5LFI Charity r•gistratlon nUM￿r 1126849 Comp•ny reglstratlon numb•r 08691633 (England and W¥lesl THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Tru•tee Dlr•ct E Blowe$ G Cutmore C Banks M Richards K Britton K Litue F Hintze R Partridge D Ivey SFa L MerNJio S Budd T Matthth¥ C Mayer8 ANix Y Mwampulo P Loosè C Paga P Lèrhjy J Johal Company S•cr•tary Mf H R Ca￿n81 Charlty numb•r 1126849 C¢Jmpany numb•r 06691633 R•gS•t•r•d offlc• Stanway EVar￿￿¢•I Church Chapel Road s￿nwaY Colchesler Esgex United Kingdom C03 OPU Audltor AzetsAudit serv￿85 7-8 Brftanni8 Business Park Comèl Way Essex United KirwJdom SS2 6GE THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES CONTENTS Trust&e Directors. report Statemgnl of T￿st08 Directors 19sF￿&bIlItIaS Independ&nt audilorfs rgport 7-10 Ststemenl offinandal a¢tNtties 11 Balance sheet 12-13 Noies io Ihg financlal ststements 14-23 THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES TRUSTEE DIRECTORS, REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 The Truste& Directors presenl their report and financial statoments for the year en(Sed 31 December 2023. The fin8ncial statements have been pfepared in *(¥)rdance the ￿￿ntir0 pthes out In note I lo the financial statèments and comply with the charity's govèming document. the Companies Act 2006 and 'Accounting and Reporting by Chariii8s.' Statement of Recommendad Practice applicable to charities preparing Iheir accounts in accordance with the Finan¢ial ReportlNJ Stsndard applicable in ihe UK and R8public of Ireland IFRS 1021 (effective 1 January 20191". Obloctlves and •ctlvltl•8 The Llnion of Evangel￿1 Churches 18 a 9roup of 14 ChU￿ttes sAluated in Essex, e8St London ant1 south-88sI London, and owns chapels 8nd housès al 18 siies. As a ¢haritsble company, il seeks lo add value to the outreach and mtnislry ol èach individual UEC Church. and to Pfesenl Ihe denomination 10 loday's socitrty 85 viable and rèl8vanl org￿1$8￿0n, speakiThJ the Iwths of ihe Gospel and providing re￿vant 8ctiviiies to each local community. H•ad Offic? The UEC continugd lo provKle an offi¢8 stsffed fLY days e8¢h Iwek, gfviThJ adminisiralive, insuranc8, and legal and rnanagement support and athice to member Churches. It continued to expand the contènt of the UEC Handbook with informats'on and a￿1¢8 on a range of sub￿¢15 to ensure compliance In all matters relèvant to Churches, activitie3 in today's 30ci•ty. The rdocalH)n of the office lo Stsnway EvaTrJelical Church has lurned out lo be b8ngfi¢ial in many way8. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES TRUSTEE DIRECTORS, REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 M5nlst•rlal Commlttee The Minislerial Committee met ev8ry three months or $0. and rrthitwed the spiritU81 health of m8mber Churches, sometimes intervenin9 in the lrfe of struggling Churches. Th• 'decline" m&nlalrty that has characterised the UEC for many years is 18ss promi￿nI and committee 1$ keen to assist Chur¢hes to be rnore gro￿ orientate(1,. howevèr, the legacy of the covid pandemic was still affectrThJ some Church activities. A Vision D8y was held in September 2023, but was p(M)rfy attended.. Leadership Teams were invited lo attend and those that did found it helpftjl. The committee dacided to all(K8te each cornmittee member a group ol UEC Minislers. to'come alongsi(le" them and offer pastor81 support a5 necessary. The committèe met wrth senior Staff from the FIEC with a view to re4nstating Ihe connection and le1lows￿"P ￿vIOuslY enioyad,. enquiries wlll 8180 be made lo Affinity. wher& our r￿nn0¢l￿nImeMo￿￿hlp had also ￿p80¢. The committee was pleased to pul forward Jag Johal lo be a Minister al w1¢kfo￿ Evanggltal Church. HIS Ordinatlon and lThJuctson service lakes ￿ace in January 2024. FInar￿ & G•n•r•l Purpo••• Commltt•• Thè F&GP Committee (known as the Finance Comrnitte81 met every fv40 month$ or $0, 8nd dis¢u8sed a wide r8nge of tOPlCs. procedures, needs and opportunities. 