Thanet Community Churches
(Formerly Community Church Ramsgate)
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 August 2021
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
THANET COMMUNITY CHURCHES (FORMERLY COMMUNITY CHURCH RAMSGATE)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021
LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE Mr Craig Prentice The Corner 60 Whitehall Road Ramsgate Kent CT12 6DF GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO - registered 04 September 2015 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1163414 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Paul Gammans MANAGING THE CHARITY Aaron Wish - appointed 14/09/20, stood down 24/05/22 Heather Prentice - stood down 31/08/21 Brian Lamberton - appointed 31/08/21 Edward Mussett - appointed 13/06/22 Banker Lloyds Bank plc INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Jacob Farley ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-5 Trustees' Report Page 6 Independent Examiner's Report Page 7 Receipts and Payments Account Page 8 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 9-10 Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
THANET COMMUNITY CHURCHES (FORMERLY COMMUNITY CHURCH RAMSGATE)
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021.
Objects of the charity
The objects of the church are to advance the Christian Religion, in particular by seeking to be a community that loves God, loves each other and loves Ramsgate, to advance education and relieve poverty and hardship.
Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements
To further the above objects and vision, the charity's main activities and achievements were as follows:
August 2020 – December 2021 (Terms 1 & 2)
The impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic remained the main feature through this term, as we made every effort to respond and adapt to the changes in the various government imposed-restrictions.
In August our various community groups made efforts to enjoy the summer weather and engage with new people. The growing work in Broadstairs saw particular fruit from a partnership with a local youth centre in the town. Our ‘Covid-response projects’ remained relatively busy including our topUP project, JAM project, CAP Debt Help and CAP Money work.
In September, we were very pleased to be able to reopen The Corner Coffee House, and welcome back a number of groups to the Corner. Though there were necessary limitations to the project (including closing the food menu, introducing an on-line booking system for the play area, and limiting the maximum number of people in the building) it quickly became busy again.
Also in September, a number of new projects and posts began:
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‘Their first 1000days in Ramsgate’ is a small Kent County Council funded project, in partnership wit Fegans, seeking to provide advice, information, support and inspiration to local parents with young children. It uses social media to engage with young local parents. It seeks to support parents who have experienced their own ‘adverse childhood experiences’.
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As part of Community Church Margate, the work of Amy Shatliff as our ‘Church Community Worke began. Funded by the Laing Family Trusts, Mr. Willat’s Trust and our own savings for this project, Amy began by getting trained in CAP Debt Help, as well as delivering CAP Job Club, CAP Kick Start, CAP Fresh Start and a group for women who have experienced domestic abuse.
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The ‘CAP Job Club’ began on-line in late September.
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As part of the Broadstairs work, we employed Kate Grant to work a few hours on the Westover Estate promoting our projects to local residents and enabling her to build relationships.
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With funding from the Town and Country housing association, and Kent Community Foundation, we employed a project worker for 7 months to deliver the CAP Kick Start project, and an on-line friendship group to local vulnerable folk.
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Also in September, the church family resumed face to face gatherings on Sundays. We used the Corner as a venue and invited in small groups from the wider congregation to congregate as we couldn’t safely fit everyone in together. The services were also broadcast onto YouTube for those at home. We celebrated a baptism in this season. September also gave us our first opportunity to gather those interested in Community Church Broadstairs. Disappointingly these gatherings needed to stop in November due to another local lock-down.
Frustratingly, this new lock-down in November led to the re-closure of the Corner and the Coffee House. The building was only able to be used by the Preschool, and a few counsellors and support groups in line with the government guidance at that time.
In December we collected a great number of Christmas gifts for vulnerable families and delivered them along with a ‘hope of hope’. Though we made extra effort with our online Christmas celebrations, it all felt rather understated compared to previous years.
Also in December we officially changed the name of the charity from ‘Community Church Ramsgate’ to ‘Thanet Community Churches’. This now better reflects our vision and mission with congregations in Ramsgate, Margate and Broadstairs.
January 2021 – April 2021 (Terms 3 & 4)
We continued in lock-down through these terms. The negative emotional and spiritual effects of the lock-down appeared to peak in this time with a number of service users, members of the church family and staff, all significantly struggling with their mental health. That being said our work in the community continued and grew in some areas.
