Annual Report and Financial Statements st For the year ended 31 December 2023 The Parochial Church Council of Ashford Town A Charity registered with The Charity Commission no 1171191 ASHFORD TOWN TEAM MINISTRY comprised of the Parish Churches of St Mary the Virgin. Ashford St Mary's. Kennington St Mary the Virgin. Willesborough St Mary's. Gt Chart St Michael & all Angels, Kingsnorth Christchurch, South Ashford and the Chapels of Ease of St Mary's Sevington St Peter & St Paul, Shadoxhurst St Francis. Soulh Ashford and the Worshipping Community of Singleton Community Church ASHFORD TOWN PCC Team Rector Rev'd Dr Jeremy Worthen (from 21st October 2020) 7 Augustine Drive, Willesborough TN25 7GH Team Vicars Rev'd Jo Purle The Vicarage, 212 Faversham Road, Kenninglon. Ashford, TN24 gAF (Appointed January 2022) Rev'd Adam Childs The Rectory. Church Hill. Kingsnorth, Ashford, TN23 3EG (Appointed January 2022) Rev'd Teena Twelves The College, Churchyard, Ashford, TN23 1QG (Appointed March 2023) Associate Priesls Rev'd Dawn Stamper: Rev'd Cathie Aldis-saunders: Rev'd Charlotte Coles Assistant Curates Rev'd Geoffrey Abasolo-mummery (until April 2023) Lay Staff Mrs Sophie Carnaby-Denyer- Mission Enabler Hon Treasurer: Mrs S E Leslie 76 Tritton Fields, Kennington, TN24 9HL Hon Secretary: Mrs Sally Lees Bucksford Lodge, Chart Road. Gt Chart, Ashford, TN23 3AE Independent Examiner: Mr S Whorlow FCA Cassidy's Chartered Accounlanls South Stour Offices, Roman Road, Mersham TN25 7HS Bankers Barclays Bank plc. 66 High Street. Ashford. Kent TN24 8TL Website www.ashfordtown arish.co.uk The Parochial Church Council of the E¢desiaslul Parish of Ashlord Town in the Diocese of Canterbury A Charity Registered with the Charity Commission No. 1171191 Contents Annual Report Page I Independent Examinerfs Report Page 12 Statement of Financial Activities Page 13 Balance Sheet Page 14 Cash Flow Page 15 Notes to the accounts Page 16 Pension Fund Disclosure Page 24 Annual Trustees Report 2023 Aim & Purpose The Parochial Church Council {PCCI, has the responsibility of co-operatiThJ with the incumbent in promoting, in the ecclesiastical parish, Ihe whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. When planning aclimlies for the yeai, the PCC gave eA)nsideration lo the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefil and in particular, the specific guidance on tharilies for the advancement of religion. Objectives & Activities Al its Annual Parochial Church Meeting in 2023, Ihe followng vision siatement was agreed as encapsulating our hopes and prayers for the parish for the next five years: Our vision is lo be a family of chur¢he$ that is ¢entred on Jesus, serving the community, and sharing our faith. As we have sought God's will foi OUT parish over the next five years, we see this vision including- 1. A rich variety of discipleship aclivilies and worship services Ihal enable people of diffeient ages and stages of faith lo live lives centred on Jesus 2. Inilialives that are serving the community by haviThJ a transfomialive impact on people's lives in the most deprived areas of Ashford 3. An evolving range of 'bridge' activities that build relab'onships with people who are not currently part of a church community, induding those living on newer estates, and provide opportunilies for sharing our faith As it seeks to achieve ils priorities and fulfil ils vision. the parish is committed lo sustaining ￿rtain areas of activity as central lo this. In particular, Ihe parish Maintains a regular pattern of public worship Makes available weddings. funerals and baptisms for the people of the parish Encourages Christian discipleship for all ages Supports a range of activities to show God's love in practical action that iesponds lo human need Ensures ils buildings are maintained and where appropriate devek)ped for use by the wider community as well as church con9regatsons. In January, the PCC identified Ihree key objeclives for the year ahead: 1. Embed Mission Action Planning al every level of our parish life 2. Foster the life of prayer within our parish 3. Support and enhan￿ our children and young people prowsion. Achievements & Perforniance 3.1 Embed Mission Action Planning at every level of our parish life We wanted priorities and goals sel by the MAP pr￿esS to shape our meeting agendas, our finances, our calendars, and our allocation of lime. inclltding the time of our ordained ministers. Mission Action Planning IMAP) provided a routine agenda item for PCC and Local Leadership Team ILLTI meetings. Al PCC, we heard a presentation from each community on ils MAP process over the course of the year, while we also received written updates from eath church community twice a year as well. We also sel up a small MAP lund to support projects to which church o)mmunilies has commilled themselves in their wiillen reports lo PCC. All seven church communities applied for granls from Ihe fund in the course of the year. LLT Chairs and Ihe Parish Mission Enabler had quarterly meetings to review Progress. An external facilitator from the diocese led one of these, encouraging us to reflect prayerfully on what has been happening and how we might develop further. 