# **APCM Report 2024 Sunday 19th May 2024 The Parish of St Mary the Virgin, Strensall** _We are here to worship, praise and thank God through our Lord Jesus Christ. In the power of the Holy Spirit to take Christ’s love and peace into our community._ ## _Incumbent (Retired September 2023)_ _Rev. Martin Harrison. The Vicarage, 10 York Road, Strensall, York YO32 5UN_ ## _Assistant Curate: (Curacy ended March 2023)_ _Rev. Katharine McBride. The Barn, 72 The Village, Strensall, York YO32 5XA_ ## _Distinctive Deacon:_ _Rev. Dot Hicks. 111 Moor Lane, Strensall, York YO32 5UG_ ## _Additional Minister with PTO:_ _Rev. Dr. Judith Palmer. 6 Portisham Place, Strensall, York YO32 5AZ_ ## _Chair:_ _Janet Mountain. 49 Wilkinson Way, Strensall, York YO32 5ZA_ ## _Treasurer:_ _Pauline Chambers, 11 Netherwoods, Strensall, York YO32 5WE_ ## _Independent Examiner:_ _Ruth Prins. 21 Chaucer Lane, Strensall, York YO32 5PE_ ## _Church Architect:_ _Andrew Wiles. Wiles and Maguire Ltd. The Danesmead Wing, York YO10 4PB_ ## _Parish Safeguarding Officer:_ _Jane Atkinson. 1 Brunswick Close, Strensall, York YO32 5ZT_ ## _Parish Administrator:_ _Victoria Haworth. c/o The Vicarage, 10 York Road, Strensall, York YO32 5UN_ ## _Bank:_ _Santander UK plc. Account Number 95929403. Sort Code 09-01-51_ St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 1 of 20 The following served as PCC members as from the APCM 2023: (For a list of those who served before the 2023 APCM, see the APCM Report for 2022) Rev. Martin Harrison Vicar and Chair (Appointed September 2001, retired September 2023) Rev. Katharine McBride Assistant Curate (From July 2019, resigned March 2023) Rev. Dot Hicks Distinctive Deacon Rev. Dr. Judith Palmer Additional Minister with PTO Margaret Berg Churchwarden (Re-elected at APCM 2023) Gordon Moore Churchwarden (Re-elected at APCM 2023) Janet Irish Deanery Synod (Elected 2023) Gordon Moore Deanery Synod (Elected 2023) (1 vacancy for the Deanery Synod) Jean Cooper (Elected 2021 for 3 years) Terry Atkinson (Elected 2021 for 3 years) Pauline Chambers Treasurer (Elected 2021 for 3 years) Andrew Alexander Electoral Roll Officer (Elected 2022 for 3 years, resigned March 2024) Pauline Pillai (Elected 2022 for 3 years) Wendy Robinson (Elected 2023 for 2 years) Janet Mountain Vice Chair until September 2023, Chair since September 2023 (Elected 2023 for 3 years) Shirley Bamford PCC Secretary (Elected 2023 for 3 years) Jane Atkinson Safeguarding Officer (Elected 2023 for 3 years) **Those elected to the PCC at the APCM are on a rolling 3-year term. Three councilors are to be elected each year with a total of 9 elected members. Any ex-officio and co-opted members will be in addition to this figure.** Members _**ARE**_ eligible for re-election at the end of their term of office. **For re-election in 2024** Jean Cooper; Terry Atkinson; Pauline Chambers **For re-election in 2025** Wendy Robinson, Pauline Pillai, 1 vacancy **For re-election in 2026** Janet Mountain; Shirley Bamford; Jane Atkinson It has been agreed that Victoria Haworth, our Parish Administrator, should act as a minute secretary for the PCC. Victoria does not have any right to vote at a PCC meeting. ## **Deanery Mission Partnership** In 2017, the Deanery Mission Partnership was entered into and means that all clergy in the deanery are issued with licences enabling them to officially minister in all parishes of the deanery. This legally means that each PCC in the deanery acquired new clerical members. St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 2 of 20 It was agreed that these additional clerical members will not attend any PCC meetings other than those in the parishes they are directly responsible for. These clerical members also agree to forfeit any voting rights. All future clergy licensed in the deanery will be appointed on the same basis of cross licensing. Names of these clergy will not be recorded in APCM Reports. ## **PCC Meetings in 2023** The full PCC met 8 times in 2023. This includes the first meeting of the new PCC which was held immediately after the APCM. All meetings were in person. In 2022, the Standing Committee met once in person. There were two PCC groups that continued to meet regularly, these were the Environment Group and the Finance Group. ## **Background** The PCC at St Mary’s Church Strensall has the responsibility of co-operating with the Incumbent, the Rev Martin Harrison, in promoting the work of the Church of England in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Strensall with Towthorpe. This responsibility includes financial management of the church and