Lighthouse Cressex 2021 Annual Review
Lighthouse Cressex is a Christian charity that aims to support children of all backgrounds, faiths and cultures by delivering a fun week with activities such as organised sports, team games, craft sessions and sessions designed for children to explore the Christian faith but also support different areas and situations in their lives.
In 2020, due to the Covid pandemic we were unable to hold an ‘in-person’ Lighthouse week but were able to support Lighthouse Central with their online teaching by filming a segment for the live shows which were aired twice a day during the Lighthouse week.
The Lighthouse Cressex trustees during 2020-21 consisted of:
Clare Lamb (elected October 2020) David Lidiard (elected chairman August 2021) Catri Plummer Jacqui Griggs (treasurer) Steve Whitmore Paula Simmons (resigned July 2021) Sharon Windsor Jeremy Hay (chairman, resigned September 2020)
During the year of 2020 and continuing into 2021, the Lighthouse trustees met regularly over Zoom to discuss how and if it was possible to hold an ‘in-person’ Lighthouse week in 2021 and after many discussions and prayer it was felt that holding an ‘in-person’ week was the right way forward.
Lighthouse Cressex is a great way to reach out to our immediate community and so, with restrictions lifted, it was right to be able to serve the community again. Parents are able to use Lighthouse as a childcare option for a week of the summer holidays as the day offered care from 9.45-3.00pm, five days a week and parents are not required to give any money towards the cost. A donation is suggested but it is then left with the parent to decide if and how much they would like to give.
Lighthouse Cressex operated over two church sites this year due to the need to be Covid secure. One site for our 8-11 year olds, plus our under fours, was held at Christ the Servant King church in Cressex and the second site, for our 5-7 year olds, was held at The Avenue church in Castlefield. This gave us an opportunity to work and outreach in the Castlefield area which was greatly appreciated by The Avenue congregation.
Lighthouse relies on volunteers to help with looking after the children in our care and a significant amount of the volunteers are 12-18 year olds. They are called lamplighters and this gives them a chance to take some responsibility for people younger than them, to become role models to the younger children and to give them an opportunity to help in the community for a week of the summer holidays.
Leading up to the Lighthouse week, one of the trustees, Paula Simmons, decided it was right to step down from being a trustee due to personal reasons but was able to still support us from home with prayer.
During the Lighthouse week we were able to offer the 5-9 year old children a sports programme for 35 minutes each day. The children were also given time within their lunch time to play with sports equipment and have exercise. The children had access to parachute games, footballs, obstacle races,
group games, hoopla hoops and rounders, all led by volunteers to guide and interact with the children.
The children were able to be involved with a daily craft activity that supported the Lighthouse theme. Children had access to different creative materials and were also encouraged in their own work, again supported by the volunteers.
Each day the children were given a main stage session where they could play messy team games and enjoy following along to actions of Christian worship songs. In this session children were given teaching that will support them in their lives and although Christian based, can be used for any faith or no faith at all. This teaching was then supported in the children’s age group discovery sessions where they explored stories from the bible and again, how it can be applied to their lives in today’s world.
The 10-11 year olds had a slightly different programme where they were able to visit the local field and play team games, enjoy an origami session led by a volunteer, hear from Paul who worked at Wycombe Homeless Connection, enjoy a professional dance session and create their own Lego animations of a bible story. The volunteers working with this age group were able to talk to the children that were moving up to secondary schools about some of the transitions that will occur and answer any questions the children had.
At Lighthouse Cressex we also offered a Little Lighthouse session which ran every morning from 10.15-12.15pm. This is for our younger members from 0-4 years old and their parents or carers. Little Lighthouse was able to offer parents and carers a safe space for young children to explore and create and the opportunity for the adults to enjoy a hot drink and to talk to one of the volunteers. A bible story and snack was given to the children and an opportunity to make a craft relating to the mornings story.
Following on from 18 months in and out of lockdown it was so important for children and young people to be given the opportunity to get together again and socialise and enjoy being together. It gave the volunteers an opportunity to come alongside people from our community, to talk with them and support them where necessary. It gave parents the opportunity to work and have a rest after home schooling children for the last few months. Many parents commented on how lovely it was to have an in-person event with the children after being in lockdowns for so long.
Looking ahead we are excited about being able to hold another Lighthouse week in 2022 and welcome back the children, young people and volunteers.
Financial review
Income of £5,333 was received during the year, primarily from local churches, individual supporters and parental donations.
Expenditure of £7,603 included the additional costs of cleaning and first aid due to the delivery of the week at 2 venues and to comply with stringent Covid safety measures.
The deficit of £2,270 was covered by reserves.
Reserves now stand at £8,693 – sufficient to cover 2022 costs that may be incurred prior to donations being received.
David Lidiard
Chair of Trustees
LIGHTHOUSE CRESSEX
CIO NUMBER 1183476
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST OCTOBER 2020-30TH SEPTEMBER 2021
RECEIPTS
| Donations (Churches, Grants, Supporters) | 3510 |
|---|---|
| Donations (during the week) | 574 |
| Donations (online) | 946 |
| Gift aid tax refund (inc Virgin Giving Gift Aid) | 228 |
| Shop sales | 76 |
| Total | £5,333 |
| PAYMENTS | |
| Site Set Up/Stage/AV | 2362 |
| First Aid | 1180 |
| Insurance | 274 |
| Admin | 677 |
| Activities | 509 |
| Uniform | 377 |
| Refreshments | 575 |
| Charitable donations | 1500 |
| Books for children | 115 |
| Misc | 32 |
| Total | £7,603 |
| Income less expenditure for current year | £2,270 |
| Balance bought forward from previous year | £10,963 |
| Balance carried forward to following year | £8,693 |
| BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30TH SEPTEMBER 2021 | |
| Current Assets: | |
| Cash in hand at bank | £11,226 |
| less unpresented cheques | £2,533 |
| Total | £8,693 |