Registered Charity no. 1106417
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022 FOR THE LIVING HOPE INTERNATIONAL CHARITY
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LIVING HOPE INTERNATIONAL CHARITY CONTENTS PAGE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 3 to 7 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 8 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | 9 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 10 |
| Notes to the Receipts and Payments Accounts | 11 - 13 |
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LIVING HOPE INTERNATIONAL CHARITY TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022
The Trustees present their report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2022.
Our work during this period has been undertaken within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reference and Administrative Details
Trustees
Mr Jeremy Parkes (retired October 2021) Mrs Lois Claire Parkes Mr Christopher Vincent Welch (retired October 2021) Mr Daniel Parkes Mr David Cookson
*Mrs Lois Claire Parkes and Mr Daniel Parkes are unrelated – not connected by birth or family.
Charity Name and Registration Number
Living Hope International 1106417
Operating Name and Registered Office Address
Living Hope Church Brindley House 48-50 Hall Street Dudley West Midlands DY2 7DT
Lead Pastor
Mrs Lisa Parkes
Organisational structure
The charity was created by Trust Deed on 3[rd] October 2004.
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LIVING HOPE INTERNATIONAL CHARITY TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022
Governance and Management
Appointment of trustees
Trustees are appointed or reappointed annually at the annual general meeting held in October.
Risk policy and review
The trustees have examined the major strategic, business and operational risks that the charity faces and consider that they are adequately mitigated through insurance, strategic planning, policies, systems and procedures.
During this period the most significant risks have been those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the management of operations coming out of national restrictions to re-establish weekly gatherings and in-person activities.
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Inability to meet together regularly in person (inside an appropriate building) for congregational worship (during the first half of this period).
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Excessive workload associated with leading and managing ‘online church’ and associated ministries alongside increased community mission (COVID-response) in the first half of this period.
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Multiple challenges associated with re-establishing and re-starting regular in-person gatherings each week following relaxation of government restrictions (in the second half of this period).
Safeguarding
Trustees are assured of the ongoing implementation (and appropriate adaptation) of our safeguarding processes and procedures during this period. Our Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Policy is reviewed and updated as required. Despite the operational challenges of COVID-19 we continued to engage with our independent safeguarding advisors Thirtyone:eight (formerly CCPAS) in the effective management of safeguarding risk and response to any concerns identified or disclosed.
Networks and Membership Groups
Living Hope Church is a member of the ELIM NETWORK. Elim is a growing movement of Christian congregations in the UK and Ireland committed to making disciples, developing leaders, growing churches and reaching nations.
Volunteers from partner churches and organisations were secured for our work in this period (particularly with our REVIVE Project). We are grateful to our partners from local churches including through the DUDLEY CHURCHES TOGETHER and the LOVE DUDLEY network (THE BLACK COUNTRY NET).
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LIVING HOPE INTERNATIONAL CHARITY REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022
Objectives and Activities
The objects of the charity are:
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To advance the Christian faith
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To advance education, in particular but not exclusively by providing training to leaders of activities
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To relieve poverty, sickness and distress in any part of the world
Achievements and Performance
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated government restrictions continued to impact aspects of how Living Hope Church operated and how activities were undertaken in relation to its charitable objects during the first half of this period.
The ‘new ways of working’ established during ‘national lockdowns’ provided a platform to build on for church congregation and volunteers.
‘LHC Online Church’ (broadcasted via ‘YouTube’ and hosted virtually via ‘Zoom’) continued to be the most prominent expression of collective worship during the first half of this period. Church members connected together more readily using social media platforms and we were encouraged by new people engaging with the church through our online content (and despite having no prior association with the church).
Our first full in-person gathering for collective worship was Easter Sunday 2021; we met in-person for a ‘drive in’ Easter service on the car park of our church offices at Brindley House, Dudley. Online broadcasts for Sunday services continued until the Autumn when we re-started our in-person collective worship. We are grateful for the support and generosity of other local churches who made their buildings available to us for our Sunday services. We met at Grace Community Church (Pensnett) in September before moving to Park Congregational Church (Dudley) in October, where we gathered each week for the remainder of this period.
