2023-12-31-accounts

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

The Harbour Church Whitstable

10 Harbour Street, Whitstable

Annual Report and Accounts

2023

Annual Reportfortheyearended 31 December 2023 .........:.scsesscsssssssssssssescsssssessesesecsesseesassesssnsesssensacaaseassssessssenersecesssaseressersenseenseeeD
Reference and Administrative Information........cccscccscsccsssscsssssessessscsccecesesecscecesseaceetseneceeesceseseseeeesseesdsesssssanessussaseeseneusesseneanensaseeneed
Structure, Governance and Management..........scccccssssssssscscsccrsecssscsceeeseescenccesecssessnsrsrssessessusssussssssassanesensesensessssessenseeanessesseceeassed
Objectives and ACtiVities ..........ccceccscssssecesesseeeseneeseseseeseeeeeseeecsesessestsssecsusesseusnstessassnsesassasesacaeaecnsacsassesesansereaenesensaseeseasseteatseneneaneneneD
Achievements and Performance ....cc..csssscsscsssscsscssscsesscssescesceseecenceceseeneccssesssesesesenesseesenesnesssessansussssssesstesenscssesansanectassessnscsesensensso
WGRSHID SERVICOScnsennenrscorserevereevevevetnencasnceneenuuntuentnatennonamnensnenanensananeannnnnnssieneshontana bhi eSiskACUI RATE SW uresa oeemunemounmeermyeeasms eA
PAStOFAl CATS DINE QUITOAENccercenccernnereeranenceconnvennpenenimanennsranminantnnaaguaneaarntannanycaieaiaa len int aicaivn Hiraiah E
MisSIOH BIT EVATIBELISIT 1.ccecccetocnncenseeveseenenceesannecennnennsenernnonenentonaneannenactneis bakesda akawie avKRE SOREUST ON aan Re eTNERC
ECUMENICal RElAtIONSHIPS............:ccceonnacrncenessersnsascancnnsansnansdibsh faareWansua vasszvaeseeteias Laveus eanaRENET ONE NNTNERNMENT RCE ONTeRERreeNE EE
WE SIC vcccseceverovecorsnneenneevereververeverscecersauensvunemunvenconenvnratnonennnseuinnpennaiaseneaasensnananslisais (aneRANTE NETTTER
Building Maintenance and: Kitchen Uplift.......-.---acmscceraonnnonnenarenannaniniiienn HTT EeeRe
FIRB Cia) REVIEW...ccceccorvenceceonnennencunsuensacnmepaesnneananneans nrcianienn aideSSR orn TERRE ER REET ETE
RESEPUES! POLICY..coevcerecsenersecventeneapeeressanmenennenencaneerntienaeniinn ined OSE RURRG er aRERT NEREEES
Funds held as Custodian Trustee.......-...-.c-c:-n0-sdnethsianh annaHSEero EEE TREES
COTICIOSTONY...crernencnnsennnsernrannaneneasnnnnnaonennansiitned htheta ien sete CEE RA RRS STONETerr RE RETRO TeTeR uEEETRRTEATRRe EENTereeereeonneneevere
Staternentot Financial ACHVIEIES.......cd:ce-aiseaasteccraveceeresee seer teen ernenmaeurenene urnerenenmrE erences D
Independent Examiner'sReport........0.-.seamassmmsanssensnimemnasienera eaeemmnmennnesemaennemeee eye eenerneerseesecemene!

Page | 2

The Harbour Church Whitstable Trust . Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 Reference and Administrative Information

The Name of the Charity is ‘The Harbour Church Whitstable’.

The Charity Registration Number is 1037641

The Principal Office of the charity is The Harbour Church, 10 Harbour Street, Whitstable, Kent. CT5 1AQ

The correspondence address is 36 Station Road, Whitstable, Kent. CT5 1LG

The Charity’s three serving trustees are Mr. A.J. Mitchell, Mrs. S.D. Banks and Mr. T.J. Corke.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Harbour Church Whitstable Trust is constituted by Trust Deed.

In furtherance of the Trust’s objectives, Trustees have powers of delegation, borrowing, fund raising, acquisition and disposal of property, use of property, investment and administrative regulation.

Trustees retire in accordance with the terms of clause 7 of the Trust Deed.

