## PCC Annual Report 2024 The Parish of St. George’s Chesterton This is the annual report of the St. George’s Chesterton Parochial Church Council (PCC), covering activities during 2024 at St. George’s Church and Hope Church. This report allows us to hear and celebrate what God has been doing among us. It is also a formal requirement where the PCC members, as charity trustees, set out what has been achieved for church members and for the community, and how we use money and buildings. ## **Aim and Purposes** As a Church of England PCC our aim is to cooperate with the vicar, Andy Atkins, in promoting the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of St. George’s Church building, the church hall and the house at 39 St. Kilda Avenue. ## **Public Benefit Statement** The PCC have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant. The mission of the Church includes sharing the gospel, discipling people for growth, serving people in need and fostering community in our local area - we want to be people who are eager to do what is good (Titus 2:14). We work to make our services, events and groups accessible and welcoming to as many people as possible. Our activities during 2024 and their outcomes are outlined in the next sections of this report. ## **Worship and Prayer** ## **Church Services** Weekly communion services with children’s church were held on Sundays at St. George’s at 10am, with around 30 people attending. Special services were held on Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday, the night of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Morning prayer was said on Wednesdays at 8am. St. George’s started bring-and-share lunches and held three during 2024, with services at 11am those weeks and the congregation enjoying food and fellowship together afterwards over lunch. Hope Church met on Sundays at Shirley Primary School, from 11am for brunch before an 11:30am all-age service, with creche for pre-schoolers when needed. An average of 64 people attended, including around 25 under-16s. The themes during 2024 were ‘The Jesus Way’, 1 Corinthians, Friendship, and Deuteronomy: Learning to be the People of God _._ PCC REPORT 2024 PAGE /1 9 Once a month the service included communion, and once a month there was a bring-andshare lunch after the service. Arbury Community Church joined us for an Easter Sunday service. In October the first ‘Something Bigger’ youth service was hosted at St. George’s church, where local church youth groups and their friends came together for worship and games, with around 30 young people. On 1st December the young people at Hope Church prepared and led the Hope Church Sunday service, including the music, talks and prayers. ## **Small Groups and Prayer Meetings** St. George’s cell group met on Monday mornings to look together at the Bible passage from the Sunday service. People in the group continue to be encouraged by growing confidence in reading and discussing together. Three Hope Church home groups met on weekday evenings, one morning group met on Thursday mornings, and discipleship groups for young people met on Sunday evenings. The home groups follow a rhythm of Bible study, small group discipleship, and monthly meals together. Every six weeks or so one of the Hope Church home groups led Prayer Central, praying for each other, upcoming church events, the local community and global mission. Most Sundays before the service people gathered to pray for these themes and for the service. ## **Mission, Evangelism and Pastoral Care** Alongside encouraging members to work and witness in all areas of the parish, St. George’s Church and Hope Church have engaged in mission, evangelism and pastoral care in the following ways. ## **Baptisms, Confirmations and Marriages** During 2024 one young person was baptised at Hope Church, and one baby was baptised at St. George’s. One young person was confirmed at St. George’s and three young people were confirmed at Hope Church, with Bishop Graham Kings leading both confirmation services. Two weddings were held at St. George’s Church for people from Hope Church: Cheryl and Krystian in February, and Nikki and Darren in September. In August Mark and Joanna’s wedding anniversary was celebrated by a special service and renewal of marriage vows in St. George’s Church. The church building and vicarage garden were beautifully decorated venues for these events. In January Tim and Chootin’s golden wedding anniversary was celebrated in a Hope Church service, where they and their family spoke about God’s blessings over the years. ## **Alpha Courses** Two Alpha courses were run on Sunday evenings in 2024, for people to meet each week, share a meal together and explore faith in Jesus. PCC REPORT 2024 PAGE /2 9 ## **Songs of Praise** In