TRUSTEES REPORT GRINDON CHURCH COMMUNITY PROJECT CIO 2023
Introduction
This report on the activities and achievements of Grindon Church Community Project covers its operations during 2023.
In 2020 Grindon Church Community Project was recognised and registered by the Charities Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), operating in accordance with Christian principles at and from the former Grindon United Reformed Church in Sunderland. We continue to carry out and develop the work of the GCCP URC Mission Project at this location. Charity registration has allowed us to access new income streams and other forms of practical support which were unavailable to the previous operating model.
Discussions are taking place with the URC Northern Synod to consolidate the work of GCCP CIO with the needs and requirements of the community in west Sunderland
and surrounding areas, and our user groups at present and into the future. Initial discussions are encouraging and we hope to reach a favourable resolution in 2024.
Practical and emotional support for our community
In partnership with United Reformed Church Northern Synod we have been able to draw on the support of Alison Dalton, Church Related Community Worker at
Stockton Road URC, who has agreed to contribute to providing spiritual leadership as she has during 2022. Rev Dr David Whiting, a retired minister and previous trustee of GCCP has agreed to provide spiritual oversight.
In a new initiative we were pleased to welcome Phil Gibbs, an experienced and fully qualified mental health counsellor who helps people within GCCP and the wider community on a voluntary basis.
During the recent public health and economic problems faced by the whole country we have provided Warm Spaces for local people, we run a Crisis Food Bank, which also provides non-food items including domestic and personal hygiene products to those in acute need.
Building and Facilities Improvements
Our premises are provided rent-free by the United Reformed Church Northern Synod Trust. Work to update and improve the building and grounds has continued during 2023. Work to improve the external structure and appearance of the building has been carried out, and welcomed by our neighbours. Replacement of floor coverings and lighting systems has been completed, and improvements to other rooms continue. Future projects include the updating of the main kitchen to modern standards, installation of improved heating systems in the main rooms and a fire alarm system, for which price quotations have been sought, and applications have been for grant finance to cover the capital costs.
Improvements to our IT systems continue, with the aim of improving business efficiency, and provision of training and resources for those without internet access and/or expertise.
User Groups
Footfall continues to improve with the formation of new groups and increases in attendance of existing ones. We are developing partnerships with arts and performance organisations throughout the region, and we enjoy the creative opportunities we can share and expand.
Following the success of our Marras Drama Group it has relocated to the Theatrespace collective in Sunderland where more space and resources are available; we retain a close link with Marras and contribute to some of their activities.
Amongst other groups based at GCCP the Grindon Painters Art Group has mounted exhibitions of their work, the Pantastic Community Steel Band performs across the region, as does the Sunderland Jubilate! Choir. We continue to support groups like these in any way we can, including preferential room rates, publicity and equipment storage spaces.
Our Parents & Toddlers Group continues to flourish, attracting families from well outside the Grindon area in addition to local members.
New groups started during 2023 included a Craft & Natter Group and a Men's Group, each aimed at reducing social isolation in the local area. Referrals to these have been made by NHS Social Prescribing and mental health groups, in addition to recommendations arising from our outreach into our community.
Our gardens remain an attractive feature of GCCP, and we plan to enter Britain in Bloom again in the near future, a competition in which we were successful some years ago. We need to increase the number of volunteers working in the gardens this year, and are seeking grant funding to support the garden developments.
Funding
T he greater part of our funding is from grant applications, which continue to be made. We receive a three-year grant of £19,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund, towards core costs, administrative costs, the provision of a caretaker and utility bills. Other activities are being developed with funding help from the same source and other grant-givers at national and local levels.
Much of the user group activity is funded by grants, and we help groups to apply for funding. Some of this income to the groups is transmitted to GCCP in the form of room rental fees, which contribute to the costs of maintaining our services to the community. We have managed to hold our room rental rates without increase for another year, which is an added attraction to new groups and the retention of existing ones.
Safeguarding
Many of our users are from vulnerable groups, ranging from young children (some with learning difficulties) to adults with physical, menta; health or social problems. Everything we do is centred around protecting our users, volunteers and staff. All staff and appropriate volunteers are DBS cleared, and records kept of renewal dates.
Safeguarding is a standard agenda item at all trustee meetings; all appropriate people undergo safeguarding training which is carried out by an outside specialist provider, who also conducts audits and inspections of our procedures and practices.
