2023-12-31-accounts - The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of Greenside

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GREENSIDE PARISH

ST JOHN’S, GREENSIDE HOLY SPIRIT, CRAWCROOK

ANNUAL REPORT 2024

Aim and Purposes

Greenside Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of cooperating with the Vicar, the Revd Tom Brazier, in promoting in the whole mission of Greenside Church. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of church buildings that is; Church of the Holy Spirit, Crawcrook, St John's, Greenside, and St John's Hall.

Structure, Governance and Management

The PCC is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure and is a registered charity. PCC members are appointed as set out in the Church Representation Rules. The members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish church including deciding on how funds are to be spent. The PCC meets around 9 times a year.

Administrative Information

Greenside Parish is situated in Gateshead West deanery. It is part of the Diocese of Durham within the Church of England. The correspondence address is Church Office, Holy Spirit Church, Main Street, Crawcrook, Ryton, NE40 4NB.

PCC membership following the APCM on of April 2023

Vicar	Tom Brazier	Ex-officio
Curate	Rosemary Hendry	Ex-officio
Curate	Rachael Phillips	Ex-officio
Churchwarden:	Ben Thomas	Ex-officio
	Cath Jones	Ex-officio
Deanery Synod:	Mike Hendry	Ex-officio
	Paul Hobbs	Ex-officio
Elected members:	Beth Gascoigne	1 year to serve
	Berni Bertola	3 years to serve
	Simon Longshaw	3 year to serve (Treasurer)
	Denise Clayson	2 years to serve
	Paddy Gascoigne	2 years to serve (Secretary)
	Janet Bertola	3 years to serve

Objectives and Activities

The PCC is wholly for the mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing of people in and around Greenside, Crawrook, Clara Vale and our church plant in Chopwell because that reflects God's kingdom, and it is what Jesus is calling us to work towards. We seek to meet this calling in our weekly pattern of worship, our home groups, our healing ministry and our wedding, funeral, and baptism ministries.

Another important outpouring of the love of God is found in our social activities (such as Footprints toddler group, the community garden and work in schools). We deliberately make our halls (particularly St John’s Hall) available to groups in the wider community and for events such as children's activities. Finally, with our eyes looking beyond the immediate community in Gateshead West, we have connections with life-giving work across the world and, especially, in Africa.

Risk Management

Our primary risk management strategy is to trust God. However, the PCC recognises that God has given us brains to figure some things out ourselves. We actively review safeguarding risks every time we meet. We carry out health and safety risk assessments whenever appropriate. Financial risk is primarily managed through our reserves policy. Everything is guided by prayer.

Achievements and Performance

Vicar’s Report

2023 was a very full year for us. It saw the launch of our daughter church in Chopwell, Magdalene Community Church. We started a CAP debt centre (although this is now in need of a debt centre manager). Post pandemic, we were once again up to speed on Open the Book, Prayer Spaces, Footprints, and pastoral care in Lindisfarne Care Home.

Many new people joined us in 2023 and, sadly, we lost several beloved members who went to be with the Lord.

As you will know, I suffered a bout of mental ill-health during 2023. Thank you all for your support, love, and prayers. I have restructured a lot of my work to reduce the demands on my time. A particular new development is the “Parish Team”, consisting of everyone who is employed by the church, the church wardens, the clergy, everyone who holds a license and one or two others who lead areas of ministry. The purpose of this team is to support me and make sure I am dividing out the work well.

I have felt that with the launch of MCC and my own incapacity, I have allowed Greenside Parish to coast during 2023. However, 2024 has started with a bang.

We have already held our long-overdue Rule of Life review, where it was decided unanimously to continue with our Rule of Life. We also decided we would consider whether the Rule of Life needs to explicitly mention prayer and whether it needs to mention mutual accountability. We will explore these questions together as 2024 progresses.
We have had a teaching series on prayer, which was commissioned by the PCC. Following this, over ten people have expressed an interest in exploring contemplative prayer with Jen Vickers.
We have resolved to use 2024 to review the life and purpose of home groups. I anticipate that this will result in the launch of one or more new groups. I hope many of our newer members will end up joining a group. There may also be rearranging and restructuring of existing groups – although what that might look like depends on the members of the groups themselves. This is a journey we are going on together and I do not know clearly where it will lead other than it will be good.

