Charity number: 1072196 Company number: 03642766
(England and Wales)
Sound Church Ltd
Report of the Trustees and Audited Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 August 2024
Sound Church Ltd Contents Page For the year ended 31 August 2024
| Report of the Trustees including Directors Report | 1 to 11 |
|---|---|
| Report of the Auditors | 12 to 14 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 15 |
| Statement of Financial Position | 16 |
| Statement of Cash Flows | 17 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 19 to 28 |
Sound Church Ltd
Report of the Trustees including Directors report For the year ended 31 August 2024
The Trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements for the charitable company for the year ended 31 August 2024. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006, and 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 the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
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Sound Church Ltd Report of the Trustees including Directors report Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
As Trustees we seek to ensure as a church we have considered the Commissions guidance on Public Benefit when planning our activities. Specifically with respect to the guidance on the advancement of religion. With this in mind the charities objects and principal activities are:
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The furtherance of religious education.
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The advancement of the Christian faith including missionary activities in the United Kingdom and overseas and also including but
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not limited to the planning of new churches and organisations of congregations.
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The relief of the poor and needy.
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The relief of the sick and elderly.
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Such other charitable objects for the benefit of such other charitable bodies and institutions as the committee shall in their absolute
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discretion see fit.
These objectives enable us to provide public benefit in various ways through the various activities of the charity.
Events are hosted and attended throughout the year to further the charities objects, including Sunday services, midweek meetings, social events and the Church Weekend Away in which the majority of the church go away to be strengthened and encouraged in their faith. These events are strategic in enabling people to connect with each other and with Jesus.
Missions are those activities where by the charity seeks to reach out to others helping to advance the Christian faith and or relieve poverty. A significant amount of our missions activities are through the provision of grants to individuals and charities who are undertaking work that contribute toward the objects of the charity as listed above. As well as giving to others we also run our own activities which also serve to reach out to the local and international community. These varied activities act to see the relief of poverty and the advancement of the Christian faith. Many of our small groups in church get involved in helping the communities they live in practical ways. With this in mind we work with social services to help some of the people most in need in our cities.
Activities seek to care for, support and help people to move on in their lives both practically and spiritually. These activities are carried out to bring relief to the poor and needy and the sick and elderly, those requiring emotional and spiritual support. The provision of pastoral support has been continued throughout the year by the Senior Pastor, assisted by members of the pastoral team. This has enabled us to help both people inside and outside of the church as they seek to move forward in their lives.
The core of the church's activities are found in its meetings, which are usually held on Sundays and many midweek evenings. These meetings are specifically aimed at teaching and growing people in their faith. Enabling them to help and encourage others in their daily life with Jesus and each other.
Our measures of success are as follows:
A) The local church:
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Have we grown numerically this year?
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Have we baptised people this year?
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How many children and YP come to the events that we put on for them.
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How many people have benefitted from our £1.50 lunch each week?
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How many people have attended our main 6 events?
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How many people have decided to follow Jesus?
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How many people are in groups and being discipled?
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Are there testimonies of healing, transformation and breakthrough in people's lives?
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Has there been financial testimonies of super natural financial provision for the congregation members personally?
B) How much are we impacting the community in a positive way:
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How many uniform stalls have we run?
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How much uniform has been given away?
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How much food from the food bank have we given away?
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How many events have we run for the local community in a crisis such as a critical incident or training for local crisis teams? - How many prom dresses or suits have we given away?
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Sound Church Ltd Report of the Trustees including Directors report Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
The trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance 'public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'.
Grant making
Mission is the generic term we give to gifts that we make to other organisations and individuals that furthers our charitable objects. When gifts are given the following criteria are always looked at before the gift is given:
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When giving to the organisation, the trustees decide which organisations and the amount to be given & whether this aligns with the mission and vision of Sound Church.
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As stated in the Trustees report, we aim to give at least 10% of our unrestricted income away in mission gifts and grants
Volunteers
We have approximately 145 volunteers who are a part of teams to enable to smooth running of events & services. Members volunteer in teams such as welcome teams, hosting, car parking, café, lunch teams, audio team, AV team, band, kids & youth clubs as well as the Uniform Cupboard, Grief Café and other social action response teams. The teams have meals and social times together, as well as training and meetings to enable the volunteer work to abide by all governance and policies.
