Living Word Church (Charlty Number. 1013Wd) Trustees Annual Report & Financial Statements for the year ended 5th April 2023 Charity Accounts Preparation & Independent Examination Services
Living Word Church ICh•rfty Number. iOU5841 Contents Index Page Report of the Trustees Independent Examiner's Report Receipts & Payments Accounts Statement of Assets and Liabilities Notes to the Accounts
Living Word Church Trustees, Annual Report for the period 6 April 2022- 5 Aprll 2023 Charity's Full Name- Living Word Church Registered Company Number- None Registered Charity Number- 1013584 Objertives and Activitles Summary of the purposes of the charity set out in its governing document: Proclamation and furtherance of the Gospel of God by every means p055ible concerning his Son. Jesus Christ our Lord and the pachIng and teaching of the Christian faith throughout the city of York and its environs. Summary of the maln activities in relation to those purpose5 for the public benefit, in partlcular, the activities, projects or seriices identified in the accounts: The Church continues to be inspired and motivated to use the gifts that God has given them to bless people and make their lives better. This includes the material demonstrations of unconditional love through acts of kindnes5 and seNice. The Church gives to the poor and needy, both to people within the Church and those outside the Church. Many of the details in this report continue to be similar to the previous yearfs report, but that is tK)w faithfulness works, continuing to work with people and in an area to see hope and life. The Church's rnain goal is to enable as many people as possible to hear the Gospel and discover the joy and freedom that Jesus Christ has made available for all. The Riverside Centre is used as a Place of Worship,. built initially as a public house. the building provides great spaces for the Church to worship and fellowship together and spaces for the wider community to meet and find friendship. This has been suth a valvable space for the church and community to remake connections as people are still re-findhng fellowship and friendship in the post-pandemic environfflent. The finances pay for the pastoral leader, hub manager and community worker, media creator and an administrator. These paid roles support the large number of volunteers that make the community of faith and the charitable work possible. During the financial year April 2022 to April 2023 Living Word Churth used the Riverside Centre to support people in the York area. The Centre remained a place of worship, prayer and fellowship for the church community and a base for the Christian outreach and charitable work5 particularly the increased requirement for the Foodbank seNices. The Hub Community Café opened 2 days a week, providing healthy, low cost and tasty meals in a warm, friendly environment. The Riverside Centre was an official 'warm space, opening 3 days a week during the winter. This community resource welcomes many people from the surrounding area. providing homemade food at 'not for profit, prices. This has also started the building of friendships Wlth café customers. helping to reduce the isolation lots of people felt dvrirbg the lockdowns. It is estimated that we have spoken to and given emergency food to over 721 families through running one of the Trussell Trust foodbanks in connection with York Foodbank lan increase of 20% from the previous yearl. We work with volunteers from St Andrew5 and York Community Church in thi5 project. This is a significant number of household5 being supported in the city from our centre and we praise our volunteer team for the additional work put in to support these families.
The Riverside Centre remained a base for outreach into the community around Huntington Road and the Bell Farm Estate. The Liltle Stars toddler and baby group continued this year providing a great place for parents/carers and their small children to socialise, fellowship and leam. There are usually 30 families coming every week. Thi5 year saw the start of the CAP Ichristians Against Poverty) Life Skills course being run at the Riverside Centre. The first cohort of 5 people attended this course and learned how to budget and how to make ends meet on a very tight income. The trustees consider that they have complied with their dutie5 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission. Additlonal detsils of objertives and activities: The vast majority of the Church's income is from gifts from members. These gift5 are split between incomes related to tithes, general offerings and earmarked gifts (for specific purposes). Where Gift Aid is applicable this is added to any earmarked gifts before these are passed on. The rest of the Gift Aid is used for projects and outreach. We encourage all member5 who can work to find work and we support them in that aim. Specific gifts were earmarked by the givers to support those who are poor or needy in the local area and abroad. The Church was blessed by receiving gifts from the York Foodbank and York Elim to aSSlSt in refurbishing parts of the Riverside Centre. Achievements and Perforrnance Summary of the main achie¥ements of the charity, identifying the difference the tharitvs work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider beneflts to society as a whole: Details of the performance and achievements are included in the sections above. We continue to work with the York based Christian charity Bundles of Joy to store their baby equipment, clothing and consumables in the second floor rooms of the Riverside Centre. They distribute a bundle of baby items to families in the York area who are having a baby and are in need. During this financial year the Besom Charity also continued using space in the Centre to supply furniture and white goods to households in need. as well as preparing many Christmas hampers for those in need. The Church continues to able to make the Riverside Centre available to the international congregation of the York Elim Church. We continue to work with other churches acr055 York to combine resources where it is beneficial. Financial Review Review of the charivs financial position at the end of the period: The trustees have used some of the reseNes to continue to employ the hub manager and community outreach worker to further develop the outreach programmes. The reserve has helped manage the cash flow during this period. The mortgage and energy cost increased dramatically this vear, taking a higher proportion of the income. Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves ststing why they are held: The reserve funds are held in the Seed Fund which is IO% of the tithe income put aside to support the employment of the paid employees, for gift for ministries to the Church and a fund to support those in need. Reserves are also kept ensuring liabilities can be met by easing the cashflow. Amount of reserves held: We ended the year with a reduced combined reseNes of £2,6(Kl in the Reserve Fund and Seed Fund.
