Rosedale Community Church Part of the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion
Annual Report for April 2023 – March 2024, presented at the AGM on 11[th] June 2024
Rosedale Community Church (Rosedale) became a charity on 19[th] October 2016. This is the seventh annual report.
Aims and Objectives
Rosedale’s mission statement has been:
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.
But even after all these years most people could not recall the entire sentence and so we have simplified it to the summary phrase: a Christ-Centred Community
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.
Christian Education and Spiritual Support
-
Over the past year Rosedale has met weekly for public worship and the preaching of the scripture. There is a weekly Sunday School for primary school children and occasional provision for teenagers.
-
Bible studies and prayer meetings take place regularly on Zoom and in person.
-
Through the summer and autumn of 2023 we held monthly worship and prayer evenings.
-
Other one-off events or short courses have also been provided.
Pastoral Care
Sheila Woods has now retired and so we currently do not have a named lead for pastoral care. Bethany provides the majority of pastoral care, although occasionally duties are shared among the members. This has included home and hospital visits, assisting with meals, prayer and informal counsel.
We have a couple of congregational members who are still isolating in their homes and so we remain in contact with them mostly by phone or Zoom.
Community Engagement
In April 2020 The Broxbourne Coronavirus Community Partnership was formed with Rosedale Community Church as one of the initial members. We continue to engage with them and be part of the recovery for our local area.
We currently host the following community groups:
-
The One YMCA Family Centre.
-
Senior Fitness Class run by Stevenage Football Club.
-
Hearts for Herts Food Pantry and craft café.
-
Kinisi Flow exercise class
In addition, we provide the following groups open to all in the community:
-
Young at Heart - for seniors.
-
Parent & Toddler group.
-
Walks for Wellbeing
-
Warm Welcome Space
1
Bethany Burrage has been invited to share in the assemblies and lessons for two local primary schools. Andrews Lane nursery attended the church for their Christingle service.
Charity and Mission Support
-
We have provided friendship and practical support to several local families seeking asylum.
-
In September we sent 60 shoe bags, containing gifts and essentials, to Sierra Leone, along with other donations of educational books, medical items and glasses.
-
We continue to be a partner church with Open Doors and support children through Compassion .
-
We collect grocery items to donate to those in need either directly or through the local Food Bank.
-
Our Warm Welcome provides a free lunch every Wednesday.
Financial donations have been given to the following charities:
-
The Connexion Mission Fund
-
Sierra Leone Mission
-
Compassion UK
-
Open Doors
-
Jews for Jesus
-
Mission Aviation Fellowship
-
Message Trust
Esther and Bethany Burrage are members of the of the Sierra Leone Mission Committee.
Strategy
In order to fulfil our goal to be a Christ-Centred Community providing spiritual help and support to our congregational members we focus on three areas:
-
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. In January we held a week of prayer and fasting. Bethany has offered several short courses to provide discipleship such as our Lent Bible Meditations and a Soul Faring Course. As part of our Warm Welcome we also offer a weekly Communion to those who wish to participate. Outreach and evangelism has mainly taken the form of one-to-one conversations during our community activities, along with our seasonal events.
Church Family
Our congregation continues to grow slowly through the addition of new attendees and families. Although it is rare for all our members to be in church at the same time, on special occasions, such as Christmas and Easter, we are usually full with little room left for visitors. Options to manage this growth includes the possibility of adding a second service or hiring a nearby larger hall – ie Andrews’ Lane Primary School.
Last July we were delighted to be able to hold a baptism service for two of our attendees. And four people have been welcomed into membership of the fellowship.
Ecumenical Relationships
Rosedale is part of the local Churches Together group.
During the year we joined Wormley Free Church for our Good Friday service and a summer picnic. We have also developed strong links with Life Church, Cuffley. Bethany is also a member of the Enfield Minister’s Breakfast .
Bethany Burrage is a member of the Board of Trustees of Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexions providing a valuable link with our covering denomination. In that role she is also a Governor of the Cheshunt Foundation .
2
Building & Garden Refurbishment
The unfinished work of the 2021 refurbishment was finally completed in Autumn 2023. We finally had a warm building this past winter.
The Community Garden continues to provide great delight and a place for friendship and wellbeing. Lynn and Vince Sobczak have shown dedicated and thoughtful leadership in arranging the work days and the visits to other gardens. Unfortunately, we have not been able to source as many grants this past year but the church are including some gardening costs within the budget.
Financial Concerns
Following the financial challenges of 2022-2023 we began this financial year with more hope. Bethany was able to return to full time pay in April 2023 and continue throughout the year. Our congregational giving increased and our hall hire income was slightly up. We received £6000 of grant funding from the Connexion towards the rental costs of our hall. We were also able to access quite a number of small grants to fund various activities. These included.