We ran an on-line CAP Money course as well as completing the CAP Job Club and continuing to run the CAP Kick Start courses. The Food Bank in Westover became increasingly busy.
Together with a number of other churches across Thanet we helped run an on-line Alpha course which saw us develop significant relationships with a number of local people.
In these terms we formally began an online small group for those becoming connected with the work in Broadstairs. We also began meeting with a small leadership team to pray and plan each week as the work with people on the Westover estate developed.
In April we celebrated Easter. We baptised a new believer (whilst keeping to Covid-guidelines) and made extra efforts with our on-line content. That all being said, without our normal community celebrations it felt a little underwhelming.
May 2021 – August 2021 (Terms 5 & 6)
We were able to reopen the Corner and Coffee House on the 17th May which was wonderful. We had brought our building manager and Coffee House supervisor back from furlough in late April in order to reopen well. We brought the whole staff team together in early May for a prayer and vision day, in order to refocus and relaunch our work together. The easing of restrictions meant that little by little, more of our work was able to be face-to-face as it should be.
We received good news from Kent County Council about them wanting to continue funding for ‘Their first 1000days in Ramsgate’ project. We expanded the work to include a second group in Broadstairs during this time.
With regards to Sunday church gatherings, we returned to face-to-face gatherings in May, but used just one venue (the Corner) and invited small congregation groups to attend in person as we need to limit to safe numbers. We encouraged the rest of the church family to gather in each other’s homes on Sundays, and we uploaded video content to YouTube to serve these small groups.
Page 3
In July we implemented our new Sunday gathering structure and rhythm, and formally launched ‘Community Church Broadstairs’ as our third small congregation. On Sundays 1 and 3 in a month, we now have the 3 congregations gathering across Thanet in 3 locations. In the morning, CCR gather at the Corner, and at the same time CCM gather at the Margate Caves Community Rooms. In the afternoon on these Sundays CCB now gather at the Baptist Church St. Peters building. This is a significant step of progress. On the 2nd Sunday of the month all three congregations gather together for a ‘Together Sunday’. From September we will be using a central Thanet school as a venue. On the 4th Sundays of the month the church will gather in homes as ‘Home Groups’ across Thanet – for fellowship, local mission and prayer.
On these 4th Sundays, some Home Groups will choose to run outreach projects together. For example, one home group has started ‘Sunday Connections’ a ‘church service for older adults and those with dementia’. Likewise, another Home Group is planning a monthly ‘Messy Church’ event.
This year may have been the most challenging year we have had since planting the church 10 years ago. However, we are so pleased that despite the many pressures and restrictions presented by the pandemic, the church family has continued to adapt, serve and grow in this season. We are so grateful for all the support we have received from funders and supporters that has enabled this.
Particularly pleasing is the birth of Community Church Broadstairs this year, and the fruitful work that this small congregation is already doing in the deprived Westover community. Linked to this is the strengthening of our structures and rhythms that we believe will enable us to continue to grow and thrive in the coming years.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Financial review
During the year overall income decreased by £16,378 to £216,545 and expenditure increased by £15,815 to £208,339. Cash held by the charity increased by £8,206, to £98,384, of which £54,951 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose. The trustees have designated £5,860 of the unrestricted funds for use by Mission Partners.
Reserves policy
The trustees aim to maintain reserves equivalent to at least three months’ operating expenses which equates to approximately £40,000. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted, undesignated, cash of £49,091 and were complying with the Policy.
Covid-19
As outlined above, in March 2020 the charity took steps (in line with government advice) to help contain the outbreak of Covid-19. This included the temporary suspension of all physical gatherings and the charity has had to curtail, or change, how it operates; the charity has been able to continue some of its activities using on-line media. The trustees are monitoring income and expenditure and, if it becomes necessary, will take measures to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on the charity’s unrestricted cash.
Governance
The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the Trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the Trust. New trustees are appointed by the existing trustees and are provided with appropriate training to undertake the role they occupy within the church.
Page 4
Responsibilities of trustees
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
Approval
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Brian Lamberton
____ Brian Lamberton - Trustees
Date: 29 June 2022
Page 5
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
THANET COMMUNITY CHURCHES (FORMERLY COMMUNITY CHURCH RAMSGATE)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Thanet Community Churches (formerly Community Church Ramsgate) ('the charity') for the year ended 31 August 2021 on pages 6 to 9 following.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’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 2011 Act.
