**REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 05156475 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1105173**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND**
## **UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER 2022**
## **FOR**
## **THE BLESS NETWORK**
D E Ball & Co Limited Chartered Accountants 15 Bridge Road Wellington Telford Shropshire TF1 1EB
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 30th September 2022**
|||**Page**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Report of the Trustees**|1|to|3|
|**Independent Examiner's Report**||4||
|**Statement of Financial Activities**||5||
|**Balance Sheet**|6|to|7|
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|8|to|13|
|**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**||14||
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 30th September 2022**
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30th September 2022. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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) (effective 1 January 2019).
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objectives and activities**
The objective of The Bless Network ('Bless'), is the advancement of the Christian faith throughout Europe in accordance with the articles of faith set out in the Company's articles of association. Bless uses a range of programmes to mobilise Christian individuals and groups to engage in relevant and missional strategies in contemporary European culture. Recognising the place of the local church at the heart of Christian mission, Bless provides opportunities for individuals and groups to connect with dynamic local churches in strategic locations on mainland Europe.
## **Charity's Mission Statement**
'The Bless Network exists to transform the lives of people in Europe by empowering Christians through prayer, personal creativity and strategic partnerships to live for the service of others.'
## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Charitable activities**
The charity has continued to grow through 2021/22, with the majority of activities returning more or less to pre-covid levels and some areas seeing significant growth.
## **CHURCHES**
In France, we have continued to support the work of the Bless Churches, planted alongside our French partner organisation L'Association Vivre Pour Les Actress (VPLA). The churches now meet in 3 locations, Caen, Livarot and Villedômer, and are seeing growth in each of these locations. This growth, along with recent changes in French legislation, will require these churches to move in the coming year to a more formal structure and the charity is supporting the Directors of VPLA through this transition.
## **SOS CHAI**
Our work with refugees, under the name of SOS Chai, has seen steady growth in Caen, with 30 - 40 asylum seekers joining us each week for French lessons and some 50 - 80 receiving meals and other supplies. A strong volunteer team has drawn a number of local people into this work as well as attracting interns and other volunteers from further afield. We have deepened connection and relationship, this year, with other groups working with the refugee community in Caen.
## **BETHANIE**
Bethanie has continued to receive numerous visitors, notably from partner churches and groups in the USA. We have entered into a partnership this year with Ryan and Karen Hall from the Nashville House of Prayer, and are beginning a process of transition for their team to take-on full responsibility for the running of Bethanie, which will be developed as a resource base for prayer and worship for France and for Europe more widely. The new partnership will continue to see Bethanie developed and used in continuity with the objectives of the charity, and bless will continue to make use of the facilities at Bethanie for local gatherings, courses and other needs.
Page 1
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 30th September 2022**
## **SEVEN STORIES**
The Seven Stories Course has been run this year at Bethanie, in Caen, in Nashville and online, and continues to be well received by participants.
## **BUSINESS SUPPORT**
Our Kingdom Business Network has continued to support the work of Keys&Co in Caen, L'Orangerie de Beauregard in Villedômer and Hopefully Made in Shrewsbury, UK. All three of these business start-ups are thriving - sometimes in difficult circumstances - and are continuing to express, in a number of ways, their support for, and partnership with, the charity.
## **PREMISES**
VPLA has continued to lease the premises at 3, Avenue de Paris in Caen, as a base for Church gatherings, SOS Chai and other team activities. The need for larger premises is now clear, and the charity is committed to supporting VPLA as they seek to establish and fund a more substantial and permanent base in the city.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Reserves policy**
The policy on reserves is to maintain funds equivalent to keeping the charity operational for 3 months before additional income is required from grants, donations or contributions from Bless programmes, i.e. approximately £6,000. Action is in hand to improve the reserves position by increasing the level of unrestricted income via donations and fund-raising, and by reducing the net operating costs of the charity.
## **Financial Review**
Core running costs are continually kept under review; it is also acknowledged that the trustees and volunteer team often cover expenses incurred on behalf of Bless. None of the trustees or volunteers receive any remuneration.
