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2024-05-01-accounts

Annual General

Meeting Report

2024

(17[th] July 2024)

INDEX

1 Chairman’s Remarks 2 Dagenham Christians Together 3 The story so far

1 Chairman’s Remarks

First of all, I would to acknowledge my thanks to God for His favour upon Dagenham Christians Together and the amazing work God has started in Dagenham. I would like to thank my fellow trustees, the contractors, volunteers, the Council, Dagenham Library management, Dagenham churches, Barking Churches Unite and Christians from Barking and Dagenham. Your help and support is greatly appreciated.

Dagenham Christians Together (DCT) became a charity on 7[th] May 2022 and is now just over a year old. This has been an amazing and yet unprecedented year for Dagenham and Dagenham Christians Together and indeed the UK and world. A year concerning the aftermath of Covid, the Ukraine war, cost of living crisis, mortgage and food increases. The social mission aspect of DCT is the Church Elm Hub. However, it has been a year where we have engaged closely with the residents of Dagenham and the Council and this has been demonstrated through regular contact and financial support for the Church Elm Hub.

The social ministry aspect of DCT is the Church Elm Hub (CEH), based at the Dagenham Library. At The CEH we have two projects: The Dagenham Food Club, supporting around 90 families a week and the Wellbeing Centre, which supports, on average 100 guests a week.

DCT has a team of four contractors: two lead contractors Rachel Dashi (Dagenham Food Club) and Jocey N’Guessan, (The Wellbeing Centre); Vilma Bexigas and Deonne George-Charles (Support Assistants). I would like to thank Rachel White (previous, Food & Church Engagement Co-Ordinator) and Elyse Ali (previous Food Club Lead) for their work over the past year whi have left to do other things.

It has been a year of united prayer meetings; carol singing outside Dagenham Library, an Easter Prayer Station inside CEH; the Turning Mission across Barking & Dagenham, where people became Christians and received prayers of blessings; intercessory prayer and leaders prayer connect meetings.

There has been a move of God towards bringing church leaders and congregations in Dagenham to come together to pray and to develop a cohesive strategy to love the community. I thank God for this move and the future partnership of churches in Barking & Dagenham and Barking Churches Unite to work and pray together.

I believe that God is saying that it is through the united church in society we can love the community back to life for God and bring about restoration and redemption. I believe the dream of God over our life is that we come alive in His presence within an intimate relationship with Him and through the Holy Spirit we are able to bring life back to every environment, bringing restoration and redemption, spilling contagious hope into a broken and hurting world. The next move of God I believe is not a revival or movement in the church but a movement of the Christians in our towns and communities; God’s kingdom being established in all the spaces that we travel such as our work space and street and establishing them to be Kingdom spaces. The call is to ‘Go’. The call to churches and DCT is to release unstoppable, impassioned Spirit-filled Christians into our communities and outside spaces and to be Kingdom people. We will need to embrace the love the of the 95% of the people outside our church walls, who are in our town and community. When Kingdom People show up they carry His presence, hope and love. As Kingdom People we carry the culture of the Kingdom. We carry the authority of God as sons, daughters & High Priests. We carry the favour, honour and anointing of God, because the power of the Holy Spirit & presence of God is within us. I believe that God’s heart is to for us to love our community and to release Christians to be shepherds to our town and community. If we are to reach our community, we

must reposition ourselves. God is sending us out into the world. Our calling & mission is to carry the Kingdom beyond the church into the heart of the culture.

As Christians we are to transform the culture of the world as by introducing God’s kingdom. We carry the wind of the Holy Spirit bringing release and authority where we go. Kingdom People release the kingdom everywhere, everyday. We must see our involvement and engagement in structures and institutions, work spaces as kingdom work. We must reject the idea that kingdom work mainly takes place in church buildings.

Compassion and mission are inseparable. The spirit of mission is a spirit of mercy. Kingdom people go around doing good, releasing compassion and healing, because God is in them moving them. Kingdom People release blessing, love and peace in their town. Kingdom People become fathers, mothers and shepherds to their town. Kingdom People partner with their town. Every environment & space alive in His presence.

Kingdom culture empowers believers to bring life to every space. We need to dream over our town for God. We need to be Kingdom People. This is our spiritual DNA. We need to Wake Up (Open our eyes and Arise), Prepare (See and Hear God’s heartbeat & Get Ready) and be Mobilised for Action (Shine the Light of Love and the culture of the Kingdom). We need to pray together over our land (2 Chron 7:14). We need to change the culture and spiritual landscape of our community. We need to partner together even more closely as the united body of Christ.

