I LIFE CHURCH BRIDGEND Charlty No: 1050546 Trustees Annual Report 2024 Pen"od." 1stJanuary to 31st D8cemb8r2024 Alms and Purposes Life Church is localty govemed but partnered with the Assemblies of God (AOG) U.K. church is IcThted in the Mtjfa ward 0fBrend County Borough and is committed to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in Ix)th word and practse. The church also seeks to be a resrce to the I1 cmMUnty- resFx)nding to identifth o)mmunty needs and enabling other grou to make use of our facilities. Additi(Mally we work with other local churches and those further afield, in pursuit of shared aims. Objectives and Activities Life Church seeks to encourage the (x)mmunty it serves, to identify their spiiitual needs and to partipate in formal seS axl Fatt) E wt Nrto seK to groupB a1 indNiduals with Klentlfied needs tx)th in the church, cx)mmunal living settings and the communty. The Charitable Aims of the church are for the benefft of the public and are set out in its goveming documen( the M(xJel Deed for Lo(xl Assemblies ofG(yJ Churches. The are: to advance the Christian faith in accordan with our statement of faith, in SL dwrth may thinkfft to relieve sickness and financial hardship and to preserve and Fxomote g(x)d health by the provisi of fund& goods or serVS of ary kirKI in such parts ofthe United l(llYJdom orthe Wk1 astrE (Mrch lership from time to time think fi¢ and, to advan education in such way3 and in such parts ofts United Ki10M or the world as the church le*r5hip frDm to time, may think appropriate.
Achlevements and Performance Our services. Open serIceS are regularly held at the church premises on Morfa Stree( Bridgend and all are welcome to attend. The usual schedule of services is as follows.. the main service is held on Sunday Momings, for worship and ministry of the Word. The service caters for young families through the provision of a creche for the under 4s and Lrfe Kids Junior Church. The church broadcasts its Sunday ministry via YouTube to extend its reach and enable those church members unable to attend the service, to engage with the church's teaching. A prayer meeting is held weekly and small groups (Life Groups) are held on altemate weeks for informal bible discussion and prayer in church leaders, homes. Transport is made available so no individuals in the church are prevented from participating. The church has continued to experience growth in the number of people attending during 2024, with an average of 42 people attending regularly. Pastoral care. Personal pastoral support is provided to regular attendees of the church as requested. Home vists are made to those unable to attend church due to ill-healthlfraity, so they remain a part ofthe church communty. Our Communty Anna Chaplaincy continued to operate within the local hospital and a local care home during this year. Its chaplain also provided chaplaincy support to the Town Mayor and stsff team in the Town Communty Council. Use of the church IlIding for public benefft. The minor hall is available for hire by local communty groups and has bn utilised in the past year by a Men's Mentsl Health Support Group for training days and the occasional children's paty. 'Little Fishes., a parents and t(xJdler group run by the church, OFErated from January- Juty in this year but sadly had to close due to changes in group leader I volunteer availabilty. In this year an Easter and Summer HolKlay Club was held for children in the communty with an average of15 children attending eath session. The churth again hosted a live-music Christinas event forthe communty, lch was welkattended. The Intemational Evangelical Church have held their Sunday aftemoon service in our church througtrK)ut 2024 also. The small congregatK)n is largety made up of Polish citizens who live in the localty. I Page 2of4
