Annual report and accounts for the period 1. March 2023 to 28th Februa 2024 Reference and admlnlstratlve detall8 Trustees K. J. Everard (Chair) S. Abraham V.0. Carrington (passed away January 2024) K.C. Bonner (resign8d May 2023, passed away July 2023) D, Muspratt (appointed July 2023) l. Vessey (appointed May 2023) Reglstered address: The Street, Swanton Abbott, Norfolk NR10 SDU Reglstered Charlty number:1195566 Independent Examlner: R C Huddlestone, R Huddlestone Accountlng Servlces, Valley fami Bungalow, Valley Farm Lane, Melton, Woodbrldge, Suffolk IP12 1LL Bankers: Barclays Bank Plc, Lelcester LE87 2BB
ort of the trustees for the erlod ended 28th Februa 2024 The trustees present their report and accounts for the period ended 28th February 2024. Structure, Governance and Management Swanton Abbolt Community Chapel is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation formed on the 191hAugust 2021. The leadership team is made up of three unpaid volunteers, one of which is paid a small ministry allowance. The chapel remains an active member of Churches Together in North Walsham, an ecumenical group of churches, meeting regularly to encourage one another, and building unity across the different denominations. The chapel has also joined the Evangelical Alliance during the past financial year. The chapel is registered for Gift Aid with HMRC. We are grateful to all trustees and volunteers who give of their time voluntarily. The trustees continue to meet quarterly, Aims and Objectives Our primary objectives are to fulfil the role of a Christian church in the rural village of Swanton Abbott, promoting and advancing the Christian faith in the local area, and serving the community where we are. Flnanclal Results and Reserve8 For th8 period ended 28lh February 2024 there was income of £34156. Expenditure was £19779, and this created a surplus of £14377. This means our reserves are now increased to £55045. Throughout this accounting pariod, expenditure has once again been closely monitored and well managed. We have been blessed to have more regular donors join us, plus we received a special one-off donation of £11280. We find ourselves in a very good f inancial position going forward into the next f inancial year. Mlsslonloutreachlcommunlty work Th8 chapel maintains a website and Facebook page with a growing number of followers (150 to date), and a good presence on Google and other websites where the public may be searching for a local church. We still post a monthly biblical Pause for Thought feature on the village Facebook group (with over 260 members to date), to inspire and stimulate thinking about the Christian faith with local people. The chapel also writes regular articles for the village newsletter so the activities of the chapel are advertised well. Welcome packs are delivered to all new occupants moving into the village, giving us an opportunity for the chapel to introduce itself, helping us to connect with new people. Mother's Day and Father's Day were both superb opportunities to invite the local community in, with services of thanksgiving and special gifts for those who came.
Easter was marked with a community coffee morning when we served hot cross buns, had children's craft activities, and chocolate eggs. We also hosted a lent lunch for Churches Together in North Walsham. On Maundy Thursday, we organised an evening dinner event with wine, and the chapel was full. The after-dinner speakers both tragically had lost a limb in an accident, and gave their story of how God had helped them through it. Easter Sunday, we had a celebration service, with chocolate eggs given away, and local villagers came. Outside the chapel there were Easter story booklets, colouring sheets and eggs for anyone in the village to help themselves to. To mark the King's coronation, we gave away 30 God Save the King Coronation booklets at the village Coronation lunch, and several more to other villagers, These booklets told of the importance of faith to our King. The chapel invites a variety of speakers on a Sunday and week by week, short themed series are followed, all of which are designed to be accessible to those with no church background but provides teaching for mature Christians also. For example, we have had external speakers from The Salvation Army, Fisherman's Mission, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). We enjoyed a Sunday series entitled Meals with Jesus during May and June- and this included our first bring and share lunch - an opportunity to get to know the church family better. Another Alpha course ran through June and July. Our Alpha courses are an opportunity for local people to ask basic questions about the Christian faith. There are plans for another Alpha course to run in 2024. The Village Revels fun day was held in June this year. The chapel took an active part, as chapel leaders Jane and Kevin Everard helped in the set up, and in the entertainment programme. We ran a fundraising summer community coffee moming in aid of th8 Alzheimer's Society, which raised a good sum for the charity, The chapel once again supported the Norfolk Churches Trust annual bike ride. We opened for free