**Registered Office: Community Church | Hadley | Telford | TF1 6LP**
**Telford Elim | Brookdale | Shropshire**
**01952 245511 | info@shropshirehope.co.uk | www.shropshirehope.co.uk**
## **ANNUAL REPORT**
## **1st JANUARY 2020 – 31[st] DECEMBER 2020**
## **OVERVIEW**
The Trustees of Shropshire Hope (SH) present this report summarising activities undertaken as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) during the period 1st January to 31[st] December 2020.
Minutes and Agreed Action Points from meetings of the Organising Team are available for inspection together with further information on finances, although a Statement of Income & Expenditure is provided in Appendix 1.
Covid-19, as for most of the country, had a huge negative impact on what we were able to achieve in 2020. The unprecedented nature of the crisis meant that our plans largely had to be side lined from mid-March. We had to adapt to the reality we all found ourselves in.
As such we did support church leaders individually, also started an online prayer session praying for many during the pandemic, and worked to support a countywide ‘pray for schools Shropshire’ event.
## **LEGAL STATUS**
On 2[nd] November 2015 SH was entered into the Register of Charities – number 1164220 – following successful submission of a charitable application.
The principal purpose of the CIO is the advancement of the Christian faith throughout Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin. The CIO may also advance education and relieve poverty and sickness in such other parts of the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world as the Trustees may from time to time think fit.
A copy of the Constitution is available on request or may be viewed or downloaded from the SH website.
The Trustees term of office will be reviewed in October 2021. The existing Trustees are listed below and their specific roles:
|fic roles:|||
|---|---|---|
||||
|**Name**|**Period of Office**|**Specific Roles**|
|Leslie James Burke|2 years|Chair|
|Pauline Dorothy Mack|2 years|Prayer|
|Douglas Mark Savill|2 years|Worship|
|Geoffrey Nankivell|2 years|North West Shropshire Co-
ordinator|
The planning and facilitating of activities during this period was supplemented by additional members of an Organising Team, members of which currently include the Trustees plus:
**Shropshire Hope is a registered charity number 1164220 Trustees: Revd Leslie Burke | Pauline Mack | Geoffrey Nankivell | Mark Savill**
**…bringing HOPE to the people of Shropshire**
**Registered Office: Community Church | Hadley | Telford | TF1 6LP**
**Telford Elim | Brookdale | Shropshire**
**01952 245511 | info@shropshirehope.co.uk | www.shropshirehope.co.uk**
- Chris Densham: Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Mission Enabler
- Bernard Langford (Treasurer): who is a deacon at the Telford Elim Community Church
- David Matthias: Lead Elder of Barnabas Community Church, Shrewsbury
- Jane Newey (Secretary): Pray for Schools England Co-ordinator
SH is supported by a variety of external advisers representing Christian denominations involved in the county. These include both Anglican Bishops in Shropshire together with senior representatives from Baptist, Methodist, Roman Catholic and United Reformed churches. We value their wisdom, encouragement and support, both practical and financial, in order to accomplish our mission.
## **ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR**
## **OBJECTIVES**
The SH Organising Team set out the following objectives for 2020:
- To support and help fund a day retreat for Youth Workers in the county in February.
- Continue the Saturday morning SH conference in July, this year specifically looking at the possibilities of developing Missional Communities to augment and facilitate Christian mission and discipleship.
- Support and practically assist wherever possible other prayer initiatives within the county including Thy Kingdom Come.
- Consider further ways of engaging people in prayer across the county.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS: Christian Youth Leader’s Retreat 2020**
In the previous four years we held a free breakfast for those involved in Christian Youth Ministry to meet together, worship and share best practices and lessons learned with guest speakers.
In 2020 we instead partnered with the Catalyst Youth Trust to help resource them to put on a retreat day for Christian Youth workers and their families on Saturday 15[th] February at Cloverley Hall Christian Conference centre. SH gave £500 to help support this day retreat which was attended by over 30 people involved in Christian Youth work.
## **Prayer Initiatives**
SH supported, assisted and help publicise a countywide prayer initiative to help support schools through the immensely challenging times facing all involved in education. This Zoom initiative was called, ‘Pray for Schools Shropshire.’ It ran for a week from Monday 28 September – Friday 2 October.
A different part of the county was asked to participate each day praying for their area’s schools, teachers, students, support staff and parents.
**Shropshire Hope is a registered charity number 1164220 Trustees: Revd Leslie Burke | Pauline Mack | Geoffrey Nankivell | Mark Savill**
**…bringing HOPE to the people of Shropshire**
**Registered Office: Community Church | Hadley | Telford | TF1 6LP**
**Telford Elim | Brookdale | Shropshire**
**01952 245511 | info@shropshirehope.co.uk | www.shropshirehope.co.uk**
## **Shropshire Hope Live Prayer**
Beginning on the first Wednesday in November, 4[th] at 8pm for half an hour, the SH team began a live prayer event on the SH Facebook page and YouTube channel; this continued on the first Wednesday in December.
