Sharon Full Gospel Church Osborne Road, Pontypool NP4 6LU Registered Charity Number 1050642
Trustees Annual Report 2021
Aims and Purposes
Sharon Full Gospel Church is an independent Christian church. Our main aim is to advance the Christian religion. As is set out in our governing documents, we seek to achieve this aim by proclaiming the Gospel of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord through preaching and teaching of the Word of God and by maintaining a place of worship and prayer for this purpose.
In 2021, we agreed to a change to our charitable objects which was accepted by the Charity Commission. It allows for our main aim to be advanced by our providing a practical expression of our religious faith through charitable works which support our local community: by relieving poverty, providing activities for families and children, and promoting better community cohesion and mental and physical health.
Objectives and Activities
Our objectives are set to reflect our faith and community aims. Each year our trustees review our objectives and activities to ensure they continue to reflect our aims. In carrying out this review the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion.
Our aim remains to proclaim the Christian message, providing a facility where Christians can worship, and express their faith practically by supporting the local community.
Achievements and Performance
The church has opened throughout the week for various religious meetings for prayer, worship and Bible teaching. When face-to-face meetings were interrupted by COVID-19, these meetings continued via Zoom for many weeks. It has been a particular concern for us to support the elderly and vulnerable who have been isolated at home. We have, however, been deeply saddened to lose faithful members to illness during the year. At the same time, we have welcomed new families into membership during 2021.
Our mission to proclaim the gospel has been hindered during the pandemic, but we were still able to give out Christian literature in the community over Christmas and to use our social media platforms for evangelism. This year,
having previously noticed no nativity scenes in our town centre, we ran a competition for local shopkeepers to reintroduce nativity scenes as part of their Christmas decorations. This was very successful, with 8 shops taking part in this pilot. We will rerun the competition in 2022.
In 2021, we have begun to open the church building as a community hub for two days per week. Thanks to grant funding, we have been able to employ a Community Engagement Officer, Lisa White, to lead this work in the local community. We provide free cafe and creche facilities to combat loneliness and isolation in our community. This is well attended on Wednesdays, and we have had as many as 40-50 visitors in one morning. We give out food parcels and fuel top-up vouchers to support those in food and fuel poverty, run “healthy eating on a budget” courses and cooperate with other local groups (e.g., Torfaen Council grants) to signpost our community to further support.
Financial Review
The final balance sheet for 2021 is attached, as is the report from our independent examiner. The total income for the year was £51,324.58. £22479.55 of which was restricted for our community project, £2,000 restricted for our children’s work, and £26,845.03 for general funds. In addition to the direct expenses from the restricted funds, an amount of £1,380.39 was transferred across during the year from restricted to general funds, covering pro-rata heat/light/building maintenance costs as agreed with funders in grant acceptance agreements.
Reserves Policy
Sharon Full Gospel Church maintains a reserve of approx. 9 months of operating costs whenever possible to cover eventualities such as unforeseen increases in day-to-day operational costs, or when a source of income may be lost (as when a member leaves or dies). This reserve does not include restricted funds.
Volunteers
We would like to thank all the volunteers who work so hard to make our church the lively and vibrant community it is. Thank you to our trustees, elders and deacons for keeping the church running.
Structure, Governance and Management
The church is administered by the Church Council, which is a team of at least three trustees (minimum of Chair, Secretary and Treasurer), the appointment of whom is set out in the governing document. These are assisted in the day-to-day religious life of the church by elders and deacons the appointment of whom is also set out in the governing document. The Church Council meet six times each year.
Administrative Information
Sharon Full Gospel Church is an independent Christian church situated in Osborne Road, Pontypool NP4 6LU. It is a member of the Evangelical Alliance. The correspondence address is The Minister, Bethany, 7 Park View, Freeholdland Road, Pontnewynydd, Pontypool NP4 8LP.
Church Council Members (Trustees): Reverend Mathew Bartlett (Chair of Trustees), Mrs Barbara Yvonne Owens (Treasurer), Mrs Frankie Andreou (Secretary) Elder: Mr David Hinwood Deacons: Mr John Andreou; Mr David Vaughan
Approved by the Church Council on 30/06/2022 and signed on their behalf by Mathew Bartlett (Chair of Trustees)
Sharon Full Gospel Church Balance Sheet 2021
INCOME
BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD FROM 2020 £17,177.37
GENERAL FUNDS
GIFT AID DONATIONS £13,615.00 CASH DONATIONS £7,574.16 GIFT AID CLAIM £3306.75 VEHICLE TAX REFUND £544.41 LOSS OF INCOME £1786.79 INSURANCE AMAZON SMILE 17.92 TOTAL GENERAL FUND INCOME: £26,845.03
| RESTRICTED FUNDS INCOME | RESTRICTED FUNDS INCOME | |
|---|---|---|
| GENER8XION HOPE | £2,000 | |
| HOPE FOR THE | £22,479.55 | |
| COMMUNITY | ||
| TOTAL INCOME | £51,324.58 | |
| EXPENSES (CHURCH) | ||
| SALARIES PASTOR | £17,110 | |
| CLEANER | £480 | |
| ELECTRIC | £1,222.36 | |
| WATER RATES | £157.92 | |
| FIRE SAFETY | £547.30 | |
| COVID-19 SAFETY | £577.32 | |
| BUILDING REPAIRS | £2,270.07 | |
| INSURANCE | £927.36 | |
| MISSIONS | £750.00 | |
| BROADBAND & PHONE | £464.47 | |
| CLEANING ITEMS | £30.23 | |
| SUBSCRIPTIONS | £84.81 | |
| CCLI | £117.00 | |
| STATIONARY | £117.38 | |
| EVANGELISM | £487.60 | |
| MISC | £23.36 | |
| SUBTOTAL | 25,370.40 | |
| EXPENSES | £369.81 | |
| (GENER8XION HOPE) | ||
| Childrens Events | £240.81 | |
| Volunteer Costs | £129.00 | |
| SUBTOTAL: | £369.81 | |
| EXPENSES (HOPE) | ||
| SALARY: COMMUNITY | £2,912 | |
| WORKER | ||
| SALARY: HOPE MANAGER | £1,300 | |
| RECRUITMENT | £247.50 | |
| ADVERTISING | £584.44 | |
| EQUIPMENT | £1,783.87 | (TABLES, TOY BIN, FOOD STORAGE, FRIDGE) |
| MISC | £245.76 | |
| SUBTOTAL | £7,073.57 | |
| TOTAL EXPENSES | £32,813.78 | |
| NEW BALANCE TO | £35,688.17 | |
| CARRY FORWARD TO | ||
| 2022 | ||
| RESTRICTED: GENER8XION HOPE | £2,000-369.81= £1,630.19 | |
| RESTRICTED: HOPE FOR THE | £14,025.59i | |
| COMMUNITY | ||
| GENERAL FUNDS | £17,158.00 |
Registered Charity Number 1050642
i i.e. £22,479.55 - £7,073.57 (ACTUAL COSTS) – £1,380.39 (PRO RATA COSTS - £1,000 building occupancy, £300 heat & light, £80.39 coms).
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trusteesl members of narity Name SHARON FULL GOSPEL CHURCH On accounts for the year ended 2021 Charity no (if any) 1050642 Set out on pages Ii•memher to {lUe the Qdqe nuinbers o addrtionaj shee;s) I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 31/12/2021. Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out nder section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters hav: come to my attention ( ") in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting.records I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection ith the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. . Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Independent examiner's statement Signed: Date: Name: 30" ¢Ja Lso Relevant professional ualification(s) or body (if any): Address: IER
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