During this period our work in relation to our charitable objectives transitioned from activities significantly influenced by COVID restrictions to the re-start of more traditional / typical in-person activities. Building on the innovations established as a result of the pandemic, while returning to more typical activities in the second half of this period, we delivered:
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20 online services, planned, filmed, edited, watched and discussed online afterwards
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4 advent (Christmas 2021) online devotionals and accompanying social media activities
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A successful Christmas Campaign with our partners CHADD; donating gifts (including pyjamas) to women and children in safe refuge for protection from domestic abuse.
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5 Car Park / Drive-In church services including Easter Sunday 2021
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27 weekly in-person Sunday gatherings, hosted at 2 different local churches (as schools and community buildings continued to be unavailable to us)
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Further growth and development of our REVIVE PROJECT (working with a wide range of church volunteers throughout Dudley).
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LIVING HOPE INTERNATIONAL CHARITY REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022
During this period our REVIVE Project continued to be a critical programme delivering online holiday clubs and food parcels for families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Having established a model for growth last year, we further developed the programme particularly for the Easter and Whitsun school holidays, 2021. Local schools identified families who would benefit the most and Dudley Council partfunded food and resources via additional grants. Growing beyond our previous operations, and in partnership with Black Country Food Bank, Church leaders, members and volunteers from local churches worked together to meet unprecedented need with an unprecedented response.
Our REVIVE PROJECT work in this period included:
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Online Holiday Club Content (games, puppets, dances etc.) broadcasted LIVE via YouTube to families throughout Dudley
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120+ volunteers from 20+ different churches
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1000+ packs of food and arts and crafts activities delivered to homes
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2 distribution centres enabling the sorting, packing and efficient & effective delivery of food to children from 25+ different schools
The growth and impact of our work with this project is illustrated clearly with the numbers of disadvantaged and vulnerable children supported:
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110 children in the school Summer holidays 2020
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271 children in the October half term holidays 2020
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521 children in February half term 2021
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1000 children in Easter and Whitsun holidays 2021
Feedback from families who benefitted from our REVIVE project in this period included:
- “Thank you for being so kind to us in our time of need”
During this period our community youth engagement work (undertaken in partnership with PHASE TRUST) continued in the form of ‘detached youth work’ meeting outside with local teenagers each week. These activities were re-established in Grange Park, Dudley, adjacent to the Park Congregational Church building that we were using for Sunday gatherings for the second half of this period. As COVID guidance and appropriate risk assessments were updated, we were able to provide a safe, warm environment (in the church building) as well as food and refreshments for young people during the winter months.
The global pandemic continued to impact the work of our mission partners in Albania and Lebanon during this period. Planned pastoral and ministry visits overseas continued to be postponed, however, the confidence to innovate with our mission partners overseas (including online video calls and meetings) meant we were able to host ‘LIVE video conversations’ and interviews during our Sunday church services in the second half of this period.
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LIVING HOPE INTERNATIONAL CHARITY REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022
This ensured many more people were updated, engaged, re-introduced, or introduced to the work of our overseas partners for the first time.
Future Developments
2022/23 will be an exciting and significant year for us. We plan for 2022/23 to be a year of building and re-building. We plan to re-build our weekly in-person congregational gatherings each Sunday.
We have plans for our first baptism service (post-pandemic) and we look forward to prominent inperson celebrations at Christmas and Easter as well as to acknowledge the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Building on our Elim Network membership, we plan, subject to COVID guidance, to take a group of young people to attend the Limitless Festival in August 2022.
September 2022 marks our 20-year anniversary as Living Hope Church. We plan to host a community weekend that combines anniversary celebrations and the official opening of a new ‘home’ for our church.
