OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2020-08-31-accounts

South West Gospel Partnership

Charity number: 1126798

Trustees' Report and Financial Statements

for the year ended 31 August 2020

South West Gospel Partnership

CONTENTS

Page
Report of the Trustees 1 - 4
Receipts and Payments Accounts 5-6
Report of the Independent Examiner 7

South West Gospel Partnership

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31 August 2020

The Trustees are pleased to present their report and the financial statements of South West Gospel Partnership ("SWGP" or "the Trust") for the year ended 31 August 2020.

Reference and Administrative Information

Charity name South West Gospel Partnership Charity registered number 1126798 Status Trust Registered as a charity with effect from 19 November 2008 Registered office SWGP c/o St Bartholomew's Church 1 King Edward Road Oldfield Park Bath BA2 3PB

Trustees

The names of the Trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out below:

Ian Lewis (Chairman) Mike Cain Simon Dowland Paul Everingham Resigned 21 January 2021 Tim Howlett (Treasurer) Douglas Johnson Paul Mallard John Martin Spencer Shaw Adrian Taylor-Weekes (Secretary)

None of the Trustees has any beneficial interest in the Trust and all served without remuneration in their capacity as Trustees.

Bankers Lloyds Bank 20 Badminton Road Downend Bristol BS16 6BW Independent Examiner P E Hodges CPFA 74 Cottrell Road Bristol BS5 6TN

South West Gospel Partnership

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31 August 2020

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

SWGP is a registered charity governed in accordance with its Declaration of Trust made on 7 November 2008.

The Charity Commission granted SWGP registered charity status on 19 November 2008.

Organisational structure

SWGP is governed by the Trustees who comprise ministers and members of evangelical churches from across the South West region of England. The Trustees meet at least twice a year to set policy and review the activities of the Trust. The annual general meeting of the Trustees was held on 21 January 2021.

Recruitment and appointment of Trustees

Trustees are nominated and appointed by a vote of the existing Trustees and may serve for a period of up to five years after which time they are eligible for re-appointment. None of the Trustees receive remuneration or any other benefit from their work with SWGP.

Risk Management

The Trustees examine the major strategic and operational risks which SWGP faces at each of their meetings. They seek to manage and mitigate these risks within acceptable levels wherever possible.

Objectives and Activities

The objective of SWGP is to advance the Christian faith for the benefit of the public, in particular but not exclusively through evangelism, ministry, theological education and the planting and restoration of church fellowships in accordance with its statements of belief.

During the year SWGP incurred staff costs for a part-time Ministry Training Course director and a part-time administrator. SWGP also paid for professional management services and also gratefully received voluntary assistance from individuals and partnership churches, without which the effectiveness of SWGP would be severely limited. The main activities of the Trust during the year are summarised below.

Partnership Meetings

SWGP organises quarterly partnership meetings for minsters and Gospel workers from partnering churches, to encourage them through sharing, praying, welcoming visiting speakers and planning activities together.

Ministry Training Course (“MTC”)

The academic year 2019/2020 was SWGP’s 14th year of its Ministry Training Course. As in previous years, during the year ended 31 August 2020, two year groups studied the Bible, learning how to teach it to others. Course student numbers were in the high twenties for the year. Students attended the MTC from many different churches spread across the South West with some travelling each week during term time. Students included pastors, church workers, apprentices, student workers, home group leaders, as well as church members who were able to take time off from work to come on the course, or who are retired.

South West Gospel Partnership

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31 August 2020

Objectives and Activities (continued)

We are privileged to have many able Bible teachers in the area, and the teaching is shared by about 12-15 different speakers, including visiting national speakers from time to time. MTC offers three afternoon workshop tracks – one for experienced preachers, one for those who are less experienced at giving Bible talks, and one helping people to lead Bible studies. There is also a short course in Biblical Hebrew added on at the end of the day for those who wish to stay. Each year there are two tours of the British Museum and British Library to study items relating to the Bible.

The MTC course was largely funded from student fees received during the year, which were set at £200 per term for the 2019/20 academic year. A reduced rate was charged for the third MTC term which was delivered online due to Covid-19 restrictions. Donations from partnering churches also assisted with MTC’s operating costs.

South West Men's Convention

The 2019 Men's Convention entitled "Behold the Man" took place at St Michael’s Centre, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, on 12 October 2019 with invited speakers Jonty Allcock and Daf Meirion-Jones.

Other Activities

Bristol and Bath Women’s Conferences

SWGP organises the Bristol and Bath Women's Conferences, an annual conference day for women held in the South West region of England. The 2020 Bristol conference entitled "Victorious Jesus: Christ our Hope in the Battles of Life" with guest speaker Andrea Trevenna went ahead as planned on 7 March 2020 however the Bath conference had to be cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Biblical Counselling

SWGP continues to partner with Biblical Counselling UK to provide training in Bath for the certificate programme in biblical counselling.

Cornhill Teaching Day

SWGP organises an annual one-day conference held in association with the Proclamation Trust. On 15 January 2020 delegates attended the course in Bath designed to develop their Bible-handling skills.

