HORSHAM UNITARIANS CIO 1/3 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
For the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
Objectives and Activities
- Purposes
The Object of Horsham Unitarians (CIO) is the promotion of religion in accordance with the principles of the General Assembly of Unitarian & Free Christian Churches, namely, to promote a free and inquiring religion through the worship of God and the celebration of life; the service of humanity and respect for all creation; and the upholding of the liberal Christian tradition.
- Main activities in relation to public benefit
The congregation is committed to enabling, without discrimination, as many people as possible in the local community to worship at the church and to feel part of Horsham Unitarians. Working together, the Minister and the Trustees aim to offer a range of services that address contemporary concerns and reach out to people of different spiritual and theological persuasions.
When planning activities for the year, the Minister and Trustees also take heed of the Commission’s specific guidance on the advancement of religion. They try to enable the congregation and people in the community to explore, develop, and live out their faith or belief through:-
-
worship, meditation, and prayer
-
religious education
-
pastoral support
-
outreach
-
social engagement
To facilitate this work, it is important that we have robust processes and procedures in place. It is also important that we maintain our property in good order within the limits of our resources.
Main achievements for 2024
-
Successful con�nua�on of the Unity Café providing a safe, warm and welcoming space which is open every Wednesday morning to the general public.
-
Contribu�ons of groceries and provisions to Turning Tides , providers of homeless services for adults in West Sussex.
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Charitable dona�ons to St Catherine’s Hospice, DEC Middle-East Humanitarian Appeal, Red Cross “ Food for Africa ” Appeal, and “ Send a Child to Hucklow ”, a charity which arranges holidays for groups of disadvantaged children, having no regard to religious, poli�cal, racial and other considera�ons.
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Con�nua�on of the ac�ve Community Recycling Hub located within the church’s premises - run by volunteers from Sussex Green Living, a small charity whose work is “creating a wave of change across Sussex by supporting and inspiring people to reduce their environmental impact“.
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Hos�ng a visit in August to the Recycling Hub by members of the Strawford Centre in Horsham - a day-opportunity service, run by the West Sussex County Council, “providing person-centred support for people over the age of eighteen with a variety of care and support needs”. The visitors also enjoyed cra� ac�vi�es, crea�ng artworks from recycled materials.
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Horsham Unitarians CIO - Trustees’ Annual Report for 2024
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Further development of the Wild-Life Haven established in part of the church garden in co-opera�on with Transi�on Horsham, part of Transi�on Network whose mission is “community-led responses to climate change and shrinking supplies of cheap energy, building resilience and happiness”.
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The church and integral Community Hall facili�es provide a valuable local hiring venue for regular exercise classes, musical events, self-help groups, and general hire.
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The Publicity Sub-Commi�ee appointed by the Trustees has been undertaking a variety of successful projects to make the church and its work more widely known in the local community, including a new website, redesign of publicity material, local press copy, and social media outreach.
Financial Review
The audited accounts for the year ending 31 December 2024 are attached to this report.
Horsham Unitarians CIO has produced a total gain of receipts over payments of £2,508, This sum is made up of unrestricted funds which show a surplus of £8,082 and a loss of £5,574 in restricted funds which are for the maintenance of the building and provision of the Minister.
The Trustees have a policy to set aside in an interest-bearing account such funds as are considered prudent for the upkeep of, and any emergency repairs to, the fabric and contents of the church building and the maintenance of the grounds. These funds currently stand at £85,000.
The overall funds of the CIO are increased from last year at £130,102.
The capital trusts held in a Quilter Cheviot charity fund are producing an annual interest of about 4.3% with a capital increase of about 5.8% over the year. The resulting income from the funds has increased on last year to £16,749.
Over the year we have benefitted from a grant of £1,500from the Unitarian General Assembly and £1,400 from the London District & South-East Provincial Assembly of Unitarians to support the cost of ministry. We have also received a donation of £7,255 from a benefactor who stipulated that 50% was to go towards charities supported by the congregation, and 50% to support ministry and buildings upkeep.
Over the course of the year our charitable collections raised £1,832 for the Red Cross Turkey/Syria Earthquake Appeal, but the appeal has now been closed and so these funds will be donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee Middle East Humanitarian Appeal. We have also raised £228 for the Red Cross Food for Africa appeal and £153 for St Catherine’s Hospice.
The weekly Unity Café, open to the public, is covering its costs with donations.
Structure, Governance and Management
Horsham Unitarians, an Association CIO, is governed by a Constitution which sets out its objects, powers, responsibilities, and operation.
No-one is entitled to act as a trustee, whether on election or on any re-election by the Members in General Meeting, until he or she has expressly acknowledged to the Trustees their acceptance of the office of trustee.