I started 2024 feeling very positive and encouraged. Do pray for me daily, though, as Rachael’s maternity leave and several vacancies in the deanery will leave me very stretched. Please also challenge me if you think I am not taking enough care of

myself and please look out for ways in which I can delegate work to others – maybe even to you?

Tom Brazier

Electoral Roll Report

The Greenside Parish Church electoral roll is a register of all those qualified to attend the Annual Parochial Church Meeting and to vote in elections to the Parochial Church Council plus the Deanery Synod. Enrolment onto the electoral roll means becoming a voting member of the Church of England. It helps to ensure that all the synodical councils of the Church; the PCC, Gateshead West Deanery Synod, the Durham Diocesan Synod, and the General Synod are fully representative of its members.

Set out below are the numbers for 2024 and the last five years. The overall numbers have dropped this year which was partly due to a number of deaths within the church community but this has been offset in part by several new members.

March	Members	Resident	Non Resident
2024	65	37	28
2023	70	43	27
2022	72	41	31
2021	72	40	32
2020*

No revision took place due to the pandemic.

Paddy Gascoigne – Electoral Roll Officer

Wardens’ Report

It is both a privilege and a pleasure to serve as Church Warden to our Church, our Church family, and this Parish. I would like to thank my fellow Warden Ben Thomas for his support this past year.

Buildings

Holy Spirit Church continues to be the main church for regular worship. The building is sound and apart from the boiler house flooding twice, due to heavy rain, has not suffered a great deal.

Plans for improvements to the front of the building remain on hold due to the puzzling and frustrating demands of Gateshead Planning department.

St John’s Church roof continues to deteriorate, causing dampness and damage to the fabric and furnishings. This has been exacerbated by the heating pump breaking down. As the system is about 40 years old, a replacement pump is expensive. An application for a grant has been made and once received the pump can be fixed and St. John’s will once again be warm. Obviously, this will help with drying out.

Despite there being no heating, Baptisms and Funerals have continued to be held. Proving, perhaps, how much affection and esteem parishioners and others have for this lovely church.

The organ has recently been serviced but really needs to be played regularly to maintain its best.

Fire extinguishers at both churches and SJH have been inspected and replaced as necessary as part of annual maintenance plan. Fire alarms have been tested.

St John’s Hall had problems with intermittent electric supply from November 2023May 2024. Due to Northern PowerGrid’s bizarre rules of engagement, it was only when there was no supply to the hall at all that engineers were dispatched. Rain sliding down the sleeve covering the wire and onto the transformer was the culprit, eventually burning it out. This had a significant impact on revenue due to regular classes having to be cancelled or abandoned.

Since the financial crisis began, bookings for functions have dwindled significantly. Consequently, revenue is down, and the hall is running at a loss. This is unfortunate, as it is a versatile space.

Utilities

I would like to extend thanks and appreciation to Beth Gascoigne for her sterling efforts in taking on utility providers to simplify and improve service to all three buildings. Having smart meters installed has also proved frustrating.

Pastoral Outreach

Monthly visits to Lindisfarne Care Home for a short Holy Communion Service with about 10 – 12 residents, are popular and a joy to attend. I would like to thank Mike Hendry, Val Gardener, and Jackie Activities Co-ordinator for organising and having me accompany hymns with the guitar. It is a beautiful little service and a privilege to be part of.

I would like to thank Val Gardener for taking Communion into the homes of those parishioners who are no longer able to attend church. It is always a pleasure and a privilege to accompany Val when I am able.

On 16[th] September 2023 Norma Todd and I were licensed by the Bishop of Durham in Durham Cathedral as Lay Pastoral Ministers. It was an emotional day and very special.

Parish Inspection

This took place on 19[th] September 2023 with Archdeacon Bob Cooper. It is testament to Paddy Gascoigne’s organisation and attention to detail that we sailed through the Inspection. Archdeacon Bob commented that he would use Paddy’s portfolio as an example to others of how it should be done. A million thanks Paddy. For my part in the process, I can only say I have never seen or counted so many Purificators!

The Church

We have said farewell to a number of our brothers and sisters this year, Doreen Drake, Alan Gaynor, Anne Saddington, Hazel Spencer, Terry Stow, Norma Todd. We know they are with our Lord, out of pain, happy and whole. We miss them but they remain in our hearts. Our prayers remember those left behind.