We are intentional about providing volunteering opportunities as volunteering not only helps foster a sense of belonging in the community, it has been evidenced by researchers to be beneficial for mental health and well-being.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Significant activities
Throughout 2023-2024, Sound Church continue in the same vision to advance the Christian faith, provide relief to those in need in the church & community, and are working to support church leaders, missionaries, and frontline workers in the UK and around the world. In 2023 we self-published a book titled 'Jesus Heals', which was a collection of some of the 141 stories and significant testimonies of how Jesus had changed people's life during services & times of prayer in the previous few months.
In November we released our first worship song 'You are Worthy' from Sound Church Worship, and parallel instrumental version 'Breath' from Beyond Words MSC. The release of these songs was significant for us as a Church as they publicly reflected one aspect of how creativity is crucial to the character of God and specifically as a part of our mandate as a Church. The songs collectively received more than 56,000 streams across DSPs.
In addition to this, we had 800 people attend our Carol Service & Light shows throughout the weeks leading up to Christmas. 300 of these were Children from 3 different primary school around Bath, who attended our Kids Carol services where we were able to help them fulfil both the creative, and religious education curriculum requirement & advance the Christian faith by telling the story of the birth of Jesus at Christmas.
Over 1,000 items were given in our Christmas hampers campaign, with a total of 2,303 items given away across the Uniform Cupboard, and Hampers and The Wardrobe (prom dresses and suits). We have supported 11 schools, and specifically helped 231 families through our Community Impact projects this year,
Amongst other significant moments for Sound Church, we continued we held our annual conferences 'The Weekend Away' and our Men's & Women's conferences where there was opportunity for connection, prayer and teaching. Summer Socials in 2024 were also worthy of note, as we held multiple large gatherings in the park for games amongst well attended weekly prayer meetings, which provided great opportunity for connection during a holiday period.
Achievements against objectives
The Church has 470 people who are active members, with a regular Sunday attendance of 240 people in the morning service, with up to 110 people engaged in lunch and activities after church, and 60 people in the evening prayer meeting. Sound Church engaged with 64 Youth on Fridays, with around 200 people attending groups and other functions throughout the week. Whilst our active members reflected in the address book shows a decrease from the previous year, our regular Sunday attendance, those engaged with youth and people in groups has grown year on year. As discipleship is a crucial to our mission, numbers alone do no reflect the measure of this and the extent that we see transformation of individuals, and the impact on community.
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Sound Church Ltd Report of the Trustees including Directors report Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
FINANCIAL REVIEW
There was a net surplus on general funds for the year of £12,240, leaving unrestricted funds of £2,234,288 at 31st August 2024 (all unrestricted).
We run several significant events, such as our weekend away, as a main way to integrate people into the organization so that they feel a sense of belonging and feel known by others. Whilst it can be a financial risk to run larger events, the impact is positive, both for those who attend and the sense of stability of the organization and those who attend feeling that they know more people and are known by more people.
Significant events
Most significantly the charity saw a significant increase in interest paid on the mortgage during the reporting period with an increase of £34,577 on the previous year in line with the Bank of England interest rates. The trustees have monitored the increased costs and ensured financial planning has reflected the rises. The church continues to have regular mortgage reviews with Stewardship.
There have been no significant incidents that required reporting to the Charity Commission in the reporting period.
Principal funding sources
Funding is generated predominantly through tithes and offerings given to the church from its members and other organisations. As such a significant source of income is the Gift Aid claimed on gifts. In addition, the car park at Freedom House is let to a Trust who use it for their employees during the week and parts of Freedom House are let to another registered charity to carry out their work supporting the local community. The lease between Sound Church and the trust will end and be subject to review in advance of July 2025.
Reserves
It was decided by the Trustees of the church to hold in savings, non-restricted funds equivalent to at least one month's staff salaries as well as other outgoings in order to cover any unexpected shortfall in the giving to the Charity. Therefore, the Charity seeks to hold a minimum of £65,000 in reserve.
The Trustees realise the Church is short of this figure. . Whilst the trustees seek to increase the church's reserves, they are also aware that the Leaders of the church may choose to call for a special offering to raise additional funds. A practice that has been used in the past (and by other churches) which is regarded as an offering in addition to normal tithes.
PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS
The future of the charity is to continue the morning services and evening prayer and healing nights, alongside continuing the excellent kids and youth programme and young adults and 40+ programmes. We have seen these take place successfully this year, and momentum is increasing both with numbers and enthusiasm.
