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2023-03-31-accounts

CHURCH SWINDON Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 March 2023

GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 March 2023

Contents

Company Information 1
Trustees’ Report 2-14
Independent Examiner’s Report 15
Statement of Financial Activities 16
Balance Sheet 17
Statement of Cash Flows 18
Notes to the Accounts 19-29

GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 March 2023

Company Information

Charity Name Gateway Church Swindon Company Registration Number 06541956 Charity Registration Number 1123831 Governing Document Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 21/03/2008 Trustees Mark Owen (Chair) Nigel Howarth Ian Lowe (resigned 4/12/2023) Colin Thornton Andrew Neale Mallika Ebenezar Company Secretary Nigel Howarth Registered Address The Trinity Centre Stonehill Green Westlea Swindon Wiltshire SN5 7AR Senior Management Team Colin Thornton (Chief Executive and Senior Elder) Al Cotton (Elder) Nigel Howarth (Elder) Bankers Barclays Bank PLC Barclays Business Centre 10-14 High Street Swindon Wiltshire SN1 3ED Independent Examiner Lourens du Plessis ACA CA(SA) Stewardship 1 Lamb’s Passage London EC1Y 8AB

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Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 March 2023

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Trustees’ Report

1. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

1.1. Structure

Gateway Church Swindon (‘GCS’) was incorporated in March 2008 as a company limited by guarantee and is the successor charity to Swindon Family Church.

GCS is a diverse Christian church based in Swindon, Wiltshire. It is part of Regions Beyond, an international network of churches overseen by Steve Oliver, and is part of the Newfrontiers family of churches. It is also a member of the Evangelical Alliance. No external party, including the Evangelical Alliance, Newfrontiers and Regions Beyond, took decisions or had voting rights in the governance of GCS.

1.2. Governance

The charity is governed by the trustees, who are appointed for the skills and experience that they may offer in contributing to the governance of the charity. Trustees must subscribe and adhere to, in belief and lifestyle, the statement of beliefs set out in the memorandum and articles of association and are typically invited from existing church members.

The trustees have adopted a policy for the induction and training of new trustees, including providing each trustee with the following:

New trustees are made aware of the charity’s professional advisors, accountants and any current issues. They are also made aware of the organisational management structure, employees and their responsibilities. They are given the opportunity to meet staff members to be appraised of matters of current activities.

The trustees meet at least four times a year, where aims, strategies and policies for achieving the charity’s responsibilities and objectives are agreed and reviewed regularly. The trustees have overall legal and financial responsibility for the charity.

The trustees have appointed a senior management team, who have been given delegated responsibility for the spiritual and strategic direction of the church. The senior managers, together with other staff, also meet regularly and deal with the day-to-day management and running of the activities. Senior managers report to the trustees on the progress of activities, performance results and plans.

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GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 March 2023

Trustees’ Report

The trustees agree on the salary structure for all staff employed by the charity, which includes the senior management team. All staff have contracts and job descriptions and are paid commensurate with the level of responsibility that they hold. The salary structure is reviewed annually.

As at 31 March 2023, the charity has six trustees and three elders, who form the senior management team.

1.3. Risk Management

The trustees have recognised the importance of assessing and managing the risk associated with the charity’s objectives and have overall responsibility for determining risk management policy, defining what is required and methods of how risks are identified, assessed, handled, reviewed and reported. The senior management team have responsibility for implementing and maintaining systems consistent with this policy. The charity has a set of comprehensive policy and procedure documents in place to ensure on-going identification and management of risks. A system has been implemented whereby potential risks are considered, categorised (financial, external, operational, governance, and legal, regulatory and compliance risks), graded by the likelihood of occurrence and impact and the results recorded in the risk register. The system continues with procedures to mitigate those risks, by minimising the likelihood and any potential impact should those risks materialise, and report and review outstanding medium or high rated risks.

The trustees and the senior management team regularly review progress against budgeted financial plans and non-financial criteria. Accounts are prepared every month so that financial risks can be identified early and appropriate action taken. While it is recognised that the procedures do not provide absolute assurance against loss or material misstatements, the trustees are of the opinion that proper systems of risk management and control are in place within the charity.

1.4. Other Policies and Procedures

The trustees have established, and regularly review, policies on the following:

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Trustees’ Report

2. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

2.1. Objectives

The objects of GCS, as stated in the memorandum and articles of association, are as follows:

2.2. Vision & Mission

The trustees note that the Church is not a building, but a gathering of ordinary people of different ages and backgrounds, whose lives have been changed by Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The New Testament reveals the Church as a community of people, properly taught and cared for, who by loving and serving Jesus Christ, were also committed to love and care for each other and to be a blessing to the area in which they lived. GCS, its trustees, elders, and members, are committed to the continuation of those New Testament principles. GCS is not alone in this; it is one of many churches in the area, country, and all over the world who are inviting people to re-discover the excitement of knowing Jesus Christ.

The vision of GCS is to see Swindon come to life in God. We will do this by giving ourselves away through equipping, sending, partnering, & resourcing.