April, St. George’s Church hosted a Songs of Praise event where various people chose a hymn for the congregation to sing, and shared about what the hymn meant to them personally. This event was appreciated by church members, and by local people who don’t normally come to church. ## **Children’s Work** Children’s church continued at St. George’s, with around seven children each Sunday exploring a story creatively together, then joining the service at communion. Hope Kids ran on Wednesdays after school at St. George’s Hall, for children in school years 3 to 6, with Bible videos, games and snacks. Around ten to fifteen children joined each week. Victoria Goodman visited many Cambridgeshire primary schools as part of her work for the Church Schools Trust, including Shirley Primary School and Chesterton Primary School which are in St. George’s parish. Victoria mentored children, took assemblies and led creative storytelling in classes. Anna Bickerstaffe and Chloe Walker visited Shirley Primary School for Easter, Harvest and Christmas assemblies, and Chesterton Primary School for a Christmas assembly. Both schools visited St. George’s Church for Christmas carol services. Andy Atkins is a governor at both Chesterton and Shirley Primary Schools. ## **Youth Work** Hope Youth Hub continued on Monday evenings in St. George’s Hall, with around 20 local young people from school years 7 to 11 joining for games, snacks and a Bible thought. Around 8 young people from church joined Sunday Xplore at leaders’ houses for a Bible study with games, and marshmallows around the firepit were especially popular. At the end of October the youth leaders hosted a Youth Light Party for around 30 young people at St. George’s Church. Connor Kennedy and Chloe Walker helped at Youth for Christ (YFC) Drop-in sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the No. 40 Hub in central Cambridge, which encouraged several young people from Chesterton who knew Connor and Chloe to go to those sessions. Some of the young people from Hope Church joined Connor and Chloe on the Fort Rocky YFC weekend in February. In January Hope Church youth leaders and young people joined the Gathering at Christ Church for young people across East Anglia to sing, pray, play games and hear from God’s work together. In July youth leaders took four young people from Hope Church to a praise and inspiration event “The Send” in Wembley Arena. Summer ventures were a great opportunity for fun and discipleship, and Hope Church sent groups to ventures Woolhampton 1 and Orwell 1, which are part of the ministry of the charity CPAS. Fifteen young people aged 11-14 went to Woolhampton (from the church and also some of their friends who didn’t attend church), as well as six adults and four children under PCC REPORT 2024 PAGE /3 9 11 (who had a parent serving on the venture). Five young people aged 15-17 went on the Orwell venture. Chloe continued mentoring at North Cambridge Academy (NCA), meeting with eight young people each week. Chloe and Connor started a Christian Union on Friday lunchtimes at NCA, creating a space for young people to be together at lunchtime, with a Christian influence, with around 15 young people, who aren’t otherwise engaged with church. ## **Lunch Club** Volunteers ran a monthly Lunch Club, providing a two course meal with tea and coffee, and a special Christmas dinner for over 40 people. People from the church and the community enjoyed sharing these lunches and meeting friends. Through Lunch Club several people formed connections and then joined other church events such as the Songs of Praise. ## **Exercise Class** The Exercise Class continued strong in 2024, offering strength and balance exercises for older people. Around 12 members took the class each week. They gave and received friendship and support, and several members came to Lunch Club. ## **Baby Club** In November volunteers started a Baby Club for new parents and their babies, on Thursday afternoons in St. George’s hall. After a quiet start, word spread and a few families started coming and enjoying the space, toys and welcome. ## **Woodlands Care Home Visiting** Jackie Riglin visited Woodlands each Monday afternoon, spending time with residents and their relatives and giving pastoral support and bereavement counselling. She took services on the first Monday of each month. At Christmas, Jackie and volunteers from St. George’s ran a Woodlands Nine Lessons and Carols and served mince pies. ## **Hope Fairbite** Hope Fairbite is a community shop run in partnership with Cambridge City Foodbank, where members can choose items from a range of food and household products for a small fee. There were 80 members, with around 58 attending each week across two sessions, Mondays and Tuesdays. The