Sound Church's plans to launch a Pastoral & Creative College in 2024 has been fruitful and received an encouraging number of applications with 9 students being accepted onto the programme, which begins in October 2024.
We will continue to provide support to pastors and their families as a Church, and Betsy de Thierry is working to create an evidencebased programme with the support of an educational institution to support such Senior Leaders and their families.
The social action arm of the church's projects are continuing to grow in momentum as many people in the city are beginning to come to the church when they are in need. This team has enabled many others to be a part of a positive team with a sense of purpose in helping others.
We have a 2 day training day for the Prayer & Ministry Team at Sound Church, where we expect to see 60+ people further equipped with more training.
In September 2024 we also plan to host an Alpha Course, which the church has been praying for & inviting friends to. Alongside this, we plan for our Christmas Carol & Light Show to be a significant focus for outreach by inviting friends and family to church who don't have a faith to come along.
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Sound Church Ltd Report of the Trustees including Directors report Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year were:
Mrs E de Thierry Mr JM Needham Ms K Ottley Mr A McWilliam Mr J Inkster (appointed 11/9/23; resigned 4/5/24)
The Chair of Trustees appoints trustees with relevant business and/or church experience to serve as trustees for a period of normally at least 2 years. Trustees are active members or supporters of Sound Church.
Most Trustees are already familiar with the activities undertaken by the charity as commonly active members of or long term supporters of the church are selected for the role. Copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association are made available and an overview of recent activities, obligations and plans are given to them at a meeting with the Chairman of the Trustees.
The charity is led by the lead pastor, Mrs E deThierry, with the support of the pastoral team. The church is part of wider church networks such as the Evangelical Alliance and Wave Church Network.
The board meet four or five times a year to administer the charity. They are not a board of elders and have no pastoral function, their role is to oversee the legal and financial aspects (governance) of the charity and to ensure compliance with statutory reporting requirements and that risks to which the charity is exposed are reviewed, minimised and managed accordingly. Mrs E de Thierry will present those plans which have a financial cost to the trustees who will advise and make recommendations on the best method of implementation or compliance.
Induction and training of trustees
Trustees are recruited to the Board with relevant experience to create a balance skillset across all the trustees. All new trustees are supplied with Charity Commission guidance on being an effective trustee and are provided training as needed.
Related parties
Freedom Bath + Bristol Developments Limited is a limited company which was engaged by the charity to carry out the design and build contract for the erection of the new auditorium.
The charity also supports the Trauma Recovery Centre financially. Mrs E de Thierry is the founder and a Trustee of Trauma Recovery Centre.
Trauma Recovery Global Ltd is a limited company that provides professional support to members of the church. Mrs E de Thierry is director/shareholder of the company.
Pay policy for senior staff
Following the work that the trustees undertook in regards to assess and create an appropriate pay scale for Bath which has similarities to London pay, due to rising cost of house prices and cost of living in the area, the trustees increased pay for the majority of staff where appropriate, and created open dialogue with the staff who have been strongly encouraged to ask for help if they need it.
Risk management
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The auditor, Caladine Limited, is deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
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Sound Church Ltd Report of the Trustees including Directors report Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
| Accountants | Chippendale and Clark |
|---|---|
| 7/8 Avon Reach | |
| Chippenham | |
| SN15 1EE |
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Sound Church Ltd
Report of the Trustees including Directors report Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES
The Trustees, who are also directors of Sound Church Ltd for the purposes of Company Law are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK accounting standards and statements of recommend practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that this basis applies.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
In so far as the Trustees are aware:
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there is no relevant information, being information needed by the auditor in connection with preparing their report, of which the auditor is unaware; and
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the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.
Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by
............................................................................. Mrs E de Thierry
12 May 2025
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Sound Church Ltd Report of the Trustees including Directors report Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
Year Review Sept 2023 August 2024
2023
September
Heart & Soul Marriage Course Women’s Breakfast Youth Weekend Away Freshers Lunches Betsy spoke at Doorbrekers Diamonds Conf.
