PCC Treasurers
Parish Share Encouragement Scheme
To help parishes pay their Parish Share in full, in manageable quarterly instalments, Diocesan Synod has approved an Encouragement Scheme by which parishes can qualify for a 2 percent discount off their Parish Share allocation for 2011.
How will the Scheme work?
To qualify for the discount you need to pay:
25% of Parish Share by 31 March 2012
50% by 30 June 2011
75% by 30 Sept 2011
100% by 3 January 2013.
How will the discount apply?
For every £1,000 paid in Parish Share you will have £20 credited against your
2013 Parish Share Assessment. Contact the Finance Team for more details.
Investment Returns
With interest rates at a prolonged, historic low of 0.5%, parishes are encouraged to review their investment strategy to ensure they are maximising returns. Some parishes do not have significant reserves, but others have sizeable sums. By reviewing where it is invested, we hope parishes will be able to increase the investment return on these funds, without taking inappropriate risks.
Investing Your PCC Reserves - a short guide for PCCs is a guide for parishes to consider this issue. See also www.parishresources.org.uk/reserves for more information.
Forms
The Annual Return forms plus copies of the parish audited accounts and AGM reports need to be retuned to the Finance dept before the end of May.
Standard Finance Form (Excel)
Audit/Independent Examiner's Checklist
Parish Buying
A new website at www.parishbuying.org.uk can save you money on a whole range of items from energy bills, office products, IT software, photocopying and fire safety. Registration is free.
When buying gas and electricity, parishes are classed as business customers. The Parish Guide to buying Electricity and Gas outlines the five key steps for successful utilities management.
The parish guide to Minimising Utility Costs enables parishes to check whether they can save on electricity and gas by switching to a non-contracted supplier, and identifies suppliers of green energy.
The 30-second financial health check for your church
Answer the questions below to see if your church is making the most of improving its finances.
- Does you church use Gift Aid Lite, the new Gift Aid scheme?
- Have you had a stewardship campaign in the last three years?
- Have you attended a Grantnet Training event?
- Have you investigated a grant from the Parish Mission Fund?
- Do you pay your full Parish Share in full to provide mutual support?
- Have you run a legacy campaign?
If you answered no to any of the above questions then you could be missing out on financial help and access to funds.
Where to find help
Follow the links above for more information. If you need to speak to someone, please contact the following:
For Gift Aid Lite or recovering tax from donations, call Sue Warren on 0161 828 1424.
For advice on stewardship, legacy campaigns or increasing giving, call James Emmerson on 0161 828 1474.
For advice on finding grants, call Sue Heil on 0161 828 1445.
For information about the Mission Fund, call Dian Leppington on 0161 828 1466.
For help with mutual support, contact Parish Support Group member, Alex Peet, on 0161 828 1467.
More information for treasurers
See also the new Finance section with information on Church Finances, Mutual Support (including Parish Share, Grants and Help with Fundraising) and Grants and Investments.
Resources on giving during the recession
The Association of Church Accountants & Treasurers (ACAT) provides a complete resource for Parish Treasurers. For £12.50 per annum, membership brings a comprehensive handbook that is regularly updated, a quarterly newsletter and a helpline. The Association has over 8600 members of all denominations.
Visit www.acat.uk.com for further information or contact treasurer@acat.uk.com
The Archbishop's Council has an excellent website at www.parishresources.org.uk that contains a whole range of resources to help you in your role as treasurer. This includes information about your role, key tasks, good practice for handling cash, and how to produce accounts which will comply with the Charity Commission's guidance.
The Church of England has some new web pages on dealing with personal debt and the effects of the credit crunch. Click here.
