Trustees’ Annual Report: 1[st] January to 31[st] December 2023 Charity name: Dorchester Community Church: Registration Number : 1163128
| Objectives & Activities | SORP | |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 |
The Objects of the Church are charitable & for the public benefit. They are: 1. to advance the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of Beliefs in such ways and in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Charity Trustees from time to time may think fit. 2. to relieve sickness & financial hardship; to promote & preserve good health by the provision of funds, goods or services of any kind, including through the provision of pastoral care & support in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Charity Trustees from time to time may fit. 3. to advance education in such ways and in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Charity Trustees from time to time think fit. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Church meetings In 2023 our Theme was “Set Free” and our verse for the year: Galatians 5 v 1_“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free_”. In response to this, we continued to offer three different services: one weekly, two monthly and introduced a weekly prayer meeting. The live stream broadcasts of our Sunday morning services have also continued. This enables those unable to join us in person, whether due to their health, or for any other reason, to still connect with the worship. Our meetings take the following format: • Saturday morning Café Church. An informal and relaxed time of worship, prayer and sharing Gods word which includes light refreshments. • Sunday morning Contemporary Celebration. Our main service each week, which is also live streamed and relayed to our café area, so that it is accessible to as many people as possible. A number of these were styled as “Family Services” and were particularly child friendly. • Sunday evening prayer meeting. In January we introduced a weekly Prayer meeting alongside teaching on fasting and encouragement from the leadership to commit to prayer and fasting throughout January. The prayer meeting was so successful it continued weeklythroughout the whole year. • “Engage” Saturday evenings. This monthly event provided an opportunity to praise God and pray together in an unhurried fashion; to be open to what God might be saying to us as a Church, or as an individual & to seek God together that we might be of “One in heart and mind” Acts 4:32. Reaching the next generation: During 2023, Community Kids met weekly during our Sunday morning service and we continued to run our Friday Youth Night for those aged 12-18. Our Toddler group continues to thrive and has moved to Tuesday |
mornings. All babies and tots are welcome, accompanied by their parents and carers.
We held a “Light Party” on the 31[st] of October and over 50 children and young people enjoyed inflatable fun and games on the theme of “Light being found in Darkness”. Messy Church took place over Easter and again in December. At these events the children were able to enjoy a Church service including singing, craft activities and the true meaning of the Easter and Christmas Christian message. On Christmas Eve, our Christingle service was well attended and children and their families explored the Christmas message of Jesus as the Light of the World.
Life Groups:
It is important that we come together as a Church family to meet and pray; the number of our small groups continues to grow in number and variety of venue. These included two daytime groups meeting at the Church, a new Woman’s Life group on Wednesday evenings and additional groups meeting in members’ homes.
Freedom in Christ Course: Everyone was encouraged to participate in the Freedom in Christ Course, which was run in conjunction with our Life Groups. This is a Biblebased discipleship course designed to help every Christian break free from what is holding them back and become who they are made to be in Christ.
Pastoral Staff :
Glynn Barrow continued his role as our part time Pastor, overseeing the Church Leadership and running one of our Life Groups.
Jack Curtis, our Associate Pastor, ran an Alpha course during the autumn; developed links with local schools and took an active role in the Hardyes School Christian Union. He was also part of the team taking Communion to Castle View Care Home Residents.
Counties School Life Exhibition:
In November we hosted the Counties Life Exhibition, an interactive experience for school years 3 to 6. Pupils from The Prince of Wales 1[st] school, Damer’s 1[st] School and Sunninghill Preparatory School attended and we received very positive feedback from the schools.
Community Café & “Wednesday Welcome”: Our “Warm Space”: Our Community Café moved to Wednesdays and combined with our “Warm Welcome” initiative. A welcome was extended to all with tea, coffee, refreshments and friendly chat. Additionally, board games were available for those who wish to join in.
Other events in the Café included a Women’s breakfast; where our ladies were invited to join together for a healthy meal to start the day, with companionship and conversation.
