Introduction

It has been another busy and challenging 12 months since our last AGM on 24 April 2022. This report covers how we have pursued the sale of our building and moving forwards into the post-pandemic era. Before this, the Management Committee would like to pay tribute to the memory of Maurice Large, our former Chairperson and Secretary who passed away on 9 January 2023. His leadership and wisdom saw us safely through many challenges, in particular the need to decide whether to sell our building. He is much missed by all who knew him.

Sale of the building

Following the Special Meeting in January 2018, we agreed to sell our building to a local property developer. We have worked with our solicitors, Womble Bond Dickinson, to put in an application to the Charity Commission to sell our building, invest the proceeds of sale, and use the interest on the investment to pay for our lease of the Turner Hall. This was successful. We will update everyone on how this is proceeding in due course.

Social Action

We marched at Northern Pride 2022 for the first time, held a ‘Celebrating Pride’ service on 8 July 2022, and the Remembering Brianna Ghey vigil in Newcastle in February 2023. We also arranged for Unitarians across the UK to take part in online training on Trans Awareness and Trans Rights in November 2022, led by local trainer Ellie Lowther. In February 2023 we became a Fairtrade Church in time to take part in Fairtrade Fortnight, holding a Fairtrade Service on 26 February 2023. We are committed to promoting Fairtarde in Newcastle, and using Fairtrade goods where possible.

We also continued to make ongoing monthly donations of money, and also coffee, tea, dried milk, men’s socks and underpants, and men’s toiletries to the Joseph Cowen Centre for homeless men in Byker, named for an MP who regularly attended services at the Church of the Divine Unity.

Charities

We supported various charities in 2022-2023:

• Barnardo’s: We donated toys for children in need in the local area following the Toy Service in December 2022, giving them to Barnardo’s to distribute.
• People’s Kitchen: Following our Harvest Service in autumn 2022, we asked those attending to donate either funds or goods to the People’s Kitchen.
• SACHS: Following our Send A Child to Hucklow (SACHS) service in May 2022, we donated £50 to SACHs.
• Red Cross Interfaith Appeal: We donated the proceeds of our Remembrance Sunday retiring collection, £50, to this appeal in November 2022 to support those affected by conflict in Ukraine. In February 2023 we held a retiring collection which raised £50 for the Red Cross Disaster Relief appeal for people affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

Committee

Louise Reeve continued as Secretary, and was elected Chairperson by the management committee. David Venus continued as Treasurer. Committee membership numbered five nominated members throughout 2022-2023. Committee took action on the following:

• Finances and Investments: During the 2022-2023 financial year, we continued to attempt to minimise our monthly expenditure as much as possible. At the same time we increased our investment with the M&G Charifund, resulting in an increase to our income.
• Herbert Barnes Award: In 2022 this was awarded to Rev. Lynda Kane.
• Northern Unitarian Association (NUA): Ben MacLeod and Brian Robson were the church’s two representatives to the NUA. The NUA AGM took place at Stockton Unitarian Chapel on 29 October 2022.
• Publicity and Outreach: We have continued to publicise our services through our new website, and via Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, also via posters at our building and the banner showing service times which is on display on the car park gates, funded by a grant from the NUA. The NUA also provided us with a grant to pay for our new hoodies, which have received many positive comments!
• Pulpit Supply: Diana Bebby continued as our Pulpit Secretary. Average attendance at services over 2022-2023 has been 11, including between 2-3 people attending via Zoom.
• Safeguarding: Ben MacLeod and Brian Robson continued their work as our Deputy Safeguarding Officer and Safeguarding Officer, respectively.