## Christians Together in Fleet and Church Crookham Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 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 2024. 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 2024 to 31[st] December 2024. ## 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 significant 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 Fleet-located community pantry and a mobile pantry (from 2025 operating out of Fleet), serving local residents of Hart through the Foodbank network. The performance of these projects is covered under Achievement and Performance below. ## _**The following comments cover the period January 2024 – December 2024.**_ In April 2024 we said goodbye to our Hart Foodbank Manager _Katherine Deamer_ and appointed joint managers Diana Fleet (operations) and Susan Hyland (New Projects). At the same time Kate Wakely was appointed Support Officer providing support to our managers while continuing to run the Community Static Pantry located in Fleet. – In May 2024 Foodbank Sunday was held at Fleet Baptist Church to introduce our new management team and to let the Church members know about the most recent initiatives of the Foodbank. Also in May 2024 we said goodbye to Rev Steven Franklin, who was retiring from his role as Vicar of Christ Church in Church Crookham. We took the opportunity to combine this with our annual Unity service at which all Christians in Fleet and Church Crookham were invited to come together in a service of worship and thanks for the unity we continue to experience through our Church communities in Fleet and Church Crookham. At the end of August 2024 Zinc Popworld, the major night club for youth in the town, closed. This resulted in a re-think of how the Fleet Angels served the night time economy. Initially till November, night time patrols were undertaken but instead of the usual 2AM finish, the patrols were limited to 12PM. The closure of the club resulted in a significant reduction in the night time activity and a shift from a focus on the Emporium Car park to the Prince Arthur end of Fleet. Consequently the Fleet Angels moved their base of operations to LivingStones, with a view to operating from that area until the night club re-opened. The closure of the club also triggered a re-evaluation of the effectiveness of the project, which concluded that, although serving diminished numbers, the project should still continue until a further re-assessment when the night club re-opened. The AGM for Christians Together was held on 10[th] October 2024. Three new candidates for the role of Trustees were proposed and accepted, Rev Helen Everard (Fleet United Reformed Church), Deacon James Snyder (Catholic Community) and Sue Rinaldi (Fleet Baptist). The remaining 3 Trustees offered, and were accepted, to continue in-roll for a further year. A new volunteer treasurer was appointed, Nigel Coleman. Thanks were offered to John Cobb, who had faithfully served as Treasurer since 2016. In late November, the charity, at the invitation of the local Christmas Festival organisers, reran the live walk-through nativity, enagaging with local families in the re-creation of the nativity story, and nativity themed crafts. At the same event Fleet Angels were able to fully support visitors to the Fleet Christmas Festival with a stall giving away free hot drinks and cakes. Hundreds of visitors were supported by both the walk-through nativity and Fleet Angels service. Both of these activities have n ow become a regular feature of the town’s Christmas Festival. 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 2024** 1. The project has been led by Janet Alston since January 2023. The project began being able to field three teams of volunteers each month. 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 2024** 2. Hart Foodbank – In the 12 months of 2024 - 1589 Food Parcels were given away (18% less than 2023). Feeding 3530 people (27% less than 2023). Note the reduction in numbers of clients fed was a specific objective of the foodbank and a direct result of the introduction of More Than Food initiatives (see later) and the availability of a community pantry. - Hart Foodbank received and gave away 37,000 kg of food and household products. - Hart Foodbank was supported by 130 volunteers. - Hart Foodbank continuously employed 4 part time staff employed for a total of 82.5 hours per week. - Hart Foodbank received referrals from 51 referral agencies referring clients to us for help. - There have been 92 different groups organizing collections for the Foodbank and 30 permanent collection points. - In addition to the Emergency Food provided by Foodbank, by the end of 2024 the newly established community pantry had signed up 123 members and was regularly serving over half of those members. The pantry supplied 8,925 Kg of food to its members, and 1,980 Kg of food to Foodbank clients who are entitled to use the community pantry for fresh food top ups. From September 2022 a mobile Food Larder was established, that visits our Darby Green Foodbank every Thursday. This is run by Fareshare and until March 2023 was funded by Hart Foodbank, but this is now self-funding from membership fees. In February 2023 Hart Foodbank received a significant grant from The Trussell Trust to establish a Financial Inclusion function within the Foodbank. The work associated with this grant began in June 2023. In June 2024 we received funding for the 2[nd] year of this project. We are anticipating that the funding will continue to support this work until June 