West Herts Community Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2022
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
WEST HERTS COMMUNITY CHURCH
LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 816 St Albans Road Watford WD25 9FL GOVERNING DOCUMENT Trust Deed dated 23 May 1991 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1003525 WORKING NAME Garston Community Church
TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE CHARITY
W A N Brookes D G Hinton J Hinton B L Young
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Ajay Rajani FCIE Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Pages 2-3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Pages 7-8
Legal & Administrative Details Trustees' Report Independent Examiner's Report Receipts and Payments Account Statement of Assets & Liabilities Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
WEST HERTS COMMUNITY CHURCH WORKING NAME: GARSTON COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022.
Objectives and activities
The Church's objects are the advancement of the Christian faith; the relief of persons who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress or who are aged or sick and; the advancement of education on the basis of Christian principles.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Church should undertake.
Achievements and performance
The Trustees were pleased to see an increase in Church membership attendance with a good number of baptisms during the year from invitations through outreaches and website.
Regular outreaches in Garston, Watford, Kingswood Estate, Meriden Estate, Hemel Hempstead, Watford Junction and Hyde Park have contributed to the increase of families with young children attending service on Sundays.
We continue to maintain a strong presence in the local community through the outreaches with other churches joining us.
The full range of church activities were maintained, including weekly prayer and bible study, children’s meetings on Sundays and monthly outreach focused prayer meetings.
New initiatives include Women at the Well Ministries one day event, women and men fellowship group who meet monthly, training in gospel ministry, healing and evangelism.
Financial review
During the year we decided to take advantage of the option to prepare Receipts and Payments accounts, rather than accruals accounts prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP. This option is available to the charity for so long as its income is below £250,000. It is hoped that these Receipts and Payments accounts will be easier for users to understand and there is a cost saving also because they take less time to prepare and independently examine. As part of the transition, the results for the previous year have been restated so that they are also presented on a Receipts and Payments basis.
During the year income decreased by £10,696 to £79,135, and expenditure decreased by £8,202 to £81,273. As a result the cash held by the charity decreased by £2,138 to £6,558, of which £4,162 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
This year’s reduction in income is largely due to a reduction in income from hall hire. And this year’s reduction in expenditure is largely to a reduction in the grants we distributed.
Page 2
WEST HERTS COMMUNITY CHURCH WORKING NAME: GARSTON COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES' REPORT continued
Reserves policy
We have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £15,000 (which equates to about 3 months' of unrestricted expenditure) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end the charity held unrestricted cash of £4,555. Though this is below the target we have set, we are happy that the charity can continue to operate with this level of reserves for the time being. The charity’s reserves have improved significantly since the year end and are now in line with the stated policy.
Structure, governance and management
The Church was established under the trust deed dated 23 May 1991 and was registered on 19 July 1991.
The Trustees are appointed by the Church Elders, who spiritually lead the Church. They are chosen from the membership of the Church, who are of good standing in the Church, and are of suitable age and reputation. They are responsible for overseeing the Church with regard to the requirements of the Charity Commission.
The trustees meet four times a year, one meeting being the annual general meeting.
Risk statement
The charity is exposed to various risks - be they operational, financial or reputational. The trustees review the charity's activities regularly to identify significant risks and, where possible, they take appropriate measures to mitigate those risks.
Responsibilities of trustees
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
Approval
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
D G Hinton
2 April 2024
……………………………………………………….. ……………………………………. D G Hinton – trustee Date
Page 3
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
WEST HERTS COMMUNITY CHURCH
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of West Herts Community Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2022 on pages 5 to 8 following.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Ajay Rajani
Ajay Rajani FCIE Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: 3 April 2024
Page 4
WEST HERTS COMMUNITY CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
| Notes Income receipts Donations Gift aid receipts Income from gift shop Income from hire of hall Income from use of photocopier Bank interest Total receipts Payments 2 3 Total payments Transfers between funds 5 Net movement in funds Cash funds as at last year end Cash funds at this year end A Net of receipts / (payments) before transfers Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly |
Unrestricted Funds £ 48,864 14,355 1,426 7,640 - 4 72,289 60,464 3,337 63,801 8,488 (5,987) 2,501 1,661 4,162 |