Friendship Group : Known as “Discover and Connect” this group meets twice a month on the 2[nd] and 4[th] Friday afternoons. Numbers have increased and a wide variety of activities were enjoyed including craft, talks, speakers and refreshments.
| Fellowship Lunches: We enjoyed regular lunches after our morning services, where all could stay and enjoy a hot meal and time to chat. These were well attended and provided an opportunity to get to know one another better. On Christmas Day our Pastor and his wife cooked a full Christmas Lunch after the Church Service and invited those who would otherwise spend Christmas on their own to come and share this meal with their family. Ministry of Puppets: On Easter Sunday, our service included a performance by our Puppet Team, written especially for the occasion. Our Ministry of Puppets performed at a variety of events, such as our Light Party, Messy Church and at local school assemblies. Samaritans Purse Shoebox Initiative We continued to be a local collection “hub” for Samaritans Purse UK and over 180 shoeboxes containing toys, stationary, healthcare and wellbeing items were collected. These were distributed in the Ukraine in time for Christmas, where they brought a message of hope to the children and young people receiving them. Walk and Talk Together: This group met regularly to enjoy a walk and chat in our local countryside, Dogs were welcome too and home-made refreshments enjoyed at the walk’s destination, after some healthy exercise. Food Share: Our "Food Share" Food Bank continued to receive a high level of referrals from health care professionals, school liaison officers and charities working with families, vulnerable adults and refugees. We assist families and individuals finding it difficult to afford food, delivering up to 120 parcels each week in the DT1 and DT2 postcode area. We also extended our service to enable recipients to collect their weekly parcel from our Community Café. In the week leading up to Christmas, each household received a fruit hamper; we joined forces with the charity Heart Response to achieve this. We deliver weekly, for up to 12 weeks; each parcel consisting mostly of fresh fruit, vegetables, bakery and eggs. We have developed links with community allotments and do all we can to add to the nutritional value of our parcels. Deliveries take place 3 days each week and our parcels are packed and delivered by a team of around 35 volunteers. On occasions, we are able to identify a family’s specific need and signpost or refer to other agencies that can assist. |
||
|---|---|---|
| Have Trustees had regard to Charity Commission guidance on public benefit |
Para 1.18 |
The Trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. |
| Achievements & Performance | Achievements & Performance | Achievements & Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 |
Church meetings, Life Groups, Prayer Meetings, Youth & Community Kidsenable Christians and any other members of the local community who wish to join in, to come together in worship, to support one another and grow in the Christian Faith. Pastoral Staff.Our Pastor, Associate Pastor and Elders continue to support the spiritual and pastoral needs of Church members, Young people and Visitors. Food Share: Feedback from those receiving our Food Share parcels confirms the parcels are well received and make a difference to those finding it difficult to afford food, especially fresh produce. Additionally, we are often able to build trust over our 12-week delivery period which leads to opportunities to refer and sign-post families to other local services, grants and practical help. Community Café; Friendship Group & Wednesday Welcomeare open to everyone and facilitate friendship and companionship, which is especially important for anyone feeling cut off or isolated in our community. They provide a free, warm and safe place to meet in a welcoming environment, where everyone is invited to enjoy the activities and light refreshments. Samaritans Purse Shoebox Initiative.Our support of this charity provided a “drop off point” for shoe boxes from individuals and groups in our local area. These boxes, along with those the Church have filled bring hope and joy to children in countries where conflict or poverty make the receipt of a shoe box very special. Other Activities:We provided a variety of additional opportunities for members, friends and visitors to meet and interact, including our fellowship lunches, “Walk and Talk Together” group, Messy Church events and joint meetings with other local Churches. We reached out into the community with our Associate Pastor helping at the Hardyes School Christian Union, St Osmond’s year 8 retreat and other local school assemblies. These occasions give opportunities as listed in the 5 key biblical principles below, as well as enabling those not connected with a Church to explore the Christian faith. Reflections on 2023 and what is next for DCC: What are we about? We have a Mission Statement: ‘To Celebrate and Share the Love of God.’ We seek to do that through focusing on 5 key biblical principles:- • Belonging • Worshipping • Serving • Growing • Sharing |
Belonging : every new Testament believer, with the exception of the dying thief, was ‘attached to’ a specific group of believers, Rome, Corinth etc. We call this Membership. Our belonging is cemented through ‘Believer’s Baptism’, which we do by total immersion and encouraging members to meet and spend time together. Worshipping: Corporately we are able to do this when we meet together and this should be a priority. We should also seek to worship God through the way we live. Serving: What gifts has God given us to use? We should seek to serve the Church in some capacity; using our gifts, and following Jesus’ example of serving. Growing – We should not stand still spiritually, but look to grow in our knowledge and understanding of Him. We grow from hearing and putting into practise God’s Word. This can be on our own or in a small group or when we meet together. Sharing: We have the best news in the world and ought to share that in both word and deed. Ministries like Food Share and “Discover & Connect” are practical expressions of us ‘sharing’ our faith. Members are encouraged to maintain links and relationships with each other and those we come into contact with.
