ALL SAINTS' CENTRE NORWICH

ANNUAL REPORT  2012

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Annual Report and Accounts for the year 2012

 

ALL SAINTS CENTRE

ALL SAINTS CHURCH,

WESTLEGATE

NORWICH

NR1 3LG

 

Registered Charity No. 1069474

 

PATRON

The Lord Bishop of Norwich

The Right Revd Graham James

 

TRUSTEES

Chairman: Mr Peter Threadkell

Vice Chairman: Mrs Angela Quinn

 Treasurer: Mr Michael Hope

Chaplain: Revd Janet Wyer

Trustees: Ms Alison Atkins, Mr Robin Evans, Mrs Katherine Gray, Mrs Diane Harber,

Mr David Leathart, Mrs Sue Rolfe

Secretary to the Trustees Margaret Hill

 

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

 

All Saints Centre, housed in a redundant historic Church in the heart of Norwich, is a Christian Centre whose objectives are to give support and relief to the poor, homeless, disabled and elderly in a Christian environment. We welcome anyone to our Centre in any kind of need. This might be for information, a rest, a chat, meeting friends, a meal, or light refreshments etc.

 

 

All Saints is a home from home for everyone

 

Tel: 01603 633726         E-mail: admin@allsaintsnorwich.org.uk    Website: www.allsaintsnorwich.org.uk

 

 

 

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

 

         All Saints Centre was founded in March 1979 as a daytime Christian centre, housed in a redundant mediaeval church building in the heart of the city of Norwich and open to all.  We provide a range of facilities for anyone wishing to use them, including those on low incomes and those marginalised by society, for example the homeless and unemployed, the elderly and lonely and those generally disadvantaged and unable, or uneasy, about using commercial facilities.

 

         We provide a place of rest and refreshment within a comfortable environment, someone to talk to or somewhere to sit quietly, a coffee and snack bar serving hot and cold food and drinks, as well as a Traidcraft stall, low-priced books, greetings cards and magazines.  Additionally, there is a peaceful chapel, and a private lounge for small meetings and confidential discussion, as well as a free lending library of Christian books.

 

         As a totally independent one-off charity we are able to offer the only focal point in the city of Norwich where anyone, whatever their needs, can meet on neutral ground without obligation or commitment.  We aim to be complementary to other local projects and services, often serving as a first place of contact giving impartial advice and able to refer people to other specific organisations in order to meet more particular needs.  We are often able to help individuals to sort out, for example, financial problems with service providers or landlords, to direct homeless newcomers to the city to overnight accommodation, or provide food and drink to someone awaiting benefit payments.

 

         The Centre has an open-door policy and is not only widely used by those in specific need but also by passing shoppers, tourists, local shop and office workers, and many others from all walks of life.  We have thus become well known in Norwich for achieving a unique atmosphere where the poor and disadvantaged feel comfortable and at home and are yet an integral part of the local community.

 

         The invaluable work of the Centre was recognised in 2000 by the award of a Community Fund grant to provide better access and improved toilet facilities for the disabled.  Further awards from local charitable trusts have since enabled the Centre to install new central heating, replace worn out flooring and expand its catering and caf facilities in order to meet growing demands for its services and to comply with more stringent health and safety regulations.

 

 

 

2012 REPORTS

 

 

FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRUSTEES

 

 

2012 was another busy year for the Centre.   The welcoming atmosphere people sense when they come through the doors is due to the positive attitude of the staff and volunteers in welcoming everyone whatever their needs.

 

During the year the Trustees have met several times to oversee the running of our Charity.  I am most grateful for their support and hard work.  Special thanks are due to Margaret Hill our secretary.

 

Our Chaplain Revd. Janet Wyer from St Peter Mancroft is a vital part of our team.  Many people who come to the Centre are damaged in some way and Janet, assisted by Alison Atkins, a fellow Trustee, provides a quiet pastoral support for those in need.

 

Our lease expires in 2015 and this year we will be looking at ways we can continue to stay at All Saints beyond that date to provide our essential service to the community.

 

 

 

 Peter Threadkell

 

THE CENTRE MANAGER'S REPORT

Over the past year we have again seen some new faces, who think All Saints is a lovely place. It has also increasingly been used by the younger generation. We have also seen an increase in the homeless and their need for our support and our Food Voucher scheme is in great demand.