The future of Dagenham Christians Together is to facilitate Christians to pray and work together to be Kingdom People in all spaces of our community and helping them to be Kingdom and Prayer Spaces for God. To be culture changers. We are called to ‘Go’, Be witnesses, and make disciples. To ‘Go’ into the world and our community and fulfil the Great Commission. Let us love our community back to God. My prayer is that we make every space in Barking & Dagenham and the UK be a Kingdom Space, filled with the presence of God and the Holy Spirit through being Kingdom People.

This section reflects my personal remarks about the year.

Mick Mednick – Chair of Dagenham Christians Together

2 Dagenham Christians Together (DCT)

DCT is a charitable group of Christians from churches in Dagenham who are committed to working with churches, Christians and volunteers, praying together for the transformation of our community. DCT was established in February 2022 and became a registered charity on 12th May 2022. Our charity number is 1198926. We are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

The Board of trustees includes the following:

Chair Mick Mednick (Kings Church)
Treasurer Cecilia Dewu (On The Rock Church)
Trustee Deacon Andy Packer (Old Methodist Church)
Trustee Rev Martin Court (St Chads Church)
Trustee Rev Martin Smith (Dagenham Riverside Church)
Pastoral Rev Chris Kapnisis (Kingsley Hall)

Our Minute -Taker is Sue Julian-Ottie

Mission Statement

Dagenham Christians Together is a registered charity working to bring about change in Dagenham through prayer, the relief of poverty and other initiatives that serve the community and express God’s love. We are a group of Christians attending churches across Barking & Dagenham. DCT facilitates contact with the council and other agencies, connecting like-minded Christians in our local area.

Our Object’s article states the following:

The relief of poverty of the organisation / charity will be supported through the Church Elm Hub, at The Dagenham Library, which will include a food club and wellbeing groups. These services will be provided free of charge.

Basis of faith

We believe in one God, working as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection and uphold the Evangelical Alliance Statement of Faith (www.eauk.org) Jesus prayed for unity (John 17:21), Paul commanded we make an effort to maintain it (Ephesians 4:3) and God the Father promises to bless it (Psalm 133) and bring healing to the community through it. (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Organisation

DCT is facilitated by a diverse group of Christian Trustees drawn from different church denominations, who include church leaders and Christians, seeking God’s face for Dagenham. The trustees are led by a co-ordinator and chair of trustees. We facilitate communication between churches and among other agencies. Recently, and as a result of our work in the town the Council and external bodies have communicated with us as a point of contact to engage with Christians who want to work in the community. We understand that unity is not uniformity and as such we are churches that have different expressions of our faith, believing that we are here to complement rather than compete with one another, and that together as the Body of Christ in Dagenham we can fulfill God’s purpose for our lives in our town.

We see a church that will stand together in prayer to see social and spiritual transformation in our community. We see a church that will pray for one another and support one another practically as the need arises and resources allow. We see a church that will rejoice in what one another is doing and where possible promote that. We see a Church that will help facilitate and support the dreams of one another in order to advance God’s kingdom in Dagenham. We see a church that reaches out and meets the needs of the poor and the community, through joint ministries, initiatives and events.

Any Christian or Dagenham Church that affirms the preceding statements can join us.

Strategy

Prayer

The individual churches are grouped into five zones, loosely based on the council wards. Dagenham North, Dagenham South, Dagenham West, Dagenham East, and Dagenham Central. We intend to cover Dagenham in prayer, through different forms of prayer meetings; church leader Connect meetings, prayer walks, corporate prayer meetings, an intercessors group (DIN) comprised of people from different churches, and open to all Christians from across the borough.

Mission and relief of poverty

Through an outpouring of God’s love, The Church Elm Hub (Dagenham Library) has been set up in Dagenham to support those in poverty and need, to bring about hope, help and restoration in the community.

We serve a big God and therefore have a big vision of transformation to Dagenham. As we encourage and facilitate Christians to be released within their calling through the power of the Holy Spirit, we will see God move in a mighty way

Finance

Finance comes from grants, Barking & Dagenham Council, businesses, personal and churchbased donations and through fund raising. We do not apply for lottery or gambling-related funding.

Governance

DCT has a constitutional document and a number of policies that are statutory and of good practice in its operation. These include Child Protection & Safeguarding, Health and Safety, GDPR, Food & Hygiene rating certificate, Complaints procedures and Service Level agreements.

