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2024-03-31-accounts

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

VitaChurch

(A company limited by guarantee) Charity registration number: 1097602 Company registration number: 04726140

Independent Examiners Ltd 2 Broadbridge Business Centre Delling Lane Bosham, Chichester West Sussex PO18 8NF

VITACHURCH

CONTENTS

Reference and Administrative Details 1
Trustees' Report 2 to 6
Independent Examiner's Report 7
Statement of Financial Activities 8
Balance Sheet 9
Notes to the Financial Statements 10 to 16

VITACHURCH

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Trustees Christopher Simmons Michael Farkas Michael Bebee Secretary Christopher Simmons Charity Registration 1097602 Number Company Registration 04726140 Number The charity is incorporated in England. Registered Office 38 Holland Road Hove BN3 1JL Independent Examiner G W Schulz ACMA Independent Examiners Ltd 2 Broadbridge Business Centre Delling Lane Bosham, Chichester West Sussex PO18 8NF Bankers The Co-operative Bank P.O. Box 250 Skelmersdale Lancashire WN8 6WT Lloyds Bank plc PO Box 1000 BX1 1LT

Page 1

VITACHURCH

TRUSTEES' REPORT

The Trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Structure, governance and management

Nature of governing document

VitaChurch is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was set up by a Memorandum of Association.

Recruitment and appointment of Trustees

The management of the company is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Memorandum of Association.

Organisational structure

Chris Simmons (senior pastor and trustee) oversees the overall direction of the church supported by a small team of pastoral elders and trustees. The Elders focus on pastoral matters whilst the Trustees ensure that the charity operates in compliance with relevant regulations and guidelines, and oversee the church finances.

Risk management

The Trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises of a review of the key working policies and financial stability of the charity by meeting during the year. These reviews consider policies in the following areas:

This process identifies any areas of risk and uncertainty on an on-going basis, and allows the Trustees to consider changes in policies, systems and procedures to mitigate these risks.

Objectives and activities

Objects and aims

The company's objectives and principal activities are:

Public benefit

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.

Page 2

VITACHURCH

TRUSTEES' REPORT

Objectives, strategies and activities

Use of volunteers

The church continues to rely heavily on a 'volunteer workforce', whether by fulfilling roles and responsibilities in the church activities or in the vital range of support and services offered to the local community. The value of these volunteers is impossible to quantify and is impossible to reflect in these accounts.

We also take our safeguarding commitments seriously, and our volunteers in our gatherings at BHASVIC are trained and DBS checked.

Achievements and performance

Overall

God has been faithful to us throughout the year again. We have baptised several people in the English Channel, following their conversion to Christianity. Our weekly gatherings focus on God the Holy Spirit and His presence being vital to everything, as well as Our Saviour Jesus and Father in heaven. We are a trinitarian church and want to emphasise both radical discipleship and an orthodox faith.

Sunday Church

Our Sunday Church has an eclectic mix of people, several languages and cultures and a strong desire to follow Jesus. There is a palpable hunger for God, and desire to give the Holy Spirit a central place in our services. Our church teaches the bible week to week, as we aim to pursue God for His glory, and understand who He is through the pages of the bible. We also give altar calls to receive Jesus and take communion together regularly. This year we have seen several people hand over their life to Christ and baptised several in the English Channel, as well as marrying someone that gave their life to Jesus in our church. A glorious year.

Our “bring and share” lunch after our Sunday gatherings, has proven to be something really liked by the congregation. People bring some of the most amazing foods, and it helps build friendships in the church.

Kids Work

The teams are working hard with our kids, enabling them to be taught the bible, and actively join the ministry and worship of the church. We run a small youth group every other week, with a mixture of prayer and the presence of God, games, and a tuck shop. We aim for the children and youth to be a part of our church, involving them in communion and occasionally helping to lead worship. Anyone involved in our children’s ministry understands safeguarding and is DBS checked with references before joining the teams.

