**Charity registration number: 1075011**
## **AINSDALE EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUST**
**FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
http://www.ainsdaleevangelical.org
## **AINSDALE EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUST**
## **INDEX TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Legal and administrative information|1|
|Trustees' report|2 - 5|
|Independent examiner's report|6|
|Statement of financial activities|7|
|Balance sheet|8|
|Notes to the financial statements|9 - 13|
## **AINSDALE EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUST**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
**Trustees:** Raymond Cousins Beverley Gordon Kelly Dr Alec Raeburn Passmore James Jacob Prasch **Treasurer: Charity Number:** 1075011 **Charity Address:** 4 Barkfield Lane Formby Liverpool L37 3JN **Charity Website:** http://www.ainsdaleevangelical.org **Independent Examiners:** J A Fell & Co 40 Hoghton Street Southport PR9 0PQ **Bankers:** The Co-operative Bank 49a Fishergate Preston Lancashire PR1 8BH
Page 1 of 13
## **AINSDALE EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
The trustees submit their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023. The financial statements follow the requirements of the revised Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS 102) (second edition - October 2019) – 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) (effective 1 January 2019).
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
The organisation is a Charitable Trust which was registered on 7 April 1999 with the Charity Commission and is governed by its Declaration of Trust dated 14 December 1998.
## **Recruitment and appointment of the trustees**
The board seeks to achieve a balance of skills and experience amongst the trustees. In order to maintain this, the board reviews its skill and experience mix each year and seeks to recruit new trustees when necessary.
In appointing trustees due consideration is given to ensuring that the trustees have, between them, the skills and experience necessary to manage the charity effectively and in accordance with charity law.
## **Trustee induction and training**
The current board of trustees will provide any new trustee with an overview of the timetable of board meetings, copies of the recent minutes of meetings, the recent reports and accounts and explains their general and specific responsibilities.
Ongoing training is provided by the board of trustees as and when the need arises.
## **Risk management**
The trustees are aware of the major risks to which the charity is exposed to and have plans in place to mitigate these as far as possible. A full risk review is planned by the trustees to ensure that all known risks are mitigated as effectively as possible.
Page 2 of 13
## **AINSDALE EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objects of the charity**
The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
The purpose of the charity is to:
- advance the Christian faith;
- relieve persons who are in conditions of need or hardship or who are aged or sick and to relieve the distress caused thereby; and
- promote and fulfil other charitable purpose.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
During the previous year we have continued Sunday Worship in the new premises at the Scout Hall, Pinfold Lane, Ainsdale. Midweek meetings have continued in different premises and there continues to be no current need for on-line meetings. Sunday sermons are posted on YouTube and also recorded for the Ainsdale Evangelical Church website as well as providing discs for some people.
The policy of re-introducing some visiting speakers has worked well. Door to door distribution of literature and some open air evangelism has been carried out. Literature has included Christian newspaper distribuion as well as Gospel leaflets. More young people have been attending Sunday Worship and some Discipline work has continued. We have had a few people giving their lives to serve the Lord recently.
We continue to support home and foreign missions both with funds for evangelism and discipleship and for charitable work. The percentage of income received devoted to missions now exceeds 55% in view of the world needs that have come to our notice. In particular support for food, medicines and social needs as well as church growth is being sent to Burkina Faso where many have flad persecution and are at starvation level.
We have been unable to re-start our mum and toddler group due to lack of adequate staff resources.
We hope to continue to serve the Lord in Ainsdale in any way that we can.
## **RISK REVIEW**
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.
Page 3 of 13
## **AINSDALE EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Reserves**
The financial results for the year are shown on pages 7 to 8. The trustees aim to ensure that the level of reserves held at any time would be sufficient to enable the charity to continue for the short term in the event of any significant fall in income.
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six months expenditure. The trustees consider that the reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity's current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised.
