2024-03-31-accounts - Fords Lane Evangelical Church

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 April 2023 To

31 March 2024

Charity name: Fords Lane Evangelical Church

Charity registration number: 1125658

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The advancement of the Christian Faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith in the UK and abroad but primarily in the area surrounding Bramhall, Stockport; and such other charitable purposes as shall in the opinion of the Elders further the work of the Church
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	The focus of our activities has been and continues to be the preaching and teaching of the Christian Faith, conducting weekly services of worship and prayer, our weekly clubs and activities for children and youth and the provision of facilities and secular activities all for the benefit of the community.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	In planning our activities for the year we kept in mind at all Elders’ meetings the Charity Commission’s Guidance on Public Benefit.

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38

Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	1. We continued links with the village youth club, the Mill, and through its leaders with the local High School and Primary Schools. We did this both financially and via a part- time youth leader, who spent time working with young people at the Mill and a weekly lunchtime group at the local high school. We continued to host children from two local primary schools for half-day sessions to learn what Christians believe about Christmas and Easter. 2. Our children’s groups have continued this year, including the club for primary-age children called Sparks. We opened a weekly club for secondary age young people called Ignite. Children and young people from inside and outside the church membership have attended and benefited and both groups have grown numerically. Our weekly group for pre-school children and their parents/carers, which mainly serves families outside the church, continues to thrive with a lengthy waiting list. 3. One of our church members continues to serve as trustee for ‘Press Red’, a Manchester-based initiative to help women suffering from domestic violence and abuse, which extended its training reach across England. 4. Our monthly lunch club for the over 60’s across the area continues to offer a low-cost hot meal, friendship and transport if required. Numbers continued to grow. We also resumed a craft club which enables attendees to develop their artistic talents and is a place for mutual support and encouragement. 5. Our previous pastor, Jonathan Dawson, continued to work in Ecuador alongside his wife Susan. Jonathan supports adults spiritually through leading a Bible school and Susan leads work to support poor children in the neighbourhood. The church continues to

support all this work. 6. The elders of the church continued to provide pastoral support for the whole church membership. A number of them are vulnerable adults, whom we assist with transport, shopping and friendship. We have established a Pastoral Team to oversee this. 7. The flow of foreign nationals, including some of the Hong Kong diaspora, continues. We have carried on supporting these new arrivals practically by advising on and helping them integrate into British life and running monthly meals, friendship and teaching group to help them become more proficient in English language and culture. This group continues to grow in number. 8. We remain a Christians Against Poverty (CAP) partner with another church in the town. We offer debt advice and practical support to anyone in the area who contacts CAP and wants to become debt-free. This has included providing Christmas hampers of food and food vouchers. 9. We have continued broadcasting and livestreaming our services over the Internet, continuing to reach much larger numbers than pre-Covid came through the doors. For more vulnerable and housebound people, this continues to be a way of keeping in touch and contributing markedly to emotional well-being. 10. We have opened a monthly group for men both inside and outside the church. It meets over a meal with the opportunity for men to discuss issues facing them. We planned a group weekend away for spring 2024

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:


Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41

Investment performance Para 1.41 against objectives Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The Charity was solvent at the end of the financial year. Income showed a marked increase on the previous year but this was due to a gift from the legatees of one of our deceased members; if this is discounted income remained almost the same as the previous year. There was an increase in expenditure much of this due to the planned installation of a lift to allow disabled access to the first floor of the church hall. The accounts show a healthy reserve of funds but some of these are ringfenced for improvements to the church buildings as stipulated by the donors of specific gifts. The planned improvements to the buildings will commence in the next financial year.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Our policy is to accumulate income to set aside for special purposes or as reserves against future expenditure including unforeseen expenditure that may occur, for example repairs or extensions to buildings, for such period not exceeding that permitted by law. We aim to hold up to £40,000 in reserves for the year end.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£208,999.74
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	n/a
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	n/a
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	n/a

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including Para 1.47 any fundraising)

Investment policy and objectives including any Para 1.46 social investment policy adopted

A description of the principal Para 1.46 risks facing the charity Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Trust Deed
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Unicorporated Association
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Each elder acts as trustee and elders are appointed by the elders for the time being

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and Para 1.51 training of trustees The charity’s organisational structure and any wider Para 1.51 network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Fords Lane Evangelical Church
Other name the charity uses	n/a
Registered charity number	1125658
Charity’s principal address	Fords Lane Bramhall Stockport SK7 1DQ

