CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1081250
The Synergy Christian Trust Financial Statements 31st August 2023
McGILLS Chartered Accountants Oakley House Tetbury Road Cirencester Gloucestershire GL7 1US
The Synergy Christian Trust
Financial Statements
Year ended 31st August 2023
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' annual report | 4 |
| Independent examiner's report to the trustees | 5 |
| Statement offinancial activities | 6 |
| Statement offinancial position | 7 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 8 |
| The following pages do notform part ofthe financial statements | |
| Detailed statement offinancial activities | 14 |
| Notestothedetailedstatementoffinancialactivities | 15 |
The Synergy Christian Trust
Trustees’ Annual Report
Year ended 31st August 2023
The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st August 2023.
Reference and administrative details
Registered charity name The Synergy Christian Trust Charity registration number 1081250 Principal office 11 Sandes Close Chippenham Wilts SN15 2NH
The trustees
Independent examiner
Mr M Strathdee Mrs R Read Mrs L Townsend Mr A Paddock Mrs M Hardy Mrs H Rhodes S.G. Nuttall Oakley House Tetbury Road Cirencester Gloucestershire GL7 1US
Structure, governance and management
The Trust is managed by a team of volunteer trustees who receive no remuneration for their work. Trustees meetings are held as and when required. On such occasions as new trustees are required, they are recruited from churches and educational establishments, within the North Wiltshire area.
The Trust is governed by a trust deed.
The principal address for operations is 11 Sandes Close, Chippenham,
Objectives and activities
The objects of the Trust are to:
“Advance the Christian faith in accordance with our statement of beliefs, in the United Kingdom and elsewhere as the trustees may from time to time think fit"
The core activities of the trust during the year were the employment of Trevor Ranger as a children's worker. Trevor worked chiefly within schools and Churches to further the Trust's objectives.
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The Synergy Christian Trust
Trustees’ Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 31st August 2023
Achievements and performance
Introduction
This was the 22nd year of Synergy Christian Trust's work with schools and churches in helping children, young people and adults explore and consider the Christian faith. Today, it continues to employ Trevor and Ruth Ranger as Field Worker and Administrator respectively.
The trustees met in person on three occasions this year. In addition, they communicated with one another at other times by telephone and by email. After many years as Chair, Janet Spence stood down from the role and was replaced by Mike Strathdee, a long term supporter of Synergy. Mike arranged meetings with Trevor and Ruth and with a number of other trustees in order to get an accurate picture of the trust's work and strategy.
Synergy continues to be a Local Mission Partner of Scripture Union (SU) and in the course of the year, Trevor met with colleagues from the regional team and its leader for support and encouragement. He and Ruth also attended a Scripture Union Retreat in Manchester, where they met other children's / youth workers from across England and Wales. Trevor has become a Scripture Union ‘Faith Guide’, which allows him access to SU resources and training and which commits him to working alongside at least one group of children on a regular and frequent basis.
The trust continues to operate its website, outlining its work and giving people the opportunity of contacting Trevor and the trustees. Synergy also produces a newsletter three times a year, which keeps supporters up to date with developments in the work. The newsletter is sent to more than 250 people.
Schools
Trevor conducted a total of 133 assemblies in 15 primary schools, mostly in and around Chippenham where he lives. The theme for this year's series of assemblies was "The People Jesus Met" in which the children were encouraged to consider how Jesus related to people and what that tells us about His nature,
Trevor has a good working relationship with these schools, some of which he has been visiting for more than 20 years. The teachers know that Trevor's purpose is to support their school in educating the children and not to indoctrinate them in any way. At the beginning of each year, Trevor explains what he does for a job; that he is a Christian, but that he can still be friends with people who aren't and that not everyone will share his views on issues of faith. This helps to put the children and the school staff at ease.
In September, Trevor attended a Diocese of Bristol Education conference, at which he shared something of his schools work and music.
Once again, Trevor joined the leadership team organising the “Lifepath" schools event at Malmesbury Abbey, which took place in June 2023. Although the team worked well together, there was a particularly difficult issue that had to be addressed and Trevor spent much time dealing with it.
