Father's House, Bath
Report and Accounts Year ended 30 September 2020
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
FATHER'S HOUSE, BATH
YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2020
LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 52 Church Street Bathford BATH, BA1 7RR Charity Registration Number 1123848 GOVERNING DOCUMENT Declaration of Trust dated February 2008 TRUSTEES P Allsop A S Briggs (8 December 2020) M Brooks J Freeborn (from 8 December 2020) BANKERS The Co-Operative Bank plc CAF Bank Ltd INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Mary Evans Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB INDEX Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2- 4 Trustees' Report Page 5 Independent Examiner's Report Page 6 Receipts and Payments Account Page 7 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 8 - 9 Notes to the Accounts
1
FATHER’S HOUSE, BATH
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30 SEPTEMBER 2020
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ending 30 September 2020.
Objects of the charity
The objects of the trust are:
-
To advance the Christian faith in Bath and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the World as the Trustees from time to time may think fit, and to fulfil such other purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the law of England and Wales and are connected with the charitable work of the Trust.
-
To relieve sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health by the provision of funds, goods or services of any kind including through the provision of counselling and support in Bath and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the World as the Trustees from time to time may think fit.
Governance
The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the Trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the Trust.
New trustees are appointed by the Trustees.
Review of Activities
Father's House Bath is a group of Christians who meet together as a church and who collectively seek to love and serve Jesus Christ, are committed to the love and welfare of each other, and seek to bring a blessing to the areas where they live and work.
Father’s House, Bath’s main emphasis is the expression of Christian life and activity through: knowing the Father's heart; honouring the word and the spirit; focusing on prayer and worship; expressing God's love and compassion both near and far; receiving a healed heart, and; being a family of God’s sons and daughters.
Naturally the latter part of this year has brought many difficult and unique challenges as Father’s House has sought to continue operate and function as a church and a community of believers during the covid-19 pandemic. The first five months of the year (Oct-2019 to Feb-2020) were much the same as previous years, with multiple activities and expressions of Christian faith and life exhibited across many different meetings and gatherings during the course of each week. When the first national lockdown was declared in March
2
2020, all public meetings came to an abrupt end for the period of the lockdown and indeed for the remainder of the year.
The leaders of Father’s House worked swiftly to establish face-to-face on-line meetings (using zoom) which provided an almost immediate alternative to public meetings and enabled Father’s House to continue to meet and provide much needed interaction and contact for all. In place of collective worship – an important feature of hitherto public meetings – time was given to create an on-line environment which facilitated conversation, interaction and encouragement – vital features in seeking to ensure and safeguard the wellbeing and mental health of all participants.
These on-line meetings – which replaced all weekend and various mid-week meetings – were augmented by other opportunities to gather, learn and participate using on-line facilities and services provided by other organisations with an on-line presence.
The leaders and Trustees of Father’s House have strictly adhered to all Government advice and instruction during this year - as evidenced by the cessation of all physical gatherings – and will continue to do so until it is considered safe, sensible and viable to consider physical gathering once again. A critical part of this will be a risk-assessment to ensure all factors are properly and fully considered and that the safety of all – particularly those falling into any of the categories of vulnerable individuals - can be reasonably guaranteed.
Despite the inability to physically meet together, the finances for Father’s House, Bath have remained remarkably resilient during this past year; with both income and expenditure remaining stable and more or less to budget. Father’s House has therefore continued to provide financial support to a range of individuals and organisations involved in Christian mission and service, locally, within the wider UK and overseas.
Father’s House, Bath has worked hard to maintain its connections with other churches in the Bath area and the wider South West region and has fostered links with other Christian groups further afield within the UK.
In all its ministry and activities, Father’s House, and the Trust itself, remain reliant on the support and dedication of the volunteers from within the church community. The Trustees readily acknowledge the time, effort and service given and gratefully express their thanks to all those who give their support to the Trust’s activities
In planning the activities the Trustees have given consideration to the guidance provided by the Charity Commission on ‘Public benefit’.
Financial Review
Income for 2019/20 was £69,537, compared to £74,279 in 2018/19, and mainly consisted of donations and offerings.
Expenditure for 2019/20 was £70,475, compared to £77,564 in 2018/19.
£29,310 was paid out in gifts to institutions and individuals, compared to £34,022 in 2018/19.
3
The sum of £16,587 was held in the Trust's bank account as at 30 September 2020, of which £15,587 was unrestricted.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees maintain an agreed Reserves sum of £5,000 in the Trust’s bank account. This sum is kept under review to ensure it continues to provide suitable and sufficient financial cover for Father’s House, noting that the Trust does not have any significant medium or long term liabilities. At the year-end, unrestricted cash reserves were just over £15,500.
In light of COVID-19, the trustees are monitoring income and expenditure and, if it becomes necessary, will take measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the charity’s free reserves.
Trustees' Responsibilities
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
A Risk Assessment Register is maintained and reviewed regularly at Trustee meetings.