Hope Fairbite manager Karen McGuire is employed part time by the PCC. Pop-ups started in 2024 and are now held every three months, where charities and businesses come to Hope Fairbite to help Fairbite members access their services and advice. At each pop-up the local council offered support with housing questions, and other organisations offered services such as health advice, support with pet care, or help getting reduced water rates for single people on benefits. Hope Fairbite held two Christmas parties which were appreciated by members, and gave out 80 Christmas hampers. PCC REPORT 2024 PAGE /4 9 ## **Mission partners** During 2024 Hope Church started a partnership with missionaries sharing the gospel in the Middle East, with a mission group at Hope Church coordinating updates, prayers and financial giving. ## **Christians Against Poverty Partnership** Hope Church partner with the charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP), and during 2024 Hope Church provided one-to-one debt advice and offered practical support for local individuals and families. The church gave six Christmas hampers to people CAP were supporting. ## **Hope into Action Partnership** Hope into Action own a house locally, as a safe home for homeless people for up to two years, until they move somewhere more permanent. During 2024 a family moved into the house. Hope Church provide practical support, and a befriending team to meet with the family living in the house. ## **Hope Weekend Away** Around 70 people from Hope Church went away Saturday 5th to Sunday 6th October to a Rock UK site in Northamptonshire, spending time together in worship, games, crafts and gathering round a bonfire in the evening. Danny Driver, the vicar of Christ the Redeemer church in Barnwell, joined us to teach the Bible for us, and volunteers from other Cambridge churches came to run children’s groups. ## **Phab Club Visits** Phab is a national charity inspiring and supporting disabled and non-disabled people to make more of life together. Andy Atkins hosted a summer barbeque for the Cambridge Phab club, where around 70 people came. He also visited the club at Easter and Christmas. ## **Community Events and Facilities** ## **Easter Trail** On Easter Saturday Hope Church and St. George’s created an Easter Trail in Green End Road park. Nine stations each had a scene for people to discover, an item to collect and an actor to interact with, and together they told the Easter story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. There were Easter crafts, face painting and refreshments to enjoy, and Easter eggs were given out. Over 150 children followed the trail. ## **Holiday Club** In the October half term Hope Church hosted a fish themed Holiday Club for around 40 primary school children in St. George’s Hall and church. Over three days the children enjoyed PCC REPORT 2024 PAGE /5 9 games and crafts, and heard from actors, puppets, storytellers and talks about miraculous catches of fish, and how Jesus wants people to follow him. ## **Carols in the Park** 200 people gathered in Green End Road park for Christmas carol singing led by musicians from St. George’s and Hope, and a carol performed by Chesterton Primary School choir. We shared a short talk about Christmas, and mince pies and hot chocolate. ## **Christmas Wreath Making** A wreath making event run by church volunteers in St. George’s Church was very popular with local people, with about 70 people coming to make a wreath for £5. Several people brought children and made a wreath as a family Christmas activity. ## **Church and Hall Hire** Cambridge Community Circus have a specialist rig in the church building, and rented the building four evenings a week plus Sunday afternoons. Several community groups make use of the church hall, in particular Playlanders preschool who run three days a week. During 2024 the church and hall were also rented out for events and sound recordings. ## **Financial Report** ## **Accounts** The 2024 accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis to the nearest whole pound, and are shown on the standard Charity Commission CC16a template for this type of accounts. The restricted funds shown in the accounts are for Hope Church and for Hope Fairbite. ## **Volunteers** Much of the mission of the church is not visible in the accounts because the work is unpaid, and the PCC are grateful for many volunteers who serve the church in formal and informal roles. Karen McGuire manages hiring of the church and hall as a volunteer (in addition to her part-time job as Hope Fairbite Manager). Youth worker Connor Kennedy and student youth worker Chloe Walker volunteer with a team of others serving young people in many ways, as outlined above. We are grateful to Jess Soanes