We have welcomed new members to our church family, couples, and families. The children are an especial delight and have boosted our Sunday Club members. It is also an answer to prayer.

Going forward I would ask for continued prayer to include: St John’s Church- so we may know God’s plan for this beautiful church. Holy Spirit Church – Planning application is accepted without further delay. St John’s Hall - an increase in bookings to enable the hall to pay for itself. Pastoral Outreach – to expand and meet the needs of more people in the parish. An increase in children and young people.

Let us be open and prepared to accept all God has in store for us with joy, love and faith.

Blessings to all.

Cath Jones

Proceedings of the PCC

The PCC meets nine times a year. There are regular items such as finance, safeguarding and buildings plus matters that arise during the year. The main issues discussed over the previous year are as follows,

The refurbishment of the fascia at Holy Spirit has been the main preoccupation regarding the maintenance and fabric of buildings. The church must satisfy both the planning authority and the diocese about its proposals. This has proved to be a very lengthy process involving the council and required the submission of revised plans. It is ongoing.
The PCC maintains a watching brief over the condition of St John’s having decided not to invest in the church’s fabric other than on health and safety grounds. A grant of £2000 was obtained from the Priestman Trust for the repair of the boiler. The organ has also been repaired.
In autumn 2023 Simon Longshaw resigned as the treasurer. The PCC appointed Sue Hayman on a paid basis. Sue is also the treasure of Bywell Parish.
The PCC receives regular updates on the activities of Magdalene Community Church as it remains the responsible body for its work.
The PCC continually prays for more children and young families to come to church which has borne fruit. The possibility of establishing a Christian Union at Thorp Academy is being explored.

Safeguarding is a standing item on the PCC agenda. It receives regular updates.
The PCC is to have a joint ‘away day’ with the newly formed Parish Team to set the vision for the church for a year. The Team consists of the clergy and parish employees.

The PCC is not just about conducting the formal business of the church. It is there to support Tom and the clergy and provides a sounding board for ideas. In this respect, for instance, there have been discussions about the Prayers of Living in Love and Faith which are in the process of being broadened out to include the whole church. The PCC also seeks to lead the church in following the ‘Rule of Life’.

Paddy Gascoigne – PCC Secretary

Safeguarding

In the summer Paddy and I were invited by the diocese Safeguarding Team to join the pilot for to roll out of the new national Safeguarding Hub which now all parishes in the diocese can use. This means that once our DBS and training records were moved to the hub and we created role descriptions and person specification our records became secure in one place. We have now completed level 1 and 2 and once other levels are rolled out all our safer recruitment records will also be in this area. This also means that once someone DBS or safeguarding training is due to expire, we will always be notified as a reminder. It makes keeping many things up to date much easier.

The diocese has also started hold Safeguarding Leader meetings 4 times a year across the diocese and this is helpful in keeping up with changes within the church and support to implement new policies and procedures.

As MCC is developing into a church with a definite group of members I have started to support their members to access DBS and safeguarding training. MCC have recently recruited their own safeguarding led, Alison.

The PCC has agreed recently in line with other churches to encourage members of the welcome team to do basic safeguarding training. This is being encouraged because our welcome team are usually the first people who greet people into the church. We have also changed to all members of the PCC accessing domestic abuse training in line with changes to national guidelines. This was completed in Autumn 2023.

Please ask if you have any questions, I am always happy to help.

Denise Clayson – Safeguarding Officer

Deanery Synod

The Revd Canon Tom Blazier, vicar of Greenside is the Dean of Gateshead West, our deanery of which there are 10 Parishes and 13 church buildings. 2023 was the

start of a new three year cycle on deanery Synod, roughly meeting in Feb, May and October each year.

In the recent Deanery meeting the election of officers took place. Susan Marshall was again elected has lay chair. Susan Lister was re-elected has Secretary and Catherine Howe Treasurer. Paul Hobbs and Mike Hendry are the elected representatives of Greenside PCC to Deanery. All clergy are ex officio to these meetings. Paul Hobbs is also Greenside representative on the Deanery Missionary pastoral committee following the sad death of Doreen Drake last year.

In 2023 plans have been made for a Deanery away day and this will take place at Shepherds Dene on 1st June 2024. The agenda is to include Children and Young People, a time of praying together and an opportunity to get to know each other better.