3.2 Foster the life of prayer within oui parish Our objective here was that many people in our churches experien￿ new opportunities for and approaches lo prayer, and that we be(XJme a more prayerful family of thurch communities in our day lo day activities. Pete Grieg's Lectio course was offered across the parish in Lent and mel with a generally positive response. Our parish Pentecosl service included prayer stations to enable people to experience a variety of ways lo offer inlercessions, some of which al least would have been new to many. We held a Parish Prayer Moming in September. which was very ably led by the diocese's Changing Lives Prayer Network Co-ordinator. This also introduced people to a range of ways of prawng. In addition lo the prayer groups and leaching about prayer offered in local church communities, we begun scheduling a break for prayer in small groups as part of every PCC meeting after the APCM. 3.3 Support and enhance our children and young people piowsion Our hope was lo create and maintain a safe, welcoming, and nurturing environmenl foi children and young people where they can leam about G(xl's love, grow in their faith, and build ffleaningful relationships with one another. While a number of key inilialives conb'nued across the parish, a network of Ihose involved in this area was established and a first meeting held, to which the diocesan Lead Officer for Children and Young People Ministy contributed. 'Chrislmas Explored, sessions were offered lo local Primary Schools by Kingsnorth church and pToved very popular, with the hope that there can be made available elsewhere in the parish next year. 3.4 General comments Mindful that the financial situation for the parish continues to be challenging, the PCC worked on a new approach lo budget planning and management that would la) set year on year tsrgels lo move towards a balanced budget and Ibl give a greater share of responsibility for setting and monitoring budgels for each church communily wilhin this framework lo individual LLTS, with an expectation that any surplus over budget al the end of the year would be carried forward into next yearfs budget for that church community. 11 was agreed to implement this new model in 2024. Indicators of allendance were steady for the parish as a whole compared to 2022, with some rising slightly and some falling slighlly. Perhaps the most encouraging slalislic was the number of under16s in our Average Weekly Allendance. which rose from 46 to 60 this year, while Average Weekly Allendan for adults also rose for the second year running, from 29810 341. Numbers of baptisms and weddings fell compared lo 2022, perhaps reflecting the number of life events held over from 2020 and 2021 that look place that year. In March, the Rev'd Teena Twelves was li￿nsed as a third Team Vicar. with hall of Ihe costs of her post covered for the first five years by money from the Church Commissioners, Lowest Income Communities Fund. Not long afterwards, our curate, the Rev'd Geoff Abasolo-munnery, finished his training with us and left to take up the post of incumbent in a neighbouring parish. Al Ihe end of July, the Rev'd Charfotle Coles was licensed as Associate Priesl for the parish. We benefit hugely from Ihe contributions of three highly gifted Self-supporting Ordained Ministers. Financial Review 4.1 Overview Throughout 2023 our financial situation has conlinued lo be very challenging with the result that for the 411 year njnning we have failed lo meet the full amount of Parish Share requested. Ajlhough inflation gradually reduced throughout the year, concem for household budgets remained dominant and there has been little appetite for InC￿asing planned giving. on￿ again, the effed has been lo impose very strict control over expenditure.. the negalivity which this generates is highly discouraging and counterproductive in terms of growih. mission and outreach. Towards Ihe end of the year the PCC concluded that we could only achieve 80Q/o payment of Parish Share and Ihal a long-temi plan for recovery was needed. Further information can be found in section 5 of Ihis report. The final overall position for the year was a modest suryAus of £80IKi in the General Fund and an encouraging £52,000 in Reslricled and Endowment funds. this laigely as a result of a change in reporiing standards by CCLA which yielded unrealized gains on revaluation of investments amounting to £32,000 compared with a small loss had the revaluation been calculated under the prewous regime. Since the beginning of the year we have submilled our own daims lo HMRC for personal Gift Aid and under the Smsll Donations Scheme.. this has proved lo be far less onerous than predicted and selllemenl of claims is far more efficient than the old system of claiming via the Diocese. The Planned Giving Scheme IPGSI, although very simple and slraighfforward from the individual's point of view, is cumbersome and extremely lime-consuming in terms of accessing reports and extracting data both financially and for the purpose of communication with donors. Had we known the simplicity and ease of making direct claims lo HMRC which flow automatically from our existing reporting systems, we might never have considered joining PGS or