Trn￿S Annual Report )t Polycarp's Parish Church Finaghy {NIC101985) CIO The Hon. Treasurer Mrs Heather Breene 2 Cherry Tree Walk Belfast BT56PG 1st January 2023 until 31° December 2023 Trustee& Rev. Louise Stewart, Mrs Heather Breene, Ms.K. Breene, Peter Breene MBE, Mrs Pat Clarke, Mrs Marjorie Eagleson Mark Hamill (until end of March). Mr5 Christine Howell (until end of March), George Hunter, Mlss Barbara Kenwell, Mrs Maureen Moore, Mrs Dorothy Mccallum, Simon Neill- O'Brien BEM, Mrs Heather Shaw, Greg Thompson and Mrs Helen Walth. FInan￿. Despite the economic recession parishioners have proved very faithful and generous. The Freewill Offering and Collertion dropped marginally wlth giving of £39341 in 2023. Gift Aid of £10808 was reclaimed during the yea;- Income to the Fabric Fund, including donations and rents colletted amounted to £30085. Expenditure has been strittly monitored in particular relating to utllltles and essential maIntenan￿. Apart from bank charges and interest there were no transattions on the Business Reserve and Capital Accounts during the period. The Capital Account shows a modest increase of £2k due to an increase In the value of Investmeni. The total w¢ts of the parish at year end were £139,964. All payments In 2023 were pald on receipt and In full. Management. The Finances are managed by the Treasurer who reports back to the Trustees at Finan￿ and Selett Vestry Meetings on a regular basis (monthly} or in-between if necessary. Trustees are elected each ¥ear at the Easter General Vestry. The security and safeguarding of all monies is important to the Trustees and all monies are counted and banked regularly. A Safeguarding Trust Panel is in place to ensure Complian￿ with current legislation. Current Panel Members are- Revd. Louise Stewart, Dr. Cormac O'Brien and Mrs Valerie Doherty. A rnonthly'working party" directed by the Glebe Wardens normally undertakes the routine rna1ntenan￿ of the parlsh buildings and grounds. The parish estate is inspected every five years by a DI0￿San approved surveyor who wlll produce a Quinquennial Inspertion Report. This report provides a detailed snapshot of the condition of buildings and gives clear guidance to the Trustees in how to manage the properties and prioritise any essential work. An inspection took place in early January 2023 with the findin8s issued to the parish for attention in March, Purpose. The principal function of the Parish is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting through the work of the Parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoraL social and ecumenical, All the functions of the Parish relate to the advancement of religion through holding regular worship and communlcating with and caring for parlshioners of all age5, especially the sick and elderly and others in our community. The Parlsh Church is a listed bulldlng due to the complete set of stain glass windows, Publlc Benefit. The Charity Trustees have complied with their duties in line with the Commission's Public Benefit statutory guidance. Regular worship was shared with our grouped parlsh, The Church of the Eplphany Upper Malone. Durlng the year the Parlsh has aided a number of Trussell Trust food bank dlstrlbution centres to help the disadvantaged in our area. Asylum seekers and refugees were supported by donations of clothes and to51etries to NICRAS. The Mothers, Unlon Group within the parish continue to provide knitwear for local neo-natal unlts, wash bags for Women's Ald and to people who have been rushed to hospital in an emergency. Monies were also raised forThe Bishops Appeal and CMS for the disadvantaged worldwide. An °open" Junlor B3dminton Group for local young people has been SUC￿$sfUllY established. A Friendship Group from the Grouped parishes meets monthly during the wlnter months to enable the elderly and housebound in the area to pray, socialise and enjoy good company. Public Benefit continued. The Parish affiliated uniformed organisations (Rainbows, Brownies and Guides) continue to thrive drawing members from all denominations and none. The Choir Scholarship Scheme offers school children and students the opportunity to sustain choral music within the Parish and at the same time develop their musical talent. In August the parish Choir undertook their annual summer tour to sing services in Saint Paul's Cathedral London. When and where possible various activities and services were shared with the other churches in the Finaghy district. The church halls are regularly used by community organisations in the locality as they boast "less abled" access and other appropriate facilities. Approved by the Trustees on 13 June 2024 and signed on their behalf by Z_. Jtr Revd. L Stewart Peter Breene MBE Chairperson. Honorary Secretary.