**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 2023**
## **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 2023**
|||**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 2023**
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 2023. 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, members of Bless based in France are supporting the planting of new churches.
## **Charity's Mission Statement**
The Bless Network exists to explore and express the way of Jesus by activating the values of his Kingdom in the cultures of Europe.
## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Charitable activities**
Our local work in France, both in the planting of a bilingual / international church in Caen and our regular support of the refugee community in the city, continued strongly through the year. In particular, we are seeing growth in the local church community, with regular gatherings now established in Caen, Villedômer and Livarot. We were again able to supply vital supplies and support to refugees through the winter of 2022/23. We have continued to develop our "Seven Stories" training programme, offering both residential courses at Bethanie and off-site input into local churches, including Nashville, USA.
The Blesstival event was again well-attended and well-received. Our theme of the "Jesus Revolution" struck a deep chord with those present and the event culminated in seven baptisms.
The summer programs at Bethanie were led and managed by Ryan and Karen Hall with Jon and Anna White, and was both busy and fruitful. The Atelier weeks were particularly impactful, both on outside participants and on the local church, as was the now regular visit of Frontier Church from Pasadena, California.
The trustees have invested significant time in 2023 in further developing the relationship with Ryan and Karen Hall in-line with Bless' stated aim of their taking-on the management of Bethanie. For their part, Ryan and Karen made a loan of US$ 95,000 to Bless in January 2023 through their US charity, Wayfinder Trust, based in Nashville, with a view to their raising further funds to buy Bethanie based on negotiations with the trustees during the year.
Ryan and Karen have been involved in summer programmes at Bethanie for several summers, and are developing a vision for the premises which is both complementary to, and a continuation of the objectives and purposes of the Bless Network.
The implementation of the decision of the UK to leave the European Union continues to significantly impact the charity's activities. UK interns and potential team members are now subject to visa restrictions and this has led to a slowing-down of UK applications for our intern programme, and to difficulties in recruiting long-term volunteers. The trustees are exploring creative ways to overcome these difficulties - not least through the mobilisation of France-based volunteers through the activities of our local churches. We are aware that this will change the relationship of UK nationals to the charity's work in France.
The centre of Bless activities is now Caen and so the trustees, having already decided that moving a building base for ministry from Bethanie to Caen is necessary, have taken advice from estate agent. This has been that in order to sell Bethanie, sewage treatment needs replacing, the old barns needs removing or renovating and the existing barn roof needs replacing. These works have been agreed by trustees. Nevertheless, Ryan and Karen Hall wish to continue the current charitable work of Bethanie as a retreat, prayer and spiritual discipleship centre. This means that selling it to them releases finance to purchase property for ministry in Caen whilst at the same time enabling the current use of Bethanie to continue. The money raised to purchase Bethanie will continue to be used for the same reasons in the building in Caen and Bethanie will also continue to function in its originally stated way. The trustees are keen to see this happen and so are negotiating selling the property to the Halls and considering also discounting the amount for the above mentioned necessary sale works to be done.
Page 1
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **for the Year Ended 30th September 2023**
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Financial position**
Core running costs are continually kept under review and were 1% lower in 2022-23 compared to 2021-22; it is acknowledged that the trustees and volunteer team cover expenses incurred on behalf of Bless. None of the trustees or volunteers receive any remuneration.
Bless received a loan of US$95,000 (£ 74,862) in January 2023 from Ryan & Karen Hall, repayable in December 2028 or the date of sale of Bethanie, whichever is the earlier. Part of the loan has been used during the year in repayment of a portion (28%) of the outstanding loan from Gerard & Chrissie Kelly (£ 32,500), funding a part-time church manager in France, and payment of the costs associated with negotiating the loan.
The net loss for the year of around £ 9,000 is almost entirely due to the funding of the church manager in France. Further losses are expected in the coming year as the loan monies are used to develop the work of the churches in France (Caen and Livarot), including larger premises in Caen.
## **Reserves policy**
The policy on reserves is to maintain funds equivalent to keeping the charity (including VPLA in France) operational for 3 months before additional income is required from grants, donations or contributions from Bless programmes, i.e. approximately £7,500. 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 2023**
## **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 24th June 2024 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 2023.
## **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
24th June 2024
Page 4
## **THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the Year Ended 30th September 2023**
|Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
10,146
**Charitable activities**
Go2Bless
9,461
Year2Bless
1,226
Bethanie
18,412
Management & administration
6,573
**Total**
45,818
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
216
**Charitable activities**
Go2Bless
6,583
Year2Bless
649
Bethanie
20,230
Management & administration
25,251
SOS Caen
1,840
**Total**
54,769
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
(8,951)
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
84,610
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
75,659|Restricted
fund
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
177,438
177,438|30.9.23
30.9.22
Total
Total
funds
funds
£
£
10,146
16,400
9,461
7,699
1,226
1,814
18,412
15,208
6,573
6,713
45,818
47,834
216
1,254
6,583
4,478
649
317
20,230
28,025
25,251
19,655
1,840
1,538
54,769
55,267
(8,951)
(7,433)
262,048
269,481
253,097
262,048|
|---|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
## **THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **BALANCE SHEET 30th September 2023**
|Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
5
196,262
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
6
122
Cash at bank
47,434
47,556
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
7
(11,258)
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
36,298
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**
232,560
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due after more than one year
8
(156,901)
**NET ASSETS**
75,659
**FUNDS**
10
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Restricted
fund
£
177,438
-
-
-
-
-
177,438
-
177,438|30.9.23
Total
funds
£
373,700
122
47,434
47,556
(11,258)
36,298
409,998
(156,901)
253,097
75,659
177,438
253,097|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|
|---|---|---|---|
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 30th September 2023.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 30th September 2023 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
continued...