At the last Deanery meeting at Holy Trinity Swalwell training in safeguarding was discussed and it was emphasised how this was everybody’s responsibility in the church.

Bishop Paul Butler’s excellent contribution to the diocese, was considered and a leaving gift of £100 agreed.

Each church was given opportunity to share what was going on in their parish. This is the usual pattern at these tri annual meetings.

These Deanery meetings are well attended by gentle clergy and laity alike, they are friendly, and pleasant meetings and those in attendance are passionate about their churches. The meetings allow church leaders to share ideas, share resources, do occasional joint projects as well as encourage mutual prayers and talk about dioceses priorities and activities. Children and young people are at the forefront of the Deanery agenda and in particular how to break through to the younger generations.

In Feb 2023 Revd Ruth Young, Diocesan Discipleship and Evangelism Enabler gave a presentation online. This was a new role created in the Diocese, which includes oversight of Partnership for Missional Church – several parishes in our deanery had taken part in this.

Ruth talked about the Diocesan priority, Energising Growth. She hoped to share confidence in sharing faith. We need to grow ~~in~~ confident disciples and increase our faith if we want to bring new life to parishes. Ruth sees herself as an Enabler (rather than an Adviser), to help in parishes.

Paul Hobbs – Deanery Synod Representative

Magdalene Community Church

Magdalene Community Church recently celebrated its first year as a new church. We have faced many challenges, but the way God has faithfully brought us through them,

added to our number, and worked so prominently in our lives has certainly been faithbuilding. We’ve much to celebrate and thank God for.

MCC launched last April and began meeting monthly in Chopwell Primary School. We call these gatherings The Feast, as the central way we worship is through a shared meal. After the first Feast, which was indoors, we moved to the Forest School area on the school site and each month set up church in this leafy oasis. We pitched a tent for prayer and meditation, told stories around the campfire, and enjoyed meals prepared by our chef. We explored how we live out our core values which are Care for Creation, The Place of Children, and Inclusion and Diversity. These shape all that we do, as we learn more about God through valuing and respecting all He has created.

We have seen much growth in this time, particularly among children and also, we’ve seen people return to the Christian faith who had spent years feeling church was no longer for them, and the barriers too great. Seeing lives transformed as individuals have rediscovered that they are loved by God has been wonderfully encouraging. Our setting and ethos have, it turns out, naturally attracted lots of adults and children who are neuro-atypical too. This has shaped many of our patterns and rhythms. It has helped us become a church which is sensitive to the needs of others, and a place where we intentionally look to help each other flourish, by recognising our unique gifts and being a safe place to share them. Sometimes chaos abounds, but necessarily so does grace.

As we seek to explore our future as a New Monastic Community, we are intentionally challenging the way independence is idealised in today’s culture by choosing to vulnerably share and generously meet each other’s needs, practical or otherwise. This has been made possible by the trust we’ve been building, thanks to spending an awful lot of time together! Last April we began a weekly pattern of praying in Chopwell Woods and this permanent fixture has improved the spiritual, mental and physical wellbeing of so many of us, and no amount of wind, rain or snow has deterred the faithful from meeting to pray. The woods have provided peace and a closeness to God that I don’t think we find anywhere else. Leadership of these prayer gatherings is entirely shared among the Community which has also helped build trust and co-dependency. We also have a fortnightly Home Group, a monthly prayer meeting in the Prayer Tent, which gets pitched all over the village, and we have introduced two further Sunday gatherings.

‘Explore Sunday’, on the first Sunday of each month, focuses on exploring our relationship with and response to God, our gifts and how to use them. We choose from a variety of themed zones which have so far included music, dance, prayer and meditation, the Eucharist, crafts, storytelling and nature. This takes place at Chopwell Methodist Church with whom we are exploring a collaborative relationship. Our other Sunday gathering is essentially a leadership meeting which began as a necessary and functional get together to plan upcoming events, but has morphed into a beautiful and sacred pause in the month to gather the church’s leaders in prayer, refreshing and low-key worship and Bible study, and of course food.

Over the last 12 months our numbers have steadily grown, peaking in the summer at 70 but settling into a more regular 45-50, just over 1/3 of which are children. We’ve

weathered all seasons, adapted to changing circumstances at short notice, and month in month out, have pulled together as a team to build church from scratch. Other highlights this year include being granted enough money from the Strategic Development Fund to employ Mike Hardisty as a Steward. His role is to ensure we have resources now and in the future. This includes money as well as food resources, so as well as applying for grants, he oversees our allotment patch and maintains relationships with our food providers. We have also seen the development of a youth group.

