## **THE LIFE CHURCH – MAIDSTONE**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year to 31 March 2024
## **Objects of the Charity**
The Trust seeks to demonstrate the Christian faith in action by advancing the Christian faith, relieving sickness and financial hardship and promoting and preserving good health, and advancing education, in all such ways and in such parts of the United Kingdom or the World as the trustees may from time to time think fit.
## **Government**
The policy and operating decision of the charity rest with the Trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the Charity.
## **Objectives and activities**
The Life Church is a gathering of people who are committed to love and care for each other and the community they live in, as was taught by Jesus Christ, believing that lives can be changed and bettered by Godly and Biblical principles.
The church employs Mr. Christopher Eke as full-time minister and he serves the church together with Mr. David Thompson (accredited Assemblies of God minister). The church also employs Mr. Charlie Olliver as minister to the teenagers and young people of the church. Mr.Olliver is in his second year of the theological and leadership training course and will graduate in the summer of 2024. Mr. Peter Jackson was accepted as an Elder/Leader and Trustee as from 1[st] February 2024; the other Trustees being Mr. C Eke, Mr. David Thompson, Mr. Alan Pitt and Mrs. Jennifer Rhodes.
The Sunday morning services are very well attended and the congregation has grown to almost 300 adults and young adults. To allow for seating in the church hall, it was decided to extend the hours of the Children’s Church for the whole of the Sunday morning service, 10.30am – 12.15pm. The teenagers attend their own meeting from 11.15 – 12.15. The Sunday morning service is available live on YouTube and all the Sunday services are available to view on the church website. The number of subscribers is good. 2 separate services on Sundays is being considered to accommodate the growing congregation.
All the workers in the church, including the Trustees and ministers are DBS checked through ThirtyOne:Eight.
Midweek services include times for prayer and Bible study. The Little Sparkles Club for babies and toddlers and their parents/carers meet each Thursday morning during term times and the teenagers attend an after school club each Wednesday between 3pm and 6pm. The two Alpha courses were appreciated and a success.
The building is used twice each week by Alcoholics Anonymous and once each week by Cocaine Anonymous.
The church is affiliated to Assemblies of God and Evangelical Alliance organisations and we regularly support other charities: Starfish Malawi, Open Doors ministry, the Salvation Army food bank, the Family Trust and Crossline Counselling; the last 3 being local charities.
_Page 1_
The building is generally kept in good order. The walls of the main hall were rough and marked by water stains. As the roof was replaced last year solving the problem of leaks, the walls of the hall have been drylined and decorated. The Café Room and the Children’s Church Room, as well as some of corridors and stairs have been renovated, decorated and new carpets fitted. The premises are extensive (originally being 3 separate buildings) and the improvements are appreciated by the congregation. A total of £70500 has been spent on the renovations and repairs.
The shop area used by the church to sell handmade crafts has continued to provide support for Starfish Malawi and £3000 was transferred to the charity. The monthly Saturday morning ‘Sat Chat’ has proved beneficial in procuring funds and providing friendship and fun for church members and the public.
