NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, FLECKNEY Registered Charity number 1055864
TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
Year ended 31 December 2020
NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, FLECKNEY
LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] DECEMBER 2020
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: New Life Christian Fellowship c/o 4 Cedars Courtyard High Street Fleckney Leicester LE8 8BG GOVERNING DOCUMENT: Trust Deed dated 12[th] April 1996 Registered charity No: 1055864 Deed of Amendment Dated November 12[th] 2013
TRUSTEES: John Beynon (Chair) Pat Binczak Andrew Robertson Helen Watson BANKERS: Lloyds Bank plc, Oadby Branch, 56, Chestnut Avenue Oadby, Leicester LE2 5JG INDEPENDENT EXAMINER: C Veasey ACA Edward Thomas Peirson & Sons Chartered Accountants 21, The Point Rockingham Road Market Harborough Leicestershire LE16 7NU
INDEX
Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-4 Trustees’ Report Page 5 Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts Page 6 Receipts and Payments Account Page 7 Statement of Assets and Liabilities
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New Life Christian Fellowship, Fleckney
Report of the Trustees For the year ended December 31[st] 2020
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year 2020.
OBJECTS OF THE CHARITY
The Trust was established in 1996 to fulfill the role of a Christian Church in Fleckney and the surrounding area. The objects listed in the Trust Deed are:
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The promotion and encouragement of Christianity in any part of the world, and in particular by way of the following activities: Meetings for worship, fellowship and prayer, the teaching of the Bible and the doctrines and principles of the Christian religion, the evangelisation of non-Christians, education of young people in accordance with Christian principles.
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The relief of poverty, hardship and distress
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To further such other charitable purposes as the Trustees from time to time in their absolute discretion determine.
New Life Christian Fellowship is a member of the Evangelical Alliance, the largest body serving evangelical Christians in the United Kingdom. Also, as an Ichthus Link Church, the church continued its long-standing relationship with Ichthus Christian Fellowship. In addition to the objects listed above, NLCF works in assisting other churches and receives voluntary help itself where needed. During the year, grants have been made to other charitable organisations and individuals to enable NLCF achieve the above-mentioned objects which can best be done on a larger scale than NLCF could do independently.
The trustees have had due regard to the guidance by the charity commission on public benefit.
GOVERNANCE
The policy and operating decisions of the Charity, including the appointment or removal of trustees, rest with the Trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the Trust. Decisions relating to the Charitable Trust are made by the Trustees in consultation with the Elders, who are responsible for governing the spiritual life and teaching of the church.
The Trustees and Elders are jointly known as the Leadership Team, which, in meeting together promotes effective communication and functioning between the two groups. This ensures that there is a recognition of the responsibilities carried by each and the need for mutual support for each other through care and service. Our Trust Deed reflects the role of the Elders in decision making.
The Leadership Team are encouraged that members of the congregation give of their time, talents and money to enable the trust to effectively fulfill its role both in practical outworking and in its financial support of its local, national and international partners.
Steve Robson continues as Leader of NLCF and is employed on a part-time basis, having been in position from Easter 2012. This was endorsed at a commissioning service on Saturday September 22[nd] 2012. Until this year, Steve worked part-time for his previous employer but during the year, resigned from his position with Coles and has become selfemployed. He continues to be employed three days a week for NLCF.
The Trustees, John Beynon (Chair), Pat Binczak (Treasurer), Helen Watson and Andy Robertson, held meetings as necessary throughout the year. Although the 2020 Corona Virus lockdown prevented the trustees meeting as often as would normally be the case the trustees met through the Zoom digital platform to ensure that the Trust affairs were conducted within the guidelines set out by the Charity Commission and to fulfill the trust objectives. As a church, the Health and Safety, and the Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults, is of great importance. Training is offered to all members and DBS checks carried out and kept up to date. A record is kept of children attending events such as Connect and Jigsaw. The Trustees endeavour to keep New Life’s Safeguarding policy up to date and enforced. Our GDPR responsibilities are kept under review by the Trustees and records are only kept as necessary for legal and essential communication purposes and with relevant permission granted.
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In addition, the Trustees met with the Elders in joint meetings as the Leadership Team to maintain a working relationship, to pray together and to support the work of the Elders.
The teaching and spiritual life of the church has remained the responsibility of the Elders which is comprised of three church members, Steve as Leader, Linda Beynon, and Andy Robertson. The Elders plan to meet regularly to pray and discuss church affairs in conjunction with others as necessary. The church family are updated with information regarding current affairs and future plans at Family Meetings which are open to anyone regularly attending the church. A meeting was held in February which was open to all church members, to discuss and plan for the future.
During the year to December 31[st] 2020 the charity sought to fulfill its purpose as a Christian Church in the community of Fleckney in the following ways:
WORK IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
Having an awareness of the needs our local community has been at the centre of New Life’s existence and in wishing to fulfill that aim, New Life has continued to build bridges through its charitable work. Visiting the sick, supporting elderly folk in their homes, and providing lunch for an area of the village, are just some of the functions undertaken by the church.
