St Andrew’s Church Centre, now in its 23rd year of operation, provides a friendly and supportive service for a wide range of users in our community. The past year has seen record use of the Centre, now a fully six day a week operation.
New clients joining the Church Centre include Cape mental health Charity, Talking Teens workshop, Silver Birch foster care training, Ealing Family Service, and Glass events – Sound Bath meditation. Dalcroze Eurythmics rebooked in 24/25..
After 7 years, Ealing Percussion Academy has sadly closed, due to the teacher moving out of the area. Trojan Speakers, the public speaking classes, have been with us 14 years, and we celebrate long standing clients including Examberry, Mind and the British Red Cross, who have been with us for 22 years!
Rental and hiring incomes continue to improve and the Centre has been able to increase the subvention to the church. Income for the year until end June 2024 was £195,985, expenditure £193,686. (For the previous year, the figures were income £194,333, expenditure £154,317). We are satisfied that the financial position of the charity will enable us to meet its commitments.
The Church and Centre has enjoyed a thorough renewal programme, led by the Centre Manager, with re-decoration to Reception, new LED lights in the Johnston Hall and a re-hang of the long curtains. The grounds have benefited greatly from the energy of the new Pocket Allotment team led by Carol Jackson.
I would like to express my thanks to the professional staff of the Centre led so ably by Maureen Vincent, who has completed her twenty-first year with the Centre. She has been assisted throughout the year by Sam Keen in the role of Centre Assistant and we want to thank them both for their friendly and welcoming presence.
Over the years the Centre has been blessed by the involvement of many people in supporting our mission. Especial thanks are due to our Minister, Revd Sue McCoan, for whom this is her last Annual Meeting ahead of her retirement in summer 2025, and who will be much missed. I am grateful for the work and the support of all the members of the Centre Management committee during the year: to Robert McLeod for his financial guidance and the advice he gives us in his Treasurer role and to John Mitchell, Peter Skerratt and Georgina Akuoku. Also, to Paul Hibbins, who examines our accounts.
On behalf of the Trust, I thank everyone who has contributed to the running of the Church Centre over the past year and we look forward to the challenges of 2025 when we’ll make further progress with the eco assessment programme for our premises.
Peter Knowles
Chairman – Church Centre Trust & Centre Management Committee, 20 November 2024