Approved by the Trustees of The Life Church and signed on their behalf:
## **Independent Examiner’s report**
## **Accounts for the year ended 31[st] March 2024**
## **Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and the examiner**
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts and they consider that an audit is not required for the year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:
Examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act
to follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of the Independent Examiner’s statement**
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 these records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required for an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no material matter has come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
Accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act, or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
_Page 2_
I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## Signed:
Stephen Hendy Date: 30[th] May 2024
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
||**Unrestricted Designated**|**Unrestricted Designated**|**Restricted Endowment**|**Restricted Endowment**|**Total**|**Prior year**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**total funds**|
|**Incoming resources**|||||||
|Incoming resources from generated funds|||||||
|Voluntary income|146,892|1,736|750|—|149,379|93,942|
|Activities for generating funds|—|2,085|3,426|—|5,511|4,098|
|Incoming resources from charitable|825|—|—|—|825|175|
|activities|||||||
|Other incoming resources|16,961|30|—|—|16,991|18,722|
|**Total income**|**164,680**|**3,851**|**4,176**|**—**|**172,708**|**116,938**|
|**Resources used**|||||||
|Cost of generating funds|7,535|—|—|—|7,535|6,354|
|Cost of generating voluntary income|5,188|900|—|—|6,088|5,139|
|Fundraising trading cost of goods sold|—|—|3,220|—|3,220|2,781|
|and other costs|||||||
|Charitable activities|9,929|959|—|—|10,889|7,171|
|Governance costs|89,455|70,335|490|—|160,281|146,385|
|Other resources used|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|**Total expenditure**|**112,109**|**72,195**|**3,711**|**—**|**188,015**|**167,831**|
|Gains / losses on investment assets|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|**Net income / (expenditure) resources**|**52,571**|**(68,343)**|**465**|**—**|**(15,306)**|**(50,893)**|
|**before transfer**|||||||
|**Transfers**|||||||
|Gross transfers between funds - in|114|63,264|300|—|63,678|295|
|Gross transfers between funds - out|(63,314)|(114)|(250)|—|(63,678)|(295)|
|**Other recognised gains / losses**|||||||
|Gains on revaluation, fixed assets, charity's|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|own use|||||||
|**Net movement in funds**|**(10,629)**|**(5,193)**|**515**|**—**|**(15,306)**|**(50,893)**|
|**Total funds brought forward**|**86,407**|**10,757**|**218**|**—**|**97,382**|**148,276**|
|**Total funds carried forward**|**75,777**|**5,564**|**733**|**—**|**82,075**|**97,382**|
|**Represented by**|||||||
|**Unrestricted**|||||||
|General fund|75,777|—|—|—|75,777|86,407|
|Pastor|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|**Designated**|||||||
|Charity Cards|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|Little Sparkles Mother/Toddler group|—|273|—|—|273|188|
|Starfish Malawi Ministry|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|TLC Building fund|—|4,925|—|—|4,925|8,959|
_Page 3_
|Visiting Ministry|—|709|—|—|709|1,609|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|YOUTH|—|(343)|—|—|(343)|—|
|**Restricted**|||||||
|Cafe Refurb|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|Gifts for persons, etc.|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|King's Storehouse|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|Lifelines Contact|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|MEDIA|—|—|59|—|59|—|
|Options Pregnancy/PostAbortion Support|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|Philippines|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|Shop deposit|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|Tender Loving Craft|—|—|424|—|424|218|
|Weekend Away|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|Women's Refuge|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|YOUTH|—|—|250|—|250|—|
## **Balance sheet**
||**Total funds**
**Prior year funds**|
|---|---|
|**Current assets**
Investments
Cash at bank and in hand
**Net current assets less current liabilities**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Total net assets less liabilities**
**Represented by**
**Unrestricted**
General fund
Pastor
**Designated**
Charity Cards
Little Sparkles Mother/Toddler group
Visiting Ministry
Starfish Malawi Ministry
YOUTH
TLC Building fund
**Restricted**
King's Storehouse
Philippines
Cafe Refurb
Weekend Away
Lifelines Contact
MEDIA
Shop deposit
Tender Loving Craft
Women's Refuge
YOUTH
Options Pregnancy/PostAbortion Support
Gifts for persons, etc.
