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2024-12-31-accounts

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 December 2024

The Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham Bishop’s Mission Order dated 1[st] August 2017 was made by the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham under part V of the Dioceses, Pastoral and Mission Measure 2011 and was made to endorse and make provision for The Potting Shed Church.

The Potting Shed Church was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 1[st] August 2017 with charity number: 1176783

The Potting Shed Church

Table of Contents

  1. Trustees Report

  2. Independent Examiner’s Report

  3. Receipts and Payments Account

  4. Statement of Assets and Liabilities

  5. Notes to the Financial Statements

The Potting Shed Church (1176783) Annual Report and Financial Statements – 2024 Page 1 of 12

2024 Report and Accounts for The Potting Shed Church

Aims and Purposes

The Potting Shed Church was commissioned by the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham to plant a pioneering, Resourcing Church in the middle of Nottinghamshire county amongst rural communities, as part of the wider mission and ministry of the Diocese.

We aim to connect with those not currently engaging with existing models of rural church, especially young families, youth, and young adults. Our purpose to enable those we connect with to explore faith in Jesus and experience church community and to grow in their discipleship. Our objective is also to be a resource for ‘grafting’ and ‘planting’ ‘new worshipping communities’ into rural villages and to develop more sustainable forms of mission generally in rural communities. We aim to be a ‘filling station’ – a place to encourage, nourish, grow and resource those who remain engaged in the life and leadership of rural churches.

Objectives and Activities

All planning and decision making is done in consideration of our stated purposes (taken from our Governing Document) and with thought to how we might better carry out those purposes as per the guidance given by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

When planning our Sunday worship Gatherings, midweek events and other activities, we seek to be accessible to people of all ages and stages of faith. We also aim to provide opportunities for all those who connect with The Potting Shed to explore the Christian faith for themselves and we’re passionate about helping individuals and families to apply the Bible’s teaching to their lives in practical ways.

We plan and lead midweek small groups and courses to meet the needs of the different age groups and stages of faith of those we connect with. These include: The Alpha Course, The Marriage Course, The Prayer Course, The Lectio Course, Saturday Breakfast and midweek Life Groups. We offer midweek prayer and worship opportunities: Tuesday Morning prayers on Zoom, in-person Prayer and Worship evenings and one-off courses as a follow-on from Alpha.

We are actively seeking to build community and further the Christian faith in all that we do and are committed to encouraging and resourcing established rural churches in their own ministries.

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Achievements and Performances

A summary of the main achievements of The Potting Shed charity in 2024, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of our beneficiaries and wider benefits to society as a whole:

‘To connect with those not currently engaging with existing models of church, especially young families, youth and young adults. To enable people to explore faith in Jesus and experience church community.’

In 2024 we continued to offer Sunday services from the Village Hall, Norwell and to reach out to the village and more widely with accessible opportunities to explore faith and deepen discipleship.

Revd Alison Jones (Pioneer Minister of The Potting Shed Church) supported local churches with occasional pastoral services, particularly weddings and baptisms. Two young Mums having had their children baptised, started to attend Little Seedlings (our group for babies, toddlers and pre-school children, plus their parents/carers) and were keen to explore faith further. These and other Occasional Offices offered natural ongoing connections with people at significant life moments. The Potting Shed’s commission to explore fresh ways of being church in the rural setting, often leads to good conversations about faith, belonging and what it means to be part of a worshipping community.

The Potting Shed – a future location

Trustees continued to develop our thinking about a longer-term base for The Potting Shed Church, as the village hall location was not easily found by those in the wider rural area which we look to serve.

They worked with a local architect firm to develop plans for a flexible community and worship space on land offered to us by the Diocese, in the village of Cromwell, alongside a small rural church – St Giles’ Cromwell. Positioned on the A1, access to the village is excellent for those living in the wider rural area and the offer would enhance village amenities too.

We held two community engagement days where those resident in the village were invited to view the plans and hear how The Potting Shed hoped to enhance and serve the village community whilst offering a fresh opportunity to church to those living in the wider, rural area. Villagers were asked to share their thoughts, which were extremely positive. The proposal offered a contemporary building, sensitively designed to sit alongside the traditional church building next door with creative links between the two. A statement of the old alongside the new! The outdoor space offered space for reflection, outdoor activities and space for schools to gather for end of term events.