Visiting Speakers

We have welcomed three times to Brighton this year, our friend Hans Sundberg. Hans Sundberg is the churches overseer and speaks at church and to smaller groups. He offers our church a level of accountability and strength, with a willingness to serve us in any way he can.

Page 3

VITACHURCH

TRUSTEES' REPORT

Our friends Geoff and Irene visited from “Open Doors” to speak at our church on Sunday. It’s a reminder to us all, that as we speak, millions of Christians are now persecuted in the country they live in, both through the state or their local communities.

Small Groups – fellowship and teaching

We have several in person small groups, that are open to “all comers”. We also facilitate the meeting up of people in the church, through “Core Church” Saturdays, and food after church on Sundays once a quarter. These two other regular events facilitate the church to fellowship and enable newer people to make friendships.

Ministry to the disadvantaged and homeless

We continued to partner with a neighbouring Anglican Church, St Luke’s, Prestonville, up to January of 2024, to run an afternoon service once a month we call “Carpenters Arms”. This is aimed at the most disadvantaged members of our society. The Service provides great food and community time together for the guests. We averaged forty to sixty guests this last year.

Prayer

We continue to pray every weekday morning at 7.00 am for half an hour, something that has continued for over four years and is ongoing. Our aim is to place prayer and fasting at the very core of our church, as something we do continually. Using our offices we also have half nights of prayer with worship. Our commitment to prayer being the engine room of the church, means we approach everything we do, first and foremost, with prayer, whether it be for the church’s activities, revival, or the evangelistic ministries on the streets of Prayer Chair or Healing Rooms. In a real way, we want to involve Jesus and His Holy Spirit in all of our endeavors, following the words of Jesus calling “His house is to be called a house of prayer”.

Women’s retreat

Fourteen women from the church went away for the weekend on a retreat in July. They were able to hire a large retreat house in Rye, bringing their own food and refreshments. The retreat included lots of fellowship, prayer and waiting on God, teaching and of course good food. It was a real success with positive feedback from all attendees.

Power and Presence Conference with leader’s retreat

In late January, Chris together with Christy Smith, a pastor in the Elim Church, organised a pastors retreat for local and distant pastors. It was a chance for mutual encouragement and sharing with one another. Chris and Christy have a heart for building bridges between churches and pastors, who have a heart for revival. Several church pastors attended from various denominations and non-denominational churches.

Following the Pastors Retreat we had a well-attended conference called “Power and Presence”. The conference included speakers Christy Smith (Elim Church Patcham), David McNeil (from Adore Church Birmingham) Duncan Wylie (from Peterhead church Scotland) and Hans Sundberg (from Sweden). It was very encouraging, and we will aim to repeat it each year.

Page 4

VITACHURCH

TRUSTEES' REPORT

Prayer Chair and Healing Rooms - Praying for people on the streets of our city

Our church supports two methods of reaching people in our city. Prayer chair is what it says, and prayer is offered in the middle of Brighton each week to “all comers”. It is remarkable how many people ask for prayer, when they see the sign offering prayer - for free!

Healing Rooms does something similar in offering prayer across the city, using Costa Coffee as its base, and a Gazebo in one of the main parks of the city. The teams consistently pray for people who have never been prayed for in this way, in a laid back, loving and empathetic way.

Church Weekend Away – VitaCamp

The church camp is the highlight of the kids’ calendar, if not the parents! It is a weekend camp, but the campsite has been chosen to be within driving distance of the city.

The weekend is set to encourage the church family, with a mix of ministry and the presence of God, teaching, fellowship and fun. We have seen children filled with the Spirit over the years of running camp, and always pray beforehand for its success. This year was filled with activities, great food and the wonderment of a God who never ceases to amaze us with His presence and His love.

Conclusion

We want to thank God for His provision and support of our church again this year. We are always dependent on Him for everything, and His faithfulness is seen year to year over us all.

