The Network Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2021
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
THE NETWORK CHURCH
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 33 Mayflower Road Park Street St Albans AL2 2QP GOVERNING DOCUMENT Declaration of Trust dated 16 August 1999 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1078577 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR L Singlehurst MANAGING THE CHARITY T Withers J K Foulger C Hanbury R Kinahan BANKERS The Co-operative Bank plc National Westminster Bank plc INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Jaimée Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Legal and Administrative Details Pages 2-4 Trustees' Report Page 5 Independent Examiner's Report Page 6 Receipts and Payments Account Page 7 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 8-9 Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
THE NETWORK CHURCH
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021.
Objects of the charity
The charity, which is a church, is governed by a trust deed and is constituted as a trust. The community of Network Church exists to commit our lives to serve the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our primary responsibility as a church is to:-
a) Build and nurture a Christian community
b) Serve those outside the community in a variety of different ways
- c) Provide a forum for those who do not know God to explore the possibility of a relationship with him.
Our Mission statement
A community of God's people working together to see God's Kingdom extended in our spheres of influence.
We are a church built around small groups which means that an important focus of the life of the church is the midweek 'cell groups'. These meet weekly and are where the group members worship together, encourage one another, and share their lives with families and friends.
The cell groups come together for larger meetings as the weekly Sunday morning meeting, where we experience God in corporate worship, and receive teaching from the Bible.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, in the first 5 months of 2021 these meetings took place online using the Zoom platform. Once restrictions eased and the weather improved, our small groups and Sunday meetings took place outdoors when possible, and from late summer further easing of restrictions meant that we were able to meet indoors when the weather was poor.
Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements
To further the above objects and vision, the charity's main activities and achievements were as follows:
We support and encourage those with a faith to deepen their relationship with God, and to increase the reach and effectiveness of their positive contribution to society.
We provide financial assistance for people linked to Network Church to attend spiritual retreats or counselling courses, and provide occasional financial support to individuals in need that are known to someone in Network Church, irrespective of their faith.
We give regular financial support to various charities and individuals, including to people in YWAM Tanzania, and support local charities either financially and/or with practical help, such as St Albans & Harpenden Education Project, Harpenden Money Advice Centre, Azalea, and The Living Room.
We have strong links with YWAM Tanzania, where several people are supported by Network Church or by individuals within the church. We regularly send a team to help with building projects there both practically and financially (e.g. schools, and nurseries), and church individuals occasionally visit as well. Various projects supported by people within Network Church have included a shoemaking workshop, a tailoring school, and the raising of chickens for sale by individuals within YWAM Tanzania. We receive regular updates, prayer requests and photographs from these people and projects.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Page 2
Connected organisations
Network church is part of Pioneer, and we also have close links with YWAM, Cell UK, and other St Albans & Harpenden churches. One of the Trustees of Network Church, Laurence Singlehurst, is also a Trustee of Cell UK.
Financial review
During the year income decreased from the previous year, from £108,900 to £99,200, and expenditure decreased from £107,100 to £90,000. The cash held by the charity at year end is £71,100, of which £70,100 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose. Additional funds are held in an ethical investment fund.
We gave away around 20% of our unrestricted income during 2021 to a variety of organisations, and to individuals in need.
An annual budget is prepared by the Leadership Team, approved by the Trustees, and presented to the church as a whole. At least twice a year, the actual figures are compared to the targets. All of the Leadership Team and one Trustee are bank signatories. Two signatories are required on cheques and all bank documents.
Reserves policy
The Trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash to cover expenditure commitments for 3 months (which equates to approximately £20,000) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £70,100 and the charity is holding excess funds; we continue to invest in the pottery project, and since the year end have begun hiring a larger more expensive venue to accommodate us on Sunday mornings, for which some of these funds will be needed.
Governance
There are five Trustees, one of whom is also the team leader of the Leadership Team, who are responsible for the day to day running of the church.
We meet across the week in a number of small midweek groups, and we all come together as a church for Sunday services. We follow a cell church structure, in that the Leadership Team supports and trains several small group leaders, who support and train their small group members.
The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the financial decisions that are made by the Leadership Team. The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the Trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity.
Network Church is part of the Pioneer group of churches, who support our Leadership Team, and oversee our progress and major decisions.
New Trustees are recruited and appointed by the existing Trustees, who discuss and agree on the capabilities and likely profile need to fill the role. This takes into account considerations such as the capabilities of the current Trustees, specialist skills available and diversity considerations.
Risk statement
The Trustees have reviewed the risks to which a small charity operating with few employees is exposed. Appropriate procedures are in place to identify, monitor and review these risks on a regular basis.
