New Life Church, Biggleswade
TRUSTEE’S REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
Charity Registration No. 1121027
- 1 -
| CONTENTS | Page |
|---|---|
| Trustees Report | 3 - 5 |
| Independent Examiners Report | 6 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 7 |
| Balance sheet | 8 |
| Notes to the accounts | 9 - 12 |
FindnewLife Church, Biggleswade Trustees Report and Financial Statements March 2023 Page | 2
New Life Church, Biggleswade
Trustees’ annual report for the period:
From: April 1st. 2022 To: March 31st. 2023
Charity name: New Life Church, Biggleswade Charity registration number: 1121027
Objectives and activities
The charitable purpose of New Life Church according to our foundational document is, “The advancement of the Christian faith and the relief of need for the public benefit. New Life Church is seeking to build a community where everyone is welcomed and acce pted. It’s a sanctuary where people grow in faith together, love one another, develop one other, and teach and demonstrate to people who Jesus is.”
The wider community is served via outreach work and through activities mentioned below in our key activities.
The trustees are following the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit through the stated activities:
Achievements and performance
Newlife Church returned to normality between April 2022 and March 2023. The following below outlines our activities during this period and includes our key achievements and performance.
Over the past year, our church has been a hub of spiritual growth, community engagement, and meaningful connections.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS IN YEAR
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Launched the Freedom in Christ course and completed in 23/24.
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Engaged a number of visiting speakers through out the year that delivered powerful and inspirational messages.
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Church leadership coaching sessions and pastors and leaders retreat attendance in West Sussex
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● Continuous ongoing pastoral, charity and missionary support
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Successful implementation of a monthly café style church service
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Regular monthly family meetings via Zoom
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Ran a spirit led worship and prayer meeting via Zoom called Mission Control
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Weekly Life groups evolved back to face to face and a hybrid group.
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Organised various summer and winter activities; for example; the Newlife festival, pancake social evening, annual carol service, Christmas party and quiz nights.
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Participated in joint events with Churches together; remembrance parade, world prayer day and Vigil in town
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Continuous collaboration with Compassion UK as church members sponsored several children.
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Initiation of the Friday morning devotionals.
Financial review
In 2022-23 income was £48,984 (£70,943 in the previous year) as gift aided income and regular giving to the church decreased because of reduction in the members of the church that made donations as members exited
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the church. There was a steady average income of about £3,200 a month (£4,400 a month in the previous year) this had a major impact on the decrease also of the gift aid income to £9,342 from (£15,816 in the previous year). Expenditure was £70,108 (£61,496), the increase can be mainly attributed to a full year allocation of rents and other face to face expenditure returning to normal after the shutdown. Also, lump sum back pay owed arrears to a staff member.
The trustees reviewed the reserves policy and the previous designated fund has been returned to the general fund as the previous original designation is now not being furthered.
After reviewing the current financial position; £20,000 has been allocated to reserves because of the declining income situation.
The Reserves policy will be reviewed on a quarterly basis to ensure it is relevant and up to date.
Future plans
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Implement the operational running of the church to the house church approach.
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Strengthen the discipleship understanding by harnessing the power of ‘Discovery Bible Studies’ and deepen the spiritual connection through increased prayer initiatives.
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Run training for core church members to learn and implement Disciple Making Movements (DMM.) 4. Develop plans to increase giving and look at creative ways to raise money for the church with different initiatives. Contactless ways of giving are already being investigated.
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Proactively exploring cost effective venues and other ways of reducing costs until giving is back up to the desired levels required.
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To exit the affiliation with Catalyst, New Frontiers and their related eldership and spiritual guidance.
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To establish new ties and affiliation with DMM for eldership and spiritual guidance.
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To establish a new leadership to support the operational church model.
Structure, governance, and management
The charity is a “Charitable Trust with a Spiritual Leadership and 5 trustees. Trustees are selected from those who have the requisite governance skills and interpersonal skills to effect change, development, and progress.
Reference and administrative details
Name: New Life Church, Biggleswade Also known as: Findnewlife Registered Charity: 1121027 Charity Address: 4 Cleveland Way; Great Ashby, Hertfordshire SG1 6BZ Church Leaders: Mr Alf Ringwood and a leadership team of Elders. Administrator: Mrs Amanda Ringwood
Trustees:
| Trustee name | Office: | Dates if not whole year: |
Appointed by: |
| Banji Ajibowu | Trustee | Elders |
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| Margaret Osibowale | Treasurer | Elders | |
| Brian Gibbins | Trustee | Elders | |
| Derek Brister | Trustee | Elders | |
| Ian Lovell | Trustee | Elders |
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
Margaret Osibowale Dated : 11/11/2023
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF NEW LIFE CHURCH
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023 which are set out on pages 7 - 12
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees 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 charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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 my examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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1) the accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act;
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2) accounts do not accord with those records, or
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3) the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of account as set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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.