-
The Hertfordshire Community Foundation and Communities 1[st] for our Warm Welcome.
-
Churches Together for our Warm Welcome.
-
The Locality Budget for our Community Garden and Young at Heart Christmas dinner.
-
Broxbourne Educational Charity for laptops and guitars for young asylum seekers.
-
Hertfordshire County Council for Christmas celebrations.
Bethany Burrage has been the treasurer since 2020 but from 1[st] April 2024 this role is going to be fulfilled by Andrew Barnardo.
Simon Climer continues to be responsible for payroll.
Employment Issues
Bethany Burrage is our permanent employee and works full time at 37.5hours per week. Yvette Bliss has been employed this year as our building manager for four hours per week and Dorrett Taylor as our cleaner for two hours per week.
Structure, governance and management
Rosedale Community Church (CIO) members are the leadership team of the church and elected by those in fellowship.
Sheila Woods who was a key leader at Rosedale for 20+ years has now retired as a member of the leadership team and trustee. Lynn Sobczak has also stepped down. Barbara Duker Asafo-Adjei is our new Trustee.
For the year 2023-2024 the leadership team included:
-
Simon Climer (Chair of the Trustees, Employee Administrator)
-
Barbara Duker (Trustee)
-
Bethany Burrage (Pastor, Trustee, Safeguarding Co-ordinator, Health & Safety Co-ordinator, Treasurer & Book Keeping)
-
Titi Adenuga
-
Dorrett Taylor
The following policies have been reviewed to ensure that they are up to date and fit for purpose:
-
GDPR
-
Safeguarding
-
Health and Safety
-
Volunteers
3
- Financial procedures
Bethany Burrage has given the church notice that she will be leaving Rosedale Community Church in the early summer of 2025. We are currently advertising for a new pastor to take her place.
Health and Safety
Health and Safety remains a priority and all the weekly/monthly/quarterly/annual checks continue to be completed. The topic is regularly included in our Trustees and Members meetings.
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. Our newsletters are delivered by e-mail through MailChimp which permits the receiver to ‘unsubscribe’ as they choose.
Safeguarding
Rosedale is covered by the Connexions membership to the advisory service ThirtyOne:Eight and receives regular updates and news. All policies and procedures have been reviewed and updated where required. Safeguarding Training has been provided to our volunteers either through a Zoom webinar, in-person training or the equivalent training from their own organisations. There has not been any safeguarding concerns this year.
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 01/04/2023 to 31/03/2024
Section A : Receipts and Payments
| Section A : Receipts and Payments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts | Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Total Funds | Last Year |
| Offering& Donations | £5,005.00 | £251.00 | £5,256.00 | £3,683.00 |
| Gift Aid Offerings | £19,911.00 | £19,911.00 | £19,563.00 |
|
| Gift Aid Small Donations | £6,377.00 | £6,377.00 | £6,016.00 |
|
| Grants | £14,409.00 | £14,409.00 |
£8,182.00 |
|
| Rent | £6,592.00 | £6,592.00 | £9,503.00 |
|
| SundryReceipts | £8,505.00 | £8,505.00 | £7,819.00 |
|
| Youngat Heart | £3,800.00 | £3,800.00 |
£2,238.00 |
|
| Parent & Toddler | £1,491.00 | £1,491.00 | £1,491.00 |
|
| Total Receipts | £46,390.00 | £19,951.00 | £66,341.00 |
£58,495.00 |
| Payments | Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Total Funds | Last Year |
| Minister & Manse | £25,434.00 | £25,434.00 | £23,102.00 |
|
| LeadershipIntern | £0.00 | £8,759.00 |
||
| Hall RunningCosts | £14,761.00 | £14,761.00 | £16,071.00 |
|
| Church Overheads | £3,281.00 | £3,281.00 | £2,479.00 |
|
| Mission | £3,003.00 | £3,003.00 | £3,434.00 |
|
| Garden | £542.00 | £542.00 | £2,718.00 |
|
| Warm Welcome | £1,748.00 | £1,748.00 | £609.00 |
|
| Youngat Heart | £2,910.00 | £2,910.00 | £1,918.00 |