October
Freshers Lunches cont. Glow Party Sound Church Worship Recording Fuel Night Uniform Cupboard All Church International Bring & Share Lunch Encounter Evening
November
Church Bonfire Night Singles Released & Listening Party:
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You Are Worthy (Sound Church Worship)
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Men’s 2. Conference Breath (Beyond Words MSC)
Young Adults Thanksgiving Wine & Cheese evenings Encounter Evening
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Sound Church Ltd Report of the Trustees including Directors report Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
December
Sound Church on Ice Uniform Cupboard Kids Carol Service Carol Service Nativity Christingle Made hampers for Children around Bath in need
2024
January
Group Hub YA Welcome Drinks Heart & Soul Baptisms Alan McWilliam with us Encounter Evening
February
Women’s Conf Kids Conference Youth Day Away Encounter evening What Now Groups Started
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Sound Church Ltd Report of the Trustees including Directors report Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
March
Kingdom Builders Evening Rise & Build Hosted the TRG Conference in the Sound Auditorium Hosted a TRG Critical Response Meeting in the Sound Auditorium Evening Service for Bath Half Betsy spoke at Europoort Church International Celebrating Women
April
Easter Sunday! Uniform Cupboard & Community Afternoon Sound Tots Men’s Overnight1 TripH Care Team Training Betsy spoke at CLC (City Life Church)
May
Young Families Soft Play Youth Alpha Started Group Leaders Hub Weekend Away (24[th] - 26[th] ) Health & Safety Audit of Sound Church Buildings
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Sound Church Ltd Report of the Trustees including Directors report Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
June
First Wedding in the Auditorium Uniform Cupboard Celebrating Men Encounter Afternoon
July
John Greenow with us Summer Midweek Prayer Meetings Youth went to ‘The Send ~~—~~ UK’ at Wembley Summer of Fun begins! Summer Socials: Rounders in the Park & Youth Socials
August
Summer of Fun (incl. Thomas Trilby & Clare’s Circus) Summer of Speakers BBQ After Church & Sunday Picnics in the Park Summer Midweek Prayer Meetings Uniform Cupboard Rounders in the park with 60+ people, Golf, Family Bike Rides & Youth Socials
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Independent auditors' report to the members of Sound Church Ltd
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Sound Church Ltd (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 August 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the statement of financial position, the statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
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give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 August 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended;
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have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
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have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
- the information given in the Trustees' report, which includes the directors' report prepared for the purposes of company law, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and - the directors' report included within the Trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
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Independent auditors' report to the members of Sound Church Ltd Continued
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the Trustees' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
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adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
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the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
-certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
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we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
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the Trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the Trustees' report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the statement of Trustees' responsibilities, the Trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditors responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
The extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities including fraud
Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and noncompliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:
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the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
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we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the charity through discussions with Trustees, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of the charity sector;
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we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the charity, including the Companies Act 2006, Charities Act 2011, employment legislation, health and safety, and Anti-Money Laundering laws;
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we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence; and
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identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit.
We assessed the susceptibility of the charity's financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
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making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and
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considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
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Independent auditors' report to the members of Sound Church Ltd Continued
Audit response to risks identified
To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
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performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;
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tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions;
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assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates were indicative of potential bias; and
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investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:
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agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;
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reading the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance;
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enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation and claims; and
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reviewing correspondence with HMRC and relevant regulators
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: http://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.
