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 p￿achIng 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 charl￿5 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