2023-12-31-accounts - Churches Together In Cumbria

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

CHURCHES TETHER inCUMBRIA God Anna Chaplaincy forAII lor0lderoe Cumbria

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

Revd Richard Snow, CTiC Vice President

Ours is a truly fascinating and unique county. Over the last year there have been opportunities to meet with people from other parts of the country and hear them talk about their ecumenical landscape. There are similarities of course, but there are also significant differences; the years of prayer, encouragement, relationship building, local initiatives, seem to have led to uniquely fertile and fruitful ground in Cumbria. Evidence of that can be seen in the Covenant Partnership of four of our member churches, and the Companionship of others. There is a commitment to ecumenical working around the county from church leaders that is not replicated in other places.

Although we talk of Cumbria as an Ecumenical County that doesn’t mean we have ‘arrived’; we are still work in progress. In truth ours is a mixed, and some would say complicated, ecumenical landscape. There are Mission Communities and Churches Together Groups; there is the God for All vision and strategy, and there are denominational emphases and initiatives. Understanding how everything fits together is not straightforward.

My own context is a microcosm. I co-lead a Mission Community with a Methodist minister and we have our own local covenant between the Parish, the Methodist Church and the local Roman Catholic Church. At the same time there is a very faithful and active Christians Together Group which includes the local Quaker meeting. If you tried to draw a diagram to represent this it would be a complicated picture of intersecting circles. More importantly there a is foundation of prayer, faith, hope and love and this provides the framework on which things get built.

The Cumbria context is also changing. The Methodist Church is bringing 5 separate Districts together into one North West England District (Cumbria will be a ‘Mission Area’ within this new District recognising its special ecumenical character). There is also the possibility of Cumbria becoming a single circuit. Bishop James retired in 2023 and his replacement won’t be in place for at least 12 months, even if the process runs smoothly. Local government has also changed with the six district councils and Cumbria County Council being replaced by two new unitary authorities.

We are on a journey and this is God’s work; the one who has led up to this point is faithful. Churches Together in Cumbria is evolving within this changing landscape but still focussing on encouraging and supporting Christians working together at a local level for the good of all, and engaging with the unitary authorities on behalf of the church in Cumbria. There were a number of retirements and changes during 2023: Andrew Dodd and Sheila Goodliffe retired from their positions as president and vice-president, Brian Pateman (CT group rep) and Nicola Reynolds (DEO rep, and emergency planning officer) have also retired as Trustees, and Alistair Smeaton (URC minister) has been co-opted. We are extremely grateful for their years of service to CTiC and for the energy, enthusiasm and commitment they brought to the ecumenical journey.

Finally, a huge thank you to all the local groups across the county, for their faithfulness and dedication to working together and for all that they do to serve their communities.

RICHARD SNOW

CTiC Vice President

FINANCIAL REPORT 2023

Revd Kath Dodd CTiC Treasurer

Over the past year we have funded 3 Social Responsibility initiatives. Firstly we employed Jo Phillips as Ecumenical Social Responsibility Officer (ESRO). At the end of 2023, Jo resigned as ESRO, but continued her work with Modern Slavery which had gained in momentum during 2023. For several months we paid Jo’s salary for this work, but we are delighted that in March Westmorland & Furness granted funding for this work. CTIC will continue to host the role and cover admin costs.

Secondly, we have provided administrative support for the Anna Chaplaincy Lead – first Annie Gray, followed by Samantha Pester. The AC work is largely funded by the Henry Smith Charity, but CTIC cover administrative costs.

Thirdly, since the beginning of the year we have funded Jonny Gios to complete a Social Action Audit (supported by the Cinammon Trust)

This year we propose to provide some funding to the Cumbria Ecumenical Spirituality Group. Soon after their inception in 2010, they asked to come under the auspices of CTIC, and have been self-funding. However, due to the significance of their work in the county, and its alignment with the Charity’s object of ‘promoting the Christian Faith’, the Trustees have approved some funding which will help them to be both more sustainable and more effective.