The net loss for the year contrasts with the relatively large surplus in the previous year (2020-2021). This is due to the receipt of donations, allocated to the repair and maintenance of Bethanie, in the earlier year, but which were spent during the current financial year. Note that around £5,200 remains to be spent on projects and expenses associated with the likely transition of Bethanie to new managers.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
The charity is controlled by its governing document, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
## **Organisational structure**
Bless, established as a charitable company in June 2004, is overseen by a board of trustees, who delegate operational tasks to a core team of volunteers. The core team, living mainly in community in France, include trustees Gerard and Chrissie Kelly, who lead this team and operate as the link between it and the trustees. Additionally there continues to be volunteer 'reps' operating in the UK and the Netherlands, as well as France, assisting in the development, in both working practices and values, of a Europe wide Bless network.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
## **Registered Company number**
05156475 (England and Wales)
## **Registered Charity number**
1105173
## **Registered office**
c/o Rising Brook Baptist Church Burton Square Stafford Staffordshire ST17 9LT
Page 2
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **for the Year Ended 30th September 2022**
## **Trustees**
Mrs C E Kelly G J Kelly T D Gwilliam M J Young - Board Chairman Prof J M Saker Mrs C L Gwilliam Mrs S C Harrington
**Company Secretary** T M Herriott
## **Independent Examiner**
D E Ball & Co Limited Chartered Accountants 15 Bridge Road Wellington Telford Shropshire TF1 1EB
## **Bankers**
The Co-operative Bank Plc PO Box 250 Delf House Southway Skelmersdale WN8 6WT
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 26th June 2023 and signed on its behalf by:
M J Young - Trustee
Page 3
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Bless Network ('the Company')**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 30th September 2022.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity's trustees of the Company (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 the Company 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 the Company 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.
Russell Ball
D E Ball & Co Limited Chartered Accountants 15 Bridge Road Wellington Telford Shropshire TF1 1EB
26th June 2023
Page 4
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the Year Ended 30th September 2022**
|Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
16,247
**Charitable activities**
Go2Bless
7,699
Year2Bless
1,814
Bethanie
15,208
Management & administration
6,713
**Total**
47,681
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
1,254
**Charitable activities**
Go2Bless
4,478
Year2Bless
317
Bethanie
28,025
Management & administration
19,655
SOS Caen
1,538
**Total**
55,267
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
(7,586)
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
92,196
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
84,610|Restricted
fund
£
153
-
-
-
-
153
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
153
177,285
177,438|30.9.22
Total
funds
£
16,400
7,699
1,814
15,208
6,713
47,834
1,254
4,478
317
28,025
19,655
1,538
55,267
(7,433)
269,481
262,048|30.9.21
Total
funds
£
38,381
960
814
5,319
8,801|
|---|---|---|---|
||||54,275|
||||518
368
48
20,484
10,374
3,565|
||||35,357|
||||18,918
250,563|
||||269,481|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## **30th September 2022**
|Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
5
197,231
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
6
5,856
Cash at bank
6,779
12,635
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
7
(10,717)
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
1,918
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
199,149
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due after more than one year
8
(114,539)
**NET ASSETS**
84,610
**FUNDS**
10
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Restricted
fund
£
177,438
-
-
-
-
-
177,438
-
177,438|30.9.22
Total
funds
£
374,669
5,856
6,779
12,635
(10,717)
1,918
376,587
(114,539)
262,048
84,610
177,438
262,048|30.9.21
Total
funds
£
375,962
22,110
10,901
33,011
(6,653)
26,358
402,320
(132,839)
269,481
92,196
177,285
269,481|
|---|---|---|---|
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 30th September 2022.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 30th September 2022 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
- (a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
- (b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
continued...
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **BALANCE SHEET - continued**
## **30th September 2022**
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 26th June 2023 and were signed on its behalf by:
M J Young - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 7
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 30th September 2022**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
## **Income**
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
## **Expenditure**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Motor vehicles - 25% on reducing balance Computer equipment - 33% on cost
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **2. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):
||30.9.22|30.9.21|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Depreciation - owned assets|1,293|908|
continued...
Page 8
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 30th September 2022**
## **3. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 30th September 2022 nor for the year ended 30th September 2021.
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 30th September 2022 nor for the year ended 30th September 2021.
## **4. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
|Unrestricted
fund
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
37,486
**Charitable activities**
Go2Bless
960
Year2Bless
814
Bethanie
5,319
Management & administration
8,801
**Total**
53,380
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
518
**Charitable activities**
Go2Bless
368
Year2Bless
48
Bethanie
20,484
Management & administration
10,374
SOS Caen
3,565
**Total**
35,357
**NET INCOME**
18,023
**Transfers between funds**
(3,500)
**Net movement in funds**
14,523
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
77,673
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
92,196|Restricted
fund
£
895
-
-
-
-
895
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
895
3,500
4,395
172,890
177,285|Total
funds
£
38,381
960
814
5,319
8,801|
|---|---|---|
|||54,275|
|||518
368
48
20,484
10,374
3,565|
|||35,357|
|||18,918
-|
|||18,918
250,563|
|||269,481|
continued...