Over three days, some 450 children (Key Stage 2) attended a variety of "hands-on" workshops and enjoyed discovering what life was like for the Monks many years ago and how Christians continue to worship in the Abbey today. As well as being on the leadership team, Trevor spoke at the Sunday service beforehand, led workshops and told a Bible story during the plenary session. Given the time he spent on this year's event, Trevor has now stepped down from his leadership role, but still intends to participate at any future Lifepath events.
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The Synergy Christian Trust Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) Year ended 31st August 2023
Achievements and performance (continued)
Churches
Over the course of the year, Trevor accepted invitations to lead 22 services in a total of 16 churches across the West of England area. Many of the churches invite Trevor to speak every year, but room is usually found in his diary for churches making contact with Synergy for the first time.
Given his work with children, Trevor is often asked to lead worship in settings where people of all ages meet together. This gives him opportunities to mode! good practice to church leaders who sometimes struggle to reach out to younger people in their communities.
On other occasions, Trevor is asked to preach a more traditional sermon to adults, something that he enjoys doing. He uses these opportunities to share news about the ministry of Synergy.
Throughout the year, Trevor was regularly invited to lead 'Café -style' church services, which are more informal and where people usually sit round tables, drinking coffee. Through discussions and activities, people are encouraged to participate more than in a traditional service.
Trevor led two Holiday Clubs in the summer of 2023, using Scripture Union's "Restoration Station" resources, which are loosely based on the 'Repair Shop' TV show. Having led the programme at his home church in Chippenham (Sheldon Road Church), he then repeated it for two churches in the Gloucestershire village of Marshfield. Both Holiday Clubs were well attended.
Trevor continues to work closely with Sheldon Road Church and each Wednesday during term time, he leads their 'Game Changers' children's club for Primary school-aged children. This year, he led the programme on 31 occasions and ran a ‘Light Party’ alternative to Halloween. The club, which started in November 2021 welcomes a number of children who have no other contact with this or any other church. However, most of the children attend schools that Trevor visits and the club is a natural extension of his work in schools.
Music
Throughout the last year, Trevor's YouTube channel, featuring videos of his songs, and all-age talks has been used by many churches and schools.
Trevor's most recent all-age worship album, "Hold On!" continues to receive good reviews from people who play the songs at home, in cars and in their churches. However, the trend away from buying CDs and instead streaming music means that it is very difficult for music producers to cover the costs of producing good quality music. It seems unlikely therefore that Trevor will have the Opportunity of writing songs for another album.
A recent report from Spotify, one of the streaming companies who host Trevor's music, showed that his music is being played by more than 400 people in 30 countries. Although Synergy receives royalty payments for Trevor's music, those 400 people streaming his songs on Spotify bring the trust no more than £3 a year.
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The Synergy Christian Trust
Trustees’ Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 31st August 2023
Achievements and performance (continued)
Future plans
All 15 schools that Trevor visited last year have invited him to return in this next academic year to conduct assemblies. He will write and deliver a series of assemblies looking at Jesus’ friendship with his disciple, Simon Peter and exploring what it means for Christians today to be friends of Jesus.
After 7 years, Trevor has now stepped down from the leadership team of Lifepath. However, at the 2024 event he will still be involved, speaking at the opening service, leading workshops and telling the story at each day's plenary session.
Trevor will continue to lead the Game Changers (children's club) team at Sheldon Road Church, which will enter its' third year. He hopes to encourage more people to join the team and to use their gifts in this important ministry.
Numerous invitations for Trevor to speak at or lead church services have already been accepted and he hopes to build on the success of his more informal (café style) services in which people are encouraged to participate. Trevor will also lead Holiday Clubs in the summer of 2024 and is likely to use the latest Scripture Union resources.
In the next year, each of the trustees will take responsibility for one or more of Syneray's policies, ensuring that they are up to date and reviewed on a regular basis.
Financial review
Results for the year are acceptable.
The Trust reserves policy is to hold approximately six months income, this has now been achieved.