2.3. Values

The Trustees and elders have sought to work out how best to express the vision in the context of week-toweek church activities, values and life. The following ten value statements aim to summarise what GCS prioritises and strives for, as it works out its vision of seeing Swindon come to life in God:

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Trustees’ Report

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Trustees’ Report

2.4. Significant Activities

The significant activities, programmes and projects used by GCS are:

Sunday Gatherings

The focus of Sunday gatherings are to gather together before God in worship, to open the Bible together, teaching, and to encourage and pray for one another. All are welcome to join a Sunday gathering, whether church members, their families, or visitors.

Leadership Development

The leadership team of GCS have been regularly meeting throughout the year with two other couples to incorporate them into the leadership team. Since the year-end, two individuals have been appointed to the eldership team.

Groups

Groups are a support network enabling (primarily) those connected to GCS to find community, support, care, and help.

Children and Youth Work

GCS provides different age group meetings on a Sunday and at other points throughout the week for children and young adults. We subsidise the cost of the Newday summer camp for those young adults who attend.

Safeguarding Training

We continue to provide ongoing training in safeguarding for those in GCS working with children and young people, as well as those working with adults with care and support needs.

Good News for Swindon

We continue to be actively involved with Good News for Swindon, a network of churches in the town, seeking to work together for the good of Swindon. Colin Thornton leads the Good News for Swindon network.

Outreach Activities

Two employees of GCS give a large proportion of their employed time to leading and supporting various projects, unity movements, and churches around the town. We continue to employ an individual to work as a pastor for another local church in the town, Penhill Community Church. During the year, we also employed another individual to work as an Outreach Worker for Penhill Community Church. Additionally, GCS set a budget target of ‘giving away’ an equivalent of 16% of its unrestricted income for the purposes of local and international mission – whether through grant-funding, employment, etc. At the year-end, the final figure was 28.9% of total unrestricted funds, including the costs associated with the closure of Gateway Furniture.

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Report and Accounts

GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Year Ended 31 March 2023

Trustees’ Report

2.5. Public Benefit

In planning the activities of the charity, the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.

2.6. Volunteers

Much of the work of GCS continues to be dependent on the unpaid services of church members. The trustees recognise the essential resource provided by the many people within GCS who freely give of their time and would like to continue to acknowledge and thank them. We cannot attempt to place a value on the immensely significant contribution that our volunteers make, and we are grateful to them for their time and commitment.

2.7. Grant-Making Policy

Grants are made by the charity to both external organisations and individuals, as part of achieving its activities and objectives. Grants and gifts are considered on the basis of need and fulfilment of the charitable objectives. There are no upper or lower limits of support.

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Trustees’ Report

3. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

3.1. Building a Family of Believers

The church continues to hold public gatherings, where through singing, communion, prayer and teaching the Bible, we encourage people to live as disciples of Jesus. These gatherings also provide an opportunity for individuals to share personal testimony, respond to the claims of the Christian faith, and for new believers’ baptisms.

We have consistently been gathering together physically throughout this year in the west of Swindon. We continue to stream our Sunday gatherings to Zoom for those who are unable to gather physically, or who do not yet feel comfortable doing so.

The Sunday gatherings have activities of worship for all ages, not just adults. There is children’s work for ages 2-4, 5-8, and 9-11, as well as youth work for those aged 11-18 and a space for parents of 0-2s to bring their children and connect with others. The children’s team enjoy serving the children through games, worship, bible teaching, and exploring creativity in arts and craft. Good numbers of children are attending each week and the children’s team leaders continue to work hard at building and developing the teams. In each of the groups, we have bright and varied curriculums which are age appropriate. Our children’s work is structured to encourage the best from the children and help parents feel comfortable leaving their children in our care. Part of this is a continued commitment to safeguarding children and training our volunteers in safeguarding best practice. A new online safeguarding course for those working with children and young people has been rolled out to all those working with children and young people.

As well as the age-related groups meeting on Sunday mornings, youth continued to meet during the week on a regular basis. We also took 23 young people to the Newday camp in the summer of 2022.

There are many opportunities which allow most in the congregation to have some involvement in expressing their Christian faith practically as they work together and serve others. This could be through being part of the Welcome Team serving on a Sunday, working as part of the Worship Team, working with Authentic on a weekday night, or through volunteering with others we work with in the town.

Through the groups meeting at various points throughout the week, relationships continue to grow and gifts are developed as members care for and encourage one another. Groups provide an opportunity for individuals form the diverse backgrounds at GCS to meet together, often in homes, but also at the building we use. Some groups have a more specific focus when meeting together, such as a morning group for mothers and toddlers or a book club, while others provide an opportunity to form relationships, care for one another practically, and encourage each other in faith.

A number from different churches across the town continue to meet on Zoom to pray early every week day, which was something we started in the early days of the pandemic in 2020. We also gather every Sunday before the public meeting to pray. We have also gathered on mid-week evenings to pray. We joined in with Thy Kingdom Come, a global ecumenical period of prayer started by the Church of England. In Swindon, we again joined in with this by gathering over Zoom with Christians from churches all across the town at various points, as well as gathering in different church buildings to pray and worship together. Churches across the town, including GCS, hosted prayer spaces that were available for people to use at points during Thy Kingdom Come.

