2020-12-31-accounts

Southam Community Church Annual Trustees Report and Accounts For the year ended 31 December 2020

Coventry Street

Southam

Warwickshire CV47 0EP

Charity number 516060

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From	1st	January 2020 To	31st December 2020
Charity name:	Southam Community		Church
Charity registration	number:	516060

Objectives and Activities

Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	THE CHARITY EXISTS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL, THE WORSHIP AND SERVICE OF GOD AS REVEALED IN THE BIBLE, THE CARE OF CHRISTIAN PEOPLE AND THE RELIEF OF PERSONS IN HARDSHIP, DISTRESS, OLD AGE OR SICKNESS. THE CHARITY CONDUCTS CHRISTIAN WORSHIP AND BIBLE STUDY AND MAKES GRANTS TO FURTHER CHRISTIAN WORK IN ASIA AND AFRICA.
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.	The main activities and achievements of the charity are detailed in the Trustees Annual Report below.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	The trustees had due regard to the commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	The charity held £195,188 of monetary assets at the end of the period under review.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	The Trustees aim to hold sufficient reserves to be able to continue with a full-time ministry during any hiatus in fundraising, and to provide for future expansion.
Payments to Trustees	During the year one Trustee received an honorarium of £1,000.

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:	The charity is constituted under a Trust Deed dated 16th January 1985.

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole **year **	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Mr Brian Goodwin
	Miss Janette Ebanks	Chair
	Mrs Brenda Goodwin
	Mrs WendyHancock
	Mr AnthonyBrown	Treasurer

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Anthony Brown Position (eg Secretary, Trustee, Treasurer Chair, etc) Date 29/10/21

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAN[> AND WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For th¢ p¢rlod To 01101120 31112120 Section A Receipts and payments UnrÉstrictÈd nds RÈstri£tÈd funds End0km￿ni funds Tola fund5 Last y•ar toth• nHrnst£ thè n•ar•si£ ioth• ￿orSt£ Jth• n•ar•st£ A1 R¢¢¢ipts Clts 11 Donatsons fyts foilistribution Qftaid tsxreclairnèd Inte￿$t￿ncaSThde[1)sits 22.816 53.009 2.547 20.$71 224 2•￿?• 224 Sub tolal(Grossincome br ARJ 51956 55,920 2 Asset and Investment sabes.15ee tab￿). Sub total Total rece¥)ts 19$6 5A9JI I PayTrnts Salane5 1170 2,170 11mS 290 QAts to missions Resideniministygifts fyts to Indiwdua15 Utslitycos Insurance &fees Genergl m8intenanr Repa115 kn equipment Puichdses olequipment Telephone Prinbng. po%tage & stsbotEry Subs¢11p￿Ons treach countsncy Legal & profe$$itsnAI (ÈÈS Sundryexpenses 19.07$ 7011 290 1892 893 1A52 337 5,H9 893 1A52 337 1.092 2,8J• 854 121¢ 734 •.000 727 324 324 682 76 78Q 1.000 Sub total 2&098 33 M Assei In¥e¥tThEnt purchases. Isee tsblel Equlpnnt 522 522 Sub total 522 522 2&620 2V20 Met0f￿CelptsIIpayrnents) AS Transfers betten funds Cash lund5 last Far end Cash fvnds this y*ar•nd 2433 21,511 170.852 195.188 170,852 196.188 149.341 170.

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period caegviES elats I￿￿51T￿ted Re5triGIEd +T￿reSt£ B1 Cash funds 412 DeFThrfAt Tol41(wh fvnds 19&188 )) lund5 Detai B4Assets ￿taIned forthe charity's own use 1*17 B5 Llablwlles Dale of InBtee5 2￿1￿21

Trustees Annual Return 2020 Southam Community Church Year ending 31st December 2020

This has been a year of unprecedented change due to Covid-19.

The pandemic has presented particular challenges to church congregations in the UK. Issues such as increased difficulty in meeting together, concerns about social distancing, access to healthcare and access to information have contributed to a sense for many of a loss of independence, greater isolation and a reduced sense of wellbeing.

The impact of the pandemic on the churches has been severe with them having to close their doors during the lockdown period.

At times like this, it seems that organisations which hunker down waiting for the storm to pass fare worse in the long term. Those that are able to adapt, embracing new opportunities and taking risks, tend to be the ones who are strengthened and even thrive through such uncertain times. As a Christian organisation, Southam Community church has its hope in a much more solid foundation than the realities of our circumstances and our own ability to respond. We believe in a God who calls us forward, to be bold and courageous as well as being good stewards of all the gifts and resources he has given us. We have faith in a God who will supply what we need for the work he has called us to and who at times will allow hardship to challenge and shape us.

The ability to be agile and adapt rapidly to the changing needs of our congregation and the community environment in which we operate, therefore becomes increasingly key to survival.

One silver lining of Covid is that it appears to have driven a very real growth in the use of digital technologies both in the general population and within the church. Many people have learnt new skills and taken the leap into the digital world which has opened up new resources for them.

The church was able to quickly respond to the pandemic lockdown situation and started regular Zoom based services to maintain social connection with the majority of the congregation who were able to connect. We also had several other Christians who were unable to attend their own local services join with us on a regular basis. Those who were not able to join us on Zoom were provided with regular telephone contact.

We were also able to continue our outreach programme by creating regular weekly video messages that were sent out via Facebook, email and Twitter

The Trustees have all remained in place and have been a great encouragement to the church leadership. David Hadley, an existing church member, became a Trustee during the year and brings a wealth of health and safety knowledge to the Trustee board.

Keith Batstone, the original minister, and Tony Brown have been leading the church and have continued to work towards providing a succession programme for the leadership. We were able to identify and appoint James Williams as our new Associate Minister in October 2020.

Our other regular face to face activities (Wednesday afternoon services, wellbeing group, children’s club, parents and tots as well as business breakfasts etc.) have been temporarily suspended during the pandemic.

We are members of the Combined Churches in Southam and took a leading part in the virtual Easter Good Friday march on Zoom which was well attended by folks from all the churches.

During 2020 we have continued our on-going support for Nagaland Bible College, World of Worth, John Nkanda in Tanzania and the work of Ebenezer

At the end of a challenging year there has been a real strengthening of faith within the church and the online Sunday services have helped keep people together.

We look forward to God’s blessing on the church in 2021 as we acknowledge God’s direction for the fellowship and start to emerge from lockdown conditions.

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Southam Community Church

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Southam Community Church (the Trust) for the year ended 31[st] December 2020.

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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with those records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed:

Name: John K Starley FCA Address: Moonrakers, Back Lane, Birdingbury, Rugby, CV23 8EN Date: 29/10/21