Our focus in our second year is on growth, both in numbers locally, and in depth too, so we will be developing new patterns of intentional peer-to-peer discipleship, getting to know the Bible better, and exploring the theme of baptism throughout the year. We are also considering buying or renting a field so we may put down more permanent roots.

Revd. Rachael Phillips

Footprints

Footprints continues to be a popular outreach for our local community. The closure of Crawcrook library has meant that more people are now coming, and we have 30 families who attend regularly plus others who come more sporadically.

We feel blessed to be able to provide this service to children and their carers. It has proved so popular that we had to be creative with gifts when Santa came to the Christmas party as he nearly ran out of presents due to the unexpected number of children who came.

We were able to make use of the community garden at the Holy Spirit church for our summer party when we broke up for the summer holidays, meaning many people who previously wouldn't have stepped into the church before were introduced to it in an informal way. Thankfully our prayers for nice weather were answered and the forecast rain didn't arrive until the party was over.

Carers often comment how friendly the group is and they are made to feel welcome straight away. There have been children who have left us for school/ nursery and the parents always say how much they will miss us and how they have valued our support.

Fiona Longshaw

Community Garden

A lot of the year has been dogged by the intransigence of Gateshead Council not to grant access from the garden into Crawcrook Park. Its reasons for refusal are quite nebulous and not community spirited. The partnership between the church and Our Villages has, however, not given up the fight.

On a more positive note, the partnership flourishes with the joint working leading to significant developments in the garden. Four raised beds have been created with two being made available to Emmaville and St Agnes Primary schools. The other two have been advertised in the local community with one being taken by a local group which works with children who have special needs. A local resident is likely to cultivate the other.

An area of the garden has been dug out for a paved seating and quiet area. This was done by volunteers from Newcastle Building Society courtesy of Ben Thomas who works there.

Paddy Gascoigne

Intercessors Group

We have lost some members of the Intercessors group this last year when they have gone to be with our Lord, but we have added new people and have now 35 members.

I continue to send out a prayer list ten times a year, by email or paper, with topics including: praying for 10%+ of people in the Parish to know Christ, items that arise from the monthly Parish prayer meeting, Open the Book, Prayer Spaces, Footprints and other regular events. Tom, Rachael and Rosemary are invited to contribute. I am always open to people suggesting topics! If you are involved with a Parish activity and would welcome prayer, please get in touch. We also cover national and world topics.

Our emergency prayer emails are a good way to have people quickly praying, and anyone can ask me to put an emergency prayer request out. The only condition is that we have the permission of any person being prayed for, whenever possible. But we also pray for people by only their initial, as we know God knows!

As I write this we are in a series of sermons on prayer, and my prayer is that others will be moved to join the group! As we have heard, people pray in many different ways, and being a member of the Intercessors Group means that we can all be praying about the same things in our own way. Please have a word with me if you would like to join us.

Helen Hardisty

Children and Youth Work

In Sunday Club we have continued to work through Urban Saints Energise materials and this year we have worked through series on Christian Commitments and Healthy Bodies.

Sunday Club also organised a trip to the beach at Druridge Bay in the summer. We were joined by members of our congregation and from MCC. A good day was had by all!

During the course of the year, we welcomed Freda, Success and David to our group.

Jon, Jess, Henry, and Freda attended The Pulse meeting for pupils in year 7 and above. This takes place in Durham Cathedral once a term. This year our activities have included:

A visit and performance from magician and comedian John Archer.
Finding our way out of the World’s largest Escape Room.
Bishop Paul talking about how he became a Christian and his hopes and prayers for the young people of the Diocese.

By popular demand we again produced an interactive Nativity, based, in part, on the Bible Society’s Pop-Up Script. This year we had two separate stories; one was the traditional Nativity, and the other was based in 2023 where we met Festive Fred who really loves Christmas. The stories mingle together, and Fred eventually gets the best Christmas Gift ever.

