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2020-08-31-accounts

THE LIGHT PROJECT

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

for the year ended 31st August 2020

Charity Number 1084941

Training, equipping, and connecting pioneers and evangelists to go and make countless followers of Jesus The Light College and Collective is the working name for The Light Project, Abbey House, Abbey Green, Chester, CH1 2JH T: 01244 400221 E: office@lightcollege.ac.uk W: www.lightcollege.ac.uk Registered charity (England & Wales) no: 1084941

The Light Project

CONTENTS

Charity information ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Trustees Annual Report - Year Ended 31st August 2020 .................................................................................... 4 Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities ............................................................................................................ 10 Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Light Project .............................................................. 11 Statement of Financial Activities - Year Ended 31[st] August 2020 ...................................................................... 12 Balance Sheet at 31[st] August 2020 .................................................................................................................... 13 Notes to the Financial Statements – Year ended 31[st] August 2020 .................................................................. 14

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Annual Report and Financial Statements - year ended 31[st] August 2020

The Light Project

Charity information

Registered charity name

The Light Project

Registered working name

The Light College and Collective

Address

Abbey House Abbey Green CHESTER CH1 2JH

Contact Information

Telephone: 01244 400221 Email: office@lightcollege.ac.uk Website: www.lightcollege.ac.uk

Charity number

1084941

Trustees

Reverend P Jump Reverend A Glover S Hatton D Chirgwin R Askey

Independent examiners

McLintocks (NW) Limited Chartered Accountants 2 Hilliards Court Chester Business Park Chester Cheshire CH4 9PX

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Annual Report and Financial Statements - year ended 31[st] August 2020

The Light Project

Trustees Annual Report - Year Ended 31st August 2020

The trustees present their report and the independently examined financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st August 2020.The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 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 Republic of Ireland effective 1[st] January 2019.

The Trustees

The trustees who served the charity during the year were as follows:

Reverend P Jump Reverend A Glover S Hatton D Chirgwin R Askey

Structure, Governance and Management

The Light Project is constituted as a charitable trust registered with the Charity Commission under charity number 1084941. It is governed by an original trust deed dated 21st June 2000

The charity trustees are responsible for the general control and management of the charity. The trustees give their time freely and receive no remuneration or other financial benefits.

The existing trustees are responsible for the recruitment of new trustees as and when the need arises for specific skills, experience and knowledge within the trustee body. Before appointment the trustees ensure that a prospective trustee understands the responsibilities they are taking on and can be relied on to carry them out responsibly. References are taken and the prospective trustee is invited to attend a trustee meeting and to meet with key members of staff.

On appointment, new trustees sign a model trustee eligibility and responsibility declaration and declaration of interest form. During the induction process, the new trustee is sent a copy of the governing trust deed, a copy of the Charity Commission’s guidance ‘The essential trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do’, a copy of the latest Annual Report and Financial Statements and a copy of our safeguarding policy and other relevant policies. The trust is currently actively looking to recruit new trustees to broaden the range of skills available to the college.

Objectives and Activities

The purpose of the Charity is advancing the Christian religion in the area of benefit. Each year the trustees review our objectives and activities to ensure they continue to reflect our aims. In carrying out this review the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular its supplementary guidance on the advancement of religion for the public benefit.

During 2020 The Light Project underwent a rebranding with a new logo and a new working name of The Light College and Collective. This name more accurately reflects the activities of the charity and the increased emphasis on training, equipping and connecting pioneers and evangelists to go and make countless followers of Jesus.

Achievements and Performance

Developments

2019 has been the first year that the Bachelor of Arts (BA) level 6 course has been delivered and it has been a successful start with several students undertaking the new course. As with all new developments, the BA was reviewed throughout the course of the year and adjustments made.

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In addition to the new BA level 6, in 2020, we have developed and validated a new course: The Professional Certificate in Pioneer Chaplaincy and Mission. This new course is a cutting-edge certificate, and the first of its kind, in the country. The course accepted students from September 2020, and it will be possible for students to graduate from the new course into the existing FDA, which means it is a new path for recruitment. Chaplaincies have mushroomed in the past 10 years and now form a key part of the missional arm of the church. Despite this, there have been few courses training chaplains outside of the traditional chaplaincy courses offered in Cardiff and York. In doing this, The Light College are pushing forward the missional capability of the church and training and equipping pioneers.