11 Conbnued to fflonitof the capltsl invested Iwthich 8till Shows good retumsl and Ihis included meebng during Ihe ygar with the M8naging Director of King5fle8t Wealth, which handlgs our investments. In ￿niunct￿n wilh each resp8th.ve Church, the ¢ommittee 8130 reviewed the buildirrfJs portfollo (houses, flats and church premises) lo ensur8 they aré fit for purpo$e. The Trf- Ennlal Property SurNey5 ITEPSI were replaced by 58IP - the Fivg-year 8uilding Insp8¢tion Programrne Icathgd out by Independanl suNeyorsl and thi$ is proving to be rn0￿ uselul in hi9hlightiro d8fecls in Ihe buildings. It is managed by this committ&8. wilh beswke repai￿ etc b8iThJ discussed wth each Church,. some buildings We￿ In 8 poor stalè ol repair, and il was hoped that all repairs knll btr COM￿&t811 by Sprlng 2024. SerioLts ¢onslderalion was given to a wide range ol legal, practical, administraiiv& and management aspècts of operating the UEC 8s a charitable company. The UEC Handbook available io all Ministern. Souetaiies, Administrators antj Tr•8surers, 1$ updated as necessary and 18 now available In Ihe"cloud' version. Th• Finance Commrttèe provlded financial support to Il* Churches at Con1roham, Cresslng 8nd Chelmsford. Flnancial & Admin Reports Wgre presented to Board meebThJs fdlowing each FC meeting and are proving helpf in the careful Stewardship of moni•s 4vwlabl8. The UEC'8 9¢r￿ra1 finantyd posthn is improving. Income from its investments ¢onUnues lo grow. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES TRUSTEE DIRECTORS, REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Promgtion Committee The Promotion Committee Iwxjntsble to the Finance Comrnitteel continued lo produce well-run and professional èv8nts and publicalions. Fewer events were oryanised.. the Failh Matters Day al Southend EC was attended by 36 people. which included m8mbers of that Church. The Praygr Focus house magazinè contin￿￿d lo be an excellenl and useful publicabon Ilooknng back 8nd looklng foMardl, and was distributed not only to UEC Churches. bul far beyond. Week ol Prayer leaflet was also produced and vgry W811-received. Con￿derat￿)n was given lo organisirrfJ a UEC Family Day. and lo re-inst8lir the Quarterty Prayer Meetsngs. which have encouraged the I￿1 Churchs$ that hostad Ihem., thèse may happ8n in 2024. Christine Oxenham continued in her role as Chair. Church•$' progr•8s during th• y•ar Somg Churches in the Union are showng signs ol p95ilive grthth arKI witness In their respgctive communities. It 1$ r袢>Jnis8d that ¢haThJe and its &companylng ri8k8 a￿ necessary for Churches lo grow in these posl-morl8m limes. Some are strugglirrfJ, and so benefit from beiro part of a group of Churches." others began to rè-Instsl8 their face-l￿faCe programm8s- weekday meets"ThJs and groups as well as Sunday seNlee8. Structur81 $uNeys on all the UEC chapels and churchas were conducted Ilhe 58IP prcoiammel and using some of th8 monies from the sale of Rayleigh EvaThJelical Church. necessary repairs have begun. Cambgrnvell EC IS still lookiThJ for a Minisler; al Grov8 Road EC. Chelmsfc*d. electrical repairs works are likaly., EaS￿Ood EC Is In need ol additional leadeTrhip,' at Great Wakering, Cart Pag8 is n¢)w an Associate Minister. and the Church looks lor a Minister lo le8d the fellowship., at Little Totham the built1ing Wofks rtsqui￿d arg nearly completed., al Shoebury EC. the community work rnanag￿ by Hub 151 1$ devtrloping well. and the Balm of Gi1&8d Church has full land incre8wngl use ol the building on Sundays," at Soulhend EC, the Church flal is now occupièd and Ihg rental Irorn this is balng wt into a fund for a successor pastor in due tsme.. at Slanfofd le Hope the Fresh Hope Community Church is beginning lo make progre$$. Slanway Ec's building project is naw complele and in Increasing use for community evènts.. at Val* Church. Wrftiam. rrtogress is being mad& In outr8gch minislries, bul no progress in finding a Minisler. Revitiwing lh8 work ol all ihe Churches {br￿￿dIng tlThe ￿t monlioned alN)v8I, il seems that th8 effects ol covh h8ve been lèft behind, allhoLvJh the legacy $tsll 8ffecls attitudes io outreach 8¢c.: most Churches are beginning to look forward. wlh services and meetings ￿-in61aled. aThJ prwts conwdered or begun. Board m¢•tlng8 Eri¢ Blowes (Retired Minister at St8nway EC) and Chris Banks (Senior MlnSslgr 81 Daws Heathl wgre appointed as Co-chaimièn lor 2024. Oncg again A2ets were apwnled a$ Auditors for 2024. Thè Bo8￿ do¢ided to rgtsin most of the PP and UEC memorabilia by having it scanned aTh1 Saved for