JL Homelands Annual Report and Accounts 9024 Charity Registration Number 1187674 HOMELANDS FREE CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 Admlnlstratlve Inforniatlon Homelands Free Church is situated on the Homelands Estate, on the borders of Frinton and Walton. The church belongs to the Baptist tradition and Is a member of the Baptlst Union of Great Britain. The correspondence address is Homelond5 Free Churth Garden Rood. Wolton-on-thevNqze. Esse￿ C014 8SJ. The Church. Elders and Deacon5 constitLrte a charity registered, with the Charity Commission, a5 a CIO Icharitable Incorporated Organizationl and our registration number is 1187674. The Elders and Deacons Itru5teesl who have served from l January 2024 untll the date this report was approved are.. Rev. Michael Bradshaw (Co￿pted during the pastoral vacancvl Mrs. Carole Dean Mrs. Pat Jackson Mr. Eric Jones Mrs. Stella Lind (appointed 23 January 20251 Mr. Charles Mccarthv Mrs. Bonita McPherson Mr. John McPherson Mrs. Ruth Mockler (appointed 23 January 20251 Rev. Sarah Philpot IMinlrter- Appointed 14 October 20241 Mr. John Stacey (Re-eletted to serve from l January 20251 Mrs. Pam Tuffnell Isabbaticall Mr. lan Vygus (appointed l January 20241 Mr. Arthur Wells-Garrett (Atting Treasurerl Mr. 8rlan Wood (Secretary) Strurture. governance, and management The trustees are appointed by the Church Meeting as set out in the Constitution and rules. All Church attendees are encouraged to become members and thereby become eligible to vote and stand for elertion as trustees. Oblertl¥es and actlvitles Statements of objertives are set out in the governlng document Ichurch Constitution). The trustees alon8 With the minister have responsibility in promoting the whole mission of the Church. pastoral, evangelistic, and social. The trustees also have maintenance responslbillties for the Church Building complex of Homelands Free Church, Garden Road, and the Church Manse. Achlevements and perfomiance As on 31112124 there are 74 Members- 8 names were added during the year and 9 were removed either through death, resignation or because they moved away from the area. We were particularly pleased and privileged to support one of our worshippers through his request for baptism, on 8th September. and into membership. We contlnue to maintain the use of technology to contart and provide a high level of support to attendees. We were able to provide a weekly service of Christian worship via YouTube, in addition to our usual services held each Sunday in the church building. These have remained on-line for folk to access at any time that SLbits them. We provlde a transport service usingthe church minibus to enable those who require it to travel to church on Sundays. Whilst we continue with our online presence, forthose who have no ac¢e5S to the internet we continueto provide DVD recordings of the se￿l¢e$ that are delivered dirett to their homes. These DVDS are returned for reuse and are proving a valuable resource. Revlew of the year The trustees met 11 times during the year for formal minuted meetln8S, With an average level of attendance of 87%. Chanty Resthtion Number 1187674 There were 6 Ordinary Church Meeting held during the year, attended by an average of 38% of membership and I Special Church Meeting, attended by 60% 01 Membership. Elertions for trustees and officers took place in line with our constitution and were ratified by the AGM. We maintained the strurture introduced during the pastoral vacancy. These included Brian Wood becoming Elder and co.opting Michael Bradshaw to the eldership for the duration of the pastoral vacancy. The second step was to appoint a 4-pefson committee to arrange speaker5 for Sunday services. This proved very successful. Speakers were mainlyfrom within the membership with some guest speakersfrom the regional association and like-mlnded churches. The appointment of Rev. Sarah Phillpot as minister in July led to preparations for Sarah for the taking Post in Qrtober. On Sunday mornings a series on the1Sfe of Davld took place in the spring followed by a series on the missionary journeys of the apostle Paul during the summer term. After the summer break we followed up with the life of Solomon. The meetings on Sunday evenings which included Bible Readings from Keswick, Prayer and praise and topic led lectures contlnued. The year commenced with a week of prayer, Prayer meetings were held each Sunday mornin81 prior to the seTvice. with additional mid-week meetings scheduled for different times and days of the week to facilitate attendance for all members. The church contir*ues to provide office space on weekday mornings for Frinton Christian Community Care as part of our commitment to the wider community. Remedial works were hi8hlighted and completed during the year. These included repairs to the carpark. The recycling area was refurbished with new fencing erected. Mark Platt, our local councilor, supported the venture and arranged funding from Essex County Council1£2,5001 towards the venture. The manse wa5 decorated prior to Sarah's arriv31 with additional work to damaged double glazing units. A number of electricity points were replaced, and smoke and carbon dioxide monitors were upgraded to meet current regulatory requirements. The hot water and heating system received its annual service and safety check. The annual church PAT IPort3ble Appliance Test) safety check is booked for january 25. The Community Lunch team and 'Friend5hip Frldays, are now firmly established providing a safe and welcomin8 environment within the community. A monthly short Bible Study was introduced forthose who wished to discover more about Christlanity. On the run up to Christmas a