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← Arborfield And Barkham Parish Churches Trust

2024-12-31-accounts

Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust Charity No: 1056400

Annual Report and Accounts

1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024

Church Office, The Rectory, Church Lane, Arborfield, RG2 9HZ

Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust

Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2024

Reference and Administrative Information

The Trustees present the report and accounts of Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust (“the Trust” or “Charity”) for the year ended 31 December 2024. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102) [ Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) ].

The Trust is a registered charity (number 1056400) whose principal address is:

c/o The Church Office, The Rectory, Church Lane, Arborfield, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 9HZ.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Trust was originally established so that Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches could jointly employ workers to assist in the mission of the Church. Since then Christ Church Wokingham has been established as an integral part of the group supporting the work of the Trust ( Christ Church Wokingham was formerly known as Church at the White House School ), and in 2017 a new church known as Church at the Green (CTG) was established as a plant from both Arborfield and Barkham churches.

The Charity’s governing document is a Trust Deed dated 5 June 1996. The Trust is constituted as an unincorporated association. The Trust seeks to maintain at least six trustees to be representative of all the churches. New trustees are considered through discussion between the Chairman, the Trustees and the respective minister and/or churchwardens or elders, prior to the nominees being approached.

Whilst the Trustees would like to have at least six trustees in post at any one time, this has not been achieved this year. However, the Trustees are now urgently seeking to appoint further trustees, particularly as Ellen Sofie Richardson resigned with effect from 31[st] December. During the year the Trustees, representing the congregations of all the churches, were:

Rev'd Piers Bickersteth CTG resigned 18thFebruary 2024
Mr Michael Byrne Barkham Treasurer
Mr Edward Clark CTG Chairman
Rev’d Andy Kearns Arborfield Appointed 25thNovember 2024
Mrs Ellen Sofie Richardson Christ Church Acting Secretary

The Trust Deed requires that the Trustees meet at least once in the calendar year. During 2024, the Trustees met on 19[th] March, 25[th] November and 9[th] December. Approved Minutes of meetings, redacted as necessary, are made available to the parochial church councils (PCCs) of Arborfield, Barkham and Christ Church, Wokingham. The report and accounts are also available for viewing on the Charity Commission website after lodgement.

Page 2 of 16

Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust

Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2024

Objectives and Activities

The objects of the charity as set out in the Trust Deed are:

There have been a number of staffing changes this year. The Rector, who had been the minister running the CTG church plant, retired in February and a new minister was appointed for CTG starting in September. The Minister of Arborfield took responsibility to lead CTG during the intervening period. In late September the former Minister of Arborfield was appointed as the new Rector for the Arborfield with Barkham Benefice (whilst continuing to serve as the minister for Arborfield), and at that point resigned as an employee of the Trust. A new Community Minister at Arborfield was appointed to start in October.

During the year, employees of the Trust were as follows:

Trust staff employed in ministry look to assist all members of the various congregations in developing their knowledge of and trust in Jesus through biblical teaching and worship, the provision of pastoral care to church members and parish residents and a wide variety of outreach activities.

The Trust is a public benefit entity. The Trustees confirm that they have given due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission. This guidance requires that the charity has identifiable benefits and that these be of benefit to the public or a section of it. The objectives, activities, achievements and performance are required to be summarised in the annual report.

Our normal regular activities are a monthly meeting for older people (CAMEO), weekly groups for pre/younger teens (Friday Club), and assemblies at two local primary schools.

Achievements and Performance

The Trust has continued to advance the Christian faith through the employment of 4 full-time ministers and 1 part-time. Ministers are regularly involved in taking assemblies at local primary schools.

Both CAMEO and Friday Club have a good number of members and sufficient leaders to make these groups viable and worthwhile.

The Trust has continued to manage the finances of the CTG church plant through the restricted fund established for this purpose. Through CTG the Trust has contributed to community events at the Arborfield Green Community. It is envisaged that the Trust will continue to manage the finances for CTG for a few more years until the church is sufficiently established to become a separate charity with its own bank account.