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Plans were shared with the Diocesan team, but it was felt that the timing was not quite right, and the trustees began to think about a shorter-term venue that would serve our charitable objectives well and ensure that the community at The Potting Shed continued to thrive.

As it was felt that these plans would not progress for now, Alison explored the opportunity of a closed church building, further along the A1 - St Nicholas’ Church, Tuxford. After consultation with trustees, The Potting Shed employees and the church family it was felt that this would provide a short- to medium-term venue. The Diocese proposed that there might be opportunity to connect with a wider geographical area of villages and churches, particularly given that most churches were without clergy and in vacancy.

In December 2024, as part of that discernment The Potting Shed opened St Nicholas’ Church for the Christmas Market and switching on of the Christmas Tree lights. Gale-force winds meant that the Christmas Market event did not go ahead at the last minute, but The Potting Shed at St Nicholas’ were able to offer ‘shelter from the storm’ with refreshments, carols and an opportunity to meet those living locally.

Following that positive event, trustees and The Potting Shed team consulted with the church family and agreed that there was a valuable opportunity being placed before us, to move to Tuxford for the short to mid-term.

St Nicholas’ Church building offers a surprisingly flexible worship space without pews, a level wooden floor, a kitchen servery as part of the main worship space for hospitality, and disabled toilet access. There is a primary and secondary school in the town and a history of outreach and good relationships between school and church. There are also children and Youth’s resources indicating a lively time in the church’s history.

Sunday Services

These continued at Norwell Village Hall (until April 2025), reaching out to the wider community with worship and teaching continuing to be presented in an accessible way, particularly enabling those exploring faith to feel welcome.

Set up and take down of PA and audio equipment was a significant task and teams worked hard to ensure the rural DNA of The Potting Shed, whilst also ensuring that our gathered times were well provided for musically. Teams worked hard to offer this.

Discipleship

In seeking to offer deeper discipleship and community for those with a more mature faith, midweek Life Groups play a vital role.

Midweek courses enabled time to ask further questions and to develop understanding and also relationships. Courses led in 2024:

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The Lectio Course – a five-session video series with a well-known speaker and church leader Pete Greig exploring the ancient practice of Lectio Divina. Engaging with scripture in order to listen to God.

Practicing the Way – a resource designed to be used in community, by small groups. The material uses video and group questions to help the teaching land practically into lives.

The Discipleship Course – an eight-week course lead by Southwell and Nottingham Diocese which The Potting Shed were invited to co-lead with St Paulinus’ Church, Ollerton. The Potting Shed provided course leaders and table hosts, plus a worship band. AdAM, the worship leader, included musicians from Ollerton to encourage and develop worship leading skills.

Confirmation Preparation

Alison worked with a churchwarden from another church to disciple a young adult in preparation for being Confirmed at the Minister in Southwell. This built a relationship with the church, the warden and young person chose to join us at The Potting Shed on Sundays during that time.

AWAKEN

For the second time The Potting Shed encouraged church family members to attend Awaken – a three-day Christian festival based at Lincolnshire Showground over the August Bank Holiday. AWAKEN is an exciting event principally led for Ground Level Network of Churches, but also welcoming churches locally. It offers an opportunity for church leaders to bring church family members for a time of teaching, worship, training, ministry and fellowship.

Morning and evening celebrations offer spaces for families and groups to worship together, and specific venues for children and youth. There are afternoon practical seminars relevant to all aspects of family life, work, health, vocational training that ensure those who come along have opportunity both for fellowship and deeper learning.

Camping is not for everyone, so the team worked hard to lift some of the practical aspects of living in the field for those who attended, with a community kitchen and help in setting up tents etc. A number of church family members came along on the Sunday and enjoyed a shared meal.

Potting Shed Kids

In 2024 many of our children moved into our youth provision, and we have had a small growth in our pre-school age children. We have continued to offer provision for primary aged children on Sundays, while also making our resources accessible for younger children too. This has been challenging but also enabled us to resource the parents of the pre-school children and help them grow in confidence in teaching their children about faith.