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Trustees’ Report

3.2. Serving and Influencing Swindon

Sadly, the year saw the closure of Gateway Furniture. In spite of the difficulties in the year, Gateway Furniture continued to provide furniture to those most in need across the town until its closure.

The shop premises provided the main source of income for Gateway Furniture and was vital to sustaining it. Upon a change of ownership, Gateway Furniture was asked to vacate the premises and was not able to find suitable, affordable premises. The trustees made the decision that it was not financially viable to continue the project. Unfortunately, this resulted in a number of redundancies at the charity, for both full-time and parttime staff working on the project.

Throughout the year, we continued to employ someone part-time to invest half of her time into supporting Penhill Community Church and other local initiatives, as well as GCS. She has since left employment at GCS to lead another charitable project in the town working with the homeless. She remains a part of the membership of GCS. We also continued to employ another individual to work as a pastor for Penhill Community Church, with a number of different churches in the town contributing towards his salary. Additionally, we employed another individual to work as an Outreach Worker in the Penhill area, funded by Penhill Community Church.

Penhill Community Church is being held as a model for planting churches into the town and surrounding areas, with churches from different denominations and traditions in Swindon sending people to help plant it, as well as providing finance in different forms, whether for building renovations or the employment of staff. We believe that this clearly expresses the unity that Jesus desires for his church. As such, conversations about how we can facilitate similar church plants in the future are ongoing.

Over Christmas, we again supported the Swindon Christmas Toy Appeal, in partnership with other churches in Swindon, with the Bible Society - our landlords and neighbours - taking a more upfront role this year in organising the appeal. Having started years ago as an opportunity for members of Gateway Church to serve others, it has now become a town-wide toy appeal, delivering presents to many families and children across the town. These items and funds were donated by churches, charities, schools, business, and individuals across the town. As in previous years, many volunteers came to help sort and deliver everything to the families. Families were referred by the council, schools, churches, and other charities.

Following the lockdown in 2020, the Harbour Project, a local charity supporting over 600 asylum seekers and refugees in Swindon, was looking for a building to use in the area. We were able to offer them use of our space for free, which still continues.

Since the year-end, we have employed an individual as a project manager for a new young-person-led initiative, named WAY, aiming to support young people across the town, particularly with five areas of impact: increased engagement in education, reduced hospital admissions, reduced incidents of violence and crime, sustained employment, and improved mental health and wellbeing. Grant-funding has been received from a number of organisations to facilitate this, and the project manager is currently facilitating three areas of ongoing provision: meeting young people in crisis moments at the Accident and Emergency service at Great Western Hospital; providing ongoing, long-term mentoring in young people’s lives; and equipping young people to lead on shaping change in their own communities.

We were also able to financially support Safe Families, a charity supporting children, young people, and families in Swindon and across the UK.

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Trustees’ Report

3.3. Taking the Gospel to the Ends of the Earth

We continue to actively develop links within Regions Beyond, the international network of churches overseen by Steve Oliver and part of the Newfrontiers family. This included making a number of grants to Regions Beyond to facilitate their work in church-planting and serving those in need across the world. Nigel Howarth serves as a trustee of Regions Beyond UK.

Links with Burundi and City Gate Church in Bujumbura remain strong. We were able to grant-fund part of a new ongoing project led by Hope for Tomorrow Global, a UK charity that facilitates much of the work in Burundi that we have an ongoing partnership with. These funds were received through a special offering taken up by members of GCS.

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Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 March 2023

GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Trustees’ Report

4. FINANCIAL REVIEW

4.1. Overview

The year ended 31 March 2023 had a significant deficit in unrestricted funds. This was primarily due to the closure of Gateway Furniture and the associated costs.

The purpose of each fund and the classification of balances between ‘unrestricted/designated’ and ‘restricted’ are described in Note 1 to the Accounts, with further analysis in the subsequent Notes.

Incoming resources to the General Fund during the year ending 31 March 2023 amounted to £362,321, which represents an increase on the previous year of 12.1%. Income from donations was £289,213. Total expenditure on general activities amounted to £312,854, a 7.8% increase in expenditure from last year. Again, this was primarily due to the costs of the closure of Gateway Furniture.

Transfers from the General Fund to restricted funds amount to £94,765 resulting in a General Fund balance at the year-end of £85,202. £11,970 of the balance consisted of fixed assets.

4.2. Restricted Funds

There are six restricted funds: Burundi Fund, International Mission Fund, Local Mission Fund, Gateway Furniture Fund, the Welfare Fund, and the Building Fund – a new fund for this financial year.

In the Burundi Fund, the specified income of £3,883 was mostly taken through a special offering and includes Gift Aid recoverable. The Burundi Fund received no transfer of funds from the General Fund. Expenditure was £33,102 for the year, and the fund balance at the year-end was £535.