Five-Fold Strategy

3 The story in the last 12 months

It has been a busy and challenging year for Dagenham Christians Together. It has been another unprecedented year with the challenge of the Cost of Living Crisis. It has also been a year where the charity has developed and grown by God’s grace and favour. Throughout this period the Church Elm Hub (CEH) has been open for weekdays at The Dagenham Library and has been there to love our town with food, support and comfort.

4 The Church Elm Hub

1 Church Elm Ln, Dagenham RM10 9QS

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Charity no: 1198926
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The Church Elm Hub is located at The Dagenham Library. 1, Church Elm Lane, RM10 9QS, working in partnership with Dagenham Churches and the London Borough of 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐃𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐦 . We work across Dagenham to support local people in poverty and also to help those people out of hopelessness, homelessness and isolation.

We provide the following support:

Community Food Club – In partnership with LBBD providing a social supermarket to support those needing help

Emergency Food Parcels – In conjunction with LBBD staff at Dagenham Library Clothes Bank – To open soon.

Wellbeing Groups – Supporting loneliness and mental health

We also offer help, support, a listening ear, prayer, and will do our best to signpost to correct services

Attending the Church Elm Hub wellbeing group will help you strengthen your practical skills and will improve your general wellbeing as well as support you in everyday life.

This includes

The range of Wellbeing Groups includes: Chair Zumba, Candle-Making, Art and Craft Workshops, Listening Ear sessions, Basic Cookery sessions, Soap-Making, Self-Care & Mindfulness sessions.

The Wellbeing Centre is open Monday to Wednesday from 11am -4pm for community projects and the Dagenham Food Club is open on a Thursday & Friday, responsible for food related projects. We have developed a close relationship and partnership with the Council. The Dagenham Food Club is the second largest Food Club in the Borough. The Wellbeing Centre opened on 23[rd] May 2022 and celebrated its second anniversary recently. The Dagenham Food Club opened in June 2023 and supported one family on its first day. It now supports 90 families a week.

The Church Elm Hub has a team of four contractors: two lead contractors Realda Dashi (Dagenham Food Club) and Jocey N’Guessan, (The Wellbeing Centre); and Vilma Bexigas and Deonne George-Charles (Support Assistants).

We refuse to give up on anybody and believe that every person can have a bright future. We provide outreach, support and opportunity to help people out of poverty. We have a track record of seeing our visitors move away from life controlling unemployment, homelessness, mental illness, disability, marriage breakdowns, addictions, and therefore breaking the poverty-cycle and reliance on the benefits system. Over the past year many of our visitors moved out of hopelessness and into hope. We have also seen many of our guests move into accommodation and employment following our support.

Many of the guests visiting The Church Elm Hub have mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder or personality disorders; others have learning disabilities. Some suffer physical health issues particularly mobility difficulties or visual impairment, deafness, cancer, brain tumor, heart conditions, epilepsy, HIV, diabetes; and many are unemployed, homeless, refugees and elderly.

We believe that every visitor deserves the chance to see their dreams realized, and that it is not enough to provide a hot meal as important as that is, but to get people out of poverty, feeling empowered in their circumstances and off the streets for good, we need to offer something that’s relevant and sustainable.

To this end, we believe the solution is a service that supports those in poverty or in need and to restore broken lives and bring hope to the helpless, employment to the unemployed, homes to the homeless. We aim to provide a service that will provide activities to help those in desperate need and assistance to develop the activities, skills and resources for guests to realize their aspirations and become active and integrated members of their local community.

In other words; each of our services lead to guests being offered the opportunity to change their lives, attend courses, receive a free meal, find help to fill in forms, learning English, support into paid employment, - and that is what will change lives and get those in poverty back into employment, accommodation, and self belief and off the streets for good.

5 Outcomes

The Church Elm Hub keeps a visit register from which we measure our success in how many people we were able to feed, refer on to other support agencies and move on into other sustainable options. We currently refer people for Food Bank, debt advice, council departments, as well as providing free daily lunchtime meals and other activities. Success is just about being there and knowing that we have restored hope to many lives, and enabled them to find a way out of the situation they are in.

For our guests , success in soft outcomes is measured by their personal development, restoring self-esteem and self-belief and basic skills and the hard outcomes are measured through attendance, those gaining employment and accommodation. Our monitoring is supported through a wide range of different measures which include; activity registers, face-to-face repeat conversations and meetings.

Visitors to The Church Elm Hub include those of different nationality and ethnic origin, low incomes, unemployed, homeless, mental health issues, elderly, disabled, single parents, bereaved and those with complex issues. From The Source they receive emotional and practical support and have a location in the marketplace that is sympathetic to those in need and works to resolve their issues. Referrals to agencies are made and people receive support that others are unable to provide.

