Christians Together in Fleet and Church Crookham Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2021
The trustees who are also members of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2021. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
The charity was registered on 8[th] September 2020 and finances were transferred from its predecessor “Churches Together in Fleet and Church Crookham” on 1[st] April 2021. The report covers the period 8[th] September 2020 to 31[st] December 2021.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The objects of the CIO are
-
The advancement of the Christian faith for the public benefit.
-
To further such charitable purposes as are exclusively charitable and connected to the charitable work of the charity in particular but not exclusively the relief of need in the communities of Fleet, Church Crookham and the surrounding area for those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, financial hardship or other disadvantage.
Public beneft
The charity runs three projects for the benefit of the community (the trustees having regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit):
-
Fleet Angels, a Christian nightlife initiative and outreach project, the aim of which is to reduce anti-social behaviour, to be a neutral presence whilst being a positive influence, and to provide non-judgemental and caring support to those who are 'out on the town' ,and those working in the night-time economy, in Fleet town centre, while "giving an account of the hope that is in us" when asked. Fleet Angels is a partner in the Safer North Hampshire partnership.
-
Hart Foodbank, a Trussell Trust food bank operating in Fleet, Darby Green and Hook with the aim of providing emergency food and support to people living in crisis locally.
-
Anna Chaplaincy, an emerging project aiming to meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of older people. This project was closed in March 2020 and was not re-opened.
As a consequence of the Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions, from March 2020 Fleet Angels and Anna Chaplaincy were unable to operate.
Throughout the Covid Pandemic, Hart Foodbank became the primary focus of the charity and food donations, food distribution and financial giving increased significantly compared to the previous year. The Foodbank was able to successfully adapt and became able to operate a non-contact delivery service for all its clients.
From March 2020 all physical meetings were discouraged and the remainder of the year became the year of Zoom. Best efforts were made to carry out all charitable activities through Zoom-based meetings or meetings in outdoor spaces, in accordance with the legislation, and church guidance that was in place at the time.
Throughout the various lockdowns, Christians Together were able to provide marketing and information to local residents and Facebook users, through sponsored Facebook sharing and printed leaflets. These were deployed for Easter and Christmas 2020.
As a consequence of the ongoing restrictions associated with Covid-19, it became necessary to make the leader of the Fleet Angels project redundant when it became clear this ministry would not be able to operate for the foreseeable future. This happened in September 2020. Between March 2020 and August 2020, the leader of the Fleet Angels team was redeployed to support the Food Bank.
A number of Zoom-based initiatives were sucessful during the year. This included weekly zoom-based prayer meetings attended by most of the local town clergy.
A Christmas special live streaming musical event was presented in December 2020. With the exception of the United Reformed Church, all member Churches were part of the presentation.
In December 2020 volunteers from Christians Together were able to support Fleet Town Council in preparing and delivering Food Hampers for the lonely on Christmas day.
Anticipating, an increase in alcohol and drug dependency, coming out of Covid lockdowns, the charity begain looking in Feb 2021 at whether it would be possible to run a recovery course that would help those who wished to break out of drug and alcohol dependency. The preparations for this ran from … to …. At a meeting of the members of the charity, it was
agreed that this should only go ahead if a suitable leader for a course could be indentified. A video-based appeal was made to all Church members throughout Fleet and Crookham, but a suitable candidate was not forthcoming. The members of the charity decided not to go ahead with these plans.
In April 2021 a zoom-based meeting of the team leaders of Fleet Angels was held to discuss plans for returning Fleet Angels to the streets of Fleet. It was concluded that the timing was too early and clubs and pubs were not yet in need of Fleet Angels support.
In June 2021, the members of the charity bid farewell to Rev Ruth Dillon who was taking early retirement from the URC.
In September 2021 the members of the charity agreed to run a Christians Together Christmas Event at the Fleet Christmas Festival, but during October and November an increasing threat level from Covid was perceived, which hampered the planning of the Christimas event and reluctantly at the end of October, the decision was taken not to go ahead with a Christmas Event.