Page 3 of 16

Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust

Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2024

Financial Review

Most of the Trust’s income derives from the individual parochial church councils (PCCs) and the members of CTG. The PCCs in turn are funded by the donations of their church members. Donations from the members of CTG are put into the Trust's CTG restricted fund. Both the Arborfield and Barkham PCCs have underwritten the costs of CTG; in 2024 Arborfield PCC has made monthly transfers to the Trust's CTG fund.

The CTG reserves stood at £38,056 at the end of the year (2023 £26,697). The significant increase is largely due to CTG being without a dedicated minister from mid-February until the end of August, and some lump sum gifts made towards employing a new CTG minister. These reserves are anticipated to be sufficient to cover CTG expenditure for the next 2 years despite the recent cessation of some very substantial regular giving.

The Trust prepares a budget for the year covering staff costs and Church office costs, and the costs of running CTG as well. Ministerial staff work primarily within a particular church and the appropriate PCC pays monthly contributions to the Trust to cover their employment costs. Each PCC also makes monthly contributions to the Trust to cover the costs of administrative staff and running the Church office. CTG is included in the apportionment of these central costs, and the CTG apportionment is taken out of the CTG restricted fund.

The Trust does not seek to accumulate large reserves and uses the resources at its disposal to further its objectives in the medium term. In recent years the Trust has been increasing its reserves to provide better cover for continued employment of the current staff; staff costs averaged a total of £21K per month in 2024, and we have also incurred some large and unpredictable support costs for our staff in recent years. At the end of the year the Trust’s unallocated reserves (i.e. excluding restricted and designated funds) stood at £40,729 (2023 £35,099).

There are no funds materially in deficit.

Declaration

The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s Trustees by:

Ed Clark, Chairman Andy Kearns (acting as Secretary)

Date of signature 04/03/2025

Page 4 of 16

Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2024

Notes
Income
Income from PCCs
Income from personal donors
CTG external income
Tax recovered
PCC Events
Other event income
Sale of goods and services
Interest on savings/investments
Total income		 Un-
restricted
Restricted
(Church at
The
Green)
Restricted
(Barkham
Minister
Housing)
Restricted
(Refugee
Fund)
Restricted
(Other)
Total 2024
Total 2023
£
£
£
£
£
£
296,406
2,276
28,090
0
326,771
310,741
360
52,980
13,854
2,510
69,704
51,868
5,000
5,000
0
90
13,010
3,164
0
16,264
11,080
1,910
1,910
682
1,187
40
1,227
2,297
0
0
0
20
1,275
1,275
765
301,227
73,306
28,090
17,018
2,510
422,150
377,453

Page 5 of 16

Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2024

Notes
Expenditure
Charitable donations
Mission and training
Staff salaries etc
4
Staff housing etc
4
Property (5 Somerville Close)
4
Employee support
Parish Share Contributions
Staff expenses
CTG Running Costs
Church events
Joint activities & events
Shared resources
Office maintenance & equipment
IT
Electricity
Office supplies
Photocopier/Printer
Telephone
Insurance
Purchase of goods for sale
Bank charges
Governance
Other office costs
Total expenditure		 Un-
restricted
Restricted
(Church at
The
Green)
Restricted
(Barkham
Minister
Housing)
Restricted
(Refugee
Fund)
Restricted
(Other)
Total 2024
Total 2023
£
£
£
£
£
£
225
75
9,115
2,510
11,925
1,275
0
750
750
0
150,595
20,070
170,665
169,787
69,578
11,397
80,975
67,895
7,609
7,609
7,967
0
0
185
57,960
15,896
73,856
64,116
456
290
746
1,254
10,284
10,284
9,933
1,910
967
2,877
1,551
1,821
118
1,938
1,699.84
410
36
445
304
3,622
596
4,218
228
2,033
359
2,392
1,792
1,246
205
1,451
1,650
726
119
846
1,093
857
141
998
1,066
374
62
436
420
1,661
277
1,938
1,804
0
0
0
0
51
9
60
60
1,985
297
2,282
16,721
0
0
0
295,510
61,948
7,609
9,115
2,510
376,692
350,801

Page 6 of 16

Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2024

Notes
Net income
Transfer between funds
13
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Un-
restricted
Restricted
(Church at
The
Green)
Restricted
(Barkham
Minister
Housing)
Restricted
(Refugee
Fund)
Restricted
(Other)
Total 2024
Total 2023
£
£
£
£
£
£
5,717
11,359
20,481
7,902
0
45,458
26,652
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
39,180
26,697
325,356
0
0
391,233
364,581
44,896
38,056
345,837
7,902
0
436,691
391,233

There are no gains or losses other than those recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities and all activities are classed as continuing.