The International Mission Fund received no income for the year. It received a transfer of £6,750 from the General Fund, equivalent to 1.9% of General Fund income. Total resources of £17,421 were disbursed during the year, and the fund balance at the year-end was £2.

The Local Mission Fund received specified income of £10,846, which includes Gift Aid recoverable. It received a transfer of £11,800 from the General Fund, equivalent to 3.3% of General Fund income. Total resources of £22,069 were disbursed during the year, and the fund balance at the year-end was £14,980.

The Gateway Furniture Fund received income of £93,361 (including donated gifts in kind of furniture with an estimated value of £36,100). It received a transfer of £74,775 from the General Fund, equivalent to 20.6% of General Fund income. Expenditure amounted to a total of £186,891. There were no remaining funds at the year end. Due to the closure of the project and staff redundancies, there is no ongoing income or expenditure for the Gateway Furniture Fund, so it has been closed at the year-end.

The Building Fund received income of £11,049 during the year, which includes Gift Aid recoverable. It received no transfer of funds from the General Fund. Expenditure amounted to £1,484 during the year, and the fund balance at the year-end was £9,565.

The Welfare Fund received income of £500 during the year. It received a transfer of £1,440, equivalent to 0.4% of General Fund income. Resources expended amounted to £3,520, resulting in a year-end fund balance of £17,130.

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Trustees’ Report

4.3. Principal Funding Sources

GCS relies heavily on the generosity of the church members to fund its activities. The total of all donations (including in restricted funds) were £310,256.

In addition to the estimated £36,100 of donated gifts in kind of furniture, sales from the shop operated by the Gateway Furniture project were also a significant source of funding, bringing in a total of £50,575.

Additionally, grants receivable of £13,521 were another source of funding.

4.4. Reserves Policy

The Trustees have set a policy of retaining reserves sufficient for the foreseeable needs of the charity. At the year-end, the contractual obligations to future expenditure were the Trinity Centre lease (a 9-year term from 30 September 2014, with break clauses at 3 and 6 years; £24,000 per annum plus associated costs) and regular commitments under contracts of employment. The majority of the charity’s commitments will continue to be met out of current income.

The Trustees believe that an amount equivalent to a minimum of three to four months gross expenditure in general reserves is needed. This will provide for regular fluctuation in income and expenditure throughout the year.

The total value of all general reserves at 31 March 2023 was £85,204, of which £11,970 consisted of fixed assets. The general fund expenditure budget for the 2023-24 year is approximately £400,174. Based on the above, ongoing reserves of between £100,044 and £133,391 are appropriate.

While falling outside of the reserves policy, the charity recognises that it is exactly for purposes such as the unplanned closure of Gateway Furniture that the reserves are held. Furthermore, because of the closure of Gateway Furniture, there has also been a significant reduction in the ongoing financial risk to the charity. As such, the trustees have reviewed whether the reserves policy needs to be changed to reflect this, but currently intend to continue with the plan to replenish the reserves over the coming years until they are back within policy, starting with a small surplus in the budget for the 2023-24 year.

4.5. Pensions

The charity offers membership of a stakeholder pension scheme to all qualifying employees and pays an amount of 8% of the employee’s salary into the scheme on a monthly basis.

GCS does not operate a defined benefit or final salary scheme.

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Trustees’ Report

5. PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

This year ended with a significant deficit, £15,510 over the budgeted deficit for the year.

The budget to March 2024 indicates a small surplus as we begin the process of replenishing the reserves back to within policy. The planned surplus to March 2024 is for £805.

Because we have a healthy remaining balance in the Welfare Fund, we are prepared to continue supporting those who are in financial need, both within the church and wider in Swindon, over this coming year with the cost-of-living crisis and increase to energy bills.

In light of the reserves position, we have slightly revised our intention to ‘give away’ in grant funding to other organisations from the budgeted 16% of general income for 2022-23, to a budgeted 10% of general income, plus any restricted income raised from special offerings, in 2023-24. This will be reviewed on an yearly basis until reserves are back within policy and we are able to increase again how much we can ‘give away’ in grant funding to other organisations to a similar position as the previous number of years.

6. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees’ annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charitable company as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, for the financial year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006.

They are also reponsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

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GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Report and Accounts

Year Ended 31 March 2023

Trustees’ Report

7. APPROVAL

This report, which has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies, was approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

N J Howarth

N J Howarth (Dec 14, 2023 16:42 GMT)

……………………………………………………..

