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KNOWLE WEST BAPTIST CHURCH (THE CAIRN) (THE CAIRN COMMUNITY) YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

KNOWLE WEST BAPTIST CHURCH (KNOWN AS THE CAIRN, THE CAIRN COMMUNITY)

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Charity Number: 1173158

KNOWLE WEST BAPTIST CHURCH (THE CAIRN) (THE CAIRN COMMUNITY) YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

CONTENTS	PAGES
Objectives and Activities	3-4
Achievements and Performance	4-5
Wider Partnerships	5
Financial Review	6
Reserves	6
Plans for Future Periods	6
Reference and Administrative Details	6-7
Structure, Governance and Management	7
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities	7-8
Statement of Financial Activities	9
Statement of Assets and Liabilities	10

KNOWLE WEST BAPTIST CHURCH (THE CAIRN) (THE CAIRN COMMUNITY) YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

The Trustees are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2020.

Objectives and activities

In accordance with our constitution, The Cairn Trustees pursued the church’s main purpose of advancing the Christian faith with regard to the principles of the Baptist denomination and the beliefs held in the Baptist Union’s Declaration of Principle. The Trustees gave due consideration to the Commission’s guidance on public benefit under the Charities Act 2011 and, in particular, the specific guidance for charities on the advancement of religion.

We remain committed to pursuing God's vision for human flourishing in Inns Court and beyond, through faithful presence at The Cairn. We look towards sustainable, incremental change, and the transformation of both people and place. Our commitment to our faith, as expressed in this way, is undiminished by the uncertain times in which we live.

The Covid pandemic has presented many challenges for us, in that all of our regular activities, such as lunches, breakfasts, guitar clubs, men’s groups, and family activities, were effectively brought to an abrupt halt in March 2020.

Nonetheless, our creative flexibility, and relational approach has enabled us to continue to engage effectively with our fast changing, and challenging, urban context (among the most deprived 1% of areas nationally).

Our activities were consistent with this context, and fully reflected those outlined in paragraph 5.2 of our Constitution, albeit with very clear regard to Government guidance on the pandemic, particularly as represented on the Baptists Together website, namely:

regular public worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching and teaching;
baptism, as defined in the Baptist Union’s Declaration of Principle (although none took place in 2020);

KNOWLE WEST BAPTIST CHURCH (THE CAIRN) (THE CAIRN COMMUNITY) YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

the Communion of the Lord’s Supper, most weeks (this being particularly difficult, for public health reasons);
evangelism and mission, especially locally;
the teaching, encouragement, welcome and inclusion of young people;
nurture and growth of Christian disciples;
education and training for Christian and community service;
giving and encouraging pastoral care (which was sadly limited for public health reasons);
supporting and encouraging charitable social action; and
encouraging relationships with and supporting Baptists and other Christians.

Our missional creativity and commitment was again recognised in the awarding of a Home Mission Grant, by the West of England Baptist Association. We provided a full report to the West of England Baptist Association which further demonstrated the public benefit of our activities.

Achievements and Performance

A particular challenge for us, in Knowle West, was that as many elsewhere turned to Zoom to avoid isolation, many of the poorest and most isolated could not easily access Zoom either.

Nonetheless, we were pleased to be able to gather with up to 30 people, in the garden here , during the summer months, in groups of six , over Sundays and Mondays, and on a socially distanced basis. This gathering was greatly valued by those who attended, and particularly by those with limited access to, or skills with, technology. We explored key questions arising from the Alpha booklet, 'Why Jesus'?

In addition, the idea of a weekly text was an initiative began before the pandemic, but which proved an extremely valuable tool for us through these times. An encouraging text message was appreciated by around 40 people each week on a Monday; and phone contact maintained, where possible.

We also tried to combine this with a very fluid, basic framework (always with regard to the pandemic health guidance). This consisted of:

KNOWLE WEST BAPTIST CHURCH (THE CAIRN) (THE CAIRN COMMUNITY) YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

1st Sunday - Monthly Zoom at 11.00 am

2nd Sunday - Cairn Small Groups

3rd Sunday - Prayer walk, social walk, prayer focus

4th Sunday - Meet for coffee and to pray

The Cairn website was reviewed, with the aim of making it more accessible and helpful to our own community and to a wider audience. A new, reflective blog was also introduced.

Wider Partnerships

This was another significant year for developing partnerships, Christian and secular, across Bristol and further afield. These included:

Baptist Home Mission - from whom we again received grant support.

West of England Baptist Network

Baptists Together

Bristol Baptist College - we welcome students from time to time, most recently by Zoom.

Knowle West Alliance – only set up in 2018, this is an innovative collaborative partnership of active and connected local residents bringing together the key organisations across the estate. The Chair of Trustees is involved as a volunteer resident.

Man Alive – close involvement of Cairn community in this health-funded men’s group.

The Fishing Project (Hartcliffe and Withywood)

Haven Day Centre - A Cairn Trustee is also a Trustee at The Haven, and there are many strong relationships.

Inns Court Centre – good relationship with the Inns Court Centre, which adjoins The Cairn.

Lee Abbey Small Missional Community, Knowle West – valuable, local, Christian partner. A Cairn Trustee is co-leader of the community. Christian Action Bristol - Trustee involvement.

Counterslip Cares Foodbank - Trustee involvement.

Counties - Chair of Trustees still chairs S Loader's Counties Link Group. S

Loader engages in effective chaplaincy work to merchant seafarers in Avonmouth.

KNOWLE WEST BAPTIST CHURCH (THE CAIRN) (THE CAIRN COMMUNITY) YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) – joint South Bristol churches project to support those with concerns around debt. The Noise – Bristol social action project. Trustee involvement.

Transforming Lives for Good (TLG) - mentoring in primary schools. Six mentors trained. Fresh approach made to local schools. InHope - Trustee involvement.

Scripture Union

Financial Review

The charity's income for the year ended 31 December 2020 was £20,688. This compared with £288,944 in 2019. During that year, as reported, the church received funds of £269,045 relating to the sale of the old Baptist church and manse. These funds are planned to be used for building a new manse in the garden at The Cairn. Preliminary surveys had been completed, and ongoing work continues to establish the viability of this project. Total expenditure for the year was £17,927.

Reserves

The Trustees are fully aware of the need to consider an appropriate Reserves Policy as the finances and activities of the church develop.

Plans for future periods

The church intends to continue its activities within the community, and keep under review the viability of plans for building the manse. We had to change the way our activities developed since March 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The church's primary source of income is from the Home Mission Grant from the West of England Baptist Association, which allows for the provision of a minister, so the church is well-placed to continue sharing the gospel of hope at a time when it is most needed.

Reference and Administrative Details

Charity number: 1173158

Address: The Cairn, Inns Court Green, Bristol. BS4 1TF.

KNOWLE WEST BAPTIST CHURCH (THE CAIRN) (THE CAIRN COMMUNITY) YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Bankers: Unity Trust Bank, Four Brindley Place, Birmingham. B1 2JB.

Trustees

The Trustees serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:

P Lawrence (Chairman) R Nott (Treasurer) from September 2020 A Street G Sims A Lawrence

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

Knowle West Baptist Church was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 24 May 2017, and is governed by its Constitution adopted in February 2017. It is more commonly known as The Cairn or The Cairn Community.

Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees

New Trustees are selected according to the experience and expertise they have, combined with their commitment to the Charity’s objects and values.

Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

KNOWLE WEST BAPTIST CHURCH (THE CAIRN) (THE CAIRN COMMUNITY) YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

......................................... P Lawrence Chair of Trustees

5 October 2021