future access- some legal documènts 91¢. are held at the UEC offlc&. Inlormal CJiscu$5ions - as pèrt ol Board deliberations - have begn moderately useful, but some¢ime5 irKonclusive. The Board (Jeryded that the Promotion Cgmmittee is no longer appropriate to the UEC activities and woukl the￿fore cèase, subject to a vote in 2024. In Novèmber. the Board was very pleased lo agree lo Ihe proposal from the Mintsterial Comrnittee appoint Jag Johal to be a Minisler at Vvicklord Evangelical Church. Th8 Board agieed with the protK)$al Irorn the Finance Committee to begin ihe process of selllng Ihe chapel at Shotrbury. Followiry an infml survey, the Board was pleased to c8n¢el the outstandiThJ loan to Cressing Community Church. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES TRUSTEE DIRECTORS, REPORT IINCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) {CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Pl•n8 for Future Perlods The following strategic inlliatives are continually considered and actioned as 8pproPri￿e". the support. promotion and devebpment of Bible-based Christian ministry and ￿J￿ea￿h. induding relevant training. This indudes consideration of anolher Vision Day, and ihe prov4sion of fin8nck41 support for individuals to attend trainin9 eou1588. help and 8ncouragemenl lo all ol our Chvrches to idenlify what s￿e and Com￿n3tion of mlnistries work best In their locallty 8nd support them in Imp￿menti￿j Iheir programm8s. This indudes making infom)ats'on availablè from cNJisi¢Je of the UEC. for Chu￿he$ io acquiro and uso ¥there appropnata. tho dev81opmgnl of trainlng programme$ that will halp expand thé activities availa￿¢ lo children and people of 8118ges. to h&lp reconnect with those who a￿ h¥0 or three generations away from our Christian heril8ge. Th1$ may include unusual or asymmebic athiiies or p¥r*3rammes and reviewing prcredures lo soè wh￿h work best In the local settt'ng. - En¢our8gement to be open and ￿lcOMIng lo those sgeklng answers lo the bkj qu8$fjcns of1Sfe. so thal they per¢•ive'Church' 0$ somewhere to call their"spintual home" and so flourish. - coftlrtbulSng lo lo¢al communitres ihrough activill8$ provwJ8d by Churches18uth 88 a F¢)odbank and takiryJ part In or organising community aC￿V￿06) aThJ thfcvjh cwrètirrfJ vAth other like•mlnde(1 Churches and organisatlons out￿de ol the UEC monitoring and improving the financial ￿lIbeIng of the UEC, includir¥ encc¥Jraglng ga¢h Church to ¢onlinue with ils own fun(J-r8i$ing Imalnly from its own Memb9￿ friend81. Structur•, gov•m•nc• and manag•m•nt Gov•rnlng do¢um•nt Th8 charity is controlled by it$ gov&mrng docum8nl. a de&J of IN8t, and constilules a limited company. limlled by guaranta8, 88 defined by Ihts Companies Act 2￿. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES TRUSTEE DIRECTORS, REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Organisatlonal •1Nctur• The charity 18 govemed by its Board of Trusièes whKh 1$ re8porribl& for setting the strat8gic direth'on of the organisation and the pdKy of lh& charity. The tArectors carry the ultirnate responwbility for the conduct ol the harity and lor ensuring that the charity satssfies it$ legal and ¢ontractual oblvJab'ons. Trustees mgel at a mlnlmum of thre6 limes a year. The Union of Evangelical Churches is a group of 14 Churches. whose results a￿ included within these ￿nar￿[al Slatemenls. 11 also owns three properties INVO of which are Manses lor thg incumbent Minister¥, and one which 1$ privately lell. and a iwo-bedroom fiat as an integrdl part of one chLtrch prgmises, and a thr60-bedroom flat as an integral p8rt of another church premises. It al￿ owns arK)th&r chawl which is let lor community purposes weekdays and us8d by another Church on Sundays. The fe$pective cash balancos showing per the accounts al the year-end belong lo the individual UEC Church8s in Q￿$t10n. Inductlon •nd ¢ralnlng of new Trust•• Olr•ct¢ New Trustee Directors 8re briefed on their obruat￿n8 Charity and Company Law. the content of th Memorandum and Articles of As$￿18t￿)n. th8 AgTeement lor Common Purposes (known a8 thè ACPI, the committees and deciwonvmaking procedur&s. Audltor In accordanee with the ￿mpanY'S articles. a r08dvl￿n pvoposing thalAzets Audil Services ￿ reappointed as audl¢or ol the company will be pul al a G8neral Meeting. The TnJ$le8 Directors ￿port was approved by the Trusteo Dlrectors. Mr H R Gardn•r Company Secretary Dated.. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE DIRECTORS, RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 The Trustee Direclors, who are also Ihe DirectiKs ofThe UnM)n ol EvarrfJel￿I churc￿ lor the purpose of company law. are responsib￿ for prgparing the Trusiee Direclors, Report and th• finanual statements in accord8nce wth applicable law and Unit8d Kingdom Accounting Stsndards Iunited Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounts'ng Prnctice). Company Law requires them to Pfépare financi￿ stslements for each financial year which give a true and falr view ol the state of affalrs of the chaiity and of the incoming rescwJrc8s and application of rosources, including the income and expendlture. ofthe charftsNe company for Ih8t year. In pr￿p8￿ng these financial ststements. the Trustee Oife¢tors are r8qulred to.. - 891e¢l suitable accounting Wkl&s an¢J then apply Ihtsm consistentty. - observe th6 methods and prin¢yltss in the Charilies SORP., - make judg8menls and eslknales that are reasonab18 and prudent: prepare the financlal statements on the 90iThJ con¢em basis unlgss It Is InappTopriato lo presume that thg company will conunue in operation. The Trustee Dirgclors are reSpOn￿OIe for k88piTh3 8dequat8 a¢¢ounllng f8c¢yds ihal ¢Ji$close with reasonable accuracy at any lime the financial position ol the and enable it to ensure thal th8 financial stalements compty wrth the Companies Act 2006. It 1$ also responsible lor saleguarding ihe a￿ts ol th¥ ¢harity and hencg for tsklr¥J re8sonabl8 slgps for the prevenlion and detectK)n ol fraud and olhtrr irregularities. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES Oplnlon We have audited the finarwl stat*menls of Th• Union ol Evangelical Churches (the "Charty'l for the year •nded 31 December 2023 which comprise the statem•nl of financial activit*s. the balance sheel and the notes to the nancial Statements. induding SKJnrf￿ant accountir¥J poli(ies. The finar￿la1 reporting framework that has been appliad in their preparation 1$ appliCa￿e and United Kingdom Accounting Slandards, ir￿lUding FRS 102 The Fin8ncial Reporting Siandar(l applicable in tho UK and Republic of IrelaNS (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Pr8cbcel. In oui oplnion, Ihe finanfyal stat8ments- giv8 a true and lair view of the stste of Ihe Charitab￿ company's affairs as a131 D￿mber 2023 and of ils Incoming resources and appli¢8tion of rèsources, fw lh8 yeaf then ended.. have been propedy prepaied in accordance Mth United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounb'ng Practl¢e'. and have been preparnd In aCCo￿ance with th& r8quirem8nts of th8 Companle8Act 2006. B•818 f¢f opSnlon We conducted our aLtdll In 8ccordan¢e with Intèmgtional SlaThJ8rdB on Autjits'ng IUKI IISAS IUKII and applicablg law. Our rè$ponsibilitSe$ under those stsndards 8re further dèscribed in Ihe AuditLY$ respL￿￿O{lIE$eS for the audlt Ihe finBn¢i81 slal8mertt$ section of our repcvt. W8 are independent of Iha Charity in accor(J8nce with the ethl¢al requirgments that are ￿levant to our audit of Ihe finanual stslements in the UK, includitYJ the Financial Rèporting Council's IFRCI Ethical Standard, 8nd we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilitie$ in accordance with these roqulrernents. We believe thal Ihe audit evidence w8 have obtalned is Slffiuenl and appropriate lo provlde a basis for our opinion. Conclu•lons r•l•tlng to golng con¢vn In auditing Ihe financial stalemenls. we have Concl￿ thal Ihe Tnjstee Directors use of th& goiThJ concern ba818 of accountin9 in the prgpar8tlon of thg (In8r￿la1 slalemenb is appropriale. Based on the work we have performed, we have nol i¢Jentified any malerial uncertainb'es relating to &vgnts or conditions Ihat. individ¢Jally or Collecbvely, may cast &gnific8nl doubl on the Charty's ability lo continue as 8 going con¢em for a perKx10l at least fv￿1ve monlhs from when Ihtr financial slalements are auth0ri5ed for issue. Our responwbilities and th& responsI￿li110$ of the Trustee Oirg¢tors ￿th rask)e¢t to wing C￿nCern are described in the