The Sunday Club Team

Open the Book Team

Firstly, I would like to thank the members of the team who give of their time to take Bible stories to Primary School children through the medium of Drama: Sam Cree, Val Gardener, Frank Guinness, Helen Hardisty, Pam Jackson, Allen Kyles, Mandy and myself.

The team has been welcomed into Emmaville and Greenside Primary Schools six times this past year. We often need to double up on characters and tasks as the full team cannot always make each venue. Despite this, and with the help of Teachers and pupils we have managed to convey the message and introduce children to the Bible and its wonderful stories.

We have received excellent feedback from the schools and have been assured that the children look forward to our coming. It is a privilege to visit both schools and pass on our love of God’s word in a fun and simple way. We know it works because the children tell us and remember the stories.

Please pray for the Open the Book Team for the coming year – that we are able to continue to bring God’s word to children. We can increase our numbers.

Blessings

Cath Jones

Pastoral Report

The Pastoral Care team is headed by Rev Rosemary Hendry and Michael Hendry (Licensed Lay Minister) in conjunction with Cath Jones (Licensed Pastoral Minister). We report back to Rev Tom Brazier and wish to respectfully acknowledge the invaluable input from so many team members, especially those who have served in this capacity for several years, especially Valerie Gardener and Gloria Johnstone.

The team has undergone the required Diocesan DBS checks, and we now have Denise Clayson on the team who helps guide us through any safeguarding issues that arise. Joining the team no longer requires a formal interview, as it used to, however, the process is always viewed as being of great importance, since the church understands that the safety of all our members and of those being visited, requires appropriate policies and procedures in place.

Pastoral Care involves many areas of concern, not only in visiting people at home, usually in pairs, but also visits to Care Homes and hospitals. It’s about being available for people at church, delivering flowers and or a card when needed, ministries that are important to people who may be unwell or who may be celebrating a special occasion, for which we wholeheartedly thank Jean Lawson and Christine Brown. Some areas of pastoral ministry can be confidential and therefore shared only as is appropriate.

Of the three people that went through formal training with the Church of England, to fulfil their vocation of Licensed Lay Pastoral Minister, two are no longer here with us, but we give a huge thanks to God for them - Doreen Drake and Norma Todd. Doreen was unable to finish the course due to illness. Norma did complete it and was delighted to be licensed by Bishop Paul, alongside Cath Jones at Durham Cathedral. We congratulate them.

So, if you would like to join the team, why not talk with a team member to see where God may be leading you into, whether that be a home visit, Holy Communion and Music for the services at Lindisfarne Care Home, or simply being a listening ear. We welcome you.

Michael Hendry - Licensed Lay Minister (Reader)

Hope for South Africa’s Children

Our main focus continues to be to support children infected/affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Our partners continue to work in rural areas around Port Shepstone and have delivered an increasing number of food support programmes. The economic situation is dire with unemployment at record levels. We have also increased education & training grants to young people leaving care.

Income in our 2022/23 financial year was £62,094. We made grants totalling £59,478, maintaining our policy of keeping minimal reserves. Expenses were just £152. We were blessed with a legacy and a large donation which increased our income by 47%.

Our sponsorship programme continues to support Rehoboth Children’s Village and grants were made of £20,838. The focus is now on short term care, children are not expected to stay for more than 2 years. Some 20 children were reunited with families at the end of the year. The vacancies were quickly replaced; we are registered for 80 children.

Our Outreach fund continues to provide education, training & feeding progammes to 5 projects in the rural areas around Port Shepstone and one in the Western Cape. We have made grants totaling £9,288 supporting educational & training projects and some £7000 to support feeding programmes with our trusted partners. We continue to support Rehoboth Leavers who are struggling with basic living costs.

One example is Khula Creche, part of Genesis Hope (an outreach organization of Norwegian Settlers church), which goes from strength to strength with some 90+ children in the crèche. Some 400+ children come for after school clubs and receiving food parcels twice per week. We made grants of £6848 to support this ministry. We also made a grant of £5000 to update a SUV to Greensparks Education which provides education and food nutrition to rural crèches.

We really appreciate the church’s continued support as part of its Tithing & Mission Support fund. Your support really does make a difference.

David and Glen Smith Chair/Secretary/Trustees

Christian Aid

Christian Aid Week, in May 2023, principally comprised a church collection, with some virtual giving and house-to-house collections in the parish, keeping alive the spirit of a week that has been running nationally since 1957.

