ST COLUMBA'S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH NORTH SHIELDS Financial Statement for the year 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023 TREASURER H K ARMSTRONG EXAMINER J R MILLS FCCA Laverick Walton & Co l April 2024 ST COLUMBA'S UNIIED REFORMED CHURCH Page 1 FIPW4CIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 L)ECEM8ER 2023 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT L3St Year 2022 Total £ 2023 Total £ Funts £ FuThJ5 £ . RECEIPTS . Off•ring5 8 Tax Fi•tund . Donai&?nB , Fund Ratsi ChurGh IIK• Leg•oes Grants & In8uran(8 Clakn8 ￿￿16$ Rais&l Outs*Je co￿¢8 67,019.45 6.138.21 , 5.875 51 8.63Q.C#J 67,019.45. 6,138.21 ' C.". 5,875.51 8.830.IX), 10.962.84,' 30,783.￿. 4.074.87-) 4.074.87: 2,160 40 ￿lff. 3.250 7,410.CrfJ lo.￿.84.. 29.783.C 1,CW.CKJ 3.986.66 10 11 12 13 .Manse Reosipts . Invesbrnnt RK8ip Mi8co11gneou8 Rernlpts 51.3) 76.9S. 1,242.94 5.394.76 628.25 1.242.94 2,124 50Y'.. 1,711.10A-' 88,048.71 88.934 47 41 475 04 135.804.27 PAYMENTS '. Mlnl8try & Misslon AJa•u Synod Assassment . Mlnhtry Eyn8•• Churth &Jldlngs Malntsn•nce Chur¢h RunnSng Cogts Mango Malntonance anae Running C08ts , Pri•Jramrne Actmty CL¥ts 'Cost ofFundrn*i SuP￿rt ofouisth C•J••8 . Oth•rCoJts 15 16 17 18 19 2231.43 18,247 9) 33,930.13 1.8&3.24 2,856 48 st9 42 165.SS 2,231.43:.. a8,641.56 33,930.13-. 1.833.24 2.856.48 1241 087 2.537.00. 185.55 3.992.C#) . 3,992.00 1,309 78 1,732.91 . 2,475.48 70.394. 24.749 43 3,4￿.22, 2,708.93-.. 332.80 3,818.1)) 492.29 21 11 23 24 423 15 102 889.94 71 170.56, 180 403 34 92 022.47 NET RECEIPTS I IPAYAIENTSI ' TIIAN8FER8 b•twwn fundB -13,755 47 -29.695.52 -1.148.08 44 599 07 -3.975 78 . 0.00. CASH FUNOS brywd 1 January 24.471.65' 132,585 59 ' 161.999 75 165,975.51 161999 75, CASH FUNDS clfwd 31 OecwntrAr 1162387 101982.38 117 400.68 STATEMÈNT OF ASSETS AND LMUTIES Cas B•nk 208.15 11,415 72 101.982.38 1162387 101982 38 219.28 3,n3.32 117.181.42 161,999 75 Tot•1 mon•tary A. 117,4CQ.68 161,999.75 Gfft Rgmrab Non Church u80 of premwes . URC Northern Syr¥Jd. E￿￿88$ Unthd Reformed Churth. EX￿n90* "': Tclal D•lAO 2,924 48 285.c#).' 3,224.93., 253.00. 453.72,. 72.00.. 3.209 48 4.003 65. ts for clwr¢h purpo•w '. Bu1WJ￿SS under St*utory TnA Church Conts¢ . Chur¢* marw8 Fumishrts and ' Llabllhles- Croditors CompassH)n. Ft)od k4)st N8•J8d . Totsi Crndfjtorn 250.87 250.87 APPROVED ty th• TnMteo5 ofi 11 J•nu•ry 2024 ar¥J sh￿d onthewbtha . by ALisofrS DREbJ {nThl sYJn8t￿0) sr COLUMBA'S UNITED REFORIAED CHUR¢H Page 2 FINANCIAL STATEAIEMT8 YEAR ENDED 31 OECEIIBER 2023 NOTES 1 ACCOUNTINQ POLICIES The fmandal 5tat8rngnts have been prepa￿1 ￿ ac¢tyd8r￿ %•ilh the Char￿￿ A£t 2011 Seth'M 133, us Ihe RecÉipls 8Tr1 PayThents b85i4 avaHth to L*wtJEs. aThJ ￿ UThwi Reform&J Churth 9uvJan*. 2 FUMD ACCOUMnNG Unroltrfctod FuThJ8 may b8 wl by dwJ¢h ft*any ofts orth.nary Do•lgnat•d Fund & pyrywr. • T￿￿¢J8fft Rew b Legacy Rele c B￿kJrvJ1 R•* d Jlrnl D81 Th(wn Ghor I Churth eU￿1r¥a*". m8lorWork8 Gan8rn1 Reaer¥ts F￿d P￿￿t8 Trnnsfws for ￿ar£ 488.27 -69,177.C B8lanf* )Yar£ 915.57 249.20 &8.986.82 lo.￿.84 8.772.e6 30,rK)o.00 363 78 14.645 94 48.21JO.00 -$19.42 55,277.¢XI 3.9tKJ. 0.