Coleraine church of Christ Trustee report: Charity Commission N.I.
Our organisation is a small community church which exists to advance the Christian faith in Coleraine and other parts of Ireland or the world as decided by our Trustees. We also provide support and relief to those in need from poverty or life circumstances including illness or hardship. To achieve this we provide regular opportunities for worship and contemplation in the form of public services and private support from our minister. Against a background of increasing social issues such as homelessness, multiculturalism and economic fragility our church has endeavoured to provide a meaningful ministry in addition to the normal services of worship, marriages, baptisms and funerals. Our church secures a place in the community to which people can come and be welcomed. There has beena slight increase in our youth engagement which is a spin off from our summer activities.
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Partnership with numerous projects in the Borough continues. Our church facilitates the monthly meetings and various activities of the Multicultural Forum, such as Tai Chi, crafts and language classes for refugees and asylum seekers as well as the annual Christmas party for the children of refugees and asylum seekers. In addition “well being” art classes are offered by one of our local artists. Our community rooms are well used by groups in the borough. There is no room rental charge with a voluntary contribution for heating if required. There has been an average number in ceremonial services in the past year, of marriages with a slight increase in funerals, Bereavement care continues to be an essential service provided by the church. Our minster is a non salaried director of CRUN with which the church is happy to partner with. At the Causeway Rural and Urban Network (CRUN), the purpose is to assist community groups, youth projects and charities across the Causeway Coast & Glens Borough and the Northern Trust area. We have a Community Resource Centre in the centre of Coleraine
We are committed to empowering people, which will enable change and develop the communities we live in, an ethos which is consistent with our church ministry. Street Pastor’s is supported and represented by our church over the years and continues.
Street Pastors are trained volunteers from 30 local Christian churches - we care about making our community safer! We are out on patrol every weekend - on Friday evenings and late Saturday nights to care for, listen to and help people who are out on the streets. We are led by a coordinator, supported by a management team and a small operations team. We have support from local churches and work in partnership with the police, local council and the Housing Executive.
Benevolence is an ongoing part of our ministry. This includes contributing to some referrals from Social Services local office. Donations are channelled through Social Services to protect the identity of the recipient.
Other benevolent contributions have been made to “Camp Shamrock” a non denominational youth project which provides holidays for children on the island of Ireland.
Continued donations are sent annually to India, specifically for medical care. A chosen charity again was “Adopt a Child” which our church supports to children in Romania. Our beneficiaries are the members of our church, our volunteers, those who access our services from the local community in Coleraine and beyond in the United Kingdom and overseas, indeed anyone that we can help. How we prove our benefit is through record keeping of those who attend our services, volunteer in our various activities and attend our social and youth events. We provide newsletters and flyers, utilise the local press for publicity and take photographs and also collect monitoring information when we access public funds for our activities. Streaming services of worship is streamed for the elderly or house bound.
Our church provides summer internships to young people who may be preparing for ministry or voluntary work. This programme runs July through August. There is no private benefit accrued to any of our trustees or congregation as everyone is treated the same and has equal access to all of our support and services. If conflict of interest arises it is discussed and addressed as part of our trustee meetings to ensure that no private benefit happens. We provide a stipend for our minister but this is entirely reasonable and in keeping with the duties he performs and we would not be able to provide the public benefit our organisations seeks to provide without having a minister who can dedicate his time to keeping everything organised and on track. Everyone whether church member, volunteer or member of the public is treated in exactly the same way and there is no privilege or gain attached to any of our activities.
Where volunteers acquire training to assist them in the delivery of our objectives, this training may also enhance their employment or volunteering opportunities elsewhere but this gain is necessary for us to be able to deliver our objectives and be compliant with legislation including Access NI and Health and Safety for example. No harm arises from the delivery of our public benefit as all of our activities are well-thought out, planned and risk assessed and all necessary insurances, checks and policies are in place and adhered to under the supervision of our Minister and the Trustees of the organisation.
Trustees:
Sheba Clinton Paul : Wilmont Mervyn McGrath Geoffrey McAuley
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Dated:
November 9". 2015