Rosedale Community Church
Part of the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion
Annual Report for April 2020 – March 2021, presented at the AGM on 7[th] June 2021
Rosedale Community Church (Rosedale) became a charity on 19[th] October 2016. This is the fourth annual report.
Aims and Objectives
Rosedale’s mission statement is:
Rosedale Community Church, is a Christ centred community dedicated to impacting Cheshunt, our nation and beyond with the love of God in the power of the Holy Spirit.
We are committed to:
-
providing Christian education and spiritual support to the congregation and the community.
-
providing pastoral care to the congregation and the community.
-
providing a venue for community groups.
-
supporting charities and mission both in the UK and overseas as we are able.
Coronavirus Pandemic
The past year has been like no other. The pandemic has affected every individual and organisation in the UK and Rosedale is no exception. However, we rose to the challenges presented and have continued to serve our members and the community.
Christian Education and Spiritual Support
-
The weekly worship service moved online, utilising both YouTube and Zoom. A link was also provided for our children for Sunday School each week. In September & October and for two weeks at the beginning of December, we also managed to hold restricted services in our hall.
-
Bible studies and prayer meetings have taken place by Zoom.
-
Through September and October and the two weeks of December, we held Covid-secure Bible Meditation courses in our hall.
-
Christmas and Easter craft packs were provided for the children and youth.
Pastoral Care
Sheila Woods continues as our named lead for pastoral care although the duties are shared among the members. Each member of the leadership team has been responsible for staying in touch with a number of households from the congregation. This has mainly been accomplished by phone, Zoom and visits to the doorstep. We have also provided virtual coffee mornings and afternoon teas, through Zoom.
Community Engagement
With lockdown restrictions in place for the majority of the year, the use of the hall has been severely limited. The One YMCA Family Centre and the Senior Fitness Class run by Stevenage Football Club have been able to operate a limited service. CGL (which supports recovering addicts) has remained in contact with us and paid their rent but have not been open to the public.
In April 2020 The Broxbourne Coronavirus Community Partnership was formed with Rosedale Community Church as one of the initial members. Meeting, at first weekly and then each fortnight, it became a key element in supporting many of the most vulnerable in the borough. Initially this was focused on the essential needs of people to receive food and medical supplies. We contributed by providing a shopping/medication drop off service and friendly phone calls to up to 20 people per week.
1
In October we partnered with Hearts for Herts charity to open an emergency Food Pantry in our building. We also became the central hub for the “Give a Smile” Christmas campaign by our local County Councillors.
As the year progressed the Partnership also began to focus on what was needed to help people begin to recover. Financial hardship became a priority concern. Rosedale Community Church received funding from Hertfordshire Community Foundation to run household budgeting courses. Unfortunately, we were not able to fulfil our goals due to the further lockdowns. Only one full course was able to operate in person, whilst the others were moved online. Part of the grant was returned at the end of March 2021. The feedback from those participating in the course was excellent and we do intend to continue offering budgeting courses this coming year.
Another identified key need was for community walk leaders to support peoples’ physical, emotional and mental well-being in a safe environment. Three members of the church have begun their training and hope to complete it once restrictions ease. We will then be offering local small group walks.
Charity and Mission Support
-
At Christmas we provided 16 food hampers to Safer Places (the local women’s refuge) and two additional hampers for local people.
-
In September we sent 120 shoe bags, containing gifts and essentials, to Sierra Leone.
-
We continue to be a partner church with Open Doors and support children through Compassion .
Financial donations have been given to:
-
The Connexion Mission Fund
-
Jews for Jesus
-
Sierra Leone Mission
-
The Message Trust
Strategy
Our specific plans and goals for 2020 did not survive the Coronavirus, however we did manage to continue our threefold focus:
-
Encouraging encounter with the Lord through prayer.
-
Encouraging growth in discipleship through training and teaching.
-
Encouraging growth in our witness through outreach and evangelism.
The prayer line continues to be a valued resource and participation has increased this past year.
Church Family
The Coronavirus has been the cause of much suffering and many deaths. We mourn with those who mourn and it has been with great sorrow that we have supported the members of our congregation who have lost loved ones.