The Trustees rnIsethe great ¢xrtribution made by volunteers from the oThJregatK)n in supwt ofchurch &bvitses. The Trustees endorse the guidan ofthe Charity Commission, regardiro the n88d for the church to bring public benefft throLvJh the practiC21 expression of our faith wthin the local communty and beyond. This is refiected in ts actsvities of the church as stated above, and the use ofthe thaiity's propety by othergroup& Safeguarding. The church maintsins an uptrFdate sx)licy for the safeguarding of children and adults at risk of abuse and subscribes to Thity-one: Eight for advisory & DBS check support. Building mainknnce. The thurth re(d a grdnt in 2024from the Weth Churth Ad Fund tra newSnd mixff deskasthe one ulilised was C k)an from anotherchurch. The main churth hall w&8 towards the of2024, to facilitate an in(xe in seating availabilty. This rssItatl the witirvJ of AV 4UiFJrHL It is the Intion to prcJjr in 2025, the redecoratton of the main and mirK)r halls. The thurch has maintsined annual fire sM a1 Ix)iler serv1rvj arKI has a ccxthct Rentokil to prevent ary rent Church ldershi The LdershI) Team has frcxn trE apwinlment ofa retIrj Paknfora Other memtEr5 ofthetean rema un(tsnyJ. Ministerfs particapalKXI in AOG UKS minister ac(XEditabon pDgramme deferr1 to May 2025. Financial support to missions. The church continues in its sponsorship of a 11-year- old boy in Tanzania. with members also supporting on an individual basis, seven other children. These children are supported via Compassion UK. The church also makes a monthly monetary contribution to the work of World Christian Ministries, another UK- based Christian charity working with women and girls on a global basis and a missionary couple serving in Asia, via AOG USA. FInala1 review. The total income of the church from all sources increased in 2024 by £25,635.14 (from £48,728.74 in 2023 to £74,363,88 in 2024). The exwditure ofthe thurch increased by £1804.63 (from £58,817.45 in 2023 to £60,622.08 in 2024). There was a surplus for the year of £13,741.80 leaving the balan offvnds carried forward to 2025 as being £49,675.93. IPage 3of4
The Model Deed for Local AOG Churches and the church's constitution serve to steer the running of the charity within the (x)ntsxt of the spiiitual life of the church. The Church Council of Trustees is chaired by Anne Thomas. Its berShip is made up of four other Trustees- Paul Warren, Richard Cross, Jennrfer Ward and Jill Hearse. The Trustees are responsible for the general oversight and management of the churth premises and financial matters. The church's Minister Paul Warren is responsible for promoting the spiritual life of the church and developing ts activities within the objectives of the charity. He has pastoral OVeIght of the church. Administrative support is provided to the Trustee group by Jayne Cross. She also acts as the Church's Treasurer. The Trustee group meet on a quarterty basis with fvrther meetings scheduled rf, and when required. COrresporKlen details are as follows: Life Church {Bridgend), Morfa Str& Bridgd CF311 HA The members ofthe Council ofTrustees who have seNed forthe whole period covered by this rewrt are: Anne TIK)mas (Chair) Paul Warren Richard Cross Jennifer Ward The member(s) of the Council of Trustees subtracted during 2024 were: Mavis Martin (resignation March 2024) The memberfs) of the Council of Trustees added during 2024 were: Jill Hearse (appointed June 2024) .oa.afJ Approved by the Council of Trustees on ..................... and signed on their behalf by Anne Thomas. Signed: IPage 4of4
LIFE CHURCH ACCOUNTS 2024 RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
PBC
| PBC | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INCOME | 2024 | 2023 | EXPENDITURE | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Jan - Dec | Jan - Dec | Jan - Dec | Jan - Dec | |||