Academic Courses

The Light College is currently delivering a Foundation degree of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in ‘Theology, Mission and Evangelism’. These courses have historically been delivered through a blend of online learning and residential teaching. As the pandemic arrived, HE moved to online delivery of university courses. As The Light College already has experience of this kind of delivery, the courses have moved over relatively well, and the charity has been robust in its ability to shift with the challenges.

External Training & Resourcing

Light College staff have been actively delivering theological and missiological training with the Diocese of Chester. This enables staff to retain links to key stakeholders and deliver the practical training we have developed elsewhere.

Research & Publishing

Over the past few years, The Light College has sponsored Doctoral research by a staff member with The University of Chester. This research is entitled ‘Finding Faith in the 21[st] century’ and seeks to understand the processes by which non-churched people are finding faith.

The field work is now complete, and the research is in the analysis stage. The research is due to be written up and reviewed in 2022 before being presented through a conferences and publications.

Staff at the college have been active in publishing articles and several academic pieces are in preparation for review and publishing.

The Light College is starting to consider questions around developing a journal of mission, evangelism and pioneering.

The Collective

The Light Collective was launched in 2018 as a co-operative community for pioneers and evangelists. It was created with a vision to resource and connect current and former students of The Light College, as well as individuals and groups who share a similar vision to ‘make countless followers’ of Jesus. Primarily, it was (and is) intended to be a community which shares stories, ideas,

encouragement, and resources in relation to mission and evangelism. By summer 2020 it had 35 members (we now have 60 official members), including 3 group members (The Light Community in Chester, Lighthouse Café and Arts Centre near Cambridge and Shepherds Stream Prayer Retreat in Wales), all engaged in pioneering mission and evangelism. An active private Facebook group became more established where people could share freely about what they’re involved in.

The advent of lockdown early in 2020 afforded the opportunity for us to meet online to pray and hear teaching, and in February and March we held an online ‘#BeTheLight’ campaign to help people to bring hope into the difficult circumstances arising from COVID.

As the ‘practical arm’ of our organisation, the Collective has enabled (and continues to enable) pioneers and evangelists to connect and share ideas which facilitate creative sharing of the Gospel.

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Chester Light Community

Some students have historically been on placement with The Light Community in Chester. In collaboration with local churches and the diocese of Chester, this group of students will move to form part of a new Fresh Expression of church in Chester called The Net from 2021. It will give our students a new experience of not only missional community, but the added aspect of pioneering new forms of church.

Lighthouse Cafe

In February 2020 the activities of the Lighthouse Café were transferred to the Mrs Anne Dutton Trust so that the café could be run locally and yet remain as part of The Light Collective. Soon after, the café needed to close due to the pandemic but will seek to open again to serve the village of Great Gransden. Prior to closing, numbers to the café were growing and people were starting to engage with our Tuesday at 2, a short time of mediation and prayer.

Sadly, in August one of our key volunteers Richard Sewell died. Not only did we lose a good friend and the best washer upper in the café, but the Chairperson of the Mrs Anne Dutton Trust. We wanted to make special mention of him as he was

a friend and support to The Light College and Collective and his hard work has ensured that the café is now in safe hands under the local trust.

One of the highlights for us in 2019 was the Christmas concert with Nigel Cameron and Julie Cameron-Hall with beautiful renditions of well-known Carols and songs as well as a winsome presentation of the reason for the season.

Baptist Leadership Training

This year we worked hard towards our first year to pilot in partnership with Northern Baptist College a route to train Baptist ministers with a call to pioneer. We were pleased to work in partnership to appoint Dr Revd Robert Beamish as our Hub Tutor employed by Northern Baptist College from September 2020. We hope to have a cohort of students joining us for this initiative partnership where students may engage in Practical Theology with us and Baptist Leadership Training with Northern alongside the Hub Tutor.