￿ 29.763.th) .70.394.L 44.3W. Totah fDr Wgn•i•d Fur#l• 132.585.59 41.475 04 .71,170.58 -907.89 101982.38 tsnns ofB tnjsl or bequost. 9rwts or inMk¥J ￿8￿1* tWOBe. Th888 fuThls e4n bo 4)onion the spechff¢ W[F￿￿O IW fernakn￿ wsF*ni must tyg Rtt4wYpoYrr￿1 & 8•lw 1.08 339 82 617.77 25.20 628.83 632.21 Edwttonol Pr4ect$ 617 Tr 24.30 q Fund (FI￿*￿[5) 4.074.87 ,992.Tr) l Now TethokwNIMkn PioJx# FWKI J Contra Erth• 832.21. 1.1e6.89 -1,1e8.89. n Fkmr Fund Rel o Mo￿3 Prf¥¢rJU￿￿ C￿jrth R•* 243.37, 2.COJ.(KI 252.ao 4.942 51 5.394.76 4.$42.84 3.794.43 Th• Year L#st Yeer Z022 F￿£ F￿£ F￿35 £ Total £ 3 OFFERINGS • GhlAhJ Ofterfryi b Ghl Tax Rel￿￿j c Frn•MI 47.130 40 13,543 04 6.346.01 47.130.40 13.543.04 8.348.01 45.636.70 12.752.78 6.944 71 67.019.45 67,¢19 45 85.334.1 4 D014ATIOII8 é Frnrn Org8niB#Oo From IrK1￿10Ua c From EdLKattcnai Prop¢i• d From NewT4dVMknic 2295.&3 3,842 $5 2.295 66 3,842.55 992.54 1.107.86 S.1￿21 6.138.21 2.160.40 S FUND ￿SING • F¢Y fj8rb8ral P￿prA 5,875.51 5,875.51 3.250.00 Totsl FWKI 5.875.51 5.875.51 3.250.00 6 CHURCH PREIAISES RECWPTS 8,780.DJ 50.CQ g. 7.410.00 b W•Jthrfj¥ F￿￿18 c Ma￿wOrkS IrKw Toi•l Chur¢h Pr•M1￿ Rocglpts 8.830. 8.W30.00 7,410.00 7 LEGACIE8 iO.W.84 10,W2.84 lo.￿2.84 10.962.84 ST COLUMBA'S UNITED REFORMED CHURCM Page 3 FINANCIAL STATEMEKfs YEAR EIIOEO 310ECEMBER a123 NOTES- contlnued Thk% Yagr Last Year 2022 Total £ 2023 Totsl £ FwK15 £ FuThYs£ Furn18 £ 8 GRANTS & INSURANCE CLAIIAS a Grants b HMRC JRS Grant ¢ In8U¥an￿ d Chwch Wkjty". MWWcrt• Totsl 1.(th.C 1,IX#).00 1,170.00 29,763.(rfJ 29.763 00 J,(K#).c 29.763.fyJ 30.763 00 1.170.00 9 MONIVd ￿seD FOROUT31DE CAU8ES Raised fcf ChJl8iJe Ca￿¥ 4,074.87 4.074.87 3.986.66 Totsl Monkn• RaS••d for¢knldo Cau 4,074.87 4.074 87 3.986.6S 10 PROGRAMME ACTIVITY Iie¢EIPTS Tr8K1ty8ft Receipts 249.20 249.20 20.00 899.86 Total Pro9rnnwM Actfvmy R•e•W8 11 MANSE RECEIPTS 8 M8n9e Rert RocdFrt8 b OW Reedkxj 20. 249 20 269 20 899 86 Tthl R•e•S0 12 INWTrIENT RECEIPTS Ch&riknd.. Gkn Fwd b Ch￿1￿￿.. G*n Ge￿r 76.95 76.95 51.30 5C#).00 74.70 49.80 2.CQO 00 s1.￿1 Totsl In¥••1￿ R•c•lpts 13 MISCELLANEOUS REceipT8 a entrie8 51 30 5LlJ rA) 76.95 628.25 2.124.50 1.1e6.89 *. 76.05 1,166.89 76.05 1.711.10 r¢t*l Mth¢•ll•n•ou8 R•¢•lp¢• 14 MINISTRY & MISSIOII ASSESSVAENT • Mkn*ty & Aa8e8•m•rt Total Mlnhtry & Mls•lon 15 SYNOD ASESSMENT 1.242.94 1.242.94 1.711 10 44.483.04 41,2CÉ. 41,205.96 44.483.04 44.483.04 10 IAINISTRY EXPENSES • Car Miknge AJIMrK8 b Cw c ￿1￿￿T5 Eyn88• d Boc& P110 Nthnal f Pulm Supp 257.40 257.40 1,365 eo 434.15 147.87 13.52 710 00 98.10 1,374 35 605.61 152.94 13.52 810.CK) 434.15 147.87 13.52 710.ixl 97.11 497.11 -279.04 To111141ininty Exp•nw• 1Y CHURCH 8UILtXNGS IAAINfE14ANCÉ * Amual Ser¥KEI MaintenanLE Cosls 2.231.43 2,231.43 2.475.48 3.687.29 3.687.29 3.642.29 ¢ Ek￿rI￿1 i IT WL¥k d Inlwnal Work8 a E¥temal ￿[￿3 f Purthase l Rwal (a 3,4T2.13 7.945.40 1,111.18 3,4n.13 7,945.40 4.279.39 45.00 775.cll 3.634.91 16.20 31. 31.50 70.394.t 86.641. h M4¥yWI Total Church BulSdlngB mahrt8na￿o 70.394.