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2023-12-31-accounts

Hope Family Church

Brancepeth Road, Oxclose, Washington NE38 0LA

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year ended

31st of December 2023

The Parish of Oxclose, Oxclose Church AKA Hope Family Church.

Charity Number 1201922.

Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council for year ended 31 December 2023.

Aims and Purposes.

Oxclose Church Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of cooperaNng with the incumbent, the Reverend Gavin Rushton, in promoNng in the ecclesiasNcal parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelisNc, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the Church Centre complex of Oxclose Church, Brancepeth Road, Washington.

Objec4ves and Ac4vi4es

The PCC is commiSed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our parish community at Oxclose Church. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggesNons on how our services can involve the many groups that live within our parish. Our services and worship put faith into pracNce through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. When planning our acNviNes for the year, we have considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in parNcular, the supplementary guidance on chariNes for the advancement of religion. In parNcular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through:

To facilitate this work it is important that we maintain the fabric of the building of Oxclose Church and the Church Centre Complex.

Achievement and Performance.

Worship and Prayer

community find both beneficial and spiritually fulfilling. For example, regular small groups provide a

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opportuniNes are provided for people to engage in more outgoing worship such as that provided by our café style services within our parish.

This year we have been successful in welcoming more families into our church and have agreed a new style of Family Worship at 11am and launched a new teaching service at 9am. This has resulted in significant growth, but also a degree of flexibility from the established congregaNon as we have changed the se`ng and structure of our services. It is pleasing to be able to report that the new arrangements have been well received since they came into operaNon during March. In addiNon, a great deal of Nme and thought was spent during the year on making best use of the new services. Many have said how much easier it is to engage with the services and the atmosphere is much more welcoming enabling a natural engagement with visitors. At present there are 53 parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll, 17 of whom are not resident within the parish. 5 names were added during the year and 7 were removed either through death or because they moved away from the parish. The average weekly aSendance, counted during October, was 74, but this number increased at fesNvals and two Christmas carol services had to be held to seat all those who wished to aSend.

As well as our regular services, we enable our community to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of the journey through life. Through bapNsm we thank God for the gie of life, in marriage public vows are exchanged with God’s blessing and through funeral services friends and family express their grief and give thanks for the life which is now complete in this world and to commend the person into God's keeping. We have celebrated 10 bapNsms and 1 wedding and held 4 funerals in our church this year.

In August 2023, in agreement with the Bishop of Durham and in line with our aims and objecNves, it was decided to that Hope Family Church would plant a new congregaNon into Christ Church New Seaham in early 2024.

Deanery Synod

Two members of the PCC sit on the deanery synod. This provides the PCC with an important link between the parish and the wider structures of the church.

The Church Centre Complex

in the launch of the Ark Play Café and the establishment of Hope Family Church as a community hub/warm space. The cafe is run in partnership between staff and volunteers from the church and wider community. Aeer many years, during which rouNne maintenance has been carried out, we finally got the roof fixed and no new leaks have been discovered since the repair was carried out. We have conNnued to work our way through the quinquennial report recommendaNons for repairs from 2020 and a plan is in place for these repairs to be completed by the end of 2025.

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The church kitchen is now in use every day, we contacted the Food Standards Agency to register the premises and awarded a 5-star raNng. We now regularly have an average of 25 families using the café each day the café is open. Also during the week, we host our toddlers group on Monday and Thursday. Thirty-five children and their carers have been regular aSenders at the toddler group. Towards the end of the year, we were able to launch a new Ukrainian Drop in, supporNng those effected by the war in Ukraine, together with opening as a Warm Space/Community Hub has meant that we have developed closer Nes with Sunderland City Council, engaged more community volunteers and have supported over 200 people who have struggled due to the cost of living crisis.

Pastoral Care.

one another, offer prayer, and culNvate a mutually supporNve structure.

Mission and Evangelism.

Helping those in need is a demonstraNon of our faith and encourages people to examine the goodness of God. We conNnue to support 3 mission agencies as well as being able to raise £136 for the Children’s Society at our Christmas events.

The Ten10 Buys project conNnued to connect with young people in the area and wider diocese throughout 2023, Mr Kevin McLeron was appointed as our Bus Driver and alongside the vicar and other staff members helps to oversee the project. The team of volunteers conNnues to run the project ensuring a conNnuity for the young people who engage with the project.