|
| Parent & Toddler | £750.00 | £750.00 | £730.00 |
|
| Discipleship& Evangelism | £503.00 | £503.00 | £579.00 |
|
| Children & Youth | £602.00 | £602.00 | £125.00 |
|
| LocalityBudget | £28.00 | £28.00 | £566.00 |
|
| Total Payments | £47,584.00 | £5,978.00 | £53,562.00 | £61,090.00 |
| Net of Receipts/(Payments) | -£1,194.00 | £13,973.00 | £12,779.00 | -£2,595.00 |
| Transfer between funds | £3,560.00 | £2,500.00 |
||
| Cash funds lastyear end | £6,649.00 | |||
| Cash funds thisyear end | £19,428.00 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at 31st March 2023
| Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Funds: | ||
| Cash | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Bank CommunityAccount | £13,459.00 | £5,969.00 |
| Bank Business Premium Account | £299.00 | |
| Total cash funds (agree balance with receipts & payments accounts) |
£13,758.00 | £5,969.00 |
| 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 Burrage
Date of approval 08.08.2024
----- End of picture text -----
The below form part of this statement
Notes to Financial Statements at 31st March 2024 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 31/03/2023 | Receipts in year | Payments in year | Transfers Restricted to Unrestricted |
Balance at 31/3/2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youngat Heart | £1,445.00 | £3,999.00 |
£2,910.00 |
£900.00 |
£1,634.00 |
| Mission(SLM Trip) | £144.00 | £202.00 |
£0.00 |
£346.00 | |
| Mission(other) | £0.00 | £50.00 |
£0.00 |
£50.00 | |
| LocalityGrant | £28.00 | £0.00 |
£0.00 |
£28.00 | |
| Garden | £443.00 | £150.00 |
£544.00 |
£49.00 | |
| Parent & Toddler | £460.00 | £1,491.00 | £750.00 | £500.00 | £701.00 |
| Grants for Warm Welcome | £301.00 | £6,768.00 | £1,748.00 | £2,160.00 | £3,161.00 |
| Totals | £2,821.00 | £12,660.00 |
£5,952.00 |
£3,560.00 |
£5,969.00 |
| Agree Balance with Receipts and Payments Accounts - Yes |
Indcpcndeni Examiner'% Report to tbc trusteesl memhers of Ros¢date Communitv Church I rcyort on thc XCDUnLq for the fInuTli11 Ill April ?0?3 to .31ib KiarLh ?0?4. RL¥61iLYli%'L' r¢5ponsibilitie5 of trnSIe xnd ¢xxmin¢r Thc cliarity's tru¢e5 uin%iJLT Ihkil audit is not rcquired fi)r tlii.4 lundcr scction 43(? of the ('harili¢s ALI IW) (thL' Act)) and that an Inde1 (xamitiOn 1$ necded. li is my resyonsibililv to- c.xwninc the aLC4)unLs (iin41¢r LI1n 4 * ol thc Act). to follow tli¢ prI>LeLliJrL laid duiin iii thc Cieneral l)IreLlii>nN givm b%, Ihc Charits. C'vmmi55ion (undwf Scciioii 431711 b) tsl'iliv ..ILI). nd to statc twiiLuI(Ir m(IIILTS knI'L Lumc io my attenti4)n. IIxs15 of iDdependent eTn)intr'% rriK¥rl l!, L'xiuninaiioAi carried OUL in ULLL)rd4nic i%ith Gcntral Dircctinns rjN"en bs" lh¢ ChariD' Con)mi.c<i4)n. An exkiminulivn iDcludcs a rci'ieM' ot the auLITrw)lin¥ KrI15 kcw bTr' Ihc clwilN ncl d Lvmparison of thc accounL4 presenied wilh Ihv¥L' rLLords. li dlso includes ¢ilrt%id¢rulion of an!, UnSL1 ilLYns or di51105ur¢s in thc a¢cow)L< aiml %eekiii¥ ¢xplunuiions from }'ou &s Inj%1¢L Lonccrning. an) such matter¥. "lThe pri)LL'diirLts lind(k"¢n do IK)t p ide all th¢ cN'iden¢e 1)ul41 k. in an audiL al consequenilTr' iii) (Ipini4in is gii."In IM5 10 tl)eiher Ihe ia)i1n15 prLxml 'truc and fair. te. a1 ihe reTr?rf is limilLxI io thosc mattc(s ¥LI in thc statcment below. IndcpeDdent examiner's %tAtemcnl In the c(bur%e i)I' cxtirninxliv tko mallcr h&8 come to my atteniii)n: . i¥hiLh kyiir.q mc Cai lo keep ILI)unI]ng T¢Lur li) prLW IILcounls V•"hi comply ,1) ihe ¢lLL4)LJ 'e 14? llEN.(- Ihdl in £in!' mulcriai rcspc¢L die requiremLmtS", iii aLcordancc M'ith %e¥iion 41 iJl- Iliy .4LI- and ord '1th the acLvunliffto rLLords TLNuircmcnts of the 199.3 Act: hav¢ nyl kxTJ mcl: or lo Mthicl). in mv opiftion. ai unclLrs&indiJ]o Thl"Ilie acL4)un iiTrn %hould b¢ drawTr in order io ei)al)le il Pn?P-Y b¢ r(h(a. ignuluri: I)IAIL': Vini¢nl SolKuk. ) M indiiiill l.me ('htshiinl i, altham (..f(s I.N% Y.4R