recommended it lo our members. However, in ils favour, the scheme does transfer funds both fiom donations and from the resultant gift aid claim promptly and efficiently. Both HMRC and PGS have rA)nlribuled lo improved cashflow throughokjt the year. 4.2 Incoming Resour￿$ We are grateful, as ever, lo all those who have faithfully continued their regular giving through the bank or by means of the PGS scheme or Free Will Offering envelopes. Planned Giving rose marginally by just over £1,000 while servi￿ Collections fell by almost as much. The Planned Giving Scheme IPGS}, saw a small inciease in conlribulors bringing Ihe total lo 174 of which 157 add the benefit of Gift Aid. The main advantage of the PGS scheme is Ihe opportunity lo increase giving on a regular basis in line with inflation but, of the total membeiship, only 20 people have signed up to this oplion. This further underlines the uncertainties which still exist in households following the high levels of inflation Ihrough the winter of 202213 and the fact that any corresponding increase in incomes always lags behind. General donations increased by almost 50 10 to £16,978 suggesting that the one-off gift option is more manageable for households than a regular commitment. Reslricled Fund donations also increased marginally bul these are largely project-based.. Kenninglon's new heating project attracted donations of more Ihan £16,000 including Gift Aid. Willesborough introduced two new projects- quinquennial repairs and support for the people of Ukraine which were both well supported. Special Appeals raised funds for The Children's Society from Christingle servI￿s, The Royal British Legion through Remembrance Sunday service colleclions and we were also able lo donate lo The Brain Charily, Oliver Sleeple Foundation, Worfd Vision (furkish Earfhquake appeall, British Red Cross for the Ukraine floods appeal, Animal Welfaie Society, Royal ￿'r Force Associab'on through a funeral service collection, Mission lo Seafarers and Medecins Sans Fronb'ere. The parish's outward generosity in this way increased by more than 50 /0 over the previous year, Life Events servi￿$ continue to contribute to the life of the parish.. 21 weddings were conducted in the year compared with 47 in 2022 when we were catching up with those which had been postponed in the preceding 2 years due lo Covid reslriclions. Due lo the lower numI￿r of weddings, total fees al £20,481 were more than 25 /0 lower than 2022. YEAR ' WEDDINGS FUNERALS CREMATION INTERMENT OF ASHES 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 No PCC Fee re￿iVed for cremalions in 2021 or 2022: 13 and 37 ceremonies (x)nducled respectively 41 37 16 20 47 21 38 59 16 34 76 48 ** 16 53 Hall and church lellings have flourished during Ihe year= the highest revenue1£19,3921 was generated al the Sl Mary's Community Cenbe. Willesborough Church is inueasingly used by local organisalions, raising additional income of £5,382. Energy costs remained challenging through the winter months and we conb'nued to apply a small healing surcharge lo all Hall users. Willesborough's Inspire Café also continued to flourish, raising income of £13,426 which is some 3010 higher than the previous year with a very creditable profil margin of 67Yo. The café is open every weekday morning and occasionally al weekends. The café al the Town Centre church is open on Tuesday and Saturday mornings with a nel income of £2,338. A new café venture has been introduced at Sl Francis as part of the Hub development.. takings amount lo £116 with costs of £79 which includes some sel up costs. Community lunches have continued bi-monthly al Willesborough (Link Lunch } and monthly al Kingsnorth (Lite Bite). Kenninglon's Link Lunch continued Ihrough to August bul the October and December events had to be cancelled.. they will recommence in February 2024 and be held every month instead of bi- rnonlhly. Willesborough generated a nel income of £279. £200 of which was donated as a contribution towards healing costs.. Kenninglon's net income was £247 oul of which some additional items of catering equipment were purchased. Kingsnorth contributed £500 towards general (unds. Coronation ￿lebratOry events were held al all three locations and the catering teams were also involved in fund raising events. The aim of the Link Lunches is lo reach out lo those who live alone or are isolated or living on the margins of society. Make Lunch at St Francis and Ignite at St Mary's Town Centre also offer outreach lo the community offering hol food and other benefits lo low income families, young children receiving free school meals and lo homeless people. Both are managed Ihrough restricted funding although in the case of Ignite the dI0￿san funding has now ceased and Ignite will be moTphed into our 8th Local Chufch Community in 2024. Financial support from the Pighlland Trust for general purposes at Kingsnotlh has continued throughout the year albeit at the slightly reduced level of £800 per month {£1,000 in 20221 as we continue our efforts to reduce dependency on the Trust. Supporl for parl lime Adminislralor salary also continues.. lolal grant for the year was £17,400. Ashford Parochial Charities conb'nued to support the