Summary of the PCC meeting held on 15^th September 2025

After Prayers, Apologies for Absence and Welcomes, Minutes of the Last Meeting held on31^st July were accepted; there were no Matters Arising 

Safeguarding: There has been a data breach at Intradev, the software provider for APCS, who supply DBS disclosures.  All correct procedures were followed and the breach reported to the ICO. Two church members were affected and the Diocese has provided subscriptions to Experian Identity Theft Protection.  We have a Data Protection Statement and the PCC is the Data Controller, and these will be reviewed at the next RCG meeting. That meeting will also discuss signing an agreement with the Safeguarding Hub.  All members of the PCC are up to date with their Safeguarding courses. 

Eco-Church:  The Bishop will lead our Harvest Festival and present the aRocha Gold Eco-award. The food collection will go to the People`s Kitchen, and there will be a Fairtrade exhibition and a Fairtrade parish breakfast, with a Fairtrade petition to sign to present to our MP who has not replied to the invitation to attend. 

Vision Planning:  Dr. Coates outlined the program for the Away Day at St Martin`s Byker. All members of the congregation are invited.  We have been approached by Transforming Communities Together Tyne to Tweed (part of the Church Urban Fund) to run a course “Know your Church, Know your Neighbourhood” (KYCKYN).  Up to 12 people can sign up for 5/6 sessions, potentially between now and Christmas.  Dr Robson has suggested we have a Risk Register to safeguard everything about the church which might be impacted by the results of Vision Planning. 

Finance: We need to decide how much more of the Parish Share we can pay this year. The Vicar suggested a Gift Day on 5^th October.   We agreed an inflation-level increase of 3% on our rents, charges and fees amounting to £1 on hall rental per hour, £37 per month on the St Francis House rent (from January) and car parking by £3 per week/ 

Forthcoming Events: A French Night on 21^st March 2026 was discussed

Heaton Churches Together: this is a much-depleted group and the Heaton Festival might not happen in 2026, should be clear by Christmas. A retreat day on Holy Island planned for 23^rd May. St Gabriel’s are having a Christmas Tree festival 4^th – 7^th December, do we want to donate a tree?  It was suggested that the Guides might take this on. 

Future dates:

22^nd Sept – 5^th Oct   Fairtrade Fortnight            

28^th Sept                   PCC Away Day at St Martins 12.00 – 4,00

3^rd October              Transitus Service at 7pm

4^th October              St Francis Day Ceilidh 6pm onwards

5^th October              Feast of Dedication

15^th November        Wine tasting

29^th November        Christmas Fair

7^th February 2026    Eclectic Light Trio Concert.

Next meeting:          Monday 6^th October at 7pm