_For internal purposes only_
## **ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE)**
**TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
**Charity Number 1015452**
## **ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE)**
_For internal purposes only_
## **Contents**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trust Information|**2**|
|Trustees' Report|**3**|
|Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities|**6**|
|Indpendent Examiner's Report|**7**|
|Statement of Financial Activities|**8**|
|Balance Sheet|**9**|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|**10**|
Page 1
## **ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE)**
_For internal purposes only_
## **Legal and Administrative Information**
|**Trustees**|L Cantle|
|---|---|
||P Goldsmith|
||S Dunlop|
||L J Dobson|
||F S Chapman|
||M P Dolan|
||N Claxton|
|**Charity Number**|1015452|
|**Principal address**|7-9 Brook Road|
||Rayleigh|
||Essex|
||SS6 7UT|
|**Independent Examiners**|Connah Goldsworthy|
||12 Station Court|
||Station Approach|
||Wickford|
||Essex|
||SS11 7AT|
Page 2
## **ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE)**
## **(Reg. Charity No. 1015452)**
## **Annual Report for the Year ending 30th September 2024**
## **Charitable purpose and public benefit**
The purpose of the Trust is the provision of recreational and leisure facilities and activities for young people in particular, and the provision of social welfare activities and programmes for the benefit of the community. As recommended by the Charity Commission, the income generating trading activities are channelled through The MegaCentre Rayleigh Ltd, its 100% owned trading subsidiary.
The normal activities and programmes of the Trust are varied and include youth and family support work, special needs groups sessions for young people, the Mix sessions for families with additional needs, parenting programmes, well-being and mental health programmes, counselling services into local senior schools, over-50’s sessions, Men’s Shed, XL Mentoring programme with trained mentors, Sensory Room babies’ activities, music practice, dance, drama, and mothers & toddlers groups. The range and depth of these activities has continued to grow over the past year and our charity focussed team has grown to accommodate this. External groups and local charities also make good use of the facilities of the Centre.
The Community Response Hub based at the Megacentre, in conjunction with Rochford District Council in particular, plus church organisations, local councillors and other community partners, has subsequently expanded to form a Community Resilience Hub based at the Megacentre. The impact of the Hub has been increasingly important for the community due to the partner organisations working together. Work has also continued in supporting a significant number of refugees from Ukraine, mainly women and children, locating to the local area and the Megacentre has provided a contact base for these families and host families. This has included the provision of cooked meals every Tuesday, translation and English lessons, clothes bank, access to the on-site food bank and assistance with regulatory requirements. This work is ongoing.
The trading company activities continue to generate the majority of the income to support the Trust’s employment of Youth Workers, and Family Support Workers. The quality and range of the programmes provided by the Centre are such that many referrals are made by schools, Social Services and other local community organisations.
In planning its activities, the Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Page 3
## **ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE) (Reg. Charity No. 1015452)**
## **Annual Report for the Year ending 30th September 2024**
## **Financing and the relationship with The MegaCentre Rayleigh Ltd**
The Trust is governed by a board of trustees that meets regularly to discuss its activities and to provide direction and leadership. Because the activities of the two organisations are closely aligned, 2 trustees currently also act as directors of The MegaCentre Rayleigh Ltd to ensure operational consistency across both organisations. The trust owns the building from which The MegaCentre Rayleigh Ltd operates and a significant portion of the financing for the Trust’s work comes in the form of rental income received from renting this building to The MegaCentre Rayleigh Ltd. The Megazone Laser Arena and the Megaplay Soft-Play centre, together with room hire and theatre use are the principal trading income generators.
The Trust owns the freehold of the property. Under an agreement with The MegaCentre Rayleigh Ltd, the recreational equipment and other assets in the building are owned by the trading company. The equipment serves both the purposes of The MegaCentre Rayleigh Ltd and those of the Trust, and the Trust makes a payment to the trading company for its use of those assets. The trustees and The MegaCentre Rayleigh Ltd directors’ aim is for the trading company to financially break-even. Where operational costs are incurred by The MegaCentre Rayleigh Ltd but benefit both organisations, these costs are shared between the two entities on a formulaic basis.
## **Financial Review**
Unrestricted income for the year was £178,723 (2023: £196,635) and a large proportion of the income was received in the form of rental income paid by The Megacentre Rayleigh Ltd for use of the building of £120,000. This combination of income and expenditure resulted in net incoming resources of £37,723 for the year.
Restricted funds, which have been provided to ACT for specific purposes, saw income of £159,388 (2023: £25,141) and expenditure of £114,235 (2023: £45,362). The total balance of restricted funds held at the end of the year to 30.9.24 was £36,114 (2023: £31,356).