re￿vant sections ol this rewt. Oth•r informatjon The othèr information comprises the Information included in the annual ￿POrt olhor than tho financial statements and our avdilors report Ihereon. The Truste& Directors are respon￿ble for the oth&r inlomiation conlained wlthln the annual ￿pOrt. Our opinion on thè finar￿la1 statements doès not cov8r the other inforynation and we do not express any form of assurance co￿V￿￿n thereon. Our ￿SponsIbl1￿ is to read ihè Olher information and. in doing so, ¢on8ider whether the othèr informabon s$ materially In￿n￿Stent wrth the fin8naal slalements or our krK)wledge obtained in the course of the audrt, or otherwise appears lo be Materially misslated. If we identify SLKh material inconsistencies or apparenl material misstatements, we are wuired to deternine wheiher this g+ve$ rise to a malerial miss181ement in the financial slaiements themselve$. If. based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material mlsstslemenl of this other information, wè are requirtrd lo report that fact. We have nothing to in this ward. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES atters on whl¢h w• ar• requlred to rnport by •xcept5on We have nothin9 to report in respect of the lollowng mattèrs in relatlon to vthlch Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulats'ons 2C¥)8 require us to repcfft to yw rf. in our opinion.. the information given in the financi81 statements is •r￿nsIStent in any material rgSk)eCt with the Trustee Directors report". or sufficient accountsng records have not been kepl.. or the financial stslemenis ar8 not in agreement wth Ihe accounlir*J r8conJ$'. or we have nol r8¢9ived all the InlonnatKJn and explanaliMs we f8quire for our audll. R•8pcffls1bllFtI￿ of Tru8t•• Dlr•ctor• As explained more fvlly in the ststem8nl of Trustee Dir¢ctors' ￿sponsibl11be$, the Trustee Dirè¢tors. who are 81$0 tho dirÈ¢lors of Ihe Charity lor the purptsse of company law. afe responsib￿ for ihe preparation ol the finan¢i81 ststements and for being satisfied that Ihtry give a Iwe and fair view. and lor such intemal control 8s delemined ne¢e858ry lo enable the preparation oi finanaal slalements that are freè from material mi$slaiem8nl, whether due lo fraud or èrror. In preparing the financial stat$ments. thè Truslee Direciofs are r8srx)A8ible for assessing tho arity's abilty lo continu• as a going concem, disdosing, 4$ 8ppIKabl•. matters related to going concern and using the going concem basis of acciwJnling unless Ihe Trusteè Oirectors oither intend lo liquidate the chariiable Gompany or to cèase operatths. OT have ￿ rtsali8tic allemative but lo do so. Audltor's r•spon¥lbllltl•8 for th• audlt of th• financlal 8tat•ments We have been appointed as auditor und8r section 144 01 the Charlll6s Act 2011 and rewt In ¥¢cordance wlth the Act and relevant re9ulalions made or effect thetyunder. Our oblectlve8 are lo oblain reasonable assurance aboui wheiher the financial stalement$ as a whole arg free from material misslalemenl, whether due lo Iraud or error, and to ISSU8 an auditors ￿pOrt Ihat includes our opinion. Reasonable assuran¢e 15 a high level ol assurnnce bul is not a guarantee thal 8n avdit conducled in accordance wlth ISAS IUKI will alw8ys detect a matèrial misststèmenl when il exists. Misststements can 8rise from fraL*d or error and are considered malgri81 rf, indrvidu811y or in the aggwale, they could reasonably be expected to influence Ihe economic d¢¢isions ol users iaken on Ihe ba&$ of these financial statèments. A further description ol our responsibilities 1$ aya￿able on the Finan¢i81 Reporting Council's wfrbsrte 81.. https.'Il www.fr¢.org,uklaudrtorsresponsibililies. This description fom8 part of our auditovs report. