Assembly of God (Birkenhead)
Liberty Church Wirral
Trustees and Members Report
For year ending 31[st] December 2021
This year has been another very difficult one for the church while negotiating COVID restrictions. As a church we have made a significant change in the leadership structure although everyone is still on board doing virtually the same duties. It means that Timothy and Hannah Gregory are now senior leaders of the assembly and have full status with AoG. Iain and Bob are now both working along with elders Joan Ogilvie, Sam and Mercy to support Tim and Hannah as they take on the challenge.
Bob had a difficult time with his health during 20-21 but thankfully, with support from the church board, he is now in a much better place and functioning well in his leadership role. Bob will still be responsible for assisting Tim in the development of his passion (which is making disciples), and his valued input is critical for the ongoing of the assembly. We are a team and want to work together in unity as such to serve God as best as we can in the mission-field into which He as placed us.
Iain new role is still apostolic in its nature and he exists in this role to provide help, advice, support to Tim and Hannah. He continued to work on grant applications and on obtaining quotes for the large building projects and development of 21[st] century style projects like The Live Room. As a church we aim to position ourselves, and our missional work, to enable people we engage with us, to find ‘Liberty’ and freedom in their lives.
Insurance . It proved impossible to procure buildings insurance despite numerous attempts for a sensible quote. So we have only had contents and public/ employers liability insurance throughout 2021. The same will apply in 2022 unless we address dilapidations (below).
Building dilapidations: Asbestos on the 1st floor. This continues to be a source of concern as does the condition of the large glass panels and the temporary repairs made a couple of years ago. The wooden boards are now deteriorating. The leadership must address these issues in the coming year. We need well over £20K to fix it. Iain has had no success in sourcing finds specifically related to asbestos clearance.
The Live Room from February : Work commenced on clearing the basement to house the Live Room. Iain was successful in obtaining start-up funds for the Live Room from Pete Townshend of The Who. He gave £3000 then £1050 from donations and gifts and another £1500 from LCVS (Liverpool Council for Voluntary Services). Total is £5550 of which £5026.89 has been spent as of the 31[st] January 2021 leaving £523.11 spend to be used in 2022. Iain failed to secure 10K Lottery funding for the project but this will be re-written into a new bid in 2022. The Live Room launched despite the basement not being completed (due to a structural issue in the ceiling). This popular project has made a huge difference in the lives of its 15 members and we hope to extend this once the basement has been completed. (early 20200).
Liberty Centre. A 3 year, £300K project funded by the Reaching Communities Fund was submitted but failed. This would have provided much needed salaries to run the Centre and will be readdressed in 2022 as will another £10K fund which was refused because thy perceived us as ‘church’ in its traditional sense.
Assembly of God (Birkenhead)
Liberty Church Wirral
Trustees and Members Report
For year ending 31[st] December 2021
Baptismal Tank: Jan2021 saw attempts to procure a suitable, portable baptismal tank but there were unresolved issues concerning its size, shape, insurance and overall safety. This has still to be resolved. Gateway church gave us use of their facilities to baptise Ankita and Abhishiek in April 2021.
Café Connect: The café has been open and closed several times in 2020-21 but it was decided, after a safeguarding incident (below), not to fully re-open. COVID did not help. Every time we closed, we lost valuable stock which had to be purchased again on reopening. The café does function on the days when MENCAP are here but, in general, is not open to the public.
Protection Issue : There was an anonymous complaint made by someone to one of the leadership team which has had consequences in the furthering of our café ministry. In-fact, it has stopped it dead in its tracks and to-date has not recovered. The result is that we need to ensure that there are a minimum number of volunteers on duty at any one time. The person to whom the criticism had been directed has ceased to use the cafe and another volunteer has refused to work under what he/she perceives as threat. This has still to be fully discussed and resolved. Thankfully, the complaint did not proceed to any official level but it has left a level of uncertainty regarding the way forward.
Actions to improve care in the café. We acted swiftly to address the grievance. A larger, more robust gateway was fitted to stop or deter unauthorised access to the serving area in the café. Suitable signage was purchased and installed to clarify responsibilities in the public areas.
March 2021 . Visit of Rueben Morley who gave an encouraging word based on his book The Introverted Evangelist
April 2021. Gateway church gave us use of their facilities to baptise Ankita and Abhishiek but we still need to address the lack of this facility at Liberty. Margot also seeks baptism. The way forward will be discussed in the first 2022 board meeting. We hope for productive input, suggestion and comment from the church members and trustees alike.
Mencap. Mencap have provided much needed income over the last couple of years but had reduced their commitment as covid regulations relaxed in the latter part of the year. They have however booked the whole of January in 2022.
Crossbow Club. The Wednesday evening Crossbow Club has proven very popular with up to 50 members using both rooms. The café is open for them and they average around £100 spend per evening.
Bee Wirral Silverbacks The men continue to meet every Monday when they drink copious amounts of tea and coffee and put the world to right. It provides a place of friendship and fellowship for their members. The also have an allotment and a fishing project.
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl mombots of Liberty Church Wrral On accounts forthe year ended 31" Dfiber 2021 Charity no lrfany) 247826 Set out on page One I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the atK>¥e charity (Ihe Trust") for the year ended 31112 12021 Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees. YCMJ are responble for the preparation of the accounts in a(th[daft with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 he Acr). I reFK)rt in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carned out under seclion 145 of the 2011 Ad and in carrying out my examination. I have fdlowed all the awicable DirecAions given by the Chanty Comriwi( under sedIC 145{5Mb) of the ACL Independènt I have completed my examinatlon. I confim that no material matters h examinerfs Statement come to my attention in connection with the eXanatiOn which gives me cause to befieve that in, any material respect: the a(oUntIng records were not kept in ac¢A)rdance with section 130 of the Charities Aci: or the auntS did not accord wrth actounting records" or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conmIng the fom and content of aCUnIS set out in the Chaiilies (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any reqU1ment that the a(Unts give a Ime and fairf view which is not a matter ¢on&dered as part of an independent examination. I have no conoms and have come xross no other matters in conne(aion with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report to enab eap r uNletstanding CA the aJx)unts to be re&hed. Signed: 25th January 2022 Name: n Jnculescu Relevant professional qualification(sl or IM)dy Irf any): Experienced in business as and manager. Address: 35 Ridley Street. Prenton. Birkenhead CH43 4rr IER Oct 2018