( 16.247 50 70 394.L 122,392.79 ST COLUM8A'S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Pa9e 4 FINANCIAL STATEAIENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECBABER 2023 NOTES- Gontlnuqd Year 2023 Tolal £ Last Ye8r 2022 Total £ F￿£ F￿£ FuTrJs £ 18 CHURCH RUNNING COSTS 8 Gas and &ectnaty b Inwr8nrA c Watef Ral05 14.143.11 6.6f4).63 122.01 11 14.143.11 6.660.63 122.01 1.380.1 4,680.35 1.653.1 143.9 1216.84 264.00 33.92 3.632.20 5,843 94 6,fj03.31 91.65 1.164.80 4,￿3.27 1,648.60 143.90 1,114.89 ¢*ankng 4.880.35 1,653.07 143.e6 1.216.84 9 Fljblcautr h UL*nce8 1 I E¥omknabc j Smlarfal Cost8 k c￿Jr￿) Chlanots i Trtal Church Runnlng Co•ts 19 IAANSE MAINTENANCE a Ropdrs and Aer￿l¥all b URC1&ffjC￿ Conlrlbulbjn Tai*l M•lnt•Mn¢• ol 50.22 3.340 90 3.632 20 33.930 13 33 930.130 24.749.43 2.￿.64 -703.40 2.536 84 -703 40 383 09 -26.52 1.833 24 1.83324 356.57 20 IAANSE RUMNING COSTS Council T b Insw8nce c Teworn aTh# frrtwrni Water Rates G•• 8ThJ Ewrk ei I URC1S￿￿ CcrtritrAi Total M•rM• Runnlnq C 21 PROGRAMME ACTMTYcosn • CWr¢n$' 8¢Xivft*$ k* Ytyjlh AC1fv￿ c Wwshlp l Edts*MI F¥t4oLtsITr** d Traldcrnft purehase6 l Dwtby • Trtrj Stth¥arth"p CwnpovJn I GODJ PraraK 2,549.74 2.548 74 70680 574.07 355.75 2,431.77 1 1,036.64 S26.55 310.10 574.07 356.75 -1.327.68 - -1.327.68 -814.84 . 2.856 48 3.490.22 432.90 148.e8 841.08 787 76 483.49 1,010.52 145.C 227.74 145 227.74 14S.00 837.02 h Proiedl T<>lAI Progrnmm• AGtl¥lty Co•lF 22 COSTOF FUNDPASIWG OffenThJ8 519.42 1.24108 2,537 00 270893 165.55 165.55 97.11 235 69 Totsl Co#tolFundrthln9 23 SUPPORT OF OUTSIDE CAUSES F￿d¥ for C*Jlshle Causes 165 55 185 55 332 80 3.992.Tr) 3,992. 3,818.00 7rrt￿ Suppxl ¢1 IM•ld•fAW 24 OThER COSTS 3 992.00 3 818.00 4tJ.15 489.97 76.05 1.186.89 421.19 71 10 b Gkn F￿d Fltrw8 Contra Paymerts 1,1￿.89 423.15 1,YJ9.76 1.732.91 492.29 25 MONETARY ASSETS The thurch rI￿ri￿ are rKI W kn swgated &Y)￿rIs, t*rt for the Sake ofthi% fvwK)81 statemerrt the totsl ST COLUMBA% UNITEO ReFORMED CHURCH Paoe 5 FINANQAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 OECEPIBER 2023 NOTES- contlnuod 26 ASSETS USED FOR CHURCH PURPOSES The churth tAJilthw the Manse at 15 We81 tkne. st￿ are ¥p8ted ￿ the ithtted Refmwj Churth INL¥thern Provi￿) Triffji 0$ tntstees ar¥J we ncl thKthas¥ets. Tlw hely knlhe beneft of St Cdumba¥ Unbt&J Reforn￿ (h4th. 30 NorfvJrrthr*l Swe. N¢ylh &i￿$ NE30 1PW ￿ ac0)rda￿ trAukth"ThJ8 a￿ bythe £9,896S12. Tr duth 4x**erts are by￿ ¢kni for t&58,439. irMuriThJ klarth h88 with ts Unibj ReSJrm•J Ncrfi￿n Syvxl ikn* p)IKy. 2T INVE3TIIENTS HELD FOR CHURCH PURPOSES Th8 u￿ted Reformed Church (Nthm Pro¥*K*I Trn￿t (￿P9rry ￿18 ￿ bewofthe churth in¥tssbm￿ts iry4e8lft￿t# 9￿1 lerx)*ts ¥rKI trpatmert oftt* the￿ne l& # fc•th¥8. J•n•t D•ll Thom1￿ Tn*t £X2N iTrJuded above M&G Chanftjrnl hokjs ol the chwth an *hwsbThrt rece￿1 kn menwjry of G*n Famty. ￿Prt•1 in i1￿(￿ ￿ rec4fvvJ by the qu•ttyty. As the tru51 eo% olts irKorrn18 to pro¥tyknJ Il* on Lul OdoÈ•r eath y8arvlth th? rnmalnlrvJ Of1￿ income forthè g¢w81 pwpoaos oflh duth. receN•J durkw ts yoor •r* Inr*Jd•d in 1 12 Ghn F￿1￿>1 Tn•t Fund 1J14• 40% Go￿ra1 puw8 28 ¢HARJTABLE STATUS Comlyh)n •r*1 it Ort￿•d R•aMtsr olC*arkn8 aB fohm. 8T COLUMBA? NORTh SHIELDS IINITED REFORW CHURCH ¢IIARrrY Charlty Nymbv 1q64784 29 &WAIIIAmON OFCHUACH ORGANISAMN ACCOUNrs The FinarKe al￿ Propefty Care Team ol St Columba's Unlw Refurned Chu￿, l# •¢cord•n¢e wth Chlrity Comrn1551on Requlrements, have eKamlned the acccwnts of the foll￿+￿n80￿8n1Sa1lors8tt4thed tothe Church fort1* perlod to 31 C*t•nber2023. C•fé 2-2-1 HANOS Junlorthurth Parert & Toddl¢rGroup Square Table UNICEF 2m9.66 1.012.17 1.045. 