Mission and Evangelism

We recognise that much of our evangelism happens through our students, and our residential weekends offer a great opportunity to participate in mission together. Prior to the first lockdown, this would involve many of our students going out onto the streets of Birmingham (where we gathered for residentials during much of 2019-20) to creatively engage with locals. This included (for example) doing giveaways, offering to pray for people or giving ‘free hugs’, all as means of actively demonstrating the Good News of Jesus and the love of God in practical ways. During lockdown, students were given evangelism tasks to do while at home for our ‘virtual residentials’, blessing their local neighbourhoods in

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various ways.

One of the principal ways that we, as both staff and students, seek to convey the Christian message, and bring people into contact with God, is though art. This has been through creating art installations both in the public square and at churches, and our street evangelism often involved prophetic art and painting. Chris, one of our Co-Principals, regularly painted on the streets as a way to creatively engage with passers-by.

The Light Community in Chester, during 2019-20, spent much of their time out and about in the city experimenting with ways to engage others and share their faith. Placement students with the community would often be set a small budget to plan and carry out some creative form of outreach, enabling them both to develop in creativity and to grow in leadership of others in mission and evangelism. Often this resulted in some really wonderful conversations with locals about life and faith, and many of the experiments yielded evangelistic activities which worked really well and could readily be adapted for other contexts and used again.

Financial Review

The Statement of Financial Activities is set out on page 12. The charity’s income for the financial year to 31[st] August 2020 across all funds was £258,917 and expenditure was £225,710 resulting in a surplus of £33,207. This contrasts with the small deficit of £178 in the previous year. The main reason for this turnaround was the growth in student numbers, both those starting the FdA and a number of former students returning for the level 6 BA. Degree fee income increased by £67,822 to £183,314.

Grant income also increased, by almost £5,000, to £25,000 with a £10,000 grant from The Lady Hewley Trust for the final BA development and also towards establishing Baptist leadership training, £10,000 from Baptist Insurance for further development of The Light College and a further £5,000 from Baptist Insurance for bursaries for self-funded students who may not otherwise be able to afford the fees. The BA Development fund is now closed and there is only £65 left in the Bursary fund after transferring out the bursaries awarded in the year to 31[st] August 2020. It is hoped additional fundraising for the Bursary fund will be possible in the future.

Donations and associated gift aid have continued to decline, with donations, including fundraising, down £10,319 to £29,543. The Light College and Collective remain very grateful for their many faithful and generous regular standing order donors and the decline in regular standing order income was planned for and built into the budget and the fiveyear plan. However, the fundraising element of voluntary income included in donations was very low at £600 against a budget of £5,000. With the London Marathon and other fundraising activities postponed due to Coronavirus it is hoped fundraising efforts in 2021 will be more successful. Regular standing orders are so far holding steady in 2021.

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Annual Report and Financial Statements - year ended 31[st] August 2020

The Light Project

At the time of writing this report, the recruitment for the year to 31[st] August 2021 is finalized and shown in the table below. Please note this will differ to actual students registered on the course, and 2021 income is not all guaranteed, due to deferrals, suspended studies etc. but does show the financial impact of the growth in student numbers:

Student numbers Student numbers and fee income based on feepaying students and fee income based on feepaying students and fee income based on feepaying students and fee income based on feepaying students
Year ended Full time
students		 Part time
students		 Pioneer
Chaplaincy		 Total
students		 Bursaries
given £		 Net fee
income £
31stAugust 2015 9 13 __ 22 2,300 81,495
31stAugust 2016 7 12 __ 19 1,400 81,059
31stAugust 2017 11 16 __ 27 7,125 106,795
31stAugust 2018 10 15 __ 25 4,280 99,771
31stAugust 2019 10 21 __ 31 10,935 115,493
31stAugust 2020 18 25 __ 43 5,185 183,314
31stAugust 2021 14 28 3 45 8,234 177,754

Overall expenditure increased by £20,115 to £225,710. A breakdown of costs is given in note 3b, but the main increase was in salary and related costs which increased £15,463. The reasons for this were increased lecturers needed for delivery of the level 6, increased hours of some existing staff due to more students and also due to a salary review which resulted in pay increases being awarded to all staff from February 2020. For most staff, including the directors, this was the first pay increase in a number of years and a gradual increase of salaries has been built into the five year plan to try to bring them more into line with similar roles in similar charitable organisations.

