## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 05/09/2022 To 31/03/2023 Charity name: The Potteries Vineyard Church**
**Charity registration number: 1200283**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|The objects of the CIO are:
To advance the Christian religion for the
public benefit in accordance with the
Statement of Faith in the Schedule hereto
attached in such parts of the United
Kingdom and the world through:
●
The organisation and provision of
Christian worship;
●
The provision of such facilities and
services as are appropriate for the
Church, to enable it to fulfil its
mission to the members of the
Church, visitors to the Church and
the local community and the wider
community;
●
The provision of facilities for
Christian training and service;
●
The support and provision of
Christian evangelism and outreach;
●
The provision of assistance to the
wider Christian church in its
ministries.|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|The Potteries Vineyard was planted out of
Network Vineyard Church (Reading,
Berkshire) when Jonny & Libby James were
released to relocate to Stoke-on-Trent and
begin gathering a team to launch a new
church in June 2022. Prior to the launch of
The Potteries Vineyard as a CIO Jonny &
Libby had already started to meet with
people individually and gather a team which
at the point of the founding of the CIO
(05/09/2022) consisted of 11 individuals. The
plan was for Jonny & Libby to host any
activities of the church in their home initially,
while continuing to gather those called to
help see this new church become
established.|
|||Our start-up phase continued through the
remainder of 2022 and early 2023 where
Jonny & Libby hosted regular informal
gatherings, sharing our story and vision for
the church, and inviting others to join us. The
church was officially commissioned by
Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland on 12th
February 2023 and locally this was
celebrated with a launch party that was
made open to members of the public, with
around 60 people attending. Following the
public launch a number of other individuals
began to inquire about the church and attend
gatherings. Weekly life groups, and monthly
Sunday services continue to be hosted in
Jonny & Libby’s home, and the church’s first
monthly outreach, a Lego Club (Brick Club)
met for the first time on 5th March 2023 in a
local cafe. The intention is to continue with
outreach and invitation, and to move Sunday
services to a public venue once the numbers
gathering exceed capacity in a home setting.|
|---|---|---|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|In planning the activities the Trustees have
applied the guidance on public benefit issued
by the Charity Commission.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|During the initial phase of gathering all
activities have been organised and delivered
by volunteers, initially taking roles such as
offering hospitality, inviting people to and
sharing information about the church’s
activities. At the launch party activities were
organised and supervised by volunteers and
included a range of games, creative activities
and food and drink. Volunteers have begun
to commit to volunteering on a monthly basis
to support the new Brick Club, as well as to
lead sung worship in gatherings.|
|---|---|---|
## **Achievements and Performance**
SORP reference
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|In its first few months the church has
successfully gathered an initial group of
people, with 15-18 people regularly attending
gatherings for worship, discipleship and
Christian community as of March 2023. The
launch party and Brick Club have created
opportunities for evangelism and outreach,
with a number of those attending being from
outside the church community. The church
has also provided opportunities to serve the
wider community by collecting donated items
and gathering to fill ‘Bags of Kindness’ at
Christmas 2022. These were donated to
women who had experienced domestic
abuse, via local charities that were
supporting them.|
|---|---|---|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||||
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|During this phase the trustees have also
been seeking to set up the charity’s bank
account and this process has been frustrated
by administrative mistakes on the part of two
banks. This has meant that the charity has
not been able to fundraise, and has had no
income during this period. As most activities
have taken place in Jonny & Libby’s home
during this phase there have not been costs
to the charity. For the launch party and Brick
Club costs have been covered primarily by
Jonny & Libby, with use of funds they would
choose to give to the CIO once the bank
account was available, and by donations of
items (such as Lego) from people wishing to
support the church’s activity.|
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|At the end of the period the charity is still in
the process of opening a bank account and
therefore has no income or expenditure to
report.|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The trustees intend to hold reserves and
establish a policy for doing so once the
charity has a bank account and is able to
receive income.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|The charity does not currently hold any
reserves.|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|Reserves are not held because of the delay
in establishing a bank account.|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|
The financial status of the charity is neutral
as there has been neither income nor
expenditure in this period.|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|
A number of those who have joined the
church have stated their intention to give
funds regularly once the bank account is
established. Therefore, after making
appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a
reasonable expectation that the charity will
have adequate resources to continue in
operational existence for the foreseeable
future and they expect to adopt the going
concern basis in the next financial period.|
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|The charity’s governing document is a trust
deed, prepared with support from Trust
Advice.|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|The Potteries Vineyard Church is a CIO.|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|A new trustee may be appointed by a
resolution of the Trustees passed at a
meeting of Trustees at which there is a
majority of the Trustees present and such
resolution shall be recorded in the minutes
and signed by the new Trustee and by the
chairman of the meeting and such records
shall be conclusive evidence of his / her
appointment.|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|The day-to-day management of the church
and activities are delegated to our Senior
Pastors, Jonny & Libby James, who are also
trustees.
The Potteries Vineyard Church is a member
of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland, (Charity
No. 1099748) which functions as a resource
for similar churches. In particular, they
provide significant resources, training and
pastoral oversight. Membership also allows
Jonny & Libby to be licensed accredited
pastors who have a right to use the
trademarked “Vineyard” name. The
association provides pastoral care for the
Senior Pastors and family, and an external
reference concerning church affairs and
doctrine. The Potteries Vineyard Church will
grant 5% of its annual unrestricted income to
Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland each year.|
|---|---|---|
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|The Potteries Vineyard Church|
|---|---|
|
Other name the charity uses||
|Registered charity number|1200283|
|
Charity’s principal address|8 Spratslade Drive, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 4DZ|
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4||**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Elizabeth James|Chair||
|||Jonathan James|||
|||Ruth Jeffery|||
|||Claire Bankole|||
## **Other optional information**
There are no financial accounts available for this period as the charity has not been able to open a bank account, due to several administrative errors on the part of two banks during the accounts application process. The Potteries Vineyard Church therefore reports no income and no expenditure for this period.
## **Declarations**
## **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature** E A James
**Full Name** Elizabeth Amy James
**Position** Chair
**Date** 03/05/2024