2022-03-31-accounts - Grace Community Church, Edenbridge

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Trustees Annual Report: April 2021 to March 2022

Charity Name: Grace Community Church, Edenbridge (GCC)

Charity Registration Number: 1181051 Charitable Incorporated Organisation

Registered Address : 76 Hever Road, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 5DJ

Trustees: David White, Graham Woolgar, Ruth Gooding and Gary Byfield.

The trustees have pleasure in submitting the annual report and accounts for the period from 1[st] April 2021 to 31st March 2022.

Objectives and Activities

The primary role of the charity is to fulfil the role of a Christian Church based in Edenbridge, Kent by working to meet the objects of the charity specified in the governing document and summarised below:

To advance the Christian faith principally in Edenbridge, Kent, but also in other parts of the UK and the world as the charity trustees and leadership of the church think fit.
To relieve people who are in hardship or difficulty through sickness or distress in Edenbridge, Kent, other parts of the UK and the world as the charity trustees and leadership of the church think fit.

In planning and undertaking activities the trustees have had due regard to the Public Benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission and are satisfied that the overall activity of the charity has been of public benefit.

GCC is not a building, but a gathering of ordinary people of different ages and backgrounds, whose lives have been changed by Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The New Testament reveals the Church as a community of people, properly taught and cared for, who by loving and serving Jesus Christ, were also committed to love and care for each other and to bring a blessing to the area in which they live.

The vision and long-term aim of GCC is to make known to the local community, and as part of the wider Church, the nation and indeed nations of the world, the love and grace of God demonstrated in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This has more than a spiritual significance and is worked out in day-to-day care, evangelism and meeting the needs of those who are both within the Church and those who as yet do not know Christ as Lord.

Whilst the church employs one full time church leader, it is the work of every member of the church, whether employed or not, that makes a difference in the church achieving success in its great commission.

This is done in ‘being salt and light’ amongst the people they interact with every day; by praying, by visiting the sick and others in need, in being involved in training others, in public teaching and worship, and also in administration. By showing people the unconditional love of Christ through good deeds we are able to have a positive effect on the lives of those within the church and in the community. The ways this is done by ordinary people in all sorts of different ways is explained in the report below and demonstrates the effectiveness of a community

motivated by love of God and love for people and who are willing to sacrifice finance and time to serve others.

The financial resources of the church are given by the members and their private assets and equipment are regularly used in the work of the church. Much of this work is done privately, without recognition, and the hours and value of that time cannot be quantified.

In order to further fulfil the objectives of the charity there are times when grants are applied for and received to enable the setting up of specific projects which serve the wider local community (eg Edenbridge Foodbank and Kids Clubs).

Grant making policy :-Gifts to external organisations and individuals are considered by the Church Leaders and Trustees on the basis of need and fulfilment of the charitable objectives.

Summary of the main activities of the church :

In the early part of the period covered by this report, the church was still affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions and government regulations. As the year progressed the easing of restrictions allowed the resumption of normal church activities and meetings.

The trustees and the church leadership always sought to follow the regulations and guidelines in place at any given time and care was taken to maintain good hygiene practices and ventilation. All those arranging or taking part in services and activities were encouraged to be aware of potential COVID risks and act appropriately. Risk assessments were updated or undertaken where deemed necessary.

From April to September online material for worship, teaching and prayer continued to be made available, but once in-person services and activities resumed this no longer became necessary.

During the year two significant steps were taken in the development of the work of the charity:

As planned, Edenbridge Foodbank began operations on 13[th] April 2021. The project has had a very successful first year with a great team of volunteers. The foodbank has been able to help a good number of households who have found themselves in need or difficulty at this time. For more details see below.
Also as planned, GCC began hiring the main hall of Edenbridge Primary School from March 2022. Our weekly gatherings for worship, teaching and fellowship now take place there. This has given us space to grow and good facilities for the children’s activities that run alongside the Sunday worship service. For more details also see below.

In summary, other main activities of the church have been:

At Christmas and Easter, outdoor celebration services were arranged in the beautiful courtyard of Rickards Hall.
Weekly small group meetings have taken place for church members. These included worship, bible study and prayer and helped to equip and encourage people in their Christian lives.
Pastoral care and support to those in need or distress
Children’s clubs and groups were run regularly on Sundays and during the week in the community (Laser Light Klub) to engage children with the Christian faith and teach healthy social values through games, craft, songs and bible stories.

