**Churches Together in Willenhall**
## **Churches Together In Willenhall**
**Annual Report & Accounts**
**For the Year to**
**30[th] September 2020**
Page **1** of **10**
**Churches Together in Willenhall**
# **Churches Together in Willenhall Registered Charity No. 1093921 TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 September 2020**
**Charity Name:**
Churches Together in Willenhall (also known as Bridging the Gap)
**Registered Charity No.**
1093921
**Principal Address:** Bridging the Gap 79a Stafford Street Willenhall West Midlands WV13 1RT
## **Objects of the Charity:**
1. To spread and increase the knowledge of Christianity in and around the Willenhall area.
2. The relief of poverty, sickness and distress for those people who are in need by virtue of their financial circumstances, sickness or social isolation, in particular – but not exclusively – by the provision of, and signposting towards, advice, information and counselling.
**Bank:** HSBC Queen Square Wolverhampton WV1 1TE
## **Charity Officers:**
Chairperson: Mr R Wilcox Secretary: Mrs C Gobsill Treasurer: Ms K MacMahon Other current Trustees: Mrs E Wilcox, Mrs K Mckeown, Mr G Ward, Mr L Westwood **Independent Examiner:** K S T Accountancy LLP Graphic House, 15-18 New Rd, Willenhall WV13 2BG
**Governing document:** Constitution adopted 10[th] January 2002, last amended 20[th] October 2005.
Page **2** of **10**
**Churches Together in Willenhall**
**How the Charity is constituted:** Association of Christian churches in the locality
**Trustee selection methods:** Trustees are appointed or reappointed at the Annual General Meeting held in October. The Constitution also provides for co-option under certain circumstances.
## **Administrative Information:**
Churches Together in Willenhall is an unincorporated association under the responsibility of an Executive (trustees) who met four times during the year.
## **Structure, Governance & Information:**
The Charity has a voting membership. The members are Christian churches in the locality of Willenhall which commit themselves to furthering the objects and have paid the annual subscription laid down from time to time by the Executive. The Charity is managed by an Executive (trustees) appointed at the Annual General Meeting by the member churches through votes vested in their nominated representatives. Trustees are appointed to serve for two years and may stand for re-election. Member churches have a voice into decision-making at quarterly general meetings. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefit.
## **Activities:**
Our principal activity, involving more than 95% of our finance and most of our energy, is the running of a Community Resource Centre called Bridging the Gap, located in one of the main shopping streets in our Town. There we employ a part time centre manager and operate with forty or so volunteers who, typically, give a half a day a week. Volunteers receive no benefit. We also receive paid-for assistance from the engagement of a qualified, licensed debt advisor one day per week and one other person who we call in to assist with stock management and general office duties as and when we need such help. We also run a foodbank in association with The Black Country Foodbank. Our activities during the year became severely restricted due to the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic in early 2020 (more detail below).
The Centre is housed in a three storey, shop-fronted building owned by the Methodist Church, represented by the Brownhills and Willenhall Methodist Circuit. The Charity rents the building from the Methodist Church. The operation of the Centre is our main activity. During the year we continued, as in previous years, to offer help with benefits applications, general form filling, bereavement support and other similar helps to people in need or who are vulnerable because of mental health issues, social isolation, lack of literacy or numeracy skills or who are otherwise disadvantaged.
Members of the public and beneficiaries of our services, all of whom are received without distinction, enter our Centre through our on-street charity shop. This becomes the point of contact, help or referral for all who make such a request. We had a footfall into the shop of around 38,000 people a year, when last
Page **3** of **10**
## **Churches Together in Willenhall**
measured. Our costs are funded almost entirely by the sale of second hand goods in our charity shop.
In addition to running the Centre, the Charity coordinates joint public Christian witness events to the community such as a Walk of Witness on Good Friday, a presence at the annual Town Carnival and carol singing in public places in the Christmas season. These events generate a small income to the Charity; always in excess of any costs incurred in running the events.
## **Public Benefit Test:**
The previous heading ( **Activities** ) provides good evidence that, in the carrying out of our charitable purposes, we provide significant and widespread public benefit to the people of Willenhall. Other than an annual subscription of £25 paid by each member church, all our income is provided in kind by Willenhall people (mainly) who donate second hand items for sale, other local people who buy those items, with the income generated being used for the benefit of Willenhall people who seek our help. Part of our strength is that we raise our income from local people and expend it for the benefit of local people in need. We always keep in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
## **Covid-19 Pandemic**
Bridging the gap was forced to close in late March 2020 when the covid-19 epidemic spread reached dangerous levels. Closure was all the more necessary as many of our volunteers were classed as vulnerable due to advanced age or health reasons.
The normal quarterly meetings of church representatives and quarterly meetings of the Executive were suspended indefinitely (and beyond the year end covered by this report) for the same reasons.
While we now had no income, we continued to pay rent, rates, utilities and the manager's wage … an outflow of funds that needed to be closely monitored. Two support grants from HM Government in May and August were a great relief to us and ensured that we would survive the crisis.
## **Risk Analysis:**
The trustees have carried out a general review of the Charity and consider that there are no major risks to its continuing for the foreseeable future. In the longer term, we are mindful of the age demographic of our volunteers and the advanced age of most of the people in church locally. As we are dependent on our volunteers, we intend to continue our endeavours for as long as possible. We have no plans to expand our work, rather we to seek to maintain what is regarded as a most useful and highly appreciated help to struggling people in our community.
We are alert to the possibility of unforeseen risks and maintain a responsible view of what our response should be in the event of such an occurrence.