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES Extent lo which the audit was considered ¢apable of delecting irregulariti'&s, including fraud irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-complian¢e with laws and regulations. We design pmcellures in line strilh our rèsponsibilitses, outlined above and on the Finanual RtportiThJ CounrAfs IFRC'S) website, to deted material misstatements in respect of irregularities. including fraud. We obt8in and UFx18te our und$rstsndirvJ of the èntity. its aclfv￿es, its control enviionm8nl, and likely future developments, incl￿ding in relatK)n to the legal and regulalory framework applicable and how the entity is complying with that framework. Based on this underslandiTh3. we identify and assess the risks ol material mlsstatement of tho financial statements. whethtrr due to fraud or error, design and p8rfomi audil procedures responsive to those risks. and obtain audit evidence thal is suffiuenl and approprj.ate lo provide a bags for our opinion. Thi5 includes consideration of Ihe risk of acis by the entity that were contrary to applicable laws and wulations, including traud. In response lo ri8k of Iwulari￿S and n0nrycomF4￿ftr￿ wth laws and wulations. includlng fraud, we d&$igned procedu￿8 which included.. Enqulry of mana9ement aNJ those charged wth govemance around actual and polontial 111198tion and clalms 8s well as actual. gJspect8d and alleged fraud.. Reviewng mlnules of M￿ti￿jS of those charget1 wilh g0￿marKe. As$e&wng extent of compliance wilh the law3 and règulations conshl&rtsd io have a dlrect maltrrial effect on the financial ststemenls or the OP8falions of ihe entity ihrough eTh]yiry and inspectlon,. Reviewing financial slalemenl disclosures arKI testin9 to supporting d￿umentation lo assess complianca wilh applicable laws and regulats"ons' Perfoming audit work over the risk ol m8nagomgnl tM88 and overnid9 of controls, includlng leBllng of jcMJrn81 entrie$ and other ￿ljustmentS for 8ppmpn"8ieness. evaluating the busSne58 falionalè of significant Ir8nsactions outside thè normal course of busin8ss and Trviewng acc￿JnIIng estimates lor Indtcalors ol polentlal bl88. Becau86 of the inh8fenl limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we ￿11 not dèiect all iThegularilies, includlng those leading lo a material mlsststemenl in Ihtr financial $tslemgnts or rK*n-complian¢e with regulation. This rtsk incr&8ses the more Ihal compliance with 8 law or regulation is removed from the ¢venls and transaction$ fyflect&d In the financiBI s18lementS, 85 we ￿11 tr¢ less lik•ty lo become awa￿ of instancès of non-compliance. The risk of not detecting a material mis8tstement resulting from fraL*J 1$ highef Ihan for ong resurting Irom error, as fraud may Involve collusion, I0￿&ry. intentional omissions. mi8repre8entstions, or the override ol Inttrrnal control. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES Use of our report This report is made sdely to the charity'$ Iru8tees, a$ # body, irt accorda￿ wth part 4 of the Charities IAccounls and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has b8en undertaken so that we rn￿ht slate to the charitys trustees those matters we are ￿QUired to slate to them in an auditof's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsiblity to anyonè other than the charity and the charity's trustees as a body, lor our audit w(brk, lor this r6port. th8 opinions hav• fom)8d. Paul Ea8t {S•nlor Statutory Audltor) For And on b•half of Az•ts Audlt S•rvl¢e8 Ch•rt•red Accounlants ststulory AudStor 7-8 8riiannia Buslne$8 P8rk Comet W8y SouthendQn-So8 Essex United Kingdom SS2 6GE Azets Audll SeNces 1$ elWJ1b￿ fof appoinlmenl as audllor by virtue of its el￿1b11￿ for appointment a8 auditor of a company under section 1212 of Ihe Companies Act 2CKJ6. 10- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Unr•strl¢ted R•strfct•d funds funds 2023 2023 Total Total 2023 2022 Donations and legacies Inve5trnenis 353.912 68.163 59,775 413.687 68,163 461.438 67.409 Totsl Incom• 422.075 59,775 481,850 528,847 Charitsble actI￿li$S a Governance c08ts s&8 763.915 133.W6 897,821 679,293 Loss on tanglble fixed a8sg1 796,129 Total •xp•ndltur• 763.915 133. 897,821 1,475.422 Nel 98inslllossa$l on investmonl$ 10 32.805 32,805 150,7721 No¢ loutgolngvlncomlng r•¥¢)urc•• (309.2351 (74.131) {383.3661 1997.3471 Oth•r r•cognl••d g*ns and I￿••8 Revaluation ol tsngible fixed assets 2249.093 2,249,093 7,122,886 Not movemont In fvndi 1,939.858 174,1311 1.865.727 125,539 Fund balanc&$ 811 January 2023 Reserva Movement 17.570.648 75.894 17.646,542 17.521,003 181.026 Fund balan￿* at 31 DK•m￿r 2023 17.570.648 75,894 17.646,542 17,646,542 Th8 stslement of finan¢i818ctivili88 Indudes all 98in$ and knss8$ recc¥Jnisod in the yoar. All incorne and experKlilure deriv8 from continung aclivibgs. The statembnl ol finanual aclivities also coWies vAlh Ihe requirenwts an incc¥ne arKI exp9ndibJr8 account under tha Companies Act 2006. 