We engaged with local schools by being invited to take Christian assemblies and running an after-school club in the main primary school.
The weekly Mum’s/Dad’s carers and toddler group (Bizzy Bees) has been running as a service to local families throughout the year.
Being involved in the local community through local events and activities.
Working together with other local churches in Christian ministry, and in projects meeting a variety of needs in the community. EG the local youth work and the foodbank.
Some financial support was given to support Christian work in other areas, including abroad (Eg Ukraine).
As part of the Regions Beyond family of churches based in the UK and in other nations we continued through mutual support, training and working together, to promote the Christian message, plant churches and bring transformation to local communities.

Details of many of these activities are provided in the following sections of this report.

Achievements and Performance

Sunday Worship Services and Mid-Week groups

As the year progressed, the easing of COVID restrictions allowed the resumption of the ‘live’ Sunday worship and teaching services at Grace Community Church.

From September we began to see a growth in numbers of people regularly attending Sunday worship. This included a number of people deciding to join us from other churches they had previously been attending in other towns.

In September we were thrilled to hold an adult full immersion Baptism Service (using the premises of the local Baptist Church) where three people demonstrated their faith by agreeing to be baptised.

We also held a Vision and Values Course over several weeks and as a result welcomed seven people into membership. This was a very significant step for us as this group included a number who have been willing to get involved in various aspects of church life, so much enhancing what we are able to do as a church.

On Sundays, worship was led by a variety of worship leaders and musicians, from the congregation, who are practicing and developing their skills in this area. Participation from everyone is encouraged in prayers, readings and the use of spiritual gifts.

Teaching from the bible plays a significant part of the meeting. This helps develop good Christian foundations in peoples lives as well as being challenging and encouraging to us all. Guest speakers were invited from time to time to preach as well.

Several informal Café Church events were held on Sunday afternoons. These events included plenty of free refreshments music, games and quizzes as well as a short talk or testimony from someone. We are so pleased that we always have people who don’t usually attend church visiting us on these occasions.

At Christmas and Easter, we held outdoor services in the beautiful courtyard of the local town council offices. These were great celebration events and again some visitors attended.

Youth and Children are encouraged to be part of the worship in the meeting. After a while, a hard working and dedicated team serve the children by running activities and lessons on Sundays in another hall. This has been made much easier since moving to the primary school as our main venue. There are separate activities for young teens, primary age children and toddlers. The number attending is quite small but valuable bible story lessons and related activities as well as a lot of fun are always had.

Through most of the year two mid-week groups were running for fellowship, worship prayer and bible teaching. These also act as important training grounds for people to develop as Christians. In these groups, the Alpha course and Prayer course were run as well as the Vision and Values course.

Outreach and Community Events

As indicated above, reaching out to those not currently part of the church is part of the life and mission of the church, hence the Café Church and outdoor service events.

In addition, the church took part in the town street Christmas event, helping to lead the singing of Christmas carols for the community.

Laser Light Kidz Klub

From April 2021 the club continued to meet on Zoom for a while and then in September 2021 it met back in person. The venue changed to The BRIDGES Centre and the starting time also changed to coincide with the parents and children finishing at Edenbridge Primary School. The new venue has proved to be very successful, and we continue to build up the number of children attending. The activities were based around a child-friendly Bible story and then craft and play activities for the last hour.

Connections with local schools

Assemblies in person have started up again in Hever, Crockham Hill and Four Elms Primary Schools. Edenbridge Primary have not got the ecumenical rota going again and I have only been invited in once on my own to do an assembly there.

However, Laser Light Kidz Klub also meets every Friday evening in term time at Edenbridge Primary school where it is an after -school club. This is well attended.

Bizzy Bees Mums n Tots Group

The group began meeting again in July 2021 in Rickards Hall as before. It offers a safe place for babies and toddlers to play while their parents and carers chat and make friends. The numbers are consistent each week with a good number of new mums joining us regularly.

We are so grateful to Sue White and the team of helpers, both regular and occasional, who run and assist at these clubs, groups and activities. Such activities help to raise the profile of the church and its mission in the town, enabling us to meet new people, talk about faith and invite to other meetings and services. In this way we are also able to serve the community, be a blessing and offer friendship and assistance to those in need.

Edenbridge Foodbank

We began operating the foodbank on 13[th] April 2021. It is run under the umbrella of the UK Trussell Trust network and operates as part of the GCC charity. It is managed by a team of three people (including Dave White, the GCC leader). A team of about 15 volunteers has been recruited from across the local churches and wider community. The project takes place in cooperation and with the full support of the local churches.

Edenbridge Town Council offered the free use of the council hall (Rickards Hall) once a week for the foodbank centre to open to clients. We were kindly given temporary storage in a shipping container which we used for about 9 months. The town council then agreed that we could use the land behind their offices, and on the same site as the foodbank centre, to erect a permanent storage facility. We obtained planning permission and a number of grants and successfully erected a 30 sq metre wooden storage facility, fully fitted out. This has greatly assisted the work of the foodbank. Non-perishable food is donated, collected, sorted, dated and weighed into this facility by the operations team.

