The Warwick and Budbrooke Churches Community Outreach Pool Annual Report 2023
Registered charity number: 1198977
Registered office: c/o All Saints Church, Vicarage Fields, Emscote, Warwick, CV345NJ Auditors: Walker Thompson, Empress House, 43a Binley Rd, Coventry, CV3 1HU Bankers: Charities Aid Foundation 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4TA
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
Table of Contents
| Trustees | 3 |
|---|---|
| Trustees Report | 4-6 |
| Auditors report | 7 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 8 |
| Balance Sheet | 9 |
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ANNUAL REPORT 2023
Trustees
| rustees | |
|---|---|
| Nominated By | |
| Mr John Luxton | St Marys Warwick PCC |
| Rev David Brown | St Michaels Budbrooke PCC |
| Richard Lyttle | St Michaels Budbrooke PCC |
| Rev Linda Duckers | St Nicholas Warwick PCC |
| Mrs Sarah Bazin | St Nicholas Warwick PCC |
| Rev Diane Thompson | All Saints Warwick PCC |
| Mr Alan Rylett | All Saints Warwick PCC |
| Rev Jonathan Hearn | St Pauls Warwick PCC |
| Mrs Sheila Pink | St Pauls Warwick PCC |
| Mr Ian Furlong | King Henry VIII Endowed Trust |
| Mr Stephen Copley (Chair) | King Henry VIII Endowed Trust |
| Ms Stacey Bains (Secretary) |
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ANNUAL REPORT 2023
Trustees Report
for the year ended 31 December 2023
Structure, Governance and Management
The Charity was certified as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on the 27th May 2022 and this report covers the first full year of operation.
The Charity is managed by up to 14 Trustees. With up to two Nominated Trustees appointed by each of the five Church of England Parochial Church Councils in Warwick and Budbrooke and the King Henry VIII Endowed Trust based in Warwick. With a further two Trustees appointed to the King Henry VIII Endowed Trust by the Bishop of Warwick and Archdeacon of Warwick being Ex-Officio Trustees of the Charity. The King Henry VIII Endowment Trust is a major financial contributor to the Charity. There is provision for the Charity to appoint a further two Trustees should particular skills, knowledge or experience be required.
Trustees met on five occasions during 2023, two general meetings, a joint meeting with the Warwick Team Council to discuss strategy and priorities, together with two meetings, one of which focussed on the Message Bus and the other on grants for fabric improvements to church buildings.
When meeting Trustees discuss, and where appropriate agree grant funding based upon submissions prepared by parishes and other organisations. Projects approved are monitored with progress reports and completion reports being required as a part of the approval process. The financial position of the charity together with future spending commitments is reviewed at each meeting and the policies of the charity including a risk register are debated and reconfirmed or updated annually. An annual ‘listening’ meeting takes place each year in conjunction with the Warwick C of E Churches Team Council to agree the priorities for community outreach and support in the year ahead and to review the overall effectiveness of the charity’s activities in meeting previously agreed objectives. Where appropriate sub-committees are appointed to review specific activities and report back to the general meeting, this was the case in 2023 with respect to the mobile farm shop project.
The Charity does not employ staff and Trustees receive no remuneration or benefits.
Objectives of the Charity
The objects of the charity are for the public benefit in Warwick, Budbrooke and the surrounding area, the advancement of the Christian religion and such other charitable purposes under the laws of England and Wales as the Charity Trustees in their discretion think fit.
The charity agrees with Churches in Warwick and Budbrooke the priorities for community outreach and support and either provides grants to churches to fund initiatives that provide community benefit such as family/school/children’s workers or fund initiatives such as the Youth Bus and Mobile Farm Shop which are supported by church based volunteers and support the ‘transforming communities’ objectives of the churches.
As a result of listening to God, listening to parishes and other local authorities and organisations the charity develops priorities for funding and currently these include support to young people, support to families suffering hardship and the elderly particularly those suffering dementia.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2023
The work of the Charity would not be possible without the generous support of the King Henry VIII Endowed Trust and the support of the C of E parishes in Warwick and Budbrooke who undertake community activities and are the source of many community volunteers. The Trustees of the Charity are very grateful for this support.
Achievements in the Year
Being the first full year, 2023 was a busy year for the charity. With the CIO approved in 2022 but bank accounts not opened until late that year. The governance and management of the charity has been established in 2023 with financial reporting introduced, policies for Reserves, Risk Management, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, Conflict of Interest and Complaints being agreed.