On 4 November, 63 watched the broadcast and prayed with us, this excludes the many more who engaged with the broadcast. On 2 December, a further 44 watched and prayed with us – a further 97 engaged with our prayer time. We are seeking to utilise technology to continue to engage with people, support Christians through prayer, pray for those in need, and into the situation our nation faces.
Only five of the eight original 2020 objectives were achieved. However, we did adapt and begin to utilise technology in supporting our objectives.
## **RISK MANAGEMENT**
A summary of our Risk Management procedures and policies is provided in Appendix 2.
Copies of these documents plus the Privacy Statement & GDPR compliance are available if required on the Shropshire Hope website.
## **FUTURE PLANS**
In order to develop our vision for 2021, the organising team meet regularly to discuss our plans. The following were prioritised for 2021:
- Continue, till Easter, the online, Live on the SH Facebook page and YouTube channel, monthly prayer meeting for the county.
- Support and publicise the Zoom Church Next conference, 6 February 2021. A conference looking at ways to help churches navigate the post-Covid world we find ourselves in.
- Hold, Live online, on Monday 12 July at 7pm, the postponed 2020 SH Conference with keynote speakers, Andy Glover and Chris Densham. The focus on ‘Creating Disciple Making Communities.’
- Approach and bring on board a new member onto the organising team to add a new rural mission dimension to the team.
- Continue to liaise with the county Denominational Leaders.
- Continue to update the website and encourage churches and other Christian ministries to use it as a resource to publicise events.
- Publicise national HOPE Together initiatives and resources through the SH Mailing list, as well as local events.
**Shropshire Hope is a registered charity number 1164220 Trustees: Revd Leslie Burke | Pauline Mack | Geoffrey Nankivell | Mark Savill**
**…bringing HOPE to the people of Shropshire**
**Registered Office: Community Church | Hadley | Telford | TF1 6LP**
**Telford Elim | Brookdale | Shropshire**
**01952 245511 | info@shropshirehope.co.uk | www.shropshirehope.co.uk**
## **CONCLUSIONS**
The Trustees of Shropshire Hope would like to thank all those who have worked tirelessly in our county as key workers, all those church leaders who have shown extraordinary resilience and adaptability, and the countless Christians throughout Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin who have helped, supported, cared for and made such a positive difference in countless local settings in their areas during Covid-19. We give thanks for you all!
We especially thank the Non-Trustee members of the Organising Team for their contribution and support as well as the Denominational Leaders of the county.
We are grateful to God for His faithfulness and blessing on our activities and look forward to being involved in the further expansion of His Kingdom in the future.
We believe we have undertaken all our legal and statutory responsibilities.
On behalf of the Trustees: 25 August 2021
**Leslie Burke Jane Newey** Chair of Trustees Secretary
**Shropshire Hope is a registered charity number 1164220 Trustees: Revd Leslie Burke | Pauline Mack | Geoffrey Nankivell | Mark Savill**
**…bringing HOPE to the people of Shropshire**
**Registered Office: Community Church | Hadley | Telford | TF1 6LP**
**Telford Elim | Brookdale | Shropshire**
**01952 245511 | info@shropshirehope.co.uk | www.shropshirehope.co.uk**
## **Appendix 1**
## **STATEMENT OF INCOME & EXPENDITURE**
|**Accounting Period: 1st January 2020 to 31st December**|**Accounting Period: 1st January 2020 to 31st December**|**2020**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Income**|**£**||**£**|
|**Total**|||**0**|
|**Expenditure**||||
|**Youth Leaders Event – Sponsored Retreat Day**|
**500.00**|||
|**Website domain renewal**|**8.34 **|||
|**Total**||**508.34**||
|**DEFICIT carried forward**||**(508.34)**||
|**BALANCE SHEET as at 31 DECEMBER 2020 **||||
|
**Current Assets**|**£**||**£**|
|**Cash at Bank:**||||
|**Opening Balance**|**1569.84**|||
|**less, Deficit for the year**|**(508.34) **|||
|**Closing Balance**||**1061.50**||
|**Current Liabilities: Creditors**|||**0**|
|**Net Assets – Unrestricted Funds**||**£1061.50**||
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31[st] December 2020. The Trustees have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2020 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for:
- a. ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
**Shropshire Hope is a registered charity number 1164220 Trustees: Revd Leslie Burke | Pauline Mack | Geoffrey Nankivell | Mark Savill**
**…bringing HOPE to the people of Shropshire**
**Registered Office: Community Church | Hadley | Telford | TF1 6LP**
**Telford Elim | Brookdale | Shropshire**
**01952 245511 | info@shropshirehope.co.uk | www.shropshirehope.co.uk**
- b. preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf on 25 August 2021
**Leslie Burke Jane Newey** Chair of Trustees Secretary 25 August 2021
## **Appendix 2**
## **RISK MANAGEMENT**
The Trustees believe that all necessary steps have been taken to mitigate risks that could be foreseen, in particular:
## **Child & Vulnerable Adult Protection**
All of the Trustees and members of the Organising Team have undertaken Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and are able to work with children, young people and vulnerable adults. However it would be highly unlikely for anyone acting on behalf of the CIO – Trustees, Organising Team members or volunteers, to be in situations where direct supervision of vulnerable persons would occur.