Degree direct costs increased by only £3,262 (excluding salary costs). As the last 3 residential weekends had to be held via “Zoom” rather than at a residential setting, this reduced costs for this year and also for most of 2021.

The transfer of the activities of the Great Gransden Lighthouse Café to The Anne Dutton Trust was agreed by the trustees with effect from 6[th] February 2020. The direct café expenses and the income from the café operated through a separate Nat West bank account and ownership of this account was passed to The Anne Dutton Trust. The coffee machine and other fixed assets were transferred at net book value. This resulted in £5,843 of assets being transferred out of The Light College and Collective and is included in charitable donations in the financial statements. The Lighthouse café fund still receives restricted donations for Chris Duffett’s time at the café. These continue to be paid into the main Barclays current account. The 2 charities have no trustees in common, the income from the café is less than £10,000pa and the objectives of the 2 charities of advancement of the Christian religion are closely aligned.

The balance sheet on page 13 shows total reserves of £42,936 with cash at bank and in hand of £49,597, an increase of £23,096 from last year.

The following funds were operated during the year:

General Fund : all unrestricted donations and other income plus expenditure not directly attributable to a specific activity are included in the unrestricted General Fund.

The Light College (formerly called the FdA) : this is an unrestricted designated fund, and was set up for budgeting and management reporting purposes for the income and expenditure directly associated with the delivery of the college’s Degree. It also includes the income and expenditure associated with the Pioneer Chaplaincy qualification.

Network Fund : this is a restricted fund and was set up as Chris Duffett receives grants and donations which are restricted to funding his work specifically.

Drop In Fund: this is a restricted fund and was set up as the Garden Lane Drop In received grants and donations that were restricted to funding this project.

Lighthouse Café Fund: this is a restricted fund for the running and development of a community café and arts venue in the village of Great Gransden near Cambridge. During 2020 the separate bank account and fixed assets from this fund

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Annual Report and Financial Statements - year ended 31[st] August 2020

The Light Project

were transferred into the Mrs Anne Dutton Trust. This fund continues for the donations received to finance Chris Duffett’s time with the Lighthouse Café.

Chester Light Community Fund: this is a restricted fund for the development of the Chester Light Project hub and mission and evangelism in Chester.

BA Development Fund: this is a restricted fund for the development of the BA (Hons) in Theology, Mission and Evangelism. This fund is now closed.

Bursary Fund: this is a restricted fund for the granting of bursaries to self-funded students who would otherwise not be able to afford the tuition fee. Donations have been received for this purpose and transferred into the Light College fund to the maximum of bursaries granted in the year.

Light Collective Fund: this is a new unrestricted fund and was set up for budgeting and management reporting purposes for the subscription and other income and the expenditure directly associated with The Light Collective .

Risk Management

The trustees recognise their responsibility with regard to risk management. The risks to which the trust may be exposed have been identified and documented in a risk register together with appropriate mitigation and control procedures. The risk register is monitored and updated regularly and reviewed by the trustees on an annual basis.

Reserves Policy

The Light College and Collective only holds reserves in restricted funds that are the unspent portion of restricted grants and donations. It is not the policy to build reserves up in restricted funds but to spend them in accordance with the restrictions placed upon them. Restricted reserves at 31[st] August 2020 were £2,577

The trustees have continued their aim of building up reserves in unrestricted funds. The purpose of these reserves is to enable the charity to operate day to day without cash flow problems and to ensure there would be enough in the General Fund to meet any likely outstanding commitments if they are obliged to close the charity. The Reserve Policy is reviewed annually as part of the budget making process, as are the risks of closure and associated costs. Unrestricted reserves at 31[st] August 2020 were £40,359. At just over 2 months of total annual expenditure these are considered adequate but not excessive.

.

Going concern

The trustees recognize the risks associated with dependence for such a significant part of the charity’s income on student numbers and the effect a decrease in numbers has on the ability of the charity to continue. In line with many other charities and the current economic climate, it is also increasingly difficult to maintain donations income and to secure grants, especially for core costs. As outlined in the Financial Review, recruitment in the year to 31[st] August 2020 was very good and the range of courses has expanded to include a BA and, starting in September 2020, a Professional Certificate in Pioneer Chaplaincy and Mission. However, recruitment for 2020/21 was lower than budgeted due to the coronavirus pandemic and this will have an effect on income over the next 3 years. The surplus generated in the year ended 31[st] August 2020 is providing a much-needed breathing space for the College to concentrate on online marketing and the refinement of the online delivery of the courses.