153.10 25 541. ST COLUMBA'S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Page 6 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEM8ER 2023 DonatlJ.ly) 525 (Kl 510 Ix) 743 10 1.534.62 1.854.23 1tsJ.TrJ 525.ty) 510.(K) 743.10 480 59 147.97 893.45 1,840.95 P*&Pe•L Kkng Ch•r*•111 Ctycffj•tth T•• Summer E¥thrg cO￿rt NTC ￿1 T￿ether Herltsyo Oren Day Norfhurrthrf8nd Squwe ofMarm*de & Lemon C￿d 147.97 15QO 5w.eo 11 Tat•l FWKI Raknlng 5.875.51 5.875.51 DONATIONS TO ¢XITSIDE CAUSES CrrtnP88$1(XI 1.086. 541 1.0111 618 tsj 1,086.00 yi 1.011.00 618.IXI 186. 1.056.00 453.00 UNICEF Turkey & E8thwak8A￿[ T¢Jkt T*inrNTVJ N￿lOtsuK CM8¢ma$ E¥e- U￿lS1C¢* 381.00 1,OtH).00 286.00 240.00 NLyth T￿￿j8y￿r￿j Carers. JLthe Chrfstmas Markel. Pewey FIr￿e CE￿N01th East YwThJ Dad5 8 F*ri• Trtal FWKI Ralsing 4W.00 3,W2. 3,992.(X) 3.818 00 ST COLUMBA'S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Page 7 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 TREASURER'S STATEMENT I have p￿pared the finanoal statements on pages 1 to 6 for the y￿￿1• ac¢ountitw We￿1￿5 ofthe Keiih Amslrong 31 t)ecemt*r 2023 from the (name) {sonature) (dale) INDEPENDENT EXAMINERE REPORT I reFKSrt Dn the financial ststements of St Columb8's United Reform￿ Church for the year ended 310¢¢ember 2023, wfftlch afo Sat out on pago$ 1 to 8. Respeclive responslbllllles The ¢hurch reswjnsibb forth• kyeparation of the finanaal statements, and o)nspJers that the audit requlremenl of Section 144(2) of the Charilios Act 2011 Ohe Act) does not ap￿y. tt is my reswnsibilrty to stsle, on Ihe bosts of prO¢￿u￿$ S[￿fied in the General Dire¢b"ons g￿n by the Ch8nty Commissioners un¢Jer Sedon 145{51(bl of the Acl, whether Part￿lIr matters have come to my att8ntion. Bail# ol Ind•p•ndenl Examln•rf• report My examination was c8rried out in accordance with the Gener81 Direc#Ksns of the Chartty Comrnis$ionefS. An examination indudes 8 revlew of th8 accounting records kept by the church and a ¢omparison of the 8ccounts wesented with those records. It also inckndes c￿nS￿leration of any unusual rtems or disclosures in the financkql s18tements, 8ThJ seeking explanations con¢emiNJ any such matters. The pmcedures undertaken do not pro¥•Ye all the ewdènc6 that wouhj be required in an awjil. arKI ¢onsequontly I do not express an 8udrt opnion on the view gI￿n by the Iln8nckg1 slatements. Independent ExamSnerfs statement In ¢onn&¢tion with my examinat￿n of th8 dlurch funds. nothing camo to my attenllon *l)kh gavp me cause lo believe otherwise Ih8n that the fmncial slalements accord with the accounting rer£srds of the church, 8nd that those records sallsfled the requlrements of the Acl. l am not awa￿ of any matter lo which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper undetstandiNJ of the fin8nclal statements to be reachod. oned by thè Independent EyAmth)or'. date.. Name and address of the Itvjependent EyAmlner. Mr J R Milts FCCA L8Ver￿ Walion and Co. 83 Kingfisher House Team Valky Gateshead Tyne & Wear NE11 