refreshments and a much-needed toilet (l) to all taking part in the bikelridelwalk challenge - a unique way to connect with lots of new people. We celebrated harvest in September, and in the weeks running up to it, the chapel was the central collecting point for unwanted tools, computer equipment and sewing machines etc. Local Christian charity Tools With A Mission (TWAM) spoke at the event, and took several loads of tools with them - all for refurbishment and sending out to Africa at some point. On the fifth Sunday of the month, our more informal, relaxed evenvservice is primarily aimed at those who have no church background. A couple of examples would be that we held a café style event with bacon rolls and pastries, while a local minister gave his story of a life lived through pictures, and many new people came to hear his story of faith. July was the month we held a Summer Praise event in the chap81, when the local community were given the chance to choose their favourite hymns, accompanied by the local Salvation Army band. Tea and cake were enjoyed
afterwards. Also, another event later in the year, saw the chapel full again as a local Gospel choir helped us in our worship, and sang a superb programme too, and tea and cake were served. For Christmas, the chapel leader, Jane Everard, once again launched a pop up community choir- and 32 signed up including many new people from the village, The choir then sang at two chapel events, both of which were well attended, and led carol singing around the village. The choir included those who don't read music, and those who have never sung in a choir before. The local Salvation Army band led our annual carol service once more. collection was taken to help the Salvation Army work locally. Our illuminated crib scene outside the chapel raised awareness to the village of the true message of Christmas. Our Christmas community charitable project involved being the central collecting point for the women and children's clothes, These were for the Leeway project in Norwich, a local charity who supports victims of domestic violence and abuse. A huge amount of clothing was donated, and two table top sales raised over £60. Throughout 2023, we became the village collecting point for the recycling of empty printer cartridges and mobile phones- raising a small sum which purchased wildflower seeds and bulbs for the garden of Abbottswood Lodge residential home in our village. We continue to make the building available to others in the community particularly during the season when the local village hall was undergoing refurbishment. The chapel provides pastoral and financial support to individuals and families in need within the locality. Twice a month, we run Coffee on The Corner, when the chapel is set up as a café style community coffee moming. With free refreshments and home-made cakes, it becomes a super setting for those who could do with some company or who like to socialise, to meet others and make new friends. It served as a cosy place for people to come to throughout the winter months. Nowhere else in Swanton Abbott serves coffee so we like to provide a facility for all those locally. Throughout this financial period, our congregation has grown on 8 Sunday, and we are very encouraged by the work God is doing in our midst. Approved by the trustees on 22 April 2024 and signed on their behalf by Kevin John Everard, Chair of Trustees
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R•port to th• trust••sl m•mb•r• of SWANTON ABBOTh COMMUNITY CHAPEL On accounts for th• y•ar 29TH FEBRUARY 2024 Charlty no Ilf any) 1195565 S•t out on p•g 1&2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the axounts of tho at>ov• chanty {Ihe Trust.) for the year ended 29th FetnMry 2024. R•8ponslblllttes and AS the charity trustees of the Trust, you arn respSIble for the preparation basls of r•port of the accounts in axordance with the requirnments of the Charities AL* 2011 (Ihe Acr). I report in respect of my examination of thè Trust'8 accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying OLrt my examination. I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charty Commis$ion under Seclion 145{5)Ib) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material mattef3 havo come to my attention in connection wrth the examinatjon which oives me cause to believe that in, any material re8pect'. accounting records were not kept in accordanc• with Mction 130 of the Aca or the accounts do not accord with the accounts'rKJ record8 Independent oxaminovs 8tstsment I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with th6 examination to which attention should drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Slgned: Dat•: 27104r24 N•m•: R C HUDDLESTONE R•l•vant prof•Mlon•l quallfication(8) or body (If any): Addr•s•: VALLEY FARM BUNGALOW. VALLEY FARM LANE MELTON, WOODBRIDGE IP12 1LL IER O¢tob•r 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner need5 to highlight matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of chanty accounts". directions and guidance for examiners). Glv• h•r• briof detalh of any items that the examiner wishes to dlsclom. IER October 2018