Investment Policy

The charity has no long-term investments. Cash reserves are held in deposit accounts when possible, but rates of interest remain low.

Signed on behalf of the trustees

Andy Glover Chair of the Trustees

25[th] March 2020

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Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the Trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements.

Approved by the trustees on 25[th] March 2020 and signed on their behalf by:

Andy Glover Chair of the Trustees

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Annual Report and Financial Statements - year ended 31[st] August 2020

The Light Project

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE LIGHT PROJECT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2020

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31[st] August 2020, which are set out on pages 12 to 18.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (“the 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 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

I have completed my examination. I can confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Michael Caputo FCA McLintocks (NW) Limited Chartered Accountants 2 Hilliards Court Chester Business Park CHESTER CH4 9PX

26/03/2021 Date _____

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Annual Report and Financial Statements - year ended 31[st] August 2020

The Light Project

Statement of Financial Activities - Year Ended 31[st] August 2020

Notes Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Total
Funds
£
Total 2019
£
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies
2a
Income from charitable activities
2b
Other trading activities
2c
Investments – bank interest
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
3a
Expenditure on charitable activities
3b
Total expenditure
Net income / (expenditure)before
transfers
Transfers
Gross transfers between funds - in
Gross transfers between funds - out
Other recognised gains / losses
Net movement in funds
10
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward at
1stSeptember 2019
Total funds carried forward		 53,134
17,377
70,511
82,117
185,857
1,840
187,697
120,734
522
175
697
2,532
12
__
12
34
239,525
19,392
258,917
205,417
870
250
1,120
745
194,624
29,966
224,590
204,850
195,494
30216
225,710
205,595
44,031
(10,824)
33,207
(178)
8,155
15,478
23,633
24,540
(18,448)
(5,185)
(23,633)
(24,540)
33,738
(531)
33,207
(178)
6,621
3,108
9,729
9,907
40,359
2,577
42,936
9,729

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year and therefore a statement of total recognised gains and losses has not been prepared.

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Annual Report and Financial Statements - year ended 31[st] August 2020

The Light Project

Balance Sheet at 31[st] August 2020

Notes Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Total
Funds
£
Total 2019
£
Fixed Assets
Equipment
7
Current assets
Debtors
8
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling due in one
year
9
Net current assets less current
liabilities
Total net assets less liabilities
Represented by
Unrestricted:General fund
The Light College
Restricted: Network Fund
Chester Light Community
Drop-In Fund
BA Development Fund
Light House Café Fund
Bursary Fund
Total funds of the charity
10

__
1,537
3,146
1,667
4,813
1,036
47,887
1,710
49,597
26,501
51,033
3,377
54,410
27,537
10,674
800
11,474
19,345
10,674
800
11,474
19,345
40,359
2,577
42,936
8,192
40,359
2,577
42,936
9,729
18,335

18,335
10,054
22,024

22,024
(3,433)

1,023
1,023






418
418
418



(2,990)

1,071
1,071
5,680

65
65
__
40,359
2,577
42,936
9,729

The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 25[th] March 2021.

Signed on behalf of the Trust by:

Andy Glover (Chair of the trustees)

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Notes to the accounts

1. Accounting policies

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

The Trust 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).

b) Preparation of the accounts is on a going concern basis:

The charity made a surplus in the year with strong recruitment and closing cash of £49,597. The charity has a plan to weather the coronavirus storm and sufficient reserves to deliver the degree.

c) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Donations and grants are recognised when received by or on the behalf of the charity.

Income tax recoverable (Gift Aid) is accounted for once the donation to which it relates has been received by the charity.

