South West Gospel Partnership
Charity number: 1126798
Trustees' Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 August 2021
South West Gospel Partnership
CONTENTS
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| 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 2021
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 2021.
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 Tim Howlett (Treasurer) 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 H C C Elsom 1 Oxford Row Bath BA1 2QN
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South West Gospel Partnership
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31 August 2021
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 2020/2021 was SWGP’s 15th year of its Ministry Training Course. As in previous years, during the year ended 31 August 2021, two year groups studied the Bible, learning how to teach it to others. Course student numbers were in the low 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.
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South West Gospel Partnership
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31 August 2021
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 £210 per term for the 2020/21 academic year. Owing to the reduced number of students compared to previous years, the course made a loss, which was covered by SWGP general funds. Donations from partnering churches also assisted with MTC’s operating costs. MTC and many SWGP events were adversely affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.
South West Men's Convention
The 2020 Men's Convention was not able to take place in person owing to Covid 19 restrictions. An online event was held instead on 17th October 2020 via Zoom, with Graham Daniels and Dave Gobbett speaking. A small charge was made for attendees; Men's Convention reserve funds were used to offset the organising costs.
Other Activities
Bristol and Bath Women’s Conferences
SWGP organises the Bristol and Bath Women's Conferences, an annual conference day for women. The 2021 Conferences were online owing to Covid 19 , and the videos have been watched over 1000 times.
Study Days and Short Courses
SWGP organises a number of Study Days and Short Courses at which content from the Ministry Training Course is delivered in alternative formats for those not able to attend the Thursday course. A study day on the Trinity was held on 9th July 2021 via Zoom, and an online evening course over three evenings in March 2021 on Ephesians and Christology was attended virtually by up to 150 people.
SOLID
SWGP organises fun and interactive teaching days for children and young adults aged 11-18 and their youth leaders. Owing to Covid 19 restrictions, no in-person events took place in 2020-21, but Simon Dowland organised a number of online events for youth groups particularly in the Bristol area.
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.
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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31 August 2021
South West Gospel Partnership
Financial Review
The financial statements of the Trust for the year ended 31 August 2021 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 was acceptable, in that a deficit from its Ministry Training Course was offset by increased receipts from church partner donations. Events and income was also significantly effected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Investment has been made over the year towards increasing the MTC intake for 22-3 in order to return the Training course to covering costs.
SWGP’s total receipts in the year ended 31 August 2021 were £25,074 (2020: £27,681), and its total payments were £27,167 (2020: £26,479), resulting in net payments of £2,093 (2020: £202 receipts).
Gifts and donations received from churches and individuals during the year increased to £10,313 compared with £3,984 in the previous year. SWGP made one off donations to the nationwide initiative A Passion for Life, and to the Sussex Gospel Partnership, a similar charity operating in Sussex.
Ministry Training Course receipts were £13,380. This comprised receipts of £1,060 from MTC Expositions and MTC Lite and £12,320 from the MTC course (equivalent to around 20 students per term @ £210 per term - some students were not able to complete the whole year). Payments of £16,120, including £13,752 relating to SWGP staff costs resulted in net payments of £2,740 (2020: £1,473 net receipts) for the year. In addition, costs of £319 were incurred in relation to SWGP's partnership meetings, and £203 for IT services including Zoom software, Payroll services and a contact management database. In April 2021, the Operations Manager moved from working a contract basis to a part-time permanent employment contract, the total cost of this employment over the year was £6,930.
South West Men's Convention (online) ticket sales of £431 and costs of £2,453 resulted in a net cost of £2,022. This was offset by using the Men's Convention restricted funds of £1,919.
As at 31 August 2021 SWGP’s cash funds were £2647, comprising unrestricted General Funds of £2647 (2020: £3,039), PAYE overpayment credit of £218, and restricted funds relating to the Men’s Convention of £0 (2020: £1,919).
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. Given the addition of a further part-time employee, and the reduction in General Funds due to deficit in the year, as at 31 August 2021 SWGP did not hold sufficient General Funds in respect of its stated Reserves Policy. The Trustees therefore intend that action should be taken over the 2021-2 year to increase the reserves, including applications to grant funding bodies, appeal to church and individual partners for increased giving, and retention of surplus intended to be generated by 20212 events.
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 |
27th June 2022 Date |
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South West Gospel Partnership
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 August 2021
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS
| Unrestricted funds £ Receipts Gifts and donations 10,313 Ministry Training Course fees 13,380 South West Men's Convention income - Other Events income 950 Sub total 24,643 Asset and investment sales, etc. - Total receipts 24,643 Payments Ministry Training Course costs Room hire 767 Speakers 600 Printing 416 Stationery 24 Advertising 290 Refreshments 27 Books and sundry items 244 2,368 SWGP staff costs (J Clark/C Ward) 13,752 SWGP staff costs (T Underhill) 6,930 SWGP Donations 1,000 SWGP partnership meetings 319 South West Men's Convention costs - Other Events and overheads 345 Sub total 24,714 Asset and investment purchases, etc. - Total payments 24,714 Net receipts / (payments) (71) Transfers between funds (103) Cash funds last year end 3,039 Cash funds this year end 2,865 |
Restricted funds £ - - 431 - 431 - 431 - - - - - - - - - 1,967 - - 486 - 2,453 - 2,453 (2,022) 103 1,919 - |
2021 Total £ 10,313 13,380 431 950 25,074 - 25,074 767 600 416 24 290 27 244 2,368 13,752 8,897 1,000 319 486 345 27,167 - 27,167 (2,093) - 4,958 2,865 |
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 - 4,765 4,958 |
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South West Gospel Partnership
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 August 2021
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
| Unrestricted funds £ Cash funds Lloyds Bank plc Total cash funds 2,647 Other monetary assets PAYE overpayment - Investment assets - Assets retained for the charity's own use Lenovo Ideapad 290 Liabilities Supplier accounts not yet paid - - |
Restricted funds £ - - - - - - |
As at 31 2021 Total £ 2,647 218 - 290 - - |
August 2020 Total £ 4,958 - - 290 - - |
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The financial statements were approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
| I R Lewis on Ian Lewis Chairman |
27th June 2022 Date |
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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:
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examine the financial statements under section 145 of the Charities Act;
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act; and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
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:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the financial statements did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the financial statements did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of financial statements set out in the Charities (financial statements and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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.
H C C Elsom Signed: H C C Elsom Independent Examiner 1 Oxford Row Date: 21 June 2022 Bath BA1 2QN
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