CommuniCare, set up by Steve and Judith Robson as part of the charity, aims to serve the infirm and vulnerable in the local community in practical ways. Help with shopping, deliveries, transport, post or just to have a chat or prayer along with general help around the home are some of the basics that CommuniCare can help with.
Andy and Linda continue to run ‘Connect After Hours’, an informal group for secondary school aged young people for meeting up and discussion.
As a church our support of “Open Hands” a Leicester-based charity, has again been maintained over the year. Open Hands exists to provide food, clothing and basic needs, also furniture and advice to the most vulnerable in Leicester. In addition to financial support, our church members are encouraged to buy extra items of tinned and packaged produce, toiletries and items of baby care for delivery to the project.
In order to communicate effectively with the local community, a website is kept refreshed regularly with up-to-date news, as is our Facebook page, which was set up by Andy and Katie Robertson in order to advertise events and keep in touch with regular users. Also, an article is placed in the local free newspaper “Communicata” by each of the churches, New Life contributing in turn.
A successful Medieval Evening with food, costume and activities appropriate to the period was produced by the church with an outreach invitation extended to the wider community.
Most of the usual activities that the church provides within the community have had to be curtailed due to lockdown restrictions but where assistance could be provided within the government guidance for safeguarding, this was undertaken to assist vulnerable people.
PRAYER and EVANGELISM
Prayer continues to be one of the most important core activities of the church. Groups met using the Zoom platform at various times and focused on various matters such as our mission partners overseas and prayer for the nations.
NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL
Nationally, New Life has continued to subscribe to Ichthus Christian Fellowship and The Evangelical Alliance, support and advice being available from them as needed.
From the money donated to the church, amounts were given to various charitable organisations through the year as the Trustees responded to needs known to them or brought to their attention.
Monthly donations included Olive Tree, Neighbourhood Prayer and Compassion.
The work of the Christian Institute is supported by the church and individual members of the fellowship as they continue to monitor and advise the government on issues of concern to Christians nationally.
As a sponsor of a child through Compassion UK, regular donations were sent from fellowship funds. Individual members of the church also make donations privately as sponsors of other children.
TRAINING and EDUCATION
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Where appropriate to the functioning of the trust and its objectives, training of members to help encourage and equip them in their roles has been funded, or conducted locally. Each week part of the morning service conducted on the Zoom platform is devoted to teaching through sermons delivered primarily by Steve. The Leadership have continued to oversee the teaching within the church, encouraging personal study and participation in “Life Groups” and prayer groups in the wider community.
WORSHIP
Our weekly service of worship continues to be held despite not being able to be held at the Village Hall premises since March and is overseen by the Elders. Preparation and delivery of sermons is mainly the remit of our church leader, Steve, and occasionally one of our church members has preached. By assisting those who struggle with technology to access Zoom, the majority of the church congregation has been able to meet digitally each week and the sharing of prayer and pre-recorded videos, has enabled worship and fellowship each week for the duration of the lockdown since March.
FINANCE
The generosity of the members of New Life Christian Fellowship along with the claim through the Gift Aid scheme has enabled the trust to maintain its support of various charitable causes throughout the year. The regular donations from members ensured that the trust had no need to make appeals for funds to cover its expenses, and continues to honour commitments made in support of our overseas mission partners. The church tithed its income and gave in excess of the tithe in support of charitable organisations involved in evangelism, teaching and the relief of poverty, locally, nationally and internationally. In making donations, the Leadership considered prayerfully those needs known to them, those brought by the congregation to their attention and requests received by the church. A review of our financial support was undertaken and changes were made to our giving to charitable causes that we will support, they now include donations to Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer and CMJUK.
The trust continues to receive rent from the property that it owns less administration and running costs.
Hire of halls, wages, administration costs and catering and the upkeep of the trust’s rental property were the main costs in the total overall expenditure for the year of £23,527. Income for the year from donations, Gift Aid claims, rental income and interest received totaled £33,680. The gain of £10,153 helped to increase overall funds.
The Trustees aim to maintain enough unrestricted reserves to enable them to meet at least six months’ worth of future expenditure and the current balance of £62,486 is more than sufficient.
TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
APPROVAL
This report was approved by the Trustees on 29[th] October 2021 and signed on their behalf by:
John Beynon (Chair of the Trustees)
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of New Life Christian Fellowship, Fleckney
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the financial statements of New Life Christian Fellowship (charity number 1055864) for the year ended 31[st] December 2020 which are set out on pages 7 to 8.
