2024-08-31-accounts - Community Bible Study International UK

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Annual Report of Community Bible Study International UK

for the year ended 31 August 2024

Registered charity numbers :

Charity Commission: 1044255, Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator: SC0037863

Structure and governance

The charity is established by a trust deed and is governed by a board of trustees (listed below).
The trustees are individuals appointed under the trust deed or subsequently by the board.

Operating name:

Community Bible Study UK

Contacts:

National office correspondence address: 6 Warren Lane, Witham St Hughs, Lincoln, LN6 9US. Email: info@cbsuk.org

Other contact details are on the website at https://uk.communitybiblestudy.org/

Governance and management

Day to day management is in the hands of the National Coordinator and the National Servants Team (NST) which comprises:

Simon Baker - National Coordinator

Jane Hutchinson - Midlands Regional Coordinator

Dinah Ball - Regional Coordinators for North West England Keith and Natasha Doughty - Regional Coordinators for Wales and the Bristol area Ann Baker - Children and Youth Supervisor

Bonnie Fletcher - Pastoral lead

Appointments and objectives

Trustee and National Coordinator appointments are reviewed for reappointment every three years. Trustees are recruited from within the CBS UK family and people recommended by them. They initially have discussions with the existing chair of trustees or National Coordinator before

attending a trustee meeting as observer where they have a chance to meet the other trustees and consideration can be made on both sides whether an appointment would be appropriate and useful.

All officers and staff during this period were unpaid volunteers and all classes and Bible studies are run by volunteers. No trustee receives any remuneration or benefits or had any expenses reimbursed.

Although the charity is independent, it is associated with Community Bible Study International and uses study material under licence.

The objects of the charity are the advancement of the Christian Religion and the advancement of education by:

developing and publishing study and devotional material of a religious nature and in particular Bible study notes and commentaries and other teaching materials pertaining to the Bible on the pattern established by Community Bible Study International.
establishing training classes for Bible study class leaders utilising the materials referred to above.
establishing and promoting Bible study classes utilising the said materials and conducting such classes in co-ordination and co-operation with Christians of all denominations.

Focus

The focus during this period has been the furtherance of a clear growth strategy (See, Join, Stay) and the extension of the work to new areas especially Birmingham. During the year the charity developed further the programme of online groups and study, launched CBS Connect, a digital online platform and consolidated CBS Summer, supportive groups which meet online through the summer months.

In the next year the focus for the trustees will be on finding and appointing a new National Coordinator as Simon Baker is called to work more with CBS Europe. The objects of the charity will not change and there are no specific plans to change the way they are delivered but inevitably there will be some change inherent in a new coordinator.

Leadership

The Board of Trustees met formally twice during the year (18th November 2023 and 2nd May 2024). There were communications by email and telephone between meetings. The NST met every 2 months. The Trustees are very grateful to the NST for all the work they have done in continuing the work of the charity.

An Annual General Meeting was held online on 25 May 2024.

Groups (formerly Classes)

There were 80 fully operative groups with over 1000 participants. The trend is towards smaller, more easily managed and led groups. CBS UK has English, Russian, Welsh, Spanish and Arabic speaking groups and some Farsi speakers.

Groups are established and run by local volunteers with training, resources and support from the national organisation.

Conference 2024

The year's conference was held online on March 9th 2024. The theme was ‘Never Stop Looking Up’.

Europe

We are grateful for the support, encouragement and oversight of the CBS Europe team. A grant based on 10% of the UK income is paid to support the wider European work in line with the Community Bible Study International licensing agreement.

Ambassadors

The Ambassador connection draws people experienced in the work of CBS to particular regions or countries to start new work or to extend existing work.

We are privileged to have an Ambassador Janet Morgan Phillips working with us in Wales. We are grateful for those who while not UK residents or nationals reach out to help us especially for the USA. Additionally, several people from the UK serve God through CBS in Europe in a parallel role.

Training

All training this year was carried out successfully online.

Class Visitors

Class visiting has been patchy across the regions. A model of regional leadership meetings on Zoom is now developing. Online forums have been helpful in supporting leaders.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding training is given to all leaders who have Adults with additional support needs or children in their groups either locally or online. Changes are implemented regularly, updating the Policy Documents and manual and a system for obtaining DBS checks is in place, and a Safeguarding Coordinator is responsible for these actions.

Study materials

Studies are now available in printed format, spiral bound, electronic format (pdf) as well as the new CBS Connect format.

