OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2025-03-31-accounts

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1099687

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust Unaudited independently examined accounts

31 March 2025

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Independently examined accounts

Year ended 31 March 2025

Pages
Trustees' annual report 1 to 4
Independent examiner's report to the trustees 5
Statement of financial activities 6
Balance sheet 7
Notes to the independently examined accounts 8 to 16

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Trustees' annual report

Year ended 31 March 2025

The trustees present their report and the unaudited Independently examined accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in 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 published in October 2019.

Reference and administrative details

Registered charity name Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust Charity registration number 1099687 Principal office St John's Centre St John's Street Bury St Edmunds IP33 1SN

The trustees

The trustees who served during the year and at the date of approval were as follows:

A Mann (Chair) S Harper Rev Dr A Miller D Wakeford J Wakelam B Wesley (Resigned 24/06/2025) Bankers CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Mailing Kent ME19 4TA Independent examiner A Robinson FCA Lovewell Blake LLP Chartered accountants First Floor Suite 2 Hillside Business Park Bury St Edmunds IP32 7EA

- 1 -

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Trustees' annual report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

Objectives and activities

The charity's objects are:

The charity is known locally and throughout these financial statements as BECT, its principal activity is to support The Centre in St John's Street, Bury St Edmunds, a local education and community centre. The Centre aims to meets the needs of many community groups providing a much needed town centre location for various educational and recreational activities.

Public benefit reporting

In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on Public Benefit including, The Public Benefit Requirement (PB1), Running a Charity (PB2) and Reporting (PB3).

Achievements and performance

Following the successful redevelopment of The Centre a number of years ago, for which BECT obtained a twenty year lease from the St John's School Centre Trustees, considerable progress has been made in achieving the outcomes sought by the Big Lottery and other funders. Our Community Development Manager resigned due to ill health early in October 2024. Her assistant acted as manager until his retirement at the end of March 2025. From April 2025 management has been undertaken by One Community (Bury St St Edmunds) CIC, which also manages the community café in the building.

- 2 -

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Trustees' annual report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

Financial review

As reflected in the Statement of Financial Activities the running costs of The Centre are funded by donations and rental income. The original expenditure on The Centre redevelopment was funded by grant income from the Big Lottery and matched funding from a wide range of other sources. This is now being depreciated over the period of the lease, with continuing support received from the Saxham Trust in this and the previous year.

Income from the year saw a decrease to £49,802 (2024: £62,336) with expenditure also decreasing to £84,603 (2024: £94,187). The resulting net expenditure on funds of £34,801 (2024: £31,851) is expected as this relates to restricted funds being spent as planned and for the purposes of the funds.

As a result of the deficit in the year total reserves have decreased to £137,344 (2024: £172,145). Cash at bank in hand has also marginally decreased to £14,011 (2024: £14,396).

Reserves policy

The charity's reserves policy is to hold six months unrestricted expenditure as free reserves which would amount to £24,813 (2024: £29,605) based on current expenditure levels. The policy is set to hold enough free reserves to enable the charity to fulfill statutory and legal obligations and to provide a contingency fund to meet unforeseen falls in income or increases in expenditure.

Unrestricted funds are supporting the restricted funds of the charity. Accordingly, prior to this year, it has been determined to introduce a transfer between funds to correctly show the restricted balance in line with the restricted assets so that it will depreciate to £Nil at the end of the lease. The carried forward balance of the unrestricted fund at 31 March 2025 is now below the amount required by our reserves policy. This unique position is caused by the depreciation and lease terms and in reality no further amounts will actually be spent towards the restricted reserve.

The charities actual free reserves amounted to £17,841 as at the year end (2024: £17,665). The trustees are aware of the shortfall against the reserves policy and the continuing impact of the restricted fund expenditure and are seeking to generate additional funding in the near future.

Plans for future periods

The trustees aim is to raise sufficient funding to enable The Centre to meet sustainably the identified education, recreation and hospitality needs of the community in the future and to contribute to the relief of poverty in developing countries.

