## Christians Together in Fleet and Church Crookham Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
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 2023. 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 1[st] January 2023 to 31[st] December 2023.
## OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The objects of the CIO are
1. The advancement of the Christian faith for the public benefit.
2. 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 benefit
The charity runs two projects for the benefit of the community (the trustees having regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit):
1. 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.
2. Hart Foodbank, a Trussell Trust food bank operating in Fleet, Darby Green, Odiham and Hook with the aim of providing emergency food and support to people living in crisis locally. The foodbank also operates a community pantry located in Fleet.
The performance of these projects is covered under Achievement and Performance below.
## _**The following comments cover the period January 2023 – December 2023.**_
The year usually begins with a service of Christian Unity, typically held at Church on the Heath. However given the significance of the rebuilding and re-opening of the Fleet Parish Church, All Saints, this service of unity was delayed till the beginning of June.
This first joint service at All Saints, gave us the opportunity to celebrate our working together, to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to working to meet the objectives of the charity and to rejoice with the All Saints community in the completion of the Church rebuild.
At the end of 2022 we said goodbye to our long-term manager Hart Foodbank Manager _Christine Sidall_ and said hello to our new manager _Katherine Deamer_ . She formally took over as manager in January 2023.
In February 2023, Fleet Angels, our project supporting the night time economy in Fleet, appointed our new Project Manager, Janet Alston. Janet’s presence on the team gave the project the energy it needed to recommence regular Saturday night sessions on Fleet Road, initially with 2 Saturdays per month but rising to 3 Saturdays every month by the end of the year.
In February 2023 Hart Foodbank received a significant grant from The Trussell Trust to establish a Financial Inclusion function within the Foodbank. This would enable the Foodbank to support clients by connecting them with advisors who could offer support for those clients who were struggling with debt issues, or who were in need of legal or benefits advice to help them in the circumstances that they found themselves. The grant enabled us to fund an employee within the foodbank, to fund an employee within Citizens Advice and to fund the establishment of CAP debt centre serving our clients.
Following the receipt of the grant, the Foodbank were able to employ David Alston as our Financial Inclusion Coordinator and Alice as the Foodbank connection with Citizens Advice. They began in post in May 2023.
Further grant success came for the Foodbank, when it was successfully awarded a grant from Hampshire Council for the establishment of a fixed community pantry in Fleet and the funding of a mobile pantry in Hook. These added to the mobile community pantry that was already operating in Darby Green. Kate Wakley was employed as our Community Pantry Manager and tasked with the establishment and opening of the fixed community pantry in Fleet. She joined foodbank in July and the pantry opened in September.
A further grant was received from Trussell Trust that permitted us to employ Diana Fleet as a Support Officer in October 2023.
The highlight of our year together, was our involvement in the town-wide celebrations for the Kings Coronation. Preparations began early in the new year and key members of the charity worked with the local community in the planning and running of the event. We worked together with Fleet Angels volunteers and LivingStones to run 3 community stalls as part of the Sunday town-wide celebrations.
From the Catholic Community Father Peter Hart was succeeded in August 2023 by Father John Promise Umeozuru. Since Father “JP” joined us there has been increased opportunity to work together within the community, which has been of benefit to all members of the Charity.
The AGM for Christians Together was held on 5[th] October 2023. Rev Steve Franklin stated that it was his intention to step down as a trustee from early 2024 when he was scheduled to retire from Christ Church, Church Crookham. There were no new candidates for Trustees and the remaining 3 Trustees offered, and were accepted, to continue in-roll for a further year.
In September the members of the charity agreed to run two Christians Together Christmas Events at the Fleet Christmas Festival. The first event was a repeat of our Live Nativity walkthrough experience. The second was a new “Victorian Carol Jukebox”. Both were well received at the town’s Christmas festival held in late November.
Throughout the period, Zoom-based meetings of the local Church leaders and ministers continued, with physical breakfast meetings happening on an approximately monthly basis. These weekly meetings are the primary mechanism for sharing information between the members of the charity.
In addition the trustees of the charity met bi-monthly with leaders of local projects to monitor and direct the progress of the charitable activities directly associated with Christians Together in Fleet and Church Crookham and to communicate with other affiliated works being carried out by the FACCTS and LivingStones charities.
## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE**
In addition to the joint community and spiritual events occurring throughout the year the regular projects also proceeded in accordance with their respective objectives.
## **Fleet Angels**
1. The project was led by Janet Alston since January 2023. The project began being able to field two teams of volunteers each month, and in the latter months of the year has been able to field 3 teams of volunteers. The value of the Project is appreciated by members of the public, door staff of night venues and local businesses. No Grants were received or applied for in the period. The covid-enforced pause (2020 – 2021) in the project meant that sufficient funds were available to not require any additional fund raising.
## **Hart Foodbank**
2. Hart Foodbank – In the 12 months of 2023
- 1919 Food Parcels were given away (5% less than 2022). Feeding 4875 people (2% less than 2022).
- Hart Foodbank received and gave away 52,800 kg of food and household products.
- Hart Foodbank was supported by 130 volunteers.
- Hart Foodbank received referrals from 40 referral agencies referring clients to us for help.
- There have been 92 different groups organizing collections for the Foodbank and 30 permanent collection points.
From September 2022 a mobile Food Larder was established, that visits our Darby Green Foodbank every Thursday. This is run by Fareshare and was initially funded by Hart. Foodbank, but this is now self-funding from membership fees.
Thanks to a Grant from Hampshire Council we were able to fund a further mobile pantry that visited Hook from April 2023 and we established a static community pantry in Fleet. Kate Wakley was employed as our Community Pantry Manager and tasked with the establishment and opening of the fixed pantry in Fleet. She joined foodbank in July and the pantry opened in September.
