Grindon Church Communlty Project: Trustees, Report
This report on the activities and achievements of Grindon Church Community Project
covers its operations during 2024.
Introductlon
In 2020 Grindon Church Communty Project was recognised and registered by the
Charities Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisalion (CIO), operating in
accordance with Christian prinaples at and from the former Grindon United
Reformed Church in Sunderland, continuing the work of the Grindon Mission Project
at this k)cation. Charity registralion enabled access to incOff￿ streams and other
forms of practical support which were unavailable to the previous operating model.
Practlcal and emotlonal support for our community
During 2024 discussions continued with the URC Northem Synod to consolidate the
work of GCCP CIO with the needs and requirements of the community in west
Sunderlarmd and surrounding areas, and our user groups at present and into the
future and a favourable resolution is expected early in 2025.
In partnership with United Reforrned Churth Northem Synod we have been
supported by Alison Dalton. the Church Related Community Worker at Stockton
Road URC, who provide spiritual leadership as in previous years. Rev Dr David
Whiting, a retired minister and a trustee of GCCP provided spiritual oversight.
Phil Gibbs, our voluntary mental heafth counsellor, continued to help and support
people within GCCP and the wider communty.
With the support of the Tom Cowie Foundatic>n we continued to run a Crisis Food
Bank, which also provides non-food items induding domestic and personal hygiene
products to those in acute need.
Building and Facllltles Improvements
Our premises are provided rent-free by the United Reformed Church Northem Synod
Trust. Work to improve the building and grounds has continued during 2024. AII
floor coverings and lighting systeff6 have been updated. and improverr*nts to other
rooms continue.
We have continued to increase our use of rr systems and have improved business
efficiency. A newty-recruited volunteer runs train1r￿ sessions for local people who do
not have internet access arKVor expertise.

User Groups
Our premises continue to be used by a wide range of groups, and 2024 saw our user
and visitor numbers grow again to a level equal to those in years affected by the
pandemic lockdown. We continue to developing partnerships arKI initiatives with arts
and performance organisations throughout the region, and enjoy the creative
opportunities provided for our users in the Sunderland community. Of particular note
was a visiting exhibition and workshop provided by the National Gallery, with the
support of Sunderland Cultural Spring.
Ar￿ngst other groups based at GCCP the Grindon Painters Art Group has mounted
exhibitions of Iheir work. the Pantastic Community Steel BarKJ perforff6 across the
region, as does the Sunderland Jubilaie! Choir. We continue to support cornmunty
groups such as these in any way we can, including preferential room rates, publicty
and equipment storage space, and signposting them to potential funding.
Our Parents & Toddlers Group continued to flourish, attracting families from well
outside the Grindon area in addition to local people.
The Craft & Natter Group and Men's Group started in 2023 with the aim of reducing
social isolation meet weekty and have attracted members signposted by NHS Social
Prescribing and mental health groups.
Our gardens remain an attractive feature of GCCP, and we hope to enter Britain in
Bloom again in the near future, a competition in which we were successful some
years ago. Of some concern is the difficulty of attracting and retaining volunteers to
work the gardens, although we have benefitted and enjoyed visits by employees of
local businesses who have taken part in teamthilding events centred on the
gardens. We have obtained grant furKling lo support the garden developments.
Funding
The greater part of (xjr funding is from grant applications, which continue to be
made. We receive a three•year grant of £19.000 from the National Lottery
Communty Fund, towards core costs. administrative costs. the provision of a
caretaker arKI utility bills, and other activities are being developed.
Much of the user group activty is funded by grants. and we help groups to apply for
funding. SorrE of this irthme to the groups is transmitted to GCCP in Ihe fomi of
room rental fees, which contribute to the costs of maintaining our services to the
communty. 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.

Challenges
Much of our work continues to be carried out by volunteers, largely trustees arKI their
family members, with the support of our paid workers who also carry out voluntary
work in their own time. The average age ol the trustees is over 60, and some are
becoming less able to carry out practical jobs.
The availabilty of volunteers from local employers is falling due to the current
economic dimate.
We are fortunaie to have grant funding for many of our core costs, but this is time-
limited arKJ our field of potential grant providers offering core funding is limited.
Trustee
Dated
g!l.loJL<

CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WAIES
GrOrKlon Church Commun
Recei
Pro
No. 1189916
ents accounts
ts and
CC16a
For th• wrlod
from
01 Janua
2024
To
31 Decern￿r 2024
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted
Restrlcted
Endowment
Total fu
A1 R•c•l
31 A30
30J24
36A45
30524
2.618
5229
7193
NLCF Gfani
29.147
2A18
Fundr*YwJ
HalH
3.832
62
AR)
61954
65297
SO• tab
20￿7
61.954
82J71
65297
17A92
10J44
16J23
14J92
17.1199
10.197
24.915
15563
13.43J
18977
16JQl
1654
Sub total
67A50
68M74
Sub Ioeal
$8551
67A50
68,674
15,421
JJ
AS Transf•rs between funds
A6 Cash funds last y•ar •nd
Cash funds thls y•w
41,
37,66
CCXX R1 aLX)Xmts (SS)

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Unrestrlcted
Restrlcted funds
Endowment
Delails
B1 Cash funds
44>50
3J11
$327
44550
funds
lo M•r•* £
Details
Fund to ¥hthlch
C4XT•rf valu•
Details
FWMI * ¥rtbkh
Details
(QFthn•
B4 Assets retalned for the
charlty's own u80
Fund ts t*h*h
Amount d
Details
B5 Uabllltles
Dale ot
boh41 d *1 the
CCXX R2 acc4xKts (SS)
2￿1(￿025

Independent examlnerfs report to the trustees of Grindon Church Community Projert
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 2024.
ResP(X￿1b1lItles and basls 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 ACV).
I report in respect of my exarnlnation of the CharIt￿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 examlnerfs statement
I have completed my examlnation. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in
connection with the examination 8iving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
l. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act;
or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records: or
3. the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concernlng the form and content
of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any
requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of
an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connectlon wlth the examinatlon 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
Quallficatlon: Chartered Certified Accountant
56 Belle Vue Park West, Sunderland. SR2 7SB
Date:
30 ottober 2025