the care and maintenance of church buildings and fabric and the wider mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. During 2023, Rev Martin Harrison was on sickness absence before retiring in September 2023. ## **Membership** The PCC (The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Strensall with Towthorpe) is a charity registered with the Charity Commission. Registration Number 1162095. (First registered 10th June 2015). Members of the PCC are either ex-officio or elected by the APCM in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. The Incumbent, along with any other licensed clergy to St. Mary’s and the Churchwarden(s) are ex-officio members of the PCC. It is agreed that no more than 9 members be elected to the PCC on a proportional three year rotating basis. Any members of St Mary’s Strensall who are elected as members of the Deanery, Diocesan or General Synods are automatically members of the PCC for the duration of the Synod. The PCC may appoint co-opted members in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. ## **Standing Committee** The Standing Committee comprises of the Incumbent, Churchwarden(s), Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice Chair. This committee of the PCC is required by law. It has the power to transact the business of the PCC between meetings subject to any direction given by the council. ## **Safeguarding Statement** St Mary’s PCC has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have regard to House of Bishop’s guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults). Our Safeguarding Group meets regularly in order to support our safeguarding officer and to ensure we are up to date with current practices related to safeguarding. ## **Fundraising** Fundraising is the responsibility of the full PCC. ## **Electoral Roll and Church attendance** Membership of the electoral roll is open to all lay people who are baptised, over the age of 16 and have signed a declaration that they are either a member of the Church of England or of a church in communion therewith and: Resident in the parish OR St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 3 of 20 Not being resident, has habitually attended public worship in the parish during a period of six months prior to enrolment, OR Is a member in good standing of a church which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity (not being a church in communion with the Church of England) and also prepared to declare themselves to be a member of the Church of England having habitually worshipped in the Parish Church for a period of six months prior to enrolment. **St. Mary’s Church Electoral Roll Report from Andrew Alexander, Electoral Roll Officer** The Electoral Roll prepared for the APCM in 2023 was 113 members. Since the APCM the following members of the Electoral Roll have died: Ralph Plant Mabel Thomson In 2019, we were required to prepare a completely new Electoral Roll as governed by the Church Representation Rules. The renewal of the Roll happens every 6 years. During all other years the Roll is only reviewed in preparation for the APCM. Numbers on the Electoral Roll for the year are as follows: At start of year 113 Number leaving the Roll during the year 3 Deaths 2 Number added to the Roll during the year 2 **Number on Roll 110** _____________________________________________________________________________________ ## **The following reports are presented to the APCM:** ## **Statutory Reports** - PCC Chair - Treasurer - Independent Examiner - Churchwardens - PCC Secretary - Deanery Synod ## **Non Statutory Reports** - Safeguarding - Parish Administrator - Bell Tower - Little Fishes - ACTS 435 - Open the Book Assemblies St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 4 of 20 ## **PCC Chair Report APCM 2024 Sunday 19th May 2024** This has been a very challenging year for the PCC and my grateful thanks go to every member who has worked tirelessly to provide leadership and support during some demanding and sometimes stressful situations. I also thank Victoria who has in her usual dedicated manner supported the PCC alongside her other church commitments ## **Staffing** Changes in staffing relate to the early retirement of our incumbent Rev. Martin Harrison in September 2023 after a long period of ill health. Also, the resignation of Rev. Katherine McBride as curate in March 2023 ## **Services and Ministries** We continue to be grateful to Rev. Dot Hicks Distinctive (Deacon) and Rev. Judith Palmer (Additional Minister with Permission to Officiate) for their dedicated efforts to ensure services