Financial review

Income for the year amounted to £93,418 (2023 - £93,870) and expenditure £95,147 (2023 - £98,161). The deficit was added to funds brought forward, with unrestricted funds being £19,652 at the year end.

Policy on reserves

Free reserves are those reserves free of any restriction that are available to meet the normal expenditure of the Church excluding that necessary to run the restricted activities. They provide a buffer of liquid funds to cover temporary shortfalls caused by an unforeseen decline in income or an unexpected increase in costs. Should any of these arise, these funds are intended to ensure that the charity can meet its contractual obligations to staff, premises and statutory bodies and its moral obligations to its donors. The Trustees have a desire to maintain a level of free reserves of 2 month's unrestricted expenditure.

Free reserves are currently the same as unrestricted funds. The charity does not currently hold restricted or designated funds.

Page 5

VITACHURCH

TRUSTEES' REPORT

Going concern

After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

Statement of Responsibilities

The Trustees (who are also the directors of VitaChurch for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland".

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that can disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Small companies provision statement

This report has been prepared in accordance with the small companies regime under the Companies Act 2006.

The annual report was approved by the Trustees of the charity on 29 July 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

......................................... Christopher Simmons Company secretary and trustee

Page 6

VITACHURCH

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF VITACHURCH

I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of VitaChurch for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s Trustees of VitaChurch (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of VitaChurch are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the 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 matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of VitaChurch as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].

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.

...................................... G W Schulz ACMA

Independent Examiners Ltd 2 Broadbridge Business Centre Delling Lane Bosham, Chichester West Sussex PO18 8NF

29 July 2024

Page 7

VITACHURCH

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Note
Unrestricted
funds
£
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies
3
89,061
Charitable activities
4
4,357
Total income
93,418
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
5
95,147
Total expenditure
95,147
Net expenditure
(1,729)
Net movement in funds
(1,729)
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
21,381
Total funds carried forward
12
19,652		 Total
2024
£
89,061
4,357
93,418
95,147
95,147
(1,729)
(1,729)
21,381
19,652		 Total
2023
£
92,562
1,308
93,870
98,161
98,161
(4,291)
(4,291)
25,672
21,381

The notes on pages 10 to 16 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 8

VITACHURCH

(REGISTRATION NUMBER: 04726140) BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
9
Current assets
Debtors
10
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
11
Net current assets
Net assets
Funds of the charity:
Unrestricted income funds
Unrestricted funds
Total funds
12		 2024
£
1,900
1,355
18,195
19,550
(1,798)
17,752
19,652
19,652
19,652		 2023
£
2,533
1,956
19,449
21,405
(2,557)
18,848
21,381
21,381
21,381

For the financial year ending 31 March 2024 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements on pages 8 to 16 were approved by the Trustees, and authorised for issue on 29 July 2024 and signed on their behalf by:

......................................... Christopher Simmons Company secretary and trustee

The notes on pages 10 to 16 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 9

VITACHURCH

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1 Charity status

The charity is limited by guarantee, incorporated in England, and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the Trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.

2 Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Statement of compliance

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)) (issued in October 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Basis of preparation

VitaChurch 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 notes.

Income and endowments

All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of the income receivable can be measured reliably.

Donations and legacies

Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the charity before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

Gift aid

Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

Page 10

VITACHURCH

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

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 institution with whom the funds are deposited.

Expenditure

All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category.

Charitable activities

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Grant expenditure

Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is made except in those cases where the offer is conditional, such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attaching are fulfilled. Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end are noted as a commitment, but not accrued as expenditure.

Taxation

The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets costing £500 or more are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

Depreciation and amortisation

Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:

Asset class Furniture and equipment

Depreciation method and rate 25% on reducing balance

Page 11

VITACHURCH

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Debtors

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

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Liabilities

Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.

Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the company anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.