who joined Hope Church as an ordinand training at Ridley Hall and volunteered with church activities. Volunteers serve in children’s work, creche and Baby Club. People cook, serve and clear up after meals for Lunch Club, Alpha and church brunches, and provide refreshments at many services and events. People serve on St. George’s Forum and Hope Church Council, and as churchwardens, Parish Safeguarding Officer, safeguarding administrator, treasurer and bookkeeper. Volunteers lead services, prayers and home groups, play music, read, act, manage sound and set up and clear up each Sunday, and more. PCC REPORT 2024 PAGE /6 9 We are grateful for the support church members offer to each other and to their neighbours in many different ways. ## **Financial Review** Overall in 2024 the PCC received £112,801 and paid out £118,209. The PCC cash funds at the end of 2024 were £141,936. The payments relate to: - Administration — General office running costs - Buildings — Maintenance and utilities for the various buildings for which the PCC is responsible, plus insurance which covers both buildings and activities - Diocese — Payment of ministry share to Ely Diocese, who provide stipends and housing for clergy in the Diocese, including Andy Atkins - Ministry — Provision of services and events - Staff — Employing Karen McGuire as Hope Fairbite Manager Regular donations are declining in real terms, as most donors have kept their giving unchanged, and costs are going up with inflation. A new card reader has made one-off donations easier at St. George’s and at Hope Church, and has made Hope Fairbite shop payments easier. Donations specifically for Hope Church do not cover the relatively large costs of Hope Church mission (costs for activities described above). This defecit is sustainable over the timescale of a few years, beacuse reserves were built up in the years after Hope Church started in 2019, including during the pandemic when rent was not paid. Hope Fairbite receipts generally cover Hope Fairbite payments, as during 2024 there was an increase in the rate members pay each week at the shop. We are hoping to secure a grant from the council for continuing employment of the Hope Fairbite Manager, as we have done in previous years. The church hall and the house on St. Kilda Avenue provide steady sources of income. Hiring income has gone down for the church building as the circus slightly reduced their hours, and because there were fewer bookings for sound recordings, which were a significant source of income in previous years. ## **Reserves Policy** Our reserves policy is that St. George’s, Hope Church and Hope Fairbite should each maintain minimum cash reserves of two months operating expenses. ## **Safeguarding** The PCC complies with its duty to have regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. We do everything we can to ensure that our PCC REPORT 2024 PAGE /7 9 policies and practice conform to Diocesan and National Church guidelines and policies, and have adopted the latest Safeguarding Policy from the Diocese of Ely. During 2024 our Parish Safeguarding Officer was Jackie Riglin, and Sophie Ng was the designated safeguarding person and responsible person for Hope Church. Soph Ng took over as Parish Safeguarding Officer from the start of 2025. Celia Gitterman was (and is) our Parish Safeguarding Administrator. St. George’s Church and Hope Church take the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults extremely seriously and have robust safeguarding procedures in place. If anyone has any information or concerns relating to the safety of children, young people or vulnerable adults within the church environment or the wider community they should please share them without delay with the relevant Church or Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, the Police or the relevant Local Authority Social Care Department. Further details on these organisations can be found on the Diocesan Safeguarding pages here: https://www.elydiocese.org/safeguarding/helplines-and-contact-numbers/ ## **Structure, Governance and Management** St. George’s Church is part of the Diocese of Ely within the Church of England. PCC members are appointed as set out the in Church Representation Rules, and are ordained clergy, churchwardens and members elected by the people on the electoral roll of the church. PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish, including deciding how the funds of the PCC are to be spent. Hope Church Council and St. George’s Forum are groups from each congregation who meet regularly to pray, discuss and plan, structured as committees of the PCC with delegated pastoral and missional oversight of the respective congregations. The PCC met seven times during 2024. We had regular reports