During 2023 there was an increase in funds of £2,500 over the year. Income was higher than expected (both from the denominations and the CT groups), but this helped us cover an overdue increase in salaries enabling us to catch up with inflation.

This year we have asked the sponsoring denominations for a 5% increase, as there has been no increase for over 6 years.

However, since we haven’t yet been able to find a new ESRO, we predict an unexpected surplus for the year. The trustees believe it is necessary to take time to consider if, and how, the nature of the role might change in the future. At the same time, we are keen to employ as soon as possible. We are considering a 4 day role.

CTIC is privileged to be financially supported by their donors, and takes its responsibility seriously to put the money to good use – showing God’s love in practical, spiritual, incisive and inclusive ways to all who live in Cumbria; and encouraging God’s people to do this together.

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 Derek Lacey

Jo Phillips completed just over two years as social responsibility officer (SRO) before leaving the post for a new opportunity in the autumn of 2023. We are extremely grateful to Jo for the work she has done for CTiC. She worked skilfully and with great energy to support a wide range of people with an interest in social responsibility in Cumbria. She maintained an interest in the wide range of areas traditionally covered by the SRO with her level of engagement adapted to external demands and emerging priorities.

‘In recognition of the opportunity to create a new role to support modern slavery activities in Cumbria the trustees agreed £10k additional funding for this topic. Since the end of her employment as SRO Jo has been employed by CTiC one day per week to continue this work. Jo has played a significant role in establishing a Modern Slavery Partnership in Cumbria and developing an associated network of statutory and third sector organisations. This work will continue but with external funding initially through a grant from Westmorland & Furness. Further external funding is being sought and the work remains vulnerable until this is secured.

Jo’s main efforts related to poverty and food insecurity, the environment and modern slavery. Progress has been made in each of these areas but much remains to be done to build networks and improve the ability to respond to the wide range of demands.

While Jo was in post she worked with local government officials to explore the idea of completing a Social Action Audit. With the changes in local government arrangements this idea was taken forward with Westmorland and Furness Council. This resulted in the commencement of a project in January 2024 which is being led by Rev Jonny Gios who is being funded by CTiC to complete the project using the Cinnamon Network audit tool.

An advertisement for the post of Social Responsibility Officer was posted with a view to interviewing in December 2023 and appointing a new officer as soon as possible. No applications were received. CTiC intends to review the job description for the post when the initial results of the Social Action Audit have been reviewed and to readvertise as soon as possible.

ANNA CHAPLAINCY

REPORT

Sam Pester AC Lead

Brief overview of Anna Chaplaincy in Cumbria:

Anna Chaplaincy is a special ministry for the older person in Cumbria supported by the Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF). It is a ministry for all and prides itself on being a ministry that supports older people of faith, little faith and no faith at all. It is a ministry that walks beside people, often at the most vulnerable times in their life, such as the end stages of life or someone struggling with dementia. Our chaplains offer kindness, compassion, and a listening ear for the person to be able to talk about their life. It is not uncommon for the Anna Chaplain to listen to the older person reveal something that they felt they have had to keep secret their entire life, such as having a child when they weren’t married or perhaps they have lost contact with someone they hold dear through the human folly of pride and anger. The Anna Chaplain gives the older person the chance to talk about things that matter to them and helps them find peace about those things which might have preyed on their mind.

Anna Chaplaincy is a spiritual ministry for the older person. However, it is not an evangelical ministry as we show an acceptance and appreciation of everyone’s beliefs. Anna Chaplaincy is also ecumenical and we work with people from many different faiths

IIt is a gentle, listening ministry where the Anna Chaplains and Anna Friends and volunteers have a gift for supporting the older person, sometimes in times of great distress. The Anna Chaplains offer spiritual support in times of illness, disability, stress, loss, lowering of selfesteem and loneliness.

Anna Chaplains and Friends work in the community in people’s homes, residential and nursing homes and in the hospital in Barrow in Furness, where they have piloted a project of ‘Hospital to Home’ which is a new ministry supporting the older person as they leave hospital and go back home again.