Responsibilities 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 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the financial statements do not accord with those records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
C Veasey ACA 29[th] October 2021
Edward Thomas Peirson & Sons Chartered Accountants 21 The Point Rockingham Road Market Harborough Leicestershire LE16 7NU
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NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, FLECKNEY Registered Charity number 1055864 RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
For the year ended 31 December 2020
| RECEIPTS Donations: Legacies Offerings & donations Tax recovered under gift aid Other: Communicare income Rent Insurance refunds Short term loan received Other activities Investment: Interest received Total receipts PAYMENTS Direct Evangelism - international Evangelism - national Evangelism - local Leader's salary Catering Communicare expenditure Conference & retreat Fellowship gifts Social events Visiting speakers Youth Administration:Stationery Advertising Licences & subscriptions Sundry Computer & website Insurance Short term loan repaid Payroll fees Independent Examiner's fee Property: 5 Hobrook Road Hire of halls Repairs and renewals Insurance Total payments NET (PAYMENTS)/RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR Cash funds 31 December 2019 Cash funds 31 December 2020 |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds £ £ £ 100 - 100 19,370 1,100 20,470 4,239 - 4,239 23,709 1,100 24,809 168 - 168 8,448 - 8,448 - - - - - - - - - 8,615 - 8,615 256 - 256 256 - 256 32,580 1,100 33,680 2,239 - 2,239 715 - 715 328 1,000 1,328 13,961 - 13,961 106 - 106 429 - 429 - - - - - - 159 - 159 - - - 129 - 129 18,066 1,000 19,066 58 - 58 - - - 621 - 621 100 - 100 351 - 351 506 - 506 - - - 211 - 211 408 - 408 2,255 - 2,255 438 - 438 1,768 - 1,768 - - - - - - 2,206 - 2,206 22,527 1,000 23,527 10,053 100 10,153 52,187 146 52,333 62,240 246 62,486 2020 |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds £ £ £ 458 - 458 21,745 2,035 23,780 4,391 - 4,391 26,594 2,035 28,629 1,477 250 1,727 3,661 - 3,661 21 - 21 100 - 100 180 - 180 5,439 250 5,689 240 - 240 240 - 240 32,273 2,285 34,558 2,755 835 3,590 740 - 740 2,354 1,200 3,554 13,227 - 13,227 587 - 587 646 206 852 376 - 376 110 - 110 400 - 400 205 - 205 170 - 170 21,570 2,241 23,811 57 - 57 - - - 359 - 359 110 - 110 180 - 180 514 - 514 100 - 100 263 - 263 396 - 396 1,979 - 1,979 13,811 - 13,811 4,997 - 4,997 234 - 234 272 - 272 19,314 - 19,314 42,863 2,241 45,104 (10,590) 44 (10,546) 62,777 102 62,879 52,187 146 52,333 2019 |
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NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, FLECKNEY Registered Charity number 1055864 STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES As at 31 December 2020
| MONETARY ASSETS Bank & Cash balances: Market Harborough BS Reserve account Project account Lloyds Bank plc CAF Current account CAF Gold Communicare Cash in hand Other monetary assets: Tax recoverable under gift aid Insurance paid in advance Website hosting paid in advance Total monetary assets: ASSETS RETAINED FOR CHARITY'S OWN USE Property 5 Hobrook Road Equipment (over £250) Roland Keyboard 1996 cost Lapel microphone 1997 cost Chalices (2) & plates (2) 2001 cost Tripod screen 2002 cost Display boards 2007 cost Microphone (2) & stand 2002 cost Computer 2006 cost Puppet staging 2007 cost Mixer desk 2008 cost Computer 2010 cost Keyboard 2010 cost Projector 2012 cost Hard Drive Recorder 2012 value Hand-held radio microphone 2017 cost LIABILITIES Independent Examiner's Fee At valuation |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds £ £ £ - - - - - - 3,211 100 3,311 8,405 - 8,405 50,001 - 50,001 615 - 615 154 - 154 62,386 100 62,486 3,805 - 3,805 - - - - - - 3,805 - 3,805 66,191 100 66,291 £ £ £ 280,000 - 280,000 1,122 - 1,122 279 - 279 763 - 763 315 - 315 310 - 310 335 - 335 482 - 482 401 - 401 7,547 - 7,547 399 - 399 302 - 302 1,524 - 1,524 800 - 800 405 - 405 294,984 - 294,984 £ £ £ 408 - 408 408 - 408 2020 |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds £ £ £ 40,000 - 40,000 4,000 - 4,000 7,362 146 7,508 - - - - - - - - - 825 - 825 52,187 146 52,333 4,239 - 4,239 419 - 419 - - - 4,658 - 4,658 56,845 146 56,991 £ £ £ 280,000 - 280,000 1,122 - 1,122 279 - 279 763 - 763 315 - 315 310 - 310 335 - 335 482 - 482 401 - 401 7,547 - 7,547 399 - 399 302 - 302 1,524 - 1,524 800 - 800 405 - 405 294,984 - 294,984 £ £ £ 408 - 408 408 - 408 2019 |
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Note The freehold property known as 5 Hobrook Road, Fleckney is included above at the Trustees valuation. The charity was gifted half of the property in December 2001 and in September 2006 purchased, having taken independent valuation advice, the remaining half share for £85,000
These accounts were approved by the Trustees on 29th October 2021 and signed on their behalf:
Pat Binczak
John Beynon
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