Purbeck Gateway Church Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Charity Name : Purbeck Gateway Church
Charity Registration Number : 1185776
Principle Office :
15 Maple Close Sandford Wareham
Trustees:
Paul Sheppard Richard Smith Phil Luker James Larsen Lynn Crabb Ian Fry
Constitution and structure
Purbeck Gateway Church was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 14[th] October 2019. It was formed as a result of a decision by trustees of an earlier charity, also called Purbeck Gateway Church (reg 1137804) to change their status from an
unincorporated charity to an incorporated one. The transition of activities from the original charity to the current one was made on 1[st] July 2020. The old charity was wound up on 25[th] August 2021, with all assets already transferred by that point.
The trustees of the charity are the Elders and Deacons of the church who are responsible for the direction and operation of the church. New trustees are appointed by the existing trustees from the body of the church members. Their selection is then ratified by the church. As existing members, they do not undergo a further induction unless requested. The Trustees meet together with the Deacons on a formal basis every two months and informally when required.
Financial Review
On the transfer of operation from the old charity to the new charity, all bank accounts, bills and staff were transferred in July 2020. Hence, income in 2021 included a transfer of all existing balances from the old charity, which totalled £9584.54 in the chuch’s main (unrestricted) account and £6532.55 in the Foodbank account (Restricted).
Including the bank account transfers income for the year was £24356.61, with an additional £16101.68 for the foodbank. Of this £14,722 of the church income had been generated by normal annual gifts, with £9,569 being donated to the foodbank in year.
Costs were £10,849 for the church operation and £6540 for the foodbank. This left the church with an operating surplus for the year of £3,873 and the Foodbank with an operating surplus of £3,029. It should be noted that these figures only reflect six months of actual operation, with the church normally running a small deficit during the first quarter of the year.
The main item of expenditure each year is the salary of the pastor. The operating expenditure includes utility and maintenance bills as well as cleaning costs. In addition, the church is responsible for the upkeep of the building that it uses. During the course of 2013, the ownership of the church building transferred from a separate trust at nil value to the ownership of trustees of the old PGC charity (1137804). In 2021 ownership was transferred to the new charity (1185776) at a nil value given that the asset was already fully depreciated and had been valued as nil under the previous charity.
The policy of the trustees with regard to reserves is to aim to keep at least £8,000 of reserves, which represents about three months of basic running costs. The purpose of keeping the reserve is to cover downturns in giving or to allow funds for urgent works on the building which we use. Church funds stood at £13,506.63 at the end of the year.
The financial position of the church was not significantly affected by the course of the pandemic, with members of the congregation continuing to be generous in their donations, on which the church is wholly dependent.
Public Benefit
The trustees have taken note of the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and have complied with their duty to take due regard to this guidance in exercising their powers and duties.
Objectives and Activities
The objects of the Trust are to advance the Christian faith and to relieve sickness and financial hardship. The focus of its activities is in Wareham in Dorset, but it also sponsors missionary and relief activities overseas.
The Church meets together to worship every Sunday morning. It also hosts a wide range of weekly activities, both for church members and for non-members. These activities include weekly home-groups where church members meet to pray, worship and study together.
In a normal year, we host a weekly lunch club for elderly residents of Wareham, a singing and drama club and two groups who work on counselling people with addictions. These activities together form our efforts to achieve our vision to “love God, love one another and love the lost”.
Achievements and Performance
As for many organisations, 2020 saw considerable disruption in the life of the church. During periods of lockdown services were delivered online, using a mixture of live and recorded content. The church did not cancel any services and attendance in person and online grew from previous levels to 40-50 people per week. During periods where in-person worship was possible, the church operated a hybrid service which remained available to members who were unable to attend in person.
Small groups continued to meet in varying formats through the year, depending on the regulatory environment at the time. The church also introduced a number of new activities to bring the body together in times of separation. These included a weekly prayer chain and an active Whatsapp group which enabled members to keep in touch and support one another in challenging year.
While the church building is normally used each week by different agencies in a variety of community work, these activities were suspended in 2020.
In September 2011, a Food Bank was established in the church with members of the congregation and other local churches donating food each week for distribution to people who need it. The local Citizens’ Advice Bureau forms an effective link to identify people who can use this service. Demand for the Food Bank grew considerably 2020 and the Church continues to host this valuable work. Support for the Foodbank also grew during the year, with donations made to the Foodbank being in a separate bank account from the main church account to make the administration of restricted funds more straightforward.
The church aims to give at least 10% of its income each year to support mission and relief work. In 2020, donations were made in support of Serenity, Compassion and an independent evangelist.
Achievements and Performance
The church continues to seek to bring the Good News of Jesus to the community in Wareham, through what we say and how we live. As the church has been through a period of growth we are examining opportunities to move to larger premises to accommodate extra members and provide a more effective service to our community.
The most important post year event was the continuing global coronavirus pandemic. The operations of the church continue to be delivered in a hybrid manner, following an appropriate risk assessment, to a mixed onsite and online offer. Giving from members continued at a good level throughout and the viability of the organisation is not at risk as a result.
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(rf any): Address: Zl 60£5 HILL Spclion B Disclosure Only C(nplete rf the examiner ne&ts to hyJhlght matwial matters of concem (see CC32, IrKlepw#JeAtt eXaminatic of charty accounts: directr'ons and gUIde fex¥n1ne[S). Gfve here brfef detalls of any itsms that the oxamlner wlshes to disdose. IER Oct 2018