Cumbria coverage

Kendal: Currently we have one Anna Chaplain, five Anna Friends and seven volunteers in the Kendal area where this work is supported and co-ordinated by Anna Chaplain Beverley Moore. The team goes out to nursing and residential homes and into the community. They also run the well supported Dementia Tea Service and the Christmas Tree service where the residents of the nursing homes each make a wonderful decoration for the Anna Chaplaincy tree.

North: The North of the county has twelve Anna Chaplains and Friends working in a wide range of places in the community from people’s homes to nursing homes. A unique ministry is provided by Jim Mills who offers Anna Chaplaincy on the bus and regularly goes onto bus routes with older people to offer support and a bridge from loneliness. This has been incredibly well received by the local community and Jim has become quite a celebrity.

South: Barrow has one Anna Chaplain and eleven Friends and volunteers. They also have fifteen dementia enablers. Barrow has a Steering Group who have pioneered the Hospital to Home project. A wonderful part of the Barrow ministry is singing in the Barrow in Furness hospital by the talented singer Phoebe. Phoebe’s beautiful voice can be heard on the wards bringing light to the patients and nursing staff.

Sedbergh: has two Anna Chaplains and many volunteers and Friends who support the ministry. The Reverend Christine Brown is also a hospital chaplain. Each year Rev. Christine provides a Christmas dinner for a number of older people who would otherwise be alone for Christmas.

The West of the county is just beginning to flourish with four new Anna Chaplains and Friends coming forward for commissioning in the next month.

In the last month Cumbria Anna Chaplaincy has seen four new Anna Friends commissioned and one Anna Chaplain. The ministry is thriving with continued interest coming forward from clergy across the county.

Annie Gray resigned as AC Lead in the autumn and Sam Pester, the new Cumbria Anna Chaplaincy Lead was commissioned in a very modern way on the 24th January as heavy snow and wind meant that the service had to be held on Zoom instead of in person.

It was a lovely service led by Di Armstrong (Cumbria Anna Chaplaincy Chair) and Debbie Ducille (BRF Ministry Lead for Anna Chaplaincy), with Anna Chaplains and Anna Friends from around the county joining and taking part in the service.

Diana Armstrong, who has chaired the Anna Chaplaincy Advisory Committee since the beginning of the work in Cumbria, retired at the end of April, and we are very appreciative of her commitment to this work. We are grateful to Paul Burden who has now taken up the baton.

The Anna Chaplains have a six week course on the spiritual ministry and all are covered by the Safer Recruitment policy.

The core funding comes from Henry Smith Charity, which funds the Anna Chaplaincy Lead for Cumbria and admin. The Anna Chaplaincy Lead for Cumbria is currently applying for a number of other grants to enable us to develop this ministry further.

Thanks is given to all of the Anna Chaplains and Friends and volunteers, who without their valued help this crucial work would not be possible. Thanks is also given to CTiC for their continued support of this ministry.

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

Fifteen people engaged with the Spiritual Direction training course (ten monthly sessions) which finished in July 2023. Four have subsequently asked to join the network of spiritual directors, having fulfilled the requirements, which include taking 3 months to discern whether this is God’s call on their life.

Our current priority is to ‘nourish the network’, i.e. to resource the network of Directors. To this end we held a Resource Day at Rydal Hall in October, which focussed on the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. More local resource days have been held, taking the theme of Relationships in Spiritual Direction (and drawing on the Retreat Association Guidelines)

For the first time in 12 years, the group has decided to press ‘pause’ and not to move straight ahead into another course. With a largely new team, it felt right to take time to bond, to review and refresh our vision, and to discern what each has to offer in fulfilment of that vision, which we express as:

to journey with Christians in Cumbria in discovering the joy and depth of prayer as it draws us home to God, and to ourselves, and to the world in which we live.
to encourage everyone to discover their unique pathway to enjoying God and glorifying him in their daily lives.

We have produced some small business cards to help draw attention to Spiritual Direction/Accompaniment (which has been described as, ‘the best kept secret’!), and we are advertising in the CTIC newsletter and elsewhere. Enquiries come in at a steady rate of 2 or 3 most months.