The statutory powers appointing new trustees apply to the deed. New trustees are appointed by a resolution of the Oversight of the Elders of The Harbour Church Whitstable, and a memorandum of his or her appointment is signed. Every new trustee makes a Declaration of Acceptance and of willingness to act in the Trusts declared in the Deed and that they have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Objectives and Activities

The objectives of the Charity are:

To further the religious and other charitable work of the congregation meeting for Christian worship at the church premises, being The Harbour Church, 9 and 10 Harbour Street, Whitstable.
Toapply some of the income of the Charity in maintaining the fabric and contents of the Fellowship’s premises.
To meet expenses of any persons employed by the Charity to enable the proper discharge of its objectives.
To advance the proclamation and furtherance of the Gospel of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ Our Lord and the preaching and teaching of the Christian Faith.
To apply some of the income of the Charity by donations to other Christian Charities to assist them in reaching their charitable objects.

The Trustees, Pastor and Oversight of the Elders of the The Harbour Church Whitstable (THCW) are committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our congregation. The Oversight meet regularly to maintain an overview of our worship and to plan services and activities that can involve and welcome the varied groups who live near the Church and within our community, and visitors who may come in. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sharing Communion around the Lord’s table.

When planning our activities for the year, the Trustees, Pastor and Oversight of the Elders of THCW have considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and the specific guidance to charities established for the advancement of religion.

At The Harbour Church we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith in the local community in a global church context. We offer a place for worship and prayer, provide teaching about the Gospel, and inform and develop knowledge about trusting in Jesus Christ our Lord. We reach out to the community and provide pastoral care.

To facilitate this work, we maintain the fabric and contents of the Trust’s premises.

Page | 3

Achievements and Performance

“Worship Services

The Harbour Church is keen to offer a range of services during the week and over the course of the year that will be beneficial and spiritually fulfilling. For example Sunday morning services include themed progressive Bible teaching on worship, discipleship (including fellowship and ministry), and mission. Sunday evening services are occasional, usually for prayer. Communion is usually shared in the morning on the first Sunday of each month. Bible teaching subjects covered in the mornings this year included “For such a time as this (Esther)”,” Deeper Faith (Lent & Easter)”, and 3 series on “Spiritual Growth” being “They devoted themselves”, “Spirit of the Living God”, and “Giver of Gifts”.

A regular service called ‘Oasis’ is held on Thursday mornings for worship and prayer. This has proved popular and is open to all, often attracting Christians from other churches, and others not at work mid-week during the day.

Pastoral Care and Outreach

A parent/toddler group ‘Playmates’ meets weekly in school term time in the Church, and this is staffed in association with The Community Church Whitstable and operates under their safeguarding policy. People coming to this group may or may not have a connection with a Church — it is run on the basis of forming friendships and proves very popular.

From November 2022 we opened weekly a “Warm Space” for the winter months in conjunction with other local organisations following the “Warm Spaces” initiative, offering a friendly welcome with refreshments. This proved popular and has since evolved into meeting regularly as “Coffee and Company” on a weekly basis.

Our church is also used during school term time for an “After School Club” run by the Whitstable Community Church.

We are open to community groups hiring the premises. We prefer groups that provide help to people, and particularly those who can benefit most from our style of premises, for example a photographic, or similar, public exhibition.

Mission and Evangelism

Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith. Mission interests continue to have a high priority and are supported to the greatest possible extent both home (UK based) and overseas. Home Missions include ‘Canterbury Christian Schools Work Trust’, ‘Urban Presence’ in Manchester, and other evangelistic enterprises.

Locally we also support ‘Beach Pastors’ (Street Pastors UK), Canterbury Food Bank , Whitstable Churches Debt Centre (associated to ‘CAP’ - Christians Against Poverty), and ‘The Haven’ (a Churches Together in Whitstable Project offering help for the homeless based at the Methodist Church).

Overseas Missions supported include TEAR Fund International Relief Agency, Agapé in Croatia (Christian humanitarian aid agency), WEC International for support of Christian Missionaries in Belgium, CMI Asia supporting local believers and poverty relief in Vietnam and China.

Ecumenical Relationships

The Church is an active member of Churches Together in Whitstable.

Web Site

The Church operates a web site www.thcw.org.uk and has actively encouraged people to make use of this facility. Audio recordings of our Sunday Bible teaching series are available on the web and they have proved a useful tool to further the Christian gospel.

Building Maintenance and Kitchen uplift

In 2023 funds have been assigned to maintain the fabric of the premises, including external repairs and painting of the buildings. A major project completed in 2023 is the upgrade of the Kitchen, involving internal structural alterations to enlarge the space and complete re-fit to meet environmental health regulations,including new cupboards and worktops, ventilation, serving hatch with fire shutter, and new cooker and fridge/freezer. As part of this project, the fire alarm has been renewed throughout the premises.