## **Financial Review:**
Page **4** of **10**
## **Churches Together in Willenhall**
This report covers the nineteenth year of operation since registering as a charity. During the year, receipts amounted to £39,885. Payments in total amounted to £28,198. Through prudent management, we have maintained financial stability throughout the nineteen years of our operation and are now in a good place for recovery once the pandemic is suppressed.
## **Reserves Policy:**
The Trustees are committed to ensuring that there are sufficient reserves in unrestricted funds to ensure the net settlement of all debtors and creditors, redundancy payments and any costs in meeting its legal obligations. The Trustees have set a ‘warning’ threshold at £10,000 which will trigger a priority review of our finances, thus maintaining a reasonable financial margin over and above what we need to close the charity.
## **Trustees responsibilities:**
The Trustees are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity, for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities and to provide reasonable assurance that:
- the charity is operating efficiently and effectively
- its assets are safeguarded against unauthorised use or disposition
- proper records are maintained and financial information used within the charity or for publication is reliable
- the charity complies with relevant laws and regulations
Certain day to day management activities of Bridging the Gap are delegated to the Centre Manager, while all major decisions are taken by the trustees.
## **Declaration:**
The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees on 12/7/2021
Roger Frederick Wilcox Chairman _Trustee Signature Trustee Name Position_
## **Independent Examiner’s Report To the Trustees of Churches Together in Willenhall (Registered Charity Number 1093921)**
I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ending 30[th] September 2020, which are set out on pages 7-10.
## **Respective Responsibilities of the Trustees and Examiner**
Page **5** of **10**
## **Churches Together in Willenhall**
The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (The Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- a) examine the accounts under Section 145 of the Charities Act,
- b) to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given the Charity Commission (under Section 145 (5)(b) of the Charities Act), and
- c) to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement**
My examination was carried out in accordance with general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with these records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequentially no opinion is given as the whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent Examiner’s Statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: -
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act;
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply
with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed…………………………………………………. On: 12/07/2021
Mr Simon Tonry KST Accountancy LLP Graphic House 15-18 New Road Willenhall West Midlands WV13 2BG
Page **6** of **10**
**Churches Together in Willenhall**
## **Statement of Assets & Liabilities**
|**Not**
**es**
**Fixed**
**Assets**
Tangible
assets
Current
assets
Bank
balance
Main account
CTIW
21380206
Grants
account
Cash in hand
Less payments after date
Adjusted bank & cash in
hand
Total Assets|**30 September**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
0
26,739
420
103
554
27,816
-
27,816
27,816|**30 September**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
0
26,739
420
103
554
27,816
-
27,816
27,816|**30 September**
**2019**
**£**
**£**
0
15,150
322
103
554
16,129
-
16,129
16,129|**30 September**
**2019**
**£**
**£**
0
15,150
322
103
554
16,129
-
16,129
16,129|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||27,816
-||16,129
-||
||||||
|||27,816||16,129|
## **Notes on Accounts for the Year to 30[th] September 2020**
Note 1 Accounting convention
The accounts are prepared on a receipts and payment basis
Page **7** of **10**
Churches To
ether in Willenhall
Page 8 of 10
## **Churches Together in Willenhall**
## Receipts & Payments Account
|**Receipts**
Voluntary Incoming
Donations & membership
Trust funding & grants
Other incoming Resources
Shop takings
Other receipts – collections
Covid grants
Total Receipts
**Payments**
Wages & Employers NIC
Rent & rates
Heat & light
Insurance
Printing, postage & stationery
Telephone
Donation
General expenses
Advice services
Charitable grants – Baron
Davenport
Cash thefts
Total Outgoing
Surplus of receipts over
payments
Adjusted bank & cash in hand
as at 1stOctober 2019
Adjusted bank & cash in hand
as at 30thSeptember 2020|**Year to**
**30/09/2020**
**£**
**£**
10,117
0
10,117
11,109
1,029
17,630
29,768
39,885
11,008
8,068
960
768
361
1,383
250
1,751
3,649
0
0
28,198
11,687
16,129
27,816|**Year to**
**30/09/2019**
**£**
**£**
7,437
0
7,437
20,537
1,725
0
22,262
29,6
99
11,335
8,287
1,157
764
494
2,023
452
3,083
3,122
0
900
31,617
(1,918)
18,047
16,129|**Year to**
**30/09/2019**
**£**
**£**
7,437
0
7,437
20,537
1,725
0
22,262
29,6
99
11,335
8,287
1,157
764
494
2,023
452
3,083
3,122
0
900
31,617
(1,918)
18,047
16,129|
|---|---|---|---|
||11,109
1,029
17,630|20,537
1,725
0||
||11,008
8,068
960
768
361
1,383
250
1,751
3,649
0
0|11,335
8,287
1,157
764
494
2,023
452
3,083
3,122
0
900||
||||29,6
99
31,617|
|||||
||||(1,918)
18,047|
||||16,129|
Page **9** of **10**
## **Churches Together in Willenhall**
|Donations & membership
Subscriptions
Church donations
Donations
Trust funding & grants
Express & Star
James Beattie Trust
St Peters Tamworth
Baron Davenport – grant
General expenses
Refreshments
Performing rights
Travel
Software
Miscellaneous
Literature
Christian crosses & other items
Food bank
Advertising|**2020**
**£**
300
4,185
5,632
10,117
0
0
0
0
0
63
390
237
0
782
64
215
0
0
1,751|**2019**
**£**
275
4,185
2,977|
|---|---|---|
|||7,437|
|||0
0
0
0|
|||0|
|||257
377
812
0
1,554
83
0
0
0|
|||3,083|
Page **10** of **10**