St John’s Church Preservation Group Annual Report 2019 to 2020
Charity Registration 1164822
The Old School House, St John’s Road, Kates Hill, Dudley, DY2 7JT
CHARITY FORM
St John’s Church Preservation Group is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The governing document is the constitution.
Trustees are selected by invitation.
PATRON
Professor Carl Chinn, MBE
PURPOSES OF THE CHARITY
St John’s Church Preservation Group was formed in 2007 to save St John’s Church which had been closed to the public in 2002. It was empty for 14 years until the group, after a lengthy campaign and process, was granted a lease to take on the restoration and re-opening in 2016.
The object[s] of St John’s Church Preservation Group are:
(a) to support the restoration and preservation of St John’s Church, Kates Hill, Dudley, a place of historic and architectural importance with a view to supporting Christian worship and providing a facility for greater community use;
(b) To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment;
(c) to advance the education of the public particularly but not exclusively by (i) educating the public in different religious beliefs including an awareness of their distinctive features and their common ground to promote good relations between persons of different faiths and (ii) by promoting knowledge and mutual understanding and respect of the beliefs and practices of different religious faiths;
(d) to further benefit the residents of Dudley and its surrounding areas particularly but not exclusively those who are unemployed or unwaged and those who are without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare, recreation and other leisure time activities with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents;
(e) to advance in life and help young people through providing support and activities which develop their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals.
St John’s Church, 1840. Grade 11 listed in May 2009 following application by St John’s Church Preservation Group
SUMMARY OF MAIN ACTIVITIES
(Until Coronavirus lockdown in March 2020):
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Maintenance and restoration of the church building
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Fundraising including the St John’s Sale Room in the adjacent former St John’s School accepting donations of goods which are then sold at very low prices to support the local community and raise funds for the restoration of the historic church. This had to be closed on 27th March 2020 due to lockdown.
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Church kept open a minimum of two days per week for viewing and private contemplation, plus assistance with family history research. Six Anglican services per year.
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Graveyard and adjoining Nature reserve maintenance
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Packed event programme engaging with local and wider community
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Volunteering opportunities from age 16 years and in family groups
TRUSTEE STATEMENT PUBLIC BENEFIT
The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit
TRUSTEES IN THIS PERIOD
Deborah Brownlee (Chair) Maria Bottley (Secretary) John Poole (Treasurer) Martin Horwood
Trustees to be confirmed and acting in advisory capacity: David Kerr Ann Kerr Paul Smith
CONTRIBUTION MADE BY VOLUNTEERS
During this period 1748 hours of volunteering were carried out. Coronavirus lockdown had a serious effect on the volunteer numbers with 24 being either removed as no longer active or leaving due to family commitments or fear of the virus. The number of volunteers at the year end was 17.
13 of the retained volunteer team also joined the Friends of St John’s to help support the project financially through the crisis.
SUMMARY OF THE MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CHARITY DURING THIS PERIOD
During this period the Coronavirus lockdown forced the charity to close all activities in March 2020 and the charity was left with no income. Funds were already low and there was only just over £2000 on reserve. When restrictions were slightly lifted they had no immediate impact as the project could not re-open with six people allowed to meet and the sale room could not be re-opened. Sales income was reduced from £9104 in 2018-19 to £3575 in this period.
Available funding was looked at but was clearly not going to provide funds for a non coronavirus delivery project and certainly not in the time scale needed.
We did provide support to the local community during this time with space being prepared and deep cleaned ready for distribution of food parcels, and free loan of books, games and films. We liaised with a local community member to form the Facebook group ‘Kates Hill Support’. A Coronavirus support area was set up in the church which after the initial few weeks was re-opened twice weekly.
In April 2020 we were awarded the Queens Award for Volunteering which although a great credit to the project and the team, was received in a rather muted way as we were not sure the project could survive.
The trustees and volunteers worked together to gain more members of the Friends of St John’s and these and other one off donations including from former clergy achieved donations of £12,580. Trustees and volunteers put funds in. The number of Friends increased from 19 to 71. It had proved difficult previously to increase the number of Friends, however people did realise the seriousness of the situation and moved to make regular contributions to help. A few larger one off donations made a dramatic difference.
Six services per year in the church. Following lockdown our services were carried out online using Facebook live, or filmed with only the vicar (Rev Hugh Burton) in the church and then sent out for people to participate from home. This proved successful with hundreds of views.
Although lockdown prevented a physical service for Remembrance we still decorated the church and invited people to light candles. (St John’s lychgate is also the local War Memorial).
