Velmore Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 March 2021
VELMORE CHURCH
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE Falkland Road Chandler's Ford Eastleigh SO53 3GY GOVERNING DOCUMENT Declaration of Trust dated December 1966, amended February 2002 and November 2007 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1102248 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Andrew Watt MANAGING THE CHARITY Richard Stannard Jonathan Cox (appointed February 2022) BANKERS Lloyds Bank plc Santander UK plc INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Jaimée Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Legal and Administrative Details Pages 2-4 Trustees' Report Page 5 Independent Examiner's Report Page 6 Receipts and Payments Account Page 7 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Page 8 Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
VELMORE CHURCH
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021.
Objects of the charity
The charity, which is a church, is governed by a trust deed and is constituted as a trust. The charity's principal objects, as set out in its governing document, are to hold the property known as Velmore Chapel for the use of believers for preaching the gospel, worship and prayer, and ministry of the Word.
Impact of COVID-19
For the report of activities to 31st March 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic had a major impact. We entered this period in lockdown. The church leaders initially maintained the church services using written services which were emailed or distributed. As the situation developed the leadership realised that online ‘face to face’ was a necessary way to maintain the fellowship of believers and the sanity of the church congregation. As of Easter Sunday 2020 we were able to hold meetings via Zoom and kept in touch with members unable to Zoom via written ‘services’ and phone or other means.
When the restrictions were eased, the church leaders followed the government guidance and with suitable risk assessments in place they re-opened the church for physical meetings. However this was short-lived with a further national lockdown put in place on the 5[th] November. The church services then returned to Zoom for the remainder of this reporting period.
The lack of cash offerings when no physical meetings were held was offset by continued and new giving via other means. A 50% discount on Velmore Church’s contribution to Velmore Community Association for the use of the Velmore Centre was agreed between Velmore Church and Velmore Community Association for the closure of the building.
The church congregation was spiritually and mentally supported very well by the church leaders and membership during the pandemic period. It was a hard time for a group who were used to meeting together weekly, but the regular use of other means of communication and Zoom helped people get through.
Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements
To further the above objects and vision, the charity's main activities and achievements were as follows:
Church services and meetings have continued during the pandemic and we are extremely grateful during the last year to those of our fellowship and to our ‘visiting’ speakers who have brought us messages from God's Word and preaching via Zoom when needed. Often these men have done extra work in preparing written notes for us to distribute. These services were much appreciated. The content of our services has focused on Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7), and from January 2021 on the latter part of the book of Acts. We are also very grateful to those in the fellowship who have led our services during the difficult 12 months and for being so adaptable, and putting in the extra work that has been needed. During the autumn and winter, we also had the opportunity to broadcast some services on Outreach Radio, a local community radio station.
We have met in person on a few occasions, when permitted, during the latter part of 2020, but the experience of meeting whilst socially distanced and wearing masks in a 'well ventilated' room during the winter was not positive, and with Covid case numbers increasing at the turn of the year we decided to meet only on Zoom until the situation improved.
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Since the beginning of May 2021, we have been able to meet in person again: our normal level of attendance has been approaching 30 people. Some folks have not yet felt able to join us in person, and we have continued to provide email, MP3 and paper services for them. Due to restriction on singing indoors, we have begun our services by singing outside, weather permitting.
During the 12 months we have continued our Wednesday evening prayer and Bible study meetings, and have been encouraged by the number who have attended on Zoom.
It has particularly not been easy for the Church Community Worker, Jamie to do what he would have wished in his role. Jamie started in the role in November 2019 and so was still new to the position when the Covid lockdown was imposed. It has clearly been difficult for him to start new groups and activities during the past year. Jamie did join with local Covid support groups on behalf of the Church which included shopping for folks and arranging food parcels and food support for others and gardening (all carried out in accordance with government guidelines applicable at the time).
Thus, despite the difficult year, Jamie has made contact with many local people and managed to show the love of Jesus in a practical way but he has also used his overflowing enthusiasm for Christ to be able to share the good news with many folks. In a less targeted way he has also engaged in evangelism with people from other local churches and has worked with Gordon Curley (Hampshire Counties Evangelist) on several occasions.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Financial review
During the year income increased slightly to £27,200, and expenditure increased to £50,300, in large part due to the employment of a full-time worker. As a result the cash held by the charity decreased to £33,700, of which £33,600 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
Reserves policy
The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £18,000 (which is an estimate of the equivalent - over three years (£6,000 p.a.) - of the potential shortfall between income and total expenses including the anticipated cost of employing a fulltime worker on a fixed term contract of up to three years). At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £33,300 and the charity is complying with its reserves policy.
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Governance
Responsibility for setting policy and for making operating decisions rest with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity. New trustees are recruited and appointed by the existing trustees.
Responsibilities of trustees
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which 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:
Andrew Watt Richard Stannard
Date: 30 January 2024
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
VELMORE CHURCH
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Velmore Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2021 on pages 6 to 8 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.
