2024-03-31-accounts

Halesworth Community Church

Registered Charity No. 1125417

Report and Accounts

For the year ended 31[st] March 2024

Halesworth Community Church Report and Accounts Year ended 31[st] March 2024

Contents

Page 2	Legal and Administrative Details
Pages 3-6	Trustees’ Report
Page 7	Independent Examiner’s Report
Page 8	Receipts and Payments Accounts
Page 9	Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Page 10	Notes to the Accounts

1

Halesworth Community Church Report and Accounts Year ended 31[st] March 2024

Legal and Administrative Details

Charity name	Halesworth CommunityChurch
Address for correspondence	School Farm, Church Road, Cratfield, Halesworth, Suffolk IP19 0BU
Registered Charity Number	1125417. The charity was registered with the Charity Commission on 7th August 2008
Governing Document	Trust Deed dated 1stMay 2008
Objects	(a) To advance the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of Beliefs appearing in the Trust Deed in Halesworth Suffolk and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Trustees may from time to time 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. (b) 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 Halesworth and in other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Trustees from time to time may think fit. (c) To advance education in accordance with Christian principles by such means as the Trustees may consider appropriate in Halesworth and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Trustees may from time to time think fit.
Trustees	The Trustees who served during the year were: Stephen Hall David Sillett (Chair) Tim Sparkes (Pastor) Jennifer Basey-Fisher Graham Nixey
Bankers	Barclays Bank PLC Leicester LE87 2BB
Independent Examiner	John Helm ACA Tandem Accounting Ltd 17 Heathville Road London,N19 3AL

2

Halesworth Community Church Report and Accounts Year ended 31[st] March 2024

Trustees Report

The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year to 31[st] March 2024.

Government

The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the Trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the Church. New Trustees are appointed by the existing Trustees of the church.

Conflict of interest policy

This was reviewed during the year and the Trustees decided that the present procedure was adequate. When the payment for pastoral services is reviewed annually it is discussed and decided only by Trustees who are not remunerated by the Trust and who are not related to anyone who is remunerated by the Trust. Those Trustees who are remunerated or who are related declare an interest and leave the meeting while the remuneration is discussed.

Activities, Achievements and Public Benefit

In planning the activities of the church, the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission in September 2013.

1. Church Meetings

The Trust has continued to run a Community Church, and everyone is welcome to attend our Sunday morning meetings. At the year-end we had 18 members and average attendance for the year was approximately 20. We regularly welcomed visitors and friends of the church, especially during holiday times. Junior church is available when visitors and friends of the church attend with children. A Zoom link continues to be provided for friends and members of the church who are not able to attend in person. This continues to work well and is appreciated.

Special services were held at Christmas, Easter and Harvest.

In addition to our Sunday morning meetings, we hold weekly prayer meetings and members of the church have continued to meet and pray together regularly in small informal groups.

2. Pastoral Care and Wider Support

The leadership team meets regularly to discuss the church's operations and pastoral matters. As a church, we strive to serve those who seek our help, and many individuals continue to turn to us for support. Throughout the year, we have made several new contacts through our church website. These include Christians from the UK and abroad, as well as people with no faith. Those who come to us for help do so based on recommendations from others who have benefited from our support. We have a team that is responsible for caring for individuals inside the church. Claire Sillett organises visits for the elderly and those who are unwell. She works alongside a small team to ensure that

3

Halesworth Community Church Report and Accounts Year ended 31[st] March 2024

Trustees’ Report

needs are catered for. As a church, we have become aware of the need to work collaboratively with other local individuals and organisations that support each other in offering support to the community.

3. Website

Tim Sparkes has taken on the responsibility of running the website. It remains well-used and is updated weekly. Each week, the Sunday talk is recorded and posted, along with a new Bible verse. The website continues to serve as an online resource for podcasts and materials from the 'Understanding Yourself' courses. New articles are posted regularly, and information about upcoming events is also available on the website.

4. General Data Protection and Safeguarding Regulations

The annual review of our Data Protection policies was carried out in June 2024, and the policies were updated. The information held by the Information Commissioner’s Office is current.

The church’s safeguarding policy and procedures have been updated in line with the current guidance from Thirtyone:Eight. Appropriate training has been carried out and the Trustees are all aware of current safeguarding practices.

5. Development

The major development for this year has been the writing and delivering of a course called 'Walking with God'. This was delivered in the autumn over a two-month period. It was attended by local people associated with the church at School Farm Cratfield and also by people from all over the UK. We also had visitors from Canada and France. Each session had close to 30 people in attendance. The church plans to host this course as a residential experience early in the new year of 2025. We also plan to offer this course to other churches in the local area but also from the contacts we have in different parts of the country. Tim Sparkes has increased his services to the church to two and a half days a week.

The church has continued to welcome visitors and those seeking help, and the church has grown in its depth of relationship with one another and with the Lord.

6. Financial Review

6.1 Financial Activity

• The church reports a net surplus of £10,477.

• Payments - the cost of running the church for the year was £26,081, a decrease of £3,849 on the previous year.

• Tim Sparkes has increased his consultancy and pastoral services to the church from two days a week to two and a half days at a cost of £22,129 for the year. The Trustees are delighted Tim has been able to increase the time he spends providing pastoral services to the church.

