Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2024 Achievements Performance and Public Benefit Our mission statement outlines our aims and objectives: "Worshipping God, making disciples, transfomiing community" and we seck to be "A place where everyone is welcome" During the year our numbers attending Church Services have been increasing gradually towards a Icvel which we enjoyed before the outbreak of Covid. Sunday services were held twice on a Sunday at 8.30 am and I 1.00 am, and evening services have now been suspended due to the small level of attendance and the high costs of heating and lighting the Church building especially during the winter months, however we continue to hold evening services on special occasions and at set times in th¢ year. There are evening services held during Holy Week, Palm Sunday also Portadown District Orange lodges attend a carol service. We also welcome Hart Memorial Primary School for their carol services.. Children's or anisations Organisations for young people such as Penguins and GFS continue to follow their nornial pattern of attendance, and this has held up very well with children enjoying the support of parents and the wider Church. 5th Portadown Scouting organisations also meet in our Halls on a Thursday evening and are enjoying much success. "WOW" is the name for our Sunday School (WOW stands for Worship our way). WOW has been meeting as nomial ¢ach Sunday in the Church Hall and members attend sp¢cial scasonal services such as Advent and Palm Sunday along with prizegiving in the Church Building. Although we are very thankful for the numbers which we have attending WOW, the numbers are not what they could be for the size of our parish. Part of this is due to competing activities for children held outside of Church, and the increasing secularism whlch has infiltrated many Church families, and "Church" is not the priority it once was. "Messy Church?? is part of our outreach. Currently Messy Church has ceas¢d to operate due to some organizational challenges, however, leaders are looking at the possibility of restarting this once more with the help of new leaders. Our lapsed parent and toddler group, Scallywags and Ragamuffins is also under consideration for a restarL pending additional leaders being found. Talks are ongoing in this regard. Adult Or anisations Bowling club, Craft Group, and Mothers, Union meet in our halls from time to time and a Parish Bible Study group meets via Zoom. Edgarstown accordion band also use the hall for practices each week and Slimming World use our hall each week to hold four classes on a Wednesday. Page 2
Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2024 (Continued) Child Protection PoIic St Columba, Parish Church, Portadown subscribes to the Church of Ireland child protection policy stat¢ment: "It is the policy of the Church of Ireland to set standards for the welfare of all children sharing in its ministry with a view to protecting them from physical, sexual and emotional ham" Th¢ same policy also applies to those who would be temied vulnerable adults. St Columba's Parish Church, Portadown does this by adopting the Code of Good Practice "Safeguarding Trust" as issued by the Church of Ireland. Charities Commissloner for Northern Ireland Statement of Com liance St Columba's Parish Church, Portadown has given careful consideration to th¢ Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities entered into during the y¢ar have helped to achieve the parish's objectives and activities as well as providing public benefit. The Benefit is defined thus: "The expression of the precepts of the Christian religion through engagement with the general public, and in particular with th¢ disadvantaged, the sick, the elderly and the young, is a public benefit. This can be measured and evidenced through increased social integration and pastoral care delivered at the point of need. The direct benefit of participation in Church life includes the enjoyment of publish and the giving and receiving of pastoral ministry, improved understanding of the values relating to civic engagement, community cohesion and providing a bridge between diverse groups as well as improved educational outcomes through the Church's ministry of teaching. The beneficiaries are the general public, participation in Church governance and willingness to support through contributions the continuing witness of the Church. The wider benefit to the public will outweigh any detriment arising in the course of Christian outreach. Any private benefit arising out of th¢ fulfilment of our Christian ministy or to lay staff is essential to the fulfilment of the purpose of the advancement of religion." Financial Review The principal sources of income are freewill offering donations from our parishioners. St Columba's Parish Church had a surplus of receipts over payments before other gains of £21,080.65, for the year ¢nded 31, Dec¢mbcr 2024. 5t St Columba's Parish Church continues to be in a healthy fLnancial state as at 31 December 2024 with a total cash funds of £215,313.23. The trustees, policy on holding reserves is to retain sufficient unrestricted funds to meet on- going running costs for a minimum period of one year, having regard to increasing costs and declining income. No funds were materially in deficit at the year end. Page 3
Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 Deeember 2024 (Continued) Goin Concern The trustees have reviewed the budgets for the year ahead and are satisfied that there are adequate fLmds in place to ensure that St Columba's Parish Church, Portadown can continue its activities and the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 can be signed off as a going concern. Strueture Governance and Mana ement Governin Document and Constitution of the Chari Chapter I I l of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland governs Parishes and Parochial Organisation. The Select Vesty members ar¢ the Charity Trustees. Recruitment and A ointment of Select Vest Trustees All members of the Church of Ireland who are over the ag¢ of18 and are either resident within the parish or live elsewhere but have been accustomed members of the congregation for at least three months, may register as members of the General Vestry of the parish, allowing them to attend and vote at meetings of the General Vestry and to stand for election to the Select Vestry. Meetings of the General Vesty are held at least once a year. The Select Vestry is elected as part of this General Vestry meeting. S¢lect Vestry members will hold their positions for a period of one year. Select Vestry m¢mbers may be re-elected annually and ther¢ is no limit on the number of tern]s which may be served. and RemuneratlOD The clergy are paid directly by th¢ Diocese anisation Structure The Select Vesty is responsible for the day to day management of the parish. The Sel¢ct Vesty consists of the member of the clergy serving in the parish, any curate assistant ("curate"), the churchwardens, the glebewardens and generally not more than fourteen other members of the General Vestry elected at the General V¢stry. The Select Vestry is chaired by the Incumbent or other member of the cl¢rgy officiating in the parish. Select Vesty members are responsibl¢ for dccisioiis on Tnatters of general concern and importance to the parish including deciding how parish funds are to be applied. The Select Vestry meets at times fixed by the members or by Diocesan Synod. Special meetings may be convened at anytime by the chairperson or the churchwardens. In 2024 the Select Vesty met ten times during the year and the average attendance was 90 %. Page 4
Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 31 Deeember 2024 (Continued) Com liance With Public Benertt The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities entered into during the year and have helped to achieve the parish's objectives and activities as well as providing benefit. Statement of Trustees, Res nsibilities The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Report, the Statement of Receipts and Payments and Statement of Assets and Liabilities in accordance With applicable laws and regulations. The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland With income of less than £250,000 requiRs the trustees to prepare a statement of Assets and Liabilities for each fmancial year. The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the parish's transacts'ons and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time th¢ assets and liabilities of the parish. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the parish and ben for taking reasonable steps for the prevention of fraud and other irregularities. Signed on Behalf of the Trustees Canon W Adair, Clergy Date Mrs S Rutherford, Treasurer 1413 (z Dats Page 5