2023-09-30-accounts

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Park Road, Rushden, Northants, NN10 0RW Charity No. 1174622

Annual Report 2023

Chair Opening Words

The year from 1[st] October 2022 to 30[th] September 2023 is the period covered by this Annual Report. I would like to begin our meeting with a minute’s silence whilst we remember those that are no longer with us. Each one valued by us all, their contributions and presence with us in countless ways over many years.

Review of 2023

We are thankful that the repairs to the boiler have held, with relatively minor maintenance needs. The Trustees continue to look for options and solutions for replacement boiler and heating systems, assess payment options as well as applying for grant funding. The ball park figure to replace the boiler is in the region of £30 to 40k. We are still a long way from meeting this target.

The re-fit of the kitchen has been a major project during the period. We are grateful to Howden’s Joinery for the donation of the units and work tops, Headland Carpets for the donation and fitting of the flooring and Mick George for the donation of a skip. This has been made possible by the fundraising efforts of the Members as well as a grant from The National Lottery. I would like to highlight that the work involved by the Trustees relating to this project was substantial, involving many hours of liaison with suppliers, contractors, planning and financial aspects. The third phase is still to complete due to the issues of damaged asbestos roofing outside the kitchen door, which had allowed water ingress so preventing the work required to the kitchen exit area. This is due to be completed in 2024, along with final snagging and issues left by our original contractor.

Other issues that have faced us this year are the car park walls and the deteriorating brickwork around the perimeter. We continue to work towards a solution and improvements, recognising the issues this causes for all.

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There has been an increase in the use of the porch and steps by people congregating to drink and deal drugs. We have been and are liaising with the Police on this problem which affects not only our town but is country wide. All advice is to report the presence of unauthorised persons to the Police on 101 and not to confront directly. We urge all users to keep the front doors locked.

During the period 1[st] October 2022 to 30[th] September 2023 the Trustees have continued to meet in person as well as making other decisions, issues and activity via email communication. The Trustees have shown tremendous effort and commitment during this year and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them.

Here is a summary list of the principal areas that have been managed by the Trustee Board during the year:

Monitoring of and compliance with all government direction and legislation that affect the Chapel and Halls

Periodic electrical testing

PAT Testing Asbestos Survey Liaison with Hirers Financial matters Heating issues Kitchen project Cleaning contract management Maintenance of premises

Prioritising spend on structural and maintenance issues i.e. water ingress

During the period of this Report the following Trustees made up the Board.

Gill Crow, Diana Black, David Ogden, Cheryl Tompkins, Janine Musson, Jayne Evans. Sarah Blachford and Les Hunt served until Dec 2022

Wendy and Dennis Dangerfield deserves special mention again in this report for their sterling work in producing the weekly booklet.

The Worship Committee prepared the Minister diary and Services Calendar for 2023. We are grateful for all our volunteers who give of their time and effort freely, including regular tasks such as gardening, litter picking, flower rota, reading, prayers of intercession and greeting, refreshments, playing the organ and many more.

Janine Musson as Treasurer has continued to faithfully produce finance reports for Trustees and the congregation.

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Worship Committee Report

We are thankful to be able to report that since the last A.G.M. we have again been truly blessed at The Heritage Chapel and Halls, with God, his guidance and Jesus our Saviour at the heart of all that we do to fulfil and cover all our missions, policies and procedures.

A magnificent team of ministers and preachers join a great team of dedicated volunteers all via a rota system, to fulfil all our commitments, enabling Sunday Worship, Pastoral care and Services for "Life Events" with the annual Worship Calendar covering service's such as Advent, Christmas Day, Easter Time, Harvest Festival, English Heritage Open Days and much more.

Our weekly " Refreshments and Fellowship" that follow Sunday Worship, is a great time together where we are regularly joined by others from our community, all are welcomed. Bookings of our Sunday Worship Calendar for 2025 has started.

The groups and clubs who meet in the halls and other areas regularly join us for our Bacon Roll & Coffee mornings, fundraising and other events, with our congregation supporting their events too.

The Heritage Chapel and Halls Website, Facebook page and Weekly booklet are invaluable, carefully produced and very gratefully received resources, enabling information and outreach too, to our congregation, The Heritage Chapel and Halls community, our local communities and World Wide.

If any additional help and support is needed we have a comprehensive information network to signpost people to. As we continue to always move forward we pray for strength and wisdom. We give grateful thanks for the lives of members of our congregation who have passed on this last year and their invaluable contributions to everything. We remember members of our congregation receiving care and support away from their homes. We give grateful thanks for the new members of the congregation who have joined us over the last year and for themselves passing on how welcome and at home they feel.

We would like to end this report with some words from the Bible and the words "Rejoice in the Lord" from one of our main stained glass windows.

King James Version John 3 : V 16 - 17 For God so loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Thankyou very much to everyone who contributes and helps in anyway, ideas are always welcomed.

