- Annual Trustees Report 2021 2022 For The Oak Community Church
This year has been another year of recovery following the global pandemic of Covid-19 and of new ways of meeting and continuing our mission to “Impact our community with God’s love”. We have been able to re-start some of our “in person” events while continuing some online events that have become a successful way of getting together. The church has stabilized following some fiscal challenges last year and thanks to cost cutting and increased giving is now in a better position to serve and support our local community.
Online Church
We have carried on with Online Church this year and this has been well used by those who have not been able to attend Church for various reasons, Covid 19 is still around and we are still having to take precautions in the church building.
Those who live in faraway places have been able to join us. Those at University living away from home have been able to contribute and join us. Those who do shift work, sometime on Sundays, have been able to catch up on YouTube. Those who have moved home but want to stay connected have been able to remain part of our church. Those with chronic health conditions have been able to enjoy church even when they don’t feel 100%. Those who have family or friends they want to invite have been able to share a simple link and invite them to join us.
We have also carried on the midweek prayer meeting on Zoom, and we have those who regularly attend. It is a real blessing to be able to meet over Zoom and for some people who struggle to pray out loud they have been able to type out prayers and still feel included. It’s a safe place where we can share our own needs as well as the needs of those in our Church family, the wider community and world events.
We had a Good Friday Service together with the other Churches in the Crays via Zoom, we even reached capacity on zoom and had to ask some people join via You Tube. We all enjoyed seeing friends from other Churches in the local community and looked forward to when we can meet in person again.
Building and Flooring
We had a serious issue with the floor due to a slow leak from the central heating system last year, thankfully our insurance agreed that it was covered within the existing policy and in September 2021 a local flooring company began the work to take up the damaged floor and to replace it with some commercial grade flooring. We took the opportunity, while the building was empty, to paint internally and now the new flooring and the newly painted walls and windows have made the space look very bright and modern.
Working with other churches and missions
As a small independent church, we value our partnership with other local churches, church networks and ministries. These links with other church communities have continued despite the pandemic challenges. The Oak Community Church remains connected with Churches Together in the Crays, and is a member of the Evangelical Alliance of the UK. We have carried on our support to Pastos Verdes in Mozambique, Churches Together in the Crays and Healing on The Streets.
Bromley Borough Foodbank has continued its work from our Church as the need for help in the community has risen.
Covid 19
We were able to start meeting in person in October 2021 and we took several precautions within the Church to make this happen. We asked everyone to take a lateral flow test for Covid 19 if possible, and only to attend if the test was negative. We also had coloured lanyards available in Red, Yellow and Green that we encouraged everyone to wear. Red lanyards to show “I’m happy to be here but please keep your distance”. Yellow lanyards to show “I’m okay with talking but no hugs please”. Green lanyards to show “I’m okay with hugs and high fives”.
We also made sure the seating was well spaced out and encouraged people to wear masks in line with the government guidelines. We purchased an air flow monitor that showed us quickly if we needed to open the windows or doors to let some fresh air in.
Community Work
In October 2021 until present PotentialME started running a social group for the over 60’s at the Oak Community Church each week for the local community. They offer a range of activities which include a quiz most weeks, colouring sheets, knitting, board games and crafts as well as refreshments. The main purpose of the group is for the over 60’s to feel less isolated and to meet new friends.
PotentialME is a community business, supporting individuals living in London and the surrounding area, engaging in community activities to help reduce social isolation and loneliness. Their work is funded by community grants and donations.
AGM April 2021
Since becoming a CIO we have committed to holding an Annual General Meeting for members of the church to receive updates and provide input. This year because of Covid 19 we had our meeting via Zoom. The meeting was well attended, and there was an opportunity to vote via WhatsApp on items discussed. The annual accounts for 2020-2021 were presented and also the accounts for last year 2019- 2020 because we were unable to have an AGM that year because of Covid 19.
Financial update
The most recent financial year shows that things are more stable. Once lockdown ended and we could start meeting in person again the need for online services and streaming costs greatly reduced. The hard decisions the Oak Trustees had to make last year have paid off and the decisions to cut back, along with increases in giving, have resulted in our current stable situation. We continue to support Pastos Verdes and Healing on the Streets and look forward to supporting other ministries in the coming year.
Operating the Charity
This report represents an account of activities for the Oak Community Church CIO 1174870.
Trustees met regularly throughout the period (sometimes using Zoom) along with the Pastor to ensure effective and efficient coordination between the legal and practical administration of the charity and the strategic and spiritual leadership of the church. Two new Trustees were welcomed in January 2022, which has added new skills and insight to the team.