We plan to establish our ‘home’ on the Russells Hall estate – a community we have served for many years. Through agreement with the Church of England Diocese of Worcester, we plan to move into the former Church of St Barnabas building, providing a permanent home for congregational worship and a community hub centre to better meet the needs of the local communities we serve in Dudley.
We look forward to re-building many of the mid-week activities and programmes that were postponed or ‘moved online’ during the pandemic. We look forward to building new activities and programmes (including those made possible by a new permanent ‘home’) that meet the needs of people and enable us to demonstrate the hope of God’s love more effectively.
Financial Review
The net outgoing unrestricted resources including designated funds before transfers for the year amounted to (£3,473) (2021 incoming unrestricted and designated resources £4,223). The net outgoing restricted resources before transfers for the year amounted to (£15,880) (2021 incoming restricted resources totalled £24,022). Transfers between funds are detailed in note 4 of the accounts. At 31st March 2022 unrestricted funds amounted to £16,110 (2021 £19,227) designated funds amounted to £6,849 (2021 £7,205) and restricted funds amounted to £36,416 (2021 £52,296)
Reserves and reserves policy
Our reserves policy is to maintain a minimum of two months minimum operating costs as a contingency fund.
Approved by the trustees on 20[th] January 2023 and signed on their behalf by Mrs Lois Parkes.
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LIVING HOPE INTERNATIONAL CHARITY INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31st March 2022.
Responsibilities and basis of report.
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’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 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 respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
The accounts do not accord with those records.
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 proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
S A Reeves
S A Reeves FCCA S A R Accountants Redditch
20th January 2023
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LIVING HOPE INTERNATIONAL CHARITY RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022
| Notes RECEIPTS Tithes and offerings 5a Donations 5b Gift Aid tax recovered 5c Grants 5d Receipts from charitable activities 5e Interest and dividends 5f TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS Direct charitable activity 6a TOTAL PAYMENTS NET OF RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS Transfers between funds CASH FUNDS AS AT 31/03/21 CASH FUNDS AS AT 31/03/22 4 |
Unrestricted Funds 2022 £ 37,713 - 8,234 - - - 45,947 49,064 49,064 (3,117) - 19,227 16,110 |
Designated funds 2022 £ 100 - - - - - 100 456 456 (356) - 7,205 6,849 |
Restricted Funds 2022 £ - 2,930 - 2,097 - 35 5,062 20,942 20,942 (15,880) - 52,296 36,416 |
Total Funds 2022 £ 37,813 2,930 8,234 2,097 - 35 51,109 70,462 70,462 (19,353) - 78,728 59,375 |
Total Funds 2021 £ 35,753 3,100 9,672 57,404 770 10 106,709 78,464 78,464 28,245 - 50,483 78,728 |
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LIVING HOPE INTERNATIONAL CHARITY STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31ST MARCH 2022
| Notes Unrestricted Funds 2022 £ Cash funds Current account 16,110 Deposit accounts - 4 16,110 Other monetary assets Gift aid recoverable 773 Assets for charitable use Fixtures & Fittings - Equipment - |
Designated funds 2022 £ 6,849 - 6,849 - 185 727 |
Restricted Funds 2022 £ 18,669 17,747 36,416 - - - |
Total Funds 2022 £ 41,628 17,747 59,375 773 185 727 |
Total Funds 2021 £ 61,016 17,712 78,728 664 248 1,085 |
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The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 20th January 2023 were signed on its behalf by:
Mrs Lois Parkes Trustee
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LIVING HOPE INTERNATIONAL CHARITY NOTES TO THE RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022
- 1 Trustees' Remuneration and benefits
The charity trustees were neither paid nor received any benefits from employment during the year.
2 Staff Costs
The average monthly number of employees during the year was 1 (2021: 2)
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000
3 Related party transactions
During the year Lisa Parkes, daughter in law of trustee Jeremy Parkes, received remuneration of £17,508 (2021 £14,631) and pension contributions of £525 (2021 £515).