In November 2021 Fleet Angels team leaders met again to consider whether it was time to restart the Fleet Angels project. Nathan Ayrton was appointed as the employed project coodinator and allocated funding for 4 hours per week to make preparations to begin the project again in early 2022.
The AGM for Christians Together was held on 25[th] November 2021.
Recognising 10 years of the successful running of Hart Foodbank, a gathering was held at the end of November 2021 to celebrate what had been achieved and what was to come. This was attended by the majority of volunteers and trustees.
Volunteers from the Churches throughout Fleet and Church Crookham were able to help at the Christmas day meal, that was put on jointly with the local town council. In early 2022 funds initially received in December 2019 & 2020, which were originally held to support this event, were transferred to the Town Council to support the 2022 event.
Throughout the reporting period, members of the Charity have been regularly meeting to support one another through prayer and encouragement. A regular Thursday morning Zoom-based session has been established, with approximately monthly physical meetings.
Further the Projects Group has been carrying out bi-monthly meetings to review and supervise the core projects that the charity is responsible for, as well as receiving reports from the other Christian projects that run as separate charities in Fleet and Church Crookham.
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
In addition to the joint social and spiritual events occurring throughout the year the regular projects also proceeded in accordance with their respective objectives.
Fleet Angels
- Till March 2020, Fleet Angels volunteers continued to be a visible Christian presence on every Saturday night in the town centre. The value of the Project is appreciated by members of the public, door staff and local businesses on a weekly basis. Grants were received, in early 2020 from the Police Crime Commissioner, Co-op and Waitrose. Fleet Angels is scheduled to recommence activities in early 2022.
Hart Foodbank 2020 & 2021
- Hart Foodbank – Demand for Foodbank deliveries increased by 150% between 2019 and 2020. Donations increased even further to the extent that Foodbank was able to share its excess with Christian charities in Basingstoke, Camberley and Hart Recovery Group. Hart Foodbank was also able to extend its operation to Odiham and a Foodbank outlet is now also operating from there.
The foodbank also launched a Kids Clothing Bank that was initially hosted at LivingStones Christian Centre and has now moved to operate from a shed in Fleet Baptist Church.
Anna Chaplaincy
- The Anna Chaplaincy did not operate during the Covid lockdowns and has not recommenced operations.
Angel Bombing 2020 & 2021
- Angel Bombing, initiated by Fleet Methodist Church and supported by others, drew a large number of favourable responses on Facebook again this year.
Christmas Day Hamper 2020
- The Christmas Day Hamper, run in partnership with Fleet Town Council for those who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day, went well. A luxury hamper was delivered by volunteers from the council and Christians Together.
Additional Events
A December 2020 Christmas musical presentation was put together by each of the Churches and streamed live over Facebook and Youtube.
Christians Together was able to promote all of the Easter and Christmas services for its constituent Church members.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The results for the year are as set out in the annexed Statement of Financial Activities.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The affairs of the CIO have been directed by a board of Trustees, which meets regularly for this purpose. The Trustees meet bi-monthly to review and direct the ministries supported by the charity.
Trustees are appointed by the members.