Nigel Howarth – Trustees

Dec 14, 2023

…………………………………………………….. Date

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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Gateway Church Swindon (‘the Company’)

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2023 on pages 16 to 29 following, which have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out on pages 19-21.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’). Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination, I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

Since the Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000, your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

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 to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached

Lourens du Plessis

Lourens du Plessis (Dec 14, 2023 16:50 GMT) Lourens du Plessis ACA CA(SA) Dec 14, 2023 2023 Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

Stewardship 1 Lamb’s Passage London EC1Y 8AB

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GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Report and Accounts

Year Ended 31 March 2023

Statement of Financial Activities

Summary Income and Expenditure Account

Notes
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:
Donations and Legacies
4
Charitable Activities
5
Other Trading Activities
6
Investment Income
7
Other Income
8
TOTAL INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
EXPENDITURE ON:
Charitable Activities
9
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
NET INCOMING (OUTGOING) RESOURCES
BEFORE TRANSFERS
Transfers Between Funds
3
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
FUND BALANCES:
At 31 March 2022
Net movement in funds
At 31 March 2023		 Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
353,532
8,642
0
147
0
362,321		 Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds		 Unrestricted
Funds		 Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
2023
2023
£
£
68,892
422,424
0
8,642
50,085
50,085
0
147
661
661
119,639
481,960		 2022
£
322,600
712
0
28
0
323,341		 2022
2022
£
£
147,751
470,351
1,453
2,166
95,450
95,450
0
28
2,615
2,615
247,269
570,610
(312,854)
(312,854)		 (264,486)
(577,340)
(264,486)
(577,340)		 (289,868)
(289,868)		 (337,024)
(626,892)
(337,024)
(626,892)
49,467
(94,765)		 (144,847)
(95,380)
94,765
0		 33,473
(56,557)		 (89,755)
(56,283)
56,557
0
(45,298) (50,082)
(95,380)		 (23,085) (33,198)
(56,283)
130,500
(45,298)		 92,294
222,794
(50,082)
(95,380)		 153,585
(23,085)		 125,492
279,077
(33,198)
(56,283)
85,202 42,212
127,414		 130,500 92,294
222,794

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing operations.

The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account required by the Companies Act 2006.

The notes on pages 19 to 29 form part of these accounts.

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GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Report and Accounts

Year Ended 31 March 2023

Balance Sheet

At 31 March 2023

FIXED ASSETS
Tangible Assets
CURRENT ASSETS
Stock
Debtors
Cash at Bank and in Hand
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year
NET CURRENT ASSETS
NET ASSETS
FUNDS
General Fund
Specific Funds
Burundi Fund
International Mission Fund
Local Mission Fund
Gateway Furniture Fund
Building Fund
Welfare Fund
TOTAL FUNDS		 Notes Unrestricted Restricted
2023
2022
£
£
£
0
11,970
14,887
Total
11
12
13
14
15
3
3
3
3
3
3		 £
11,970
11,970
0
36,021
48,375		 0
11,970
14,887
0
0
10,950
17,073
53,094
74,055
42,419
90,794
134,473
84,396
(11,164)		 59,492
143,888
219,478
(17,280)
(28,444)
(11,568)
73,232 42,212
115,444
207,910
85,202 42,212
127,414
222,796
85,202
0
0
0
0
0
0
85,202		 0
85,202
130,502
535
535
29,755
2
2
10,672
14,980
14,980
14,403
0
0
18,754
9,565
9,565
0
17,130
17,130
18,710
42,212
127,414
222,796

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2023.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006 however, in accordance with Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011, the accounts have been examined by an independent examiner and their report has been included in these financial statements.

The directors (who are the charitable company's trustees for the purposes of charity law) acknowledge their responsibilities for:

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf on

Dec 14, 2023

by:

N J Howarth

N J Howarth (Dec 14, 2023 16:42 GMT) ------------------------------------------------Nigel Howarth

Company number: 06541956 Charity number: 1123831

The notes on pages 19 to 29 form part of these accounts.

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GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Report and Accounts

Year Ended 31 March 2023

Statement of Cash Flows

Statement of Cash Flows
2023 2022 Note
£ £
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (40,495) (26,663) a
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments 147 28
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment 6,303 0
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (9,635) (2,255)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (3,185) (2,227)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 0 0
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period (43,679) (28,890)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting
period		 134,473 163,363 b
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period 90,794 134,473 b
Analysis of changes in net debt:
Note a: Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities
2023 2022
£ £
Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period (as per the
statement of financial activities)		 (95,380) (56,074)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges 4,846 6,182
Dividends, interest and rents from investments (147) (29)
Loss/(profit) on the sale of fixed assets 1,400 (208)
(Increase)/decrease in stocks 10,950 6,100
(Increase)/decrease in debtors 20,961 16,356
Increase/(decrease) in creditors 16,876 1,010
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (40,495) (26,663)
Note b: Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
2023 2022
£ £
Cash in hand 90,794 134,473
Total cash and cash equivalents 90,794 134,473

18

Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 March 2023

GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Notes to the Accounts

1. STATUTORY INFORMATION

The charity is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in the United Kingdom. The company’s registered number and registered office can be found on the Company Information page.

2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

These financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, under the historical cost convention.

These financial statements 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 in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)’ (‘the Charities SORP’), with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (‘FRS 102’), with the Companies Act 2006, and with the Charities Act 2011. The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity as set out in FRS 102.