Aside from the network, team members have written some resources for Digital Sunday, led retreats at Rydal Hall, and been given opportunities to teach and lead on prayer in their own localities.

Looking to the future, several denominations are strongly encouraging their ministers, clergy, readers etc to have a SD, and we are considering how we can offer training to the network so that we are better placed to be of help in this area.

We have operated under the auspices of CTIC for 12 years, and to this point have been self-funding. However, we now realise that to work effectively, it is essential to have some financial support, and we are grateful to CTIC for a grant of £500 for 2024.

For help in finding a spiritual director, contact Ruth Lee on sd.cesg@gmail.com.

For general enquiries, contact our administrator, Jo Maybury on assistantcesg@gmail.com

Please visit our new website: cesg.org.uk

CESG team members Helen Bailey, Ali Betteridge, Kath Dodd, Becca Gilbert, Ruth Lee, Jo Maybury (admin support), Lesley McCririe

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

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

Mr Derek Lacey Revd Alistair Smeaton

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

Vice-President: Revd Richard Snow Treasurer: Revd Kath Dodd Administrator: Danielle Henshaw Chair of Social Responsibility Forum: Derek Lacey Chair of Anna Chaplaincy Advisory Committee: Mr Paul Burden

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

1.3.2024

Churches Together in Cumbria Charity Number 1191358 Financial Statements FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1.1.2023-31.12.2023 INCOME Churches Together in Cumbria- Denominations Churches Together - Local Groups Churches Together -Other donations The Henry Smith Charity-Anna Chaplaincy Grants received re Anna Chaplaincy work Other Income -Anna Chaplaincy KDL-Christmas trees -Anna Chaplaincy Interest Received to Deposit Account Celebrating Together Social Responsibility Forum Projects Dementia Friendly Churches Dementia Project Ofcer Domestic Abuse Awareness Growing through Confict Total Income *Deposit interest* *£187.54*	36,248.30 *Per bank acc* *£60,775.95*		Actuals TO 1.1.23 CTIC 31.12.23 33,988.30 33,988.30 1,400.00 1,400.00 860.00 860.00 24,400.00 0.00 0.00 127.65 187.54 187.54 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
		£60,963.49 £36,435.84

