## **Omagh community Church Trustees’ Annual Report for 2022/2023** ## Statement of charity’s purpose Omagh Community Church exists for the public benefit through the advancement of the Christian Faith by the promotion, organisation and encouragement of the worship of God and the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Omagh Community Church is a community of people passionate in the pursuit of Jesus, radical in the demonstration of His love and sacrificial in meeting the needs of others. ## The benefciaries of the Charity We, the Trustees, are committed to providing a free, safe, non-judgemental and family environment for the people of Omagh and the surrounding districts. This provision is without distinction of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic identity, political or religious opinion. It is provide so that people can meet together and benefit through the various activities provided by the charity. We also seek to have international as well as local influence through our giving in support of an orphanage in India and world-wide sponsorship of children through Compassion Ireland Christian Child Development. We believe that our purpose satisfies the public benefit requirement and that there is a direct benefit, which flows from this purpose through the adoption of a moral framework which encourages people to be good citizens and good neighbours. ## The activities of the charity The activities of the charity are provided to meet the holistic, spiritual, emotional and physical needs of the individual. This is achieved through worship, prayer, bible teaching, food bank, pastoral care team, home visits, Connect Kidz, creche, school visits, Christmas food hampers, Christmas Day dinner, Macmillan coffee morning, distribution of Christian literature, audiovisual and internet outreach. (For further details visit OCC website.) All of the activities of the charity were affected by the government covid guidelines. The in-person Sunday morning services resumed on 17 April 2022 with a 9:30 Communion service and the main worship service at 11:30 in our premises in 16a Old Market Place. These services were initially limited to 20 people with 2 metre distancing, hand sanitisation and face masks. These restrictions were gradually relaxed during the year as per government guidelines. Other church activities, involving smaller numbers, had already resumed with similar restrictions. These included the Wednesday lunchtime prayer group, the mid week fellowship groups, the pastoral care group and leaders meetings. The on-street outreach team continued talking to and praying with people on the streets of Omagh on Monday afternoons throughout the year. The food bank continued operation from our premises at 54 High Street . Requests for food are received by telephone or online. Contactless deliveries were phased out following the end of Covid restrictions and people needing food were encouraged to visit the food-bank between 10:00 and 12:00 0n Monday or Thursday morning. The number of people requesting food decreased significantly throughout the year. The (2022) Christmas Day dinner was a great success and was held in Old Market Place for the first time. The serving of the meals was greatly enhanced by the purchase of a bain marie food warmer. Approximately 100 meals were provided including some which were delivered to peoples’ homes. This year the plans for installing a lift were approved by Omagh and Fermanagh District Council. The preparatory building work commenced at the end of November 2022 and complete installation was expected in April 2023. For the month of December during the most disruptive part of the installation the main Sunday service was relocated to the Macha Centre in Omagh. We were pleased to be in a position to support our partners in India by sending £ 6350.00 in financial aid to their orphanage this year. This is a decrease on last years on last years gift which was exceptional (see previous report). ## Mitigation of harm The Trustees are committed to providing a free, safe, non-judgemental, family environment for all its activities. In providing a safe space, we are prepared to refuse admission to people who are disruptive, disrespectful to staff or others, intimidating or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. ## Private beneft In order for the charity to effectively fulfil its purposes it employs a full time pastor. This enables the charity to provide the services to the church and the wider community. We believe that such an outlay is entirely necessary to achieve the aims as set out by the organisation. In preparing this report, we the trustees, have paid regard to the Commission’s guidance on public benefit. Approved by the trustees 31 January 2024. Alan Miller Nadine Grant Robert Wilson Susan Miller