The Church Elm Hub is often seen as a place of refuge and sanctuary providing hope to the hopeless, demonstrating God’s love and compassion. The CEH is connected to a number of food agencies providing free food. These include Neighbourly and Felix (Fareshare). We have excellent relationships with The Dagenham Library & Council and as a result of the work we provide, we receive free rent, utilities and business rates.

The below tables indicate the scope and capacity of our work and the increasing need in Borough over the past 14 months. The forecast for this this year is around 22,000 visits compared to 2022 of 3,960 and 19,362 in 2023.

Year Date Food
Club
Families
Support		 Food
Club
Residents
Support		 Wellbeing
Centre
Listening
Ear		 Wellbeing
Centre
Groups
Attendance		 Total
Visits
2022 January NA
NA		 NA NA NA
February NA
NA		 NA NA NA
March NA
NA		 NA NA NA
April NA
NA		 NA NA NA
May NA
NA		 NA NA NA
June 22
64		 NA NA 64
July 75
218		 NA NA 218
August 146
457		 NA NA 457
September 187
607		 NA NA 607
**October ** 224
807		 NA NA 807
November 214
763		 17 NA 780
December 282
983		 13 31 1,027
Total 1,150
3,899		 30 31 3,960
Year Date Food
Club
Families
Support		 Food
Club
Residents
Support		 Wellbeing
Centre
Listening
Ear		 Wellbeing
Centre
Groups
Attendance		 Total
Visits
2023 January 311
1,244		 31 28 1,303
February 213
852		 57 92 1,001
March 340
1,360		 62 88 1,510
April 326
1,304		 40 35 1,379
May 406
1,624		 60 63 1,747
June 359
1,436		 59 108 1,603
July 387
1,548		 36 60 1,644
August 453
1,812		 57 104 1,973
September 405
1,620		 67 130 1,817
October 497
1,988		 81 203 2,272
November 478
1,912		 50 175 2,137
**December ** 225
900		 30 46 976
Total 4,400
17,600		 630 1,132 19,362

Over the past year we have seen people overcome extreme adversity and circumstance to go onto achieve incredible personal success. We refuse to give up on anybody and believe that every rough sleeper can have a bright future. We have seen guests become champions of the community. We believe in building people into a community where they feel safe and are resourced to contribute. We believe that we all have a role to play and that together we can end homeless, - The impact of our project is lives changed; more people who are without hope to regain their hope, lives that are broken to be restored, more homeless people off the streets, and into employment, which in turn ends the cycle of poverty and homelessness and has a positive effect on the community!

6 Future Thoughts

Forthcoming plans affecting DCT

DCT proposed developments and activities

7 How can YOU support Dagenham Churches Unite?

1 Praying

-Attending the united prayer & street praying events

-Using the Prayer Diary daily at home

-Praying for the Church Elm Hub and community ministries

-Praying for church unity and each church

-Joining the DIN (Dagenham Intercessors Network)

-Encouraging your Church to pray for DCT & CEH and support its ministries -More workers and volunteers

-Funding

2 Volunteering

-Helping at the Church Elm Hub for a 3-4 hour session a week

-Picking up food from retail shops / supermarkets

-Attending DCT events

-Joining the DCT WhatsApp Information group

-Offering your talent to create or contribute to a community well-being group

3 Join

4 Donating

Supporting the CEH by 

  - £15 provides additional refreshments for a week

  - £50 Provides tea, coffee and milk for a week

8 Prayer Requests

9 Financial Report

A copy of the accounts is an additional document that accompanies this report. It is available on request.

10 Donation Form & Gift Aid Form

Dagenham Christians Together

The Church Elm Hub. 1, Church Elm Lane, RM10 9QS Telephone: 07577067373 Email: dagenhamchristianstogether@gmail.com

Charity No: 1198926

STANDING ORDER MANDATE FORM

Please return this form to your Bank and inform DCT of your decision

Please debit the account of:

Name: Bank: Branch: Full address: Account Name: Account Number: Sort code:

Please credit the account of:

Please credit the account of: Please credit the account of: Please credit the account of: Please credit the account of:
Bank:
Account Name:
Account Number:		 CAF
Dagenham Christians Together		 40-52-40
00035314 Sort code:
The Sum of
Commencing date
Last Payment
Frequency		 £
Amount in words
From
To
£
Amount in words
Weekly
Monthly
Signature: Date:

11 Procedures for Questions

If after reading the report, you have any questions related to them, please complete the slip below & email them back to me by 1[st] July 2023 (dagenhamchristianstogether@gmail.com). This will give time for the person who is responsible to formulate their answer. You can provide a general comment if you wish. Questions not submitted before the meeting will not be answered at the Annual General Meeting but by email.