Page 9
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 30th September 2022**
## **5. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
|Freehold
Motor
Computer
property
vehicles
equipment
£
£
£
**COST**
At 1st October 2021 and
30th September 2022
370,792
9,118
904
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1st October 2021
-
3,948
904
Charge for year
-
1,293
-
At 30th September 2022
-
5,241
904
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 30th September 2022
370,792
3,877
-
At 30th September 2021
370,792
5,170
-
**6.**
**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
30.9.22
£
Inter-Charity account
4,948
Other debtor
908
5,856
**7.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
30.9.22
£
Other loans (see note 9)
5,000
Accrued expenses
5,717
10,717
**8.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR**
30.9.22
£
Other loans (see note 9)
114,539
**9.**
**LOANS**
An analysis of the maturity of loans is given below:
30.9.22
£
Amounts falling due within one year on demand:
Other loans
5,000
Amounts falling due between two and five years:
Other loans - 2-5 years
114,539|Totals
£
380,814|
|---|---|
||4,852
1,293|
||6,145|
||374,669|
||375,962|
||30.9.21
£
21,834
276
22,110
30.9.21
£
5,000
1,653
6,653
30.9.21
£
132,839|
||30.9.21
£
5,000|
||132,839|
continued...
Page 10
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 30th September 2022**
## **10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted Fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted Fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**Comparatives for movement in funds**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted Fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|follows:
At
1.10.20
£
77,673
172,890
250,563|At
1.10.21
£
92,196
177,285
269,481
Incoming
resources
£
47,681
153
47,834
Net
movement
in funds
£
18,023
895
18,918|Net
movement
At
in funds
30.9.22
£
£
(7,586)
84,610
153
177,438
(7,433)
262,048
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(55,267)
(7,586)
-
153
(55,267)
(7,433)
Transfers
between
At
funds
30.9.21
£
£
(3,500)
92,196
3,500
177,285
-
269,481|
|---|---|---|---|
continued...
Page 11
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 30th September 2022**
## **10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
53,380
**Restricted funds**
Restricted Fund
895
**TOTAL FUNDS**
54,275
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
Net
At
movement
1.10.20
in funds
£
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
77,673
10,437
**Restricted funds**
Restricted Fund
172,890
1,048
**TOTAL FUNDS**
250,563
11,485|Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(35,357)
18,023
-
895
(35,357)
18,918
Transfers
between
At
funds
30.9.22
£
£
(3,500)
84,610
3,500
177,438
-
262,048|
|---|---|
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
||Incoming|Resources|Movement|
|---|---|---|---|
||resources|expended|in funds|
||£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**||||
|General fund|101,061|(90,624)|10,437|
|**Restricted funds**||||
|Restricted Fund|1,048|-|1,048|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|102,109|(90,624)|11,485|
## **Unrestricted funds**
These represent funds held to meet the reserves policy. Any surplus funds will be used to fulfil the charitable objectives. Details of both are provided in the Report of the Trustees.
## **Restricted funds**
These relate to the funds donated towards the purchase of the property "Bethanie" at Heurtevent, France.
continued...
Page 12
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 30th September 2022**
## **11. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 30th September 2022.
Page 13
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the Year Ended 30th September 2022**
|**for the Year Ended 30th**|**September 2022**||
|---|---|---|
||30.9.22|30.9.21|
||£|£|
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**|||
|**Donations and legacies**|||
|Gifts|2,360|-|
|Donations - general|6,112|5,836|
|Donations - Bethanie|5,203|28,584|
|SOS Caen|2,725|3,961|
||16,400|38,381|
|**Charitable activities**|||
|Go2Bless|7,699|960|
|Year/Time2Bless|1,814|814|
|Bethanie facilities|15,208|5,319|
|Management fees|6,713|8,801|
||31,434|15,894|
|**Total incoming resources**|47,834|54,275|
|**EXPENDITURE**|||
|**Raising donations and legacies**|||
|Publicity and promotion|1,038|292|
|Platform fees|216|226|
||1,254|518|
|**Charitable activities**|||
|Insurance|2,629|1,645|
|Motor and travel expenses|6,902|4,684|
|Gifts passed to third parties|2,360|-|
|Mission costs - Bethanie|28,025|20,484|
|Mission costs - Go2Bless|4,478|368|
|Mission costs - Year/Time2Bless|317|48|
|Mission costs - SOS Caen|1,538|3,565|
|Sundry expenses|2,058|2,344|
|Accountancy and legal costs|4,413|651|
|Bank charges|-|142|
|Depreciation of vehicle|1,293|908|
||54,013|34,839|
|Total resources expended|55,267|35,357|
|**Net (expenditure)/income**|(7,433)|18,918|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 14