The following accounting policies have been adopted in the preparation of the financial statements:

2.1. Going Concern

The trustees (who are the charitable company’s directors for the purposes of company law) have assessed whether the use of the going concern basis is appropriate and have considered possible events or conditions that might cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The trustees have made this assessment for a period of at least one year from the date of approval of the financial statements. In particular, the trustees have considered the charity’s forecasts and projections and the possible implications should projected income and/or expenditure vary unexpectedly. The trustees have concluded that there is a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue to operate for the foreseeable future. The charity therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements.

2.2. Income and Expenditure Recognition

19

Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 March 2023

GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Notes to the Accounts

SORP requires charities with income over £500,000 to allocate costs to the various activities undertaken by the charity. The nature of the work of the church is considered to be so integrated that the core charitable activity costs are considered to be for the one activity. The support costs attributable to fundraising activity are considered minimal.

2.3. Fund Accounting

All general, unspecified income and general routine costs are managed through the General Fund. In addition, a number of specific funds have been established in line with the activities of the charity, as noted below. These specific funds comprise a ‘designated’ element (the net funding via transfers from the General Fund) and a ‘restricted’ element (the net funding of direct income, less direct costs, plus transfers via the ‘designated’ element).

The specific funds are:

2.4. Fixed Assets and Depreciation

2.5. Future Commitments

20

GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Report and Accounts

Year Ended 31 March 2023

Notes to the Accounts

2.6. Pension Costs

The charity operates a defined contribution scheme for its employees. Pension premiums are charged as they are paid.

2.7. Taxation

Gateway Church Swindon is a registered charity and is exempt from taxation under the Income and Corporation Taxes Acts.

2.8. Donated Goods

An estimated value has been given to the donations of furniture which were received by the charity and then given to those in need through Gateway Furniture.

2.9. Stocks

Stocks of donated items held for distribution to beneficiaries are measured at fair value; the same estimated value per item as donated goods.

2.10. Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

The trustees do not consider that there are any material sources of estimation or uncertainty at the balance sheet date that could result in a material adjustment to the carrying values of assets and liabilities in the next reporting period.

21

GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Report and Accounts

Year Ended 31 March 2023

Notes to the Accounts

3.
RESTRICTED FUNDS
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:
Donations and Legacies
4
Charitable Activities
5
Other Trading Activities
6
Other Income
8
TOTAL INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
EXPENDITURE ON:
Charitable Activities
9
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
NET INCOMING (OUTGOING) RESOURCES
BEFORE TRANSFERS
Transfers
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
FUND BALANCES:
At 31 March 2022
Net movement in funds
At 31 March 2023		 Burundi
Fund
£
3,883
0
0
0
3,883		 International
Mission
Fund		 Local
Mission
Fund		 Gateway
Furniture
Fund		 Building
Fund		 Welfare
Fund
2023
2022
£
£
£
500
68,892
147,751
0
0
1,453
0
50,085
95,450
0
661
2,615
500
119,639
247,269
£
0
0
0
0
0		 £
10,846
0
0
0
10,846		 £
42,615
0
50,085
661
93,361		 £
11,049
0
0
0
11,049
(33,102)
(33,102)		 (17,421)
(17,421)		 (22,069)
(22,069)		 (186,891)
(186,891)		 (1,484)
(1,484)		 (3,520)
(264,486)
(337,024)
(3,520)
(264,486)
(337,024)
(29,220)
0		 (17,421)
6,750		 (11,223)
11,800		 (93,529)
74,775		 9,565
0		 (3,020)
(144,847)
(89,755)
1,440
94,765
56,557
(29,220) (10,671) 577 (18,754) 9,565 (1,580)
(50,082)
(33,198)
29,755
(29,220)		 10,672
(10,671)		 14,403
577		 18,754
(18,754)		 0
9,565		 18,710
92,294
125,492
(1,580)
(50,082)
(33,198)
535 2 14,980 0 9,565 17,130
42,212
92,294

22

GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Report and Accounts

Year Ended 31 March 2023

Notes to the Accounts

Notes to the Accounts
4.
INCOME FROM DONATIONS
General donations of cash and similar
Gift Aid donations of cash and similar
Gift Aid recoverable
Other grants receivable
Donations in kind (note 4a)
Government grants (note 4b)
a.
Donations in kind comprise:
Goods donated for use by the charity
b.
Government grants comprise:
Job Retention Scheme grants
Swindon Borough Council Grants
5.
INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Youth ministry events
Church retreats and events
Room hire
6.
INCOME FROM OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES
Sale of donated goods
7.
INVESTMENT INCOME
Bank interest		 2023
2022
£
£
63,343
71,609
246,913
230,211
62,547
60,379
13,421
5,350
36,100
90,200
100
12,602
422,424
470,351
36,100
90,200
36,100
90,200
0
6,602
100
6,000
100
12,602
2023
2022
£
£
6,737
462
805
1,453
1,100
250
8,642
2,166
2023
2022
£
£
50,085
95,450
50,085
95,450
2023
2022
£
£
147
28
147
28