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 accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Jacob Farley ACA
For and on behalf of: Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: 29 June 2022
Page 6
THANET COMMUNITY CHURCHES (FORMERLY COMMUNITY CHURCH RAMSGATE)
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021
| Unrestricted | Funds | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | Restricted | ||||||||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Receipts | ||||||||||
| Donations | 47,917 | - | 248 | 48,165 | 49,002 | |||||
| Grants | 32,000 | - | 82,459 | 114,459 | 76,788 | |||||
| Gift aid receipts | - | - | - | - | 18,856 | |||||
| Income from coffee shop | 14,934 | - | - | 14,934 | 44,752 | |||||
| Building hire | 26,833 | - | - | 26,833 | 28,042 | |||||
| Government Furlough Grants | 11,228 | - | - | 11,228 | 13,372 | |||||
| Other | 927 | - | - | 927 | 2,111 | |||||
| Total receipts | 133,839 | - | 82,707 | 216,545 | 232,923 | |||||
| Payments | ||||||||||
| Payments in relation to activities undertaken directly |
charitable | 2 | 136,559 | 526 | 67,135 | 204,219 | 187,474 | |||
| Grants paid in relation to activities undertaken by others |
charitable | 3 | 4,120 | - | - | 4,120 | 5,051 | |||
| Total payments | 140,679 | 526 | 67,135 | 208,339 | 192,524 | |||||
| Net of receipts / (payments) transfers |
before | (6,840) | (526) | 15,572 | 8,206 | 40,398 | ||||
| Transfers between funds | 2,079 | - | (2,079) | - | - | |||||
| Net movement in funds | (4,762) | (526) | 13,493 | 8,206 | 40,398 | |||||
| Cash funds as at last year | end | 53,853 | 6,386 | 29,940 | 90,179 | 49,780 | ||||
| Cash funds at this year end | A | 49,091 | 5,860 | 43,433 | 98,384 | 90,178 |
The notes on pages 8-9 form part of these accounts.
Page 7
THANET COMMUNITY CHURCHES (FORMERLY COMMUNITY CHURCH RAMSGATE)
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021
| A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access Petty cash Coffee shop float Kiddies Corner Float B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity Other monetary assets Stock C Liabilities Fee for 2020 Independent Examination Fee for 2021 Independent Examination PAYE/NIC/Pension Payments due D Assets retained for charity's own use Building - 60 Whitehall Road Soft Play Equipment Equipment |
General Designated funds funds £ £ 48,961 5,860 - - 110 - 20 - 49,091 5,860 19,568 - 12,418 - 500 - 32,486 - 1,440 - 1,470 - - - 2,910 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted funds £ 43,434 - - - 43,434 - - - - - - - - |
2021 £ 98,254 - 110 20 98,384 19,568 12,418 500 32,486 1,440 1,470 - 2,910 |
2020 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90,022 26 110 20 |
||||
| 90,178 | ||||
| 10,199 32,279 500 |
||||
| 42,978 | ||||
| 1,440 - 493 |
||||
| 1,933 | ||||
| Insurance value £ |
||||
| 1,322,735 40,000 34,024 |
||||
| 1,396,759 |
The building is leased to the charity at a peppercorn rate of £1 per annum. The lease is for 5 years and expires in 2026.
The 'Soft Play' equipment came with the building and does not belong to the Charity.
The trustees have used insurance values as the trustees are unable to reliably estimate current values; insurance values may differ materially from current values
E Guarantees and secured debts
The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf
by Brian Lamberton date -------------------------------------------29 June 2022 Brian Lamberton - Trustee
The notes on pages 8-9 form part of these accounts.