We also rejoice with those who rejoice and are thrilled to have welcomed the new additions to our church family through births and those joining us online.
Ecumenical Relationships
Rosedale is part of the local Churches Together group. Over the year we joined Wormley Free Church for several joint online services.
Bethany Green is a member of the Board of Trustees of Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexions and is a valuable link with our covering denomination.
Building Refurbishment
In March 2018 the Council approached us with the offer to refurbish the building that we lease from them. This was an answer to prayer, and many years of requests. It took three years to be organised but the
2
refurbishment finally began on the 1[st] March 2021, due to end on 23[rd] April. At their request we agreed not to use the building whilst the works progressed. Unfortunately, the works have been severely delayed, and the current timetable indicates that it will not be complete until the end of June. Our hall will then reopen for worship services and community group hire.
Health and Safety
The lockdown restrictions meant that our hall was not in use for most of the year. However, all appropriate Health and Safety checks were carried out on a weekly/monthly/quarterly basis. The issuing of Covid guidance required new risk assessments and procedures. These were swiftly and completely put in place and when the Council sent a warden to check we were able to demonstrate total compliance.
The current refurbishment of the hall is putting in new features that will be included in our updated Health and Safety policy and procedures when we re-open.
General Data Protection Regulations
In compliance with the GDPR we maintain good practise and follow our policy with regard to the signed agreements from all our members regarding the use of their personal data. With the challenges of Coronavirus lockdown, others who wish to receive our weekly e-mails have been included and will be followed up with a form once the lockdown is over.
Safeguarding
Rosedale is covered by the Connexions membership to the advisory service ThirtyOne:Eight and receives regular updates and news. Bethany has attended training this year in her responsibilities as the Safeguarding Lead and Trustee responsible for Safeguarding to ensure we remain aware of all new legislation and best practise. All policies and procedures have been reviewed and updated where required. Safeguarding Training has been provided to some of our volunteers through a Zoom webinar and all other volunteers will receive their training in the summer when we can once again meet in person. There have not been any safeguarding concerns this year that needed to be reported.
Employment Issues
Like many charities the impact of the Coronavirus and lockdowns has been considerable. Although we asked the Council for consideration over the rent, they would only defer payments. By July 2020 our financial situation was very dire. It seemed unlikely that we would be able to continue to pay Bethany a fulltime wage and a new part-time contract was drafted in preparation. However, we Praise God that our church congregation were incredibly generous, CGL offered to pay their rent and we were able to apply for a grant. This ensured that we were able to continue to employ Bethany on her original contract.
Structure, governance and management
Rosedale Community Church (CIO) members are the leadership team of the church and elected by those in fellowship. In September 2020 Anne Pink resigned from the leadership team. Anne has faithfully served Rosedale Community Church for over 25 years and her gifts and expertise have been vital to the smooth running of the charity. She has retired as Treasurer and has gradually handed over her duties to others.
In September Bethany Green became the named Treasurer with Ruth Pitan of Better Connected Ltd, providing Book Keeping support. Simon Climer, Sheila Woods and Dorrett are the bank account signatories. Anne has continued with payroll but this will be handed over to Simon in the near future. A finance policy is currently being developed and will be submitted to the leadership team in the next few months.
The leadership team currently includes:
-
Simon Climer (Chair of the Trustees)
-
Sheila Woods (Trustee and Pastoral Care leader)
-
Bethany Green (Pastor, Trustee, Safeguarding Co-ordinator, Health & Safety Co-ordinator, Treasurer)
-
Titi Adenuga
3
-
Dorrett Taylor
-
Lynn Sobczak (Minutes Secretary)
The members of Rosedale (CIO) have met regularly over the past year either in person or via Zoom and minutes have been taken.
The trustees hold meetings as necessary, and in accordance with our constitution also make decisions by e- mail and phone. We would like to appoint at least one, possibly two, new trustees.