4 Movement in funds
The movements in designated and restricted funds during the year were:
| General (unrestricted) Designated Evangelical & Discipleship Vision Fund Little Stars Restricted Albania General Albanian Bequest Fund Allchurches Elona School Holiday Activity Heart of England Baptist Innovation Fund - Little stars Innovation Fund - Revive Lottery - Revive Total funds |
Balance b/fwd Receipts Payments Transfers Balance c/fwd 01/04/2021 31/03/2022 £ £ £ £ £ 19,227 45,947 49,064 - 16,110 4,206 - 456 - 3,750 2,999 - - - 2,999 - 100 - - 100 7,205 100 456 - 6,849 175 2,220 1,990 - 405 17,712 35 - - 17,747 4,485 - 4,488 49 46 (168) 710 - - 542 8,367 (3,000) 4,821 (117) 429 5,000 - 3,397 (1,603) - 6,842 5,097 1,210 - 10,729 - - 289 2,806 2,517 9,883 - 4,747 (1,135) 4,001 52,296 5,062 20,942 - 36,416 78,728 51,109 70,462 - 59,375 |
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LIVING HOPE INTERNATIONAL CHARITY NOTES TO THE RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022
| 5 Further analysis of Receipts Receipts a) Tithes and offerings Tithes & gifts Church offering b) Donations Specific donation - Albania Specific donation - Elona Specific donation - Lebanon c) Gift Aid Gift Aid tax recovered d) Grants Grants from institutions e) Receipts from charitable activities Holiday hunger/Revive Income f) Interest and dividends Bank interest TOTAL RECEIPTS |
Unrestricted Funds 2022 £ 31,575 6,138 37,713 - - - - 8,234 - - 45,947 |
Designated funds 2022 £ 100 - 100 - - - - - - - - 100 |
Restricted Funds 2022 £ - - - 2,220 710 - 2,930 - 2,097 - 35 5,062 |
Total 2022 £ 31,675 6,138 37,813 2,220 710 - 2,930 8,234 2,097 - 35 51,109 |
Total 2021 £ 35,052 701 35,753 1,920 720 460 3,100 9,672 57,404 770 10 106,709 |
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LIVING HOPE INTERNATIONAL CHARITY NOTES TO THE RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022
| 6 Further analysis of Payments Payments a) Direct charitable activity Ministry salaries Ministry pension costs Training & CPDL Benevolence Gifts Visiting speakers Travelling & motor expenses Mission - outgoing support Mission - direct gifts Evangelism and Alpha Hospitality Children & Youth Revive Holiday Club Revive craft & activities Revive professional fees Revive consumables & packaging Revive food & refreshments Revive communications Revive - licenses & subscriptions Little Stars Little Stars craft Rent - Sunday & Lock up Rent - office Rent - other Insurance Equipment Repairs & renewals Books, publications & media Licenses & subscriptions Professional fees Office sundries Telephone, broadband & mobiles Bank charges TOTAL PAYMENTS |
Unrestricted Funds 2022 £ 15,717 525 246 2,561 220 25 9,540 850 166 1,346 437 - 6 - - 213 57 - - - 1,108 6,254 - 686 1,737 8 111 1,704 4,397 630 421 99 49,064 |
Designated funds 2022 £ - - 60 - - - 60 - 30 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6 - 300 - - - 456 |
Restricted Funds 2022 £ 1,791 - - - - 1,990 - - - 722 4,902 5,614 142 225 395 120 1,240 802 - - - - 2,999 - - - - - - - 20,942 |
Total Total 2022 2021 £ £ 17,508 22,181 525 709 306 150 2,561 2,030 220 120 25 - 9,540 10,040 2,840 2,821 226 11 1,346 227 467 309 722 9,308 4,908 6,180 5,614 6,098 142 2,421 438 79 452 124 120 33 1,240 1,001 802 665 1,108 936 6,254 5,007 - 53 686 454 4,736 490 8 135 117 278 1,704 1,013 4,697 4,389 630 516 421 534 99 152 70,462 78,464 |
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