In February 2023 Hart Foodbank received a significant grant from The Trussell Trust to establish a Financial Inclusion function within the Foodbank. This would enable the Foodbank to support clients by connecting them with advisors who could offer support for those clients who were struggling with debt issues, or who were in need of legal or benefits advice to help them in the circumstances that they found themselves. The grant enabled us to fund an employee within the foodbank, to fund an employee within Citizens Advice and to fund the establishment of CAP debt centre serving our clients.
Following the receipt of the grant, the Foodbank was able to employ David Alston as our Financial Inclusion Coordinator and Alice as the Foodbank connection with Citizens Advice. They began in post in May 2023.
A further grant was received from Trussell Trust that permitted us to employ Diana Fleet as a Support Officer in October 2023.
Donations of food and funds received by Foodbank were very generous reflecting the value placed on the work by all in the community.
## **Angel Bombing 2023**
3. Angel Bombing, initiated by Fleet Methodist Church and supported by others, drew a large number of favourable responses on Facebook again this year. The team changed the way that knitted angels were distributed, as in previous years a few members of the public had abused the generosity of the team and taken large numbers of knitted angels depriving others of the opportunity of finding one.
## **Additional Events**
4. As a part of the town-wide Coronation celebrations, Christians Together in Fleet and Church Crookham, together with LivingStones and Fleet Angels organised a number of stalls at the town-wide celebrations. It is always good to be a part of what is happening in the town.
5. Following an invitation from the Town’s organising committee, the charity ran two Christians Together Christmas Events at the Fleet Christmas Festival. The first event was a repeat of our Live Nativity walk-through experience. The second was a new “Victorian Carol Jukebox”, which raised funds for Hart Foodbank. Both were well received.
## **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;
1. 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;
2. 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;
3. 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
4. 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 William Parker Rev Steven Franklin (Retired May 2024) Mark Mabin
Independent Examiner Simon Mansell
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 10[th] October 2024 and signed on its behalf by: Patrick Butler
|**Christians Together in Fleet and Church Crookham**|**Christians Together in Fleet and Church Crookham**|**Christians Together in Fleet and Church Crookham**|**1191200**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Receipts andpayments accounts**||||
|**For the period from**|01/01/2023|**To**|31/12/2023|
**CC16a**
|**Section A Receipts and payments**|**Section A Receipts and payments**|**Section A Receipts and payments**||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**A1 Receipts**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**||**Restricted funds**
**to the nearest £**||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**||**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**||**Last year**
**to the nearest £**|
||||||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|Donations|**800**||**47,314**||**-**||**48,114**||**-**|
|Gift Aid|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|Grants|**-**||**77,959**||**-**||**77,959**||**-**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for AR)_|**800**||**125,273**||**-**||**126,073**||**-**|
|||||||||||
|**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**||||||||||
||**-**|||||||||
||**-**||||||||**-**|
|**_Sub total_**|**-**||||||||**-**|
|**_Total receipts_**
**A3 Payments**||||||||||
||||||||||**-**|
|||||||||||
|
Project Leader Salaries|**-**||**43,776**||**-**||**43,776**||**-**|
|Expenses|**-**||**1,752**||**-**||**1,752**||**-**|
|Food Bank OperatingExpenses|**-**||**8,686**||**-**||**8,686**||**-**|
|Rental of Space|**-**||**5,000**||**-**||**5,000**||**-**|
|Insurance|||**1,083**||**-**||**1,083**||**-**|
|FareShare|**-**||**8,788**||**-**||**8,788**||**-**|
|Outreach Events|**857**||**60**||**-**||**917**||**-**|
|Financial Inclusiion|||**15,230**||**-**||**15,230**||**-**|
|OperatingExpenses|**163**||**1,208**||**-**||**1,371**||**-**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**_Sub total_ **|**1,020**||**85,583**||**-**||**86,603**||**-**|
|||||||||||
|**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_**||||||||||
||||||||||**-**|
|||||||||||
||**- 220**||||||||**-**|
||**-**||||||||**-**|
||**1,363**||||||||**-**|
||**1,143**||||||||**-**|
## **Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
|**Categories**
**B1 Cash funds**|General
Hart Food Bank
Fleet Town Centre Project
Anna Chaplaincy
**Details**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**1,143**
**-**|**Restricted funds**
**to nearest £**
**107,063**
**17,266**
**186**
**-**
**-**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Hart Food Bank|**-**|**107,063**|**-**|
||Fleet Town Centre Project|**-**|**17,266**|**-**|
||Anna Chaplaincy|**-**|**186**|**-**|
|||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||General|**1,143**||**-**|
|||**-**|**-**|**-**|
|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**|Signature
Nil
**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))
Nil
**Details**
**Details**
Nil
**Details**
Hart Food Bank had 12,904.36kg of donated
items in storage awaiting distribution. This is
valued at a total of £19,356.54 at £1.50 per kg
per the Trussell Trust's guidelines and is
equivalent to 12 months supply.|**1,143**|
|---|---|---|
||||
||||
## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
**Report to the trustees/** Charity Name **members of** Christians Together in Fleet and Church Crookham
**On accounts for the year** 31 December 2023 **Charity no** 1191200 **ended (if any)**
**Set out on pages** See attached
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2023.
- **Responsibilities and** As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation **basis of report** of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed 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 (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
* _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._
**Date:** 10 April 2024
**Signed: Name:** Simon Mansell **Relevant professional** ACCA **qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** 22 Harrow Road Fleet GU51 1JD
1
**October 2018**
**IER**
## **Section B Disclosure**
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
**Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .
Not applicable
2
**October 2018**
**IER**