from Hope Council and St. George’s Forum and finance reports, and we considered safeguarding in the church at every meeting. We received reports on the activities described above in this report and in the annual church fabric report. Among other things we considered: - Maintenance needed on the building, including work that had been identified by the quinquennial (five-yearly) inspection - Hiring rates, which were increased in September 2024 - Acoustic panels for the church hall, to reduce noise when groups use the hall - Nest boxes for swifts in the bell tower, requested by a local Action for Swifts group ## **Administrative Information** Name: The Parochial Church Council of the parish of St George’s, Chesterton Address: St. George’s Church, 8 Chesterfield Road, Cambridge CB4 1LN PCC REPORT 2024 PAGE /8 9 Charity Status: The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2020) and a registered charity number 1206241. ## **Trustees (PCC members) during 2024** Ex-officio members (ordained clergy, churchwardens, Deanery Synod representatives): - Andy Atkins — Vicar - Jackie Riglin — Associate Vicar - David Andrew — Associate Minister, Chair - Celia Gitterman — Churchwarden - Rosie Weston — Churchwarden, Vice-chair from APCM 2024 - Anna Bickerstaffe — Secretary, Deanery Synod representative - Victoria Goodman — Deanery Synod representative Elected PCC members: - Tish Berkeley - Jeremy Bickerstaffe — Treasurer - Joyce Coupe - Joy Deane - Jeremy Dickens (from APCM 2024) - Ant Ng – Vice-chair (until APCM 2024) - Kwadwo Oti-Sarpong ## **St. George’s Forum members** (Appointed by the PCC) Andy Atkins Jackie Riglin Tish Berkley Mick Green Celia Gitterman Karen McGuire ## **Hope Church Council members** (Appointed by the PCC) Andy Atkins Ant Ng Debbie Dickens Rosie Weston Jeremy Bickerstaffe Anna Bickerstaffe PCC REPORT 2024 PAGE /9 9 CHARITY COMM15510 FOR ENGLAND AND WAIE st Goorga'5 Chesterton PCC 1206241 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from To 01101124 31112r24 Section A Receipts and payments Unre5trictod funds to thg *eaYtrst Restricted fund$ Endowment funds Total funds Last year toth8 n8ar8st£ to ttw nearost£ to the ngarogt £ th& nearest £ A1 Rocèipts Donations & Grants 11.890 45,774 3,897 52.735 45,774 14.291 12,497 63,621J 9,52 Renlal Inmme Other IDo)me 10,394 Rounding Sub total(Gross income forAR) A2 Asset and Investment sales, Ise• table}- 64,561 111801 145,646 Sub total 64.561 112,801 145,646 A3Pa ments Administr8tion 3,077 32,265 15,993 1.8B7 1.116 15,993 31,130 13.952 5,183 25,373 30,990 30,375 19,777 33,381 31,986 33,928 13,952 DI￿$e Ministry Slaff Sub tota 54.131 078 IT8.209 111,698 A4 Asset and inveslment urchases, see table) Sub total 54.131 64,078 118,209 111.698 Net of re¢wpts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this yoar•nd 10,430 15,838 5.408 33.948 90.284 100.714 147.344 141.936 113,397 147,345 41.222 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period un￿strICted funds Restricted fund to n8awst £ Endowment funds to noare8t£ ategorfies Details to nearest£ B1 Cash funds Cfrop CCLA ac(￿nts 100,714 41,222 Total cash funds 100,714 41,222 (Bgree ￿￿n¢*¥￿th r8capls and pahfn8n15 ountlsll Unrèstrictgd funds Restricted funds Endowment funds Details to noarnst£ 10 no8wst £ to noar•st£ Fund to %thi¢h a¥set belongs Current value loplionall Details Cost loptionall B3 Investrnent assets Fund to %thf¢h L*long8 Details Costlopknall CuTh&nt valug lopllonall B4 Assets retsfrned for tho charity's own use Fund to which Ikgbllity relate8 Amount duo loptiorL411 When due loptlonall Details B5 Liabllltles Signed by one or tru$te85 on behalf of all the trustees Signature Print Name Date of approval . r4. (ok. séoemy £ IcEe£sfhFFÉ 28.4. Zo2 THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST GEORGE'S, CHESTERTON, CAMBRIDGE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST GEORGE'S, CHESTERTON, CAMBRIDGE I report lo the PCC on my examination of the accounts of the Church for the year ended 31 December 2024. RESPONSIBILITES AND BASIS OF REPORT As the members of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111'lhe Acl'l. I report in respect of my examination of the Church's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS. STATEMENT I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection wlh the examination giving me any Cause lo believe that in any material respect. a￿oUntIng records were not kept in respect of the Church as required by section 130 of the the accounts do not accord with those records; or I have no concerns and have come across no other mallers in connection with the examinallon lo which allenlion should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Geoff Mann Geoff Mann Limited Dee House Highworth Avenue Cambridge CB4 2BQ