**Interwoven** (Charity Registration No: 1189320) ## **Annual Report** **(For the year ending 31[st] March 2021)** Page **1** of **6** **Version 1.0** ## **Section 1: Introduction** Interwoven is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), first registered with the Charity Commission on 4[th] May 2020, and is linked to Interwoven Christian Community and Church. This document is the annual report for Interwoven covering the period from its incorporation on 4[th] May 2020 to the end of the financial year on 31[st] March 2021. ## **Section 2: Reference & administrative details** The administrative details of the CIO are outlined below. Name: Interwoven Charity Registration Number: 1189320 Principal Office Address: 54 Cop Lane, Penwortham, Preston PR1 0SR Trustees as at 31[st] March 2021: David Beattie Derek Buckley Kirsty Elizabeth Hayhurst Paul Kenneth Richardson Jeremy Michael Winter Martin George Wright ## **Section 3: Structure, governance & management** Interwoven is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with voting members other than its charity trustees (‘association’ model) and is governed by a constitution approved on 4[th] May 2020, the date of first registration. Trustees were first appointed in shadow format following nomination and voting by members of Interwoven Christian Community and Church. There were six nominees all of whom were duly elected and who then became the first trustees of the CIO upon registration. All trustees are due to stand down at the CIO’s first Annual General Meeting in accordance with the constitution. In addition to the trustees, the charity now has its own voting members, separate to the members of Interwoven Christian Community and Church, although all charity members are currently members of the latter body. There are currently 24 charity members. In future, the appointment of trustees will be through election by charity members. The Board of Trustees currently meet quarterly and met on four occasions (19.5.20; 4.8.20; 3.11.20; 26.1.21) during the year via Zoom due to restrictions in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trustees work closely with Interwoven Christian Community and Church’s Leadership Team to ensure that the charitable objectives are met. Page **2** of **6** **Version 1.0** ## **Section 4: Financial review** The financial position of the charity for the financial period 4[th] May 2020 to 31[st] March 2021 is as outlined below. Opening balance as at 4[th] May 2021: £1958.82 Income: £9076.95 (of which £4910.00 were designated funds) Expenditure: £5774.45 (of which £2760.84 were designated funds) Closing balance at 31[st] March 2021: £5261.32 (of which £2149.16 were designated funds) The charity has a reserves policy which states that ‘a level of reserves will be held which will equate to the sum total of three months’ salary costs for any employees plus known expenditure commitments for a three month period’. During the last financial year, the charity has been able to operate in accordance with this policy without any difficulty. ## **Section 5: Meeting the Public Benefit requirement** Interwoven Christian Community and Church has the following statement of values: _As a community of Christians, we want to be spirit-filled, Christ-centred people who demonstrate God’s grace. Our aim (A.I.M.) is to_ _**accept** people as Jesus did, to_ _**inspire** people as Jesus did and to give people purpose and_ _**meaning** as Jesus did._ The charitable objects of Interwoven, the method of achieving them and beneficiaries are defined as follows: _To advance the Christian faith in accordance with the statement of values above for the benefit of the public in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the trustees determine from time to time._ ## _Activities in furtherance of this will include:_ - _Provision of a place of worship_ - _Education in the religion_ - _Community pastoral work and charitable giving_ Our activities and achievements in furtherance of the above charitable objectives during the year ending 31[st] March 2021 are described below in four areas: Making meetings happen; Contributing to our communities; Fixing a future (youth-related activity); communications ## Making Meetings Happen Page **3** of **6** **Version 1.0** Through the period April 2020 – March 2021 we have held no physical Interwoven gatherings, instead we have arranged regular gatherings on-line. _**Sunday Gatherings** :_ We have had gatherings for worship, teaching and praying most Sunday mornings through the year. These gatherings have been hosted by a range of people across Interwoven. We’ve looked at the following themes: ‘Immeasurably More’ (relating to Ephesians), ‘A Renewed Future’ (relating to