Trinity Vineyard Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2023
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
TRINITY VINEYARD CHURCH
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE PO Box 71128 London SE18 9NF GOVERNING DOCUMENT Declaration of Trust dated June 2001 amended July 2012 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1088718 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE Stephanie Akinboyewa (appointed April 2024, FOR MANAGING THE CHARITY resigned August 2024) Paul Bickley [Pastor] Duncan Ho (resigned July 2024) Rebecca Morris Ron Yee BANKERS Co-operative Bank INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Jaimée Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Legal and Administrative Details Pages 2-5 Trustees' Report Page 6 Independent Examiner's Report Page 7 Receipts and Payments Account Page 8 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 9-10 Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
Pastors’ Retrospective, 2023
Our vision for Trinity Vineyard Church is that it will work like a heart – drawing people towards the life-changing love of God and then sending them to share that love with their families, friends, neighbours, and colleagues.
We are a church with a significant appetite and energy for community engagement. In 2023 we have seen significant growth in action and impact. The big news story of the year is the launch of a Friday youth drop-in session at the Tramshed in Woolwich. Through this new initiative we have met 100s of young people, and God has shown us that He is able to do more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3.20).
However, at the beginning of the year, we felt that God was asking us to make 2023 a year of invitation. It was a reminder that as much as we wanted to go to our neighbours and serve the needs of our community, our mission is also to introduce people to Jesus, the only one who can meet their truest and deepest needs. As 2023 ended, it was clear that this was not a goal or a shift that we could make in or for a single year. Into 2024 and beyond, we pray that God will continue to form us into a Kingdom community where the gospel is demonstrated and declared in equal measure.
We would like to express our thanks to our trustees, core leadership team, and volunteers. We are, most of all, grateful to God for his continued provision and continuing invitation to be part of what he is doing in this part of South East London.
Paul and Becca Bickley May 2024
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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
The Trustees are pleased to submit the Report and Accounts for the year.
Aims and Purposes
As a member of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland (VCUKI), Trinity Vineyard Church exists to extend God ’ s kingdom, everywhere and in every way.
The charitable objects of Trinity Vineyard Church are:
a) The advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the VCUKI Statement of Faith, Values, Priorities, Practices and Leadership Standards;
b) The relief of the poor and needy, the sick and elderly in Greenwich and Lewisham and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Trustees may from time to time think fit;
c) The furtherance of religious or secular public education;
d) Such other charitable objects and for the benefit of such other charitable bodies and institutions as the Trustees in their absolute discretion see fit.
In planning the activities, the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
In the pursuit of its aims and purposes, Trinity Vineyard ’ s life focuses around three things – seeking transformation in Christ, building authentic community, and declaring and demonstrating the kingdom. We cover each in turn below.
Seeking transformation in Christ
In our Sunday and mid-week gatherings we try to create a space where people can encounter God and deepen in faith and fellowship. It was great to see the worship and preaching teams grow and diversify during the year. Vineyard Kids continued to flourish.
We transitioned from a single mid-week group to two groups – one working through the Vineyard UK online courses, and one Bible study. We also piloted a leaders’ learning community, which ran successfully in the second half of the year.
We were pleased to take people to Vineyard UKI events: an Equip and Ignite Conference in St Albans, a core leaders’ training event in York, the Vineyard Leaders’ Gathering and Cause to Live for in Nottingham. Our youth group were also able to attend the Dreaming the Impossible Youth Event.
Building authentic community
We know that a healthy church is marked by a strong network of loving relationships. This shapes much of what we do. Across the year, we held a Burns night, a poker night, picnics in the parks, a beach trip, BBQs and a ‘progressive dinner’. A men’s group started with breakfasts every two months.
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We also recognise that there are some very practical aspects to encouraging healthy relationships, and spaces where everyone is safe. We strongly encouraged volunteers for our various projects to attend appropriate safeguarding training – and 20 attended online sessions across the year.
Declaring and demonstrating the kingdom
As a church, we invest a huge amount in the community around Woolwich, and our outreach grew significantly during the year.