are provided and to Judy Smith (Eucharistic Minister) in her support of them. Many thanks also to all who support the services. Rev. Dot Hicks renewed her licence in March 2023 for a further two years. Janet Mountain was admitted as an Authorised Lay Minister in September 2023. This being a transferred role from that of Registered Parish Assistant. This will be reviewed in three years. The PCC is also indebted to a team of visiting clergy who have supported and upheld the spiritual wellbeing of the church during this time. Thanks to our Churchwardens whose efforts have enabled the ongoing provision of services alongside organising marriages, funerals, and baptisms. We have said farewell to a number of our congregation this year and our thoughts and prayers are with their families. I would also like to thank those who have dedicated themselves to prayer throughout this year both through our dedicated prayer teams and in overseeing prayer requests. ## **Home Groups** Our Home Groups continue to meet and successfully support many of our congregation through bible study, prayer and social conversation. Thanks to all those who lead and organise these. ## **Children’s Ministry** Little Fishes continues to be well attended and supported by many families. Our Open the Book Team, together with the Methodist Church, continue in their ministry to local schools including Robert Wilkinson Academy. Whilst not exclusively for children, our joint Nativity and Christingle service was well supported by Little Fishes families with many taking a part in the nativity scene. ## **Events** With the help and support of church members we have organised some successful events not least of all an outstanding Light Trail which saw up to 300 children attending The joint Nativity and Christingle service ended with over 50 people sharing refreshments and making their Christingles in Spearehead Hall. We are grateful to have Spearehead Hall. Many thanks to all who were involved in these and other Fundraising events. ## **Environment** Our Environment Team has continued to look after a range of practical, ecological and environmental issues, with a number of these being both costly and challenging and thanks goes to all who have supported them. ## **Challenges** The diocesan initiative, ‘Living Christ’s Story’ continues to progress with the completion of the Deanery Plan. The PCC took the decision not to write our Ministry Unit Plan in 2023. This enabled us to focus our efforts to write the Parish Profile which took precedence. PCC members have continued to attend Deanery training days St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 5 of 20 ## **Finance** Our Treasurer and her support team have met a great many challenges this year and have worked hard at looking at the various options that may help us meet this issue in the future. Grateful thanks go to them. (See Treasurer’s Report) ## **The Vacancy** From September 2023 we entered a time of Vacancy which has required us to meet certain criteria in connection with appointing a new incumbent. We have been advised in these matters by the Archdeacon and will continue to follow the process laid down by the Church of England. Responsibility for the Vacancy lies with the Church Wardens supported by the PCC. Please continue to pray for the PCC members that we will know God’s will and purpose going forward. We need discernment and wisdom in our decision making the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we move into a very important year ahead. Thank you all for your support for myself and the PCC _Report prepared by Janet Mountain, PCC Chair April 2024_ St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 6 of 20 ## **Financial Report for Year End 2023 APCM 2024 Sunday 19th May 2024** The Finance documents are included over the next 4 pages. They are: - St. Mary’s Accounts 2023 _(page 7)_ - St. Mary’s Current Bank Reconciliation 2023 _(page 8)_  Treasurer’s Report for APCM 19th May 2024 _(page 9)_  Budget 2024 _(page 10)_ St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 7 of 20 t s Church Strensall PCC Bank Recollciliation Financial Year 1st JanllaTh 2023 to 31st December 2023 Current Account Opening Bank Balance @ Ist January 2023 63.74l.28 Opening Bank Balance @ 1st January 2023 CCLA 19.018.35 Total Income 92.296.42 Total Experlditure 95,503.64 Closmg Bank Balance per Cash Book 79.552_41 Closing Bank Balance per Ststetnent @ 31112123 16,719.08 Closing Balance per CCLA statement 30109/2023 19,627.87 Closulg Balance per Skn'ptoll statement 3010912023 43,205.46 Difference ￿ Bank Balance5 st. Mary's Slrensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Rewrt Fleg Charity Number." 