Graveyard and adjacent St John’s Nature Reserve maintained and available for nature observation and healthy walks (total circa five acres), greatly used by families and dog walkers
An example of an event cancelled due to Coronavirus. This event was organised by the local MP and would have raised funds towards the restoration of the church. All events were cancelled from March 2020 onwards. Event income crashed from £2768 in 2018-19 to just £34 in this period as lockdown started at the beginning of the events season.
Our insurance company, Access Insurance, having visited the project in 2019, contacted us to offer help and reassurance, knowing that the project is difficult and expensive to insure. They managed to reduce the insurance figure and this made a huge difference to our survivability.
After discussions with the volunteer team, trustees and volunteers decided during lockdown to undertake total refurbishment and reorganisation of the Sale Rooms, with a view to consolidating the Sale Room into one room, and the other room to be a comfortable and welcoming general purpose community room.
The volunteers worked incredibly hard on this and their loyalty helped the trustees and Friends to stay determined that the project must survive.
Mr Tim Lees, FRCO,FTCL,ARSCM, continued to visit when he could, to carry on with refurbishment of the 1886 Peter Conacher organ, and a routine exercise programme devised by him was used to exercise the organ and keep the parts aired and moving.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
At the end of this period the charity had managed to retain the reserve of £2369 and thanks to donations from well wishers and support from the insurance company, had been able to pay the largest annual cost, the insurance, in one go rather than by instalments. This meant that the charity could move forward from this financial year, free of debt. The aimed for reserve is 12 months operating costs plus ongoing reserves for maintenance and future replacements. The cash situation is fragile at £3738 however by building up the Friends there is now some buffer income to take forward whereas at the point of closure in March there was no income protection.
It cannot yet be said that the charity is financially safe as income remains seriously curtailed, however the continued development of the Friends group and scheme of improvements and enhancements for further community engagement are laying the ground for the future.
Prepared and approved by the trustees of St John’s Church Preservation Group 28th February 2022.
St John’s Church Preservation Group The Old School House St John’s Road Kates Hill Dudley West Midlands DY2 7JT
Financial Statements
Twelve months to 30 November 2020
Charity Registration number 1164822
Approved Accountancy 16a Orton Grove Penn Wolverhampton West Midlands WV4 4JN
St John’s Church Preservation Group
Statement of Financial Activities
Twelve months to 30 November 2020
CONTENTS
| CONTENTS | |
|---|---|
| Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet Accountants Report Notes to the Accounts |
Pages |
| 1-2 3 4 5-11 |
St John’s Church Preservation Group
Statement of Financial Activities
Twelve months to 30 November 2020
| Note Incoming Resources Unrestricted Funds Voluntary income 3 Investment income 3 From charitable activities 3 Grant income 1 Total incoming resources Resources expended Unrestricted funds Cost of generating voluntary income 4 Charitable expenditure 4 Governance costs 4 Total resources expended Net incoming/outgoing resources before transfers Net movement in funds |
2020 (£) 12,580 4 3829 _ 16,413 386 8038 nil _ 8424 7989 7989 |
2019 (£) 3652 10 12,557 2500 _ 18,719 1756 18,652 nil _ 20,408 (1689) (1689) |
|---|---|---|
| _ |
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St John’s Church Preservation Group
Statement of Financial Activities
Twelve months to 30 November 2020
| Represented by 2020 (£) Movement in HSBC Community Account 1007 Movement in HSBC Money Manager Account (1797) Movement in petty cash account nil Accruals/prepayments 8779 _ Net movement in funds 7989 |
2019 (£) 1159 (2990) nil 142 _ (1689) |
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St John’s Church Preservation Group
BALANCE SHEET
As at 30.11.2020
Unrestricted funds
| Note Fixed Assets Current Assets Cash at bank and in hand 9 Prepayments Total Assets Less current liabilities Accruals Net current assets Total Assets Represented by: Funds of the charity Unrestricted funds |
2020 2019 (£) (£) nil nil 6157 6947 4333 nil 10,490 6947 nil (4446) 10,490 2501 10,490 2501 10,490 2501 |
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St John’s Church Preservation Group
Accountant’s Report
12 months to 30[th] November 2020
We have prepared the enclosed financial statements from the books and records provided by the trustees of the charity.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Accounting Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2005) issued in May 2008, UK Accounting Standards and the Charities Act 2011.
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts basis.
The accounts have been prepared under the historic cost convention.
L. D. Brownlee (A.C.M.A.) (C.G.M.A) (CTA) (ATT)
25th February 2022
Approved Accountancy 16A Orton Grove Penn Wolverhampton West Midlands WV4 4JN
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St John’s Church Preservation Group
Twelve months to 30 November 2020
Notes to the financial statements
2 Accounting policies
Incoming resources
Recognition of incoming resources
These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:
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The charity becomes entitled to the resources;
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The trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and
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The monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Incoming resources with related expenditure
Where incoming resources have related expenditure (as with fundraising or contract income) the incoming resources and related expenditure are reported gross in the SoFA.