Page 3
Responsibilities of trustees
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
Approval
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
T. Withers
Date: 30 June 2022
Page 4
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
THE NETWORK CHURCH
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Network Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2021 on pages 6 to 9 following.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Jaimée Young
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: 04 July 2022
Page 5
THE NETWORK CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
| Notes Income receipts Donations and grants Gift aid receipts Income from charitable activities Investment Total receipts Payments 2 3 Total payments Transfers between funds 5 Net movement in funds Cash funds as at last year end Cash funds at this year end A Net of receipts / (payments) before transfers Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly |
General Designated Funds Funds £ £ 73,467 - 9,549 - - - - - 83,015 - 59,258 - 15,020 - 74,278 - 8,737 - 482 (361) 9,219 (361) 60,847 361 70,066 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds £ 15,221 968 - - 16,189 1,867 13,886 15,753 436 (121) 315 763 1,078 |
Total 2021 £ 88,688 10,516 - - 99,204 61,126 28,906 90,031 9,173 - 9,173 61,971 71,144 |
Total 2020 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Funds £ 73,467 9,549 - - 83,015 59,258 15,020 74,278 8,737 482 9,219 60,847 70,066 |
|||||
| 91,997 16,594 361 0 |
|||||
| 108,951 | |||||
| 75,102 32,019 |
|||||
| 107,121 | |||||
| 1,830 - |
|||||
| 1,830 60,142 |
|||||
| 61,971 |
The notes on pages 8 - 9 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
THE NETWORK CHURCH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
| A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity CCLA investment C Liabilities Falling due within one year: NEST [pension] Fee for Independent Examination D Assets retained for charity's own use Equipment and fittings |
General Designated funds funds £ £ 70,066 - 70,066 - 681 - 51,805 - 52,486 - 220 - 990 - 1,210 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted funds £ 1,078 1,078 - - - - - - |
Total 2021 £ 71,144 71,144 681 51,805 52,486 220 990 1,210 Value 2021 £ 11,130 11,130 |
Total 2020 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61,971 | ||||
| 61,971 | ||||
| 449 44,350 |
||||
| 44,799 | ||||
| - 960 |
||||
| 960 | ||||
| Value 2020 £ |
||||
| 10,597 | ||||
| 10,597 |
The trustees have used insurance values as the trustees are unable to reliably estimate current values; insurance values may differ materially from current values.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf
by date T. Withers 30 June 2022
The notes on pages 8 - 9 form part of these accounts.
Page 7
THE NETWORK CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
1 Accounting policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
| 2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Employment costs Note 4 Venue hire Church activities and Community events Equipment Gifts Courses / conferences / training Phone Insurance Office and administrative expenses Computer and internet Governance Pottery Sundry 3 Grants and gifts paid to others Organisations: YWAM Tanzania STEP Cell UK Ministries Pioneer Trust Organisations < £1,000 Individuals |
Unrestrict | Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ed Funds |
Restricted Funds £ - - - 950 - - - - - - - 730 188 1,867 12,071 - - - 20 1,795 13,886 |
Total 2021 £ 50,781 1,360 1,509 1,494 644 130 405 409 2,131 315 960 730 259 61,126 13,271 2,700 3,000 1,440 3,100 5,395 28,906 |
Total 2020 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds £ 50,781 1,360 1,509 544 644 130 405 409 2,131 315 960 - 71 59,258 1,200 2,700 3,000 1,440 3,080 3,600 15,020 |
||||||
| 63,965 805 803 - 678 525 440 399 1,681 252 960 4,135 459 |
||||||
| 75,102 | ||||||
| 15,959 2,760 3,000 1,440 2,880 5,980 |
||||||
| 32,019 |
4 Transactions with related parties
Mr Trevor Withers, Team Leader, was paid £37,786 [2020: £49,659] for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustee; as permitted by the charity's governing document.
Page 8
THE NETWORK CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
| 5 Movement of funds General funds Designated funds Pottery Restricted funds Mission support Pottery Pioneer grant Hardship fund Total funds |
Opening balance £ 60,847 361 61,208 340 134 - 289 763 61,971 |
Receipts £ 83,015 - 83,015 14,424 766 999 - 16,189 99,204 |
Payments £ (74,278) - (74,278) (13,524) (730) (950) (550) (15,753) (90,031) |
Transfers £ 482 (361) 121 (743) 361 - 261 (121) - |
Closing balance £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70,066 - |
|||||
| 70,066 | |||||
| 497 531 49 - |
|||||
| 1,078 | |||||
| 71,144 |
The Mission Support fund relates to donations given for the support of mission organisations and missionaries. The transfer from this fund relates to an administration fee which is taken from the recovered gift aid, with the permission of the donors.
The Pottery grant relates to a Community Fund which provides financial support for community projects in the Harpenden area with grants for specific projects designed to develop, improve or enhance their work or for facilities for their members.
The Pottery is a small community pottery run by and supported by Network Church. It is open (by appointment) to anybody whether families or groups or individuals. The purpose is to provide a safe space for people to have fun with clay and rediscover their creativity. Other donations have been given to support this project.
The Pioneer grant was for Pioneer churches who wanted to purchase equipment to provide hybrid church after the Covid lockdowns eased.
Page 9