4

Halesworth Community Church Report and Accounts Year ended 31[st] March 2024

Trustees’ Report

• In order to continue to publicise awareness of the Church in the local community, advertising cards were placed in the library and newsagent’s windows advertising the church meetings and website. In addition, the church is advertised on the Findachurch website.

• The Trustees have decided to continue to support local charities in the area who seek to alleviate poverty and need in the town. This is in the form of a twice-yearly donation of £200 to the Waveney Foodbank and a monthly donation of £70 to the Dementia Carers Fund.

• The church held three special collections during the year. Gifts of £120 were made to Open Doors in May, £40 to the Missionary Aviation Fellowship in August and £125 to Tearfund in October.

6.2 Financial Position

The balance held at 31[st] March 2024 was £8,316 in the current account and £63,244 the Business Premium account, totalling £71,560.

6.3 Reserves Policy

The Trustees consider that, given the nature of the church’s work, free reserves should be equivalent to approximately 6 months’ routine general fund expenditure, plus a reserve to cover rising costs due to increased Pastoral activity and potential increases in expenditure. The Trustees are of the opinion that this provides sufficient flexibility to cover temporary shortfalls in incoming resources and will allow the church to cope with and respond to unforeseen emergencies. At 31 March 2024 the church had net free reserves of £71,560 as follows:

		2024 £		2023 £
Cash balances		71,560		61,063
Free reserves requirement:
3 month’s budgeted routine expenditure		15,000		12,500

The free reserves requirement has been increased to £15,000 and this amount is held in the Business Premium Account in order to gain interest. However, Trustees do not foresee a deficit in the next two years.

6.4 Outlook

With large amounts provided by a very few donors the Trust remains vulnerable to unforeseen fluctuations in line with the circumstances of its donors. However, at the present time the income of the Trust continues to be sufficient to cover the anticipated expenses for the next financial year with a small surplus and allow potential future development. The level of giving during the year 2023-2024 has covered the expenditure on pastoral services and there is the capacity to increase payment to Tim Sparkes for an increase in his services if required.

5

Halesworth Community Church Report and Accounts Year ended 31[st] March 2024

Trustees’ Report

7. Trustees’ Responsibilities

Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare accounts for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year. The trustees 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. The Trustees also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.

8. Approval

This report was approved by the Trustees on 31 January 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

David Sillett, Chair of Trustees

6

Halesworth Community Church Report and Accounts Year Ended 31[st] March 2024

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees

I report on the account of Halesworth Community Church for the year ended 31 March 2024, set out on pages 8 to 10.

This report is made solely to the Trustees in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act). My independent examination has been undertaken so that I might state to the Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by the law, I do not accept responsibility to anyone other than the Trustees for my independent examination, for this report, or the opinions I have formed.

RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER

The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this period (under section 144(2) of the Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

• Examine the accounts (under section 145 of the Act);

• To follow the procedures laid down in the General Direction given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Act); and

• To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT

My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.

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 church as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts 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.

John Helm ACA 31 January 2025

7

Halesworth Community Church Report and Accounts Year Ended 31[st] March 2024

Receipts & Payments Account

Notes Receipts Donations under Gift Aid Tax refunds under Gift Aid Other Donations Other Receipts Interest received Total Receipts Payments 2 Church activities Gifts Paid Governance Total Payments Net Receipts Cash balances brought forward Cash balances carried forward	Unrestricted Funds 2024 Restricted Funds 2024 £ £ 22,362 0 8,246 0 5,073 285	Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £ 22,362 32,854 8,246 8,962 5,358 7,839
	35,681 285 592 0	35,966 49,655 592 17
	36,273 285	36,558 49,672
	23,821 0 1,475 285 480 0	23,821 27,310 1,760 2,151 480 450
	25,776 285	26,061 29,930
	10,497 0 61,063 0	10,497 19,761 61,063 41,302
	71,560 0	71,560 61,063

The notes on page 10 form part of these accounts.

8

Halesworth Community Church Report and Accounts Year Ended 31[st] March 2024

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

	Total	Total Total
	2024	2024 2023
	£	£ £
Assets
Fixed Assets
Equipment (insurance value)	1,400	1,400 1,400
Debtors
Gift aid receivable	918	918 8,221
Bank Balances	71,560	71,560 61,063
Liabilities	(450)	(450) (450)
Total Net Assets	73,428	428 70,234

The accounts were approved by the Trustees on 31 January 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

David Sillett Chair of Trustees

9

Halesworth Community Church Report and Accounts Year Ended 31[st] March 2024

Notes to the Accounts

1 Accounting Policies

The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis with a statement of assets and liabilities.

2 Payments

Notes Church activities Pastoral Services 3 Insurance Copyright Licence Data Protection Thirtyone:eight (previously Churches Child Protection Advisory Services) Advertising and Publicity Website Miscellaneous Gifts Made Governance Accounts Examination	Unrestricted Funds 2024 Restricted Funds 2024 Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £ £ £ 22,130 0 22,130 25,629 414 0 414 414 346 0 346 329 35 0 35 35 145 0 145 130 46 0 46 22 20 0 20 0 685 0 685 751 23,821 0 23,821 27,310 1,475 285 1,760 2,151 480 0 480 450 25,776 285 26,061 29,911

3 Pastoral Services and Trustees

The Trust has no employees. The amount for Pastoral Services is to support the pastoral ministry of the church paid to Tim Sparkes.

10