Charity Number: 1090734
Urban Expression Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
Page Contents 2 - 4 Trustees’ annual report 5 Independent examiner’s report 6 Receipts & payments account 7 Statement of assets & liabilities 8 - 9 Notes to the accounts
Urban Expression Trustees’ annual report for the year ended 31 December 2021
Full name Urban Expression
Charity Number 1090734
Principal address PO Box 16991 Birmingham B32 9HX
Trustees
Rev Bev Thomas Sheila Jane Thompson Philip Warburton Louise Brown resigned (26/3/2021) Andrew Turner Elspeth Barron Dirk Uitterdijk Andy Dorton
Bankers The Co-operative Bank
Independent examiner
Daryl Denson ACMA Employee of VAST The Dudson Centre Hope Street Hanley Stoke on Trent ST1 5DD
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Urban Expression Trustees’ annual report for the year ended 31 December 2021
Objectives and activities
The objectives of the charity are:
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To advance the Christian faith in London and in such parts of the United Kingdom as the trustees may from time to time think fit by recruiting, equipping, deploying and supporting teams which will pioneer innovative and relevant expressions of the Christian Church.
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To fulfil such other purposes which are exclusively charitable in the law of England and Wales and are connected with the charitable work of the Trust.
Structure, Governance and Management
Urban Expression is a registered charity, governed by declaration of trust executed on the 8 October 2001 as amended 11 June 2008 and by deeds of variation dated 21 April 2010 and 12 July 2010.
Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others.
New Housing Hub is a new charity with similar aims to Urban Expression, which is in the process of completing the paperwork etc to be properly established with the charity commission. Since their funders require the money to be held by a registered charity, we have agreed to host them temporarily. At the year end we are holding £10,193 in cash in a restricted fund.
Public Benefit
In common with many other organisations, Urban Expression has been deeply impacted by the three lockdowns and other restrictions imposed during the past 18 months in light of the pandemic. Although we have continued to operate locally through our 24 teams and to coordinate the overall work through our dispersed team of coordinators, this has been a period in which many plans have necessarily been on hold. No new teams have been deployed in the past year, although we are in conversation with several people and these conversations may result in the emergence of new teams soon.
However, we have explored the opportunities of online activities, recognising both their potential and shortcomings. While we are likely to make increasing use of online activities, we enjoyed meeting in person again at two teams’ days in July and November.
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
Summary of the main activities undertaken
We had no option but to cancel the Crucible modules scheduled for May/June 2020. Over the summer we invested a large amount of time in revising the teaching material and converting the course for online delivery. Three of the modules ran online in the autumn, two more ran between Christmas and Easter and the sixth module ran in May and June 2021– enabling us to offer all the modules in a single year for the first time. We decided to continue running online modules during the autumn of 2021 and the first half of 2022.
For some years we have been concerned about levels of poverty and deprivation in many seaside towns and coastal communities – this is often hidden behind the façade of holiday destinations and beautiful scenery. One of our coordinators, Barney Barron, spent 12 months a few years ago researching this for us. In March, we secured some funding to enable Barney to devote a day a week, in addition to his role as an Urban Expression coordinator, to develop ‘Coastal Expression’, building a network of people involved in mission in coastal communities and offering support. For the time being, this initiative will remain part of Urban Expression and accountable to our trustees.
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Urban Expression Trustees’ annual report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2021
Alongside the final Crucible module in May, we ran an online course exploring a range of issues, including the Black contributions to church history, the legacy of colonialism, racism, reverse mission and multicultural church. This Black Light course first ran in London in the late 1990s and we have revamped this as an online course. It proved to be very popular with 94 registrations and was enthusiastically received. We ran running it again in the autumn. This is a joint initiative between Urban Expression and Ascension Trust.
The basic structure of Urban Expression has not changed, although some of the personnel have. Our trustees meet twice a year to provide overall direction, support and accountability. Potential new trustees are invited to a trustee meeting. Our finances continue on an even keel and we are operating within budget. At the year end the charity has £50,158 in unrestricted funds. The HEBA restricted fund is in deficit as the report to the HEBA was not sent until November. The funds from HEBA are due in February 2022.
The organisation’s policy on reserves
1.Urban Expressions is a small charity entirely dependent upon grants and donations. UE is a valuesdriven organisation which is both shaped and served by those values including the importance of taking risks that it is acceptable to fail.
As such, the trustees do not believe it would be appropriate for Urban Expressions to build up substantial long-term reserves.
Whilst expenditure is relatively stable, income, however, has proved to be very volatile. Over the last five years, total income has been as low as £72,000 and as high as £140,000. Urban Expression has no guaranteed income beyond the current financial year.