1162095 Page 8 0120 Treasurers report 2024 for APCM At the beginnirwJ of Jarnjary 2023, the bakjnce in tt* Santander acc￿nI was £&3.741. at the of DeCern￿ 2023. w&• £16.719.08. wrth £19.627 in the CCLA Icontngwcy} account aThJ £43205 in the iJ kipl￿ Buildffbg o(Kiety ￿￿tr￿led} ￿c￿nL 80th of the latter deposrt ￿count. were re￿[VIr￿a interest. Incomg 24 people we giving regulaty via the PwBh Givy￿ Sctr￿r￿ IPGSI. which 15 also L￿j fLY grfls arwj 14 [e￿Ie we by Standing OrdeJ {S.O.). I would like to encouwe who can to use the PGS. -uk The "Sumup" cwd machine is beYwJ (Bed regularly for transXb(￿ arKI d￿all(￿￿. As I￿lY 3 people were WAng the regular envelcpe givirwj =r.tem, rt w&- decKled to U￿ (￿ty the yellow, enveW- whth couhj be rf cLwmng Grfl (GA>. Income fiwres in 2023 were gwen a bcx)st by the receipt of £1 s,1X￿ bockdated Grft A*J r￿laIM tr￿n 2021 and 2022. Grft AKI arKI GADO i= - -tiii to claim for 2023, but the fvJure ived will be greatly reduced compared wrth pre￿￿J5 the GA in the ￿me month the d￿at"on i= A ￿ of £5(Kl was given frun the Ccubcil for upkeq) of the cr￿chY¥d. SFearehead hdl is well used for church and comm￿lty events. ￿"ngir￿ in a steady income stsEam and g¢>knwdl. Thanks to who abty manage the bookros. Exp•nditur• Main of el￿￿￿rt￿ are the Free will offering, ( Teduced from £60k to £4(YA 2024. tMJt with a new incunb&it. we W￿j￿1 &spre to retum to our prevlcwJ￿ level l. Wlergy bill.. The FWO fuly paKI up fc* 21r23. DuriTh3 the year, ot Marr Church ￿ar￿laTty ￿pported Act= 435. the Salvation knry. Chri•tian Ajd, Ycxk Foodbank. NewLtfe Church. Kathmandu, Nepal. Rggular 0X￿dItUrO continugs to gxcggd rngularincomo. Th9rg arn rns8ms which wil pport in tho Jjort z•mi. A thank Y￿ to Denise EcknwKlson for her b￿k keeping. P charl￿ 10th ￿1 2024. st. Mary's Slrensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Rewrt Fleg Charity Number." 1162095 Page 9 0120 ## **St. Mary’s Church Strensall, Budget 2024** St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 10 of 20 ## **Independent Examiner Report APCM 2024 Sunday 19th May 2024** ## **Independent Examiner's Report** ## **To the Trustees of the Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Strensall with Towthorpe Charity Number 1162095** I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act; to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act; and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **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 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 statement below. ## **Independent examiner's statement** In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect,: - the accounting 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 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 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. Name: Mrs Ruth Prins, FCPFA Relevant professional qualification or body: Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Address: 21 Chaucer Lane, Strensall, York, YO32 5PE Date: Monday, 15 April 2024 St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 11 of 20 **Churchwardens Report APCM 2024 Sunday 19th May 2024** The Environment team has created a priority list of work to be carried out this year and the next, based on the report of the Quinquennial Inspection (QI) carried out in September 2022. The annual inspection of the heating boiler was carried out in December 2023 and passed successfully. Remote access to control the heating system has been installed for both the church and the hall and is being used frequently. This is most effective during adverse weather conditions and occasional bookings in the Spearehead Hall because it reduces the need to travel to the church to manually turn on the heating. The annual PAT inspections were carried out with no issues to report. The 5 yearly electrical inspection of the church building has been carried out successfully. Bookings for the use of the Spearehead Hall have continued to increase this past year and thanks to Jean and Penny for managing these. Poppies Cleaners continue to clean both the church building and the Spearehead Hall every 2 weeks. Their standard of work has been most satisfactory. The development of the churchyard as a wildlife refuge continues and the development of a Rest Area at the eastern end of the churchyard is taking shape. Two wild flower areas are now in their 2[nd] year with plans to develop a centrally located 3[rd] area underway. Our thanks go to Peter and Alison Bayliss for