**Funds of the church**|—
15,058
82,075
82,323|
||**82,075**
**97,382**|
||**82,075**
**97,382**|
||**82,075**
**97,382**|
||**82,075**
**97,382**
75,777
86,407
—
—
—
—
273
188
709
1,609
—
—
(343)
—
4,925
8,959
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
59
—
—
—
424
218
—
—
250
—
—
—
—
—|
||**82,075**
**97,382**|
_Page 4_
## **Statement of assets and liabilities**
||**General Designated**
**Restricted Endowment**
**This year**
**Last year**|
|---|---|
|**Current assets - Cash at bank and in**
**hand**
Current account -
Petty Cash -
Business Select Account -
Shawbrook Bank 12 month fixed rate
Saver -
**Totals**
**Current assets - Investments**
Hampshire Trust Bank -
**Totals**
**Grand total**|87,243
(73,483)
2,239
—
15,998
3,205
1,995
(398)
(1,505)
—
91
83
65,985
—
—
—
65,985
79,034
(79,446)
79,446
—
—
—
—|
||**75,777**
**5,564**
**733**
**—**
**82,075**
**82,323**
—
—
—
—
—
15,058|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**15,058**|
||**75,777**
**5,564**
**733**
**—**
**82,075**
**97,382**|
## **Fund movement by type**
||**Opening**
**Incoming**
**Outgoing**
**Transfers Gains/losses**
**Closing**|
|---|---|
|**Cards - Charity Cards**
Designated
**Sub-total for Cards**
**KingStore - King's Storehouse**
Restricted
**Sub-total for KingStore**
**LifeCont - Lifelines Contact**
Restricted
**Sub-total for LifeCont**
**LitSpark - Little Sparkles Moth**
Designated
**Sub-total for LitSpark**
**Media - MEDIA**
Restricted
**Sub-total for Media**
**Ministry - Visiting Ministry**
Designated
**Sub-total for Ministry**
**Shop - Shop deposit**
Restricted
**Sub-total for Shop**
**Starfish - Starfish Malawi Mini**
Designated
**Sub-total for Starfish**
**TLCraft - Tender Loving Craft**
Restricted
**Sub-total for TLCraft**
**WRefuge - Women's Refuge**
Restricted
**Sub-total for WRefuge**|—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
188
386
302
—
—
273|
||**188**
**386**
**302**
**—**
**—**
**273**
—
250
490
300
—
59|
||**—**
**250**
**490**
**300**
**—**
**59**
1,609
—
900
—
—
709|
||**1,609**
**—**
**900**
**—**
**—**
**709**
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
218
3,426
3,220
—
—
424|
||**218**
**3,426**
**3,220**
**—**
**—**
**424**
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**|
_Page 5_
|**Youth - YOUTH**
Designated
Restricted
**Sub-total for Youth**
**General - General fund**
Unrestricted
**Sub-total for General**
**Build - TLC Building fund**
Designated
**Sub-total for Build**
**Pastor - Pastor**
Unrestricted
**Sub-total for Pastor**
**Options - Options Pregnancy/Po**
Restricted
**Sub-total for Options**
**Gifts - Gifts for persons, e**
Restricted
**Sub-total for Gifts**
**Philipps - Philippines**
Restricted
**Sub-total for Philipps**
**Cafe - Cafe Refurb**
Restricted
**Sub-total for Cafe**
**Wkend - Weekend Away**
Restricted
**Sub-total for Wkend**
**Grand total**|—
—
608
264
—
(343)
—
500
—
(250)
—
250|
|---|---|
||**—**
**500**
**608**
**14**
**—**
**(93)**
86,407
164,680
112,109
(63,200)
—
75,777|
||**86,407**
**164,680**
**112,109**
**(63,200)**
**—**
**75,777**
8,959
3,465
70,385
62,886
—
4,925|
||**8,959**
**3,465**
**70,385**
**62,886**
**—**
**4,925**
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**|
