2021-12-31-accounts

CHURCHES T￿ETHER inCUMBRIA ANN_UAL REPORT 2.0 2-0 ¥1 God J Anna Chaplaincy forAII f0ro1*rpeo￿ Cumbria

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P R E S I D E N T ' S R E P O R T

Revd Andrew Dodd, CTiC President

I have been in the role of President of CTiC from January 2020.

CTiC has secured registration as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation through the extensive work of our past Vice President David Richardson who has now left Cumbria for pastures new. His extensive administrative work has been taken over by Sheila Goodliffe and seeing her workload and seeing the e mail count rise we continue to miss the role of a county ecumenical officer to cover many bases which can’t be covered by volunteers.

These have been unprecedented times for us all and the difficulties of the various periods of lockdown have meant we have rarely been able, if at all to meet face to face.

Various periods of Lockdown have

meant that we have rarely been able, if at all to meet face to face. While the business of being CTiC at county level has been able to be conducted through zoom, often most efficiently in terms of time spent travelling from our kitchen to the lounge/ home office as opposed to a 90-minute drive plus travelling expense we have missed personal interactions. This has often been equally difficult at local level.

Despite difficulties, local Christians have remained in touch with each other and in fact, ecumenical relating has often been aided by undertaking common cause supporting each other and our communities. I have lost count of the number of these initiatives as they have arisen across the county breaking down barriers between churches who may differ on doctrine

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and praxis. Communities around then see the Church in action. The

standing of the Church in lists A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 2 0 charting ‘’popularity ‘’ in society has gone up significantly.

Last year I wrote’ ’To be identifiable however there needs to be a senseFrom the President of, being the body of Christ in our fields of witness and work together. To live freely there needs to be some form.’’

In light of the continued

development of God for All, the joint strategy shared by the Church of England, Methodist Church, Salvation Army, and United Reformed Church in Cumbria, supported by CTiC, we have continued to try to work out the relationship between CTiC at County and mission communities at local level. Despite much time at the keyboard producing reports and line drawings plus hours on Zoom, how to marry up the two streams

remains unclear. Local ecumenism is struggling to maintain structures, some need to die to experience necessary change and resurrection, there is however an eternal source

of life in the Spirit which this gives us hope for and confidence in the future. Often aided by independent churches, who are not formally part of CTiC, several localities have significant ecumenical work underway and improving relationships despite denominational differences .Our thanks go to present and past CTiC staff, officeholders and trustees the denominational ecumenical officer's Church leaders and many volunteers in local groups for your work over the last year.

ANDREW DODD

CTiC President

of life in the Spirit which this gives us hope for and confidence in the future. Often aided by independent churches, who are not formally part of CTiC, several localities have significant ecumenical work underway and improving

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FINANCIAL REPORT 2020

Revd Canon Cameron Butland, CTiC Treasurer

2020 was a very difficult year. The finances of Churches Together in Cumbria are based on three streams of income: local giving, denominational giving; and grants. The first of these three sources of funding were significantly down and opportunities to raise funds were non-existent because of the pandemic. Having said this by careful management of the funds, together with staff changes and the completion of the dementia friendly church project, the loss on the year was kept to £1,729.

Looking forward to the coming year it appears prudent to assume that again local giving either from Churches Together Groups or by

donations/collections from events will remain very low. At the same time CTiC is indebted to the Henry Smith Fund for its generous grant to fund the Anna Chaplaincy and to build on the work of the Dementia Friendly Churches project. CTiC recognises the severe pressures on the denominational budgets.

We are grateful for the support we receive from the churches, as a result we are anxious to spend what we receive effectively and to keep the budget in balance.

To achieve a balanced budget on the basis of the 2020 income therefore the expenditure must remain tightly controlled. As a result, it is assumed that we will not now appoint an administrator. Rather the administration will continue to be provided by Curlew Secretarial Solutions, we are grateful to Gwen for her skill, dedication and efficiency. At the same time CTiC will also be looking to replace the Social Responsibility Officer and due to saving elsewhere in the budget these hours can remain up to 20 per week. This will be important for CTiC to play a full part in the Ecumenical God for All Vision Strategy going forward and its four themes. CTiC remains committed to the ecumenical social responsibility work on behalf of all the churches in the county but recognises the need for this to be fully integrated into the Vision.