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

d) Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank.

e) Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose or for budgeting and reporting accuracy. Restricted funds are donations which the donor, or grant maker, has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity’s activities

f) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. The charity is not registered for VAT and all VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

g) Allocation of support costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include administration and other office costs, and governance costs. The bases on which support and other overhead costs have been apportioned are set out in note 6.

h) Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible assets costing more than £1,000 are included at cost less depreciation and impairment. Depreciation has been computed to write off the cost of tangible fixed assets over their expected useful lives as follows: Equipment – 4 years on a straight-line basis with a full charge in year of purchase and none in the year of disposal.

i) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

j) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

k) Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured

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Annual Report and Financial Statements - year ended 31[st] August 2020

The Light Project

or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

Fund accounting

General Fund : all unrestricted donations and other income plus expenditure not directly attributable to a specific activity are included in the unrestricted General Fund.

At the start of the year, and during the year when needed, a number of other funds were set up. Income and direct expenses, including the apportionment of salary and related costs of project workers, are now also accounted for within the following funds:

The Light College (formerly called Foundation Degree Arts) : this is an unrestricted fund, and was set up for budgeting and management reporting purposes for the income and expenditure directly associated with the delivery of the Foundation and Bachelor of Arts Degrees with University of Chester.

Light Collective Fund: this is an unrestricted fund and was set up for budgeting and management reporting purposes for the subscription and other income and the expenditure directly associated with The Light Collective.

Network Fund : this is a restricted fund and was set up as Chris Duffett received grants and donations which are restricted to funding his work specifically. Chris’s teaching and training income and related expenditure is also allocated to this fund.

Drop In Fund: this is a restricted fund and was set up as the Garden Lane Drop In received grants and donations that were restricted to funding this project. Plans to use up the balance of this fund were put on hold due to coronavirus.

Light House Café Fund: this is a restricted fund for the running and development of a community café and arts venue in the village of Great Gransden near Cambridge.

Chester Light Community Fund: this is a restricted fund for the development of the Chester Light Project hub and mission and evangelism in Chester

BA Development Fund: this is a restricted fund for the development of the BA (Hons) in Theology, Mission and Evangelism. This fund is now closed.

Bursary Fund: this is a restricted fund for the granting of bursaries to self-funded students who would otherwise not be able to afford the tuition fee. Donations have been received for this purpose and transferred into the FdA fund to the maximum of bursaries granted in the year.

2a Donation and legacies

Donations
Gift aid
Grants for activities
Other voluntary income
Total donations and legacies		 Unrestricted
Restricted
2020
2019
£
£
£
£
24,413
5,130
29,543
39,862
4,611
417
5,028
6,644
17,010
7,990
25,000
20,517
7,100
3,840
10,940
15,094
53,134
17,377
70,511
82,117

2b Income from charitable activities

Course fees
Placement churches
Collective subscriptions
Training and speaking
Total income from charitable activities		 Unrestricted
Restricted
2020
2019
£
£
£
£
183,314
183,314
115,492


__
2,400
720
720
812
1,823
1,840
3,663
2,030
185,857
1,840
187,697
120,734

Page 15 of 18

Annual Report and Financial Statements - year ended 31[st] August 2020

The Light Project

2c Other trading activities

2c Other trading activities
Sale of hoodies
Other activities for raising funds
Total other trading activities
3a Raising funds
Supporter relations costs
Other fundraising costs
3b Charitable Activities
People (salaries etc.)
Premises
Office
Equipment and IT
Insurance and support
Publicity and marketing
Degree direct costs
Full time placement direct costs
Drop In direct costs
Great Gransden Light House Café
The Collective direct costs
Community Garden direct costs
Other Evangelism and Teaching costs
Charitable donations
Conferences
Depreciation
Trustee meeting expenses
Accountancy and governance (note 5)
Total		 Unrestricted
Restricted
2020
2019
£
£
£
£
512
512
370
10
175
185
2,162
522
175
697
2,532
Unrestricted
Restricted
2020
2019
£
£
£
£


__
4
870
250
1,120
741
870
250
1,120
745
Unrestricted
Restricted
2020
2019
£
£
£
£
108,280
18,767
127,047
111,584
14,215

14,215
14,375
2,390
857
3,247
3,257
1,418

1,418
1,283
1,866

1,866
2,012
5,273

5,273
2,490
59,028

59,028
55,766

1,407
1,407
2,209





2,870
2,870
6,084
75

75
917


509
851
22
873
742

6,043
6,043
1,359
92

92
572



513
26

26
18
1,110
__
1,110
1,160
194,624
29,966
224,590
204,850

4. Staff Costs

Staff costs comprise:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2020
2019
£
£
116,561
102,365
3,204
2,829
3,327
2,375
123,092
107,569

