.

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Balance Sheet

Stow Gospel Hall Trust As at 5 April 2022

Balance Sheet
Stow Gospel Hall Trust
As at 5 April 2022
2022 2021
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets (note 6) 1,518,250 1,555,646
Total Fixed Assets 1,518,250 1,555,646
Current assets
Other Debtors 1,500 1,500
Prepayments and accrued income 3,325 8,452
Cash at bank and in hand 82,885 63,573
Total Current assets 87,710 73,525
Creditors: amounts falling due withinone year
Accruals and deferred income 1,654 756
Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 1,654 756
Net current assets/(liabilities) 86,057 72,769
Total assets less current liabilities 1,604,307 1,628,414
Net Assets 1,604,307 1,628,414
Funds (note 10)
Unrestricted funds 1,604,307 1,628,414
Total Funds 1,604,307 1,628,414

The unaudited financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees of Stow Gospel Hall Trust on .........................................and were signed on its behalf by:

.............................................................................................

Mr D L Wheatcroft (Trustee)

The notes on pages 11 - 18 form part of these financial statements.

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Notes forming part of the Financial Statements

Stow Gospel Hall Trust For the year ended 5 April 2022

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1.1 Basis of financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014, and incorporating update bulletins 1 and 2, and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The functional currency of the charity is sterling (£).

The Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

1.2 Income

Donations are recognised in the year in which there is entitlement and probability of receipt and the amount can be measured with reasonable certainty. Income is only deferred when the charity has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor has specified that the income is to be expended in a future year. Gift aid is added to the value of the donation to which it relates.

Donated services are recognised as income and expenditure in the financial statements when organisations or individuals offer their services and support pro bono. The value of these donated services to Stow Gospel Hall Trust is considered to be equal to market value which would be paid were the service formally procured. This includes services paid for by other trusts.

Investment income is accounted for on a receivable basis.

1.3 Expenditure

Expenditure is included on an accruals basis. Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.

Charitable activities comprise those costs directly attributable to the fulfilment of the charitable objects.

1.4 Governance and support costs

Support costs have been allocated between governance costs and other support costs. Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the charity and costs related to statutory requirements. Governance and support costs are allocated to charitable activities on the basis of capacity used.

1.5 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets (costing more than £100) are stated at cost less depreciation. Freehold land is not depreciated. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset over its expected useful life as follows:

Property improvements 2% straight line
Fixtures and Fittings 10% reducing balance

1.6 Taxation

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Notes forming part of the Financial Statements

The Trust is a registered charity and is not liable to United Kingdom income or corporation tax on charitable activities, provided income falls within the charitable exemptions and is spent on charitable purposes.

1.7 Funds

The general unrestricted fund is free for the Trustees to use for any purposes in furtherance of the trust’s charitable objects.

Restricted funds arise from donations to the trust, which are made for a specific purpose. Restricted funds can only be used for the purpose for which funds were given.

1.8 Preparation of consolidated financial statements

The Charity does not have a trading subsidiary.

1.9 Going Concern

The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

1.10 Significant estimates and judgements

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

The trustees do not consider that the Covid-19 pandemic will have any effect on the ability of the trust to continue as a going concern.

2. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES

No Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits from an employment with the charity and no Trustees were reimbursed for expenses (2021: none)

3. WAGES AND SALARIES

There are no employees (2021: none)

4. Donated Services

2022
2021
2022
2021
Donated Services
Donated To:
Donated Services to Oddington GHT
8,445
8,361
Total Donated Services:
8,445
8,361

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Notes forming part of the Financial Statements

5. Grants

2022 2021

Grants:

6. Tangible Fixed Assets

Cost Freehold Land & Buildings - South Hill,
Fosse Way
Fixtures, Fittings & Equipment Totals
At 6 April 2021 1,826,400 20,496 1,846,896
Additions
Disposals
At 5 April 2022 1,826,400 20,496 1,846,896
Depreciation
At 6 April 2021 279,432 11,817 291,249
Current Year Depreciation 36,528 868 37,396
Eliminated on disposals
At 5 April 2022 315,960 12,685 328,645
Net Book Value
At 5 April 2022 1,510,440 7,811 1,518,251
At 5 April 2021 1,546,968 8,679 1,555,647

Land registry titles of the above property held are GR380027.

7. TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES

During the financial year, aggregated donations of £4680 (2021: £4310) were received. No material reimbursements were made. There is also a loan of £1000 (2021: £1000) to Fosse Construction Ltd, a company in which Mr D L Wheatcroft (a trustee) is a director.