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
C T Thornton	Pastor		The Elders
N Wilson			The Elders
P E Harper MBE			The Elders
D R Webb			The Elders
T K Ayebare			The Elders
M Wilson		1/4/23 – 21/7/23	The Elders
P Parsons		21/7/23 – 31/3/24	The Elders

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets n/a held in this capacity Name and objects of the n/a charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for n/a safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date	(sgnd)	(sgnd)
	Paul Harper	Chris Thornton
	Trustee	Pastor
	29/12/2024
	29/12/2024

Fords Lane Evangelical Church Account for the year ended 31st March 2024 GRAND TOTAL Total 2024 Total 2023 Recelpts Payments Net Recelpts Opening Balanco Closing Balanc• 282,380.67 155,989.50 -192.910.52 -145,072.88 89,470.15 10,916.62 119,529.59 108,612.97 208.999.74 119,529.59 RECONCILIATION Bank Account: Royal Bank of Scotland - Currnnt Account Royal Bank of Scotland - Deposlt Account Royal Bank of Scotland - Malnt•nanc• Account 11,819.65 35,734.67 167,108.36 48,594.83 30,071.74 35,200.09 208,999.74 119,529.59 Totsl Bank Examlnad and found correct accordlng to the books and rncords prnsentad to me. Independent examlner 23rd August 2024

Fords Lane Evangellcal Church AGGounts forthe year ended 31st March 2024 INCOME 2024 2023 1 Gift Ald 2 Gift Aid HMRC 3 Donations 4 Weekly Offerfngs 6 GADS 6 Regan Donatlons (Glft Aid) 7 Rogan Donatlon8 47715.00 53,270.00 13,640.21 15,969.27 192,105.32 72,467.05 2,585.00 3,097.22 3,390.00 3,325. 3,525.1>0 0.00 2,966.00 0.00 8 Othar Incme Bums Nlght Church W••kend R•colpts Craft Wookshop Earthquake Appeal Frfendshlp and Food Hire of Hall Hursthead School Llft Project Mon's Evenlng Moss Hey School Muklnge Rebate Turf(ey Car 275.28 8,116.40 273.00 0.00 150.00 1,836.01 270.IXI 875.00 447.50 128.00 620.00 3,799.00 885.50 0.00 11)0.00 0.00 820.00 150.00 150.00 150.00 0.00 Bank Interest TOTAL INCOME 4529.96 380.45 282,380.67 155,989.50

Ford8 Lane Evangellcal Church Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2024 EXPENDITURE Mlnlsty and Mlsslon 1 Salary 2 Penslon 3 Expenses 4 Mlsslonary 6 Outreach Expensos 2024 2023 35850.65 31177.41 4166.04 2822.72 1620.67 909.62 47317.43 50305.00 164.00 400.00 89118.69 85614.75 8ulldlngs Councll Tax 7 Insurance Water Rates 2731.24 2116.31 3861.66 3553.11 438.21 602.71 7031.01 6272.13 Repalr8lEqulpment 9 Church Bulldlngs 10 Equlpment 11 Llft Costs 1346.96 16693.87 5294.41 2087.54 44843.19 5880.IX) 61483.66 24661.41 HeatlnglLlghtlng 12 EloctrfcltylGa8 Sundry Payments 13 Bank Charge8 14 Bulldlng Projoct 15 CAP 16 Catsrlng 17 CCN Donatlon 18 Cleanlng 19 Church Weekond 20 Communlon Costs 21 Craftlng for Fun 22 Earthquake Rell•f 23 Fee8 24 Festlval Manchester 26 Flowern 26 Glfts 27 Men'8 Evenlng 28 MIX 29 Muklnge Glft 30 Other Servlce Exponsosllnc Admln Costs) 31 Photo¢oplerlBroadband 32 Prfntlng IPubllcatlon• 33 Regan Costs 34 Subscrlptlons 36 Tralnlng 36 Youth WO (Inc DBS) 5911.67 5019.84 200.38 800.00 2650.IX) 1600.00 23x84 1024.45 240.00 240.00 1360.14 1730.50 10994.00 500.00 59.82 0.00 219.46 0.00 0.00 3090.00 3862.20 2340.32 1000.00 147.48 7972.75 0.00 0.00 0.00 1281.87 445.69 735.85 200.00 6740.00 1237.00 312.66 260.00 2774.83 568.66 196.44 2300.00 22.00 250.00 2183.29 1123.84 39365.70 23504.75 192910.52 145072.88 Total Expendlturn