Ecumenical Rela4onships.

The church is a member of Sunderland Connect and of the New Wine Network. We conNnue to serve other churches and their leaders through hosNng leadership gatherings and worship nights that aSract people from other churches across the region.

Financial Review.

Total receipts on unrestricted funds were £112,661 of which £19,197 was unrestricted voluntary donaNons, the rest came from grant income, café income and hiring the building. Details of this can be found in the Financial Statements.

The planned giving increased again this was very encouraging and is a clear demonstraNon that people have really caught the vision of the Church and are invested into the long-term health and growth.

lower than the desired amount through the guided pledge scheme, however we have a clear plan and scheme to meet this commitment in the coming years .The sum that the churches in the deanery have to find is shared between the churches according to a formula that is based mainly on a head count of the congregaNons, and factoring in the demographics of the area a church serves.

This was largely down to the increase in uNliNes due to unrestricted cost increases faced by all chariNes, this was somewhat miNgated by some renegoNtaNons of our contracts, however we did not escape unscathed. Adding bank and deposit balances brought forward at the beginning of the year, the balances carried forward at 31st December on unrestricted funds totalled £15,215.

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Reserves policy.

Historically there has been no reserves policy in for Oxclose Church, however the PCC has commiSed to work towards establishing maintaining a balance on unrestricted funds which equates to at least three months unrestricted payments, at present this is only met due to the level of successful grant applicaNons. This is equivalent to £20,962. It is held to smooth out fluctuaNons in cash flow and to meet emergencies. The cash balance of £11,547 held on unrestricted funds at the year end, together with the amounts payable to and by the PCC, was just over three quarters of the way towards this target. It is the PCC’s hope to increase this over Nme, and as we grow become less dependent on grant awards to subsidise giving.

The balance of £11,422 in the restricted fund is retained towards meeNng the cost of the bus project. We currently have £5,485 invested in the CCLA Church of England Deposit Fund, we currently have no plans to deposit more into CCLA, however this may change in the future.

Volunteers.

We would like to thank all the volunteers who work so hard to make our church the lively and vibrant community it is. We want to menNon our churchwardens Dr David Walton, Mrs Judith Wood and Dr David Walton conNnued to serve as treasurer.

Structure, Governance and Management.

The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church RepresentaNon Rules. At Hope Family Church (Oxclose Church) the membership of the PCC consists of the incumbent (our vicar), churchwardens, the curate and staff, and members elected by those members of the congregaNon who are on the electoral roll of the church.

All those who aSend our services / members of the congregaNon are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for elecNon to the PCC. The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all maSers of general concern and importance to the parish including deciding on how the funds of the PCC are to be spent. New members receive iniNal training into the workings of the PCC. The full PCC met six Nmes during the year with an average level of aSendance of 90%.

Administra4ve informa4on.

Hope Family Church (Oxclose Church) is situated in Oxclose, Washington, Tyne and Wear. It is part of the Diocese of Durham, within the Church of England. The correspondence address is Hope Family Church, Brancepeth Road, Oxclose, Washington, NE38 0LA.

The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church RepresentaNon Rules 2006) and a registered charity whose charity number is 1201922.

PCC members who have served at any Nme from 1st January 2022 unNl the date this report was approved are:

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Elected members:

Approved by the PCC on 22nd May 2024 and signed on their behalf by the Reverend Gavin Rushton (PCC chairperson).

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Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Oxclose Church

I report to the trustees on my examinaNon of the accounts of Oxclose Church (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Responsibili4es and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparaNon of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the ChariNes Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examinaNon of the Trust’s accounts carried out under secNon 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examinaNon I have followed all the applicable DirecNons given by the Charity Commission under secNon 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

connecNon with the examinaNon giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounNng records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by secNon 130 of the

Act; or

  1. the accounts do not accord with those records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other maSers in connecNon with the examinaNon to which aSenNon should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed:

Name: David Young ACA

Address: 6 Glenburn Close, Washington, NE38 8PE

Date:

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Brancepeth Road, Oxclose, Washington, NE38 0LA