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Rooted Youth

In 2024 Rooted Youth has grown in numbers, due to children getting older and becoming youth age, and a couple of new young people have started coming along to Rooted on Wednesdays/church on Sundays. Rooted started meeting at the vicarage in Norwell from September 2024 which has been a great resource, enabling games and fun, and learning through discussion and videos for the whole group. They have been able to get to know each other better and grow in their Christian faith.

Additionally, as a team of kids and youth leaders some of us joined in with the Diocesan Inspire programme, designed to help us be inspired in our ministry and talk together about the work we do (and what we are hoping to see happen) with the children and young people connected to church, which it was helpful to do.

Rise and Shine – in Primary Schools

During 2024 we have increased the number of schools connected to Rise and Shine – we now have six rural primary schools zooming in each Thursday over two sessions – a total of approximately 400 children each week.

In October 2024 we ran our first ‘Rise and Shine Live!’ holiday club which was attended by around thirteen children, most of whom were not previously connected to The Potting Shed, and three of our young people volunteered as young leaders. We ran the club over three mornings, with action songs, bible teaching, crafts, games and discussions.

Although we didn’t get as many children come along as we hoped, it was good to get to know the children, and their parents. One girl (in year 6) has since then started connecting regularly into Rooted. We were also able to recruit a good number of adult leaders from our Potting Shed congregation, which has led to a small increase in leaders for PS Kids/Rooted on Sundays.

Rise and Shine Chaplaincy

In 2024 we were able to run two chaplaincy courses in the schools that connect to Rise and Shine. In three of the schools we ran a self-esteem course called ‘Like Me’, created by Scripture Union, with year 5 children. This helped them to think through issues such as peer pressure, social media, friendship and relationships, and self-image. A couple of volunteers from The Potting Shed helped us run the courses. This went down well in all of the schools; in one of them the course helped specifically with friendship difficulties some of the year 5 girls were having.

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The other course was a year 6 transition course which we ran in four schools. This is called ‘It’s Your Move’ (also produced by Scripture Union) and it enables the children to think through their questions and worries about moving up to secondary school. Again, it was great to connect in person with these children and help them think about the next stage of their lives.

Little Seedlings

In 2024 we ran Little Seedlings at St Giles’ Village Hall Cromwell. This was a significant time of connecting with young Mums particularly of very young babies. Leaders enabled a safe space for the parents to meet, share with one another and to explore faith in a gentle way.

The team running Little Seedlings were new, so it was a time of growing leaders and honing this ministry outreach in readiness for the future. The venue in Cromwell ensured that we continued to reach out to the village and to build connections.

The Alpha Course

We did not run Alpha in 2024 but made plans to lead a larger course, based in the Village Hall, Norwell in early 2025. A team was built together and plans made for how that might be hosted in the space.

Worship Team

In 2024 the worship team consistently served the regular worshipping life of The Potting Shed Church with involvement in all Sunday 4pm services and at other events throughout the year.

The team continued to meet regularly on Tuesday evenings for training, prayer, to play and sing together and to learn new songs and skills. From May to June however, we took up the invitation to use our Tuesday evenings in smaller worship teams to serve the wider church and the Diocese at St Paulinus’ Church in Ollerton where a Discipleship Course was being run. This gave some opportunity for those who are newer or less experienced in leading worship to lead in a generous environment, supported by the worship team leader to grow in their skills and it was an encouraging time for both the worship team and those attending the course.

Small teams also served at the Inspire children and youth training weekend in Nottingham in June and at the Rise and Shine Live Holiday Club at Norwell school in October half-term

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using a selection of kid’s worship songs which also fed into the Sunday celebration immediately following the week. Both were times of significant joy for those involved.

The wider team also worked hard during November and December to prepare and lead a number of special items and accompaniment for carols at the annual BIG Christmas Sing on 22[nd] December when many visitors attend church and when a few extra singers take the opportunity to join in.

It has proved to be a significant challenge and drain on some of those volunteering, particularly within the worship tech team, to set up and pack down the sound system and screen from scratch each week at the village hall in Norwell and to unload and repack the storage container, whilst also seeking to work in good relationship with the village hall group, who also use the same container and who occasionally need access to the other equipment stored in there. We have always been trying to find suitable ways to simplify this process and to make it more sustainable.