Jaimée Young
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: 31 January 2024
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VELMORE CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
| Unrestricted | Funds | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | Restricted | Total | Total | ||||||||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||||
| Income receipts | ||||||||||||
| Donations | 23,893 | - | 3,376 | 27,269 | 26,787 | |||||||
| Interest | 18 | - | - | 18 | 49 | |||||||
| 23,911 | - | 3,376 | 27,287 | 26,836 | ||||||||
| Capital and similar receipts | ||||||||||||
| Loan repayments | - | - | - | - | 500 | |||||||
| - | - | - | - | 500 | ||||||||
| Total receipts | 23,911 | - | 3,376 | 27,287 | 27,336 | |||||||
| Payments | ||||||||||||
| Payments in relation to activities undertaken directly |
charitable | 2 | 30,709 | - | 2,801 | 33,510 | 15,774 | |||||
| Grants paid in relation to activities undertaken by others |
charitable | 3 | 150 | - | 16,671 | 16,821 | 1,019 | |||||
| 30,859 | - | 19,472 | 50,331 | 16,793 | ||||||||
| Loans made | - | - | - | - | 500 | |||||||
| - | - | - | - | 500 | ||||||||
| Total payments | 30,859 | - | 19,472 | 50,331 | 17,293 | |||||||
| Net of receipts transfers |
/ (payments) |
before | (6,948) | - | (16,096) | (23,044) | 10,043 | |||||
| Transfers between funds | 5 | (3,996) | - | 3,996 | - | - | ||||||
| Net movement in funds | (10,944) | - | (12,100) | (23,044) | 10,043 | |||||||
| Cash funds as | at last year | end | 44,615 | - | 12,160 | 56,775 | 46,732 | |||||
| Cash funds at | this year end | A | 33,671 | - | 60 | 33,731 | 56,775 |
The notes on page 8 form part of these accounts.
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VELMORE CHURCH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
| A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access Notice deposits B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity C Liabilities Falling due within one year: Taxes due Fee for Independent Examination Accrued expenses D Assets retained for charity's own use *Church premises and outbuildings Church contents |
General Designated funds funds £ £ 19,762 - 13,910 - 33,671 - - - - - - - 630 - 1,400 - 2,030 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted funds £ 60 - 60 - - - - - - |
Total 2021 £ 19,822 13,910 33,731 - - - 630 1,400 2,030 Value 2021 £ 1,304,734 38,469 1,343,203 |
Total 2020 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42,883 13,892 |
||||
| 56,775 | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| 1,593 900 2,800 |
||||
| 5,293 | ||||
| Value 2020 £ |
||||
| 1,242,604 37,240 |
||||
| 1,279,844 |
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 building used by the church is leased from Eastleigh Borough Council. The lease expires in 2031.
E Investment assets
| Income bonds | Value 2021 £ 4,000 4,000 |
Value 2020 £ |
|---|---|---|
| 4,000 | ||
| 4,000 |
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf
by
Andrew Watt
Richard Stannard
date
30 January 2024
The notes on page 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 7
VELMORE CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
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 Building and facilities Church activities 3 Grants and gifts paid to others Organisations: Organisations > £1,000 Organisations < £1,000 Individuals |
Unrestrict | Designated funds £ - - - - - - - ed Funds |
Restricted Funds £ 2,801 - - 2,801 9,335 6,336 1,000 16,671 |
Total 2021 £ 26,986 4,047 2,476 33,510 9,335 6,486 1,000 16,821 |
Total 2020 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds £ 24,185 4,047 2,476 30,709 150 - 150 |
||||||
| 7,990 1,826 5,958 |
||||||
| 15,774 | ||||||
| 1,019 | ||||||
| 1,019 |
- Transactions with related parties
No payments were made to trustees or persons related to them, except for reimbursement of expenses paid out on behalf of the charity.
| 5 Movement of funds General funds Restricted funds Hope Now Limited Tearfund Pastor fund Pamoja Winchester Churches Nightshelter David Stillman Slavic Gospel Association Other Mission Total funds |
Opening balance £ 44,615 44,615 1,226 2,904 - 1,194 1,407 498 654 4,278 12,160 56,775 |
Receipts £ 23,911 23,911 25 - 2,801 - 120 25 25 380 3,376 27,287 |
Payments £ (30,859) (30,859) (1,427) (2,904) (2,801) (1,389) (1,507) (1,014) (1,050) (7,381) (19,472) (50,331) |
Transfers £ (3,996) (3,996) 176 0 - 195 - 491 371 2,763 3,996 - |
Closing balance £ 33,671 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33,671 | |||||
| - - - - 20 40 |
|||||
| 60 | |||||
| 33,731 |
Hope Now Limited: funds raised to support the charity Hope Now Limited [CC reg. 1072038]. Tearfund: funds raised to support the charity Tearfund [CC reg. 265464] Hope Now Limited: funds raised to support the charity Hope Now Limited [CC reg. 1072038]. Pamoja: donations given in support of the charity Pamoja [CC reg. 1085466]
Winchester Churches Nightshelter: donations given in support of the charity Winchester Churches Nightshelter [CC reg. 1080443] David Stillman: donations given in support of David Stillman Evangelistic Association [CC reg. 269396] Slavic Gospel Association: donations given in support of Slavic Gospel Association [CC reg. 258253] Other mission: collections for other supported charities and missionaries.
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