Hope Family Church

Receipts and payments accounts for the year ended

31st of December 2023

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS

Notes
RECEIPTS
Voluntary income
2(a)
Activities for generating funds
2(b)
Investments
2(c)
Church activities
2(d)
TOTAL RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
Raising funds
3(a)
Church activities
3(b)
TOTAL PAYMENTS
TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS
CASH FUNDS LAST YEAR END
CASH FUNDS THIS YEAR END
NET OF RECEIPTS AND
PAYMENTS		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total Funds
Total Funds
2023
2023
2023
2022
80,951
8,794
89,745
93,420
20,282
500
20,782
19,258
174
0
174
71
1,960
0
1,960
6,615
103,367
9,294
112,661
119,364
-1,422
0
-1,422
-1,200
-100,667
-13,547
-114,214
-108,474
-102,089
-13,547
-115,636
-109,674
1,278
-4,253
-2,975
9,690
-8,109
8,109
0
0
22,046
7,691
29,737
20,047
15,215
11,547
26,762
29,737

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Hope Family Church

Brancepeth Road, Oxclose, Washington, NE38 0LA

Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period 31st of December 2023

Notes
CASH FUNDS
5
PARISH FUNDS
Unrestricted
Restricted		 Total Funds
Total Funds
2023
2022
26,762
29,737
15,215
22,046
11,547
7,691
26,762
29,737

Approved by the trustees and signed on its behalf by:

Revd Gavin Rushton - Vicar Date:

The notes on pages to form part of these accounts.

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Oxclose Church

Annual report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Accoun4ng policies

Basis of prepara4on

have been prepared under the ChariNes Act 2011 and in accordance with the Church AccounNng RegulaNons 2006 governing the individual accounts of PCC's, and with the RegulaNons 'true and fair view' provisions. They have been prepared under FRS102 (2016) as the applicable accounNng standards and the 2016 version of the Statement of Recommended PracNce, AccounNng and ReporNng by ChariNes (SORP(FRS102))

Funds

General funds represent the funds of Oxclose Church that are not subject to any restricNons regarding their use and are available for applicaNon on the general purposes of the Church. Restricted funds are those funds that must be spent on restricted purposes.

2. Receipts

Notes
RECEIPTS
2(a)
Voluntary income
Charitable donations
Grants
MEV income
Mission Resource payments received
Offering tray
Regular giving
Salary grant
2(b)
Activities for generating funds
Bus income
Café and Messy Church income
Event tickets
Other income
2(c)
Investments
Interest received
2(d)
Church activities
Occasional offices
Toddlers and room hire
TOTAL RECEIPTS		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total Funds
2023
2023
2023
986
986
9,581
9,581
5,995
5,995
4,628
4,628
2,031
2,031
17,166
17,166
46,559
2,799
49,358
80,951
8,794
89,745
53
53
20,085
20,085
0
144
500
644
20,282
500
20,782
174
174
174
0
174
0
0
1,960
1,960
1,960
0
1,960
103,367
9,294
112,661

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3. Payments

Notes
PAYMENTS
3(a)
Raising funds
Christians against poverty
3(b)
Church activities
Advertising and marketing
Accountancy fees
Building repairs
Bus expenses
Café expenses
Cleaning
Direct expenses
Wages
General expenses
Hospitality in house
Insurance
IT costs
Light, heat, & power
MEV expense
Mission resources
Office equipment
Parish pleadge
Pension costs
Postage
Printing & stationery
Staff training
Subscriptions
Telephone & internet
Water
TOTAL PAYMENTS		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total Funds
2023
2023
2023
-1,422
-1,422
-1,422
0
-1,422
-1,261
-1,261
-747
-747
-5,408
-5,408
-5,897
-2,616
-8,513
-14,237
-14,237
-1,069
-1,069
-8,945
-8,945
-30,155
-30,155
-870
-870
-422
-422
-1,191
-1,191
-254
-240
-494
-6,657
-6,657
-6,550
-6,550
-4,719
-4,719
-91
-2,610
-2,701
-12,547
-12,547
-1,389
-1,389
-43
-43
-1,202
-1,202
-1,302
-1,531
-2,833
-412
-412
-1,238
-1,238
-611
-611
-100,667
-13,547
-114,214
-102,089
-13,547
-115,636

4. Average number of employees

The average number employed in the year was 3.

5. Cash at bank

Santander current accounts
CCLA Church of England deposit accounts		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total Funds
Total Funds
2023
2023
2023
2022
9,730
11,422
21,152
24,301
5,485
125
5,610
5,436
15,215
11,547
26,762
29,737

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