Town Cenlre churth with a grant of £11,173 towards energy and insurance cosls,. further support for maintenance costs is reported under Reslricled Funds al item 4.5 below. We continue to qualify for HMRC'S allowan￿ for small employers.. Ihis was increased for Ihe tax year 2022123 from £4,00010 £5,000 and is more than sufficient to cover our entire Employer's Nl liability of £1,741 for the calendar year 4.3 Expenditure Total Unreslricled expenditure for the year was £445,073 compared with £414,309 in 2022.. this represents an increase of around 7%. Parish Share paid (as opposed lo duel remained almost constant as a result of the limilalions of available incoming resources and reserve funds, al 80 % of the total requested: the Parish Share shortfall amounted lo £66,563 which brings the total outstanding Parish Share at Ihe end of 202310 £247,332. Admin Salanes and Honoraria increased by slightly more than £3,00017 / I.. Mrs Lynwen Paddy was appointed as regular organist al Willesborough for 3 Sundays per month plus festival occasions. Clergy and Staff Expenses remained al much the same level as the previous year. Chuich Running costs increased by some 24./0 overall, Ihe largest increase being energy costs (2022 £31,706. 2023 £50,625}, the main effect of the removal of the price cap in Ihe autumn of 2022 being fell through Ihe winter months January lo March 202. In October 2023 we swilthed supplier from Total Energies via Parish buying lo British Gas IBusinessl for electricity and British Gas Lile for gas supply.. both are100 /0 green energy, supporting our intention lo move towards carbon nel zero. Significant savings were achieved especially in Standing Charges.. in the12 month period lo 30th September 2024, assuming similar levels of energy consumption the cost savings will be in the region £15,300, £14,600 of which relates to reduced Standing Charges. Sl Mary's Town Centre secures the grealest benefit as the Standing Charges for Gas are reducing from £8.88 to £0.613 per day achieving over £3000 of savings. The town centre church continues lo receive a 400/a contribution towards energy cosls from Revelation, co-partner in the joint venture wilh Ashford Bor(iugh Council for Sl Mary's lo be a dual-purpose building lo accommodate both the Arts and religion. Insuran￿ costs increased by some 1011/0 in Seplember 2022 bul the comparative increase in September 2023 was relatively minor. Insurance claims dullng the yeai were honoured in respect of ongoing restoration work al Willesborough following Storm Euni￿ in 2022, and a contribution towards boiler repair work al the Town Centre church. At Kenninglon in December 2023 a significant leak from the oil storage lank contaminated the chuTch building which had lo be closed on several occasions. The remedial work is ongoing bul Insurers have accepted full liabilily subject to Ihe usual £250 policy excess. Costs incurred so far include decommissioning and removal of the tsnk and Ihe remaining 1,000 or so lilres of oil and pumping out the boiler room.. these amounl to £1985. Loss of income is also being assessed. Maintenance of ancient buildirsgs is always going lo be one of the major costs and this year is no exception. Some £60,000 has been incurred this year bul we are fortunate in having reslricled funds and local benefactors which account for well over hall that sum. Major projecls have induded window protection and a new under-pew healing system at Kennington. medieval glass repair at Gl Chart which had been damaged by vandals, slomi damage iepairs al Willesborough and ongoing maintenance al the Town Centre church. 4.4 Reslricled Funds. a. Damage resulting from Storm Eunice in February 2022 was finally completed during Ihe year. b. Ashford Parochial Charities contributed almost £3,750 lowards maintenance costs. c. Ignite, the outreach activity which provides a hol meal. socialising and gospel leaching, has been awarded a grant of £6970 from NHS England for training and a peei support worker d. Make Lunch, which provides free hol meals during schi)ol holidays for disadvantaged families, continues lo thrive with donations from acTOSS the whole parish and beyond, grants £5235 and £1000 from Grow Church Ashford a local Borough Councillor respectively. The fund is in an extremely good position al Ihe end of the year with £14,208 in reserve. e. Willesborough Spire project is on hold and a new fund is now being supported Taising funds for the essential quinquennial repairs. A separate fund was also sel up lo receive donations in support of the people ol Ukraine.. al Ihe year end this fund stood at £1,267. f. All of the Trust Funds, where the assels are largely invested in CCLA Investment fund units, benefilled from revaluation gains in Ihe year due lo a change in revaluation policy by CCLA. The Property fund which forms part of Kingsnorth's Myrtle Fund continues to underperfom and realised a further revalualion loss of £2721. Revaluation Gains across the varK>US funds ale as follows.. Church Christchurch Kenninglon Kenninglon Kingsnorth Fund Pat Holley Fund Burgess IPopelHillslKnights School Fund Myrtle Fund Investment Unils Myrtle Fund Property Fund Mercy Apps Legacy Various Legacies Janus Fund Spire