The summer BBQ and Christmas social evenings (both held at homes in Newark) were well attended and appreciated as relaxed and enjoyable times together and served well as an appropriate space to express thanks to those who so willingly and consistently give of themselves, their time and their gifts to the worship and supporting tech ministries.

Average weekly attendance – Adults & Children:

2024 Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4
Sunday adults 42 36 31 37
Sunday children 13 10 10 12
Midweek adults (in person) 18 12 12 12
Midweek children (in person) 4-7 4-7 5 6
Rise and Shine (Zoom) adults 12 11 12 11
Rise and Shine (Zoom) children 298 309 403 392
Total*… 72 in person 58 in person 53 in person 61 in person

+ 310 online
+ 320 online
+ 415 online
+ 403 online

*not counting individuals more than once per week

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Financial Review

The Potting Shed Church was originally established and funded using SDF (Special Development Funding) from the Church of England Church Commissioners, following a successful bid by the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.

We are aware that for the longer term we need to be self sustaining with our funds coming through planned financial giving from those who are part of The Potting Shed. Planned giving increase to £58,257 in 2024, (£51,161 in 2023). There were six additional regular givers who responded to encouragement towards regular giving.

The Diocesan grant for the wages of the Worship Leader and Children and Families Worker was £52,249. This is the SDF2 funding that ended in 2024 with a final payment of £12,378 made in 2025. The employment of the Worship Leader and the Children and Families Worker was taken over directly by the Diocese in July and September of 2025 respectively.

The Diocesan equipment grant is paid annually in arrears. £6,350 was granted in 2024 and £7,142 claimed to be paid in 2025, which leaves £18,944 from the original grant of £100,000 made available to drawdown.

A new SDF4 grant of £13,333 received in 2024 was used to fund 2025 expenditure on youth and family work.

Gift aid is claimed on all tax efficient planned giving. There were no fund raising activities in this period however investment returns have improved to £3,299 compared to £2,681 in 2023 due to higher balances on deposit and better interest rates.

No charges were made for church activities in 2024. Whilst we do not currently have facilities to offer weddings and funerals to those who we connect with at The Potting Shed we hope to do so in the future, when we have a permanent location.

Overall outgoings increased by £10,296 compared to the previous year. Parish Share is the usual church contribution towards the stipends, housing and pensions of the stipendiary clergy, and training costs. The Potting Shed contributed £35,000 in 2024 (an increase of £10,500).

The staff wages were for a full-time Worship Leader, a part-time Children and Families Worker and a part-time Administrator. The costs increased to £58,104 in 2024. (£55,224 in 2023). The costs of the Incumbent are funded directly by the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham, and the Parish Share payment is the contribution towards those costs.

Staff expenses have increased due to increased activity from the team.

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Equipment and hire costs reduced to £7,142 in 2024 (£11,350 in 2023) which reflected the lower hire cost while based at Norwell. These will reduce further following the move to Tuxford.

The net result for the year was an excess of receipts over payments of £38,775. Adding bank and deposit balances brought forward at the beginning of the year, the balances carried forward at the 31[st] December totalled £215,229.

Reserves Policy

It is a policy of the Trustees to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds that equates to at least three months expenditure. The balance of £215,229 is equivalent to 23 months expenditure based on 2024 levels.

At 31[st] December it was anticipated that reserves may be required for the wages of the Worship Leader and Children and Families Worker, once the SDF2 funding ended. Reserves were also held in anticipation of building (or developing) a longer-term venue for The Potting Shed.

Volunteers

Volunteers continue to play a significant role in planning and carrying out Potting Shed activities, events and in enriching our life as a community with the skills which they bring with them. We are thankful for volunteers gifted in this way.

Regular volunteer contributions have included:

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volunteer leaders with particular skill sets who are working hard to take this forward into 2025 – legal, planning, building skills, landscaping.

Total volunteer hours per week (on average): 50

Structure, governance and management

The Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham Bishop’s Mission Order made by the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham under part V of the Church of England’s Pastoral and Mission Measure 2011 to endorse and make provision for The Potting Shed Church. (1st August 2017)

Trustees are selected as follows:

Bishop Paul Williams makes one ‘Bishop’s recommendation’ of a Trustee appointment. Trustees elect and appoint Trustees according to the needs of the charity and giving opportunity to include different skills and experience.

Nigel Spraggins is currently our ‘Bishop’s recommendation’ Trustee.

