ALL SAINTS'
CENTRE NORWICH
Annual Report and Accounts for the year 2012
ALL SAINTS CENTRE
ALL SAINTS CHURCH,
WESTLEGATE
NR1 3LG
Registered Charity No. 1069474
PATRON
The Lord Bishop of
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
All Saints is a home from home for
everyone
Tel: 01603 633726
E-mail: admin@allsaintsnorwich.org.uk Website: www.allsaintsnorwich.org.uk
OUR
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
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
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
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 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
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.
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
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.
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
Michael Hope