4
Receipts and Payments Accounts Rosedale Community Church
Charity Number: 1169778
For the period from 01/04/2020 to 31/03/2021
Section A : Receipts and Payments
| Section A : Receipts and Payments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts | Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Total Funds | Last Year |
| Offering& Donations | 9190 | £9,190.00 | £3,695.05 |
|
| Gift Aid Offerings | 16734 | £16,734.00 | £11,293.00 |
|
| Gift Aid Small Donations | 1168 | £113.00 | £1,281.00 |
£5,297.01 |
| Mission | £0.00 | £250.00 |
||
| Grants(LB & HCF) | £5,000.00 | £5,000.00 |
£450.00 |
|
| Rent | 12010 | £12,010.00 | £17,498.86 |
|
| SundyReceipts | 4671 | £4,671.00 | £4,734.66 |
|
| 50+ Club | £0.00 | £3,430.83 |
||
| ButterflyBabes | 68 | £68.00 | £0.00 |
|
| Total Receipts | £43,773.00 | £5,181.00 |
£48,954.00 |
£46,649.41 |
| Payments | Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Total Funds | Last Year |
| Minister & Manse | 23155.00 0.00 11072.00 1292.00 |
£23,155.00 | £24,176.21 |
|
| Repairs & Maintenance | £0.00 | £2,150.68 |
||
| Hall RunningCosts | £11,072.00 | £13,793.25 |
||
| Church Overheads | £1,292.00 | £2,163.94 |
||
| Mission | £1,378.03 | £156.97 |
£1,535.00 |
£2,597.40 |
| Home Mission | £0.00 | £966.76 |
||
| Hertfordshire CommunityFund | £4,800.00 | £4,800.00 |
£0.00 |
|
| SundryPayments | £0.00 | £464.50 |
||
| 50+ Club | £270.00 | £270.00 |
£2,813.93 |
|
| ButterflyBabes | £40.00 | £40.00 |
£0.00 |
|
| Discipleship & Evangelism | £78.00 | £78.00 | £0.00 |
|
| Children & Youth | £150.00 | £150.00 | £0.00 |
|
| Total Payments | £37,125.03 | £5,266.97 |
£42,392.00 |
£49,126.67 |
| Net of Receipts/(Payments) | £6,647.97 | (£85.97) |
£6,562.00 | (£2,477.26) |
| Transfer between funds | £0.00 | £0.00 |
||
| Cash funds lastyear end | £3,378.46 | £1,822.91 |
£5,201.37 |
£7,678.63 |
| Cash funds thisyear end | £10,026.43 | £1,736.94 |
£11,763.37 |
£5,201.37 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at 31st March 2021
| Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Funds: | ||
| Cash | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Bank CommunityAccount | 9732.1 | £1,736.94 |
| Bank Business Premium Account | £294.36 | |
| Total cash funds (agree balance with receipts & payments accounts) |
10026.46 | 1736.94 |
| Other monetaryassets | ||
| Investment assets | ||
| Assets retained for church use | ||
| Liabilities |
Signed by one trustee on behalf of all the trustees
----- Start of picture text -----
Signature
Print Name Bethany B Green
Date of approval 14.06.2021
----- End of picture text -----
The below form part of this statement
Notes to Financial Statements at 31st March 2021 Note 1: Account Policies:
The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 on the Receipts and Payments basis. Note 2: Restricted Funds:
| Fund Name | Balance at 31/03/2020 | Receipts in year | Payments in year | Transfers Restricted to Unrestricted |
Balance at 31/3/2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50+ Club | £1,665.94 | £0.00 |
£270.00 |
£0.00 |
£1,395.94 |
| Mission(SLM Trip) | £0.00 | £113.00 |
£0.00 |
£113.00 | |
| Mission(Message Trust) | £156.97 | £0.00 |
£156.97 |
£0.00 | |
| Herts CommunityFund | £0.00 | £4,800.00 |
£4,800.00 |
£0.00 | |
| LocalityGrant | £0.00 | £200.00 |
£0.00 |
£200.00 | |
| ButterflyBabes | £0.00 | £68.00 | £40.00 | £28.00 | |
| Totals | £1,822.91 | £5,181.00 |
£5,266.97 |
£0.00 |
£1,736.94 |
| Agree Balance with Receipts and Payments Accounts - Yes |