The Harbour Church Whitstable 10 Harbour Street, Whitstable Annual Report and Accounts 2024 Contents Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2024..........-........................................................................................ ................... Reference and Administrative Information . Structure. Governance and Management...... Objectives and Activlties.......................,.. Achievements and Performance.................................,......,...,..,............,...,..,.. Worship Services ........................................................,...,..,..,,,..,,...... Pastoral Care and Outreach............................,..............,...,..,,...,. Mission and Evangelism Ecumenical Relatlonshlps............,................ Web Slte..............,..... Flnancial Review Reserves Policy .,.......,... Funds held a5 Custodian Trustee.....................................,..,...,,,......,...,..............,........................................... Conclusion................,,..............................................................,,......,...,...,...............,...........,..... Statement of Financlal Activities............................. Independent Examlnerfs Report ........... Page | 2 The Harbour Church Whitstable Trust Annual Re ort for the ear ended 31 December 2024 Reference and Administrative Information The Name ofthe Charity is 'The Harbour Church Whitstable,. The Charity Registration Number is 1037641 The Principal Office of the charlty is The Harbour Church, 10 Harbour Street, Whitstable, Kent. CT5 IAQ The correspondence address is 36 Station Road, Whitstable, Kent. CT5 ILG The Charity's three serving trustees are Mr. A.J. Mitchell, Mrs. S.D. Banks and Mr. T.J. Corke. Structure Governance and Mana ement The Harbour Church Whitstable Trust is constituted by Trust Deed. In furtherance of the Trust'5 objectives, Trustees have powers of delegation, borrowing, fund ralslng, acquisition and dlsposal of property, use of property, investment and admlnistrative regulation. The statutory power5 appointin8 new trustees apply to the deed. New trustees are appolnted by a resolution of the Oversight of the Elder5 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. Ob'ectives and Activities The objectives of the Charity are: l. To further the religlous and other charltable work of the congregatlon meeting for Christlan worshlp at the church premises, being The Harbour Church, 9 and 10 Harbour Street, Whitstable. 2. To apply some of the income of the Charity in maintalning the fabric and contents of the Fellowship's prernises. To meet expenses of any persons employed by the Charity to enable the proper dlscharge of its objectives. 4. To advance the proclamatlon and furtherance of the Gospel of God concerning HIS Son Je5U5 Christ Our Lord and the preaching and teachin8 of the Chrlstlan Faith. To apply Some of the Income of the Charlty by donations to other Chrlstlan Charities to assist them In reaching their charitable objects. The Trustees, Pastor and Overslght of the Elders of The Harbour Church Whitstable ITHCWI are committed to enabling as many people a5 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 welcorne 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 activitles 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 charitie5 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. Pa8e13 Achievements and Performance Worship Services The Harbour Church is keen to offer a range of services durlng thÈ week and over the course of the year that will be beneficial and spiritually fulfilling. For example the Sunday mornlng service includes Christian sung worship and prayers often with open contribution from the congregation, and themed progressive Bible teaching. Bible teaching subjects covered in the mornings this year included "Romans - A letter that make5 sense of life" "Spiritual Growth - Acts of The Holy Spirit" Spiritual Growth - For the Common Good" Prophetic people of the manger.. 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 durin8 the day. Pastoral Care and Outreach A parent/toddler group 'Playm3tes' 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 comln8 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. On Friday afternoons "Coffee & Company" offers a welcomlng space and refreshments. It Is a good time of conversatlon and offers craft activities, Ilgsaw puzzles and magazlnes, We are open to community groups hirlng 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 simllar, publlc exhibition. Mlsslon and Evan8ellsm Helping those in need Is a demonstration of our faith. Mission interests contlnue to have a hi8h priority and are supported to the greatest possible extent both home (UK based) and overseas. Home Missions include 'Canterbury Christian Schools Work