Grants and donations
Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
Tax reclaims on donations and gifts.
Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the SoFA at the same time as the gift to which they relate
Contractual income and performance related grants
This is only included in the SoFA once the related goods or services have been delivered.
Gifts in kind
Gifts in kind are accounted for at a reasonable estimate of their value to the charity or the amount actually realised
Gifts in kind for sale or distribution are included in the accounts as gifts only when sold or distributed by the charity.
Gifts in kind for use by the charity are included in the SoFA as incoming resources when receivable.
Donated services and facilities
These are only included in the incoming resources (with an equivalent amount in resources expended) where the benefit to the charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material.
The value placed on these resources is the estimated value to the charity of the service or facility received.
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St John’s Church Preservation Group
Twelve months to 30 November 2020
Notes to the financial statements
2 Accounting policies (continued)
Volunteer help
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustee’s annual report.
Expenses reimbursed to volunteers are included in the Statement of Financial Activities as costs of generating voluntary income.
Investment income
This is included in the accounts when receivable.
Investment gains and losses
This includes any gain or loss on the sale of investments and any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value at the end of the year.
EXPENDITURE AND LIABILITIES
Liability recognition
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.
Governance costs
Include costs of the preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the costs of trustee meetings and the cost of any legal advice to trustees on governance or constitutional matters.
Grants with performance conditions
Where the charity gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of service or output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the SoFA once the recipient of the grant has provided the specified service or output.
Grants payable without performance conditions
These are only recognised in the accounts when a commitment has been made and there are no conditions to be met relating to the grant which remain in the control of the charity.
Support Costs
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity costs categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, e.g. allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.
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St John’s Church Preservation Group
Twelve months to 30 November 2020
Notes to the financial statements
2 Accounting policies (continued)
ASSETS
Tangible fixed assets for use by charity
These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £400. They are valued at cost or if gifted, at the value to the charity on receipt.
Investments
Investments quoted on a recognised stock exchange are valued at the year end. Other investment assets are included at the trustee’s best estimate of market value.
Stocks and work in progress
Stocks and work in progress are valued at the lower of cost or market value
Current liabilities
Amounts payable by the charity within twelve months of the balance sheet date are included in current liabilities.
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St John’s Church Preservation Group
Twelve months to 30.11.2020
| Notes to Financial Statements 3. Analysis of incoming resources 2020 (£) Voluntary Income Donations 12,580 Investment Income Interest received 4 Grant income nil Incoming resources from Charitable activities Events income 34 Sales income 3575 Recycling nil Commonwealth War Graves Commission 220 Miscellaneous income nil _ 3829 Total incoming resources 16,413 |
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St John’s Church Preservation Group
| Twelve months to 30 November 2020 Notes to the financial statements 4. Analysis of resources expended 2020 (£) Costs of generating voluntary income Volunteer expenses 386 _ 386 Charitable expenditure Public Liability Insurance 2167 Grounds and Property expenses 664 Rent and Utilities 4475 Events, Meetings and Promotions 465 General admin istration 231 Telephone and internet nil Miscellaneous expenses 36 ____ 8038 Governance costs nil Total resources expended 8424 |
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St John’s Church Preservation Group
Twelve months to 30 November 2020
Notes to the financial statements
5 Support costs
The charity has not analysed its expenses using activity categories.
6.1 Trustees expenses
The trustees received no payments for their services
6.2 Fees for independent confirmation of the accounts.
There was no independent examination of the accounts
7.0 Paid employees
| 7.1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff costs | 2020 | 2019 | |
| (£) | (£) | ||
| Gross wages, salaries and benefits in kind | nil | nil | |
| Employers national insurance | nil | nil | |
| Pension costs | nil | nil | |
| ___ | ___ | ||
| nil | nil | ||
| 7.2 | Average number of full time | ||
| Equivalent employees in the year | |||
| Charitable activities | nil | nil |
7.3 Pension contributions
The charity did not make pension contributions on behalf of any employees during the period
8 Grantmaking
There were no grants or donations made by the charity
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St John’s Church Preservation Group
Twelve months to 30 November 2020
Notes to the financial statements
| 9. Cash at Bank and in hand HSBC Community Account HSBC Money Manager Cash in hand __ |
2020 (£) 3738 2369 50 __ 6157 |
2019 (£) 2731 4166 50 |
|---|---|---|
| ______ 6947 |
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