This report has been seen and approved as a record of the church CIO by the current members and the trustees namely: Vivienne Curtis, Chris Holloway, Samantha Marlow, Wendy May, Ian Porteous and Vanessa Steven - Oak Community Church CIO 1174870
THE OAK COMMUNITY CHURCH SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS FOR PERIOD APRIL 2021 TO MARCH 2022
Bank Account View*
| Community AccountBuilding Fund Account | Community AccountBuilding Fund Account | Community AccountBuilding Fund Account | Forge Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| (General Account) | (Savings Account) (Little Acorns Account) | ||
| 70856258 | 50094870 | 80231401 | |
| Opening Balance | £14,129.02 | £59.30 | £92.95 |
| Income | |||
| Gifts to the church | £29,085.61 | ||
| Tax Return | £6,550.72 | ||
| Insurance Claim | £5,414.00 | ||
| Hall Hire Income | £765.00 | ||
| Church Ministries | £435.77 | ||
| Transfer between account | £92.95 | £14,940.70 | |
| Interest and Refunds | £0.90 | ||
| Expenditure | |||
| Employment Costs | £20,983.76 | ||
| Running Costs | £7,995.17 | ||
| Building Upkeep | £7,199.79 | ||
| Charitable Giving | £1,938.00 | ||
| Church Ministries | £31.86 | ||
| Hall Hire Purchases | £438.00 | ||
| Transfer between account | £14,940.70 | £92.95 | |
| Closing Balance | £2,945.79 | £15,000.90 | £0.00 |
- The Oak Community Church operates separate bank accounts. These have previously been used to separate budgets for different purposes. With accounting systems in place these are no longer used for this purpose. The Virtual Fund view provides a breakdown of the different budget funds operated within the charity.
THE OAK COMMUNITY CHURCH SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS FOR PERIOD APRIL 2021 TO MARCH 2022 Bank Account Balances
| The Oak Community Church Trustees Community Account 70856258 | |
|---|---|
| Balance as at 1stApril 2021 | £14,129.02 |
| Balance as at 31stMarch 2022 | £2,945.79 |
| The Oak Community Church (Building Fund) Business Reserve Account | 50094870 |
| Balance as at 1stApril 2021 | £59.30 |
| Balance as at 31stMarch 2022 | £15,000.90 |
| The Oak Community Church Trustees (The Forge) Account 80231401 | |
| Balance as at 1stApril 2021 | £92.95 |
| Balance as at 31stMarch 2022 | £0.00 |
THE OAK COMMUNITY CHURCH
SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS FOR PERIOD APRIL 2021 TO MARCH 2022
Virtual Fund View*
| General Fund | Building Project | John 3:16 | Little Acorns | Fellowship Fund | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Balance | £5,236.60 | £7,484.14 | £1,030.97 | £106.56 | £423.00 |
| Income | |||||
| Gifts to the church | £28,370.61 | £440.00 | £275.00 | ||
| Tax Return | £6,550.72 | ||||
| insurance Claim | £5,414.00 | ||||
| Hall Hire Income | £765.00 | ||||
| Church Ministries | £435.77 | ||||
| Interest and Refunds | £0.90 | ||||
| Transfer between funds | £542.33 | ||||
| Expenditure | |||||
| Employment Costs | £20,983.76 | ||||
| Running Costs | £7,995.17 | ||||
| Charitable Giving | £1,465.00 | £473.00 | |||
| Building Upkeep | £7,199.79 | ||||
| Church Ministries | £31.86 | ||||
| Hall Hire Purchases | £438.00 | ||||
| Transfer between funds | £542.33 | ||||
| Closing Balance | £8,766.58 | £7,484.14 | £997.97 | £0.00 | £698.00 |
- The Oak Community Church operates a number of virtual funds to separate budgets for different purposes. With accounting systems in place these are can be tracked across whichever bank account the finances physically held within.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE OAK COMMUNITY CHURCH
I report on the accounts of the Oak Community Church for the year ended 31[st] March 2022.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 43 (2) of the Charities Act (the 1993 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to
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Examine the accounts (under section 43 (3) (a) of the 1993 Act);
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To follow procedure laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 43 (7) (b) of the 1993 Act); and
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To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
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 comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that any material respect the requirements
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the 1993 Act, and
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• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act
have not been met, or
- to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: ………………………………………………………………………………… Name: Catherine Emma Gower Melia Elder, The Temple United Reformed Church, High Street, St Mary Cray, Kent, BR5 4AX Address: 34 Lee Church Street Lewisham London SE13 5SF Date: 5[th] December 2022 for the financial year 2020 - 2021