OJQ St Columba's Florth Shields United Refornied Church Charity Charity Number 1164784 Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ended 31. December 2023 St Columba's North Shields United Reformed Church Charity Trustees Report For the year ended 31" December 2023 Trustees Alison Drew Norma McAvoy Wendy Bradley Helen Saunders Church Secretary From April 2021 From April 2019 From May 2018 Until April 2023 From May 2020 From September 2020 From September 2020 From May 2022 From May2022 From May2023 From May 2023 Lesley Waugh Jlll Thompson Barbara White Veronica Hall Lisa McAvoy Shirley McKay Liz Morrell Minister Revd. Dr. Trevor Jamison Treasurer Mr Keith Armstrong Address 30 Northumberland Square North Shields Tyne and Wear NE30 IPW Bankers Lloyds Bank 69 Bedford Street, North Shields NE29 OAU Independent Examiner Mr Jonathan R Mills Laverick Walton & Co 83 Kingfisher House Team Valley Gateshead NEII OJQ St Columba's North Shields United Reformed Church Charity Trustees Report For the year ended 31" December 2023 The Trustees who are also the Serving Elders of the Church submit their report and the examined accounts for the year ended 31° December 2023 Structure Governance and Management The Church was registered under the tenns of the Charities Act 2006. in 2016. The governing documents are the Trust distilled from the United Refornied Church acts (1972 & 1981) and scheme of Union (1972) adopted 25 June 2014. The Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. The Trustees (Serving Elders) are elected by the Church Meeting of St Columba's United Refornied Church. Nominations are sought by direct approach. Individuals can indicate their willingness to serve, they then must seek a nominator. All Tn￿eS (Serving Elders) must be members of the United Refonned Church. The Trustees (Serving Elders) meet each month and in their capacity as Trustees dea] with legal, fmancial and property needs of the Church. Financial matters are reviewed in liaison with the Finance and Propety Team, the Trustees receive and act on relevant matters contained in the reports provided by the Church teams responsible for the maintenance and fabric of the Church. Risk Management The Trustees are aware of their responsibilities to assess risks in relation to its activities. To this end the Church has adopted the Safe Guarding Policy produced by the United Refornied Church Northern Synod and have appointed a dedicated Safe Guarding Co-ordinator and Assistant. Objectives and Activities The object of the Charity is the advancement of the Christian faith for the benefit of the public in accordance with the scheme of union of the United Refonned Church. St Columba's URC is committed to enabling people to worship as the Church and to become part of the Church family. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer, scripture, music and sacrdmenL We endeavour to enable those in the community to live out their faith as part of the Church family. Worship and prayer. Provision of P&8toral care for the community. Mission and outreach to the community. Achievements and Perfomance The Church continued to offer morning and evening services in the church building Additionally we live stream our Sunday morning worship Online versions of group bible study still continue led by our Minister. This is also shared with our sister church St Anthew's URC Monkseaton. A Zoom version is also offered and opened to all in Northern Synod & Churches Together in North Shields. The following events are held at the church for the church congregation and cornmunity through the week: Tuesday - Cafe 2-21 serves coffee and light lunches also offers a quiet prayer time in Church Wednesday - Parent and Toddlers HANDS monthly meeting for the ladies of the church Age Uk Singing for the Brain meet on a weekly basis Thursday Evening - Bible Study in person Bible Study on Zoom Saturday - Coffee Morning Sunday morning - an "Early Bird" breakfast is available for anyone in need when friendship and sharing time is also appreciated é• Slinllning World meets twice a week Yoga class meets weeklyy when possible, organised by a Church member. + Messy Church nonnally is held every other month on a Sunday afternoon. and organised by a very keen team of leaders. • Fairtrade Stall was available every Sunday morning but now ended following closure of Traidcraft Nornially, family Services are encourage(£ especially on Mothering Sunday, Easter. Father's Day, Harvest, Operation Christmas chil￿ Remembrance Sunday, Nativity and Carol Services. The 2023 Carol Service & Nativity Service took place in the building and was Live streamed + Nornially, every Sunday within Morning Worship Junior Church caters for all children of any age which comprises of a Creche area and a working area for crafts and games related to a Bible story. At present there are 85 members on the Church Roll. with 12 adherents and 6 on the Community Roll. We had a regular attendance on a Sunday morning of 50 people. The last Sunday evening of the month a serviLY is held in the church being led by the minister or a visiting preacher, with about 20 people attending We have a very con]mitted team of people combining Pastoral and Congregation Care under the title of Congregational Care Team. Additionally, in 2023 we continued with a Weekly Update to mernbers of the church to help maintain links across the congregation. The Church members also sponsor three children through Compassion UK. One young boy Dan, now 19 years old, is from Uganda and two children 9 years old from Rwand& The Church pmduces a monthly magazine which is available for all people connected to the Church, which includes friends. families, students and the community. In 2020 this w&8 redeSi￿¢d and is delivered online to mosL and by post to the remainder. Volunteers The Church relies on memEErs of the congregation to maintsin the life, worship and fabric of the Church. volunteers act in the following capacities: Stewards - who welcome and assist people at services, weddings, baptisms, funerals, and who in 2023, with the help of appropriate training? ensured the safety of those participating in worship. Finance and Property Team deal with the day- to -day financial matters of the Church under the oversight of the Trustees. Congregational Care Team - attends to the pastoral needs of the Church which includes visiting, and