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15 May 2025
John Richard Caladine FCCA CTA FCIE (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of Caladine Limited
Chartered Certified Accountants
Statutory Auditor
Chantry House 22 Upperton Road Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 1BF
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Sound Church Ltd
Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
| Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 2 Charitable activities 3 Other trading activities 4 Investments 5 Other income 6 Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities 7/8 Total Net income/expenditure Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds £ 820,665 57,098 30,000 376 609 |
Restricted funds £ - - - - - |
2024 £ 820,665 57,098 30,000 376 609 |
2023 £ 807,250 55,646 30,000 178 546 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 908,748 | - | 908,748 | 893,620 | |
| (896,508) | (3,349) | (899,857) | (880,875) | |
| (896,508) | (3,349) | (899,857) | (880,875) | |
| 12,240 2,222,048 |
(3,349) 3,349 |
8,891 2,225,397 |
12,745 2,212,652 |
|
| 2,234,288 | - | 2,234,288 | 2,225,397 |
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Registered Number : 03642766
Sound Church Ltd Statement of Financial Position As at 31 August 2024
| Notes | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Fixed assets | |||
| Tangible assets | 14 | 4,126,790 | 4,202,285 |
| 4,126,790 | 4,202,285 | ||
| Current assets | |||
| Debtors | 15 | 19,070 | 22,601 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 30,534 | 17,976 | |
| 49,604 | 40,577 | ||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | 16 | (109,737) | (101,325) |
| Net current assets | (60,133) | (60,748) | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 4,066,657 | 4,141,537 | |
| Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year | 17 | (1,832,369) | (1,916,140) |
| Net assets | 2,234,288 | 2,225,397 | |
| The funds of the charity | |||
| Restricted income funds | 18 | - | 3,349 |
| Unrestricted income funds | 2,234,288 | 2,222,048 | |
| Total funds | 2,234,288 | 2,225,397 |
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board and signed on its behalf by:
Mrs E de Thierry Trustee
12 May 2025
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Sound Church Ltd Statement of Cash Flows For the year ended 31 August 2024
| Cash flows from operating activities | 2024 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surplus for the year | 8,891 | 12,745 | ||
| Adjustments for: | ||||
| Investment income recognised in the statement of financial activities | (376) | (178) | ||
| Loss/(gain) on disposal of property, plant & equipment | (609) | (546) | ||
| Depreciation and impairment of property, plant & equipment | 78,398 | 81,703 | ||
| Movements in working capital | ||||
| Decrease / (increase) in trade & other receiveables | 3,531 | (6,916) | ||
| (Decrease) / increase in Creditors & other payables | (2,966) | 10,189 | ||
| (Decrease) / increase in deferred income | (30,000) | (30,000) | ||
| Cash (absorbed by) / generated from operations | 56,869 | 66,997 | ||
| Investing activities | ||||
| Purchase of property, plant & equipment | (3,594) | (16,110) | ||
| Proceeds on disposal of property, plant & equipment | 1,300 | 1,000 | ||
| Investment income received | 376 | 178 | ||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (1,918) | (14,932) | ||
| Financing activities | ||||
| Proceeds of new bank loans | - | - | ||
| Repayment of bank loans | (42,394) | (70,218) | ||
| Net cash generated from financing activities | (42,394) | (70,218) | ||
| Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | 12,558 | (18,153) | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | 17,977 | 36,130 | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | 30,535 | 17,977 |
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Sound Church Ltd Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 August 2024
1. Accounting Policies
Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
Sound Church Ltd meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
Sound Church Ltd is a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales.
These financial statements are prepared in Sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
Going concern
The Church is dependent upon the continued support of its congregation and its bankers to meet its on-going needs. The Trustees are confident that funding will continue to be forthcoming from the congregation members. Therefore, it is the opinion of the Trustees that the Church has adequate resources to continue its operational existence for the foreseeable future and the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing these financial statements.
Funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the Charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation as unrestricted income.
Voluntary income is received by way of donations and gifts. It is shown in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when received.
In July 2019 the charity received the sum of £180,000 from a local housing association as an advance payment for use of the charity's car park. The remaining amount is shown as deferred income on the balance sheet, with the income being recognised at a rate of £30,000 per year over the 6 year lease period to July 2025.
Resources expended
Liabilities are recognised as resources expended when there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to the expenditure:
Taxation
The Trustees consider that none of the income of the charity is subject to UK taxation.
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Sound Church Ltd Notes to the Financial Statements Continued
For the year ended 31 August 2024
Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets, other than freehold land, are stated at cost or valuation less depreciation and any provision for impairment. Fixed assets that cost over £500 are capitalised in the accounts.
Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost or valuation of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following basis:
Freehold property - 2% on a straight line basis
Fixtures, fittings and equipment - 25% on a reducing balance basis
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset and is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
2. Income from donations and legacies
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | ||
| Donations received | 820,665 | 807,250 |
| Comparative for Income from donations and legacies | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | ||
| funds | funds | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Donations received | 791,237 | 16,013 | 807,250 |
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Sound Church Ltd Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
4. Income earned from other activities
| Unrestricted funds Letting of Car Park nvestment income Unrestricted funds Bank interest receivable Other income Unrestricted funds Gain / loss on disposal of assets osts of charitable activities by fund type Advancement of Christian faith Support costs |
Unrestricted funds £ 471,155 425,353 |
Restricted funds £ - 3,349 |
2024 £ 30,000 |
2023 £ 30,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30,000 | 30,000 | |||
| 2024 £ 376 |
2023 £ 178 |
|||
| 376 | 178 | |||
| 2024 £ 609 |
2023 £ 546 |
|||
| 609 | 546 | |||
| 2024 £ 471,155 428,702 |
2023 £ 459,294 421,581 |
|||
| 896,508 | 3,349 | 899,857 | 880,875 |
5. Investment income
6. Other income
7. Costs of charitable activities by fund type
Comparison for costs of charitable activities by fund type
| Advancement of Christian faith Support costs |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2023 £ £ £ 459,294 - 459,294 408,917 12,664 421,581 868,211 12,664 880,875 |
|---|---|
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Sound Church Ltd Notes to the Financial Statements Continued
For the year ended 31 August 2024
Comparison for costs of charitable activities by activity type
| Activities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| directly | Support | ||
| undertaken | costs | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Advancement of Christian faith | 459,294 | 421,581 | 880,875 |
9. Analysis of Grants
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Community Action Team | 5,237 | 136 |
| Gilead | - | 3,000 |
| Hillsong | - | 5,840 |
| Rebuild Leaders | 8,673 | 8,267 |
| Trauma Recovery Centre | 43,075 | 10,059 |
| Other | 5,454 14,926 62,440 42,228 ~~2~~ |
|
| Individuals | 5,413 | 13,571 |
10. Analysis of Support costs
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Sound Church Ltd Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
11. Staff costs and emoluments
12. Trustee remuneration and related party transactions
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Sound Church Ltd
Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
13. Comparative for the Statement of Financial Activities
| Comparative for the Statement of Financial Activities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities Other trading activities Investments Other income Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities Total Net income Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds £ 791,237 55,646 30,000 178 546 |
Restricted funds £ 16,013 - - - - |
2023 £ 807,250 55,646 30,000 178 546 |
| 877,607 | 16,013 | 893,620 | |
| (868,211) | (12,664) | (880,875) | |
| (868,211) | (12,664) | (880,875) | |
| 9,396 2,212,652 |
3,349 - |
12,745 2,212,652 |
|
| 2,222,048 | 3,349 | 2,225,397 |
14. Tangible fixed assets
| Cost or valuation At 01 September 2023 Additions Disposals At 31 August 2024 Depreciation At 01 September 2023 Disposals Charge for year At 31 August 2024 Net book values At 31 August 2024 At 31 August 2023 |
Land and Buildings £ 4,382,015 - - |
Fixtures and Fittings £ 209,436 3,594 (10,732) |
Total £ 4,591,451 3,594 (10,732) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4,382,015 | 202,298 | 4,584,313 | |
| 228,495 - 65,440 |
160,671 (10,042) 12,959 |
389,166 (10,042) 78,399 |
|
| 293,935 | 163,588 | 457,523 | |
| 4,088,080 | 38,710 | 4,126,790 | |
| 4,153,520 | 48,765 | 4,202,285 |
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Sound Church Ltd Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
15. Debtors
| Debtors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Amounts due within one year: Trade debtors Amounts due by group and associated undertakings Prepayments and accrued income Other debtors |
2024 £ 3,676 4,104 11,060 230 |
2023 £ - 1,944 19,817 840 |
| 19,070 | 22,601 |
16. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Loans and overdrafts Trade creditors Other creditors PAYE & social security Accruals and deferred income |
2024 £ 59,573 4,015 8,947 37,202 |
2023 £ 45,130 2,205 7,178 46,812 |
| 109,737 | 101,325 |
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Sound Church Ltd Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
17. Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
| Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Loans and overdrafts Accruals and deferred income |
2024 £ 1,832,369 - |
2023 £ 1,889,205 26,935 |
| 1,832,369 | 1,916,140 |
B orrowings
2024 2023 £ £ Bank loans 1,891,941 1,934,335 Payable within one year 59,573 45,130 Payable after one year 1,832,369 1,889,205
The property loan from Stewardship Services (UKET) Ltd is secured on Freedom House, Lower Bristol Road, Bath, BA2 1EP and land lying west of Technology House, Lower Bristol Road, Bath, BA2 1EP. The property was remortgaged in February 2022 at an interest rate of 3.25% above the Bank of England Base Rate and is repayable over 19 years.
Deferred income
£ Deferred income at 1 September 2023 56,935 Deferred income released in the year (30,000) Deferred income at 31 August 2024 26,935
In July 2019 Sound Church entered into a lease agreement for the use of its Car Parking spaces. The full amount of the agreement, £180,000, was received upfront. This was deferred and is being released over the term of the lease.