Fund structure

Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the Trustees' discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Financial instruments

The company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

3 Income from donations and legacies

Donations and legacies;
Donations
Gift aid reclaimed		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
76,597
12,464
89,061		 Total
2024
£
76,597
12,464
89,061		 Total
2023
£
79,410
13,152
92,562

Page 12

VITACHURCH

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

4 Income from charitable activities

Unrestricted
funds
General
£
Conferences and events
4,357		 Total
2024
£
4,357		 Total
2023
£
1,308

5 Expenditure on charitable activities

Note
Catering costs
Children's work
Outreach costs
Conference costs
Hospitality
Ministerial trips
Visiting speaker expenses
Motor and travel expenses
Media
Venue costs
Light and heat
Office rent and rates
Telephone
Insurances
Books
Office, printing, post and stationery
Accountancy
IT costs
Subscriptions and licences
Training costs
Independent examination
Depreciation, amortisation and other
similar costs
Grant funding of activities
6
Staff costs
8		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
1,963
1,443
-
6,037
1,355
-
616
609
614
10,799
951
12,000
360
3,148
77
602
-
2,261
468
956
870
633
7,573
41,812
95,147		 Total
2024
£
1,963
1,443
-
6,037
1,355
-
616
609
614
10,799
951
12,000
360
3,148
77
602
-
2,261
468
956
870
633
7,573
41,812
95,147		 Total
2023
£
1,168
1,419
407
2,231
1,893
2,454
1,043
528
1,172
10,096
238
12,000
400
3,032
140
1,011
1,500
2,138
719
772
840
866
9,193
42,901
98,161

Page 13

VITACHURCH

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

6 Grant-making

Analysis of grants

Grants Grants to institutions
2024
£
2023
£
5,899
7,617		 Grants to individuals
2024
£
2023
£
1,674
1,576

7 Trustee and related party transactions

Christopher Simmons, a Trustee, received self-employed payments of £38,250 (2023 - £38,250) as pastor of the church.

During the year, insurances where benefits are payable to the Simmons family amounted to £2,635 (2023 - £2,491).

The only other payments made to the Trustees, or any person connected with them, consisted of reimbursements of expenditure incurred on behalf of the charity in furthering the charity's objects.

Christopher Simmons is also a Trustee of "Life for Bangladesh" which received a donation of £1,420 (2023 - £3,201).

8 Staff costs

The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:

Staff costs during the year were:
Wages and salaries
Self employed pastor		 2024
£
3,562
38,250
41,812		 2023
£
4,651
38,250
42,901

The number of persons (including senior management team) employed by the charity during the year was as follows:

2024 2023
No No
Staff 1 2

No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year.

Page 14

VITACHURCH

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

9 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 April 2023
At 31 March 2024
Depreciation
At 1 April 2023
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2024
Net book value
At 31 March 2024
At 31 March 2023
10 Debtors
Accrued income
11 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals		 Furniture
and
equipment
£
8,904		 Total
£
8,904
8,904
6,371
633
7,004
1,900
2,533
2023
£
1,956
8,904
6,371
633
7,004
1,900
2,533
2024
£
1,355
2024
£
36
704
1,058
1,798
2023
£
-
1,027
1,530
2,557

Page 15

VITACHURCH

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

12 Funds

12 Funds
Unrestricted funds
General
General Funds
Unrestricted funds
General
General Funds		 Balance at
1 April
2023
£
21,381
Balance at
1 April
2022
£
25,672		 Incoming
resources
£
93,418
Incoming
resources
£
93,870		 Resources
expended
£
(95,147)
Resources
expended
£
(98,161)		 Balance at
31 March
2024
£
19,652
Balance at
31 March
2023
£
21,381

13 Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
1,900
19,550
(1,798)
19,652
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
2,533
21,405
(2,557)
21,381		 Total funds
at 31
March
2024
£
1,900
19,550
(1,798)
19,652
Total funds
at 31
March
2023
£
2,533
21,405
(2,557)
21,381

Page 16