||**97,382**
**172,708**
**188,015**
**—**
**—**
**82,075**|
_Page 6_
## **Analysis of income and expenditure**
|**Analysis of income and expenditure**|**Analysis of income and expenditure**|
|---|---|
|**Total**
**Unrestricted Designated**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**This year**
**Last year**
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**
**Incoming resources from generated funds - Voluntary income**
Offerings
73,711
—
—
—
73,711
55,790
Gift aids
58,858
—
—
—
58,858
24,481
Gifts
—
—
—
—
—
10
Little Sparkles
—
386
—
—
386
401
Youth Ministry
—
—
500
—
500
—
Small Donations
11,623
—
—
—
11,623
9,673
Technical/Media
2,699
—
250
—
2,949
—
Church renovation
—
1,350
—
—
1,350
3,586
Starfish Malawi ministry
—
—
—
—
—
—
Gifts - bequeathed
—
—
—
—
—
—
Total
146,892
1,736
750
—
149,379
93,942
**Incoming resources from generated funds - Activities for generating funds**
Venue receipts
—
2,085
—
—
2,085
1,652
Cards sold for charity
—
—
—
—
—
—
Tender Loving Craft
—
—
3,426
—
3,426
2,446
Total
—
2,085
3,426
—
5,511
4,098
**Incoming resources from charitable activities**
Event receipts
825
—
—
—
825
175
Total
825
—
—
—
825
175
**Other incoming resources**
Sundry receipts
16,961
30
—
—
16,991
18,722
Loan
—
—
—
—
—
—
Total
16,961
30
—
—
16,991
18,722||
||825
—
—
—
825
175
16,961
30
—
—
16,991
18,722
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||16,961
30
—
—
16,991
18,722|
|**INCOME TOTAL**|164,680
3,851
4,176
—
172,708
116,938|
|**EXPENDITURE**
**Cost of generating funds**
General Expenses
2,985
—
—
—
2,985
3,190
Stationery & printing
2,636
—
—
—
2,636
1,812
Pastor expenses
1,693
—
—
—
1,693
1,239
SumUp
219
—
—
—
219
111
Total
7,535
—
—
—
7,535
6,354
**Cost of generating funds - Cost of generating voluntary income**
Ministry and Gifts
5,188
900
—
—
6,088
5,139
Total
5,188
900
—
—
6,088
5,139
**Cost of generating funds - Fundraising trading cost of goods sold and other costs**
Tender Loving Craft
—
—
3,220
—
3,220
2,781
Total
—
—
3,220
—
3,220
2,781|2,985
—
—
—
2,985
3,190
2,636
—
—
—
2,636
1,812
1,693
—
—
—
1,693
1,239
219
—
—
—
219
111|
||—
—
3,220
—
3,220
2,781|
_Page 7_
|**Charitable activities**
Youth expenses
Church events
Sundry expense
Sparkles baby group
Childrens ministry
Hospitality
Alpha
Youth Ministry
Starfish Malawi expenses
Total
**Governance costs**
Salaries Church
Electricity Gas
Water Waste
Insurances Licences
Telephones Internet
Building expenses
Accommodation for Pastor
Technical
Bank charges
Total
**Other resources used**
Loan
Total|2,661
—
—
—
2,661
445
3,237
—
—
—
3,237
1,134
1,624
—
—
—
1,624
4,162
—
302
—
—
302
489
1,793
49
—
—
1,842
611
210
—
—
—
210
129
—
—
—
—
—
—
402
608
—
—
1,010
198
—
—
—
—
—
—|
|---|---|
||9,929
959
—
—
10,889
7,171
45,464
—
—
—
45,464
29,743
7,818
—
—
—
7,818
3,891
3,925
—
—
—
3,925
4,588
7,254
—
—
—
7,254
5,912
1,875
—
—
—
1,875
1,712
—
70,335
—
—
70,335
82,537
19,200
—
—
—
19,200
18,000
3,916
—
490
—
4,406
—
—
—
—
—
—
0|
||89,455
70,335
490
—
160,281
146,385
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||—
—
—
—
—
—|
|**EXPENDITURE TOTAL**|112,109
72,195
3,711
—
188,015
167,831|
|||
|**GRAND TOTAL**|52,571
(68,343)
465
—
(15,306)
(50,893)|
_Page 8_