Less: Expenditure

Comments

Salaries & Pension-ESRO

Salaries & Pension-ESRO YE 31.12.23 Salary & Pension - Anna Chaplaincy To 30.6.23 Salary & Pension - Anna Chaplaincy Oct-Dec 23 ESRO- Staf expenses *See analysis* Expenses -Anna Chaplaincy *See analysis* Trustees & Volunteers Expenses *See analysis* Administration costs TO CTIC Administration costs TO CTIC Finance Administration costs 50:50 CTIC meetings & Room Hire TO CTIC Website Costs TO CTIC Payroll Costs Secretarial Costs CTIC Secretarial Costs AC Meetings Room Hire etc. AC Anna Chapliancy Training AC Donations CTIC Donation AC Projects- Training AC Social Responsibility Forum Projects Dementia Friendly Churches Domestic Abuse Awareness Growing through Confict SRF discretionary fund Total Payments Net Increase/(Decrease) in Funds for the Period Dif *-£72.91* *£314.92* NEST CRED at 31.12.23 242.01 Movt on NEST cred 72.91 OPG CRED PAYE PAID 9.1.2023	Salaries & Pension-ESRO YE 31.12.23 Salary & Pension - Anna Chaplaincy To 30.6.23 Salary & Pension - Anna Chaplaincy Oct-Dec 23 ESRO- Staf expenses *See analysis* Expenses -Anna Chaplaincy *See analysis* Trustees & Volunteers Expenses *See analysis* Administration costs TO CTIC Administration costs TO CTIC Finance Administration costs 50:50 CTIC meetings & Room Hire TO CTIC Website Costs TO CTIC Payroll Costs Secretarial Costs CTIC Secretarial Costs AC Meetings Room Hire etc. AC Anna Chapliancy Training AC Donations CTIC Donation AC Projects- Training AC Social Responsibility Forum Projects Dementia Friendly Churches Domestic Abuse Awareness Growing through Confict SRF discretionary fund Total Payments Net Increase/(Decrease) in Funds for the Period Dif *-£72.91* *£314.92* NEST CRED at 31.12.23 242.01 Movt on NEST cred 72.91 OPG CRED PAYE PAID 9.1.2023	Salaries & Pension-ESRO YE 31.12.23 Salary & Pension - Anna Chaplaincy To 30.6.23 Salary & Pension - Anna Chaplaincy Oct-Dec 23 ESRO- Staf expenses *See analysis* Expenses -Anna Chaplaincy *See analysis* Trustees & Volunteers Expenses *See analysis* Administration costs TO CTIC Administration costs TO CTIC Finance Administration costs 50:50 CTIC meetings & Room Hire TO CTIC Website Costs TO CTIC Payroll Costs Secretarial Costs CTIC Secretarial Costs AC Meetings Room Hire etc. AC Anna Chapliancy Training AC Donations CTIC Donation AC Projects- Training AC Social Responsibility Forum Projects Dementia Friendly Churches Domestic Abuse Awareness Growing through Confict SRF discretionary fund Total Payments Net Increase/(Decrease) in Funds for the Period Dif *-£72.91* *£314.92* NEST CRED at 31.12.23 242.01 Movt on NEST cred 72.91 OPG CRED PAYE PAID 9.1.2023	24,076.00 2,611.72 278.55 593.10 67.15 1,693.38 999.38 365.57 238.50 2,246.10 786.00
Dementia Friendly Churches Domestic Abuse Awareness Growing through Confict SRF discretionary fund Total Payments Net Increase/(Decrease) in Funds
			33,955.45
			*£2,480.40*
	Dif NEST CRED at 31.12.23 OPG CRED PAYE PAID 9.1.2023
			£2,480.40

	Movt on NEST cred	72.91

1.3.2024 Churches Together in Cumbria

1.3.2024 Churches Together in Cumbria
Total Funds- Represented by: Balances at 1 January 2023 bf Current Account Savings Account NEST Creditor b/f Income Current Account Interest Received Savings Account Less: Expenditure Per bank account-payments Opening PAYE creditor NEST creditors - at 31.12.23 Balances at 31ST DECEMBER 2023 Represented By Bank Balances: Balance at Treasurers Current Account Balance at Business bank Instant Savings Less NEST creditor at 31.12.2023 Total Funds held at 31st December 2023	65,713.76 21,312.12 314.92	86,710.96 60,963.49 55,289.46 £92,384.99 71,127.34 21,499.66 -242.01 £92,384.99 0.00	CTIC 43,837.41 21,312.12
			65,149.53
	60,775.95 187.54 0.00		36,435.84
	55,362.37 -314.92 242.01		101,585.37 33,955.45
	As at *31.12.23* *31.12.23*		£67,629.93

			46,130.27 21,499.66
			£67,629.93
				CTIC

Prepared by MA Jolly

Date

AC 24,400.00 0.00 0.00 127.65 £24 527.65

10,611.06 5,459.64

1,059.48 112.55

1,693.38

0.00 148.50

715.95 815.76 90.00

250.00 377.70

21,334.02 £3,193.64

£3,193.64

5,674.03

AC

21,561.43

24,527.65 46,089.08

21,334.02

£24,755.07

92,384.99

24,755.07

£24,755.07

Churebes Together in Cumbria Charity l181è5È Year Ended 31 December 2023 Independent Examiners Report I have examined the AOuThts foi the Yeai ended 31 December 2023 Th¢y show funds at the year end of £92,385 I confirni that th¢y are in accordanc¢ with the accounting records Lois Morton (Retired member of A$SlatiOn of Taxation Teclmicians) 6 Greystoke Park Roa Pcnrjth, Cumbria CAI19BT 10 April 2024