Nehemiah), ‘Comfort and Joy’ (through Advent and Christmas), Philippians and Fast (relating to Lent 2021). We chose to meet via Zoom, rather than simply stream or broadcast content. Meeting via Zoom, using breakout rooms, allows for conversation, prayer, interaction and mutual support. This was a deliberate choice to maintain a sense of community and prevent people from being isolated. Typically we’d have around 20 – 25 devices join our Sunday gatherings. This equates to 30 – 50 people. _**Children’s Work:**_ We have had a specific breakout room for families with its own specific activities to allow learning, fellowship around the theme for each week. This has not been a separate learning programme but integrated into our main Interwoven Sunday meeting. We have a ‘Family Room’ whatsapp group for sharing good news, activities and prayer requests. We have also created and curated worship and prayer videos with families in mind (e.g Jesse Tree video and Prayer Sand Tray video). These resources will be re-used and adapted, with new ones being created when we return to meeting in person. _**New Wine Summer Conference**_ **:** We had 40+ people engage with online sessions, afternoon tea online and campfire evening gatherings. Some attended our local ‘prayer shed’ (an outdoor garden structure) in person, whilst ensuring compliance with social distancing requirements. People provided feedback from their personal experiences of the event, including one person reporting a healed shoulder. _**Advent and Lent:**_ We had advent devotions for 25 days in December. We gathered online each day and had an average of a dozen people joining. During lent we had weekly devotions and made use of a shared resource. Different members of our community have contributed to or led these sessions. _**Weekly Prayer:**_ We have offered at least one, sometimes two, 30 minute sessions of simple morning or evening prayer most weeks through the 12 month period. Initially we had morning prayer 5 mornings a week. ## Contributing to our Communities During the year, our Contributing to Our Communities stream operated in two main ways: ## **1. Organising and Hosting Community Events** Page **4** of **6** **Version 1.0** From summer 2020 there have been a monthly ‘Knit and Natter’ and a monthly ‘Interwoven Good Book Club’ - both were held online. In addition there have been multiple quiz evenings through the year. ## **2. Support for Three Charities (Age Concern, Emmaus and Trusthouse Lancashire)** We have made financial donations (5% of our income plus specific additional gifts to each) to the above charities during the year and provided other support in terms of prayer. During the year, we also held specific Sunday services with a focus on those charities. ## - Fixing a Future (Youth related activity **)** Throughout the early part of 2020, the Youth Leadership Team of Interwoven Church actively engaged, on a bi-monthly basis, with the older section of our Youth Community (aged 10 and above) and offered an interesting and varied package of bible-based teaching, fun-based learning, life skill development and team building activities. This was done on a face-to-face basis using a superb, rural facility in the grounds of Hoghton Towers. This moved on-line during the year to keep our young people engaged and reinforce their sense of value and belonging within our church community. Family. This continued until a large number moved onto University and further Higher Education. ## Communications Communications regarding church activities comprises various interrelated streams, from the public facing website, to regular email bulletins, a Facebook group and page, to private group messaging. Some examples are included below. - Our website (www.interwovenchurch.co.uk) was developed and then launched in summer 2020. - Tangled Up In News is our weekly email bulletin that is sent to regular members and close affiliates of the church. This has been developing progressively over time. It is now sent using the MailChimp tool, which assists us in complying with GDPR regulations. - A Twitter account and a Facebook page are used for public facing communications, to publicise church events. - A closed Facebook group is used for communications to church members only. - Private group messaging using the WhatsApp tool is very active, sharing both church information, prayer requests and answers to those prayers, and general conversations. The administration of these communications is delegated to different members of the church leadership team. Page **5** of **6** **Version 1.0** Interwoven Annual Report Approved by Trustees on 27[th] April 2021 Signed on behalf of Trustees by P.K.Richardson (Trustee) Page **6** of **6** **Version 1.0**