SOLID

SWGP organises fun and interactive teaching days for children and young adults aged 11-18 and their youth leaders. A Solid Night planned for 20 March 2020 unfortunately had to be cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Public Benefit

In setting objectives and planning activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit. As set out in our objectives, the Trust exists for the benefit of individuals primarily in the South West region of England through the promotion and advancement of the evangelical protestant Christian religion. Working closely with its partner churches, SWGP seeks to make its courses and events affordable to ensure that they are accessible to all.

South West Gospel Partnership

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31 August 2020

Financial Review

The financial statements of the Trust for the year ended 31 August 2020 have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and should be reviewed in conjunction with this Trustee Report.

Income is derived primarily from charges for events and training courses, and also through donations from partner churches and individuals. Expenditure includes staff costs and costs associated with running events and training courses. SWGP's financial position remained acceptable, despite it recording a deficit from its Ministry Training Course and as a result of increased SWGP management and partnership-related costs.

SWGP’s total receipts in the year ended 31 August 2020 were £27,681 (2019: £20,659), and its total payments were £27,479 (2019: £30,267), resulting in net receipts of £202 (2019: £9,608 net payments).

Gifts and donations received from churches and individuals during the year increased to £3,984 compared with £3,072 in the previous year.

Ministry Training Course receipts were £19,405. This comprised receipts of £1,145 from MTC Expositions and MTC Lite and £18,260 from the MTC course (equivalent to 30 students per term @ £200 per term). Payments of £17,932, including £13,405 relating to SWGP staff costs resulted in net receipts of £1,473 (2019: £5,399 net payments) for the year. In addition, costs of £4,752 were incurred in relation to SWGP's Operations Manager and £629 in relation to SWGP's partnership meetings.

South West Men's Convention ticket sales of £3,631 and costs of £4,498 resulted in a net cost of £867. Other Events income comprised SWGP's SOLID events and the Cornhill Teaching Day income, which overall recorded net receipts of £293 (2019: £186 net receipt).

As at 31 August 2020 SWGP’s cash funds were £4,958, comprising unrestricted General Funds of £3,039 (2019: £1,970) and restricted funds relating to the SWGP Men’s Convention of £1,919 (2019: £2,786).

Reserves Policy

The Trustees are committed to maintaining a level of reserves for General Funds that will cover at least three months' staff costs, subject to sufficient funding being available to achieve this, while not hampering the ongoing development of the SWGP's activities. As at 31 August 2020 the Trustees agreed that SWGP held sufficient General Funds in respect of its stated Reserves Policy.

Declaration

The Trustees’ Report was approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

I R Lewis
and
Ian Lewis
Chairman		 A M Taylor-Weekes
on
Adrian Taylor-Weekes
Secretary		 21 January 2021
Date

South West Gospel Partnership

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 August 2020

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS

Unrestricted
funds
£
Receipts
Gifts and donations
3,984
Ministry Training Course fees
19,405
South West Men's Convention income
-
Other Events income
661
Sub total
24,050
Asset and investment sales, etc.
-
Total receipts
24,050
Payments
Ministry Training Course costs
Room hire
2,100
Speakers
955
Printing
297
Stationery
159
Advertising
330
Refreshments
436
Books and sundry items
250
4,527
SWGP staff costs
13,405
SWGP management costs
4,052
SWGP partnership meetings
629
South West Men's Convention costs
-
Other Events costs
368
Sub total
22,981
Asset and investment purchases, etc.
-
Total payments
22,981
Net receipts / (payments)
1,069
Transfers between funds
-
Cash funds last year end
1,970
Cash funds this year end
3,039		 Restricted
funds
£
-
-
3,631
-
3,631
-
3,631
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
700
-
3,798
-
4,498
-
4,498
(867)
-
2,786
1,919		 2020
Total
£
3,984
19,405
3,631
661
27,681
-
27,681
2,100
955
297
159
330
436
250
4,527
13,405
4,752
629
3,798
368
27,479
-
27,479
202
-
4,756
4,958		 2019
Total
£
3,072
13,700
3,255
632
20,659
-
20,659
2,100
1,523
569
82
639
866
325
6,104
12,995
7,276
567
2,879
446
30,267
-
30,267
(9,608)
-
14,364
4,756

South West Gospel Partnership

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 August 2020

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Unrestricted
funds
£
Cash funds
Lloyds Bank plc
Total cash funds
3,039
Other monetary assets
Ministry Training Course fees recoverable
-
Investment assets
-
Assets retained for the charity's own use
Lenovo Ideapad
290
Liabilities
Supplier accounts not yet paid
-
-		 Restricted
funds
£
1,919
-
-
-
-
-		 As at 31
2020
Total
£
4,958
-
-
290
-
-		 August
2019
Total
£
4,756
50
-
290
-
-

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

I R Lewis
on
Ian Lewis
Chairman		 21 January 2021
Date

South West Gospel Partnership

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SOUTH WEST GOSPEL PARTNERSHIP

I report on the financial statements of South West Gospel Partnership for the year ended 31 August 2020 which are set out on pages 5 and 6.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Charities Act") and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of the independent examiner's statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, 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 no opinion is given as to whether the financial statements present a 'true and fair' view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:

I 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 financial statements to be reached.

P E Hodges CPFA Signed: P E Hodges Independent Examiner 74 Cottrell Road Date: 21 January 2021 Bristol BS5 6TN