Restricted Funds £ 6,677 169 - - - - 6,846 2,816 14,655 17,471 (10,626) 5,987 (4,639) 7,035 2,396 |
2022 £ 55,541 14,524 1,426 7,640 - 4 79,135 63,280 17,992 81,273 (2,138) - (2,138) 8,696 6,558 |
2021 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59,454 10,644 - 17,727 2,006 - |
||||
| 89,831 | ||||
| 63,857 25,618 |
||||
| 89,475 | ||||
| 356 - |
||||
| 356 8,340 |
||||
| 8,696 |
The notes on pages 7 to 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 5
WEST HERTS COMMUNITY CHURCH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
| A Cash funds Cash at bank B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity Other debtors C Liabilities Payroll related creditors Other creditors Accountancy and independent examiner's fees: for 2020 accounts for 2021 accounts for 2022 accounts |
Unrestricted funds £ 4,162 4,162 9,078 - 9,078 3,700 1,416 - 2,400 1,320 8,835 |
Restricted funds £ 2,396 2,396 168 - 168 - - - - - - |
2022 £ 6,558 6,558 9,246 - 9,246 3,700 1,416 - 2,400 1,320 8,835 |
2021 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,696 | ||||
| 8,696 | ||||
| 11,780 45 |
||||
| 11,825 | ||||
| 802 413 - 2,520 2,400 - |
||||
| 6,135 |
D Assets retained for charity's own use
| ets retained for charity's own use | |
|---|---|
| Fund to which asset belongs Land and buildings Church building on St Albans Road, Watford Unrestricted fund Computers and IT Unrestricted fund Minibus Unrestricted fund |
Cost £ |
| 1,240,000 1,580 250 |
|
| 1,241,830 |
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
D G Hinton
2 April 2024
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------D G Hinton - trustee Date:
The notes on pages 7 to 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
WEST HERTS COMMUNITY CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
1 Accounting policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
In the previous year, the charity presented accounts prepared on the accruals basis using the Charities SORP. This year the trustees have taken advantage of the option to prepare the accounts on a receipts and payments basis, which is available to the charity because its income is less than £250,000. The results reported previously have been restated; further information about the restatement is given in note 6 below.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
| 2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Staff costs Hospitality and outreach Children and youth Shop expenses Travel Other ministry expenses Utilities Repairs and maintenance Insurance Office supplies Subscriptions and licences Telephone and IT Photocopier charges Legal and professional Accountancy |
Unrestricted funds £ 29,336 3,528 61 2,728 1,173 636 6,000 5,939 2,577 1,581 145 2,124 1,380 736 2,520 60,464 |
Restricted Funds £ - - - 806 - 1,500 - 510 - - - - - 2,816 |
Total 2022 £ 29,336 3,528 61 2,728 1,173 1,442 6,000 7,439 2,577 2,091 145 2,124 1,380 736 2,520 63,280 |
Total 2021 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34,393 502 403 - 1,032 1,857 4,688 4,023 1,926 2,134 129 1,739 3,841 7,190 - |
||||
| 63,857 |
| 3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Partners in Harvest 960 Watford Schools Trust 150 Messy Church 60 Child Evangelism Fellowship 1,350 Individuals 817 3,337 |
- - - - 14,655 14,655 |
960 150 60 1,350 15,472 17,992 |
960 140 60 - 24,458 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25,618 |
Page 7
WEST HERTS COMMUNITY CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
4 Transactions with related parties
David Hinton served as church leader and earned employment benefits totalling £10,113 (2021: £10,000) for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustee; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.
5 Movement on restricted funds
| vement on restricted funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hope 4 India fund Tariro fund Outreach fund Building fund |
Opening balance £ 5,218 295 1,522 - 7,035 |
Receipts £ 4,166 - 40 2,640 6,846 |
Payments £ (15,219) - (752) (1,500) (17,471) |
Transfers £ 5,987 - - - 5,987 |
Closing balance £ 151 295 810 1,140 |
| 2,396 |
The Hope 4 India restricted fund was crated from donations received to help Christian workers in India.
The Outreach restricted fund was created from donations received to help items used for outreaches that promote the Christian faith (e.g. flyer, banners, beads and strings to make bracelets, sweets for children)
The Building fund was created from donations received to help repair the church roof and to provide lighting for the church's outdoor cross.
6 Reconciliation with previously reported funds
As explained in note 1 'Accounting Policies', in the previous year the charity prepared its accounts using the accruals basis; in the current year the charity has taken advantage of the option to prepare its accounts on a receipts and payments basis. The comparatives presented in these accounts have been re-stated using the receipts and payments basis and a reconciliation with the reserves and results reported previously follows:
Reconciliation of reserves
| Previously reported reserves, at 31 December Adjustments arising from use of receipts and payments basis: Exclusion of previously included fixed assets Exclusion of previously included debtors Exclusion of previously included creditors Re-stated reserves, at 31 December Previously reported results Adjustments arising from use of receipts and payments basis: Previously capitalised expenditure, less depreciation, now expensed Excluded movements in debtors resulting in the recognition of more / (less) income Excluded movements in creditors resulting in the recognition of less / (more) expenditure Re-stated results Reconciliation of results |
2021 £ 1,254,386 (1,240,000) (11,825) 6,135 8,696 2021 £ (197) 263 (2,567) 2,857 356 |
2020 £ 1,254,583 (1,240,263) (9,258) 3,278 |
|---|---|---|
| 8,340 | ||
Page 8