We wanted 2023 to be a year of invitation. Efforts including giving out flowers for Mothers’ Day in General Gordon Square, an Easter Egg hunt with more than 50 participants, and a carol service which saw 15 first time visitors to the church. We were really pleased to run a successful Alpha Course this year. We had 7 different guests, with 4 who completed the course.
In a major new initiative, we – in partnership with the Tramshed – launched a youth drop-in on Friday afternoons. The aim of the session was to provide a space of welcome for young people. Woolwich town centre is a key transport hub, and many school age children pass through on the way home. The drop-in grew quickly: in Q1/Q2 (where we were providing a free hot meal) we saw an average of 23 and 74 young people respectively. In Q4 (no hot meal) we saw an average of 22 young people. On some Fridays, we saw well over 100 children and have encountered 100s over the year. The young people are offered a variety of opportunities – drama and music sessions, tabletop games, as well as a Nintendo Switch! Additionally, the drop-in engaged around a dozen volunteers.
Other ministries continued to flourish. The weekly English Club with Foxfield Primary School saw around 12 participants per week. Our affordable housing project with Greenwich Citizens and London CLT continues to move ahead, with a series of events on the two identified sites in Abbey Wood and Kidbrooke.
Staffing
Paid staff hours in 2023 were 45 (Becca Bickley 26.25/Paul Bickley 18.75).
Members of the church, and members of the wider community, give a large number of volunteer hours.
Financial Review
Our main source of funds continues to come through voluntary donations from members of the church with occasional small gifts from other individuals. Members typically make monthly contributions. All income is used for church-related activities at both a local and national level.
Grant received
We received £8,130 from The Big Lottery Award for All Fund towards the work of English Club, which enabled us to support 42 different people from 19 different countries in 2023.
Reserves Policy
To allow for fluctuating financial income, the charity has a policy to keep in reserve an amount equivalent to three months of all expenditure plus a further three months’ staff costs to allow the church to adapt to any changes in the income or expenditure of the church. This equates to approximately £35,000.
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In September 2023 we entered our reserves. The trustees held an extraordinary meeting, and measures were put in place to control spending and increase income. By the end of year, these mitigations had moved us out of our reserves.
Risk Statement
The Trustees have reviewed the risks to which the charity is exposed. Appropriate procedures are in place to identify, monitor and review these risks on a regular basis. Other major risks are managed through accounting services, adequate insurance (including PLI), and the support of and training from the safeguarding consultancy Christian Safeguarding Services.
Trustees’ Responsibilities
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year that 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:
P Bickley P Bickley (Oct 24, 2024 16:15 GMT+1)
P Bickley -- Trustee (Chair)
Date: Oct 24, 2024
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
TRINITY VINEYARD CHURCH
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Trinity Vineyard Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2023 on pages 7 to 10 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:
-
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.
J. Young J. Young (Oct 24, 2024 16:22 GMT+1)
Jaimée Young
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Oct 24, 2024
Page 6
TRINITY VINEYARD CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| Unrestricted | Funds | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | Restricted | Total | Total | |||||||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||
| Income receipts | |||||||||||
| Donations | 65,164 | - | - | 65,164 | 70,872 | ||||||
| Gift aid receipts | 16,099 | - | - | 16,099 | 16,003 | ||||||
| Other grants | - | - | 8,130 | 8,130 | - | ||||||
| Investment income | 5 | - | - | 5 | 18 | ||||||
| Total receipts | 81,267 | - | 8,130 | 89,397 | 86,893 | ||||||
| Payments | |||||||||||
| Payments in relation to activities undertaken directly |
charitable | 2 | 83,426 | - | 3,010 | 86,436 | 71,892 | ||||
| Grants paid in relation to activities undertaken by others |
charitable | 3 | 11,284 | - | - | 11,284 | 6,789 | ||||
| Total payments | 94,710 | - | 3,010 | 97,720 | 78,681 | ||||||
| Net of receipts / transfers |
(payments) | before | (13,443) | - | 5,120 | (8,323) | 8,212 | ||||
| Transfers between funds | 5 | 399 | - | (399) | - | - | |||||
| Net movement in funds | (13,044) | - | 4,721 | (8,323) | 8,212 | ||||||
| Cash funds as at last | year | end | 44,148 | - | 5,790 | 49,938 | 41,726 | ||||
| Cash funds at this year end | A | 31,104 | - | 10,511 | 41,615 | 49,938 |
The notes on pages 9-10 form part of these accounts.