The Charity has taken responsibility for grants previously provided by parishes working together as an informal grouping known as the Project Pool. These included a contract with Thrive Youth Ministries for the provision of support to parishes in engaging with young people in the town and a contract with Your Farmer Ltd for the distribution of fresh food to families in need across the Town. The charity also took over the funding of Stacey Bains, Development Officer, Transforming Communities Together Warwick (TCTW) who is employed by St Mary’s Church. As a member of the wider ‘Together’ network TCTW represents the churches working with charities, local authorities, and other organisations in the area to support those in need. The charity also, together with local schools, has taken over partially funding of a families worker based at All Saints Emscote. During the year a review was undertaken of the food distribution project operated by TCTW and Your Farmer for families in need across the local Warwick area. This had commenced during the COVID lockdowns in 2020/21 when food parcels were distributed to families identified by local schools as being in severe hardship. The parcels consists of frozen meat and fresh vegetables suitable for a family of four for a week and as such designed to supplement food purchases or provided by food banks. These food parcels reach up to 500 people in need. Whilst the initiative has been very successful the review recognised two limitations, firstly, that the distribution was limited to families with school age children and secondly, that the distribution, whilst helping to alleviate immediate hardship, did not assist in the root causes of that hardship. In 2023 revised arrangements were introduced extending distribution to local churches and community centres, introducing a small charge for food whilst adding fruit to the produce provided and the planned availability of citizens advice support available for people at distribution points. The distribution has been rebranded as a Mobile Farm Shop and is currently undergoing a 12 month trial commencing in September 2023, the initial results being encouraging.
Thrive Youth Ministries work with churches helping them to plan, initiate contact and develop relationships with young people. They have worked extensively with St Michael’s Budbrooke, St Pauls and Castle Hill Baptist Church in Warwick and in addition have developed ‘give away’ projects with St Nicholas Warwick and assisting All Saints Emscote with Year 6 workshops preparing children for the move to secondary school.
Since its formation the Charity has worked with charities Together for Change and the Message Trust utilising a bus converted to provide youth activities both at church locations and remotely across the local area. During 2023 this arrangement was subject to review by all those involved and agreement reached for the bus to be owned by the Charity as of the 1st January 2024, operating under an extended contract with Thrive Youth Ministries utilising volunteers from parishes.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2023
The Charity part funded an Adult Schools Worker based at All Saints Church Emscote throughout the year and based upon the success of this appointment in supporting families experiencing difficulties have committed to fund the position for a further three years. The Charity considered proposals from St Marys and St Nicholas parishes for the appointment of Family/Schools workers during 2023 and agreed to fund the first-year costs in full with 50% funding in subsequent years of the employment contract. Once appointed these posts will be subject to six monthly performance review.
During the year funding for Stacey Bains TCTW activities has enabled, engagement with local organisations, support for the Youth Bus and Farm Shop initiatives together with a range of local initiatives including bereavement support, counselling sessions in schools, messy church and ‘Local Big Night Out’ entertainment events.
In addition to community initiatives the Charity allocates up to 15% of its annual income to provide grants towards church building fabric projects. During the year a major grant of £85,000 was awarded towards the £1.6m tower repair project at St Marys and £20,000 towards repairs to the stonework at St Nicholas. The latter project was successfully completed in the year and St Marys is on track for completion in quarter one 2024. Additional projects were approved in 2023 for the installation of solar panels at All Saints Emscote and the upgrading of lighting at St Pauls.
Financial Review of the Year
The Charity receives most of its funding from the King Henry VIII Endowed Trust. In 2023 a the Charity received a King Henry distribution of £561,598 together with brought forward funds of £183,274, this together with £14,438 of other funding and £3,456 of interest, provided a total income of £762,766.
Total grants to parishes in the year totalled £224,809 with a further £218,358 expended on other projects including TCTW costs. Administration and governance costs totalled £1,977
The year end funds carried forward of £319,618 reflect the start up nature of the charity with projects being approved in 2023 with financial commitments commencing in 2024. The Charity has agreed a reserves policy of retaining 10% of annual income for use should the need for emergency unplanned grants arise, this being subject to annual review. As the charity establishes itself over time reserves will stabilize at the 10% level.
Public Benefit
The Trustees give regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and consider that these requirements are met in so far as the objectives of the Charity are the advancement of the Christian religion and other charitable purpose in the Warwick and Budbroke local area. The Trustees consider that the use of funds in providing grants to enable the community initiatives identified in this report meet these objectives.
APPROVED BY TRUSTEES ON THE 4TH AUGUST 2024
STEPHEN COPLEY (CHAIR)
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ANNUAL REPORT 2023
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Warwick and Budbrooke Churches Community Outreach Pool
I report on the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 December 2023 which are set out on pages 8-9.
The Trustees (who are also the Directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 “the 2011 Act” and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charitable company is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
Examine the financial statements under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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Follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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State whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination, of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent Examiner's Statement
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Date: 06/02/2024
DEAN AIERS (ACCA)
EMPRESS HOUSE 43A BINLEY ROAD COVENTRY CV3 1HU
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ANNUAL REPORT 2023
Statement of Financial Activities (including income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 December 2023
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ANNUAL REPORT 2023
Balance Sheet - as of December 2023
The financial statements on pages 8-9 were approved by the Trustees and authorised for issue on the 4th August 2024 and are signed on its behalf by:
STEPHEN COPLEY (TRUSTEE & CHAIR)
ALAN RYLETT (TRUSTEE)
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