| GENERAL OFFERINGS | £23,364.18 | £18,789.84 | SALARIES | £28,477.36 | £23,283.39 | |
| GIFT AID DONATIONS | £21,723.00 | £15,081.00 | HMRC & NEST | £6,645.84 | £6,560.02 | |
| SMALL DONATIONS SCHEME | £3,008.00 | £3,614.87 | EMPLOYEE EXPENSES | £607.12 | £629.36 | |
| TAX RETURNS (HMRC) | £5,832.47 | £4,622.74 | TRAINING & CONFERENCES | £236.70 | £1,696.33 | |
| DESIGNATED FUNDS | £4,305.00 | £2,235.00 | MINISTRY RESOURCES | £76.99 | £0.00 | |
| OUTREACH: Life Lounge | £0.00 | £0.00 | MINISTRY GIFTS | £825.00 | £1,315.00 | |
| OUTREACH: Events | £115.00 | £0.00 | PASTORAL CARE EXPENSES | £1,759.28 | £1,032.27 | |
| OUTREACH: Little Fishes | £209.89 | £608.25 | UTILITIES: GAS | £3,128.11 | ||
| REIMBURSEMENTS / MISC. GIFTS | £12,225.41 | £943.00 | UTILITIES: ELECTRICITY | £1,653.45 | £3,515.84 | |
| BANK INTEREST | £745.93 | £429.04 | UTILITIES: WATER | £271.56 | ||
| HIRE OF PREMISES | £640.00 | £600.00 | FEES & LICENCES | £2,413.25 | £2,268.28 | |
| BUILDING MAINTENANCE GRANTS | £1,399.00 | £0.00 | BANK CHARGES | £134.96 | £139.84 | |
| BUILDING MAINTENANCE GIFTS | £0.00 | £0.00 | AoG PARTNER CONTRIBUTION | £1,395.00 | £1,677.20 | |
| GLOBAL MISSIONS | £796.00 | £1,555.00 | INSURANCES | £893.88 | £798.31 | |
| ANNA CHAPLAINCY | £0.00 | £250.00 | MAINTAINANCE - GRANT | £0.00 | £0.00 | |
| MAINTAINANCE NON-GRANT | £2,074.98 | £4,576.05 | ||||
| HOSPITALITY/CATERING SUPPLIES | £1,273.85 | £1,182.94 | ||||
| PHOTOCOPIER | £1,231.89 | £1,262.51 | ||||
| STATIONERY/EQUIPMENT | £2,233.63 | £1,865.24 | ||||
| BROADBAND/TEL | £474.48 | £110.94 | ||||
| SAFEGUARDING - 31:8 | £196.60 | £260.59 | ||||
| OUTREACH: Life Lounge | £89.56 | £0.00 | ||||
| OUTREACH: Events | £1,118.17 | £0.00 | ||||
| OUTREACH: Little Fishes | £63.64 | £675.87 | ||||
| ANNA CHAPLAINCY | £323.98 | £505.68 | ||||
| GLOBAL MISSIONS | £2,834.00 | £4,176.84 | ||||
| DESIGNATED EXPENDITURE | £50.00 | £215.00 | ||||
| CASH FLOAT | £138.80 | £0.00 | ||||
| DONATIONS EXPENDITURE | £0.00 | £50.00 | ||||
| FACILITIES TEAM FLOAT | £0.00 | £1,019.95 | ||||
| TOTAL: | £74,363.88 | £48,728.74 | TOTAL | £60,622.08 | £58,817.45 | |
| £25,635.14 | £1,804.63 | |||||
| INCOME | £74,363.88 | BALANCE C/F FROM 2023 | £35,934.13 | |||
| EXPENDITURE | £60,622.08 | ADD SURPLUS FOR YEAR | £13,741.80 | |||
| SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR | £13,741.80 | BALANCE C/F TO 2024 | £49,675.93 | |||
| CURRENT ACCOUNT | £10,999.96 | |||||
| DEPOSIT ACCOUNT | £13,143.11 | |||||
| KINGDOM BANK | £25,532.86 | |||||
| CASH IN HAND | £0.00 | |||||
| TOTAL: | £49,675.93 |
Independent Examlnefs Report to the Trustees of Llfe Church Bridgend I rep)rt to the chanty trustees on ry examination of the accounts of the thanty for the year ended 31st Dember 2024 Responsibilities and basls of report As the charitys trustees you a resportsib for the preparation of the Aints in accordance with the requirements ofthe Charities Act 2011 {Ihe Acf). I reFX)rt in respect of my examination ofthe charity's accounts Carri out under seclion 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followgj all the aFplicable Diredions given by the Charity Commission under t)n 145(5)Ib} of the ACL Independent examinerfs statement I have conpleted my examination. I confimi that no mataial matters have come to my attenti¢ in connection V•ilh the examinaion giving me cause to believe that in any material respect aCcoting records vRre not kept in resped of the charity as required by SeCn 130 of the Act., or 2. the accounts do not accord Trmth those records. I have no coemS and have come across no other matters in nneCtIOn th the examination to attention slK)uld be drawn in this repyi in orderto enable a prcper understarKling of the a(xounts to be re&hl. J E Payne ACA FCCA aham Paul Limited Cwrt H¢& Cwrt Road Bridgend CF311BE 7th May 2025