Signed:
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Dated: 29th September 2023
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Mervyn Thomas 128 Putnoe Lane Bedford MK41 8LS
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| Section A Statement of financial activities for the period 01/04/2022 to 31/03/2023 | Section A Statement of financial activities for the period 01/04/2022 to 31/03/2023 | Section A Statement of financial activities for the period 01/04/2022 to 31/03/2023 | Section A Statement of financial activities for the period 01/04/2022 to 31/03/2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Categories of activity Incoming resources Note 3 Voluntary income Total incoming resources Outgoing resources Note 4 Costs of Generating Funds Charitable activities Total resources expended Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before transfers Gross transfers between funds Note 8 Net movement in funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted Funds £ |
Restricted Total Funds Funds 2023 £ £ |
Total Funds 2022 £ |
| 48,144 | 840 48,984 |
70,943 |
|
| 48,144 | 840 48,984 |
70,943 | |
| 423 | - 423 |
251 |
|
| 67,901 | 840 69,685 |
61,245 |
|
| 68,324 | 840 70,108 |
61,496 | |
| (20,180) | - (21,124) |
9,447 |
|
| 20,000 | (20,000) - |
- |
|
| (180) | (20,000) (21,124) |
9,447 |
|
| 15,067 | 72,000 87,067 |
77,620 |
|
| 14,887 | 52,000 65,943 |
87,067 |
| Section B Balance sheet for the year ended 31/03/2023 | Section B Balance sheet for the year ended 31/03/2023 | Section B Balance sheet for the year ended 31/03/2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Funds £ Fixed assets Tangible assets Note 5 581 Current assets Cash at bank and in hand 14,306 Total current assets 14,887 Creditors:amounts falling due within one year Note 6 - Net current assets/(liabilities) 14,887 Net assets 14,887 |
Restricted Total Funds Funds 2023 £ £ - 581 52,000 66,306 52,000 66,887 - |
Total Funds 2022 £ 196 87,071 87,267 (200) |
| 52,000 66,887 |
87,067 | |
| 52,000 66,887 |
87,067 | |
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| Funds of the Charity | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds | 14,887 | 14,887 | 15,067 |
|
| Restricted income funds Note7 | 52,000 | 52,000 |
72,000 |
|
| Total funds | 14,887 | 52,000 | 66,887 | 87,067 |
Signed by Margaret Osibowale on behalf of the trustees:
Margaret Osibowale
Dated: 11/11/2023
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Section C Notes to the Financial Statements
1 BASIS OF PREPARATION
1.1 Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognized at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with:
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the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable
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and with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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and with the Charities Act 2011.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
1.2 Going concern
The Charity is a going concern. Income generation through members’ donations is maintaining adequate reserves.
1.3 Change of accounting policy
The accounts present a true and fair view and the accounting policies adopted are those outlined in note 2.
1.4 Changes to accounting estimates
No changes to accounting estimates have occurred in the reporting period (3.46 FRS 102 SORP).
2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
2.1 Income
Recognition of income
These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:
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the charity becomes entitled to the resources;
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it is more likely than not that the Trustees will receive the resources; and
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the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Offsetting
There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses unless required or permitted by the FRS 102 SORP or FRS 102.
Grants and donations
Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the general income recognition criteria are met (5.10 to 5.12 FRS 102 SORP).
There are no performance-related grants.
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| Note 3 INCOME Donations Gift Aid |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds £ Funds £ 2023 £ 2022 £ 38,802 840 39,642 55,127 9,342 - 9,342 15,816 |
|---|---|
| TOTAL INCOME | 48,144 840 48,984 70,943 |
| Note 4 EXPENDITURE Publicity |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds £ Funds £ 2023 £ 2022 £ 423 - 423 251 |
|---|---|
| Total expenditure on generating | 423 - 423 251 |
| funds | |
| Salaries Employers National Insurance Pensions Guest Speakers Expenses,Training Resources Rents Equipment Depreciation Administration and office Bank Charges Pastoral Children and Youth Catering and Events Social Action International Donations Catalyst Network Contribution Governance |
39,766 - 39,766 33,688 3,310 - 3,310 2,801 1,651 - 1,651 3,301 - - - 50 697 - 697 888 134 - 134 69 9,941 - 9,941 6,061 419 - 419 1,663 646 - 646 440 2,735 - 2,735 2,382 72 - 72 98 798 - 798 357 250 - 250 262 2,335 - 2,335 1,973 944 2,572 840 3,412 3,112 2,400 - 2,400 3,900 175 - 175 200 67,901 840 69,685 61,245 |
| Total expenditure on charitable | |
| activities | |
| 68,324 840 70,108 61,496 |
|
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE |
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Note 5 Creditors and accruals
| Amounts falling due within one year | Amounts falling due within one year |
|---|---|
| Analysis of creditors 2023 2022 |
|
| £ £ |
|
| Accruals and deferred income 175 200 |
|
| Total 175 200 |
|
| Note 6 Tangible fixed assets (Electronic Equipment) Cost or valuation 2023 2022 £ £ At the beginning of the year 2,198 2,198 Additions 1,031 - |
|
| At end of the year | 3,229 2,198 |
| Depreciation and impairments Depreciation rate straight line at 20% 20% At beginning of the year 2,002 1,562 Depreciation 646 440 At end of the year 2,648 2,002 Net book value Net book value at the beginning of the year 196 636 Net book value at the end of the year 581 196 |
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Note 7 FUNDS ANALYSIS
7.1 Movements of all funds summarised in the Statement of Financial Activities for the current year.
| Fund Name | Fund balances brought forward Incoming resources Outgoing resources Transfers Fund balances carried forward £ £ £ £ £ 15,067 48,144 (68,324) 20,000 14,887 - 612 (612) - - 72,000 (20,000) 52,000 |
|---|---|
| Unrestricted General Church | |
| Restricted To the Nations Fund | |
| Designated Building Fund | |
| 87,067 48,756 (68,936) - 66,887 |
|
| Total Funds |
7.2 Reason for Fund Transfers.
£20,000 was transferred from the designated Building fund back to the general fund following a year in which general reserves had fallen to below policy.
7.3 Movements of all funds summarised in the Statement of Financial Activities for the previous year.
| Fund Name | Fund balances brought forward Incoming resources Outgoing resources Transfers Fund balances carried forward £ £ £ £ £ 17,620 70,331 (60,884) (12,000) 15,067 - 612 (612) - - 60,000 12,000 72,000 |
|---|---|
| Unrestricted General Church | |
| Restricted To the Nations Fund | |
| Designated Building Fund | |
| 77,620 70,943 (61,496) - 87,067 |
|
| Total Funds |
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