In the year to 31 December 2023 three to six months expenditure would be between £10,276 and £20,552. Since reserves as at 31 December 2023 were £54,691 then there is still considered to be sufficient financial headroom.
## **Financial review of the year**
In the year to 31 December 2023 income of £28,833 was received (2022 - £26,799). Costs during the year totalled £41,104 (2022 - £46,782) which generated a deficit throughout the year of £12,271 (2022 - £19,983). The deficit being intentional as reserves are being used to further the charitable objectives of the charity.
## **Remuneration of Trustees**
All trustees act in a voluntary capacity and receive no remuneration or other material benefits from their services to the Charity.
Out-of-pocket expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by trustees in promoting the purposes of the Charity are reimbursed at cost.
Page 4 of 13
## **AINSDALE EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS**
## **General plans**
The charity will continue its operations throughout the coming year, with a view to further its objectives being mindful of the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit.
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES**
Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity's financial activities during the period and of its financial position at the end of the period. In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view, the trustees should follow best practice and:
- a. select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
- b. observe the methods and principals in the Charities SORP;
- c. make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- d. state whether applicable UK accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- e. prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
This report was approved by the board of trustees on …................ 2023 and signed on its behalf by:31 October 4
## Beverley G Kelly
………………………………
## **- Trustee**
Page 5 of 13
## **AINSDALE EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUST**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF AINSDALE EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUST**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
We report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023, which are set out on pages 7 to 13.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is our responsibility to:
- (i) examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, (ii) to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
- (iii) to state whether particular matters have come to our attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner's statement**
Our examination was carried out in accordance with general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:
- a) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
have not been met; or
- b) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## **O J Grills FCA (Independent examiner)**
**Dated:** …................... 2023
**for and on behalf of J A Fell & Co**
**Chartered Accountants, 40 Hoghton Street, Southport, PR9 0PQ**
Page 6 of 13
## **AINSDALE EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUST**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**2023**
**2023**
**2023**
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**INCOME FROM:**
Donations and legacies
**2**
27,833
1,000
28,833
Investments
**3**
-
-
-
**TOTAL INCOME**
27,833
1,000
**28,833**
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
Charitable activities
**4**
39,294
1,000
40,294
Governance
**5**
810
-
810
**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**
40,104
1,000
**41,104**
(12,271)
-
**(12,271)**
Fund balances at 1 January 2023
66,962
-
66,962
Fund balances at 31 December 2023
54,691
-
**54,691**
**NET (EXPENDITURE) FOR THE**
**YEAR**|**Total**
**funds**
**2022**
**£**
26,731
68|
|---|---|
||**26,799**|
||45,972
810|
||**46,782**|
|||
||**(19,983)**|
||86,945|
||**66,962**|
The notes on pages 9 - 13 form part of these financial statements.
Page 7 of 13
## **AINSDALE EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUST**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## **AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**Total**
**funds**
**2023**
**Notes**
**£**
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
**7**
-
-
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Gift aid tax debtor
5,037
Cash at bank and in hand
50,434
55,471
**CURRENT LIABILITIES**
Accrued costs
780
780
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
54,691
**TOTAL NET ASSETS**
**54,691**
**FUNDS**
Restricted funds
-
Unrestricted funds
54,691
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**54,691**
**8 & 9**
Approved and signed on behalf of the board on …................. 2023 by:|**Total**
**funds**
**2022**
**£**
1,374|
|---|---|
||1,374
4,835
61,533|
||66,368
780|
||780|
||65,588|
|||
||**66,962**|
||-
66,962|
||**66,962**|
|||
………………………………
## **- Trustee**
The notes on pages 9 - 13 form part of these financial statements.
Page 8 of 13
## **AINSDALE EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **a Basis of preparation**
The financial statements follow the requirements of the revised Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS 102) (second edition - October 2019) – 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) (effective 1 January 2019).
The Charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for Charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The 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 whole £.