In the coming year, the Trust continues to seek to grow its personal supporter base and to seek sponsorship funding from local businesses. It will also seek to increase grant funding to finance some of the more significant building and refurbishment work that is planned and further development of programme delivery, especially with regard to wellbeing and mental health.
## **Reserves**
Funds given to the Trust for specific purposes, mainly in the form of grants, are strictly allocated for that purpose and do not form part of the reserves. Under normal circumstances, with regular rental income from The Megacentre Rayleigh Ltd, the trustees consider the target for formal reserves should be £15,000. Subsequently, this target will be revised. Reserves are held as part of unrestricted funds.
## **Risk Management**
The Trustee Board examine the major risks that the charity faces each financial year when preparing and updating its strategic plan. The Trust has developed systems to monitor and control these risks and to mitigate any impact that they may have.
Page 4
ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST HE MEGACENTRE)
Ole& Charity Iyo. 1015452)
ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDINC 30th SEiYfEMBER 2024
Summary
The Trustees are very thankful to those organisations and individuals that have contributed to
the work of the Trust and are also verygrateful to the volunteer5 who cover many areas of the
work. Without their substantial input and consistent dedtcation. the aims of the Trust could not
be sustained to the current level. The volunteer input $ed$ the Prre$S of development due
to the financial savings achieved and also enables the Tnst to provide a hvdh level of service to
the young people and the communitywho attend and use the facilities.
The Trustees are committed to ensuring high standards in all aspects of its work as the Trust
strives to create a centre of excellence. The trustees continue to acknowledge the commitment
and dedication of the Chief Executive Officer. Scott Williamson. who has wntinued to help
guide the organisation through very challenging times. Despite the challenges facing both the
charity and its trading company. the trustees look forward with optimisrn as the expanding
cornmunlry programmes and Comrnunlty Reslllence Hub brtr further opponunlrle5 for the
benefit of the community. The Trust will need to be successful with new grant applications to
maintain rnomentum with desired development work However, the project ha5 been faith-
bad from the beginning and this important aspect rernains urKliminished as the growing
potential and value of the work of the Trust to the community continues to becorne more
widely recognised and acknowledged.
Signed on behalf of the board of Trustees
L Cantle- Trustee
Pa5
**ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE)**
**STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES**
**YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **THE TRUSTEES**
The Trustees who served on the charity committee during the period are set out on page 2.
The Trustees are responsible for the recruitment of any new trustees.
## **RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES**
The Charities Act requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the charity at the end of the year and of the surplus or deficiency for the year then ended.
In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to select suitable accounting policies, as described on page 10, and then apply them on a consistent basis, making judgements and estimates that are prudent and reasonable. The Trustees must also prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Page 6
ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE)
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES
YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
I report on the accounts of the trust for the year ended 30 September 2024,
whicli are s¢1 out oil pagcs 8 10 14.
RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRbSTEES ND EXAMINER
As the Lharity's iruslees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. you consider thal the
audit requirement of Section 145 of the Cliarities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply. 11 is my
responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the
Charity Coinmissioners under Section 145(5) (b) of the Act, whether particular matters have come to
my attention.
BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity
Commissioners. An examinaiion includes a revieiv of the accounting records kepi by the cliarily and a
comparison of the acLounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual
items or disclosures in the aLLounts. and seekinu explanations from you as trustees
concerning any such Inatters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all tlie evidence that would
be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view giNen by the
accounts.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT
In connection wilh my examination, no matter has come to my attention..
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act. and
to prepare accounts w'hich accord with the accounting records and to comply
with the requirements of tlie Act
have not been met; or
to whicli, in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding
of the accounts 10 be reached.