8. VOLUNTEERS

Stow Gospel Hall Trust relies entirely on volunteers to carry out the management, administration and general maintenance work. The Trust has no paid staff or paid Trustees.

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Resources Expended

Stow Gospel Hall Trust For the year ended 5 April 2022

9. Resources Expended

MEETING ROOMS OTHER
CHARITABLE
ACTIVITIES
TOTAL COSTS
2022
TOTAL COSTS
2021
Direct Costs
Premises costs - repairs and maintenance 3,878 - 3,878 1,738
Premises costs - heat, light and power 4,280 - 4,280 5,147
Health and Safety 1,315 - 1,315 658
Congregation Support - 3,900 3,900 7,875
Depreciation 37,396 - 37,396 37,492
Insurance 1,497 - 1,497 1,345
Other Expenses 3,487 - 3,487 2,532
Governance 2,210 - 2,210 2,101
Total Direct Costs 54,064 3,900 57,964 58,887

Governance costs include £180 (prior year: £180) in respect of independent examiners fees.

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Analysis of Net Assets - Current year

Stow Gospel Hall Trust For the year ended 5 April 2022

10. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

10.1 Current Year

UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED TOTAL FUNDS
FUNDS FUNDS 2022
Funds
Tangible Fixed Assets 1,518,250 - 1,518,250
Current Assets 87,710 - 87,710
Current Liabilities (1,654) - (1,654)
Total Funds 1,604,307 - 1,604,307

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Analysis of Net Assets - Prior Year

Stow Gospel Hall Trust For the year ended 5 April 2022

10.2 Prior Year

UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED TOTAL FUNDS
FUNDS FUNDS 2021
Funds
Tangible Fixed Assets 1,555,646 - 1,555,646
Current Assets 73,525 - 73,525
Current Liabilities (756) - (756)
Total Funds 1,628,414 - 1,628,414

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Movement in Funds - Current Year

Stow Gospel Hall Trust For the year ended 5 April 2022

11. Movement in Funds

11.1 Movement in funds - current year

UNRESTRICTED DESIGNATED RESTRICTED TOTAL FUNDS
FUNDS FUNDS FUNDS 2022
Movement in Funds
Total funds bought forward 1,627,889 525 - 1,628,414
Incoming resources 40,501 1,800 - 42,301
Resources expended (62,509) (3,900) - (66,409)
Total funds carried forward 1,605,882 (1,575) - 1,604,307

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Movement in Funds - Prior Year

Stow Gospel Hall Trust For the year ended 5 April 2022

11. Movement in Funds

11.2 Movement in funds - Prior year

UNRESTRICTED DESIGNATED RESTRICTED TOTAL FUNDS
FUNDS FUNDS FUNDS 2021
Movement in Funds
Total funds bought forward 1,649,246 - - 1,649,246
Incoming resources 38,017 8,400 - 46,417
Resources expended (59,373) (7,875) - (67,248)
Total funds carried forward 1,627,889 525 - 1,628,414

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Comparative Statement of Financial Activities

Stow Gospel Hall Trust For the year ended 5 April 2022

Comparative Statement of Financial Activities
Stow Gospel Hall Trust
For the year ended 5 April 2022
Comparative Statement of Financial Activities
Stow Gospel Hall Trust
For the year ended 5 April 2022
UNRESTRICTED
FUNDS
DESIGNATED
FUNDS
RESTRICTED
FUNDS
TOTAL FUNDS
2021
Income and endowments:
Donations and Legacies:
Collections
25,157
-
-
25,157
Contributions from the Congregation
-
8,400
-
8,400
Gift Aid Donations
7,050
-
-
7,050
Income Tax refunds
634
-
-
634
Other Donations
5,176
-
-
5,176
Total Income and endowments:
38,017
8,400
-
46,417
Expenditure:
Running Meeting Rooms (note 9)
51,012
-
-
51,012
Congregation Support (note 9)
-
7,875
-
7,875
Cost of donated services (note 4)
8,361
-
-
8,361
Total Expenditure:
59,373
7,875
-
67,248
Net Income/(Expenditure)
(21,356)
525
-
(20,831)
Net Movement In Funds
(21,356)
525
-
(20,831)
UNRESTRICTED
FUNDS
DESIGNATED
FUNDS
RESTRICTED
FUNDS
TOTAL FUNDS
2021
Reconciliation of funds (note 11)
Total Funds bought forward
1,649,246
-
-
1,649,246
Net movement in funds
(21,356)
525
-
(20,831)
Total Funds carried forward
1,627,889
525
-
1,628,414

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Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

Public Benefit Report Stow Gospel Hall Trust

Stow Gospel Hall Trust Public Benefit

One of the Trust’s principal activities that furthers its objects is providing a facility for the coordination of “outreach” work into the wider community.