At every Annual General Meeting of the Members of the CIO, one third of the elected Trustees shall retire from office, according to the length of time served since their last election or reelection. Trustees may not stand for re-election for a fourth consecutive three-year term.
| rustees: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Office | DateAppointed |
| PatrickWynne-Jemes | [hairman | ,. ill |
| AndrewRan'rsden | Treasurer | Llua?Le |
| Catherine Andrews | LlLlzols | |
| CarolCharnbers-Byme | LILlaals | |
| TeresaRarnsden | LlLla}tg | |
| ,AnrirewWickens | LlL{vaLe | |
| Ann Malloch | x/Ll2a20 |
| UnrstrictedRestricted | UnrstrictedRestricted | Total | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds Funds |
2024 | 2A23 | ||
| €€ | f | f | ||
| RECEIPTS | ||||
| TrustIncomefortheyear | t6,749 | L6,749 | 16,060 | |
| Offertory& Donations | 9,625 | 7,255 | 15,880 | 8,414 |
| Rents Received | 5,974 | 5,974 | 5,319 | |
| CharityFundRaisingActivities GiftAid |
1,318 | 970 222 |
974 L,54O |
1,150 1,310 |
| WeddingsandRitesofPassage | 0 | 0 | 41 | |
| lnvestment(bank)lncome | 4333 | 4,333 | 2,651 | |
| Publicationsales | 56 | 55 | 47 | |
| UnityCaf6donations(net) | 101 | 101 | 1,473 | |
| TotalReceipts | 21,407 | 25,197 | 46,604 | 36,463 |
| PAYI,TENTS | ||||
| Minister'sStipend MinisterialExpenses VisitingMinisters |
23,092 199 837 |
2?,W2 199 8r7 |
19,825 255 894 |
|
| VisitingMusicians | 210 | zto | 140 | |
| Organ&PianoMaintenance | 7 | 7 | 86 | |
| ChurchMusicLicence | 196 | 196 | 185 | |
| Weddings andRitesofPassage Expenses | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Publications,PrintingPostage & Stationery | 68 | 68 | 45 | |
| Subscriptions | 286 | 286 | 175 | |
| ConferenceFees&Expenses | 0 | o | 0 | |
| Travel | 16 | 16 | 0 | |
| Legal Fees | 0 | o | 3 | |
| GAQuota | 1,785 | L,785 | 945 | |
| WaterRates | 388 | 388 | 289 | |
| Light&Heat | 2,7L3 | 2,7L3 | 3,285 | |
| lnsurance | 2,O44 | 2,OM | 1,882 | |
| Repairs&Renewals | 5,0555,055 | 310 | ||
| Premises Cleaning | 2,172 | ?,r172 | 2,1',17 | |
| GardenExpenses | 943 | 943 | 1,905 | |
| Telephone & Websitecharges | 328 | 328 | 292 | |
| Administrationcosts | 1,208 | 1,2o8 | 1,331 | |
| PayrollBureau | 240 | 240 | 285 | |
| Publicity | 356 | 355 | 416 | |
| Catering | 96 | 96 | 86 |
| Charity Donations | L,587 L,587 |
2,654 |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Charges Gifts&Appeals |
50 zlt 60 2L1 |
60 100 |
| Unaccounted2022expense | 0 0 |
5 |
| TotalPayments | 13,32530,771 | 37,569 |
| EXCESS OF RECEIPTS OVER PAYMENTS | -5,5742,508 | -.l,106 |
| BalancebroughtfonrardatStstDecember2023 | 14,084{13,510127,594 | 128,700 |
| BalancecarriedfotwardatlstJanuary2025 | 22,166 107,936130,102 | 127,594 |
| STATEMENTOFASSE | TSANDLIABILITIES FOR THE YEAR E | N | DED3ISTDECEMBER202,4 | DED3ISTDECEMBER202,4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Details | Unrestricted Restricted | rorAl | |||
| Funds | Funds | ||||
| CashFunds | CAF& NatwestCurrent andCashA/C | 22,166 | -8,765 | t3,4O2 | |
| CAF&NatWest Deposit A/C | 31,700 | 31,700 | |||
| Redwood95day account | 85,000 | 85,000 | |||
| f22,L66 | f!07,936 | €130,102 | |||
| OtherMonetary | -ul- | NIL | |||
| Assets | |||||
| Notes | |||||
| Assetsretainedfor Charity'sownuse |
Churchbuildingand freeholdland |
2 4 f1O7,936 |
Restricted | ||
| Fixtures andfittings | |||||
| ChurchOrgan | Unrestricted | ||||
| Office Equipment | |||||
| Liabilities | FundsduetoCharities* | 3 81,213 | Restricted | ||
| lnvestmentAssets | Value at 31stDec2023 | 1 | QuilterCheviot lnc &Growth | f526,339 | |
| Capitalgrowthover | theyear | f30,394 | |||
| Value at 31stDec2024 | QuilterCheviotlnc &Growth | f556,733 |
| f10?,g36 cAF& |
Natwest curren | |
|---|---|---|
| 3Charlry Funds *Charityfundsraised: |
TurkeyEarthquakeAppeal | f565 |
| RedCross Foodfor Africa | f183 | |
| StCatherine's Hospice | EL?z | |
| Giftaidforabove | f242 | |
| fL,2L2 | ||
| 4GASubscrlptions | 2023l24and2024/25year | |
| Subscriptionswerepaidin | ||
| 2024 calendaryearso subsappeardoubled |