their tireless work creating these. They, together with Sophie Allan, planted many daffodil bulbs around the main entrance areas of the church during late 2023 and these were a wonderful sight this springtime when they bloomed for the first time. Thanks go to the environment team and the churchyard maintenance team for their hard work keeping access open to the churchyard and graves including the Commonwealth graves. Thanks go to Mike Cawthorn for continuing to step up to handle projection duties at our 11am services. We continue to enjoy live music in church. Thanks to Paul Blenkiron and Alison Bayliss for playing the organ at our services. As this report is being written we’re hopefully nearing the end of our Vacancy period during which time we’ve been very fortunate to have been able to continue our principal Sunday worship with support from several retired clergy. These clergy, together with our Authorised Lay Minister Janet Mountain, have also continued to hold our 11am Sunday services. Our thanks go to all for their continued support and especially to our Churchwarden Margaret who efficiently organised the calendar for the visiting clergy. Lastly, our thanks go to Margaret for holding down the Churchwarden role for the past 5 years. ## _Report compiled by : Margaret Berg and Gordon Moore - Churchwardens April 2024_ _____________________________________________________________________________________ St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 12 of 20 ## **PCC Secretary Report APCM 2024 Sunday 19th May 2024** ## **1. PCC Meetings and Organisation** The PCC met eight times in 2023. The Standing Committee met once. PCC members have attended Deanery Training Days with another scheduled in April 2024. The PCC identified some financial challenges for St Mary’s and have addressed these in the short term. The following areas continue to be covered by the PCC: - Safeguarding - Data Protection - Fundraising ## **2. Key Achievements in 2023** Two Sunday services have continued to be held with the Primary Communion Service at 9.30am and the Informal Service held at 11am. Additional Services have been held as appropriate. Other notable achievements are: - The church continues links with York Foodbank and with various community groups, Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy and with other churches in Strensall churches - We achieved Level 3 Status on the National Safeguarding Dashboard - Support to Easingwold Deanery is ongoing - St.Mary’s ran a programme of services and events for Christmas 2023 - Fundraising events included the Carnival café, charity bag collections, Carols with the Salvation Army band. Over the year we raised much needed funds for St. Mary’s, Christian Aid, Children’s Society, Salvation Army and our friends in Nepal. - Community events in 2023 included the very successful ‘Light Party’ - Home Groups are established, currently 4 meeting regularly. - The PCC supports the work of Acts 435 ## **3. Future Challenges 2024/25** The PCC has identified the challenges of entering into a Vacancy period and will commence writing the Parish Profile in 2024. _Report prepared by Shirley Bamford (PCC Secretary) April 2024_ St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 13 of 20 **Deanery Synod APCM 2024 Sunday 19th May 2024** After our 2023 APCM Gordon joined me as a Deanery Synod representative and we have worked together since. This was particularly helpful when Gordon hosted an IT training session for the Deanery in our hall. The Deanery are still looking for another the lay representative for the Diocesan Synod to join the two clergy and one laity member already committed. Throughout the Deanery churches are continuing to work on Living Christ’s Story to the best of their ability. Some of our churches are really struggling and it is looking highly likely that Sheriff Hutton will become a Festival church. There is a theatre production by the Riding Lights group at the Galtres centre which has been widely promoted throughout the Deanery in an attempt to reach out to others to help them in their faith journey. There will be a Deanery Development morning on 27 April with a theme of discipleship. We at Strensall, are going to host a Hog roast on Saturday 13 July on behalf of the Deanery. The Deanery has been aware for some time of the impending retirement of Bishop John and Gordon and I have details of relevant services in July. Rev. Steve Whiting is standing down as Area Dean in November. _Report prepared by Janet Irish, Deanery Synod Representative March 2024_ St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 