Members of the congregation, acting under the directions of the trustees and with their full active encouragement, have continued with “outreach” work which they have carried out for many years.

April 21 – March 22 Summary

The trustees of the Stow Gospel Hall Trust confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance to charities on public benefit.

2021/22 has been the year where individuals, businesses and charities alike began picking up from Covid 19 and living the ‘new normal’ in these challenging times.

The trustees and regular congregation members have continued their public benefit works supporting people and communities around our places of worship.

Street Preaching and Tract Distribution

When Covid 19 hit, we were unable to continue the longstanding committal to the open air preaching in the town centre of Stow-on-the-Wold, but this partially resumed once the lockdown restrictions lifted. Tracts and gospel cards were still available for collection from the main Gospel Hall. Any enquiries received by the trustees or made to central office have been followed up fully, and where applicable people have been directed to the following website where literature can be purchased or downloaded for reading in multiple languages.

https://christiandoctrineandgospelpublishing.org/

Members of the congregation have continued to hand out tracts to neighbours and people in need when they have met them. Other church leaders and ministers from time-to-time request some of the early printed ministry by the leaders which is made available from the website listed.

Public Benefit Report Stow Gospel Hall Trust

Working with other charities

Members of the congregation donate to Rapid Relief Team (RRT) which has enabled us to obtain the RRT Family Food Boxes, Christmas Family Food Boxes, Baby Care Kits and Care Kits. These kits have been donated by the Trust to people/charities in need as displayed below:

As a Trust, we have distributed 98 RRT Family Food Boxes to the local schools and 5 RRT Family Food Boxes to Home Start. The RRT Food Boxes are designed to feed a family of 4 for up to 4 days and bring some relief and joy to households during their time of pressure and crisis.

The Trust has also distributed 30 RRT Christmas Family Food Boxes to the local school. The purpose of these food boxes was to bring families together for the holidays and help to support the local community.

The Trust has also distributed 9 RRT Baby Care Kits to Home Start. These kits are prepared for organisations who support families and mothers dealing with challenging circumstances. The kits provide at least 10 days support which we know gives encouragement to mothers with young babies, in times of crisis.

22 RRT Care Kits were also donated to Kate’s Home Nursing. These care kits are tailored to the needs of frontline workers, nurses, doctors and others who have been under immense pressure over the last few years. The kits provide some relief and healing. Contents include Aloe Vera Lotion, Aloe Vera Lip Balm, Aloe Cleansing Wipes, A Pocket Comb, Nail Buffer, Toothbrush, Toothpaste and a Washbag.

The Trust see that the work carried out by its members as Volunteers of the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) is of the utmost importance in the community and has been pleased to allow its external facilities to be used as a meeting/gathering point for these volunteers prior to deployment or community support. Equipment and trailers are stored in the secure ground of the gospel halls where volunteers can freely access them as much of the work of RRT is done out of normal operating hours.

RRT Family Food Boxes delivered to the local school

Public Benefit Report Stow Gospel Hall Trust

Case Study Example 1

Members of the congregation volunteered for RRT to pack the Family Food Boxes that were heading to Ukraine to support the war-torn country and its people. This packing was done on Friday evenings where up to 3000 boxes were packed and prepared by the volunteers for the long journey ahead. The boxes were then loaded onto lorries and set off for distribution to the people in need.

Case Study Example 2

Members of the congregation also volunteered for RRT with rolling out the RRT Early Bird Learning Program in the local schools. This programme was a post covid support package for KS1 and KS2 teachers and parents. This programme consisted of providing activity packs for each child, the provision of breakfast bars, Education Relief Box for the holidays and the provision of RRT Food Boxes for the families.

Please see the below testimonials from local schools who received the Early Bird Learning Program:

I just wanted to reiterate Mrs S….. thanks for the amazing boxes you provided our pupils with both at Christmas and in recent weeks. The boxes are perfect, such lovely quality items. They have been so well received by the children and their families. They have been a real blessing to them and we are so thankful for your generosity and kindness.

Thank you again for showing such kindness to our pupils, Kind regards A..

A.. B…. Headteacher Temple Guiting Church of England School

Thank you so much for the generous donation of the resources box and the breakfast bars.

Our Early Bird club are thrilled to have them and they are already being used at our morning club.

It’s so kind of you to provide these for our vulnerable pupils and I can assure you that they are much appreciated. With kind regards,

Ms J… K….. Headteacher Bledington Primary School