Open Door Christian Fellowship
RAMSEY CLOSE, NORWICH, NR4 7BQ
Pastor: Stuart Bailey 01603 465309 TODCFPastor@gmail.com
“ Sharing the love of Christ in a broken world ”
Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Review
1 April 2022
to 31 March 2023
Trustees Annual Report for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
Registered Charity Number
1170592
Charitable Objectives
The Object of the CIO, is for the public benefit, the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of Faith in such ways as the Charity Trustees may from time to time decide.
Charity’s Principal Address
The Open Door Christian Fellowship Ramsey Close Norwich NR4 7BQ
www.eaton.church
Names of the Trustees who managed the Charity during this reporting period
Mr Stuart John Bailey
Trustee, Chair, Pastor
Mr Simon Nobbs Trustee Mr Gaius Marc Phillingham Trustee (Resigned 28[th] September 2022) Mr Alan John Donnelly Trustee (Appointed 25 February 2023)
Trustee Selection
Trustees are selected and appointed by the current body of Trustees.
Description of the Charity’s Trusts
Type of Governing Document: How the Charity is constituted: Trustee Selection Method:
Constitution, 2 December 2016 Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Appointed by existing Trustees
Governance Structure
The Constitution states that:
“The spiritual government and leadership of the Church Fellowship for the purposes of which the CIO has been established shall remain with the Spiritual Leadership and to the extent to which the Charity Trustees are not synonymous with the Spiritual Leadership their powers shall be confined to the proper management and administration of the CIO in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and in furtherance of the Objects and in so doing they shall have full and proper regard to the Spiritual Leadership provided always that they shall not act outside their powers as conferred by this Constitution and by general law.”
Spiritual leadership in the Fellowship resides with the Pastor and Elder(s). Stuart Bailey, as well as being a Trustee is also the Pastor: he has been the only member of the Spiritual Leadership Team throughout the period covered by this report.
As the Pastor of the Church, Stuart Bailey is given permission to reside in the Manse. He therefore absents himself from decisions concerning either the Manse Property or his remuneration as Church Pastor.
The Trustees met four times in this reporting period to discuss the management and administration of the Charity, including (but not limited to) major decisions on spending, safeguarding and the proper maintenance of properties held by the Charity.
Minutes of all the Trustees meetings are available.
Bankers
The Co-operative Bank PLC PO Box 250 Delf House Southway Skelmersdale WN8 6WT
Legal advice and assistance with Charity formation provided by:
Stewardship, and Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP 1 Lamb’s Passage 134 Edmund Street London Birmingham EC1Y 8AB B3 2ES
Safeguarding advice and training provided by:
Christian Safeguarding Services 6 Marshalsea Road London SE1 1HL.
Summary of activities and achievements in this reporting period
Overview
Throughout this reporting period we have been gradually increasing our activities following the hiatus caused by Covid restrictions. The enforced break gave us an opportunity to rethink the areas of activity that we really wished to concentrate on and to consider new areas to explore.
Children’s and Youth Work
Throughout the year we have run children’s / youth groups. Without enough leaders to run two completely separate groups, we have constantly experimented with different formats (alternately weekly between and children’s and a youth group; running the two groups together, splitting for age-appropriate teaching; starting the youth group immediately after the younger children left – using the same leaders). None of these are perfect answers and we were still searching for the best approach as the period closed.
In August we ran a week-long Children’s Holiday Club. Aimed at children in Primary Education (School years 1 to 6), using a pirate theme to teach Biblical truths.
Through songs, drama, sketches, Bible lessons, crafts and games, the children spent the week searching for Pirate
treasure and eventually discovered that the greatest treasure is knowing Christ Jesus as LORD.
The Club was provided free of charge and was attended by 12 children from the local Housing Estate. Many of the children were not previously known to the Church and this group gave us the springboard for our renewed children’s groups in September. We also allowed 2 older children to attend as helpers – these children also became part of our onging youth work.
Regular Activities
On Good Friday in April 2022, we “walked the cross” around the local Housing Estate and finished with a hymn in the sheltered housing complex next door to the Church Building. Several of the residents joined us for the hymn singing and then came into The Building to take communion with us. This has helped us engage with the community in the housing complex throughout the year; many joined us again for the Christmas Carol Service.
At Christmas, we were able to visit a near-by Care Home. We sang carols with them and shared a time of fellowship with the residents.
Sunday Service attendance has varied from around 10 to more than 20 over the period. Several of the children from our children’s work occasionally join us and provide much extra energy and noise to the proceedings.
In June 2022 we held a Jubilee Service and Lunch to which we invited local residents. Several joined us and we were able to make contacts with a number of people from the local area.