Challenges
During the Covid-19 restrictions we lost a number of volunteers who have been difficult to replace and, on a positive note, one young volunteer has moved into well-paid fulltime employment following a period at GCCP where we helped her to develop her self confidence. The volunteers we have, largely from our trustee group, have an average
age of the trustees is over 60,and some are less able to carry out practical jobs than previously. We link up with local employers to provide a venue for employees to take part in team-building days, and in the past we have benefited from their efforts, largely in the gardens, but the availability of this type of volunteer is falling due to the current economic climate.
We continue to offer a welcoming experience to everyone who contacts us, and make it possible for them to connect with spiritual as well as practical help, if that is their wish. Some of our volunteers lack the training and experience to deal with all aspects of the problems people present: goodwill and common-sense go a long way but selfconfidence in handling difficult situations can be a problem which can cloud the mind of volunteers, demonstrating a need for some training.
We are fortunate to have grant funding for many of our core costs, but this is timelimited and our field of potential grant providers offering core funding is limited. We have been reasonably successful up to now, and the challenge to repeat these successes is constantly in the minds of our trustees.
John Whiteoak,
Chairman, Trustees, Grindon Church
Community Project CIO
Grindon Church Community Project
Grindon Church Community Project No. 1189916 Receipts and payments accounts For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01 January 2023 31 December 2023
CC16a
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 7,717 - 2,545 3,832 5,988 45 - - 20,127 - - - 20,127 2,523 2,667 2,775 6,378 - - - - - 14,343 - - - 14,343 5,784 - 26,748 32,532 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ 16,023 29,147 - - - - - - 45,170 - - - 45,170 15,476 7,530 22,140 9,185 - - - - - 54,331 - - - 54,331 - 9,161 - 14,296 5,135 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ 23,740 29,147 2,545 3,832 5,988 45 - - 65,297 - - - 65,297 17,999 10,197 24,915 15,563 - - - - - 68,674 - - - 68,674 - 3,377 |
Total funds to the nearest £ 23,740 29,147 2,545 3,832 5,988 45 - - 65,297 - - - 65,297 17,999 10,197 24,915 15,563 - - - - - 68,674 - - - 68,674 - 3,377 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants | 7,717 | - - - - - - - - - |
23,740 | 18,972 | ||
| NLCF Grant | - | 29,147 | 9,650 | |||
| Donations | 2,545 | 2,545 | 6,037 | |||
| Fundraising | 3,832 | 3,832 | 1,690 | |||
| Hall Hire | 5,988 | 5,988 | 3,780 | |||
| Investment Income | 45 | 45 | 3 | |||
| Legacies | - | - | 5,000 | |||
| - | - | - | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
20,127 | 65,297 | 45,132 | |||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | - - - |
- | - | |||
| - | - | - | ||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | |||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| - | 65,297 | 45,132 | ||||
Charitable Activities |
2,523 | - - - - - - - - - - |
17,999 | 9,951 | ||
| Utilities & Insurance | 2,667 | 10,197 | 4,761 | |||
| Repairs & Maintenance | 2,775 | 24,915 | 9,674 | |||
| Administration | 6,378 | 15,563 | 12,428 | |||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 14,343 | 68,674 | 36,814 | |||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
| - | - - - |
- | - | |||
| - | - | - | ||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | - | |||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| - | 68,674 | 36,814 | ||||
| 5,784 | - 9,161 | - | - 3,377 | 8,318 | ||
| - | - | - - |
- | - | ||
| 26,748 | 14,296 | 41,044 | 32,726 | |||
| 32,532 | 5,135 | - | 37,667 | 41,044 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
14/10/2024
1
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Treasurer's Account Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Reserve Account Signature |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 32,502 30 - - - - - 32,532 OK Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - - Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - 5,135 - - - - - 5,135 OK Restricted funds to nearest £ - - Cost (optional) - - - Cost (optional) - - - Amount due (optional) - - Name |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| OK | ||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| When due (optional) |
||||
| Date of approval |
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CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
14/10/2024
2
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Grindon Church Community Project Charity No. 1189916
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Grindon Church Community Project (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Name: Jeff Ledger
Qualification: Chartered Certified Accountant
Address: 56 Belle Vue Park West, Sunderland, SR2 7SB Date: October 2024