CTiC has been indebted to the work of David Richardson as Treasurer. He took over from me in 2017 and now I have taken on the treasurer’s role again. The accounts are very well looked after by Mel Jolly.

Thank you to everyone who has supported CTiC in 2020. We hope to be able to play our part in support of the mission entrusted to the churches and Christian fellowships in Cumbria over the coming year and to move forward again in 2022.

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S O C I A L R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y F O R U M R E P O R T

by Revd David Pitkeathly

The Social Responsibility Forum has met more frequently in the past year than in previous years. Zoom has enabled us to gather more regularly without the challenge of travel across a large County and we have done some serious reflection in recent months on the nature of our role and make-up. We have sought to consider how we might continue to work effectively and cooperatively in view of the particular emphasis on social justice and the environment within Vision Refresh. The Pandemic has brought to the fore many distinctive issues of concern and the Forum along with its Officer, Shelagh Goldie, has sought to respond in caring and creative ways. We have been conscious of the anguish of loss experienced by so many Cumbrians and have responded by offering online

‘The Bereavement journey’ course. This sixweek course that helps those in grieving, manage the profound changes to life that follow bereavement has been delivered on three occasions and has brought comfort to a good number of local people. Other Christian bodies have sent participants to the course, and it is being delivered now by some Churches and groups of Churches within the County. The Chair of the Forum has also served on a new body ‘The Cumbria Bereavement Partnership’ that allows agencies serving in this delicate area to pool together their ideas and resources as well as pursuing new caring initiatives.

The Forum and its officer have been aware of the anguish of isolation and loneliness during lockdowns and have welcomed and positively encouraged the increasing presence of ‘Linking Lives’ groups in the County. A representative of the Linking Lives national organisation addressed our 2019 Summer gathering and this has proved a timely initiative. Cockermouth has an established group that seeks to draw alongside those experiencing loneliness through referrals from the local health centre. The Cockermouth group have launched a telephone service called ‘Two’s Company’ with home visits being restricted during the past year. It is heartening to see Kendal and Kirkby Stephen churches considering the launch of similar ventures and this may be a good option in other corners of Cumbria.

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While it has been harder to pursue other matters due to Covid restrictions, two other areas that we have prioritised in recent years have remained to the fore in the last year. Shelagh, along with forum members, has sought to build on the day conference we hosted in 2019 that brought together the many agencies addressing Housing and Homelessness in Cumbria. This significant event and subsequent follow ups to it have facilitated better relationships within the Sector and members have participated in District and County Forums that are exploring positive affordable housing initiatives. Shelagh has continued to develop a close working relationship with Cumbria police on the worrying issue of Modern Slavery and a steering group involving forum members and others has continued to meet with representatives of the Force. The Police are able to use church premises as neutral venues to meet with victims of modern slavery and they seem to value the spirit of partnership and care that the Church in Cumbria offers. In the past year awareness training has been delivered in the County to good numbers by the Clewer Initiative and this again was facilitated by Shelagh. We are hugely grateful to the tireless work of Nicola Reynolds who as Emergency Planning Officer has served on the Cumbria Covid resilience group and kept Churches informed about responses to the crisis. Other forum members have contributed actively to their local district resilience groups and the Chair has been part of frequent meetings of the Third Sector Network Executive. As Shelagh Goldie stands down from her position as Officer, we are hugely grateful to her for her enthusiasm and industry and her engagement with such a diversity of issues from the environment to period poverty to adoption. Her interest in developing the potential of Green Health will, I am sure, continue to be a benefit to the County’s Christian community in years to come. I as Chair also stand down after 5 years and have counted it a true privilege to serve within such a just, vibrant and compassionate body. It has been wonderful to work cooperatively with Christians from such a large number of denominational backgrounds and to seek together to share the transforming love and justice of Christ’s kingdom in this County. I wish Derek Lacey God’s richest blessing and leading as he assumes the role.

"Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12:13

ANNA CHAPLAINCY REPORT

Dr. Katherine Froggatt Anna Chaplaincy Lead

Supported nationally by the Bible Reading Fellowship. there are now over 160 Anna Chaplains across the United Kingdom. The key principles underpinning Anna Chaplaincy work are:

• Individuals are appointed, authorised by, and accountable to, their local

church/group of ‘Churches Together mission communities;

• The ministry is ecumenical and community based;

• Anna Chaplains provide wider advocacy and champion for older people role in the wider community;

• Anna Chaplaincy reaches out to people of strong, little or no faith.

A 2-year project, funded by the Henry Smith Charity, commenced in October 2020 to develop Anna Chaplaincy across Cumbria. A project plan of activity was agreed with the Anna Chaplaincy Advisory Group (December 2020) (Appendix 1). This addressed eight areas with clear objectives and outcomes identified.

Update on work to date as of May 10th 2021

• To date four Anna Chaplains have been appointed in Cumbria:

Barrow: Babs Lowe

Kendal, Holy Trinity Parish Church: Beverley Moore

Anna Chaplaincy is a ministry of spiritual care provision directed towards older people wherever they live.

East of Eden Mission Community: Wendy Wilson

Low Furness: Margaret Tate Beverley Moore was commissioned in December; the remaining Chaplains are waiting for restrictions to ease before their commissioning happens.

• Further discussions are being undertaken with five potential Anna Chaplains in the Carlisle, Eden Valley, Milnthorpe / Heversham and Allerdale areas.

Seven individuals have also come forward

from five different denominations to be Anna Friends in Barrow.

• Presentations have been given to Brampton Mission Community (January 2021), the Bay Christian Medical Fellowship group (February 2021), Cumbria Mothers Union Council meeting

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(March 2021), Windermere Deanery Synod (March 2021) and Solway and Calder Deanery Chapters (March and May 2021). • Engagement with Dementia Enablers is ongoing in order to identify how to integrate their work with the Anna Chaplaincy ministry. Meetings have been held in Barrow and Ken dal with Dementia Enablers by the local Anna Chaplains.

Education, training and support

• The Anna Chaplaincy Lead meets with each Anna Chaplain regularly on a one to one basis to identify any learning needs and provide ongoing mentoring.

• A six-week online Introduction to Anna Chaplaincy course is being run over April and May 2021. The course offers a space to explore Anna Chaplaincy and their role and focus within the ministry. Eighteen people are undertaking the course: current Anna Chaplains, people considering becoming Anna Chaplains and people considering becoming Anna Friends. There is representation from across the county and from different denominations (Methodist, Anglican, independent).

• A Cumbria Anna Chaplaincy Forum is meeting for Anna Chaplains and others working in older people’s ministry across Cumbria as a place of mutual support and information sharing.

• The Chaplain of Chaplains is available to all Anna Chaplains who would like to be on his list for information and support.

• The annual conference is planned for September 18th 2021 in an online format. We have confirmed presentations from: Keith Albans (Methodist Minister and former Director of Spiritual Care for MHA Homes) Terry Peate (Linking Lives), Jeanette Main (Lyrics and Lunch), Tina English (Care Home Friends) and an experiential workshop with Kathryn Lord from Stories for the Soul.

An evaluation of the Anna Chaplaincy project is being undertaken. It will draw on national evaluation work undertaken by the Bible Reading Fe llowship and report after 12 and 24 months.

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Profile

• Monthly contributions about the Anna Chaplaincy project continue to be made to the CTiC newsletter.

• A FACEBOOK page has been developed, to link with the national Anna Chaplaincy Facebook page and activity in each community.