The current state of our world, from the Israel-Gaza conflict to the war in Ukraine and the many conflicts that have fallen from our headlines, plus the ongoing climate crisis, makes what Christian Aid and its global partners do, more urgent and relevant than ever. Consequently, the idea of giving a lasting legacy to Christian Aid has been highlighted and encouraged as a means of support.

The annual Christian Aid/CAFOD Advent Service, which provides an opportunity for all denominations in the local area to come together, was scheduled to take place this year at St. Agnes RC church. Sadly, snow and icy weather conditions led to its cancellation. Christian Aid’s focus for Advent was on helping women to use their talents to light up their communities. Those interested were able to read about it and donate online.

Many thanks to the PCC and all within our parish who continue to support the work of Christian Aid around the world. More information about their programmes can be - found on the Christian Aid website. https://www.christianaid.org.uk/our work/programmes

Christine Brown and Caroline Kelly (Christian Aid reps.)

Financial Review

Introduction

Welcome to the 2023 Financial Review of Greenside Parish. In October 2023, I was asked to take over the role of Treasurer from Simon. This has meant some changes to the way the monthly and annual accounts are presented. Rather than using an online accounting system, I have been producing the reports via Excel, and in addition it was agreed that this would not be accrual accounting but cash accounting instead (which means that it is literal – a recording of what income has been received and paid out during 2023 with no carryovers).

Income and Expenditure

The Parish ended the year in credit, with the total income being £148,053, expenditure of £142,844 with a credit of £5,209. The positive cash flow results primarily from a restricted grant for MCC for the next year, without which there would be a deficit of £15,641. There has been a problem with the utility bills on all of the buildings which are all currently under review following many instances of being both under and over charged. The credits and payments due from this review will show in the 2024 accounts (thank you to Beth Gascoigne for all the time she has spent on this).

St John’s Hall

You will notice within the figures to follow that St John’s Hall is currently running at a huge loss. As it is a designated fund (and therefore highlighted as such within these accounts), you will clearly see that the expenses for this have severely outweighed the income. Part of this is due to the fact that up until 18 months ago there was no management fee paid (currently at £250 per month). The high expenditure is also due to the utility bills which are currently under review. That said, it is still substantially more than the income which is £2,515 (expenditure of £14,020).

Giving

The majority of our income comes from giving by our church. If you don’t currently give and would like to, the recommended way of giving is by Parish Giving. You can sign up online using our Parish code of 130613083. If you would like more information on different forms of giving, please look at the donations page of our website www.greensideparish.org.uk/donations.htm.

Gift aid

Most of the Gift Aided donations are received via Parish Giving and are automatic. However, this had not been claimed for 2022 or 2023. This has now been rectified (again, thank you to Beth Gascoigne) and will show in future accounts.

Reserves Policy

Our total unrestricted reserves at the end of the year stand at £27,073. However, £9,391 of

this is already committed to mission giving which will be paid in 2024. The PCC agreed reserves policy is to maintain a target balance of unrestricted reserves which equates to approximately three months' unrestricted payments based upon the previous year’s expenditure, which is around £25,000. So a priority for 2024 will be to stabilise our income and expenditure.

Thanks

Thank you to Beth and Paddy Gascoigne for the support, patience and assistance to bed into this new role. It has been challenging to pick this up so close to the end of the financial year.

Sue Hayman (Star Duck Administration) Treasurer

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Parochial Church Council of Greenside Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