11 THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES BALANCE SHEET AS A T 31 DECEMBER 2023 2023 2022 Not•s Flxed a¥¥•tty Tangible assets Investments 11 12 17,950,805 1.082,130 15,702,659 1,169,525 19.032,935 Curr•nt •••et• Deblors Cash al bank and in hand 16,872,184 13 38.859 843.325 41.845 1.120,952 881.984 Credltor8'. am¢)unts falllng du• w51hln on• y•ar 1,162.798 14 112,8371 {37.2541 Net current assets 869,147 1,125,544 Total u$•t¥ lo•• curr•nt Ilablllll•• 19,9)2,082 17,997,728 Cr*dllors'. amount• lalllng du• •ft•r mor• than on• year 15 1389.8131 1351.1861 Net as8•t8 19,512269 17,646.542 Income fund• Reslricled funds nr cted lun Genaral vnrestrictod fvnd8 Revaluation fes8rv8 1,783 75,894 20.905.657 (1,395.1511 21,214,892 13.644,2441 19.510.506 17,570,648 19,512.269 17.646,542 12- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED) AS A T 31 DECEMBER 2023 The charity is enbtled to the exemption from the audit requirement contsined in sectlon 477 of the CompanS8s Act 2006, for the year ended 31 Decemb8r 2023. ahhough an audit has been caryied ¢￿i und&r seCt￿n 144 01 tha Charities Act 2011. The Trustee Directors acknowledge t1￿1r resF¥jnsibil￿eS for enswing Ihat th& charfty keeps 8ccotsnling rec()rds which comply with section 386 of the A¢1 and for prepariThJ financial ststements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs ol Ihe charity as al the end ol the financial year and of its incoming ￿sOurceS and application of resources, including its income ant1 expendrture. fol the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sèctions 394 anij 395 8nd which olhewse cornply with the r￿ulTern0nts of the Companitrs Act 2006 relatirKJ lo ffin8ncial statements. so far as ap￿ICable to the company. The Trustee Dlrectorn have not required ihè company lo obtaln an audll of its financial stalements under the quirements of the Companies Act 2006. forlhe year in question in accordance with section 476. These financi818tatemenls havg been prepared in accordancg with the provisions 8ppli¢able to wmpanl88 sublect to the small ¢ompanles regime. The financial stslements were approved by Ihe Boa￿ M . E G Blowes Tru•t•• Dlr•¢tor Company R•gl•tratlon No. 06691633 13- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Accountlng pollcl•• Charity 5nfamMtlon The Union ol Eva{￿811¢al Churches is a private company limited by guaranlee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered off￿e is Stsnway Ev8ng81ical Church. Chapel Road. Stsnway. Colch8stsf. E$sex, C03 OPU. United Klng(Jom. 1.1 Accountlng conv•ntlon The financial 51aleM￿lS of the tharilable company. vthich is 8 bengfil entrty under FRS 102, have boen prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP IFRS1021'Accountiro and Reporting by Charities.. Stalemenl of Recornmended Pr8Ctice applicable lo chanties prèparing their ae£ounts in the Companies Acl 2006 and "Accounling and Reporting by Charib"&s'. Ststemenl of Recommended Practicè applicable to ¢h8rities prèparing their &c￿untS in 8ccordance the Financial Reporb'rrfJ Stsndard applicable in thg UK and Rgpublic of lffjland IFRS 1021 leff8Cttve 1 January 20191". The is a Public Ben9fi1 Entty as defined by FRS 102. Th6 chartty h8S tak8n a11v8niag• ol the provi81￿ in the SORP for charibes ap￿yIng FRS 102 UrA18le Bulletin I not to prepare a Stslemenl of Cash Flows. finawal $tslements ar& PTepargd In stertiThJ, wh*h is lh& fvnGtl￿al ¢Urren￿ of the charity. Monetary amount8 in thege financial ststements are round811 to the nearesl £. The financial slalements hav8 been prepared under the hiSt￿lca1 cost ojnvention, modlf+ed lo include the revaluation of freèhold propertles and to include investment proporti&s and cértain financial inslrum8nt$ al lalr valug. The principal acccwjnling polici8s adopted are ￿ out below. 