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Premises Report

Les Hunt and Sarah Blachford led the Premises Committee until Dec 2022. Diana Black leads on Premises, with help from other trustees from Dec 2022.

Periodic Testing (electrical) was completed this is required every five years.

The Prince’s Trust did some work around the grounds, clearing weeds and moss. Also unblocked drain covers. The fence panels and wrought iron work were painted.

The Kitchen re-fit was the major project this year and is still to complete Phase 3.

There has been a plaster fall in choir vestry, the plaster was wet. Advice was sought and the guttering around the building was cleared. The wet area in the choir vestry has dried out and remains dry. The contractor who cleared the guttering thought it was probably over ten years since they were last cleared.

Work began on replacing the kitchen. Some volunteers helped. Old units were removed. Some work was needed to the gas pipes. The redundant cooker fitting was capped off. Also redundant gas pipes on the floor were removed. Test point to test gas supply fitted. A new gas supply was fitted around the wall to feed the cooker. The new gas supply was tested.

Cupboards etc fitted. Lincat boiler bought and installed. New gas cooker bought and installed. New flooring from Headlands was fitted. LED lighting has brightened the kitchen and is cheaper to run.

We made the decision that we should cancel the gardening contract as it was too expensive. A group of volunteers have work parties to do some with one off or seasonal work from a contractor when required.

A Fire Safety advisory visit was completed and all other annual checks required by Health and Safety etc have taken place.

Finance Report

Bookings have been the main source of income during this financial year and we have been fortunate that all our hirers have continued to use the premises. The Hall has been used morning, afternoon and evenings on weekdays mostly, with the occasional Saturday private parties, barn dances and shows by the theatre groups. We are so grateful for the classes that take place and in particular Cook Stars, Mosaic, Community Weigh, Table Tennis, Silver Swans, Pilates and Happy Feet and Theatrestarz who book more than one session each week.

Many of the classes had suffered throughout the pandemic and were only just recovering and getting back to full strength during this period. There were regular hirers, and 1 wedding

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booked during this period to 30[th] September 2023. The gift aid reclaimed quarterly from HMRC together with the gift aid envelopes amounts to over £2k per year.

Following the receipt of a grant from The National Lottery for the kitchen refurbishment plus the kitchen units and floor covering being donated by local companies Howdens and Headway, the start date was 13[th] February,2023, and whereas we believed this would be a straight forward removal of the old units and installation of the new, it turned out to have taken much longer than anticipated. Throughout this time period the classes were able to function but it was August before we were able to move all the equipment back in. Some new purchases were made, the range cooker was replaced, mini oven and water heater installed. Our thanks to all the ladies who helped with washing everything and moving the crockery, cutlery and other equipment into the cupboards. There is still some finishing off to be carried out.

The accounts have been produced at the end of each month and quarterly balance sheets but have not been in the booklet so regularly due to the booklet having to be produced early due to holidays. The balance of the account at the end of September 2023 was £24,537.11.

Conclusion

We are aware that there is still a lot of work to do, but I hope that you will have gained an insight into the amount of work that has been ongoing this year, often behind the scenes. There are many issues that face us moving forward, especially relating to the boiler, walls, funding, building up our hirer base as well as ensuring that we can pay our bills – you will see how much is needed to run the site and we still need to develop the life of the chapel and halls in so many ways.

We need and value your support, we cannot do it without you. We have we achieved so much at The Heritage but that we are still here despite the challenges. Our prayer is that with God’s help these buildings will remain in trust for the future. That townsfolk will be served with affordable rooms to hire for community activities and clubs and that God will continue to be worshipped here, with individuals finding faith and growing closer to Him and in fellowship with one another.

The architect Gaudi began work on the La Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona in 1883 and worked on it for 43 years until his death in 1926, at which point it was only around one-quarter complete. When asked when it would be completed, he famously answered: “my client is not in a hurry”

The life of building and community of The Heritage Chapel and Halls (and it’s former existence as Park Road Methodist and Hope church) is not a short story that can be completed in it’s entirety by us. We are asked to contribute what we can to the odyssey of God. All of us play a part, however small in an epic tale with many actors, vast battle scenes, a million

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interweaving subplots, and countless twists and turns. We cannot possibly understand the whole story from God’s perspective – and that’s ok! We are custodians for now and he blesses us here and now, but God has plans for the future!