Trust,, and other evangellstic enterprises including 'Beach Pastors, (Street Pastors UK), Canterbury Food Bank, Whitstable Churches Debt Centre (associated to 'CAP' Christians Against Poverty), and The Haven, la Churches Together In Whitstable Project based at the Methodist Church, offering help for the hornelessl. Overseas Mlsslon5 supported include TEAR Fund Internatlonal Relief Agency, Agapé in Croatla (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. Ecumenlcal Relatlonshlps The Church is an attive member of Churches Together in Whit5table. Web Slte The Church operates a web slte www.thcw.or8.uk and ha5 actively encouraged people to make use of thls facility. Audio recordings of our Sunday Bible teaching serie5 are available on the web and they have proved a useful tool to further the Christian gospel. Pagel 4 Financial Review The Charity's Statement of Financial Activities for the year ending 31 December 2024 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 Charitvs aim5. The Trust has no employees, the Pastor and others being volunteers and self supporting. The Trust did not receive any income from contract5 from central or local government to deliver services. The Trust did not employ staff during 2024. 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 Poll The Trustees need to maintain sufficient reserves to provide against risk and meet committed expenditure. The principal risk is loss of al Income from congregational givin& and bl 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 approprlate to glve fair notice if this was to be reduced or stopped, and 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 unrestrlcted expenditure which, In 2024, amounted to £12,500. This will be reviewed annually. Additional sums held in the cash deposlt account are to meet planned major expenditure, and for malntenance and repairs of the building (which is in a conservation areal. Funds held as Custodlan Trustee None- Not Applicable. Concluslon The Charity has continued Its work of proclamation and furthering of the Chrlstian Gospel. The Trustees are sat15fied 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, Signed: Date.. T.J. Corke Chair of Trustees Pagel 5 The Harbour Church Whitstable Statement of Financial Activities CC Receipts & Payments Report For the period 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 Unrestricted Restricted Endowment funds funds funds TOTAL FUNDS 2024 2023 Recelpts: Voluntary Receipts (Note 11 (Note la & Ibl 25,355 25,355 39,471 Fundraislng Activities Investments 7,983 7,983 8,200 Charltable activities Other Receipts 2,611 2,611 564 35,949 35,949 48,235 Asset and Investment sales etc Total recelpts 35,949 35,949 48,235 Payments: Voluntary Income Costs Fundraising Costs Charitable Activitles Costs 31,830 31,830 78,654 Governance Costs 448 448 406 32,278 32,278 79,060 Assets and Investments gains/losses Total payments 32,278 31278 79,060 Excess of receipts over payments 3,671 3,671 -30,825 Transfers between funds Cash Funds Last Year End 20,730 20,730 51,555 Cash funds thls year end 24,401 24,401 20,730 Note l- Voluntsry Recelpts includes Gift Ald reclalmed. Note la- Gfft Aid clalms for 2023- £4783.64., GASDS for 2023= £1047.25 Note Ib: Glft Aid not yet claimed for 2024. Page | 6 Inde endent Examiner's Re ort to the Trustees of The Harbour Church Whitstable Registered Charity 1037641 Sertion A , Inde endent Examiners Re I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2024, as set out on page 6. Responslbilitles and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111"the ACVI. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Dlrection5 given by the Charity Commission under section 145151{bl of the Att. Independent examlner's statement I have completed my examlnatlon, I conftrm that no materlal matters have come to my attention In connertion with the examination (other than that disclosed below) which gives me cause to belleve that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with sectlon 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charltle5 (Accounts and Reports) Regulatlon5 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf vlew which Is not a matter considered as part of an Independent examinatlon. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters In connertion with the examlnatlon to which attention should be drawn In this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Dated.. -? IL I LL) LS Name: Louise Bowman IAICB CB Cert PM.Dipl Address: 10 Joseph Conrad Drlve Aldington Ashford Kent TN25 7ET Sectlon B . Dlsclos Only complete If the examlner needs to hi8hli8ht material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examlnation of charlty accounts: dlrections and guldance for examlnersl. Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. Page17