On Tuesday mornings the team then deliver prepared food boxes and assorted trays of other items to the centre. The centre is open for two hours and clients arrive and are welcomed by the centre team. They are offered refreshments and assisted in collecting their food parcels and are able to choose other items. Clients are always offered the chance to talk and are often sign-posted to other agencies (eg debt advice, citizens advice, housing support, mental health support) who can assist further. The aim is that clients are helped in such a way that they are less likely to continue to need the support of the foodbank in future.

Clients are referred to us by a wide variety of local agencies who now have links with us. These agencies issue e-vouchers to the clients who can then attend the foodbank.

During this first year of operation the foodbank fulfilled a total of 441 food vouchers to households in the local area. This represented 89 unique households helped with food during the year. In, addition, during the summer holiday period, to assist families whose children normally receive free school meals, 44 family bags and 103 children’s bags of food and treats were given out to 14 families (30 children )., 12 winter warmer bags of extra food were given out to families during the February half term holiday.

A total of 8423kg of new food stock was donated during the year and 7255kg of food was distributed.

Running this project has increased our contact with the community and also enabled us to develop our ministry to those in need or in vulnerable situations.

The foodbank plans to further develop its relationship with referral agencies including developing formal partnership agreements to enable joined up and ongoing support and help to be given to clients.

We are of course extremely grateful to all the hard work of the managers, volunteer teams, the town council (for its provision) and the many other organisations who have supported us. We are so grateful for the ongoing generosity of the people of Edenbridge in regularly donating food. We especially value the support, prayers and encouragement of the churches of Edenbridge.

Working with other local churches in Edenbridge

The church is part of Edenbridge Churches in Covenant (ECC) comprising the 6 local churches. The local ministers meet together for support and fellowship and to discuss possible joint services and activities. The ECC council meets four times a year and Dave White acted as secretary to the ECC during this year.

GCC joined the joint churches prayer week activities in January 22. Each church provided and distributed prayer material to all the churches for their use. On Good Friday in April’22 a joint churches walk of witness through the town is planned and GCC will be taking part.

In addition, GCC supports, with volunteers and from time to time financially, the joint projects run by the churches for the town: the Foodbank, the Bridges Community Café and the ECT town youth service.

Involvement with Regions Beyond . The church is part of the Regions Beyond international family of churches which is itself part of the wider New Frontiers network. GCC leaders regularly attended Regions Beyond leaders meetings for training, fellowship and encouragement.

GCC maintains close links with a number of Regions Beyond churches in the south-east of England, notably New Life Church Biggin Hill and Hope Community Church in Swanley.

News of Regions Beyond activities and churches, both in the UK and abroad, are regularly shared with the church and members are encouraged to pray for and support financially various projects.

Wider involvement: GCC has supported the Christian work in a Central Asian country and maintains a good relationship with the church leaders there who live and work in a difficult situation.

When the Ukraine crisis began GCC took up special offerings on several occasions and supported other churches who were taking supplies across Europe to help refugees both in Ukraine and in neighbouring Poland. Through the work of the foodbank and the ECC a number of Ukrainian families settling in the local area have also been helped.

Plans for the Future

As always, developments are dependent on further growth in the number of active volunteers within the church. The faith and commitment of people has stayed strong and financial giving has remained consistent, if slightly increased. We have seen a number of new people join us and as Edenbridge grows, with many new houses being built, it is expected that others will look around for church involvement and consider joining us.

The trustees and leaders of GCC are also aware of the coming cost of living crisis in the UK and will be monitoring the affect on the operation and finances of the charity.

In the coming year we expect to:

Relaunch an in-person Alpha course
Encourage our young people to attend the PULSE weekend Christian youth camp run by the ECT town youth service. Dave and Sue will also be speaking there.
Continue to support the work of others in helping those affected by the Ukraine crisis.
We are making links with The Breakthrough Trust who are a charity set up to assist ex-offenders as they aim to integrate after leaving prison. This may involve mentoring some and helping them to link in with churches.
Appoint an additional trustee from within GCC to assist in the running of the charity.

Risk Statement: All major insurable risks are subject to normal churches and employers’ insurance. New projects and ventures are risk assessed before being started to assess whether or not they will significantly impact upon the church’s ability to fulfil its objectives.