 

This year we gave our coffee bar a new name - THE SANCTUARY CAF to highlight this important facility at the Centre.

 

Finding sufficient volunteers who are committed is always an ongoing task and we continue to look for ways to attract more help.

.

Again the weather was kind to us for our annual fete, held in September, which was held on the same day as the Bicycle Ride and Heritage weekend and which attracted  large number of people.

 

Last but not least I must thank my staff and volunteers for all their help and hard work in the daily running of the Centre.

 

 

 

   

Karen Maidstone 

 

 

 

FROM OUR CHAPLAIN 

 

A People Place - a Place of Prayer

 

All Saints Centre has been a place for people and a place of Christian worship and prayer for over six hundred years - and the tradition continues on to this very day. In fact, every Friday at 12.00 noon, people still gather together before the Altar to offer prayers and praise and thanksgiving to God. It is a small and informal gathering and anyone and everyone is warmly invited come and pray with us.

 

Prayer is the foundation of all the wonderful work that goes on day to day in All Saints Centre. Prayer helps ensure that we maintain and refresh our focus and enthusiasm for our work and keeps our reason for being offering hospitality and love in the name of Jesus Christ - to the forefront at all times.

 

In 2012, the Chaplaincy in All Saints Centre has grown in terms of there now being a number of people involved in helping out in the Chancel area, leading those prayers on Fridays at noon and providing a safe listening ear. Those who lead the prayer time, and all who work to make All Saints Centre what it is a place of love and hospitality - are deeply committed to ensuring that all who come with a story to tell or troubles

to unburden are heard.

 

Those who visit the Centre on a regular basis may have noticed that changes have been afoot in the Chapel we have been working to make the Sanctuary a more welcoming and uncluttered space for those who are seeking peace, prayer and spiritual encounter. We have also been seeking to provide and give away resources that can help those taking their first steps on their Christian journey and have been inviting those who have books or items, that they feel might be of use, to pass them on to us.

 

A more recent addition to the chancel area is a prayer station with a board for leaving prayer requests. The chaplaincy team is taking responsibility for pointing people in the direction of the board and in receiving prayer requests. They will also ensure that any prayers left in our care will be prayed at an appropriate time.

 

In a world where all too often the vulnerable and hurting are overlooked or simply not seen, All Saints Centre is a haven of peace and a place of practical help a hot meal for the hungry, and advice, help and companionship  for the destitute and lonely; a place where Gods love can be seen in action day in day out and that is really something to give thanks for, so if you are local and able to, please come and join us join us for a Friday prayer time if you can; I can guarantee you will find a warm welcome and a real sense of Gods loving presence.

The Revd. Janet Wyer.

 

 

FINANCIAL REPORT
 
TREASURERS REPORT

 

2012 proved to be a very challenging year for the Centre.  We finished with a total deficit of over 10,000.  All our costs have risen alarmingly even though efforts have been made to contain them.  Food costs, energy (heat, light and cooking) and our rent have all greatly increased.  In addition our income has declined from 99,500 to 81,396.  Although much of this is explained by a substantial legacy in the previous year, the economic climate and reduced 'foot fall' in Norwich with many empty shops in Westlegate have all added to the problem.

 

One bright spot has been the support of many of our loyal benefactors who gave a total of over 16,000 in donations during the year.  I would like to particularly thank the Geoffrey Watling Charity ( 4,000 ), the Fitzmaurice Trust (1,000),  Brenda Softley (1,000 ), Norwich Cathedral ( 750 ),a probate Legacy of 1,719, Mrs V D Langley( 700 ), St. Peter Mancroft (750 ), The Bishop of Norwich ( 500 ), Mrs Mann ( 250 ), and many other generous personal donations from individuals and Churches. 

 

However, even this generosity cannot close the gap between our income and expenditure on its own.  Four years ago our rent was 5,750 per year.  From next month it will be 13,000.  This alone accounts for a major part of our deficit. 

 

Apart from carefully controlling our outgoings, which we have been doing, we need to financially plan our immediate future and longer term survival so that the last 33 years started by Jo Cook's dedication and vision for the Centre does not come to a sudden end! This, the Trustees are in the process of doing and will be keeping our Friends and Supporters updated as to what we have in mind to increase our income.

  

 

Michael Hope

A STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE AGM ON APRIL 20TH 2013

AND PASTED ON OUR WEBSITE AS SOON AS THEY ARE AVAILABLE

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