Page 16 of 18

Annual Report and Financial Statements - year ended 31[st] August 2020

The Light Project

Average number of employees in the year:
Directors
National Evangelist
Support and Administration		 2 (FTE 1.6)
2 (FTE 1.4)
1 (FTE 0.7)
1 (FTE 0.8)
8 (FTE 2.5)
6 (FTE 2.1)
11 (FTE 4.8)
9 (FTE 4.3)

No employees receive emoluments in excess of £60,000.

As the charity is small and only employs 9 people, most employees can be viewed as “key” so no separate disclosure has been made of the total remuneration paid to key management personnel.

5 . Accountancy and Governance Costs

.Accountancy and Governance Costs
Accountants' remuneration for Independent Examination
Trustee Meeting Secretary and GDPR training
Total		 2020
2019
£
£
960
960
150
200
1,110
1,160

Trustees are reimbursed for their expenses which are necessarily incurred in attending meetings and in performing their duties as Trustees. Trustee benefits: none

6. Support costs

Over 62 % of total costs in the year ended 31[st] August 2020 (61% in 2019) relate to people and premises:

Where possible all other costs have been allocated directly to the fund or activity for which they were incurred. Support costs left unallocated are accountancy and governance costs, professional fees and general fundraising which were all taken against the General Fund.

7. Fixed Assets

Cost at 1stSeptember 2019
Additions
Disposals
Cost at 31stAugust 2020
Depreciation at 1stSeptember 2019
Charge for the year
Disposals
Depreciation at 31stAugust 2020
Net book value at 31stAugust 2019
Net book value at 31st August 2020
8. Debtors
Sundry debtors
Director expenses float
Gift aid
Mentoring and teaching
Total		 Equipment £
Total £
2,050
2,050


(2,050)
(2,050)

513
513


(513)
(513)

1,537
1,537

2020
2019
£
£
1,551

100
100
312
936
2,850

4,813
1,036

Page 17 of 18

Annual Report and Financial Statements - year ended 31[st] August 2020

The Light Project

9. Creditors

9. Creditors
Amounts falling due within one year
Sundry Creditors and accruals
University of Chester for BA validation
Wallis House for degree residential weekend
Tax and National Insurance
Total		 2020
2019
£
£
6,382
5,326

12,990
3,919

1,173
1,029
11,474
19,345

10. Fund movement by type

Unrestricted General Fund
Unrestricted The Light College Fund
Unrestricted Light Collective Fund
Restricted Network Fund
Restricted Drop-In Fund
Restricted Chester Fund
Restricted BA Development Fund
Restricted Bursary Fund
Restricted Light House Café Fund		 Opening
£
Incoming
£
(Outgoing)
£
Transfers
£
Closing
£
10,054
28,535
(1,806)
(18,448)
18,335
(3,433)
210,269
(189,997)
5,185
22,024

720
(3,690)
2,970


3,335
(2,312)

1,023
418



418

263
(15,741)
15,478

(2,990)
2,990




5,250

(5,185)
65
5,680
7,555
(12,164)
__
1,071
9,729
258,917
(225,710)
__
42,936

Transfers from unrestricted funds are made into restricted funds to cover deficits made in the year. Transfers out of restricted funds to the unrestricted General Fund are made from grants and donations where an overhead amount or contribution to core costs has been agreed.

11. Related Party Transactions

1. Related Party Transactions
2020 2019
£ £
Payments by Chester Software Ltd for use of a room in Abbey House e 3,800 3,600
Employment of Tonya Chirgwin as Supporter Relations Co-ordinator 1,908 1,813

David Chirgwin, a trustee, is the sole director of Chester Software Ltd. The contribution asked by The Light Project for Chester Software Ltd.’s use of room as an office, was based on the size of the room and the contribution paid by another, non-related, organization.

Tonya has been employed part time by The Light Project since September 2016. Her remuneration is in line with The Light Project salary scale used for all employees.

Page 18 of 18

Annual Report and Financial Statements - year ended 31[st] August 2020