Page 7 of 16

Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust

Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024

Notes
Fixed Assets
Tangible Assets
5
Current Assets
Debtors
6
Cash at bank
Creditors: due within 1 year
7
Net Current (Liabilities)/Assets
Total Assets less current liabilities
Creditors: due after more than 1 year
8
Provisions for liabilities
Net assets
Represented by:
Restricted Funds
9,10
Unrestricted Funds
10
(designated and general)		 2024
2023
£
£
422,911
422,911
20,890
31,267
80,089
54,857
100,979
86,124
31,716
40,838
69,263
45,286
492,174
468,197
55,483
76,964
0
0
436,691
391,233
391,794
352,053
44,896
39,180
436,691
391,233

Page 8 of 16

Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust

Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended 31 December 2024

Total Total
Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted Restricted 2024 2023
Notes £ £ £ £
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 11 5,971 39,742 45,713 485
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of borrowing 0 (20,481) (20,481) (19,433)
Cash inflows from new borrowing 0 0 0 0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 0 (20,481) (20,481) (19,433)
Cash and cash equivalents brought forward 28,160 26,697 54,857 73,804
Cash and cash equivalents carried forward 34,131 45,958 80,089 54,857

The notes numbered 1 to 12 form part of these accounts.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s Trustees by

MR Byra am Michael Byrne, Treasurer Andy Kearns, (acting as Secretary)

Date accounts approved by Trustees 03/03/2025

Page 9 of 16

Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024

1. Basis of preparation

Basis of accounting

These accounts have been prepared on an accruals basis in accordance with:

Change in basis of accounting

There has been no change to the basis of accounting since last year.

Changes to previous accounts

No changes have been made to accounts for previous years.

2. Accounting Policies

The following policies have been used in the preparation of these accounts:

Incoming Resources

All incoming resources are included in the accounts when the Trust is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Income is recognised in the period to which it relates.

Expenditure

All expenditure is accounted for inclusive of VAT, which cannot be recovered, on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.

Tangible Fixed Assets

The fixed asset (5 Somerville Close) shown on the Balance Sheet is shown at cost. The property is depreciated over 50 years only to the extent that the cost of the building materially exceeds residual value. Interest payments in respect of the mortgage on this property are included as an expense in the Statement of Financial Activities as they are incurred. An analysis reconciling the opening and closing carrying amounts of this fixed asset is provided at Note 5 below.

Operating Leases

Rentals payable under operating leases are included as an expense in the Statement of Financial Activities as they are incurred.

Debtors

Debtors are measured at their recoverable amounts.

Liabilities

Liabilities are measured at their settlement amount.

Concessionary Loans

Concessionary Loans are recognised and measured at the amount received or paid, with the carrying amount adjusted in subsequent years to reflect repayments and any accrued interest and adjusted if necessary for any impairment.

Staff Costs paid directly by PCCs

Some staff housing costs are paid directly by one or other of the PCCs. Such amounts are included in these accounts as both income (“Income from PCCs”) and expenditure (“Staff housing etc”).

Page 10 of 16

Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024

3. Disclosures

There are no material uncertainties about the Trust’s ability to continue.

The Trust is a public benefit entity.

Disclosure of Trustees’ remuneration and benefits

In the reporting period none of the Trustees have been paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from an employment with the Trust or a related entity.

Disclosure of Trustees’ expenses

In the reporting period no expenses have been incurred by Trustees in fulfilling their duties.

Disclosure of related party transactions

There are no related party transactions in the reporting period requiring disclosure.

Disclosure of audit, independent examination and other financial service fees

An independent examination fee of £1,095 has been included in these accounts.

Disclosure of staff costs and employee benefits

See Note 4 below.