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Our Income was comparative to our expenditure, enabling us to show sound financial management. Most income comes from Members regular giving and is not generated by fundraising activities. |
|---|---|
| Investment performance against objectives |
We have modest funds in a CAF Bank and Kingdom Bank interest bearing deposit account, but no other investments. |
Financial Review:
| Financial Review: | Financial Review: | Financial Review: |
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 |
1. General Fund: The Accounts show a General Fund shortfall of £33,919.21; however, the true position is a net shortfall of £3,249.05. This is because £43,000 of the General Fund balance was used towards the £50,000. reduction of the Kingdom Bank mortgage; we applied a Legacy of £18,677.92 to the General fund (see note 4) and £6,348.08 of tax reclaimable on Gift Aided donations was not claimed until January 2024. 2. Outstanding Ground Rent: Whilst £8,000 was paid in ground rent during 2022, covering the sums due in 2021 and 2022; the invoice for the 2019 ground rent of £4,000 has never been received. The Duchy of Cornwall have not responded to our requests to look into this on our behalf; therefore, the Trustees continue to be aware that £4,000 currently held in the General fund could become payable to the Duchy for the 2019 ground rent. 3. Building/Sinking Fund: During 2023 we received gifts totalling £1,000, which have been set aside within the Building/Sinking Fund to offset expected building maintenance and repair costs. |
| 4. General Fund Special Gift: During 2023 we received a legacy, totalling £18,677.92, which have been added to the general fund to offset the increase in staff salaries. The increased staffing costs have arisen, as we now employ our Associate Pastor full time. 5. Gift Aid: Our Gift Aid repayment claim covering 1stOctober 2022 to the 31stDecember 2022 amounting to £6,142,51 and is included in the 2023 accounts. This has been divided between the General Fund (£5,456.51) and Food Share (£686.00). Our Gift Aid repayment claim covering 1stJune 2023 to the 30th September 2023 is for the sum of £6,348.08 This was sent to the Inland Revenue early in 2024 and the resulting payment will be included in the 2024 accounts. It will be divided between the General Fund (£6,288.08) and Food Share (£60.00). Our Gift Aid repayment claim covering 1stOctober 2022 to the 31st December 2022 is for the sum of £6,794.25 This was sent to the Inland Revenue early in 2024 and the resulting payment will also be included in the 2024 accounts. It will be divided between the General Fund (£5,941.75) and Food Share (£852.50). 6. Food Share: Our food bank, known as “Food Share ”, continues to adapt to meet the challenges of local families and households experiencing food poverty. We were able to apply for a number of grants throughout the year and with a large proportion of gifts being received in the final quarter of 2023, held £22,836.16 in reserve for Food Share as at 31stDecember. Over the winter months, referrals have increased with more than 100 food parcels being distributed each week; the cost of food has also risen dramatically; the funds currently held for “Food Share” will be needed to ensure we are able to continue to operate and finance our food bank during 2024. 7. Missionary Reserve: Missionary Giving in 2023 amounts to £10,015.00 and includes gifts to Christians Against Poverty, Counties Life Expo, Dorchester Family Support, Dorchester Poverty Action, Freedom in Christ “Freedom” Appeal, International Care Network, Jack and Claire Bonham Cozens, Juniper Tree breaks, Revive International and Tearfund. |
||
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 |