		Unrestricted	Designated	Restricted	TOTAL	TOTAL
		Funds	Funds	Funds	2023	2022
	Note	£	£	£	£	£
RECEIPTS	1, 2
Voluntary receipts:
Planned Giving		65,030		3,368	68,398	70,061
Collections at Services		10,222		333	10,555	8,284
Donations		5,130	694	11,717	17,540	3,494
Other voluntary income		-		-	-	8,040
Gift Aid and GASDS Recovered		14,594		2,148	16,742	15,727
Grants		-		22,110	22,110	-
		94,976	694	39,675	135,345	105,606
Activities for generating Funds		-	-	-	-	-
Investment income		-	-	-	-	-
Church Activities
PCC Fees		2,395		-	2,395	1,163
DBF Fees		3,900		-	3,900
Agency		-		968	968
Trading		27	2,515	-	2,542	4,322
Other receipts		2,903		-	2,903	5,975
TOTAL RECEIPTS		104,201	3,209	40,643	148,053	117,070
PAYMENTS
Church Activities:
Parish Share		61,206	-	-	61,206	59,952
DBF Fees		3,611	-	-	3,611
Clergy & Staffing expenses		4,504	129	-	4,633	2,051
Salaries, wages and honoraria		7,060	-	10,047	17,107	6,903
Ministry		-	459	448	907	4,893
Church running expenses		6,288	-	9,073	15,361	6,293
Routine Buildings Maintenance & Repair		809	4,921	-	5,730	7,444
Utilities		9,525	8,097	-	17,622	8,321
Insurance		4,380	1,002	-	5,381	4,955
Mission Giving and Donations		-	9,389	854	10,243	15,207
		97,382	23,997	20,422	141,801	116,019
Cost of Generating Funds		68	-	-	68	-
Cost of Trading		975	-	-	975	1,565
TOTAL PAYMENTS		98,425	23,997	20,422	142,844	117,604
Excess of Receipts over Payments		5,776	(20,788)	20,221	5,209	(534)
Transfers between funds		(22,359)	22,259	100	-	-
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS:		(16,583)	1,471	20,321	5,209	(534)
Cash & Bank Balance as at 1st January	3	31,334	10,850	11,461	53,645	42,723
Cash & Bank Balance at 31st December		14,752	12,321	31,781	58,854	42,189

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Parochial Church Council of Greenside Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 Statement of Assets & Liabilities

Note Cash funds Bank current account Cash in hand Other monetary assets Income Tax recoverable Liabilities	14,728 12,321 31,781 58,830 53,629 24 - 24 16 Unrestricted Funds £ Designated Funds £ Restricted Funds £ TOTAL 2023 £ TOTAL 2022 £
	14,752 12,321 31,781 58,854 53,645

	- - -

	- -

Page 21

NOTES

1 The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts and Payments basis.
2 The 2022 financial statements were prepared on an accruals basis.
3 Cash & Bank Balance at of 31 December 2022 and 1 January 2023 do not match due to changing from an accruals basis of accounting to receipts and payments.
4 The movement in designated and restricted funds during the year:

Restricted Agency collection CAP - Christians Against Poverty MCC Footprints Ukraine appeal Youth Work Youth Worker Subtotal Designated Mission Footprints Community garden Pastoral Parish Weekend St Johns Hall Sub Total TOTAL	Receipts Payments Transfers 885 968 (854) - 998 317 14,745 (14,654) - 407 531 24,931 (4,466) - 20,996 21 - (21) - - (100) - - 100 - 6,455 - (427) - 6,028 3,352 - - 3,352 Bal B/fwd Bal c/fwd
	11,461 40,643(20,422) 100 31,781
	10,291 - (9,389) 9,391 10,293 245 694 (459) 214 694 1,000 - - - 1,000 463 - (129) - 334 770 - - (770) - (1,919)2,515(14,020) 13,424 -
	10,850 3,209(23,997) 22,259 12,321

	22,311 43,852(44,419) 22,359 44,102

Restricted funds are:

Agency collection

Ukraine appeal

CAP - Christians Against Poverty MCC Footprints Youth Work Youth Worker

Money collected for other organisations are stored in this fund until it is dispersed.

To support familiesi n Ukraine. At the end of 2022 this fund was £100 overspent.

Support for the Tyne Valley CAP Debt Centre. Support for Magdalene Community Church plant in Chopwell. Money for Footprints Toddler Group. Money for use in Youth Work matters. Money for use in having a Youth Worker.

Designated funds are:

Mission

Footprints Community garden Pastoral Parish Weekend St Johns Hall

We give 10% of unrestricted income to other charities. This fund holds the money until it is given out. Money for Footprints Toddler Group. Money for Community Garden. Money for Pastoral spending. Money for the Parish Weekend away 2022. Money collected by St Johns Hall letting and used for running costs.

This report is dated.. Friday. 14 February 2(r25 Approved by Ihe PCC Narr Signature Date 1410212025 PCC Chair Rev Tom Brazier 1410212025 PCC Treasu 22

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF GREENSIDE

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

I report to the PCC Members on my examination of the accounts of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Members of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Nigel Wyrley-Birch Ryton Grange, Ryton, NE40 3UN

14 February 2025