1) At every annual general meeting of the members of the CIO, one-third of the charity trustees shall retire from office. If the number of charity trustees is not three or a multiple of three, then the number nearest to one-third shall retire from office, but if there is only one charity trustee, he or she shall retire;
-
The charity trustees to retire by rotation shall be those who have been longest in office since their last appointment or reappointment. If any trustees were last appointed or reappointed on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) be determined by lot;
-
The vacancies so arising may be filled by the decision of the members at the annual general meeting; any vacancies not filled at the annual general meeting may be filled as provided in sub-clause (4) of this clause;
-
The members or the charity trustees may at any time decide to appoint a new charity trustee, whether in place of a charity trustee who has retired or been removed in accordance with clause 15 (Retirement and removal of charity trustees), or as an additional charity trustee, provided that the limit specified in clause 12(3) on the number of charity trustees would not as a result be exceeded
-
A person so appointed by the members of the CIO shall retire in accordance with the provisions of sub-clauses (2) and (3) of this clause. A person so appointed by the charity trustees shall retire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting after the date of his or her appointment, and shall not be counted for the purpose of determining which of the charity trustees is to retire by rotation at that meeting.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity number 1191200 Registered office c/o LivingStones 277 Fleet Road Fleet Hampshire GU51 3BT
Trustees Rev Patrick Butler Rev Ruth Dillon (Stepped Down 31/01/2021) William Parker Amy Barnett (Stepped Down 02/06/2022) Mark Mabin
Independent Examiner Simon Mansell Approved by order of the board of trustees on 22 September 2022 and signed on its behalf by: Patrick Butler
Christians Together in Fleet and Church Crookham
Receipts and payments acco For the period 09/08/2020 To from
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted funds
to the nearest £
Endowment Restricted funds funds
to the nearest £
to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
----- Start of picture text -----
Transfers from Churches Together in Fleet
2,111 94,669 -
and Crookham
- - -
Donations 2 23,310 -
Gift Aid - 345 -
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
2,113 118,324 -
Sub total (Gross income for AR)
----- End of picture text -----
----- Start of picture text -----
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - -
- - -
Sub total [ - ] - -
Total receipts 2,113 118,324 -
A3 Payments
Project Leader Salaries - 15,361 -
Expenses - 515 -
Food Bank Operating Expenses - 4,461 -
Rental of Space - 3,750 -
Insurance 35 807 -
Clothing Store - 1,445 -
Outreach Events 15 126 -
Operating Expenses 72 - -
- - -
Sub total 122 26,465 -
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - -
- - -
Sub total - - -
Total payments 122 26,465 -
Net of receipts/(payments) 1,991 91,859 -
A5 Transfers between funds - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end - - -
----- End of picture text -----
Cash funds this year end 1,991 91,859 -
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of th
Categories
B1 Cash funds
B2 Other monetary assets
B3 Investment assets
Unrestricted Details funds to nearest £ Hart Food Bank - Fleet Town Centre Project - Anna Chaplaincy - Fleet Christmas Lunch - General 1,991 - Total cash funds 1,991 (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) OK Unrestricted funds Details to nearest £ Nil Fund to which asset Details belongs
Nil
Fund to which asset Details belongs B4 Assets retained for the Hart Food Bank had 5032.5kg of donated items in storage awaiting distribution. This is valued at charity’s own use a total of £6,290 at £1.25 per kg per the Trussell Trust's guidelines and is equivalent to 12 months supply.
B5 Liabilities
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
Details
Nil
Fund to which liability relates
Signature Print
1191200
ounts
----- Start of picture text -----
CC16a
----- End of picture text -----
12/31/2021
Total funds
to the nearest £
Last year
to the nearest £
----- Start of picture text -----
96,780 -
- -
23,312 -
345 -
- -
- -
- -
- -
120,437 -
----- End of picture text -----
----- Start of picture text -----
-
- -
- -
120,437 -
15,361 -
515 -
4,461 -
3,750 -
842 -
1,445 -
141 -
72 -
- -
26,587 -
----- End of picture text -----
----- Start of picture text -----
-
-
- -
26,587 -
93,850 -
- -
- -
----- End of picture text -----
he period
Restricted funds
Endowment funds
----- Start of picture text -----
to nearest £ to nearest £
68,868 -
21,733 -
186 -
1,072 -
- -
- -
91,859 -
----- End of picture text -----
OK
Restricted funds
OK
Endowment funds
----- Start of picture text -----
to nearest £ to nearest £
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
----- End of picture text -----
----- Start of picture text -----
Current value
Cost (optional)
(optional)
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Current value
Cost (optional)
(optional)
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
----- End of picture text -----
----- Start of picture text -----
Amount due When due
(optional) (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Date of
Name
approval
----- End of picture text -----