23

GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Report and Accounts

Year Ended 31 March 2023

Notes to the Accounts

Notes to the Accounts
8.
OTHER INCOME
Building occupancy
Other income
9.
CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE
9.1
MINISTRY COSTS
Salaries and pension contributions
Employer's national insurance
Visiting ministry costs
UK travel & entertainment (meals, etc.)
Team building
Staff & volunteer training
Insurance
Bank charges
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
9.2 OFFICE AND ACCOMMODATION COSTS
Rates, rent, and associated fees
Utilities
Repairs, maintenance & building improvements
Cleaning
Operations & compliance costs
Office equipment & software
Telephone, mobiles & internet
Printing, photocopying & stationery
Communications & publicity
Postage
Subscriptions & memberships
Payroll fees
Hospitality & kitchen supplies		 2023
2022
£
£
171
2,056
490
558
661
2,615
2023
2022
£
£
301,912
307,000
20,280
21,190
1,127
0
3,897
3,834
513
2,722
1,122
2,086
3,207
3,524
171
230
1,400
0
4,846
6,182
338,475
346,767
2023
2022
£
£
27,689
27,730
4,760
2,413
4,407
2,536
4,016
2,093
2,012
2,086
3,154
3,680
6,934
8,956
631
1,210
6,176
5,243
118
220
1,573
1,254
416
373
4,576
2,954
66,462
60,747

24

GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Report and Accounts

Year Ended 31 March 2023

Notes to the Accounts

9.3 ACTIVITY COSTS
Room hire
Gateway Kids (Children's ministry)
Events
Authentic (Youth ministry)
Worship team
A/V team (incl. equipment)
Gateway groups
Transport - minibus & taxi
Other pastoral
Vehicle costs
Beds
Furniture Re-Use Network
Gifts of furniture
Other Gateway Furniture costs
Alpha course
Other local outreach
9.4 GRANTS
Grants to institutions
Safe Families
Mustard Tree / Starting Point
Hope for Tomorrow Global
Regions Beyond
Keystone Church South Africa
Regions Beyond Clarens FS NPC
Swindon Youth for Christ
Total
Grants to individuals
Total grants
9.6 GOVERNANCE COSTS
Independent examiner's fees		 2023
Number
£
12
2,400
0
0
1
33,102
16
17,421
0
0
0
0
1
156		 2023
2022
£
£
5,140
2,560
2,241
564
7,849
2,059
11,505
1,143
1,503
1,289
602
1,367
1,604
1,089
908
424
1,065
1,568
12,381
8,194
8,928
7,067
2,321
2,885
47,050
96,300
6,639
602
1,010
0
3,257
14,038		 2023
2022
£
£
5,140
2,560
2,241
564
7,849
2,059
11,505
1,143
1,503
1,289
602
1,367
1,604
1,089
908
424
1,065
1,568
12,381
8,194
8,928
7,067
2,321
2,885
47,050
96,300
6,639
602
1,010
0
3,257
14,038
114,004
141,151
2022

Number
£

6
1,200

1
5,000

2
47,704

13
13,000

2
2,371

1
2,500
0
0
30
53,079		 25
71,776
22
2,980		 15
3,453
52
56,059		 40
75,228
2023
2022
£
£
2,340
3,000
2,340
3,000

Fees payable to Stewardship, other than for the cost of the independent examination totalled £320 (2022: £425).

25

GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Report and Accounts

Year Ended 31 March 2023

Notes to the Accounts

STAFF, TRUSTEES, & KEY MANAGEMENT
Gross wages and salaries
Employer's national insurance costs
Pension costs
Other employment benefits
Total staff costs
Number of staff at year end:
Full-time
Part-time		 2023
2022
£
£
280,611
285,184
20,280
21,190
21,300
21,816
0
0		 2023
2022
£
£
280,611
285,184
20,280
21,190
21,300
21,816
0
0
322,192
328,190
2023
2022
5
7
2
6
  1. STAFF, TRUSTEES, & KEY MANAGEMENT

The average number of staff during the reporting period was 11.33 (2022: 12.42). Most of the charity's activities are carried out by volunteers.

No staff received salaries at a rate of more than £60,000 per annum.

The charity's key management comprise the trustees and the key staff named on the Company Information page. Total employment benefits payable to key management for the year were as follows:

Other Employer
Wages & employment pension 2023
salaries benefits contributions £
Trustees:
Nigel Howarth 38,000 0 3,040 41,040
Colin Thornton 40,000 0 3,200 43,200
Other members of key management: 38,000 0 3,040 41,040
125,280

The following amounts were payable in the previous year:

Other Employer
Wages & employment pension 2022
salaries benefits contributions £
Trustees:
Nigel Howarth 37,575 0 3,006 40,581
Colin Thornton 39,635 0 3,171 42,806
Other members of key management: 37,575 0 3,006 40,581
123,968

Nigel Howarth and Colin Thornton served as elders of the church and received the above payments for serving in that capacity, not for serving as trustees; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.

