| The Church puts on a wide variety of activities for the benefit ofthe church community and the wider community of Bourne. These have included weekly Sunday morning and regular evening worship and teaching services and weekly Life Groups —designed to connect with and to encourage peopie in their social and spiritual lives. There are weekly Youth and Children's clubs, clubs for carers ofthe very young and the elderly and those needing counselling support from within |
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| Summary ofthe main activities undertaken forthe |
the wider community. The Church's youth and children's worker with Church members voluntarily assist in teams regularly providing activities in both junior and secondary schools locally as well as hosting, with other Church Staff, visits from local schools to the church building as part of their curriculum |
| public benefit in relation to | requirements. |
| these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity |
Also away from the church premises, the wider range ofChurch- supported activities in the community include the town's Food Bank, Job Club and the usual public holiday festivities including working alongside other local churches and other local charitable organisations. |
| Commission on public benefit) |
ln all these activities, the structure of Church management provides for the Trustees to receive regular reports ofthese interfacing activities of |
| the Church and wider Bourne community as weli as the many |
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| opportunities for them totake part. The Annual Budget ofthe Church includes the financial provision ofthese opportunities —locally, nationally and internationaily -as well as the regular 'church-based' programme of activities. These appropriate decisions comply with the Trustees duty to have due regard to the Charity Commission's public guidance benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is |
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| relevant. |
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| Summary ofthe main achievements ofthe charity during the year |
dt This year the physical interaction ofthe church has continue o be impacted heavily by Covid-19 (despite our hopes that it would have passed. Since April 2021 we have held regular review meetings with a small group consisting of Nick Humphreys (Chair ofTrustees), Chris Neal (Health and Safety Representative) and Paul Timmins (Safeguarding Trustee). This group has fed into the Trustees and wider church leadership recommendations regarding how the Church would operate during the continuing Covid pandemic. It has established protocols to enable us to have more face-to-face interactions and hold in person worship services whilst still offering an online presence forthose people who feel reluctant to physically return. They have also offered encouragement and support to midweek Life groups as they have endeavoured to, where possible, move from virtual to physical meetings. |
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| Due to the impact of Covid-19 we again were unable to run planned courses physically but have continued to implement online courses especially over the first half of2021.Our hope was to host an in- person course titled Alpha in the year but due to regulations this was not possible however we did run it virtually and from this we have seen 2 people make a commitment to Jesus and have both integrated into the |
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| life ofthe church. | ||||
| Unlike last year we have managed to have in person Christmas Services some of which we streamed on YouTube as well. This enabled |
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| both those in person attendees and those at home to connect safely with |
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| our Christmas celebrations. |
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| The regular programme of'opening the church doors' for others to |
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| attend weekly have still been impacted from various lockdowns bought |
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| on by Covid-19. But where we could we have moved things to online thus |
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| interaction with Mums and Toddlers and Who let the Dad's Out groups |
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| have continued via Facebook and email. But as the year progressed and |
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| restrictions eased, we were able to re-establish face to face groups whilst |
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| observing appropriate measures to remain Covid secure. |
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| Our monthly coffee mornings did not resume until Sept 2021. |
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| Through them we have been able to raise funds for various causes |
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| including vaccines for Africa, The Royal British Legion Poppy appeal and |
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| one to support Tear funds work. The church community has also raised |
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| funds to support Pastor Callisto with his provision ofmedical care in | ||||
| Nigeria and we have continued to support the work of both Baltic Aid and |
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| Brighter futures. | ||||
| The church has continued to offer support tothose groups in town |
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| operating as part ofthe wider church and so we have continued to help |
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| with the Food Bank and Healing Rooms. | ||||
| Due to face-to-face contact being restricted the Pastoral Care | ||||
| team has sought to offer support to those individuals who approached the |
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| Church for various personal and social needs including transport to |
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| medical appointments, shopping, financial support through our Hardship |
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| Fund and access to our counselling service. The church has continued to |
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| reach out to the local schools through the efforts ofour youth worker and |
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| senior minister offering assemblies for the schools. The church has also |
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| offered support to several local schools by sending gifts to encourage |
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| those staff workin in these un recedented times. This work has been |
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| AR | March 2012 |