THE FRIENDS OF ST JAMES THE GREAT, THORLEY
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 13th MARCH 2009
TREASURER'S REPORT - YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2008
This year was again, financially, very successful and due to that and our stewarding of our reserves, we have been able to contribute further sums towards the repairs to the Church. There was an excess of receipts over expenditure of £2083 this year. All our excess funds are invested with the Church's Central Board of Finance until they are required and the results of our expenditure are now visible. The Accounts I am presenting tonight, show the income and expenditure incurred in the year ended 31st December 2008 with comparative figures for 2007. I will now comment on some of the detail.
1. Subscriptions are slightly down this year with only £240 received for weddings. These are not major amounts but we do need to encourage new membership of the Friends and the Committee would again like to thank Edward Miller, in particular, for all his help in this regard.
2. It is encouraging that so many members and donors are now gift-aiding their contributions, it is very easy to do, see me later for details.
3. The Flower Festival was again a huge success and our thanks are to all of you for your tremendous support. The details and comparative figures for 2007 have been provided alongside the Accounts.
4. October saw our ever-popular Quiz Evening, which produced a surplus of £189 compared with £240 in 2007.
5. Sunday Teas have generated a considerable increase in income compared with previous years. These Sunday afternoons in the summer are a vital outreach opportunity for the Church and our thanks go to the small band of helpers who give up their Sundays for this work.
6. The soup served during the winter months has been a very popular Friends event and our thanks go to Maureen , Philip and helpers for all their hard work.
7. Proceeds of the Whist Drives held at the Christian Centre are donated to the Friends, thanks to the generosity of Bob and Brenda Williams, to whom - many thanks.
8. Lesley Parker organised a very successful plant sale in May, raising £249 for the Friends. We await this year's sale with much eagerness.
9. Not content with the plant sale, Lesley then set her organisational skills to work again, to mastermind an excellent Craft Fair in November, the proceeds were a magnificent £486. What would we do without you, Lesley!
10. Repairs and Maintenance expenditure is high again this year and looks set to continue to be so. Our grass cutting equipment is ageing and in need of frequent service.
11. The large amount spent on the Churchyard this year was mainly due to emergency work that had to be carried out on a diseased tree. Thankfully, this has now been cleared and is safe.
12. Finally, may I express my thanks to Geoff Pickering for being our Independent Examiner of the Accounts. The size of our organisation means that we do not require a full audit but we do have the Accounts vetted and Geoff very kindly fulfils that role. If you have any questions regarding the Accounts which I have not covered, I shall do my best to answer them.
Rosemary Jones
13th March 2009
Flower Festival |
2008
|
2007
|
£
|
£
|
|
Raffle |
569
|
429
|
Donations |
1209
|
1095
|
Refreshments |
1371
|
1296
|
Ice Cream |
45
|
48
|
Souvenirs |
109
|
109
|
Plants |
196
|
251
|
Flowers (note 1) |
25
|
(3)
|
Stalls and Sale of Fruit |
608
|
793
|
St Barnabas Centre |
(120)
|
(120)
|
Expenses (note 2) |
(148)
|
(103)
|
Craft Fair |
300
|
350
|
Programmes |
226
|
219
|
Books |
446
|
214
|
Sundry sales |
0
|
9
|
BBQ |
125
|
0
|
Signs |
0
|
(21)
|
Totals |
4961
|
4566
|
Stalls |
2008
|
2007
|
£
|
£
|
|
Recycled goods |
65
|
385
|
Tombolas |
269
|
206
|
Bouncy Castle |
0
|
(56)
|
Mystery Prize |
0
|
39
|
Produce |
15
|
53
|
Cakes |
162
|
183
|
Children's avtivities |
97
|
(17)
|
Totals |
608
|
793
|
Notes
1. Cost of flowers met by sponsors £685 (2007 £622).
2. Other expenses include donation to Organist, advertising and printing.