short talk on missionary work in japan was given and received very warmlv We maintained a strong commitment to being an envlronmentalty aware thurch strivlng to become a carbon neutral organization. Our recycling hub is fully up and running. We also use the area to store salt on behalf of the local 3sJthority for use by local traders should there be snow or ice outside their premises. Our carbon footprint was mitl8ated by'carbon Offsetting., Hobby Pop-ln and Line Dan¢in8 are continuing to provide contsct with the loc31 community. Jazzercise and kee fit have also rvn a full program within the building. Chatterbox, the groLSP for under 5,5 and their tarers meet in the worship area has seen its numbers gr¢)W With the leaders providing SUPPOrt for both youngsters and carers. The 2nd Frinton Girl Guides, (Guides, ftan8ers and Trefoil, sectionsl and 3rd Frlnton (Rainbow and Brownies) continue to use the premises for their weekly artivities. Chanty Registration Number 1187674 The music group Free Jazz have been using the premises for rehearsals and were able to give a 'Remembrance Da¢ concert, in the church. This was well attended and introduced many folks to the church. They also organiied a carol concert, supported by chufch attendees, at Luff homes. Mission and social giving during the year amounted to £18,592.5012023 - £13,450) spread between BMS World Mission l£1,3051, Home Mission1£4,9701, Tear Fund1£8001, Spurgeon'5 Childcare1£7001 , Mlssionary Aviation Fellowship1£7501, FEBA1£7001, Lupeni Orphanage1£8,627.501, Other cause$1£7401 This was Open Doors1£5001 and UFM1£2401. The extra money given over that raised, was made up by the tfUStees usin8 recovered income tax and monies from the General Fund to support the external organizations. The total for the Mission and Social Giving was in excess of IO% of unrestricted receipts. From the funds raised by Line Dancing and Hobby Popln, £500 was included in the Lupenl glfts, £400 to Pilgrims Homes (Luffs), £500 RNLI and £500 to The Salvation Army Homelessness appeal. The planned giving through envelopes and standing orders is approximately 90% of the monthly giviri8. There was a legacy gratefully received during the period, from the estate of Chris Langton1£12.250.881. Flnanclal revlew Total receipts on general and designated unfestTlCted funds were £95,400.9912023 £97,362) are detailed in the financial statements. The Ministerfs employment Costs for the last Quarter were £6,060.71. Nl and Tax are carried forward for payment in January l£1.169.471 The pension costs were reduced due to the deficit liability payments being removed from August. There was a surplus of receipts over payment5 Iti the general fund of £52,48512023 £70,463). After transferring £38,32112023 £22,759) to deficlt funds (to cover deficits and projected expenditurel and adding bank, deposlt balances and cash in hand12024 £21.50) brought forward at the beginning of the year, balantes carried forward on 31 December for unrestricted funds totalled £98,08712023 £83,923). Penslons The Church is a participating employer in the Baptist Pension Scheme 1.the Scheme"), which is a separate legal entity administered by the Penslon Trustee18aptist Pension Trust Limited). The assets of the Scheme are held separately from th05È of the Employer and the other participatin8 employers. Whilst there w8s no minister at Homelands we were in a 'Period of Grace, from the requirements of the pension scheme. As there ¢5 no deficit from Homelands this is a technical requirement with no immediate consequences for the church. We were unable to extend the The Period of Grace, beyond 2023, therefore the church had applied to the trustees of the pension fund to place the church in a 'Deferred Debt Arrangement'_ a legal deed signed by both the Perssion Trustee and the Church Trustees that allows the Church to tontinue participating in the scheme without a member and without incurring the administrative cost of leaving the fund l£lOOQI. We are now in the happy position of having discharged all our deficit liabillties to the scheme. Reserves, pollcy It is the trustees. policy to maintain a balance on general Llnrestricted funds lif p05siblel, which equates to approximately three months, unrestritted payments. to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time. The balance of £98,08712023 £83,923) in the ur*restricted general funds more than achieves the target. The trustees will eontinue to monitor balances. Although the balance5 appear high, as we plan for growth under a new minister, we look lorward, wlth God's gLtidance, to excitlnB times. It is our policy to invest fund balances in deposit accounts to ensure the Safety and atcesslbllity of church funds, also the short-term nature of the funds (less than 5 years). To this end we have opened 12-month savings bonds with the 8aptist Union as the flrst step to building a reserve fund. However, due to the volatility of the monev markets the Baptist Union are not offerin8 12 month bonds now. Therefore, a5 the bonds we hold mature monthly, until August, the deacons will invest the maturing funds into Baptist Union 9￿daY notlce account. Approved by the tr ees of Homelands Free Church on XXXX and signed on their behalf bv.. SIBned Church Secretary. Date Tian Wix>d Charity Registration 1187674 Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31 De￿mber 2024 Rec•lpl• Unr•stricted G&neral Designoted £ 59,437.06 1,ecE.45 Restrie Endowment Totsl 2024 59,437.08 1.806.45 10.650 31 24.50 12.759 25 Tot81 2023 60,593.17 1,404.80 5.144.77 13.20 11,667.52 Offerings and Gift ￿"d Ib$$ rg¢overed tax) Inler8St Oonatlons IMi$siona ECO HMRC Irecov•rèd tax Building Fund Building 8rid"1 eL &Jsi IER October 2018