The Contingency Reserve is held for financial prudence to enable sufficient funds to be available to pay staffing costs during any time when expenditure exceeds income. This reserve is maintained at a sum not less than half the annual expenditure on Staff Salaries. The Missionary Reserve is representative of those funds set aside as a tithe from our income for the financial support of other Christian workers and Christian Charitable organisations, but not yet distributed. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 |
Contingency Reserve: £38,000: Missionary Reserve: £27,500: |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 |
N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 |
N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
N/A |
| Structure, Governance and Management | ||
| Description of charity’s trusts: | None | |
| Type of governing document | Para 1.25 |
Constitution Dated 13thAugust 2015 |
| How is the charity constituted? | Para 1.25 |
The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with a voting membership in addition to the Trustees |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions |
Para 1.25 |
New Trustees are selected and elected to office at the Church’s Members meeting in March and AGM in October of each year. Clause 17.4 of our Constitution requires one third of elected trustees to retire at the AGM,startingwith the longest serving. |
| Reference and Administrative details | Reference and Administrative details |
|---|---|
| Charity name | Dorchester Community Church |
| Other name the charity uses | None |
| Registered charity number | 1163128 |
| Charity’s principal address | Dorchester Community Church Liscombe Street Poundbury Dorchester Dorset DT1 3DF |
Names of the Charity Trustees who manage the Charity
| Names of the Charity Trustees who manage the Charity | Names of the Charity Trustees who manage the Charity | Names of the Charity Trustees who manage the Charity | Names of the Charity Trustees who manage the Charity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted (if not whole year) |
Name of body entitled to appoint trustee |
| Glynn Barrow | Trustee, Elder & Pastor | Membership | |
| Martin Cook | Trustee & Elder | Trustee until 23.11.23, Elder for entire year |
Membership |
| Jack Samuel Cooke Curtis |
Trustee &Elder | From 03.09.23 | Membership |
| David Herring | Trustee & Elder | Membership | |
| Lisa Knight | Trustee | Membership | |
| Kevin David Meech | Trustee & Treasurer | Membership | |
| Marion Lesley Power | Trustee | Membership | |
| Christopher George Webb | Trustee | Membership | |
| Victoria Pauline Barrow | Trustee | Membership |
| Corporate trustees–names of the directors at the date the report was approved | Corporate trustees–names of the directors at the date the report was approved |
|---|---|
| Director name | N/A |
| Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity | |
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year |
| N/A |
| Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others | Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others |
|---|---|
| Description of the assets held in this | N/A |
| capacity | |
| Name and objects of the charity on | N/A |
| whose behalf the assets are held and | |
| how this falls within the custodian | |
| charity’s objects | |
| Details of arrangements for safe | N/A |
| custody and segregation of such assets | |
| from the charity’s own assets |
| Adviser | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor | Blanchards Bailey LLP | Bunbury House, Stour Park, Blandford, Dorset. DT11 9LQ |
| Insurer | Congregational | Integra Insurance Solutions Ltd., Currer House, Currer Street, Bradford BD1 5BA |
| Accountant | Justin Merriott FCCA | ACM Accountants, 205 Littlemoor Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 6AF |
| Bank | CAF Bank Ltd | 25 Kings Hill, Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent. ME19 4JQ |