Fund Fabric Quinquennial fund Lady Sharp Legacy Amount £8,722 £4,948 £1,146 £4,254 (£2,721) £257 £6,929 £1,208 £2,764 £700 £2,386 St Mary's Town Centre Gl Chart Will&sborough Sevington The Annie Marwick endowmenl fund benefitted from a similar revaluation gain amunling lo £1,322. This fund is reslricled lo Shadoxhurst churchyard maintenance.. significant tree management work is anlicipaled in 2024 and the 2023 income has been deferred towards this cost. h. Kenninglon's Wesl Window protection was upgraded at a cosl of £10,344 funded by donation from the Friends of Sl Mary's Kennington. The Major Organ Refurbishment appeal al St Mary's Town Cenlre has continued lo grow with donalions from the congregation and beyond. It now stands al £18,683 and is currenuy held on deposit. As this is a long-term project with almosl no ongoing costs. consideration should now be given to transferring the majority of this sum lo CCLA Investment Units. In conclusion Whilst il remains our policy to hold free reserves equivalent lo 3 months, unreslricled expenditure (£111,268 at 31st December 2023}, the praclicalilies of post pandemic recovery reveal this lo be impossible lo achieve in the short lenn. It is lo be hoped that, in time, extemal factors of inflation and spiralling energy lanffs will be brou9ht under control and disFx>sable income situations will resume fluidity. the continuing failure to pay full Paish Share has been a maller of con￿rn for the PCC throughout the year. To this end, a 7-year plan has been conslructed which is based on manageable largels by which we aim lo achieve suslainabilily by 2030.11 is a somewhat daunling task bul the plan provides for control of budgets lo be re-vesled in each local church community lo encourage'ownership. of the income I expenditure balance al a more manageable level. Ullimalely local thurch communities will have the freedom lo decide how lo invest their surplus funds in mission, outreach and growlh: during the transition period, as some groups attain sustainability before others, there will be a system of cross- community mutual financial support. Overall, the Schen￿ offers encouiagement and a nK)re posilive approach. Financial Utopia for any parish is where Voluntary Income is sufficient lo support the Mission and Ministry costs and for other ordinary income lo fund the day-to-day church njnning costs. If we examine the results for 2023 on this basis we can see Ihal the firsl 'ambition' is dose to being achieved were il not for the short payment of Parish Share! Income.. Expenditure Voluntary income= Mission & Ministry Short paid Parish Share All other income Church Running costs Income £267.044 Expenditure Surplus I (Shortfall) £268,278 £66,563 11,2341 1£66,5631 £185,791 £176,795 £8,996 Total Funds,, as at 31st December 2023 Funds Free Reserves Reslricled Reserves Amount Held in £64,674 Cash and bank, bank deposit, deblors and liabilities £494,126 Deposits, Inveslmenls, debtors and liabililies £15,752 Investments Endowmenl ReseNes A full analysis of funds can be seen at Note12 on page 22 of this report Custodial Funds Custodial Funds held al 31st Oecember 2023- Kingsnorth Bellringers. Fund £2792 Kingsnorth Africa Trip £2200 Future Plans As noted above in section 2, we now have a vision statement lo shape our life as a parish for the next five years. Each of our seven church communities has a sel of five-year priorities refleth'ng ils unique context and aligned lo the parish vision, and has identified specrfic goals for mission in 2024. Building on what has been happening over the last two years through the MAP process. the following priority areas were identified by the PCC for action across the parish: Children, Young People and Families.. every church community is investing in this area of ministry, including work with schools Serving the Community.. range of different initiatives in terms of location and focus that are having a transformative impact on people's lives reviewing and renewing the pattern of our Sunday services Adult Education ond Discipleship.. all adult congregation members are able to access a range of opportunities to support them in discipleship. including prayer, beyond Sunday services, and most are making some use of this Oversight and Governonce.- positive sense of connectedness as family of churches reflected in strong team relationships and sustainable levels of financial support Buildings.. on track for Carbon Net Zero in line with national and diocesan policy. Risk Management Principle Risk.. 9.1.1 Insufficient or inadequate levels of regular giving lo sustsin payment of essential basic running costs 9.1.2 Although now only a small element of our incoming funds and widely spread across a team of volunteers, cash security always poses some risk albeit minor. 9.2 Damage Limilalion Strict control continues lo be exercised over expenditure. At parish level almost the only sanction available lo protect cash flow is reduction in payment of Parish Share. As a PCC we were commilted lo full payment since Ihe Ashford Town Parish was formed bul the effects of the pandemic decimaled free reserves. This decision lo limit payment of Share was taken with ffluch regret and as a last resort. A 7-yeai plan is anow in pacE lo achieve sustainability. The PGS scheme offers the opportursity to increase giving annually. Generosity Sunday is now common practice al least On￿ a year kin every local church community when generous giving not only of money bul also of time and talents is preached and encouraged. New contactless de￿￿S are being planned under a diocesan subsided scheme. 