– ACCOUNTS 2022/2023 MONTHLY SUMMARY

	Income	Sub-totals	Expenditure	Balance
Opening Balance	13,748.77
October	1,863.49	15,612.26	2,130.20	13,482.06
November	12,725.26	26,207.32	1,911.31	24,296.01
December	1,904.46	26,200.47	1,899.17	24,301.30
January	2,616.47	26,917.77	2,232.34	24,685.43
February	2,357.77	27,043.20	2,954.37	24,088.83
March	1,430.68	25,519.51	4,810.37	20,709.14
April	7,714.69	28,423.83	2,027.81	26,396.02
May	1,648.84	28,044.86	2,636.36	25,408.50
June	1,668.28	27,076.78	4,125.84	22,950.94
July	1,992.55	24,943.49	1,663.60	23,309.89
August	3,102.70	26,412.59	1,742.33	24,670.26
September	2,703.07	27,373.33	1,587.49	25,785.84
	55,477.03		29,691.19

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Balance Sheet for 12 months – 1[st] October, 2022 to 30[th] September, 2023

	INCOME	£	PAYMENTS	£
1.10.22	Opening balance –	13,748.77	British Gas –Gas British Gas–Elec	7,184.00 1,325.36
	Donations	1,108.34	Anglia Water	1,193.00
	Gift Aid Envelopes	6,050.50	Premises repairs	1,020.66
	Offertory	978.59	Premises cleaner	3,438.00
	Bookings/hiring	12,521.75	Insurance–Ansvar	3,501.33
	North Northants Council	14,925.00	Annual payments Thirtyone Eight	169.89
	Harvest Festival	300.50	Clarendon Bldg.	2,382.60
	Coffee Money	346.65	Prestige Bldg	180.00
	HMRC gift aid refund	2,232.13	Ministers Expenses	245.00
	Xmas Bazaar	542.28
	Coffee mornings	934.02	Annual surveys	517.00
	Wedding deposits	500.00	Sundries/cleaning materials	553.23
	Sundries	72.64	Cut Crew gardening	1,772.75
	Fund raising/ Sponsored Swim	115.00 545.90	Wedding payments	100.00
	Listed Places of Worship	554.96	Rushden Rewinds (RRE)	2,315.44
		55,477.03	Fire Extinguisher Survey	102.00
			R. F. Blount	88.50
			Corvee	448.80
			Kitchen equipment	2,500.45
	Sub. Total	55,477.03	Sub. Total	29,038.01
	Totals	55,477.03	Balance at 30.9.23	26,439.02

Park Road, Rushden, Northants, NN10 0RW

Registered Charity No. 1174622

Janine Musson, Treasurer Tel: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

17, Loseby Close, Rushden, Northants, NN10 9HT

Balance Sheet for the Period

1[st] October, 2022 to 30[th] September, 2023

Prepared by: Janine Musson Treasurer

Audited by

Alan Richardson

– ACCOUNTS 2022/2023 MONTHLY SUMMARY

	Income	Sub-totals	Expenditure	Balance
Opening Balance	13,748.77
October	1,863.49	15,612.26	2,130.20	13,482.06
November	12,725.26	26,207.32	1,911.31	24,296.01
December	1,904.46	26,200.47	1,899.17	24,301.30
January	2,616.47	26,917.77	2,232.34	24,685.43
February	2,357.77	27,043.20	2,954.37	24,088.83
March	1,430.68	25,519.51	4,810.37	20,709.14
April	7,714.69	28,423.83	2,027.81	26,396.02
May	1,648.84	28,044.86	2,636.36	25,408.50
June	1,668.28	27,076.78	4,125.84	22,950.94
July	1,992.55	24,943.49	1,663.60	23,309.89
August	3,102.70	26,412.59	1,742.33	24,670.26
September	2,703.07	27,373.33	1,587.49	25,785.84
	55,477.03		29,691.19

Park Road, Rushden, Northants, NN10 0RW Registered Charity No. 1174622

Balance Sheet for 12 months – 1[st] October, 2022 to 30[th] September, 2023

	INCOME	£	PAYMENTS	£
1.10.22	Opening balance –	13,748.77	British Gas –Gas British Gas–Elec	7,184.00 1,325.36
	Donations	1,108.34	Anglia Water	1,193.00
	Gift Aid Envelopes	6,050.50	Premises repairs	1,020.66
	Offertory	978.59	Premises cleaner	3,438.00
	Bookings/hiring	12,521.75	Insurance–Ansvar	3,501.33
	North Northants Council	14,925.00	Annual payments Thirtyone Eight	169.89
	Harvest Festival	300.50	Clarendon Bldg.	2,382.60
	Coffee Money	346.65	Prestige Bldg	180.00
	HMRC gift aid refund	2,232.13	Ministers Expenses	245.00
	Xmas Bazaar	542.28
	Coffee mornings	934.02	Annual surveys	517.00
	Wedding deposits	500.00	Sundries/cleaning materials	553.23
	Sundries	72.64	Cut Crew gardening	1,772.75
	Fund raising/ Sponsored Swim	115.00 545.90	Wedding payments	100.00
	Listed Places of Worship	554.96	Rushden Rewinds (RRE)	2,315.44
		55,477.03	Fire Extinguisher Survey	102.00
			R. F. Blount	88.50
			Corvee	448.80
			Kitchen equipment	2,500.45
	Sub. Total	55,477.03	Sub. Total	29,038.01
	Totals	55,477.03	Balance at 30.9.23	26,439.02

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