Whilst it remains our policy to provide a wide variety of educational, training and recreational outcomes and to reach a good level of usage, helping to make The Centre financially sustainable, the coronavirus precautions mentioned above together with a lower level of voluntary activity in the post-pandemic period have restricted the ability to pursue this.

Much uncertainty remains and the staff and trustees continue to monitor the situation closely.

Discussions have been undertaken with the St John's School Centre Trustees, from whom the building is leased, to consider the possibility of relinquishing the lease early.

- 3 -

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Trustees' annual report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

Structure, governance and management

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust is an unincorporated charity established under a declaration of trust dated 23 June 2003.

The Centre became a registered charity from 26 September 2003. It is governed by its trustees who meet on a regular basis during the year. The existing trustees are shown on the reference and administration details of the accounts, some of whom have held office for several years.

Trustee recruitment and appointment

Further trustees may be appointed at any time, at the discretion of the trustees. A new trustee would receive copies of the declaration of trust, the previous year's annual report and accounts and relevant guidance publications from the Charity Commission.

Risk management

The trustees have identified the major risks facing the charity and have assessed their potential impact. Appropriate systems have been established to monitor and mitigate these risks.

True and fair override

The financial statements have been prepared to give a "true and fair" view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a "true and fair view". This departure has involved following the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

Independent examiner reappointment

A resolution to appoint A Robinson FCA of Lovewell Blake LLP as independent examiner will be proposed at the next meeting.

17/9/2025

The trustees' annual report was approved on .............................. and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

A Mann Chair

- 4 -

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Year ended 31 March 2025

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the Independently examined accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet and the related notes.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the Independently examined accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity's Independently examined accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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

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:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

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

  3. the Independently examined accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.

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.

Your attention is drawn to the fact that the Charity has prepared the accounts (financial statements) 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) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has since been withdrawn.

I understand that this has been done in order for the accounts to provide a true and fair view in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Practice effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015.

A Robinson FCA Independent Examiner

Lovewell Blake LLP Chartered accountants First Floor Suite 2 Hillside Business Park Bury St Edmunds IP32 7EA 18/9/2025

- 5 -

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Statement of financial activities

Year ended 31 March 2025

2025 2024
Unrestricted Restricted
funds funds Total funds Total funds
Note £ £ £ £
Income and endowments
Donations and legacies 4 5,250 5,250 18,259
Charitable activities 5 44,044 44,044 43,799
Investment income 6 508 508 278
   
Total income 49,802 49,802 62,336
   
Expenditure
Charitable activities 7 49,626 34,977 84,603 94,187
   
Total expenditure 49,626 34,977 84,603 94,187
   
   
Net expenditure and net movement in funds 176 (34,977) (34,801) (31,851)
   
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 17,665 154,480 172,145 203,996
   
Total funds carried forward 17,841 119,503 137,344 172,145
   

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 8 to 16 form part of these Independently examined accounts.

- 6 -

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Balance sheet

31 March 2025

2025 2024
Note £ £ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets 11 119,902 155,012
Investments 12 1 1
 
119,903 155,013
Current assets
Debtors 13 6,000 5,272
Cash at bank and in hand 14,011 14,396
 
20,011 19,668
Creditors: Amounts falling due within
one year 14 (2,570) (2,536)
 
Net current assets 17,441 17,132
 
Total assets less current liabilities 137,344 172,145
 
Net assets 137,344 172,145
 
Funds of the charity
Restricted funds 119,503 154,480
Unrestricted funds 17,841 17,665
 
Total charity funds 15 137,344

172,145


These Independently examined accounts were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue 17/9/2025 on ........................, and are signed on behalf of the board by:

A Mann Chair

The notes on pages 8 to 16 form part of these Independently examined accounts.

- 7 -

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Notes to the independently examined accounts

Year ended 31 March 2025

1. General information

The charity is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Trust, St John's Centre, St John's Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1SJ.