Other Agencies
We have been pleased to continue supporting Norwich Foodbank. We act as a collection point for food and deliver to their warehouse on a Monthly basis. So far, we have donated 1,000Kg to this excellent cause.
We have had visits from the leadership team of Aid-Africa and have been pleased to provide a financial contribution to their work and to support them in prayer. Their amazing practical work in Malawi is an encouragement to us all.
Pastor and Trustee Remuneration
The Charity makes no remuneration on the basis of Trusteeship (indeed, at present it has not made any recompense of expenses).
However, one of the Trustees (Stuart Bailey) serves as full-time Pastor for the Church. The remaining Trustees (in consultation with the Treasurer) decided to make remuneration to Stuart in consideration of his work. In total, he received £2,400 in this period.
The Trustees have also made it possible for Stuart and his family to reside in the Manse free of charge and to pay the Council Tax and Building’s Insurance for the property. Repairs and improvements to the Manse are discussed on a case-by-case basis by the Trustees.
Stuart remains responsible for all other utility bills at the Manse.
Fulfilment of Charity Objectives
The Constitution states that:
“The Object of the CIO, is for the public benefit, the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of Faith in such ways as the Charity Trustees may from time to time decide.”
The Trustees are satisfied that, despite the very difficult circumstances placed upon us this year, we have fulfilled our Charitable Objectives; we have served the public benefit and have continued to advance the Christian Faith.
The Trustees are further satisfied that the two properties owned by the Charity are being used for the benefit of the Charity and its objectives and will do so all the more as we emerge from Covid restrictions and as the cost-of-living crisis takes hold of more people on the estate.
Financial Review
Overview
The outgoings for this Reporting Period came to just over £10,670 including all bills and maintenance of a large Building, Council Tax on the Manse.
Income has been predominantly from the generous giving of our small membership, but has been added to through the use of The Building. We have been able to offer it as a training venue for Med PTS Ambulance Services (for whom Stuart is an employee) and have rented space for Bananalink to store their office materials (Bananlink is a Charity for which Simon Nobbs is a Trustee). Together these enterprises contributed £730.
Total income this year was £11,624 meaning that we returned to surplus in this Financial Year. However, it is worth noting that the Trustees expect a significant overspend in 2023/24 due to maintenance work that is required on the Church Building.
The Trustees continually seek to gain best value for money in all our outgoings as well as considering various possibilities to increase income.
Reserves Policy
The Financial Reserve was last reviewed by the Trustees in February 2023 and set at £3,000 which allows for 3 months’ outgoings.
Statement of Account for the Period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
Income and Expenditure
| General Fund Income Notes Giving Reclaimed Gift-Aid Sundry 1. Total Income Expenditure Notes Mission Membership and Works of Service Ministry Resources Ministry Costs Practical and Administration Building Manse Administration 2. Sundry Others Total Expenditure Surplus/Deficit General Fund |
2023 2022 £9,120 £7,451 £1,524 £1,089 £ 980 £ 443 £11,624 £8,983 2023 2022 £0,971 £0 £3,157 £2, 630 £0,293 £ 870 £2,864 £1,760 £6,542 £7,239 £3,912 £4,374 £2,157 £1,739 £0,473 £ 368 £0 £101 £10,670 £9,970 ____ £+0,954 £-0,987 |
|---|---|
Notes:
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Sundry income for 2023 includes Building Hire, Government payment for Manse Fuel and a payment for conducting a funeral.
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Administration costs include a replacement printer. This was not initially budgeted for, but agreed by the Trustees when the previous (10-year old printer) broke.
Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2023
| Notes Fixed Assets Add Current Assets Debtors and prepayments Current Account Balance Cash in hand Less Current Liabilities Creditors and Accruals Net Current Assets Net Assets |
2023 £1,357,600 £0 £9,222 £0 __ £9,222 £0 £0 £9,222 _ £1,366,822 |
2022 £1,357,600 £0 £8,268 £0 __ £8,268 £0 £0 £8,268 _ £1,365,868 |
|---|---|---|
Fixed Assets
The Open Door Christian Fellowship owns two properties:
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The property known as “The Building” on Ramsey Close, Norwich, NR4 7BQ. Estimated value (for insurance), £1,100,000
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The Property known as “The Manse”, 90 Buckingham Road, Norwich, NR4 7DG. Estimated Value £250,000 (based on recent local sales)
The Open Door Christian Fellowship also owns the contents of “The Building” including:
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digital piano (valued at £600)
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2 pianos (combined value approximately £7,000)
Affirmation
The Trustees affirm that they have approved the Trustees Report and Financial Statement above:
Alan Donnelly Trustee Date
Simon Nobbs Trustee
Date
Stuart Bailey Chair of Trustees Date (Pastor)