Financial The trustees are pleased with the net income for the year. The charity's reserves policy is to maintain sufficient funds to continue to complete the current class studies if the income were to cease. to cover the advance costs of the annual conference and accrue for capital costs of irregular large projects. The current NST members use their homes as offices. Should there be a need in the future for an office, reserves might be needed to help cover such costs. The trustees are satisfied that reserves are sufficient to cover these needs. If the charity needs to employ a new National Coordinator additional fundraising will be required in future. There are no related party transactions. Special projects We received a grant that enabled us to supply tablet devices to people, especially the isolated, to join groups studying the Bible. There remains a surplus and the trustees have not yet decided how to channel thls. Slgned on behalf of the trustees: Paul Hudson 21 April 2025

The Trustees of Community Bible Study International UK

The following served as trustees during the year and are appointed solely by the Board: Richard Alvarez (appointed 26 March 2022) Alison Bagg (Chair from 13 November 2021) Dr Simon Baker (National Coordinator) Stuart Crossley Paul Hudson (Treasurer) Michelle Smith (appointed 26 March 2022)

Community Bible Study International UK

Charity Commisson number 1044255, Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator number SC0037863

Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 August 2024 (receipts and payments basis)

INCOME Donations Conference Class Registration & Offerings Increase/(Decrease) in money with classes Interest Received Study materials Grant towards exhibition CBS Europe - share of costs Sundry income - bank compensation Total Income EXPENSES Advertising & promotion Independent examination Donation: CBS Western Europe Class support Conference Evangelical Alliance Insurance CCPAS costs Office Costs / Administration App development / materials Meetings: NST Sundry Training National Coordinator travel Website and software Total Expenses NET INCOME Net funds last year end Net funds this year end	£ £ 7,281.99 - 14,810.18 3,265.36 790.46 - 894.25 162.10 - 27,204.34 2,652.12 420.00 2,274.18 220.85 4,776.80 85.00 476.80 150.00 8.15 8,606.00 2,431.14 - 36.00 161.55 1,870.82 24,169.41 3,034.93 37,914.75 £40,949.68 Unrestricted and Total Funds 2024	£ £ 6,271.23 20,150.58 16,470.60 2,224.83 - 479.33 5.00 - - 350.00 41,501.91 9,197.45 400.00 2,627.23 - 23,744.72 85.00 453.43 245.50 1,686.82 59.00 260.45 299.74 1,014.00 500.00 1,540.42 42,113.76 -611.85 38,526.60 £37,914.75 Unrestricted and Total Funds 2023

Community Bible Study International UK

Charity Commisson number 1044255, Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator number SC0037863

Balance Sheet at 31 August 2024 (receipts and payments basis)

Cash Funds Current Account CCLA Deposit Account Cash with classes Total Cash Funds Debtors CBS Europe cost reimbursement Liabilities Net assets Donations for translations paid over in advance	£ £ 14,496.90 15,898.00 9,913.77 £40,308.67 78.23 562.78 £641.01 0.00 £0.00 £40,949.68 Unrestricted and Total Funds 2024	£ £ 15,516.71 15,107.54 6,648.41 £37,272.66 79.31 562.78 £642.09 0.00 £0.00 £37,914.75 2023 Unrestricted and Total Funds

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORTTO THE TRUSTEES OF COMMUNrrY BIBLE STUDY INTERNATIONAL UK Charity Commission number 1044255; Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator number SC0037863 I report on the occounts of the Associotionfor the Year Ended to 31stAUGUST2024. ottoched. RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRusfEES AND EXAMINER The chority's tru5tee5 are responsiblefor the preparotion of the occounts. The charity's trustees consider thot on oudit is not requiredfor this year under section 144 of the Cht7ritie5 Act 2011 (the Chorities Act) ond thot on independent exominotion is needed. It is my responsibility to.'_ examine the occounts under section145 of the Charitie5 Act tofollow the procedures laid down in the Generul Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145{5J(bJ of the Chorities Act), and to state whetherparticulor motter5 have come to my ottention BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT My exomination wos corried out in accordonce with the General Directions given by the Chority Commissioner5. An examinotion includes o review of the occounting records kept by the charity and o comporAson of the occounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explonotionsfrom the trustees concerning any such motters. The procedures undertoken do not provide oll the evidence that would be required in an audit ond consequently no opinion is give os to whether the occounts present a 'true ondfoir. view and the report is limAted to those matters set out in the stotement below. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT In connection with my exominotion, no matter hos come to my attention.. (l) which gives me rea50noble couse to believe that in ony moteriol respect the requirements to keep occounting records in occordonce with section 130 of the Chorities Act and to prepare occounts which occord WAth the occounting records Gnd comply with the occounting requirements of the Chorities Act have not been met. or (2) to which, in my opinion. attention should be drown. in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. DAVID R S WELCH FCA, DChA. CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT & INDEPENDENT EXAMINER 3 ALVINGTON GROVE, HAZEL GROVE. STOCKPORT CHESHIRE, SK7 5LS th Date: 25 April 2025 ICAEW