2. Statement of compliance

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. 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 issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011and UK UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The financial statements have been prepared to give a “true and fair” view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a “true and fair view”. This departure has involved following the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

3. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The Independently examined accounts have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.

The Independently examined accounts are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.

Going concern

The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected income and expenditure for the next 12 months from authorising these financial statement and are in discussions regarding the longer term future of the charity. The trustees are mindful of the impact of outstanding commitments, lease agreements and continuing costs to run the charity in the current economic climate which might impact the going concern status in future years. In the short term the trustees have considered the budgeted income and expenditure to be sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern until the outcome of non-cancellable operating leases are more known.

The accounts have been prepared on the on going concern basis, as whilst some uncertainty exists; the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist as at the year end date.

Income tax

As a registered charity, the activities are exempt from United Kingdom Income and Corporation taxation, provided that the income is applied to charitable purposes.

- 8 -

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Notes to the independently examined accounts (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.

Designated funds, where necessary are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.

Income

All income is included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates, grouped in aggregate to all costs related to that category:

All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.

Operating leases

Lease payments are recognised as an expense over the lease term on a straight-line basis. The aggregate benefit of lease incentives is recognised as a reduction to expense over the lease term, on a straight-line basis.

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried at revalued amounts are recorded at the fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

- 9 -

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Notes to the independently examined accounts (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Tangible assets (continued)

An increase in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of a revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, unless it reverses a charge for impairment that has previously been recognised as expenditure within the statement of financial activities. A decrease in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, except to which it offsets any previous revaluation gain, in which case the loss is shown within other recognised gains and losses on the statement of financial activities.

Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:

Short leasehold property - straight line over the term of the lease Centre furniture, fixtures and - straight line over 3 to 5 years fittings

Investments

Unlisted equity investments are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently measured at fair value. If fair value cannot be reliably measured, assets are measured at cost less impairment.

Financial instruments

A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the entity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where it is recognised at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.

Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost.

Defined contribution plans

Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as an expense in the period in which the related service is provided. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that the prepayment will lead to a reduction in future payments or a cash refund.

When contributions are not expected to be settled wholly within 12 months of the end of the reporting date in which the employees render the related service, the liability is measured on a discounted present value basis. The unwinding of the discount is recognised as an expense in the period in which it arises.

4. Donations and legacies

Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2025 Funds 2024
£ £ £ £
Donations
Donations (less than £1,000 each) 250 250 259 259

- 10 -

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Notes to the independently examined accounts (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

4. Donations and legacies (continued)

Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2025 Funds 2024
£ £ £ £
Grants
Saxham Trust 5,000 5,000 18,000 18,000
   
5,250 5,250 18,259 18,259
   
5. Charitable activities
Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2025 Funds 2024
£ £ £ £
Users' contributions 44,044 44,044 43,799 43,799
   
6. Investment income
Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2025 Funds 2024
£ £ £ £
Bank interest receivable 508 508 278 278
   

- 11 -

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Notes to the independently examined accounts (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

7. Expenditure on charitable activities

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2025
£ £ £
Staff costs 22,617 22,617
Rent, service charge and water rates 6,393 6,393
Heat and light 9,424 9,424
Repair and renewals 550 550
Cleaning 1,111 1,111
Depreciation 133 34,977 35,110
Support costs 9,398 9,398
  
49,626 34,977 84,603
  
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £
Staff costs 29,202 29,202
Rent, service charge and water rates 6,274 6,274
Heat and light 10,466 10,466
Repair and renewals 2,571 2,571
Cleaning 915 915
Depreciation 133 34,977 35,110
Support costs 9,649 9,649
  
59,210 34,977 94,187
  
Analysis of support costs
2025 2024
£ £
Postage, stationery and printing 125 185
Computer costs 84 754
Bookkeeping fees 1,483 1,128
Telephone and mobiles 1,044 1,206
Insurance 3,698 3,507
Independent examination fee 1,920 1,950
Sundry expenses 1,044 919
 
9,398 9,649
 
8. Net expenditure
Net expenditure is stated after charging/(crediting):
2025 2024
£ £
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 35,110 35,110
 

- 12 -

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Notes to the independently examined accounts (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

9. Staff costs

The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as follows:

2025 2024
£ £
Wages and salaries 22,411 28,803
Employer contributions to pension plans 206 399
 
22,617 29,202
 

The average head count of employees during the year was 3 (2024: 3).