The trustees' annual report was approved ON ...........ccseeeeeeeee aNd Signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:
Mr A Paddock Trustee
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The Synergy Christian Trust
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Synergy Christian Trust
Year ended 31st August 2023
| report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of The Synergy Christian Trust (‘the charity’) for the year ended 31st August 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
| report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
| have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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_ the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
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the financial statements 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.
| 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,
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Cee Nuttall
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Independent Examiner
Oakley House Tetbury Road Cirencester Gloucestershire GL71US
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The Synergy Christian Trust
Statement of Financial Activities
Year ended 31st August 2023
| 2023 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | ||||
| funds | Totalfunds | Total funds | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income and endowments | ||||
| Donations and legacies | 4 | 40,550 | 40,550 | 34,690 |
| Investment income | 5 | 69 | 69 | 4 |
| Total income | 40,619 | 40,619 | 34,694 | |
| Expenditure | ||||
| Expenditure on charitable activities | 6,7 | 37,862 | 37,862 | 36,371 |
| Total expenditure | 37,862 | 37,862 | 36,371 | |
| Net income/{expenditure) and net movement in funds | 2,757 | 2,757 | (1,677) | |
| Reconciliation offunds | ||||
| Total funds brought forward | 28,980 | 28,980 | 30,657 | |
| Totalfundscarriedforward | S17Sr | 315037 | 28,980 |
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 8 to 12 form part of these financial statements.
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The Synergy Christian Trust
Statement of Financial Position
31st August 2023
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | £ | |
| Current assets | ||||
| Debtors | 12 | 589 | 1,740 | |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 31,769 | PM ar | ||
| 32,358 | 29,517 | |||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | 13 | 621 | 537 | |
| Net current assets | 31,737 | 28,980 | ||
| Total assets less current liabilities | 31,737 | 28,980 | ||
| Funds ofthe charity | ||||
| Unrestricted funds | 31,737 | 28,980 | ||
| Totalcharityfunds | 15 | 31,737 | 28,980 |
These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on tiesieeseeeeeey alld are signed on behalf of the board by:
Mr A Paddock Trustee
The notes on pages 8 to 12 form part of these financial statements.
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The Synergy Christian Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements
Year ended 31st August 2023
- General information
The charity is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is 11 Sandes Close, Chippenham, Wilts, SN15 2NH.
2. Statement of compliance
These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the 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) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act 2011.
3. Accounting policies
Incoming resources
Incoming resources are treated as income upon receipt with the exception of Gift Aid receipts which are dealt with on an accruals basis.
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.
Resources expended Resources expended are accounted for on an accruals basis. Going concern
There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.
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The Synergy Christian Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements (continuea)
Year ended 31st August 2023
- Accounting policies (continued)
Tangible assets
Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried at revalued amounts are recorded at the fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
Depreciation
Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:
Equipment - Straight line over 4 years
Impairment of fixed assets
A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.
For the purposes of impairment testing, when it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, an estimate is made of the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. The cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that includes the asset and generates cash inflows that largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.
For impairment testing of goodwill, the goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of the cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the charity are assigned to those units.
Defined contribution plans
Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as an expense in the period in which the related service is provided. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that the prepayment will lead to a reduction in future payments or a cash refund.
When contributions are not expected to be settled wholly within 12 months of the end of the reporting date in which the employees render the related service, the liability is measured on a discounted present value basis. The unwinding of the discount is recognised as an expense in the period in which it arises.
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The Synergy Christian Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31st August 2023
| 4. | Donations and legacies | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Total | Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |||
| Funds | 2023 | Funds | 2022 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| Donations | |||||||
| Donations and gifts | 37,363 | 37,363 | 29,244 | 29,244 | |||
| Gift aid refunds | 3,187 | 3,187 | 3,566 | 3,566 | |||
| Other income- CDs and Royalties | - | ~ | 1,880 | 1,880 | |||
| 40,550 | 40,550 | 34,690 | 34,690 | ||||
| 5. | Investment income | ||||||
| Unrestricted | Total | Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |||
| Funds | 2023 | Funds | 2022 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| Bank interest receivable | 69 | 69 | 4 | 4 | |||
| 6. | Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type | ||||||
| Unrestricted | Total | Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |||
| Funds | 2023 | Funds | 2022 | ||||
| a | 2 | £ | a | ||||
| Core Activities | 37,862 | 37,862 | 36,3714 | 36,371 | |||
| 7. | Expenditure on charitable activities by activity | type | |||||
| Activities | |||||||
| undertaken | Total funds | Total fund | |||||
| directly | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Core Activities | 37,862 | 37,862 | 36,371 | ||||
| 8. | Independent examination fees | ||||||
| No fee is payable in respect ofthe independent examination. | |||||||
| 9. | Staff costs | ||||||
| The total staff costs and employee benefits for the | reporting period are analysed as | follows: | |||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
| £ | £ | ||||||
| Wages and salaries | 31,085 | 30,205 | |||||
| Employer contributions to pension plans | 3,704 | 3,389 | |||||
| 34,789 | 33,594 |
AO: «
The Synergy Christian Trust
:
Notes to the Financial Statements (continuea)
Year ended 31st August 2023
9. Staff costs (continued)
The average head count of employees during the year was 2 (2022: 2). The average number of full-time equivalent employees during the year is analysed as follows:
| 2023 | 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | No. | ||
| Administration staff | 1 | 4 | |
| Delivery ofCore Activities | 1 | 4 | |
| 2 | 2 |
No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2022: Nil).