Page 8
THANET COMMUNITY CHURCHES (FORMERLY COMMUNITY CHURCH RAMSGATE)
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021
1 Accounting policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. Accounting standards are not (and cannot) be used in the preparation of receipts and payments accounts and so they do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
| General Designated funds funds £ £ 2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Employment costs (see note 4) 91,013 526 Training 3,176 - Property costs (see note 2(a)) 19,978 - Equipment and resources 3,782 - Coffee shop expenditure 6,102 - Ministry activities 698 - Insurance 3,654 - Admin and support costs 6,321 - Accounts preparation and examination 90 - Other costs 1,746 - 136,559 526 2 (a) Property costs comprise: Rent - - Maintenance 12,986 - Utilities 6,992 - 19,978 - 3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Christians Against Poverty [CAP] 3,000 - Other organisations under £1,000 1,120 - Individuals - - 4,120 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds £ 53,205 - 3,455 610 - - 547 9,317 - - 67,135 3,455 - - 3,455 - - - - |
Total 2021 £ 144,744 3,176 23,433 4,392 6,102 698 4,200 15,638 90 1,746 204,219 3,455 12,986 6,992 23,433 3,000 1,120 - 4,120 |
Total 2020 £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 118,009 3,894 30,273 5,524 16,532 965 3,505 2,384 1,200 5,188 |
|||
| 187,474 | |||
| 1,015 16,582 12,676 |
|||
| 30,273 | |||
| 3,000 1,760 291 |
|||
| 5,051 |
4 Transactions with related parties
The charity had 12 employees [2020: 14].
Craig Prentice and Emma Prentice, related parties to Heather Prentice, a trustee, were paid £27,281 (2020: £26,514 plus a pension contribution of £631 (2020: £610) and £21,509 (2020: £20,922) plus a pension contribution of £458 (2020: £442), respectively in their roles as Team Leader and Top-up Project Manager.
Aaron Prentice who is a relative of Heather Prentice runs 'Beardy Baker' who were paid £2,418 (2020: £3,643) for the supplying the charity with cakes for the coffee house.
Joy Jars were paid £225 (2020: £1,332) for supplies of food items for the coffee house. Joy Jars is run by Pamela Fane who has moved out of the country and has passed the day-to-day running of the business to Adam Prentice who is a relative of Heather Prentice.
Page 9
THANET COMMUNITY CHURCHES (FORMERLY COMMUNITY CHURCH RAMSGATE)
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021
5 Movement of funds
| ement of funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designated funds Mission Partners Restricted funds Church Planting Top-UP project Connections at the Corner The Corner (St Ben's) Biblical Counselling FCSS (JAM) Town & Country Their First 1000 days in Ramsgate General funds TOTAL FUNDS |
Balance at 31 Aug 2020 £ 6,386 6,386 27,447 (6,060) 2,712 1,108 150 (402) 4,985 - |
Receipts £ - - - 41,834 - 2,500 - 23,125 248 15,000 |
Payments £ (526) (526) - (36,714) - - - (14,853) (1,981) (13,586) |
Transfers £ - - 4,133 (2,712) - - - (3,499) - (2,079) 2,079 - |
Balance at 31 Aug 2021 £ 5,860 |
| 5,860 | |||||
| 31,579 (940) - 3,608 150 7,869 (248) 1,414 |
|||||
| 29,940 | 82,707 | (67,135) | 43,433 | ||
| 53,853 90,178 |
133,839 216,545 |
(140,679) (208,339) |
49,091 | ||
| 98,384 |
The Church planting fund is a fund that the church members tithe specifically to see and resource churches to be planted.
The Top-UP project is funded by Orbit Housing and seeks to relieve poverty for older adults. The project focuses on Orbit customers who are over 55, informing them of the benefits they are entitled to and empowering them to apply. The fund is in deficit at the year end due to a timing delay on funding received after the year end.
Connections at the Corner is a project that is funded by People's Health Trust and has two main aims: one to gather, support and empower the socially isolated in our community; two to gather, support and empower families who have children on the autistic spectrum.
The Corner Fund relates to giving specifically for The Corner and its development.
The Biblical counselling fund has been set up for the benefit of those seeking counselling.
The FCSS Fund is funded by Orbit to deliver the Financial Capability Support Service. They later renamed this JAM (Just About Managing). This is a project to help Orbit residents understand and manage their money more effectively.
The Town & Country Fund is funded by the housing association for the delivery of 'CAP Money' and 'TopUp' programmes.
Their first 1000 days in Ramsgate’ is a small Kent County Council funded project, in partnership with Fegans, seeking to provide advice, information, support and inspiration to local parents with young children. It uses social media to engage with young local parents. It seeks to support parents who have experienced their own ‘adverse childhood experiences.
The transfers out of the ‘Connections at the Corner’ and the ‘Town & Country’ Restricted Funds reflect the cost of room hire relating to courses run by these activities.
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