## **Privacy Statement and GDPR Compliance**
We work closely with the national charity, HOPE Together. As such we follow the national guidelines laid out by them with regard to their Privacy Statement and GDPR compliance. The national HOPE Together Privacy Policy can be found at: www.hopetogether.org.uk/User/PrivacyPolicy.aspx This is reviewed and updated on a regular basis by them.
## **Financial Reserves Policy**
At this time the Trustees have determined that there is no need to maintain a specific financial reserve. It is our normal policy that all activities undertaken should be self-funded although this may change in the future. We have a number of supporters who would be prepared to underwrite specific activities if required.
## **Investment Policy**
The Trustees have determined that in view of the above there is no requirement to have an Investment Policy for the following reasons:
**Shropshire Hope is a registered charity number 1164220 Trustees: Revd Leslie Burke | Pauline Mack | Geoffrey Nankivell | Mark Savill**
**…bringing HOPE to the people of Shropshire**
**Registered Office: Community Church | Hadley | Telford | TF1 6LP**
**Telford Elim | Brookdale | Shropshire**
**01952 245511 | info@shropshirehope.co.uk | www.shropshirehope.co.uk**
- All activities are self-funded and would not take place unless sufficient funds were in hand or underwritten in advance
- We do not employ any members of staff so no salaries are at risk
- We do not rent or own property so we have no capital or other associated expenditure
## **Conflict of Interest Policy**
In accordance with the Constitution of the CIO, all Trustees must declare any interest, financial or otherwise, in connection with a purchase, sale or the leasing of property and/or the purchase or leasing of any goods or services that the CIO is considering. Trustees must also declare any interest of an associated person with whom they are connected.
This does not preclude a Trustee or associated person from being paid for the provision of goods or services, but they must abstain from all discussions regarding such transactions which must be recorded in the CIO’s Minute Book.
Payments are not made to any Trustee as a result of them acting as a Trustee of the CIO.
## **Managing Volunteers Policy**
The CIO has three primary volunteer roles:
- **Ambassador** : represents the vision of Shropshire Hope to external organisations such as the media; local authorities and other public bodies, charities, businesses and organisations
- **Advocate** : promotes Shropshire Hope in their local church, mobilising support for our activities and encouraging church leaders to engage with the CIO in developing local mission initiatives
- **Associate** : individuals with skills in finance and fundraising; database management; literature design; presenting (e.g. using PowerPoint etc.); PA & AV; video making; website design or are available to help with setting up venues; providing transportation and generally helping with other logistical items
Where appropriate suitable instruction and guidance will be provided to ensure the persons concerned act in the best interests of the CIO.
## **Complaints Policy**
Any complaints received in respect of the CIO will be referred initially to the Organising Team; we will endeavour to resolve the matter within appropriate timescales.
- Verbal complaints made in person or received via telephone conversation will normally be acknowledged by an Organising Team member who in conjunction with the Chair of Trustees will respond accordingly. The complainant may be asked to provide a written summary of the issues involved if further investigation is deemed necessary
- Written complaints will normally be reviewed by the Chair of Trustees and where appropriate referred to the Organising Team for review and resolution
**Shropshire Hope is a registered charity number 1164220 Trustees: Revd Leslie Burke | Pauline Mack | Geoffrey Nankivell | Mark Savill**
**…bringing HOPE to the people of Shropshire**
**Registered Office: Community Church | Hadley | Telford | TF1 6LP**
**Telford Elim | Brookdale | Shropshire**
**01952 245511 | info@shropshirehope.co.uk | www.shropshirehope.co.uk**
Should resolution not be possible, we will invite the complainant to refer the matter to a member of our Council of Reference for review.
In all cases our desire will be to resolve any issues justly and fairly and as speedily as possible.
**Shropshire Hope is a registered charity number 1164220 Trustees: Revd Leslie Burke | Pauline Mack | Geoffrey Nankivell | Mark Savill**
**…bringing HOPE to the people of Shropshire**