The Potting Shed is a small charity and the organisational structure currently reflects that.

All Trustees are involved in the weekly life of The Potting Shed Church.

We are part of a network of parish churches in rural Nottinghamshire, who are part of the Church of England.

The Potting Shed is part of the Deanery of Newark and Southwell and receives oversight in its decision-making and policies related to its charitable objectives, from the Senior Diocesan team.

Administrative information

The correspondence address is:

Willow Cottage, Norwell Woodhouse, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG23 6NG.

The Potting Shed Church is an Unincorporated Association, CIO. CIO Association Constitution which was submitted 09/12/2017. No amendments have since been made.

Trustees who have served at any time during the reporting period are as follows:

The Potting Shed Church (1176783) Annual Report and Financial Statements – 2024 Page 11 of 12

Declaration of Related Party Interests

This report was approved by the Trustees on 24 / 10 / 2025 and signed on their behalf by the Reverend Alison F K Jones (Pioneer Minister).

Signature: ________

The Potting Shed Church (1176783) Annual Report and Financial Statements – 2024 Page 12 of 12

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Potting Shed Church

I report on the accounts of the church for the year ended 31[st] December 2024.

Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner:

The church’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The church’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of Independent Examiner’s report

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 no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect of the requirements

  2. To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and

  3. To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or

  4. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

AJSlinger

Alison Slinger FCA 234 Norwood Gardens Southwell Notts NG25 0DS

Potting Shed Church

Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2024

Receipts and Payments Accounts

RECEIPTS
Voluntary receipts:
Planned giving
1a
Collections at services
1b
All other giving/voluntary receipts
1c
Diocesan Grant
1d
Gift Aid recovered
1e
Activities for generating funds
1f
Investment income
1g
Church activities
1h
Total Receipts
PAYMENTS
Church Activities:
Diocesan Parish Share
2a
Staff wages
2b
Clergy and staff expenses
2c
Church running expenses
2d
Equipment and hire costs
2e
Mission Giving
New Building planning
2f
Costs of generating funds
Total payments
Excess of receipts over payments
Transfer between funds
Cash at bank and in hand at 1 January 2024
Cash at bank and in hand 31 December 2024
Note		 £
58,257
613
1,520
71,932
16,749
149,071
0
3,299
0
152,370
35,000
58,104
5,020
8,329
7,142
0
0
-
113,595
38,775
-
38,775
176,454
215,229
Unrestricted
funds		 £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Restricted
funds		 £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Endowment
funds		 £
58,257
613
1,520
71,932
16,749
149,071
0
3,299
0
152,370
35,000
58,104
5,020
8,329
7,142
0
0
-
113,595
38,775
-
38,775
176,454
215,229
TOTAL
2024		 £
51,161
954
2,500
47,136
15,992
117,743
0
2,681
0
120,424
24,500
55,224
2,393
5,762
11,350
2,230
1,839
103,299
17,125
-
17,125
159,329
176,454
TOTAL
2023

Potting Shed Church Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2024

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Cash Funds
Bank current account
Deposit funds - Savings Account
Other monetary assets
Equipment and Hire costs recoverable
Gift Aid recoverable
Notes		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Endowment
TOTAL
TOTAL
funds
funds
funds
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
£
15,501
0
0
15,501
13,907
199,728
0
0
199,728
162,547
215,229
0
0
215,229
176,454
7,142
7,142
6,350
2,940
2,940
6,526
10,082
10,082
12,876
  1. The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts and Payments basis.

The Potting Shed Church

Notes to the Financial Statements 2024

Income

1d Grants 2024 2023
SDF2 Grant fund for wages £52,249 £35,610
SDF4 Grant fund for youth and family work £13,333
Diocesan grant for equipment £6,350 £11,526
Total £71,932 £47,136

The SDF2 funding ended in December 2024 and a final payment of £12,378 was made in 2025. The difference in amounts granted in 2024 and 2023 was due to timing differences for the claims.

The equipment costs grant is paid annually in arrears. There will be a further claim for equipment costs of £7,142 in 2025, and that will leave a balance of £18,944 from the original grant of £100,000 made available to drawdown.

The SDF4 funding for youth and family work is to be used for 2025 expenditure.

Expenditure