• Regular contributions have been made to the national Anna Chaplaincy blog about activity in Cumbria. See for example:

HTTPS://WWW.ANNACHAPLAINCY.ORG.UK/POST/BEVERLEY

MOORE COMMISSIONED AS FIRST ANNA CHAPLAIN IN CUMBRIA

HTTPS://WWW.ANNACHAPLAINCY.ORG.UK/POST/ANNA CHAPLAINCY SPREADS HOPE TO BARROW S OLDER RESIDENTS HTTPS://WWW.ANNACHAPLAINCY.ORG.UK/POST/EDEN

VALLEY ANNA CHAPLAIN WITH A BACKGROUND IN HEALTH VISITING HTTPS://WWW.ANNACHAPLAINCY.ORG.UK/POST/ANNA

CHAPLAINCY GETS A BOOST IN CUMBRIA

HTTPS://WWW.ANNACHAPLAINCY.ORG.UK/POST/ANOTHER-ANNA-CHAPLAIN-FOR-CUMBRIA HTTPS://WWW.ANNACHAPLAINCY.ORG.UK/POST/TEA-SERVICE-IN-THE-LAKES

Anna Chaplaincy in Cumbria was also featured in the latest edition of The Way: HTTPS://COFECARLISLE.CONTENTFILES.NET/MEDIA/DOCUMENTS/DOCUMENT/2021/03/TH E_WAY_SPRING_2021 MIN.PDF

Anna Chaplaincy work in Cumbria has featured on the radio nationally and in Cumbria. The Sunday morning service on Radio 4 on March 21st 2021 was titled ‘Lost years’ and focused on Anna Chaplaincy. The service included a short interview with Babs Lowe (Barrow Anna Chaplain):

HTTPS://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/SOUNDS/PLAY/M000TCK0

•Beverley Moore (Anna Chaplain Kendal) was interviewed by Richard Corrie for Radio Cumbria and this was aired on 25th April 2021.

HTTPS://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/PROGRAMMES/P09DJ46M

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Sustainability

Two issues continue to be addressed with respect to the ongoing sustainability of the Anna Chaplaincy ministry in Cumbria after the funding for the current project ends in 2022. These concern ongoing funding for Anna Chaplaincy work at a local level and a n ongoing home for a coordinated Cumbria Anna Chaplaincy approach either under CTiC or in a newly formed charity.

An options paper will be presented to the Anna Chaplaincy Advisory Group in June 2021.

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CTIC EMERGENCY RESPONSE COORDINATORS REPORT Revd Nicola Reynolds

I do not need to remind people that 2020 and 2021 has been a very difficult year for everyone all over the world. In 2015 we had our last major Emergency when the floods hit a wide part of the County and on one occasion previous, when I went into the Fire and Rescue Centre in Penrith for a meeting with the County Council and other statuary and third sector groups, in my “Dog Collar”, I was greeted with the words “Thank God the Church is here”. It was me but the presence of the Church that was an assurance to the people there that in all that was happening God was with us.

In 2020 when the pandemic started to

take hold I was called by someone from a Church and asked “Why is the church NOT doing anything”. I tactfully pointed out that the people from the churches in Cumbria had been on the ground, working together in so many different ways to meet the needs of their communities, that the physical buildings were closed but the Church folk from ALL denominations were working together with the people in the communities to meet the needs of all God’s people. They put aside their different ways of being church and responding to God’s call to serve those in need.

Thank you to all of you who responded to that Call and have established groups and friendships across Cumbria.

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THE CHURCH WAS THERE AND IS THERE, THE PEOPLE OF FAITH WERE AND ARE THERE

I hope you have been receiving the information that has been sent out through CTiC to keep us up to date as the pandemic progress and it has enabled Cumbria County Council, the NHS, the Statuary Agencies, the Third sector Agencies, Voluntary Agencies and all the Individuals who are keeping the messages in the front of people’s minds, it has paid off. Throughout these last two years so much has happened and it impossible to list all the work that has gone on but we are now moving into the recovery phase and this will probably take much longer than the other emergencies we have faced.

One of the wonderful pieces of news came from Ulverston when the Revd Darren Roy rang me to ask if we were still looking for another County Emergency Response Coordinator for CTiC.