## **b Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements where relevant.
## **c Incoming resources**
All incoming resources are included in the SOFA when the charity is legally entitled to the income and can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. For legacies, entitlement is the earlier of the charity being notified of an impending distribution or the legacy being received. No amounts are included in the financial statements for services donated by volunteers.
## **d Resources expended**
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.
Fund raising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities. Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity and include project management costs. Management and administration costs are those incurred in connection with the administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
Page 9 of 13
## **AINSDALE EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **e Fixed assets and depreciation**
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost, net of depreciation.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following basis:
## Fixtures and fittings - 25% straight line
## **2 DONATIONS AND LEGACIES**
|Donations and gifts
Gift aid tax reclaim
Bank interest received
**VESTMENT INCOME**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**2023**
**2023**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
22,796
1,000
**23,796**
5,037
-
**5,037**
27,833
1,000
**28,833**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**2023**
**2023**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
-
**-**
-
-
**-**|**Total**
**funds**
**2022**
**£**
21,896
4,835|
|---|---|---|
|||**26,731**|
|||**Total**
**funds**
**2022**
**£**
68|
|||**68**|
## **3 INVESTMENT INCOME**
Page 10 of 13
## **AINSDALE EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **4 COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
|**Ministry costs:**
Gifts given
Grants paid
Ministry costs
Rental of halls
Repairs and equipment
Social events and refreshments
Teaching and study support
Tithes and donations
Youth ministry
**Support costs:**
Administration and emergency
Bank charges
Computer and website costs
Depreciation
Insurance
Legal fees and subscriptions
Postage and packaging|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**2023**
**2023**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
206
1,000
**1,206**
18,500
-
**18,500**
3,730
-
**3,730**
4,389
-
**4,389**
226
-
**226**
-
**-**
-
**-**
10,050
-
**10,050**
314
-
**314**
37,415
1,000
**38,415**
-
-
**-**
-
-
**-**
-
-
**-**
1,374
-
**1,374**
291
-
**291**
214
-
**214**
-
-
**-**
1,879
-
**1,879**
39,294
1,000
**40,294**|**Total**
**funds**
**2022**
**£**
895
23,350
3,535
3,309
958
111
-
11,730
24|
|---|---|---|
|||**43,912**
-
25
163
1,374
291
200
7|
|||**2,060**|
|||**45,972**|
## **5 GOVERNANCE COSTS**
|Independent examination|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**2023**
**2023**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
810
-
**810**
810
-
**810**|**Total**
**funds**
**2022**
**£**
810|
|---|---|---|
|||**810**|
Page 11 of 13
## **AINSDALE EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **6 TRUSTEES REMUNERATION**
Geoff Farnell, Trustee and Pastor, was paid an honorarium of £1,000 (2021 - £1,000) during the year for his work as Pastor but not as Charity Trustee and is included in the cost of ministry on the prior page.
## **7 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
|**Cost**
At 1 January 2023 & 31 December 2023
**Depreciation**
At 1 January 2023
Depreciation charged in the year
At 31 December 2023
**Carrying amount**
At 1 January 2023
At 31 December 2023|**Fixtures and**
**fittings**
**£**
21,609
20,235
1,374|
|---|---|
||21,609
1,374|
||-|
## **8 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS**
|Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**2023**
**2023**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
-
**-**
55,471
-
**55,471**
(780)
-
**(780)**
54,691
-
**54,691**|**Total**
**funds**
**2022**
**£**
1,374
66,368
(780)|
|---|---|---|
|||**66,962**|
Page 12 of 13
## **AINSDALE EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **9 RESTRICTED FUNDS**
|Burkina Faso|**Balance at**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**1 Jan 23**
**Resources**
**Expended**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
1,000
(1,000)
-
1,000
(1,000)|**Balance at**
**31 Dec 23**
**£**
**-**|
|---|---|---|
|||**-**|
The restricted grant above represents a restricted donation for Burkina Faso that was subsequently passed on by the charity in line with the restriction.
Page 13 of 13