| Bank | Kingdom Bank Ltd | Ruddington Fields Business Park, Mere Way, Ruddington, Nottingham NG11 6JS |
Names of Senior Staff members
Glynn Barrow: Pastor from 07.06.22 Jack Samuel Cooke Curtis: Associate Pastor from 01.07.22
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
N/A
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Kevin David Meech Position (e.g. Chair, etc) Treasurer and Trustee Date 1st October 2024
| 2S23 | 3t)22 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BALANCEII$T "TAITTJARY |
18Sr03S,14 | .. It.tr\l"t rfi t+ /oius"}u |
|||
| RHCETFTS | |||||
| ffie*era]Fund | fiffering Spe*ialGift |
108,518.4fi X8,$77.92 |
s2,44S.9S 2S,tls#.*ti |
||
| taf***nations | -I"SS?"?& | 128,8$$.3S5{: | 1",493.2tr | I13.943.2* | |
| TaxRefuxded**xn#ift Aid: | GeeralFr:nd F*dShare |
1?,?3*.2S ?S$.str |
xs,4qs.76 | z*,232.?2 rs2.5fl |
2*_384.?2 |
| #:ratint:uitrding Mintcna*ce | ll,zl1.*9 | 7,Ztr I.q5 | |||
| I)*natifins:FoodShare | 25,182"65 | ?*"253.15 | |||
| Interryst: | ,+.S*8"44 | $$?.*s | |||
| ffirldingl$ikingFundR***ipts: | { ,C\ 1\ -1. ,r/'Ll.r I.1"TUU"UU |
{ A ,at,f\ /\ .1 r''\ t/,uu.u..uu |
|||
| TTALTNCME | IsS,?6?.32 | 18tl,4SI"*1 | |||
| pAtls{EF{TS | |||||
| BekChargs | 6.# | 8t.** | |||
| H*ksand Resur#ss | I,*5S.58 | ss.73 | |||
| Cateit*g | 1,998"13 | 1,Sffz.94 | |||
| Cleaaing&F{Bsekeping | 801.*3 | 1,313.31 | |||
| Equipm**t | 1,6?8.7* | 5,6*9.54 | |||
| Fes, Subsr"iptinsandLi*nsss | 7,47*"14 | ?,*27.5? | |||
| F**dShare | 21,9fi?"44 | 13,0*5.71 | |||
| fir*undRe:rt | 4"fiS.* | 8,Ciffil.CI* | |||
| Insurance | 5,5?9.87 | 4,S63.11 | |||
| Missi**&ry'{iifts | 10,#I5.00 | ?={}52"#* | |||
| Mrgage Rpyrrlr.nts:MnthlyRepayrnets | 27,438"9'2 | }tr,31?.I6 | |||
| CapitalRpa3rrent SfficcSupplins,Frinting&Pcstag* |
50.q00.00_ | v7,438.92 2,S41.98 |
0.s* | 21,5l?"16 75?.II |
|
| Sutr"each | 1,?8?.1S | ?I1.41 | |||
| PestoralGi{ts | 574"73 | 335.5 5 | |||
| Rpairs&It$inteaa:r*e | 4,34.? | 4,3$4.4* | |||
| Sefegaringrelated**sts | 2-13.** | 5*2.?5 | |||
| Speak*rs#ifts &Hxpenses | 14S.*S | 550.S* | |||
| $taffExpmses&Re*ruiftnent | C*sts | 676.*? | 735.*tr | ||
| $taffSalsri*salrdEmplcyersNIC | 6?"5*3.4S | 59,?4.2 | |||
| Training nd Confrrfiofis | 1,S3S"3I | ?11.** | |||
| utitityBiIl* | 1S,422.9? | s,861.3& | |||
| Yuth&Children'sWr-k | .1.?85.58 | n.^I1rf*i #La.L I |
|||
| T*TALEXPEIqSES | 724,7X?.S? | 142,66IJ? | |||
| HALANCE}TSTNECEMBER | tr4}tls7.4 | l*50038,I4 |
| BALANCE,SHEETASAT31STD ,;; |
BCEMBER202 | 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2fi23 | IrIz? | |||
| PROPERTY | ||||
| Buildingat LiscombeStreet,Poundbury, | Dorchester | 963,480.42 | 963,4SS.4? | |
| BANKACCOUNTBALANCES | ||||
| Cash&ouf ilAFCun"cr:tAcctlt CAF-'Grld"InstptAce*s |
.s 2,533.19 $0,s0s.fi* |
s.i) 38"14 185,0S.00 |
||
| Kingdomtsank9*Day Notiee T#TALASSSTS |
8€,J51{5 | 149.08?.6,1 LIt2.*q8,,{}$ |
_Q$E | 1fs,*38.14 1.,14$"ql.$r$ji |
| trI*RTGAGgOTJTSTANDIitiG | ||||
| Kinget*mBankLtd | ?$q#i3.5I | i#?.1$is | ||
| T*TALI'{ETASSHTSASATSIIiTI}ECE11.TBEH. | ss4u234.55 +Markje |
s4$r3?S"IS | ||
| r.UND&RESERvE BALANCESAsAT3ISTDECEMBER | ||||
| GeneralFund ContingencyReserve MissionaryReserve FoodShme Building/SinkingFund ACCoUNTBALANCES |
16,005.77 ;8,000.00 27,500.00 22,836.16 iZg,n.AZ s6,ztt.iii |
69,$24.99 3S,S.0S 34"5" I8"S67.45 ssss5,&3 s4s,37S"26 |
||
| AFPEF{BIX1 | ||||
| S{YEMENTTISBTJTLTF{G/SIHKTNG I;'IIN-I} | ||||
| BalanfilutJanary | 685,*85"93 | ss6,858.95 | ||
| H.ec*ipts | 1,S**.S[} | 1?,*" | ||
| RSutin in*tstandfurgKiugdsffiBmk | Mor€age | 53,**6"?S | 6,2?S"g& | |
| tsALAF{CE 3l*r Becember | 73grgg?r"62 | 6S5*Sg5"g3 | ||
| APPENSIX} | ||||
| F*OI}SHARE | ||||
| Balane1tJanuarSr | 18,8S?.45 | {,46?qI s3 rv t 4b1 t^ |
||
| Re**ipts | 25,183.S5 | 2S"253.15 | ||
| ?xRfunde&sr Gift Aid | ?s8.5fi | 1s?"5* | ||
| Hxpcnditr | -21,9S2.44 | -13,fi{J5.7I | ||
| ===ffim= | ||||
| EALAHCE3It ecernber | 22r*36"I6 | ISo*S?.45 |