14 of 20 **Safeguarding Report APCM 2024 Sunday 19th May 2024** ## **Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) at St. Mary’s** Our Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) is Jane Atkinson. Jane was appointed to this role at the 2021 APCM. In 2022, Jane completed all the Statutory Safeguarding Training for her role as PSO. ## **Safeguarding Administration & Safer Recruitment at St. Mary’s** Victoria Haworth has responsibility for the administration of Safeguarding and for ensuring that we follow Safer Recruitment guidelines as set by the National Safeguarding team. This includes safeguarding training and online DBS applications. ## **Safeguarding in Church of England** The Church of England’s ‘Promoting a Safer Church’ safeguarding policy must be implemented and followed at all levels within the church. ## **Safeguarding in Diocese of York** The safeguarding team at the Diocese of York ensures that ‘Promoting a Safer Church’ and all associated central documents is followed locally. In parish churches this is to be managed through the PCC. Rob Marshall is the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA). ## **Safeguarding at St. Mary’s Strensall** Our own safeguarding practice continues to be embedded and part of daily life at St. Mary’s and we thank all volunteers for their support and acceptance of this vital part of our church life. We continue to update and revise our safeguarding database regularly to ensure that it reflects current practice. To this end, all volunteers are recruited following Safer Recruitment guidance. All DBS certificates remain up to date following the change in validity from 5 to 3 years. The responsibility for the clergy DBS and safeguarding training remain with the Diocesan safeguarding team. We currently (17.04.2024) have 46 people involved with safeguarding activities at St. Mary’s. It is so encouraging to have such for support for safeguarding. Safeguarding remains a standing item on all PCC meeting agendas. Either Jane or Victoria shares information to ensure that the PCC remains up to date on current activity as well as any changes. In 2023, we had eleven visits from visiting bell ringers who all completed the relevant safeguarding paperwork. In 2024, we plan to update all safeguarding policies and documents prior to our internal audit. We did not complete the audit in 2023. Following its introduction in 2022, we have worked hard to complete, and are forever updating, the ‘Safeguarding Dashboard’. This nationwide project encourages all churches to implement the ‘Church of England Safeguarding Handbook’. The Dashboard is divided into eight areas and then into several sub sections, each covering a certain aspect of the safeguarding policy, such as ‘Training’. There are 3 Dashboard levels, all scored based on the traffic light system. We achieved the highest grading of ‘Level 3 Status’ in 2023 and remain at 99% complete. We are waiting for some external verification to complete the final 1%. This is a major achievement! _Report prepared by Victoria Haworth (Parish Administrator) and Jane Atkinson (PSO), March 2024_ St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 15 of 20 ## **Parish Administrator Report APCM 2024 Sunday 19th May 2024** Key achievements of the Parish Administrator in 2023 include; - Working closely with the Parish Safeguarding Officer to ensure full compliance to the Church of England’s ‘Promoting a Safer Church’ policy. (See also the Safeguarding Report for APCM 2024.) - Organised and prepared all paperwork for PCC including meetings and attended PCC meetings to take Minutes. - Organised and prepared all paperwork (excluding financial) for APCM and attended APCM to take Minutes. - Ensure St Mary’s policies are kept up to date. Manage all Current and Archived Documents files. - Continued to manage and maintain St. Mary’s systems to ensure compliance to GDPR and Data Protection Policy. This includes all correspondence and notices. - Continued to use St. Mary’s GDPR form for people to give permission for St. Mary’s to contact them. Using these forms, our central database is updated and the previous issue is deleted. We only communicate with those on our database as per the Data Protection Policy. - Respond to email enquiries sent via the website ‘Contact Us’ section. - Provided efficient and ongoing support to the PCC and Churchwardens. Through email, telephone calls and face to face meetings. - Maintained St. Mary’s online Google calendar linked to the webpage. - Leader of Little Fishes in Spearehead Hall (See separate ‘Little Fishes’ report), stepping in to run the group from September 2022. - Organised two more successful charity bag collections for 2023, raising £125.50 for church funds. Thanks to Andrew and Anne Alexander for kindly offering to be the main collection point for both collections in 2023. - Wrote St Mary’s weekly ‘Notice Sheet’ and emailed it weekly to those who have requested to receive an e-copy. This is received currently by 97 people each week (as at 10.04.2024). - Ensure that the church noticeboards are kept up to date with relevant information. - I maintain and organise the files and filing cabinets in the vestry. During 2023, a second filing cabinet was brought over from the vicarage. I am still trying to merge the files to ensure a smooth transition for the new incumbent. 2023 has been an interesting year at St. Mary’s for all manner of reasons. I am grateful to the Churchwardens and PCC for their ongoing commitment to my role. Many thanks also to everyone at St. Mary’s for your continued support. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or require further information at this time. _Report prepared by Victoria Haworth, Parish Administrator April 2024_ _______________________________________________________________________________________ St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 16 of 20 ## **Bell Tower Report APCM 2024 Sunday 19th May 2024** In 2023 our band of five lady ringers managed to ring most Sundays for the early service, occasionally we were down to three or four ringers. If not enough to ring, one of the band usually chimed for the service. We rang the bells for two weddings during the year. We no longer practice on a Monday night and have adjusted the entry in the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers annual booklet, of which we are all members. Our regular monthly visiting Ringers continue to enjoy ringing peals in our bell tower, which can last over two hours. They are very helpful in dealing with minor issues with the ropes, being very experienced ringers. We have had no interest in anyone wanting to learn, they would however have to attend Huntington Church practice night as we are not able to teach. We continue to enjoy ringing; long may it last! _Report prepared by Anne Fieldhouse, Tower Captain March 2024_ St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 17 of 20 ## **Little Fishes Report APCM 2024 Sunday 19th May 2024** Little Fishes is a popular baby and toddler group that meets weekly on Tuesdays in term-time in Spearehead Hall. The session time is 9.15-10.45am. Whilst part of the children’s ministry of St. Mary’s, the group has more of a ‘light touch’ with the focus being on providing a safe space for children and adults, as well as showing God’s love in a gentle way encouraging friendships, kindness and generosity of spirit. We do not provide a time of worship as such, but all come together at the end of the session for singing with children picking the songs from the ‘song bag’. We set up the room into different zones… baby area is cordoned off with chairs and then becomes the place where we gather for the end of session sing song, there is a craft table with the weekly craft (glue, paint or colouring), play kitchen, reading nook, puzzles for pre-schoolers and a tuff tray that we use for play dough, biscuit decorating or similar hands-on activity. In warmer weather we have toys for the outside area including sand and water trays. We recognise special occasions such as Christmas, Harvest, Easter, Mothering Sunday, Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day, King’s Coronation, Children in Need, etc and try to provide a linked activity such as card making, crown painting or decorating baubles at Christmas. We also keep the noticeboards in Spearehead Hall full with bright displays of the children’s artwork. We hope that this inspires those looking at it to either come along to the group or, in the very least, know that we are there on Tuesday mornings. The group continues to be run by Victoria Haworth. During 2023, two of the mums who attend the group with their children also joined as leaders and completed the full safer recruitment process. Emma Wingfield and Hannah Liddle now help to run the group. We are always happy for others to join us and in 2024 we will continue to ask amongst regular attendees. We are supported by other helpers who come most weeks to help set up, tidy away, sweep the floor, make drinks, prepare crafts and provide friendship and fellowship to everyone who comes. We regularly have up to 20 families attending each week and approx 