2024-04-30-accounts - Friends Of St Laurence Church Blackmore

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01-05-23 Period start date To 30-04-24 Period end date Charity name: Friends of St Laurence Church, Blackmore

Charity registration number: 1113888

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The objective of FoSL is to assist in the maintenance, repair, restoration, preservation, beautification and reconstruction of St Laurence Church
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	Fund-raising for Tower and Lych Gate Project through 3 Events: Quiz, Games Night, Concert. Profile-raising at the Blackmore May Fayre and Buy A Shingle. Donations invited via the Replica Tower and Social Media. Funds were granted to St Laurence PCC for a Bat Survey
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	A statement was made to members at the Annual General Meeting of 25th July 2024 within the Chairman’s Report regarding Public Benefit. A similar statement was made at the previous AGM held on 30th October 2023. The statements indicate that CC Guidance was followed and there were no conflicts of interest.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
	Para 1.38
Policy on grant making
	Para 1.38
Policy on social investment
including program related
investment
	Para 1.38
Contribution made by
volunteers

Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	The Tower of St Laurence Church is now on the National Heritage At Risk register and is the main focus of our activities to raise funds to restore it. Profile-raising at Blackmore May Fayre and three other events raised over £25000 including donations by individuals. In line with FoSL’s purpose, the goal is to restore the Tower, described by historian Niklaus Pevsner as ‘possibly the most impressive timber tower in the UK’. The Tower as a construction educates and informs generations of public society, visitors and worshippers at the Church. Once sufficient funds are achieved, the restoration work can commence. Additionally on an annual basis we grant funds to St Laurence Church to support ongoing maintenance such as grass-cutting, tree maintenance etc.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The Treasurer reported to members at the AGM of 25th July 2024 citing an exceptional year of fundraising. The £23678 of donations raised includes £6000 from the Blackmore Village Fayre Committee and several individual personal donations. The accounts show an excess of receipts over payments of £22,982.61 at the end of the year. Our Funds have therefore increased substantially by this amount and the total held at year end was £91316
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	All our funds/reserves are held in accordance with our Objects
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£91316
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	None
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	None
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	None

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including Para 1.47 any fundraising) Investment policy and objectives including any Para 1.46 social investment policy adopted A description of the principal Para 1.46 risks facing the charity Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	CIO
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Trustees are elected at an AGM to the committee and serve a three year period after which they must retire and may stand for re-election. The St Laurence PCC is entitled to nominate a maximum of two members to the FoSL committee.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Friends of St Laurence Church Blackmore
Other name the charity uses	-
Registered charity number	1113888
Charity’s principal address	Uvongo Blackmore Road Blackmore Ingatestone CM4 0QX

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
Marion Wollaston	Chairman	FoSL committee
John Caton	Treasurer
Carol Moulder	Secretary
Richard Thwaite	Vice-Chairman and Membership Secretary
William Parkinson
Brenda Flack
KayDoyle
Claire Norris
Peter Mason

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets None held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects

Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date	CJM	MW

	Carol Jill Moulder	Marion Wollaston

	Secretary	Chairman
	13 October 2024
	13 October 2024

Friends of St Laurence Church Blackmore Registered Charity 1113888 ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

2023 RECEIPTS 2186 Membership 1295 Donatons - General 800 Donatons - Tower Project 425 Gif Aid reclaimed 272 Bank Deposit Interest FUND RAISING EVENTS IN OUT PROFIT Quiz 693.00 63.15 629.85 Fun and Games Night 859.79 90.58 769.21 Sid Bolan Big Band 1259.58 418.58 841.00 2746 2812.37 572.31 2240.06 7724 LESS PAYMENTS 260 Insurance 260.06 12 Postage 0 1630 Donatons to St Laurence PCC fabric fund 5990.00 17 Miscellaneous 0 76 Bank and Card charges 121.11 0 Tower Project Expenses 368.17 95 Card Reader Payments 99.00 2090 5634 EXCESS OF RECEIPTS OVER PAYMENTS FUNDS HELD 68146 Bank 183 Cash 5 Other 68334 Of this amount £66316.84 is designated for the Tower Project FUNDS ACCUMULATED 62700 Balance at 1st May 2023 5634 Excess above 68334 Balance at 30th April 2024	2024 1561.00 224.00 23678.62 1697.96 419.31 2240.06 29820.95 6838.34 22982.61	2024
	91133.72 183.12 0.00 91316.84
	68334.23 22982.61
	91316.84

M Wollaston, Chairman

J Caton, Treaurer

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER TO THE TRUSTEES OF FRIENDS OF ST LAURENCE CHURCH BLACKMORE YEAR ENDED 30- APRIL 2024 I report on the accounts for the year ended 30 April 2024 which are attached. Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and the Independent Examiner The chariws trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2} of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act: Follow procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity commissioners section 145(5)Ib) of the 2011 Act; and State whether particular matters have come to my attention Basls of Independent Examlners Ststement My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the management committee concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a full audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts. Independent examlnerfs statement In connection with my examination, no Matter has come to my attention: Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with s.130 of the 2011 Act; Or To prepare accounts, which accord with these accounting records have not been met: Or To which, in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Gillian Romang Date: 2024