RESPONSE SLIP

Name ____ Church ____

Question(s):

Dagenham Christians Together (CHARITY NO: 1198926) FINANCIAL STATEMENT FROM 2nd May 2023 to 1st May 2024

DAGENHAM CHRISTIANS TOGETHER BALANCE SHEET AS AT 1*t MAY 2024 CURRENT ASSETS Cash at Bank 8,551 TOTAL ASSETS £8,551 CAPITAL AND RESERVES Balance Blf 39,013 Deficit for the year 30,462 TOTAL RESERVES £8,551

DAGENHAM CHRISTIANS TOGETHER ACCOUNTS YEAR 2ND May 2023-11t May 2024 INCOME CAF Grants Church Donations Other Interest 400 34,625 2,840 46 37.911 EXPENDITURE Food Phone Contractors Bank Charges pps Misc ICT Wellbeing 26,119 38,733 934 1,802 177 350 68,373 DEFICIT FOR THE YEAR £30,462 The above accounts We￿ approved by Dagenham Christians Together Board on 191h June 2024 Michael Mednick Chair Cecilia Dewu Treasurer

DAGENHAM CHRisnANS TOGETHER (CHARITY NO: 1198926) ACCOUNTS AND INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT YEAR ENDED 1•t MAY 2024

DAGENHAM CHRISTIANS foGEfHER INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS'S REPOR T YEAR ENDED 1ST MA Y2024 I report on the Income and Expenditure Accounts of the Chaiity for the Year ended 1st May 2024. Basls of Independent examlner's report My examination was carried out in aC￿ance with the General Direciions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those reojrds. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanatbons from you as trustee conceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent examlnerfs slatement In connection with my examination. no matter has ￿rne to my attention: {1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe Ihat in any material respect the requirements to keep a￿A)Unting records in aCt0rdan￿ with section 41 of the Act; and to prepare accounts whith accx)rd with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met,. or (2) to whlch. In my oplnlon. attentlon should be drawn In order to enable a proper undorstandlng of the accounts to be reached. Name: Christopher Sykes Signed.. Date: 10th May. 2024

Dagenham Christians Together (CHARITY NO: 1198926) FINANCIAL STATEMENT FROM 2nd May 2023 to 1st May 2024

DAGENHAM CHRISTIANS TOGETHER BALANCE SHEET AS AT 1*t MAY 2024 CURRENT ASSETS Cash at Bank 8,551 TOTAL ASSETS £8,551 CAPITAL AND RESERVES Balance Blf 39,013 Deficit for the year 30,462 TOTAL RESERVES £8,551

DAGENHAM CHRISTIANS TOGETHER ACCOUNTS YEAR 2ND May 2023-11t May 2024 INCOME CAF Grants Church Donations Other Interest 400 34,625 2,840 46 37.911 EXPENDITURE Food Phone Contractors Bank Charges pps Misc ICT Wellbeing 26,119 38,733 934 1,802 177 350 68,373 DEFICIT FOR THE YEAR £30,462 The above accounts We￿ approved by Dagenham Christians Together Board on 191h June 2024 Michael Mednick Chair Cecilia Dewu Treasurer

DAGENHAM CHRisnANS TOGETHER (CHARITY NO: 1198926) ACCOUNTS AND INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT YEAR ENDED 1•t MAY 2024

DAGENHAM CHRISTIANS foGEfHER INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS'S REPOR T YEAR ENDED 1ST MA Y2024 I report on the Income and Expenditure Accounts of the Chaiity for the Year ended 1st May 2024. Basls of Independent examlner's report My examination was carried out in aC￿ance with the General Direciions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those reojrds. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanatbons from you as trustee conceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent examlnerfs slatement In connection with my examination. no matter has ￿rne to my attention: {1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe Ihat in any material respect the requirements to keep a￿A)Unting records in aCt0rdan￿ with section 41 of the Act; and to prepare accounts whith accx)rd with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met,. or (2) to whlch. In my oplnlon. attentlon should be drawn In order to enable a proper undorstandlng of the accounts to be reached. Name: Christopher Sykes Signed.. Date: 10th May. 2024