Approval
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Mark Brooks
Date: 29 June 2021
4
Independent Examiner's Report To the Trustees of Father's House Bath
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Father's House Bath (the Trust) for the year ended 30 September 2020 on pages 6 to 9 following.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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 the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
Mary Evans
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB
Date: 2 July 2021
5
FATHER'S HOUSE, BATH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2020
| Notes | Unrestricted | Restricted | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Funds | £ | £ | ||
| Receipts | |||||
| Voluntary receipts | |||||
| Offerings and Donations | 53,040 | 7,146 | 60,186 | 63,896 | |
| Gift aid receipts | 8,696 | 655 | 9,351 | 10,383 | |
| Total Receipts | 61,736 | 7,801 | 69,537 | 74,279 | |
| Payments | |||||
| Payments in furtherance of the church's | objectives | ||||
| Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly |
2 | 38,037 | 3,128 | 41,165 | 43,542 |
| Grants & donations paid to others | 3 | 21,090 | 8,220 | 29,310 | 34,022 |
| Total Payments | 59,127 | 11,348 | 70,475 | 77,564 | |
| Net Receipts/(Payments) | 2,609 | (3,547) | (938) | (3,285) | |
| before transfers | |||||
| Transfers between funds | (3,947) | 3,947 | - | - | |
| Net Movement in Funds | (1,338) | 400 | (938) | (3,285) | |
| Cash funds as at last year end | 16,925 | 600 | 17,525 | 20,811 | |
| Cash funds at this year end | A | 15,587 | 1,000 | 16,587 | 17,525 |
The notes on pages 8 - 9 form part of these accounts.
6
FATHER'S HOUSE, BATH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES
YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2020
| Unrestricted Restricted A Cash funds General funds £ £ Held at Bank 15,587 1,000 15,587 1,000 B Other monetary assets Gift aid tax recovery not yet received 8,177 864 8,177 864 C Liabilities Fee for Accounts & Examination 1,020 - Other accrued charges - - 1,020 - D Assets retained for charity's own use Music and PA equipment Current values have been estimated by the trustees. |
Unrestricted Restricted General funds £ £ 15,587 1,000 |
2020 £ 16,587 |
2019 £ 17,525 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15,587 1,000 |
16,587 | 17,525 | |
| 8,177 864 |
9,041 | 9,351 | |
| 8,177 864 |
9,041 | 9,351 | |
| 1,020 - - - |
1,020 - |
960 1,548 |
|
| 1,020 - |
1,020 | 2,508 | |
| Fund to which asset belongs |
Current Value 2020 £ 6,500 |
||
| General | |||
| 6,500 | |||
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Mark Brooks Date: 29 June 2021
The notes on pages 8 - 9 form part of these accounts.
7
FATHER'S HOUSE, BATH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2020
1 Accounting policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
| General | Restricted | Total | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2020 | 2019 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| **2 ** | Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly | ||||
| Ministry services (Note 4) | 26,400 | - | 26,400 | 26,400 | |
| Rent for hall | 5,913 | 464 |
6,377 |
9,425 |
|
| Church Activities | 2,431 | 110 | 2,541 | 2,489 | |
| Conference and training | 461 | 2,361 | 2,822 | 2,138 | |
| Equipment Costs | - | - | - | 257 | |
| Professional costs | 1,641 | - | 1,641 |
1,243 |
|
| Other costs | 1,191 | 193 |
1,384 |
1,591 | |
| 38,037 | 3,128 | 41,165 | 43,542 | ||
| **3 ** | Grants & donations paid to others | ||||
| Individuals | 10,950 | 4,150 | 15,100 |
20,272 |
|
| Institutions | 10,140 | 4,070 |
14,209 |
13,751 | |
| 21,090 | 8,220 | 29,310 | 34,022 | ||
| The grants to institutions amounting to more than £1,000 in the year | were: | 2020 | 2019 | ||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Bath Youth For Christ | 1,200 | 1,200 | |||
| Genesis Trust | 1,200 | 2,502 | |||
| Glory Waves | - | 1,200 | |||
| St Luke's - House of Prayer | 1,200 | 1,200 | |||
| Tutela Africa | 7,200 | 4,800 |
4 Transactions with related parties
The charity has no employees, being mainly served by volunteers, and under a Provision of Services Agreement, Mr M Brooks who is a trustee received £14,400 (2019: £14,400) for leadership and pastoral duties.
Mrs M Brooks, wife of Mr M Brooks, received £12,000 (2019: £12,000) for services provided in a leadership and pastoral capacity.
Payments were also made to an adult child of M Brooks and her husband, who received £3,000 (2019: £3,250) to assist with their support as intercessionary missionaries at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (plus a further £425 (2019: £300) in restricted gifts).
All payments are permitted by the Governing document.
Other than direct reimbursements of expenses made on behalf of the church, no other amounts were paid to any trustee or to any person connected to them.
8
FATHER'S HOUSE, BATH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
| YEAR ENDED 30 | YEAR ENDED 30 | SEPTEMBER | 2020 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **5 ** | Movement of Funds | ||||||
| Opening | |||||||
| Balance | Receipts | Payments | Transfers | Closing Balance | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| Restricted funds | |||||||
| Sundry Mission Support Funds | 600 | 2,700 | (2,300) | - | 1,000 | ||
| House of Prayer | - | 5,101 | (9,048) | 3,947 | - | ||
| Total Restricted | 600 | 7,801 | (11,348) | 3,947 | 1,000 | ||
| Unrestricted Funds | |||||||
| General Funds | 16,925 | 61,736 | (59,127) | (3,947) | 15,587 | ||
| Total unrestricted | 16,925 | 61,736 | (59,127) | (3,947) | 15,587 | ||
| Total Funds | 17,525 | 69,537 | (70,475) | - | 16,587 |
The House of Prayer Fund includes donations received specifically to support the ongoing work of the House of Prayer set up by the charity.
9