2026. In October 2023 we received a further grant from Trussell Trust that allowed us to employ a Foodbank Support Officer to work, with our then manager Katherine, and to permit a clear strategic planning focus to emerge within the Foodbank. This grant was renewed in October 2024 and provides support till October 2025. Hart District council continues to support us with a grant to cover our rent costs for our central food warehouse. In late March 2024 Hampshire council provided us with a grant for the purchasing of food to support those in food poverty using funding from the governments household support fund, this was used to fund food provision through the community pantry. Various other significant donations, in the period, enabled us to undertake several new projects addressing the wider needs of our clients. We continue to group these projects under the title “More Than Food”. In 2024 these included benefit and debt advice, as well as signposting to a number of partner agencies and charities. These initiatives have been directly responsible for reducing the number of clients continually dependent on Food Bank Support. Donations of food and funds received by Foodbank continued to be very generous reflecting the value placed on the work by all in the community. ## **Angel Bombing 2024** 3. Angel Bombing, originally initiated by Fleet Methodist Church and supported by others, drew a large number of favourable responses on Facebook again this year. The team followed the recent model in the way that knitted angels were distributed, being gifted to children’s groups rather than hidden around the town. ## **Two Pillars 2024** 4. A new project initiative being run by two local Christians. The project seeks to establish a community of Christian worshippers who intentionally come together to worship and build community among themselves. The project intends to run bi-monthly Friday night worship events throughout the local area, making use of Church buildings and private homes, with a focus on contemporary worship. ## **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 Helen Everard Deacon James Snyder Susan Rinaldi Mark Mabin Independent Examiner Simon Mansell Approved by order of the board of trustees on 11/09/2025 and signed on its behalf by: Patrick Butler CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Roport to the trusteosl members of Christians Together in Fleet and Church Crookham On accounts for the year ended 31 De¢ember 2024 Chartty no (If any) 1191200 Set out on pages Fom CC16a (two ktygos) I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trusf) for the year ended 31 December 2024. Rosponslbllltles and As the ¢harty trustees of the Trust, you are restM)nsible for the preparation ba818 of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (kne knv). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's ac¢ounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matt8rs have Come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ') in connection with the examination whiGh gives me Cause to believe that in, any material r8SP8Ct: a￿OUntIng records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of th6 Act or the accounts do not accord wth the a¢¢ountng records Independont examlnerfs statsmont I have no cOn￿mS and have come across no other matters in connection with th8 examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. 'p e delete the words in the br8ckets rfthey do not apply. Slgned: Date: 17 August 2025 Name: Simon Mansell Relovant professlonal qualllleatlon(s) or body (If any): FCCA Address: 22 Harrow Road Fleet GU511JD IER October 2018 Section 8 Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of con￿rn (see CC32, Independent examination of chanty acLounts'. directions and guidance for examiners). Gfve here brl•f detalls of any Items that the examlner wishes to dlsclose. NIA IER October 2018 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Chrfstl•n• Togethèr in Fl••t and Church Crookham t1￿200 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Fof th• prlod 01101r2024 3111212024 To Section A Receipts and payments Unr8strictsd funds to tho n•wBBt £ lo th• MAr88t£ Endowment funds Rostrictod fund• Totsl funds Lo•t y•ar t4 th• th• n•Ar8•t É A1 Rtt•ipts S7.156 4639 81037 58.356 5,020 037 947 Gift Ajd Gran Interest 167 Sub total( AR) 1.748 1x612 124360 A2 Asso1 and Inv4stment sal￿. tsblg). Sub total 1,748 124,612 121,260 A3Pa onts Project Lea(kr Salaiies Expenses Fo(A1 Bank Rental of Spa InsuraKe Far8Share Outre8th E¥ents Fitontsal Indusiic 11 1,Y97 13.773 117n 1.140 7,726 7.726 169 37.331 37,331 143 143 Sub tot•1 493 101.690 101183 A4 Asset and invesknont pulchasos. tabl•l Sub total 101,890 101183 Net ofrecwpW(payments) AS Trnnsfern botwo•n lunds A6 Cash funds last yèar end Cash funds Ihls yearend 241n 1,143 2,398 124,516 147.437 126.868 149,836 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrostrfctsd Rostrfct•d funds Endowment funds to nearnst£ CJt8goiies Details B1 Cash fund8 Hart Fc<#J Bank 14107 Fket To%Yn Centre Prl8c* 13.144 Afin8 2.398 Tol￿ cash fiuKIs 2,398 147,437 funds to n8ar88t£ Detsils to noare¥l£ Fund towhlch •u•t Currnnt valu• Details CO￿ Details Hart Fc<#J Bank had 14.422.25kg Old¢N￿￿j b•lon Hart Foryj Bank B4 A88ets retain•d for the harlty's own use vaw al a tol81 of £21,633 38 81£1.50 F4r kg per the TnJs8ell Tnmlb guKJelirw and equwaknt to 12 months SLWkty. Fundto whlch Amount Wh•n dy• Details B5 Liabiliti08 za•• Signed by one ortwo trustees on t*half of 811 the tru8tee8 Signature Pn"nt Name Date of roval