Page | 4

Financial Review

“The Charity’s Statement of Financial Activities for the year ending 31 December 2023 is included in this report and accounts, together with the Independent Examiners Report on the Accounts. The basis of accounts is Receipts and Payments.

The Charity’s accounts have been submitted for Independent Examination by Mrs Louise Bowman whose Report is included in this Annual Report.

The Trustees confirm that all income has been appropriated to further the Charity’s aims. The Trust has no employees, the Pastor and others being volunteers and self supporting.

The Trust did not receive any income from contracts from central or local government to deliver services.

The Trust did not employ staff during 2023.

The Trust has reviewed its financial controls during the reporting period with regard to Reserves Policy.

There have been no serious incidents during the reporting period.

Reserves Policy

The Trustees need to maintain sufficient reserves to provide against risk and meet committed expenditure.

The principal risk is loss of a) income from congregational giving, and b) rental income from the flat.

Committed expenditure is that which supports the ministry and mission of the Church, currently:
® to missions and missionaries to whom, though not contractual, the Trustees understand it would be appropriate to give fair notice if this was to be reduced or stopped, and
e to meet premises costs and utility bills for the contracted period

The Trustees have agreed that the free Reserves should equate to six months of unrestricted expenditure which, in 2023, amounted to £12,500. This will be reviewed annually.

Additional sums held in the cash deposit account are to meet planned major expenditure (currently on a project to uplift the kitchen), and for maintenance and repairs of the building (which is in a conservation area), including in 2023 re-decoration of all external woodwork.

Funds held as Custodian Trustee

None — Not Applicable.

Conclusion

The Charity has continued its work of proclamation and furthering of the Christian Gospel. The Trustees are satisfied that the accounts accurately represent the financial state of affairs at the balance sheet date, and that monies have been appropriated in accordance with the purposes of the Trust.

On behalf of the Trustees,

----- Start of picture text -----
Signed: A fe
i | ho
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
Date: /{ . y
[7/03/24
----- End of picture text -----

T.J. Corke Chair of Trustees

Page [5

The Harbour Church Whitstable Statement of Financial Activities

CC Receipts & Payments Report

For the period 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023

----- Start of picture text -----
||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Endowment|TOTAL|FUNDS| |funds|funds|funds|2023|2022| |Receipts:|(Note|1a &|1b)| |Voluntary|Receipts|(Note|1)|39,471|8)|0|39,471|23,520| |Fundraising|Activities|0|0|0|0|0| |Investments|8,200|0|0|8,200|7,584| |Charitable|activities|0|0|0|0|0| |Other|Receipts|564|0|0|564|0| |48,235|0|0|48,235|31,104| |Asset|and|Investment|sales|etc|0|0|0|0|0| |Total|receipts|48,235|0|0|48,235|31,104| |Payments:| |Voluntary|Income|Costs|0|0|0|0|0| |Fundraising|Costs|0|0|0|0|0| |Charitable|Activities|Costs|78,654|0|0|78,654|30,721| |Governance|Costs|406|0|0|406|350| |79,060|0|0|79,060|31,071| |Assets|and|Investments|gains/losses|0|0|0|0|0| |Total|payments|79,060|0|0|79,060|31,071| |Excess|of|receipts|over|payments|-30,825|0|0|-30,825|33| |Transfers|between|funds|8)|0|0|0|0| |Cash|Funds|Last|Year|End|51,555|0|0|57555|51522| |Cash|funds this year end|20,730|0|0|20,730|51,555|

----- End of picture text -----

Note 1: Voluntary Receipts includes Gift Aid reclaimed.

Note 1a: Gift Aid claims made in arrears for 2021 = £5593.45 (including £20.95 interest); 2022 = £4717.50; GASDS for 2021/22 = £757.69 (including £0.69 interest); a total of £11,068.64 received following successful claim in January 2023, received February 2023.

Note ib: Gift Aid not yet claimed for 2023.

Page | 6

Independent Examiner’s Report

to the Trustees of The Harbour Church Whitstable

Registered Charity 1037641

| report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2023, as set out on page 6.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

@ examine the accounts {under section 43(3)(a) of the 1993 Act);
e to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 43(7)(b) of the 1993 Act); and
@ to state 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 Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently | do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
e to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the 1993 Act; and
® to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act

have not been met; or

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: | fl Dated: G fé {2 OZ - Name: Louise Bowman (AICB CB Cert PM.Dip) Address: 10 Joseph Conrad Drive Aldington Ashford Kent TN25 7ET

Page | 7