Reasons for holding zero reserves: NIA Funds materially in deficit: None Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern: N/A Additional Information: None Structure, Governance and Management Descrlption of the charity's trusts: Type of governing document- Trust Deed How the charity is constituted- Trust Trustee selection methods- Appointment by current trustees Additional govemance issues: If there is an even number of trustees and a decision is not unanimou5 then the lead trustee will vote twice and a simple majority will be adhered to. If a trustee is related to any employee receiving a salary or benefit, that trustee cannot be involved in the decision-making process that affects the Salary or benefit. Reference and Administratlon Details Charity's full name- Llving Word Church Other names the charity is known by- None Charity's principal addre55- 187-189 Huntington Road. York. Y0319BP Names of the trustees who manage the charity: Trustee Name Office {if Dates acted If not for any) whole year Name of person lor body) entitled to appoint trustee Ilf any) Matthew Staples Franklyn Allsup Jason George Richard Renier Amy Ellis Lead Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Up to 12 November 2022 From 13 November 2022 Up to 3" July 2021 Corporate trustees- names of the dirertors at the date the report was approved: None Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity: Trustee Name Dates arted if not for whole year Matthew Staples Franklyn Allsup Richard Renier Amy Ellis Trustee u to 12" November 2022. will be relinquishing this responsibility. Trustee up to 3 July 2021, will be relinquishing this responsibility. To take on this responsibility once the transfer process is completed.
Jason George To take on this responsibility once the transfer process is completed. Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others: Description of the assets held in this capacity- None Name and objerts of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this fa115 Wlthin the custodian charl5 objects- None Detsils of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets frorn the charitrfs own 35sets- None Names and addresses of advisers- None Narne of chlef executive or names of senior staff members- James Topliss (Lead Elder/Pastor- Employed by the Charity) The trustees declare that they have approved theTrustees Annual Report and Accounts Signed on behalf of the charivs tru5tees' Signature Full Name Position Date - Matthew Staples - Lead Trustee - 22- January 2023 Signature llSdLS-.- Full Name Position Date Amy Ellis - Trustee - 22 January 2023
I report on the accounts of: Living Word Church for the year ended: 05 April 2023 which are set out on pages 6 to 8. Responsibilities and basls of report As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the ACY). I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Art and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under sertion 145(51{b) of the 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: l accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2 the accounts do not accord with those records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in orderto enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 71/1 1 Jeff Todd (FCA) Outsource independent examination services The Hiscox Building Peasholme Green York YOI 7PR Date:
Livlng Word Churth (Charity Number: 1013584) Receipts & Payments Accounts for the year ended: 5th April 2023 2023 Total funds 2022 Total funds Unrestrirted Restricted funds funds Receipts Tithes & offerings Earmarked gifts & offerings Contributions to events Gift aid & other income Hub income Interest Other income Total receipts 99,137 9,894 13,956 23,IY)8 8,414 49 2.666 157.124 99,137 9,894 13,956 23,CK)8 8,414 49 2,666 157.124 108,921 17,176 12,008 23,221 971 162,298 Payments Tithe of income Salaries and expenses Conferences. training and travel Seed fund spend Building costs & refurbishment Hospitality Visiting ministry Earmarked gifts Sponsorship Meeting costs Outreach events & evangelism Administration (inc utility Costs) Mortgage repayments Total payments Net of receiptsl(payments) Balance brought forward Balance carried forward 8,258 83,495 128 8,258 83,495 128 11,056 79,349 327 2,833 2,353 107 1,991 18,125 360 2,900 704 19,204 20,304 159,613 8.767 185 1,5(NJ 15,761 560 365 180 25.631 21,070 I69,K) 8,767 185 1,500 15,761 560 365 25,631 21,070 169,900 (12.7761 25.793 (12,776) 25,793 2,685 23.108
Lfving Word Church (Charity Number: 10135841 Statement of Assets and Liabilities at: 5th April 2023 2023 Totsl funds 2022 Total funds Unrestricted Restrirted funds funds Assets Cash at bank and in hand Current bank account Savings bank account 5,168 7,849 13,017 5,168 7,849 13.017 10.456 15,337 25.793 Assets retained for Charity's own use 2023 2022 Building 325.CMXI 325.000 2023 Total funds 2022 Total funds Unrestrlcted Restricted fund5 funds Llabilities Independent Examination fee Mortgage for building 380 202.658 203.038 202,658 203,038 203,271 203,651
Lhrfn8 Word Church (Charity Number: 1013584) Notes to the Accounts for the year ended: 5th April 2023 The Trustees have taken advantage of section 144 {2) of the Charities Act 2011 and prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis. Approval of Accounts for the year ended: 5th April 2023 The report and accounts were approved at a meeting of the Trustees held on: 22-I Date Signed for and on behalf of the Trustees: Signature Signature s trtplcs Name Name Hcc4 frtrKsFoL . Position (e.g. Chair etc) Position (e.8. Chair et¢) I -ZLk Date Date