No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2024: Nil).

10. Trustee remuneration and expenses

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees and the senior management as listed on the reference and administration details of the accounts . The trustees neither received nor waived any remuneration during the year (2024: £Nil). The total amount of employee benefits received by senior management for services to the charity was £7,160 (2024: £19,954).

No trustee received reimbursement of expenses during the year (2024: £Nil no trustee).

11. Tangible fixed assets

Centre
Short furniture,
leasehold fixtures and
property fittings Total
£ £ £
Cost
At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 699,532 23,985 723,517
  
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024 545,052 23,453 568,505
Charge for the year 34,977 133 35,110
  
At 31 March 2025 580,029 23,586 603,615
  
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2025 119,503 399 119,902
  
At 31 March 2024 154,480 532 155,012
  

- 13 -

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Notes to the independently examined accounts (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

12. Investments

Shares in
group
undertakings
£
Cost or valuation
At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 1

Impairment
At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025

Carrying amount
At 31 March 2025 1

At 31 March 2024 1

All investments shown above are held at valuation.

13. Debtors

2025 2024
£ £
Trade debtors 4,905 4,234
Prepayments and accrued income 1,095 1,038
 
6,000 5,272
 
14. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
2025 2024
£ £
Accruals and deferred income 1,920 1,770
Other creditors 650 766
 
2,570 2,536
 

- 14 -

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Notes to the independently examined accounts (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

15. Analysis of charitable funds

Restricted funds

Restricted funds
At 1 April At 31 March
2024 Income Expenditure Transfers 2025
£ £ £ £ £
Centre redevelopment 154,480 (34,977) 119,503
    
At 1 April At 31 March
2023 Income Expenditure Transfers 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Centre redevelopment 189,457 (34,977) 154,480
    

Purpose of restricted funds:

Centre redevelopment represents funding received for the redevelopment of The Centre building and facilities, occasionally in order to maintain the upkeep of The Centre, restricted costs are expensed out of unrestricted funds.

Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds
At 1 April At 31 March
2024 Income Expenditure Transfers 2025
£ £ £ £ £
General funds 17,665 49,802 (49,626) 17,841
    
At 1 April At 31 March
2023 Income Expenditure Transfers 2024
£ £ £ £ £
General funds 14,539 62,336 (59,210) 17,665
    

16. Analysis of net assets between funds

As at 31 March 2025

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2025
£ £ £
Tangible fixed assets 400 119,503 19,903
Net current assets 17,441 17,441
  
Net Assets 17,841 119,503 37,344
  
As at 31 March 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £
Tangible fixed assets 533 154,480 155,013
Net current assets 17,132 17,132
  
Net Assets 17,665 154,480 172,145
  

- 15 -

Bury St Edmunds Ecumenical Centre Trust

Notes to the independently examined accounts (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

17. Defined contribution plans

The amount recognised in income or expenditure as an expense in relation to defined contribution plans was £206 (2024: £399).

18. Operating lease commitments

The total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

2025 2024
£ £
Not later than 1 year 4,750 4,750
Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years 11,479 16,229
 
16,229 20,979
 

19. Related parties

During the year the charity paid rent to The St. John's School Centre. A Mann, S Harper and Rev Dr A Miller are trustees in both charities. Total rent paid during the year was £1,000 (2024: £1,000).

During the year there was donations received from the Saxham Trust totalling £5,000 (2024: £18,000). A Mann is a trustee in both charities.

The charity is the beneficial owner of One Community (Bury St Edmunds) CIC, of which A Mann is a Director and which now manages The Centre for the charity.

Their were no other related party transactions during this or the prior year.

- 16 -