26

GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Report and Accounts

Year Ended 31 March 2023

Notes to the Accounts

Notes to the Accounts
11.
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Cost
At 01 April 2022
Additions
Gains / (losses) on revaluation
Disposals
At 31 March 2023
Accumulated depreciation
At 01 April 2022
Charge for the year
Eliminated on disposal
At 31 March 2023
Net book value
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2022		 Leasehold
Vehicles
Equipment
improvements
Total
£
£
£
£
11,200
112,464
109,880
233,543
0
9,635
0
9,635
0
0
0
0
(11,200)
(5,252)
0
(16,452)
0
116,847
109,880
226,727
(3,733)
(107,655)
(107,268)
(218,655)
(1,200)
(2,818)
(828)
(4,846)
4,933
3,813
0
8,746
0
(106,660)
(108,096)
(214,755)
0
10,187
1,783
11,970
7,467
4,809
2,611
14,887

Equipment comprises musical, public address, translation, sound, kitchen and office equipment and fixtures and fittings.

12. STOCK

Donated goods
13.
DEBTORS
Debtors
Gift Aid recoverable
Accrued income
Amounts receivable
VAT
Prepayments
14.
CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND
Bank accounts
Cash in hand		 Unrestricted
£
0		 Restricted
£
0		 2023
2022
£
£
0
10,950
0 0 0
10,950
Unrestricted
£
0
22,585
176
4,392
0
8,869		 Restricted
2023
2022
£
£
£
2,508
2,508
2,456
473
23,057
58,414
760
936
1,035
13,333
17,725
0
0
0
504
0
8,869
11,645
36,021 17,073
53,094
74,055
Unrestricted
£
48,370
5		 Restricted
2023
2022
£
£
£
42,419
90,789
133,756
0
5
717
48,375 42,419
90,794
134,473

27

GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Report and Accounts

Year Ended 31 March 2023

Notes to the Accounts

15. CREDITORS

Accounts payable
Deferred income
Payroll creditors
Accruals		 Unrestricted
£
0
2,231
1,157
7,776		 Restricted
2023
2022
£
£
£
3,105
3,105
0
14,083
16,314
1,657
84
1,242
1,663
7
7,783
8,248
11,164 17,280
28,444
11,568

16. DEFERRED INCOME

Deferred income comprises the following:
Balance at the beginning of the reporting period
Amount released to income
Amount deferred in year
Balance at the end of the reporting period		 Grants
Training
& Repayments
& conferences
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
882
775
1,657
120
(882)
(775)
(1,657)
(120)
14,083
2,231
16,314
1,657
14,083
2,231
16,314
1,657

The income deferred at the period end will be released to income over the following periods:

Within one year
After one year		 14,083
2,231
16,314
1,657
0
0
0
0
14,083
2,231
16,314
1,657

17. OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS

The charity has an operating lease for its church building. The minimum amount payable (until the next break clause and ignoring the potential effect of future rent reviews) in respect of this lease is as follows:

Payments falling due:
Within one year
Between one and five years
After five years		 2023
2022
£
£
12,000
24,000
0
12,000
0
0
12,000
36,000

During the year the charity was charged £24,045 (2022: £23,999) for its operating lease.

18. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUND

The assets and liabilities of the various funds were as follows:

Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds		 Fixed
assets
£
0
11,970		 Bank
balances
£
42,419
48,375		 Other net
assets
2023
2022
£
£
£
(207)
42,213
92,295
24,857
85,202
130,502
11,970 90,794 24,651
127,415
222,797

28

GATEWAY CHURCH SWINDON

Report and Accounts

Year Ended 31 March 2023

Notes to the Accounts

19. TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES

During the year, the charity:

During the year, the charity also made the following payments to, or for, related parties:

Except as disclosed in note 10, 'Staff, Trustees & Key Management', there have been no other transactions with related parties during the year.

20. MEMBERS

Each member of the company commits to contribute if the charity is wound up an amount of £1.

29

Gateway Church Swindon 2023 accounts - final for signing

Final Audit Report

2023-12-14

Created: 2023-12-14 By: Lourens du Plessis (lourens.duplessis@stewardship.org.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAADQuOzbJggeRglpjtB6YYtN-M08mlhqWE

"Gateway Church Swindon 2023 accounts - final for signing" His tory

Document created by Lourens Du Plessis (lourens.duplessis@stewardship.org.uk)

2023-12-14 - 16:36:13 GMT

Document emailed to nigel.howarth@gcswindon.org.uk for signature

2023-12-14 - 16:39:46 GMT

Email viewed by nigel.howarth@gcswindon.org.uk

2023-12-14 - 16:42:11 GMT

Signer nigel.howarth@gcswindon.org.uk entered name at signing as N J Howarth

2023-12-14 - 16:42:40 GMT

Document e-signed by N J Howarth (nigel.howarth@gcswindon.org.uk)

Signature Date: 2023-12-14 - 16:42:42 GMT - Time Source: server

Document emailed to Lourens Du Plessis (lourens.duplessis@stewardship.org.uk) for signature 2023-12-14 - 16:42:43 GMT

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2023-12-14 - 16:50:55 GMT

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