## **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
- Launched the Freedom in Christ course and completed in 23/24.
- Engaged a number of visiting speakers through out the year that delivered powerful and inspirational messages.
- Church leadership coaching sessions and pastors and leaders retreat attendance in West Sussex
- ● Continuous ongoing pastoral, charity and missionary support
- Successful implementation of a monthly café style church service
- Regular monthly family meetings via Zoom
- Ran a spirit led worship and prayer meeting via Zoom called Mission Control
- Weekly Life groups evolved back to face to face and a hybrid group.
- Organised various summer and winter activities; for example; the Newlife festival, pancake social evening, annual carol service, Christmas party and quiz nights.
- Participated in joint events with Churches together; remembrance parade, world prayer day and Vigil in town
- Continuous collaboration with Compassion UK as church members sponsored several children.
- 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
FindnewLife Church, Biggleswade Trustees Report and Financial Statements March 2023 Page | 3
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**
1. Implement the operational running of the church to the house church approach.
2. Strengthen the discipleship understanding by harnessing the power of ‘Discovery Bible Studies’ and deepen the spiritual connection through increased prayer initiatives.
3. 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.
5. Proactively exploring cost effective venues and other ways of reducing costs until giving is back up to the desired levels required.
6. To exit the affiliation with Catalyst, New Frontiers and their related eldership and spiritual guidance.
7. To establish new ties and affiliation with DMM for eldership and spiritual guidance.
8. 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|
FindnewLife Church, Biggleswade Trustees Report and Financial Statements March 2023 Page | 4
|||||
|---|---|---|---|
|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
FindnewLife Church, Biggleswade Trustees Report and Financial Statements March 2023 Page | 5
## **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:
- 1) the accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act;
- 2) accounts do not accord with those records, or
- 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:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Dated: 29th September 2023
**----- End of picture text -----**
Mervyn Thomas 128 Putnoe Lane Bedford MK41 8LS
FindnewLife Church, Biggleswade Trustees Report and Financial Statements March 2023 Page | 6
|**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**|
||||
FindnewLife Church, Biggleswade Trustees Report and Financial Statements March 2023 Page | 7
|**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
FindnewLife Church, Biggleswade Trustees Report and Financial Statements March 2023 Page | 8
**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:
- the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable
- and with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
- 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:
- the charity becomes entitled to the resources;
- it is more likely than not that the Trustees will receive the resources; and
- 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.
FindnewLife Church, Biggleswade Trustees Report and Financial Statements March 2023 Page | 9
|**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**||
FindnewLife Church, Biggleswade Trustees Report and Financial Statements March 2023 Page | 10
## **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**||
FindnewLife Church, Biggleswade Trustees Report and Financial Statements March 2023 Page | 11
## **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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