- Trustee remuneration and expenses
No remuneration or other benefits from employment with the charity or a related entity were received by the trustees.
- Tangible fixed assets
| Equipment | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Cost | |||
| At 1st September 2022 and 31st August 2023 | 1,896 | 1,896 | |
| Depreciation | |||
| At 1st September 2022 and 31st August 2023 | 1,896 | 1,896 | |
| Carrying amount | |||
| At 31stAugust 2023 | - | - | |
| At 31stAugust 2022 | - | - | |
| 12, | Debtors | ||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Prepayments and accrued income | 223 | 221 | |
| Other debtors | 366 | 1,519 | |
| 589 | 1,740 | ||
| 13. | Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | ||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Social security and other taxes | 621 | 537 | |
| 14. | Pensionsandotherpostretirementbenefits |
Defined contribution plans
The amount recognised in income or expenditure as an expense in relation to defined contribution plans was £3,704 (2022: £3,389).
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The Synergy Christian Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements (continuea)
Year ended 31st August 2023
15. Analysis of charitable funds
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At | At | ||||
| ist Septemb | 31stAugust | ||||
| er 2022 | Income | Expenditure | 2023 | ||
| General funds | £ 28,980 |
£ 40,619 |
$s (37,862) |
£ 31,737 |
|
| At | At | ||||
| 4st Septemb | 31st August | ||||
| er 2021 | Income | Expenditure | 2022 | ||
| £ | £ | F | £ | ||
| General funds | 30,657 | 34,694 | (36,371) | 28,980 | |
| 16. | Analysis ofnet assets between funds | ||||
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | ||||
| Funds | 2023 | ||||
| £ | E | ||||
| Current assets | 32,358 | 32,358 | |||
| Creditors less than 1 year | (621) | (621) | |||
| Net assets | 34,737 | 31,737 | |||
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | ||||
| Funds | 2022 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Current assets | 29,517 | 29,517 | |||
| Creditors less than 1 year | (537) | (537) | |||
| Netassets | 28,980 | 28,980 |
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The Synergy Christian Trust
Management Information Year ended 31st August 2023
The following pages do not form part of the financial statements.
«: 43) ws
The Synergy Christian Trust
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
Year ended 31st August 2023
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||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2023|2022|
|£|£|
|Income|and|endowments|
|Donations|and|legacies|
|Donations|and|gifts|37,363|29,244|
|Gift|aid|refunds|3,187|3,566|
|Other|income-|CDs|and|Royalties|-|1,880|
|40,550|34,690|
|Investment|income|
|Bank|interest|receivable|69|4|
|Total|Income|40,619|34,694|
|Expenditure|
|Expenditure|on|charitable|activities|
|Wages|and|salaries|31,085|30,205|
|Pension|costs|3,704|3,389|
|Insurance|444|437|
|Motor|vehicle|expenses|1,369|1,295|
|Miscellaneous|628|333|
|Office|expenses|632|712|
|37,862|36,371|
|Total|expenditure|37,862|36,371|
|Net income/(expenditure)|2,757|(1,677)|
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The Synergy Christian Trust
Notes to the Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
Year ended 31st August 2023
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Expenditure on charitable activities | ||
| Core Activities | ||
| Activities undertaken directly Wages/salaries Pension costs |
31,085 3,704 |
30,205 3,389 |
| insurance | 444 | 437 |
| Motor and Travel Miscellaneous |
1,369 628 |
1,295 333 |
| Office expenses | 632 | 712 |
| 37,862 | 36,371 | |
| Expenditureoncharitableactivities | 37,862 | 36,371 |
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