Page 7
TRINITY VINEYARD CHURCH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
AS AT THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity C Liabilities Falling due within one year: Pension due Fee for Independent Examination Accrued expenses D Assets retained for charity's own use Equipment |
General Designated funds funds £ £ 31,104 - 31,104 - 2,136 - 2,136 - 249 - 1,050 - - - 1,299 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted funds £ 10,511 10,511 - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs General |
Total 2023 £ 41,616 41,616 2,136 2,136 249 1,050 - 1,299 Value 2023 £ 19,447 19,447 |
Total 2022 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49,938 | ||||
| 49,938 | ||||
| 3,947 | ||||
| 3,947 | ||||
| 364 900 2,313 |
||||
| 3,577 | ||||
| Value 2022 £ |
||||
| 19,394 | ||||
| 19,394 |
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 _____ P Bickley (Oct 24, 2024 16:15 GMT+1)P Bickley date ____ Oct 24, 2024 Paul Bickley
The notes on pages 9-10 form part of these accounts.
Page 8
TRINITY VINEYARD CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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 Rental costs Conferences and training Church meetings and outreach Equipment, IT and other resources Administration and other support costs Other costs Governance 3 Grants and gifts paid to others Grants for: Vineyard Church UK Debt Centre Greenwich Grants to individuals |
Unrestricte | Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - d Funds |
Restricted Funds £ 1,558 - - 1,019 433 - - - 3,010 - - - - |
Total 2023 £ 55,654 12,862 1,226 9,818 2,909 1,243 1,824 900 86,436 5,735 2,566 2,983 11,284 |
Total 2022 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds £ 54,096 12,862 1,226 8,799 2,476 1,243 1,824 900 83,426 5,735 2,566 2,983 11,284 |
||||||
| 49,430 8,242 1,418 4,866 2,685 2,718 1,663 870 |
||||||
| 71,892 | ||||||
| 5,178 1,355 256 |
||||||
| 6,789 |
4 Transactions with related parties
Paul Bickley, a trustee, served as a senior pastor and was paid £20,000 [2022: £18,207] for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustee. The spouse of Paul Bickley was paid £33,800 [2022: £29,884] in her capacity as finance officer and senior pastor. The governing document authorises remuneration of the Lead Pastor. No other payments were made to trustees or persons related to them, except for reimbursement of expenses paid out on behalf of the charity.
Page 9
TRINITY VINEYARD CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| 5 Movement of funds General funds Restricted funds Community Innovation Grant Shop front fund Refugee crisis [English Club] Total funds |
Opening balance £ 44,148 44,148 5,000 399 391 5,790 49,938 |
Receipts £ 81,267 81,267 - - 8,130 8,130 89,397 |
Payments £ (94,710) (94,710) (2,123) - (887) (3,010) (97,720) |
Transfers £ 399 399 - (399) - (399) - |
Closing balance £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31,104 | |||||
| 31,104 | |||||
| 2,877 - 7,634 |
|||||
| 10,511 | |||||
| 41,615 |
The Community Innovation Grant is to be used for the English Club.
The Shop front fund was set up to enable the purchase or rent of a building in the community. The remaining funds have been transferred to the general fund, with permission from original donors.
The Refugee funds are for the charity's work with refugees and asylum seekers; paying for the English Club, supporting local appeals for items of furniture or household items, and enabling those from other countries to feel welcome and supported in our communities. A grant of £8,130 was received this year to support the English Club.
Page 10