12 Sialion Court
Sialion Approacli
Wickford
Esscx
E C PARKER FCCA
Connah Gold5worthi'
Chartered Certified Accountants
SSI17AT
Dated
Page 7
## **ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE)**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 30 September 2024**
## **SUMMARY INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
|**Notes**
**INCOMING RESOURCES**
Donations & legacies
2
Activities in furtherance of the
charity's objectives
3
Investment Income
4
Other incoming resources
5
**Total Income**
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
**Cost of generating funds**
Fundraising and publicity
**Charitable expenditure**
Costs of activities in furtherance of the
charity's objects:
Staff costs
Donations
Management and administration
Support Costs
**Total resources expended**
6
**Net incoming resources before transfers**
Transfers between funds
**Net incoming resources / (resources expended)**
**before other recognised gains and losses**
Loss on revaluation of Fixed Asset Investment
10
**Net movement in funds**|**Unrestricted ***
**funds**
**£**
17,745
39,988
120,000
990
178,723
593
173,617
7,390
4,621
558
186,779
(8,056)
40,395
32,339
-
32,339|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
13,894
145,494
-
-
159,388
-
29,841
84,394
-
-
114,235
45,153
(40,395)
4,758
-
4,758|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
31,639
185,482
120,000
990
338,111
593
203,458
91,784
4,621
558
301,014
37,097
-
37,097
-
37,097|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
34,811
65,445
120,000
1,520|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||221,776|
|||||-
178,855
37,634
5,690
8,297|
|||||230,476|
|||||(8,700)
-|
|||||(8,700)
-|
|||||(8,700)|
|Fund balances at 1 October 2023|1,297,801|31,356|1,329,157|1,337,857|
|Fund balances at 30 September 2024|1,330,140|36,114|1,366,254||
|||||1,329,157|
* unrestricted funds includes designated funds
Page 8
ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST ITHE MEGACENTRE)
rd at 30 Stpltmber 2024
2024
2023
Nottj
Fixed sets
Tangtble assets
880,IJK)
265.0(Kl
880.0(Y)
265.0(Xl
10
1.145.0(X)
1.145.000
DebtOTS
Cash at Bank and in hand
li
22.794
199.750
57.308
128.139
222.544
185.447
Creditors
Amounts falling due within one year
12
90
Net currenl assets
221254
184.157
1.366.254
1.329.1 $7
Crnditon: amounts fdiing due *fter
more than one year
Net assets
1366 254
1.329 157
Intome fuDds
UntrsltiLtrd Full
Restrlcted Fun¢L8
13
13
1.330.140
36.114
1.297.801
31.356
£1329 157
Approved by the trteeS on
3Q
06
P G)Idsmith
Truslee
L Cantle
Page 9
## **ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE)**
## **Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2024**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **1.1 Basis of preparation of accounts**
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and applicable accounting standards. They have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities:statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
Active Christian Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
## **1.2 Going Concern**
The trustees consider that there are no material incertainties about the Trust's ability to continue as a going concern.
## **1.3 Cash Flow**
The financial statements do not include a cash flow statement because the charity, as a small reporting entity, is exempt from the requirements to prepare such a statement.
## **1.4 Incoming resources**
Income represents the total amount receivable by the charity from all sources including Income Tax repayments.
- **1.5 Resources expended**
Resources expended are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis, inclusive of any VAT which cannot be recovered.
Expenditure which is directly attributable to specific activities has been included in these cost categories. Where costs are attributable to more than one activity, they have been apportioned across the cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of these resources.
- **1.6 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**
The valuation of the freehold property is based on a professional valuation which was last updated on 11 June 2008, and the current balance sheet value is based on this valuation.
No depreciation has been provided on the freehold property on the basis that it is not material. The trustees are regularly upgrading the property and expending funds on repairs to maintain the structure of the property and for this reason the residual value is being maintained. For this reason any depreciation which would be charged is not material.
## **1.7 Investments**
Fixed asset investments are stated at the lower of cost or net realisable value.
**1.8 Expenditure on management and administration of the charity** Administration expenditure includes all expenditure not directly related to the charitable activity or fundraising ventures. This includes costs of running office premises and staff salaries for administrative staff and audit fees.
Page 10
## **ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE)**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
## **for the year ended 30 September 2024**
|**2**
**Donations and legacies**
Donations and gifts
**3**
**Activities in furtherance of the charity's activities**
Grants receivable for charitable activities
**4**
**Investment income**
Rental income
**5**
**Other incoming resources**
Gift Aid repayments
Sundry income
**6**
**Total resources expended**
Charitable expenditure:
Staff costs
Donations and expenditure on charitable activities
Fund raising costs
Management and administration
Support Costs|**Staff**
**costs**
**£**
203,458
203,458|**Other**
**costs**
**£**
91,784
593
4,621
558
97,556|**2024**
**£**
31,639
**2024**
**£**
185,482
**2024**
**£**
120,000
120,000
**2024**
**£**
990
-
990
**2024**
**£**
203,458
91,784
593
4,621
558
301,014|**2023**
**£**
34,811|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**2023**
**£**
65,445|
|||||**2023**
**£**
120,000|
|||||120,000|
|||||**2023**
**£**
1,520
-|
||||||
|||||1,520|
|||||**2023**
**£**
178,855
37,634
-
5,690
8,297|
|||||230,476|
## **7 Trustees**
During the year there are no payments made to the Trustees of the charity.