2.The trustees believe, therefore, that it is not unreasonable for the charity to aspire to hold reserves of up to twelve months’ core running costs. While this figure is high, the trustees believe it is necessary to allow sufficient time to raise further income, or, if unsuccessful to give staff the contracted six months’ notice. As a minimum, therefore, Urban Expression will hold reserves of six months’ salaries costs. This figure will not include the costs of those paid a regular fee, but who are not on Urban Expression’s payroll.
3.Reserves will be measured excluding expenditure only incurred as a result of specific income. For example, fees received for services delivered which would not have been otherwise delivered or income received to be passed on as donations to specific individuals. Reserves will be measured to include grants received to span more than one financial year. They will also include grants received for specific purposes where it has not been possible to spend the money within the period, but where it is still intended to incur that expenditure.
- Reserves will be reported to trustees six monthly as part of the management accounts.
Signed on behalf of the trustees:
Signed ______ Date _ Name _________
Position ________
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Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Urban Expression (“The Trust”) for the year ended 31 December 2021
Responsibilities and basis of report
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2021.
As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or;
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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.
Signed ____ Date _______ Daryl Denson ACMA VAST
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Urban Expression Receipts & payments account for the year ended 31 December 2021
| Receipts Donations Grants Received Events Other Total receipts Payments Staff Costs Coordinators fees Travel and Subsistence Administration Training Events Publicity Insurance Payroll Fees Other Costs Independent Examiner's fee Total payments Net receipts/(payments) Transfers between funds Cash funds brought forward Cash funds carried forward |
2021 2021 2021 2020 £ £ £ £ Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 3,548 - 3,548 5,284 44,334 30,193 74,527 85,440 8,561 - 8,561 1,896 - - - 563 56,443 30,193 86,636 93,183 19,924 25,710 45,634 51,835 23,973 - 23,973 7,015 2,658 - 2,658 2,772 2,531 - 2,531 1,343 2,704 - 2,704 2,005 79 - 79 - 585 - 585 560 67 - 67 197 1,540 500 2,040 431 792 - 792 - 54,853 26,210 81,063 66,158 1,590 3,983 5,573 27,025 8,853 (8,853) - - 40,715 16,559 57,274 30,249 51,158 11,689 62,847 57,274 |
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Urban Expression Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 December 2021
| Cash assets Current account Savings account Paypal Liabilities Independent Examiner's Fee |
2021 2020 £ £ 56,596 54,659 1,535 1,534 4,716 1,081 62,847 57,274 414 800 414 800 |
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These financial statements are accepted on behalf of the organisation by:
Signed ______ Date _ Name ______ Position ___________
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Urban Expression Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021
1. Receipts & payments accounts
Receipts and payments accounts are statements that summarise the movement of cash into and out of the organisation during the financial year. In this context “cash” includes cash equivalents, for example, bank accounts where cash can be readily withdrawn to pay for debts as they become due.
2. Creditors
| Accountancy | 2021 2020 £ £ 414 800 414 800 |
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3. Trustees’ remuneration
No trustees received remuneration during the period. The number of trustees who were reimbursed expenses was 0(2020:0).
4. Movement of Funds
| Restricted funds BMS EMBA HEBA YBA Other A.S.Charitable Trust Mennonite Trust Rural Ministries Mennonite Grant Mennonite AM Trust New Housing Hub Unrestricted funds General Funds Total funds |
Opening Receipts (Payments) Transfer Closing balance balance £ £ £ £ £ 698 - - - 698 215 - - - 215 1,680 - (6,771) - (5,091) 400 - - - 400 1,996 - - - 1,996 764 6,250 (5,999) - 1,015 8,853 - - (8,853) - 55 - - - 55 1,898 10,000 (9,690) - 2,208 - 3,250 (3,250) - - - 10,693 (500) - 10,193 |
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| 16,559 30,193 (26,210) (8,853) 11,689 |
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| Opening Receipts (Payments) Closing balance balance £ £ £ £ 40,715 56,443 (54,853) 8,853 51,158 |
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| 40,715 56,443 (54,853) 8,853 51,158 |
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| 57,274 86,636 (81,063) 0 62,847 |
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Urban Expression Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 31 December 2021
5. Purposes of Restricted Funds
BMS World Mission give Crucible bursaries to assist those who could not otherwise attend the training conference due to costs of fees and accommodation.
EMBA, HEBA and YBA have all contributed towards the stipend of a Coordinator for their region.
BIC donated funds to be used for the support of a staff member’s networking and development role.
A.S Charitable Trust provided funding for coordinator roles.
Mennonite Trust provided funding for a coordinator role.
Rural Ministries provided funding for support of the Crucible Course.
Mennonite Grant provided funding for a coordinator role.
New Housing Hub This is a new charity with similar aims to Urban Expression, which is in the process of completing the paperwork etc to be properly established with the charity commission. Since their funders require the money to be held by a registered charity, we have agreed to host them temporarily.
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