during 2023, keeping in touch by phone and letter or visiting members. Worship and Nurture Care Team - assists in the ministy, worship and prayerful care of the congregation. Technical Team - look after the overhead screen and sound system and they ensure all services go well. Also, during 2023 the Team oversaw use of technology for online worship and meetings, and production and delivery of weekly updates and church magazines online. We have recently up graded our internet provision. In September 2022 we began live str&qming our morning services and sometimes funeral services when requested. There is also a Prayer Circle who meet regularly to pray and share together concerns of people in need. Other Activities St Columba's is a member of Churches Together in North Shields, represented by one or two Members of the Church and our Minister. This is a body of various Church denominations who meet on a regular basis to arrange joint ecumenical services, discuss rnatters of ecumenical interest and seek to work closely within the community. Financial Review The Church has a policy of maintaining sufficient reserves to provide the necessary income for the efficient running of the Church's administration. The Church holds £30,000 in a Buildings Reserve and also 6 months of annual budgeted expenditure in a General Reserve Fund. Statement of Reeeipts and Payments Total receipts on the unrestricted General Account were £89,842 and payment from the aLYount totalled £102.690. resulting in a loss on the year of £12,848. This left the General Account standing at £11,624. Whilst we ended the year with a deficit it was encouraging that we ended the year £6,771 better than we had budgefrd for. This was mainly achieved due to an increase in fund raising and donations. Our expenditure however showed a significant increase mainly due to increases in gas and electricity costs, after the expiry of our f￿ed rate contracts. We also had larger than expected expenditure on routine building repairs. Particularly encouraging was that our main source of income, offerings, came in at £1,919 over the budgeted figures. Total receipts on the Designated Reserves were £41,475 and payments from these reserves totalled £72,078 giving a deficit on the year of £30,603. This left the Designated Reserves standing at a total of £101.982. £8.773 of this is Legacies which are held awaiting allocation whilst £30,000 is held in a Buildings Reserve and £44,300 in a General Reserve Fund. £14,646 is awaiting expenditure on major maintenance works to the exterior of the buildings which we are undertaking. Total receipts on the Restricted Reserves were £5,394 and payrnents from these reserves totalled £6.543 giving a deficit on the year of £1,198. This left the Restricted Reserves standing at a total of £3,794. The Trustees also have available to them the funds held in The Janet Dall Thomson Charity, which has as its Custodian Trustees the United Refomied Church (Northern Province) Tr￿ The BalanLr of the Charity at 31 December 2023 was £36.547. Whilst our reserves reduced over the year,they are still sufficient to cover any shortfall that we may incur in the coming year. Signed PL l +