Luton Pentecostal Church Trustees Annual Report for 2021
The following report is to the Charity Commissioners and seeks to inform the commission of the status and activities of Luton Pentecostal Church, Registered Charity number 1054318
Luton Pentecostal Church has continued to abide by the Constitution/Management Document aligned for the purpose of the model deed of Assemblies of God Inc. There have been no serious incidents that need reporting during the year. The pastor is in good standing with AoG and has had a new DBS check carried out this year.
The church continued to serve its members, and the community, by upholding the Holy Scriptures through regular meetings and events which are open to members and the general public during the first part of the year but was curtailed in many of its usual roles due to the Lockdown measures imposed by government. The students in the school were supported throughout by staff either online/telephone or contactless delivery of work to the home until July 2021 when the decision was sadly made to close the Academy because the loss of students, directly due to the pandemic, caused it to be financial unviable. All the remaining students were transitioned into state schools and support given to families. Ofsted and the DFE were notified in writing and a response confirming that the Academy is now closed was received from DFE. The pastor has been able to offer support to those suffering from Covid 19 and sought to promote testing and vaccination in the community.
Luton Pentecostal Church accepted an offer for its building at 15 Church St in 2019 and agreed a two-year transition period until completion, which finished in February 2021 when the church moved out into temporary rented accommodation. The Church is looking to find new premises which have more outdoor space for parking and community playground/activity space. We are pleased to have this time frame, as Coronavirus lockdown measures have hampered the search for suitable premises.
Luton Pentecostal Church welcomes all people who desire to find faith in God or to grow in their relationship with Him, within the church. We believe that a personal relationship with Jesus is the only way to heaven. There is much comfort to be brought to the community from the Scriptures, particularly at times of bereavement, unemployment, or personal stress. The church sees its role as demonstrating the love of God to all people, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, disability, sexuality, or other social status. We believe that we have a mandate to serve the multi-faceted problems that a diverse culture like the one that Luton encounters. The church has various departments that address various aspects of community life.
The Church continues to maintain its goals and ensure that they are both compliant with all safeguarding legislation. All church staff recently completed a KCSIE review.
Our youth programme, Reach the Streetz, has been unable to meet during 2021, due to the pandemic restrictions as it has been unable to hire the usual venue in the local community where it operates to encourage children aged 5-14 years away from the prevailing gang culture in the Hart Lane area of Luton. While using this venue, we provided a safe environment for children to develop healthy friendships without negative peer pressure at the same time as learning social values through play and discussion. We hold discussions on many issues that these children face e.g. bullying, peer pressure; bereavement to name a few. Social groups exist for adults to socialise together and particularly engage in sports activities and discussions. The pastor offers marriage and relationship counselling or help with mediation in family disputes. All these activities are open to members or non-members and are accessible to the general public.
We uphold and promote British values through our general performance and are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. The structure, governance & management remain unaltered, and the Church and departments look to build up reserves to benefit the public.
Signed by C A. Oakey on behalf of trustees, with the approval of this report from the trustees.
LUTON PENTECOSTAL CHURCH Reconclllation - Movement of fvnds on Barclay's Bank for 12 Months ended 31 December 2021 2021 2020 Openlng balance as at 01 January 3.185.40 4,197.69 Tithe5 & Offerin85- Transfers Tithes & Offerings- Cash Gift Ald- AOG SaSe of church buildlng Other 23,690.52 10,751.85 34,608. 15 7,787.03 12,681.79 949,740.LWJ Total Income 984,182,37 55 076.97 AOG Head offlce Computer expenses Telephone and broadband Off icè expenses Storage costs Motor and transportatlon Expenses Insurance Gross wa8es Professlonal, legal and consultlng fees Rents LPCCA Academy costs Sundry 480.00 1,199,80 175.17 5,499.85 825.00 2,262.99 IA59.92 45,052.71 1,009.1)0 2,705.00 15,664.87 480.00 97.20 588, 66 4.769.82 674.94 5,977.71 42A85.17 615.76 Total expenditufe 76,734.31 56,089.26 Not movement 907.*M8.06 1,012.29 Closlng balance as at 31 December 910,633.46 3,185.40
LUTON PENTECOSTAL CHURCH Independent Examinerfs Report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charlty 1.the Trust") forthe year ended 31 December 2021. Respertlve responslbllltle5 of the trustee and examiner As the charÉty trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance wlth the requlrements of the Charities Act 20111"the Act"} and consider that the audit requirement of section 144 (11 does not apply. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carrled out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions glven by the Charlty Commlssion under section 14515llbl of the Act. The Trust does not meet to the requirements for an audit. Bas15 of the Independent Examlnerf$ Report The report Is In respect of the examinatlon carrled out under 5e¢tlon 145 of the Art and in accordance wlth the directions 8Sven by the Charlty Commissioners. An examlnatlon Includes review of the accountln8 records kept by the Charity Trustees and a ¢omparlson of the accounts presented with those records. It also Includes a revlew of the account5 and maklng such enquiries as are necessary for the purpose of this report. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evldence that would be requlred by an audlt, and consequently, I do not express an opSnlon on the accounts. Independent Examlnerfs Statements I have completed my examination. I confirm that no materlal matters have come to my attention in connedion with the examlnatlon which give5 me cause to belleve that In, any materlal respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance wlth sectlon 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord wlth the accounting records I have no concerns and have come across no other rnatters In connection wlth the examinatlon to whith attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understandin8 of the accounts to be reached. Samantha Bovell, FCCA Date: 11 lo12