Page 11 of 16

Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024

4. Paid employees

Notes
Staff costs consist of:
Gross wages, salaries and benefits in kind
Employer's National Insurance costs
Pension:
Pension contributions paid in the year		 2024
2023
£
£
141,381
142,430
7,575
6,385
21,709
20,973
170,665
169,787

The Trust also provides housing and pays council tax for staff employed as “ministers of religion” for whom this is recognised by HMRC as a non-taxable benefit.

Notes
Housing costs consist of:
Rental and water rates on rented property
Council tax
Mortgage interest, water rates and insurance on
owned property		 2024
2023
£
£
70,812
57,679
10,163
10,216
7,609
7,967
88,584
75,862

The average number of employees in the year was 5.0 (2023: 7.2).

The average number of full-time equivalent employees in the year was 4.5 (2023: 6.2).

One employee received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) of more than £60,000 during the year (2023: none). This employee’s benefits were in the range £60,000+ to £70,000.

5. Tangible Assets

angible Assets
Cost or Valuation
At 01 January2024
Additions
At 31 December2024
Net Book Value 31 December2024		 Freehold Land &
Buildings
£
422,911
-
422,911
422,911		 Total
£
422,911
-
422,911
422,911

Page 12 of 16

Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024

6. Debtors

.
Debtors
Notes
Trade debtors
Amounts owed by associated undertakings
Prepayments and accrued income
Other debtors		 2024
2023
£
£
0
0
6,245
20,132
10,989
7,478
3,657
3,657
20,890
31,267

7. Creditors: due within one year

Notes
Taxation and social security
Trade creditors
Amounts owed to associated undertakings
Accruals and deferred income
Other creditors (excluding loans/mortgage)
Mortgage
5		 2024
2023
£
£
2,518
2,401
1,508
8,441
0
0
0
0
6,099
9,405
21,592
20,591
31,716
40,838

8. Creditors: due after more than one year

Notes
Mortgage repayable from 1 to 5 years
5
Mortgage repayable after 5 years
5		 2024
2023
£
£
55,483
76,964
0
0
55,483
76,964

Page 13 of 16

Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024

9. Fund Movements

Fund
Type
Notes
Barkham Minister Housing Restricted
Church at the Green (CTG)
Restricted
Refugee Fund
Restricted
Specific Collections
Restricted
Friday Club
Designated
General
Unrestricted
Total Restricted
Total Unrestricted
Total		 Balance
1st Jan
2024
Transfers
Income Expenditure
Balance
31st Dec
2024
£
£
£
£
£
325,356
0
28,090
7,609
345,837
26,697
0
73,306
61,948
38,056
0
0
17,018
9,115
7,902
0
0
2,510
2,510
0
424
0
536
450
510
38,756
0
300,690
295,060
44,386
352,053
0
120,924
81,182
391,794
39,180
0
301,227
295,510
44,896
391,233
0
422,150
376,692
436,691

Page 14 of 16

Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024

10. Analysis of Net Assets between Funds

Note
s
Restricted Funds
Barkham Minister
Housing
Church at the Green (CTG)
Refugee Fund
Special Collections
General Funds		 Tangible
Fixed
Assets
Current
Assets
Current
Liabilities
Loans Due
after 1
year
Total
£
£
£
£
£
422,911
(21,592)
(55,483)
345,837
38,056
38,056
7,902
7,902
0
0
55,021
(10,125)
0
44,896
422,911
100,979
(31,716)
(55,483)
436,691

11. Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities

Notes
Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period
(as per the Statement of Financial Activities)
Adjustments for:
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Transfers between funds
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		 Unrestricted Restricted
Total
2024
Total
2023
£
£
£
£
5,717
39,742
45,458
26,652
10,377
10,377
(18,370)
(10,122)
(10,122)
(7,796)
0
0
0
0
5,971
39,742
45,713
485

12. Transfers between Funds

No transfers were made between restricted funds, or between unrestricted and restricted funds, in 2024.

Page 15 of 16

Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust

Independent examiner’s report on the accounts to the Trustees of Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust (charity number 1056400) for the year ending 31 December 2024

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 Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the Trust’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of both the ACCA and ACIE, both of which are listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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.

Signed Date //2025 12 03

Name Jason Foxwell

Relevant professional qualification(s) or body

Chartered Certified Accountant

Fellow of the Association of Charity Independent Examiners

Address PO Box 9846 Poole BH15 9JZ

Page 16 of 16