9.3 Future Management Going fotward, Risk Assessments for all our buildings will need lo be regularly reviewed and updated. As part of the Mission Action Plan, numerical growlh in membership and new income streams will be investigated and we will continue lo try to convert cash giving to eleclronic or other fomis which can be easily sustained through any future crisis. Gixxl stewardship and the promotion of generosity will be at the forefront of our financial planning. We will continue lo explore and develop facilities lor digital giving al public Se￿ICe$ especially al weddings and funerals. These methods are much dependent on gocKJ inlemel or mobile phone connections and our church buildings are not always blessed in this way. However, lechndogy is a￿ayS moving forward and we will constantly monitor developments. We have invited all church members to register with PGS and will conlinue to foster generosity - generosity towards creation, towards other people, being generous with our lime and our skills as well as with our money. We have registered with HMRC for the purpose of processing GASDS claims and Gift Aid claims where donors have not transferred lo PGS. 10 Information in Diagrammatic Fonn The following charts show in diagrammatic fomi the basic elements of Income and Expenditure with some furiher analysis of church njnning costs and finally a chart which depicts a comparison of the changes in income and expenditure levels over the five years 2019 to 2023. UNRESTRICTED INCOME 2023 Granis. Investment & other incomÈ. 14% Planned Giving. 47% Fund Raising, Fees. lettinES & Cafes. 27% Don3tions, 4% SeNice CollÈttions 8% UNRESTRICTED RUNNING COSTS 2023 Lettln8s & Café Costs Church Runnln8 Costs 30% Parish Share 46% Local Ministry cost 14% ANALYSIS OF CHURCH RUNNING COSTS 2023 Churchyards Insurance 21% Energy & Water 47% Maintenance 26% 5-Year Income & Expenditure ComparisoN 2019 - 2023 500000 400000 300000 iOO(K)O 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Income Expenditure io 11 structure, Governance and Management The PCC is a body corporate under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure and operates in accordance with the Church Representation Rules 2011. It is a Charity registered with the Charity Commission number1171191. The appointment of PCC members is govemed by aThJ sel oul in the Church Representation rules. PCC members are ex officio, co-opted, or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting lo serve for a period of three years, retiring by rotation. During the year, the maximum number of churchwardens was increased from 210 7 being one form each local church. Lay members of both the Deanery and Diocesan Synods are ex officio members of the PCC. Membership Team Rector and Chair of PCC.. Rev'd Dr Jeremy Worthen (from October 2020) Clergy.. Rev'd Adam Childs., Rev'd Jo Purle.. Rev'd Teena Twelves- Associate Priests: Rev'd Dawn Stamper- Rev'd Cathie AJdis-Saunders', Rev'd Chatlotte Coles. Deputy Chair of PCC & PCC Secretary.. Mrs Salty Lees Lay Staff.. Mrs Sophie Camaby-Denyer Church Wardens.. Mr Jerry Fox- Mrs Jenny Flaherty.. Mr Julian Sheehan., Mr Robert Sharp.. Miss Caroline Hannah. PCC Elected Members., To serve until April 2023., Mrs Sally Lees,- Mrs Susan Mullan., Mrs Maureen Drury To serve until April 2024.. Mrs Morag Sharp,. Mrs Christine Duchemin Mr Alan Stamp.. Mrs Kathryn Salmon To serve until April 2025.. Mrs Libby Varley- Mrs Lorraine Andrews.. Mi Ken Blanshard {resigned September 20231.. Mrs Hannah Morris (resigned November 2023). Elected Deanery Synod Representatives (Ex Officio members of the PCC) Until 2026 APCM Mrs Jane Appleton,. Mrs Sally Lees.. Mr Jerry Fox.. Mi Jacob Pradeep Elected Diocesan Synod Members (Ex Officio members of the PCC) Until 31$1 July 2026 Mrs Shirley Leslie.. Mrs Jill Humphreys Mrs Shirley Leslie continued to serve as Hon Treasurer, assisted by Mr J Small (Gift Aid Claims) Mr R & Mrs T Fincher, (Local Gift Aid administrators). Miss J Wenborn (Local Gift Aid and banking administialorl and Mr J Donovan, Mrs H Wesl, Mrs A Sorrell, Mr C Grove and Mrs K Small (Local Banking adminislralors}. Mrs Lis Webb continued lo serve as Safeguarding Officer. Mrs Libby Varley continued lo serve as Electoral Roll Officer. The PCC mel seven limes during 2023.. Each local church has a Local Leadership or Local Management Team.. Ihese act as sub•committees of the PCC to deal with purely local matters of mission, ministry and fabric. Approved by Ihe PCC on 23rd March 2024 and signed by Rev'd Dr Jeremy Worthen- Team Rector li Independent ExaTninerfs Report to the Trustees of Ashford Town Parochial Church Council I report on the accounts for the year ended 31" December 2023, which are set out on pages 13 to 23. Respective responsibilities of the PCC and the examiner The Charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Sectiorb 144121 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Actl and that an Independent Examination is needed. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners in Section 1451511bl of the Act- and state whether particular matters have come to my attention Basis of Independent Examinerfs Statement My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a compari50n of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or di5cIosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the management committee concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a full audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts. Independent Examiner's Statement In connection with my examination. no matters have come to my attention- which give me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with S130 of the 2011 Act.. 3nd to prepare accounts which accord with these accounting records have not been met,. or To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to reach a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Stuart Whorlow FCA Cassidys Chartered Accountants. Date 03 2024 12 The Parochial Church Council of Ashford Town Statement of Financial Activitie5 for the year ended 31 December 2023 Unrestrirterf Funds Re￿Ileted Endowment TOTAL FiINDS Funds Funds TOTAL FUNDS 2023 2Q22 Alote INCOMING RESOURCES Voluntary Income 267.044 40.352 307.396 297.607 Activities lor Generating Funds Investment Income 2b 22.177 .763 30.940 34,268 4.202 14.1)06 13,344 Church ActDiities 2d 99.501 99.501 92,970 oiher Incorning RÈsource5 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 59.910 66.816 126.726 103.720 452.834 12S.735 578.569 541,909 RESOVRCES EXPENDED Church Activities 441.940 104.111 546,051 504,790 Raising Funds TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDEO 3b 3.133 1.358 4,491 6.302 445.073 105.469 550.542 511.092 NET INCOMING/IOUYGOINGI RESOURCES BEFORE TRANSFERS BEfwEEN FUNDS 7,761 20.266 28.027 30,817 Transfers between Fund5 NE[ INCOMINGIIOUTGOINGI RESOURCES BEFORE RECOGN15EO GAINS AND LOSSES 7.761 20.266 28.027 30.817 Gainslllo55e51 on investment a55et5.' Realised 4b Unrealised 4b 30.594 1.322 31.916 155,0101 124.1931 NET MOVEMENTIN FUND 7.761 50.860 1.322 59,943 Balance blforward @ 1st January 2023 56.512 443.267 14.430 514.209 538,402 Closing Balance @ 31 DÈ¢ember 2023 64.Z73 494.127 15.752 574.152 514,209 13 The Parochial Church Council of Ashford Town Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2023 2023 2022 Note FIXED ASSETS PV Panels 3.564 4,226 Investment5 444.384 412,469 447,948 416.695 CURRENT ASSETS Debtor5 & Prep3ymenis 34.485 24,822 Deposits $4.941 43,779 Cash at bank and in haDd 92.598 99.512 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 182.024 168.113 Creditors- amounts lalling due in one year 150.8281 170.5991 150.8281 170.5991 NET CURRENT ASSETS 131.196 97,514 Creditors- arnoutbts falling due in more than one year 14.9921 14,9921 TOTAL NET ASSETS 574.152 514,209 PARISH FUNDS Unrestrirted 64,273 56.512 Restricted 494,127 443.267 Endowrllent io 15.752 14.430 574.152 514.209 The finantial st3temeDts were approved ènd auihorised lor issue by the Par¢Khial Church Council on 23rd March 2024 and siBoed on its beh311 bv:_ Rev'd Dr jeremy WorthÈn- PCC Chair Canon Shirley Leslie- Hon Treasuref 14 The Parochial Church Council of Ashford Town Cash Flow Statement as at 31 December 2023 2023 2022 Net cash from operating activities 110,4211 25,006 Cash flows from investing activities FIT Payments received Dividends & Interest Proceeds from sale of: Tangible Fixed Assets Tangible Fixed Investments PurchBse of.. Tangible Fixed Assets for the use of the PCC Fixed Investments 662 14.006 641 13.344 Net cash provided by I (used inl investing activities 14.668 13,985 Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period Cash and Cash equivalents at l January 4,246 38,992 143,291 104,299 Cash and Cash equivalents at 31 December 147,537 143,291 Analysis of cash and cash eouiv3lents'. Cash at bank and in hand Short-Term Deposits 92.598 54.941 99.512 43,779 Cash and Cash equivalent5 at 31 December 147,539 143,291 Reconcili¢7tion of net CoshAmm optrnting Gctivities.. Net Income before investment L7aNns 31 December Adju5tmentsfor.' DAvidend5 & Interest Decreose/lNncreoseJ in Debtors (Decreosel/lncrettse Creditors Net cosh provided by/(used inj operuting activities 28.027 30.817 (14.IX)6J 19.663J f14.779J 110,421) 113,344) 12,134 14.602) 25.066 15 The Parochial Church Council of Ashford Town Notes to the Financial Statements 31 December 2023 Not• 1 A¢¢ounllng Policles.. The PCC is a public beDefiienlityvhthinthÈ rneaThng of FRS 102. Ttsfitsanual State￿￿￿￿h3ve prepared und&i the Chatiiies A¢12011 ar￿ in accoidance wilh the Chur¢hAccountiry R￿UlaI￿S 2{K￿ governry k ￿d￿k￿al acc(￿ts ofPCCs. arml the RegLlabons"Tr fairvi& provisions. The finanoal stslemenls have beeTr ￿epa￿d in attsxdart8¥nth the charib.es S(Y¢PIFRS1021'Acc(yJnb"twa￿ Rwxting by Ch8fitre5". stale￿￿10fR&¢lYm￿nded Practice ap￿￿aL￿e lothwbes ￿eparir￿therf xoyJnts Mi&wdartt*ith the Fina￿￿1 Repo￿￿ St8[￿ard a￿Ka￿e In the UK atbd RewJbli¢ ollreland IFRS 1021 leffedNe l January 20191, 2nd Finanria