## **8 Employees**
|**Number of employees**
The average number of employees analysed by function, were:-
Youth work, management & Administration
There were no employees whose annual emoluments were £50,000 or more.|**2024**
**Number**
8|**2023**
**Number**
8|
|---|---|---|
||||
Page 11
**ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE)**
## **Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2024**
## **9 Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost**
At 1 October 2023
Additions
Disposals
Revaluation
At 30 September 2024
**Depreciation**
At 1 October 2023
Charge for year
Disposals
At 30 September 2024
**Net book value**
At 30 September 2024
At 30 September 2023|**Land and**
**Buildings**
**£**
880,000
-
-|
|---|---|
||880,000|
||-
-
-|
||-|
||880,000|
||880,000|
The property was professionally valued on 11 June 2008 by Stevens Scanlan Ltd, Chartered Surveyors at an open market value of £1,100,000. However the valuation of £880,000 has been arrived at by the trustees after taking into account improvements to the property recorded in the financial statements of The Megacentre Rayleigh Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary). The trustees consider this prudent in order to avoid any double counting of the improvement costs of the property.
In the trustees opinion, the current open market value of the property is not less than the valuation recorded in these accounts.
The property has a charge of £384,374 to Barnardos, as set out in note 14 to the accounts.
## **10 Fixed asset investments**
|Cost/valuation at 1 October 2023
Diminution in value
**Cost/valuation at 30 September 2024**|**£**
265,000
-|
|---|---|
||265,000|
## **Holdings of more than 10%**
The charity holds more than 10% of the share capital of the following companies:
||**Country of registration**|||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Company**|**or incorporation**|**Class**|**%**|
|Subsidiary undertakings||||
|The Megacentre Rayleigh Ltd|United Kingdom|Ordinary|100|
The aggregate amount of capital and reserves and the results of these undertakings for the last relevant financial year were as follows:
|The Megacentre Rayleigh Ltd|**Capital and**
**reserves**
**£**
83,418|**Profit/(Loss) for**
**the year**
**£**
(9,366)|
|---|---|---|
The fixed asset investment was written down by £600,000 in 2016, in order to reflect a fairer representation of its value given the historical trading losses and balance sheet values of The Megacentre Rayleigh Ltd.
Page 12
## **ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE)**
## **Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2024**
|**11 Debtors**
Amounts owed by group undertaking
Gift Aid Debtor
**12 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Accruals and deferred income
**13 Analysis of net assets between funds**
Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Current assets
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year|**Unrestricted**
**Fund**
**£**
186,430
(1,290)
185,140|**Designated**
**Fund**
**£**
880,000
265,000
-
1,145,000|**2024**
**£**
21,863
931
22,794
**2024**
**£**
1,290
1,290
**Restricted**
**Fund**
**£**
36,114
36,114|**2023**
**£**
56,863
445
57,308
**2023**
**£**
1,290
1,290
**Total**
**£**
880,000
265,000
222,544
(1,290)
1,366,254|
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Designated Fund includes funds received for specific purposes and is therefore ring-fenced and also represents the charity's Investment and Property Fund, which has been separately
designated to hold the Trust's freehold property, and improvements to the property. As set out in the Trustee's Report, the improvements to the charity's property are held by The Megacentre Rayleigh Ltd, and these are funded by virtue of an investment in the share capital of the charity's subsidiary company.
Page 13
## **ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE)**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
## **for the year ended 30 September 2024**
## **14 Contingent liabilities**
In the event of a sale of the property a charge to Barnados will be payable from the proceeds only upon any future sale of the property.
The maximum amount repayable to Barnados (to include crystallised interest at date of purchase) would be in the sum of £384,374.
At 30 September 1999, the rental arrears totalled £225,483. At the purchase date of the property (26 April 2000) this arrears, together with the nominal rent charge for the period 1 October 1999 (£9,800) was waived. On the acquisition of the property from Barnardos, a sum of £384,374 was converted to a further charge on the property, repayable from any sales proceeds surplus. The arrears have been transferred to the Investment and Property Fund at book value. No provision is made for interest charges.
If the property were to be sold at the balance sheet date, for the carrying value, all secured charges would be met.
## **15 Related parties**
During the year, Active Christian Trust received rental income of £120,000 (2023- £120,000) from The Megacentre Rayleigh Ltd, its subsidiary undertaking.
At the year end, Active Christian Trust was owed £21,863 (2023- £56,863) by The Megacentre Rayleigh Ltd. No interest is receivable on this debt and there is no fixed repayment schedule.
Page 14