Page 6
## **THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **BALANCE SHEET - continued**
## **30th September 2023**
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 24th June 2024 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 2023**
## **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):
||30.9.23|30.9.22|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Depreciation - owned assets|969|1,293|
continued...
Page 8
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 30th September 2023**
## **3. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 30th September 2023 nor for the year ended 30th September 2022.
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 30th September 2023 nor for the year ended 30th September 2022.
## **4.**
## **COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
|Unrestricted
fund
£
**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|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|
|---|---|---|
continued...
Page 9
## **THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 30th September 2023**
## **5. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
## **6.**
## **7.**
|Freehold
property
£
**COST**
At 1st October 2022 and 30th September 2023
370,792
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1st October 2022
-
Charge for year
-
At 30th September 2023
-
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 30th September 2023
370,792
At 30th September 2022
370,792
**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Inter-Charity account
Other debtor
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Other loans (see note 9)
Accrued expenses|Motor
Computer
vehicles
equipment
£
£
9,118
904
5,241
904
969
-
6,210
904
2,908
-
3,877
-
30.9.23
£
-
122
122
30.9.23
£
5,000
6,258
11,258|Totals
£
380,814|Totals
£
380,814|
|---|---|---|---|
|||6,145
969||
|||7,114||
|||373,700||
|||374,669||
|||30.9.22
£
4,948
908
5,856
30.9.22
£
5,000
5,717
10,717||
||||10,717|
continued...
Page 10
## **THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 30th September 2023**
## **8. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR**
|Other loans (see note 9)
**9.**
**LOANS**
An analysis of the maturity of loans is given below:
Amounts falling due within one year on demand:
Other loans
Amounts falling due between two and five years:
Other loans - 2-5 years
**10.**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted Fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At
1.10.22
£
84,610
177,438
262,048
Incoming
resources
£
45,818
45,818|30.9.23
30.9.22
£
£
156,901
114,539
30.9.23
30.9.22
£
£
5,000
5,000
156,901
114,539
Net
movement
At
in funds
30.9.23
£
£
(8,951)
75,659
-
177,438
(8,951)
253,097
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(54,769)
(8,951)
(54,769)
(8,951)|
|---|---|---|
continued...
Page 11
## **THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 30th September 2023**
## **10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
## **Comparatives for movement in funds**
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted Fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted Fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At
1.10.21
£
92,196
177,285
269,481
Incoming
resources
£
47,681
153
47,834|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)|
|---|---|---|
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
|||Net||
|---|---|---|---|
||At|movement|At|
||1.10.21|in funds|30.9.23|
||£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**||||
|General fund|92,196|(16,537)|75,659|
|**Restricted funds**||||
|Restricted Fund|177,285|153|177,438|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|269,481|(16,384)|253,097|
continued...
Page 12
**THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 30th September 2023**
## **10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
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|93,499|(110,036)|(16,537)|
|**Restricted funds**||||
|Restricted Fund|153|-|153|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|93,652|(110,036)|(16,384)|
## **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.
## **11. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 30th September 2023.
Page 13
## **THE BLESS NETWORK**
## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the Year Ended 30th September 2023**
||30.9.23|30.9.22|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**|||
|**Donations and legacies**|||
|Gifts|1,571|2,360|
|Donations - general|7,716|6,112|
|Donations - Bethanie|426|5,203|
|SOS Caen|433|2,725|
||10,146|16,400|
|**Charitable activities**|||
|Go2Bless|9,461|7,699|
|Year/Time2Bless|1,226|1,814|
|Bethanie facilities|18,412|15,208|
|Management fees|6,573|6,713|
||35,672|31,434|
|**Total incoming resources**|45,818|47,834|
|**EXPENDITURE**|||
|**Raising donations and legacies**|||
|Publicity and promotion|-|1,038|
|Platform fees|216|216|
||216|1,254|
|**Charitable activities**|||
|Insurance|2,916|2,629|
|Repairs and maintenance|326|-|
|Motor and travel expenses|6,462|6,902|
|Gifts passed to third parties|1,571|2,360|
|Mission costs - Bethanie|20,233|28,025|
|Mission costs - Go2Bless|6,583|4,478|
|Mission costs - Year/Time2Bless|530|317|
|Mission costs - SOS Caen|1,840|1,538|
|Church manager|8,079|-|
|Sundry expenses|2,654|2,058|
|Accountancy and legal costs|2,390|4,413|
|Depreciation of vehicle|969|1,293|
||54,553|54,013|
|Total resources expended|54,769|55,267|
|**Net expenditure**|(8,951)|(7,433)|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 14