RewtbNJ sI￿ard 102 Yhe Fina￿￿ Reporting Sta￿ard apFlicable In the UKand ol IreLgnd'. Parish Share ts a volmlary contrubJbon to￿ D¥me l)Covercentratcostsol￿L5s￿￿ and Mirrislry.11 i8lhe ￿cy¢r1￿"S PaI￿h to iecwise their responsitility lorthis ContribulK￿ and to pay v) fullwthin the year￿￿1Chil relales. Hwer. w￿reeXte￿na1f¢CtyyS beYOr￿ the r￿trol of the PCC P￿¥¢nI this, the m8￿muM p0s￿LIe paynwl ¥Jl be n￿e3￿Ja￿ysI￿￿￿l retK*tedbywdYof￿kto tt**xtyJnis. Assets Consecrated and benefice property Insofar as conseuated and benefice PiLWyof8ny exch￿ kn the staluwthfini1K￿(￿ by s￿ 10(2Mal and Icl oflhecharilies Act 2011, suth assets ao no1¢a￿taIL5ed ￿ the fina￿1￿ SL21e￿￿ts. Mo¥eable church Iwrnl$hlngs These ar& capilalised alcosl and dewecaat8d o¥wtheY u5efullifeolher thant*here insuffKEnlcoslinf(*matWi5 ava1ablporwhe￿ cosis have been luly melffom 5peGific9Tanls ordonations. kn al rases. itern5we li the rdevanlcèvjrth's I￿ni(￿. Tangible Fixed Assets foTu$e by chaiity These are capil*ised illheyran be used for nvjre than and rxtslalknl£I.O￿ ther￿t$ have t*en Mymel from sperificgrants or donations. They aio valued al cosland depre0ab￿1 i% cak￿led bwrite oNtheiruJtwty wbo"paled overv￿lre$￿"￿a1ed useful1rf8 a5 kAbws." Land- Nil.. Fixtures & Fiibngs- 20 years.. Cornpulers-3yws". Otr*rdectr&wc - sy￿. No depre￿a￿"0Th Is provKJed on bU￿dIr￿S asthe cutrenlty eslimala1 re5￿Ual vaueofU* wwbes iq rnlknthan ￿rc3[[wr9Va1u?￿ r￿n1r￿a usetul lifeofthese assets eX￿ed$ ￿ ￿ar5. sotr*dekweuaiN)Ichry%bry&l te Investrnent5 Invesbnenls are valwd allheirTnarkel¥alJe a131 Detrrn￿r. Gam￿ ¥KI kws the a¥J th¥w&¢f￿VeS1n￿ntsa￿ in thè Slalemenl of FNanci81 Acbvities. ShortT8rm Dtpo$its These are the cash hekj on dw"leitWwth CCLA CtrrtYthofErybThJ tw" fKatl* bJLk. Funds Unre$tri¢t¢d Fufftds These represenllhe remaining income rU￿S ofthe PCC thaIareav*bkk*¥￿lrffj on the ￿neral kxMp)ses ofthe PCC. IndU￿ry arrwnts design81ed by PCC I￿rIXed 8ssetsforits own ￿￿[Or 5p*NJiry on a filknie proje£la￿J w*Khao wtthereforeinduded in its Yree reser¢es'. The PCC aims b maintain a bakfi¢e ￿ f￿e reser￿ IDalW13 uNestrWtsjpayT￿ Re$¢flcted Funds These are incfyne lurth that mu51be spEnlon ￿$bl¢led Wr￿se$9nd delwL% olihe furKts he￿ and restrickns W0￿e￿ are sho¥¥n in notes lolhe accoun15 alnoles 9 and 14.11 is ourpdicy to ￿Vest￿e s￿1 teM}￿l¥es￿￿it1w￿S CCLAChurch ofEl￿and Dewsil Fund and the refflau*er in the CCLA ChLK¢holEngland Irhve5knenl Fund End0V￿r￿llt Fund$ These afe resbi¢led (undsthal rnusl be retaitted as trUst¢ap￿1￿￿ef p￿￿a￿ty LKsuWltoadisuetrJn3ry pwer iosrtnd 1￿ca￿¥t￿ as Income, arKJ wheie the use ofany in¢ome IK otherbenelildetiyed fr(xnthe ca￿trI i% restrKted. Fuldelatsoloftr* ￿1￿ atKI their restr￿110￿5 are shown In notes 10 aDd 14. ru￿Sare administered by C￿l￿ry 0￿￿eSa￿ Bwdof FirorKea$ Cuslrda TnJ5teeaThJ UNested in the CCLACtyJrthofEWand Invè5trnentFund. 16 The Parochial Church Council of Ashford Town Notes to the Financial Statements for the period ended 31 December 2023 Unrestflcted Re5trirted Endowment Funds Funds Funds TOTAL TOTAL FUNDS 2022 FUNDS 2023 2 INCOMING RESOURCES 2a Voluntary Income Planned Giving= Gift Aid Tax recoverable 153,376 153,376 150,293 41.066 41,066 39.077 Other Planned GI￿nE Open Plate 18.081 18,081 27.221 21,957 27.221 27,746 Tax iecoverable 8.049 8,049 8,367 Donations 16.978 37.952 54,930 44.089 Legacie5 Special Appeals & Collections 2.400 4,328 2.273 2,273 1,750 267.044 40,352 307,396 297.607 2b A¢tivitie51orGeneratin8 Funds Events 21.387 8.763 30,150 33.535 Magazine Adverts 790 733 21.177 ,763 30,940 34,268 2¢ Investment Income Dividend5 & Interesi 4.201 14.OD5 13,344 4,201 9.804 14.005 13.344 2d Church A¢ti¥ltles Occasional Ollice fees 20,481 20,481 27,370 703 Church Maga2ifie Sale5 886 Lettings 60.079 60.079 49,334 Community Café Link Lunch 16.292 16.292 15,SS3 1,763 1,763 Other 99.501 99,501 92.970 2e oiher Incoming Resource5 Grant5 39.867 56.614 96,481 75.259 Heating Surcharge Insurance Claims 17,176 17,176 9.497 9N97 25.479 HMRC Allowance 1.741 1.741 2,018 Other 1.129 705 1.835 964 59.912 66.816 126,728 103,720 Total Incoming Resources 452,835 125.735 578.570 541,909 17 The Parochial Church Council of Ashford Town Notes to the Financial Statements for the period ended 31 December 2023 Unrestricted Restritteil Endowment Funds Fund5 Funds TOTAL FUNDS TOTAL FUNDS 2022 2023 RESOURCES EXPENDED 3 3a Ch￿r(h Activities Charitable Giving Acts 435 3.745 3.745 Ih3ritie5 Supported frorn spttial collectiuns 3.771 3.771 3.771 3,131 3,131 Total Charitable GS¥ing Mission & Mlnlsiry Mission & Evangelism 3.745 7.516 CAPI Fie5h siaFt 1.2CO 3.2(X) 2.584 2.630 Children & Young Peop Mission & Outreaih 303 2.786 4,457 1.777 616 2.193 680 Total Mission & EvatyÈelism 10,967 Ministry Parish Share 2￿.384 200,384 228,857 Local Ministry Salaries & Honorari 48.484 48.484 45,473 aergy & sralf expenses Pansh Office Costs 8.914 8.914 8,418 3.445 3.445 3,033 Total MinistryC05t Church Running Costs 261.217 261.227 299.879 Centralised Cost5 23.096 23,096 23.282 Insurance 23,327 23,327 20.839 Maintenance & Cleaning Ene53 15.372 41.607 444,385 a3.%2 44.328 412.469 1 2251 31.916 InJuFrf 2020.Oak5hakeswe￿Purt￿5e￿frOmTeilI￿rden R￿ing(￿MpanYata nEt Losio1É22WJ ihreathessfaf the repair5to Wiifesbor