18. Movement in funds
Restricted Funds
| Boiler / roof fund | Balance at 01/09/2023 £ 3,349 |
Incoming resources £ - |
Outgoing resources £ (3,349) |
Balance at 31/08/2024 £ - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,349 | - | (3,349) | - |
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Sound Church Ltd Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
Restricted Funds - Previous year
| Boiler / roof fund | Balance at 01/09/2022 £ - |
Incoming resources £ 16,013 |
Outgoing resources £ (12,664) |
Balance at 31/08/2023 £ 3,349 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | 16,013 | (12,664) | 3,349 |
In the previous year boiler and roof repairs were carried out at Freedom House. A separate fund was created to record these transactions. The remaining funds at 31 August 2023 were used at the beginning of this year to complete the repairs required.
18. Analysis of net assets between funds
| Unrestricted funds General General Restricted funds Previous year Unrestricted funds General General Restricted funds Boiler / roof fund |
Intangible fixed assets Tangible fixed assets Net current assets / (liabilities) Creditors > one year Net Assets £ £ £ £ £ - 4,126,790 (60,133) (1,832,369) 2,234,288 |
|---|---|
| - 4,126,790 (60,133) (1,832,369) 2,234,288 |
|
| Intangible fixed assets Tangible fixed assets Net current assets / (liabilities) Creditors > one year Net Assets £ £ £ £ £ - 4,202,285 (64,097) (1,916,140) 2,222,048 - - 3,349 - 3,349 |
|
| - 4,202,285 (60,748) (1,916,140) 2,225,397 |
19. Company limited by guarantee
Sound Church Ltd is a company limited by guarantee and accordingly does not have a share capital.
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Sound Church Ltd Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
21. Detailed Statement of Financial Activity
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENT Donations and legacies Donations Gift Aid Charitable activities Sales of Christian Resources Cafe income Youth & Student work income Rental Income (Freedom House) Other income Church weekend away income Other trading activities Income from Letting of Car Park Investments Bank interest receivable Other income Gain / loss on disposal of assets Total incoming resources EXPENDITURE Charitable activities Staff costs - wages & salaries Staff costs - social security costs Staff costs - pension contributions Pastoral expenses Sunday catering & supplies Youth Work Childrens Work Church weekend away Events - other Training & resources Resources for resale & album costs Grants to institutions Grants to individuals SUPPORT COSTS Management Depreciation Garage rent & storage |
£ 2024 689,416 131,249 820,665 1,161 5,934 5,231 19,201 14,154 11,417 57,098 30,000 30,000 376 376 609 609 |
£ 2023 673,114 134,136 |
|---|---|---|
| 807,250 1,365 4,181 7,618 19,200 13,240 10,042 |
||
| 55,646 30,000 |
||
| 30,000 178 |
||
| 178 546 |
||
| 546 | ||
| 908,748 (296,806) (25,323) (9,535) (9,974) (9,349) (6,058) (2,388) (2,452) (38,357) (1,844) (1,216) (62,440) (5,413) (471,155) (78,398) (1,064) |
893,620 (297,190) (21,377) (8,165) (10,903) (10,906) (6,924) (1,595) (9,561) (33,580) (2,407) (887) (42,228) (13,571) |
|
| (459,294) (81,703) - |
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Sound Church Ltd
Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 August 2024
| Church & office equipment Software, graphics & IT Printing, postage & stationery Telephone Other office expenses (inc cleaning, H&S, website) Utilities Insurance Travel & accommodation Rates Bank charges Subscriptions Loan interest Building repairs & maintenance Legal fees Marketing Governance costs Wages and salaries Accountancy fees Audit fees Legal fees Total resources expended Net Income |
(3,905) (21,949) (1,183) (2,948) (24,466) (37,141) (9,239) (6,837) (20,313) (4,179) (6,371) (133,173) (11,115) (15,324) (2,859) (380,464) (28,062) (11,453) (8,723) - (48,238) |
(2,611) (19,837) (2,320) (2,909) (22,947) (47,082) (8,425) (7,534) (14,929) (3,734) (4,566) (98,596) (36,570) (17,780) (1,260) (372,803) (27,708) (10,740) (8,315) (2,015) (48,778) |
|---|---|---|
| (899,857) | (880,875) | |
| 8,891 | 12,745 |
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