He has been welcomed with open arms and is now covering the South of the County and will take over from me when we have spent time looking at how we will respond to Pandemics in the future. We have agreed that we now need someone to take on the role, covering the North of the county so if this is something you feel you could respond to please let me know as soon as possible.

The Cumbria County Local Resilience Group established by the County Council is made up of all the District Councils and agencies such as the Lakes National Park. Districts and areas have been responding in different ways and as best they can to some of the issues that have arisen especially as Lockdowns and Restrictions are being lifted.

As we are moving towards and through recovery the Cumbria County Council has set up an online survey. This is one of the ways of getting peoples views on what went well, what could be changed or added to the response is to set up a Postit Survey which I will be sending out through CTiC. The survey has several pages each with about 5 headings. By clicking on the X at the top of each question you can say how you felt things worked, ideas on how they could have worked better or if they did not work at all. You do not have to give your name these are Postits notes and are completely anonymous. Please have a look at this and respond. Your response could be the breakthrough that is needed.

Thank you again for all you have done.

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C U M B R I A E C U M E N I C A L S P I R I T U A L I T Y G R O U P Revd Kath Dodd

As part of our desire to encourage each other in our walk with God, a major part of our work is to train, support and resource spiritual directors. As we moved into 2020 we were running a ten-session course which, due to lockdowns, we had to complete by delivering the final session on zoom. Seven course participants have felt drawn to offer themselves as spiritual directors. The number of requests for a director slowed down considerably, but nevertheless, there were 17 requests in all. Ruth Lee ([e-mail]) is the contact person for any requests.

It is important for all directors to have a supervisor, and this usually takes place in peer supervision groups. Ali Betteridge ([e-mail]) offers support in this area, as well as co-ordinating resource days for SDs.

Later in the year we made the big decision to run the 2021 Nourishing the Soul course on zoom, and we started to advertise and prepare.

We have endeavoured to keep our web pages up to date, and they can be found on the CTiC website. We started to provide some inspirational content to the monthly CTiC newsletter.

Team members often lead retreats and prayer days. Cameron (also the Diocesan Spirituality Advisor) ran two online retreats, as well as online prayer courses in Advent and Lent. I led a women’s zoom retreat (Surely the Lord is in this place) in the Autumn.

For general enquiries about prayer groups in Cumbria contact Cameron on [e-mail]

We were sorry to lose Terry Winterton (Friend) from the team, but are delighted that Godfrey Butland has recently joined us, so the current members are Ali Betteridge, Alison Butland, Cameron Butland, Godfrey Butland, Kath Dodd, Ruth Lee.

Enquiries to Alison on [e-mail]

M E M B E R C H U R C H E S

Baptist Union of Great Britian Religious Society of Friends Church of Scotland Methodist Church United Reformed Church

Orthodox Church in Cumbria Churches in Communities International Church of England Salvation Army Roman Catholic Church

C T I C T R U S T E E S

Revd Andrew Dodd Revd Canon Cameron Butland Mr Derek Lacey Miss Sheila Goodliffe Revd Nicola Reynolds

Mr Brian Pateman Mr Paul Burden Revd Richard Snow Mr Bill Bewley Revd Kath Dodd

O F F I C E R S , S T A F F A N D V O L U N T E E R S U P P O R T

President: Revd Andrew Dodd Vice-President: Sheila Goodliffe Acting Administrator: Gwen Backhouse Chair of Social Responsibility Forum: Derek Lacey Social Responsibility Officer: Jo Phillips Chair of Anna Chaplaincy Advisory Committee: Di Armstrong Anna Chaplaincy Lead: Dr. Katherine Froggatt Lead Emergency Planning Co-ordinator: Revd Nicola Reynolds

www.churchestogethercumbria.org.uk | Registered Charity: 1191358

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Year Ended 31 December 2021 IDdependeHt Euuillers Rey They show funds at the year end of £80589 I confimi that they are in accordance with the accounting records Lois Morton (Raired member of ofT&Tation Trthnicians) 6 Greystoke Park Rorf Penri￿ Cumbria CAI19BT 2 May 2022