Financial Review

The charity has a church bank account held at Lloyds Bank PLC. On 27[th] July 2021 the charity opened a second bank account at Lloyds specifically and only for Edenbridge foodbank use. At that time foodbank restricted funds from the church account were transferred to the foodbank account. The account year is 1[st] April to 31[st] March. The accounts attached to this report therefore cover from 1[st] April 2021 to 31[st] March 2022.

Total income received was £79,099. Of this £38,971 was received for the foodbank use and £4,678 was money given to other Restricted funds as shown in the Restricted funds column. £28,984 was given by members and friends of the church during the year which shows the commitment and faithfulness to the mission of the church.

Total expenditure was £66,093 of which £17,124 was spent on foodbank costs and £4,426 was spent from the restricted funds as shown.

There are no outstanding debts or material liabilities.

Reserves policy: It is the policy of GCC to maintain reserves at a level consistent with safeguarding the church against unexpected significant expenditure and to provide enough funds to smooth over peaks and troughs in short term cash flow. Two to five months of average expenditure are therefore kept as reserves (currently £8K to £20K).

Cash funds in the bank accounts at year end were £28,992 and £20,302 for the main church account and the Edenbridge Foodbank account respectively.

Structure, Governance and Management

The charity is established within Regions Beyond – part of the New Frontiers family of churches. The church is also part of Edenbridge Churches in Covenant, in total consisting of six local churches.

Directions relating to the charitable trust are made by the Trustees in consultation with the church Lead Elder (Dave White, who is also a trustee) and other leaders of the church. The church Elder and other leaders are responsible for governing the life and teaching of the church and day to day decisions on expenditure and activities are decided by the leaders in charge of different areas of the church, with budgets set and monitored by the Trustees.

In general, the responsibility for appointtnent of new tn]stees rests with the ¢urrent trustee5 guided by the Lead Elder. New Trustees are primarily selected from the members of churches sharing the same vision. On being appointed, new Trustees are offered trainit]g and spend time with the ¢xistiDg Trustees to ensure they understond their responsibilities alld the legal alld financial fr8mework in which the church operates. The trustees extend their thanks for the h8rd 'ork and faithful service to all those involved with Gra¢e Community Church. both the leaders and other volwiteers. The trnstees are also grateful for the generosity of 011 those who have financially sup]x)rted the work and mission of the ¢huwh during the year. Trn8tee'5 respottsibilitie$: Charity law require5 us as Trusiees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which gil'e a true and fair view of the state of the ¢lwity and of its income and expenditure for the year. We are required to.. l. Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently 2. Mak¢ judgetnents 8md estimat¢5 that are reasonable and ptvde 3. State whether the applicable accouniing standard5 have been followed. subj¢ct to any materia] departLres disclosed and explained in ihe a¢eounts. 4. Prepare the finan¢ia] statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the chaTity will ¢ontinue in business. W¢ are responsible for keeping proper accounting record5 which diwlose with re&sonable attura¢y at any time the financial position of ihe charity and enable us to ¢n$ure that the financia] statements comply Mryih the Charitie5 Act 2011. We also hav¢ a resw)nsibility to safeguexd the ass¢ts of the charity and to tske re&sonable steps to preyent fraud or ony other irregularities. Approved by the tn]stees of Grace C¢)rnmuTLity Church Edenbrid8e on l. l¥ . I And signed on ils behalf by: Position.. Lead F,Ider and Trustee Grace Conllnunity Church, Edenbridge

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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl mombers of -, cLI-kn On accounts for the year ended Charity no (rf any) Set out on pages I reFQrt to the trustees on my examinion of the accounts of the aLM)ve chaiityllhe Trusf) for the year ended 31 0 3 zo As the chartty's tnjstees. you are resrx)nsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (llhe Acr). Responsibilities and basis of report I reFKfft in respect of my examinalK)n of the Trust's acc(KJnts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carryirvJ out my examination, I have followed all the aptAicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515){b) of the Act. Independent examinerfs statement U appl. Delete [ l rf not appIable. I have completed my examinatic. I confirn that IK) material matters have come to my attentK)n in connectK)n with the examination (o1keFthat ") which gives me cause to believe thal in, any material to meof respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Chartbes Act" or the &counts did rK)t acccKd with the accrxjnting records; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the f(Km arKI content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examinati. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examinalk)n trj which attention shoukl be drawn in this report in order to enable a understarKling of the accounts to be reached. . Please delete the words in the brackats rfthey do not apply. Signed: oz Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (If any): I C-Ac¥J IER Oct 2018

Address: LJoo Section B Disclosure Only com 1 it the examiner rEeds to highl(qhl mateiial matters of concern (see CC32. Independent examinatton of charity accounts: directions and gUIdar for examiners). Glve here brlef details of any Items that the examlner wlshes to disclose. IER Oct 2018

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