40 families who have completed registration forms. Some come each week whilst others just drop in as they are able. Everyone enjoys the warm welcome (and warm drink!). We charge a nominal £2 per family group per session. Towards the end of 2023, we started to use the SumUp machine as an option for weekly subs payments. We are also still happy to take cash payments. This is paid into the bank account, via St. Mary’s cashier, at the end of each half term. We have a restricted fund within St. Mary’s bank account and are self-sufficient financially. I am extremely grateful to the lovely team who come to help and support the group. Especially to Emma, Hannah, Caroline, Laura, Lauren, Jane, Jenny, Pauline and Bianca who all come to the sessions when they can. _Report prepared by Victoria Haworth, Little Fishes Leader April 2024_ St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 18 of 20 ## **ACTS 435 APCM 2024 Sunday 19th May 2024** Over the last year, in my capacity as an approved local advocate for this Christian charity, I have been able to help three individuals. Two were brought to my attention by a Haxby Local Area Coordinator and one via a request posted on St Mary’s Website. Following my posting of needs on the ACTS 435 website, £200 was raised through generous donors for each request. The types of needs were as follows: - Car hire arrears following two years of cancer treatment – much of this during COVID lockdown and away from family (not eligible for sick pay due to only having been in a new job for less than 3 months). - Death of baby and unable to afford grave headstone. - Rendered homeless by severe flood and fall from a ladder causing spinal fracture. Required help with purchase of curtains and curtain poles for new accommodation. I have brought these needs to the attention of St Mary’s congregations as well as handing out information cards about ACTS 435. Most people are happy to go online but a few people have preferred to use the ACTS 435 envelopes available in church with the option to gift aiding their donation. These can then be posted to ACTS 435 using the address on the envelope. Thank you to everyone who has donated in any way to this very worthwhile charity. I have been privileged to hear and see the difference these donations have made. Do remember, if you know anyone in need, please pass on my contact details as detailed on the ACTS 435 publicity at church and around the village. _Report prepared by Linda Fee, ACTS 435 Advocate April 2024_ _____________________________________________________________________________________ St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 19 of 20 ## **Open the Book Assemblies APCM 2024 Sunday 19th May 2024** Of the 18,000 Primary Schools in England and Wales, approximately 3,000 have teams delivering Open the Book (OTB) assemblies. The Bible Society, as the umbrella organisation overseeing OTB, provides ongoing training and excellent resources. Last year, in order to fund many new resources, the Bible Society requested that a small payment be made by each person delivering these assemblies. St Mary’s agreed to cover the costs for this. Currently, we have a wonderful, ecumenical team comprising 6 members from St Mary’s and 1 from Strensall Methodists delivering assemblies at Crayke C of E School and Robert Wilkinson Primary School on a Thursday morning. On average, we visit Crayke fortnightly and Robert Wilkinson once every Half Term. It has been a joy to see the excitement on the children’s faces as they enter the school halls. We dress up in costumes linked to Old and New Testament stories as well as having many props to set the scene. The children are so keen to be chosen to be part of the cast. We are grateful to be able to store props at the Methodist church and have augmented what we have by making many new props. The impact these assemblies have is evident when we occasionally meet these children at Spearehead Café, Holiday Clubs, Light Trail and in shops when they recognise individuals and mime the OTB assembly hand action. We always receive a warm welcome from both schools and it is clear that the assemblies are much appreciated by children and staff alike. Ideally, we could do with a few more volunteers to provide contingency for when members are on holiday or ill. Training is not onerous, and many parts are non-speaking. If anyone is interested or would like more information, please speak to Linda Fee. _Report prepared by Linda Fee, Open the Book April 2024_ St. Mary’s Strensall APCM 19.05.2024, Full APCM Report Reg Charity Number: 1162095 Page 20 of 20