1.2 Golng con¢•rn Al the lime ol approving the ffinan￿al staloments, tho TNste8 ClfethT¥ havg 8 reasonable exptrctalkjn Ihal the charity has adeouate re$fxJrces to continue in operalional ¢xi$¢ence lor Ihe lorg$eeabl6 fulurè. Thus tha charity continues lo adopt Ihe golr¥J Concem ba&s of acLounting in preparing th6 financial $¢atem&nls. 1.3 Charltabl• funds Unrestricted lun¢Js 8Te avai18ble for use al Ihe discretion of tho charity In frJrth8r8nce of their charitable objectives. Restricted lund$ are subject 10 5pecrfic conditsons by dorKJrs as lo they may ba used. The purpo8e$ and V8es ol the restricted funds are set out in the notes lo the finan¢i815tatem&nls. Endowment funds are gjtyecl to Spo￿ condiiicM)s by donors Ihat Ihe capiial must be m8inlalned by ihe ch8nty. 1.4 Incom• Incom6 is ffj¢¢>Jnised when the ch8rity is legalty enbtled to It after arry performance conditions have been mel, the anM)un15 can be measured rgliably. and rt is probable thal income will be received. Cash donalK)n8 are rgcognised on wpceipL Othèr thfflaiions are [ec￿3n18etl once the charity has been notlfieil of the donation. unless perfomance conditions require deferral ol the amoLtni. Income ￿COverabl￿ in relation lo donations received under Gift Aid or deeds ol covenant is reC￿Jnised at the ts.rne of th& donatlon. Legacies are recognised on rec8ipl or othemse if the charity has been no11f￿ of an Impenditvj distribution, Ihe amovnt is knovm, and rgceipt is eXpec￿d. If Ihe amount is nol known, thè legacy 1$ treatod 88 a contsngent assèt. 14- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Accountlng polld•• (Contlnuodl 1.5 Expendltur• Liabilit195 afe rewnised as expenditure 83 soon as there is a Iggal constnjction obligation committing the charity to that expendilure. It is wobable that a transfer of economic benefits will bé requir&d in settlement and the amount ol the obljgab.on can be measured 16liably. Exp8nditure accounted for on an accruals ba&s and h8$ been classified under headirKJs Ih81 aggregated all cosls related to the category. Where costs cannot bo directly attributed to particular headings they have been all(uted to adivibes on a basis consistent wth th8 use of re80urce$. 1.6 Tanglbl• fix•d a•8•t8 Tangible fixe(l assels a￿ init1a1￿ measufed 81 cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, ng101 depfecialion 8nd any impainnenl losses. DepiacialK*n 18 r8cognised so as lo vnite off th6 or valuats'on of ¥88ets18ss thelr ie8ldual values over their US6ful lives on thg followng bases.. Freehold land and bulldings Property Improvemenis Fixtures and fittiro Computers 15% on fedLrcirrfJ balanco 15% on reducing balance Th8 gain or loss arising on Ihe dlsposal of an asset 1$ dtrlennined as the diffgrenca betyveen the Bal8 proceeds ond the carying v8lue of th6 asset. and 18 recognised in net incomellexpenditur61 for Ihe yoar. 1.7 Flx•d #•Mt Snv•8tm?nts Fixed as5el investments arg Initially m￿sUred at transaction price exduding transaction ￿s(S, and are subsequently mèasured al fair valu6 al e8ch repO￿.r￿j date. Ch8nges in fail value af8 fecognlse(J In net 1ncome1lexpendltu￿l for the ye8r. Transa¢lion cosis are expensgd as incurred. 1.8 Imp•lmMnt of IFx•d ••s•ts Al each r8POrting end dale. the rovlews Ihe Charity canwThJ amunls ol Its tanglbla as8et8 to detemlne whether thtsre is any indication Ihal thosè assets have suffered an impaimienl loss. If Jny $u¢h indication exists, the recov8rabl8 amount ol the asset is esb"mat8d in ordèr lo deiemiine th& &xtent ol the impairment loss lif 8nyl. 1.9 Cash and eajh equlvalents Cash and cash èquivalents include cash in hand. de￿511$ held al call with banks, aNJ other short-tèmi INuid Investments with original maturities of three months or less. 1.10 Flnan¢lal Instrumgnts The ch8rily has elected lo apply Ihe PfOVi5K)ns of Section 11 'Basi¢ Financial Instwments, and Section 12 'Oth•r Financial Instruments Issues. of FRS 102 to all ol its financial instruments. Flnancial Instruments a￿ r8cconised in the charity's balanc8 sheet vthen the ch8rity becomes party lo Ihg Contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial assèts and liabilities a￿ offset. wlh the nel amounts presented in lh8 financial statemenis, wh8n the￿ is a legally enforceable rpJht to sel off the recognised amounls and Ihere is an intention to $81Ue on a not b8￿S or to reali5e the asset and setue the liatxlrty gmurtanwusly. 15- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 AccountSng ￿1¢1 IContlnu•dl Basle financlal a$$ots Basic financial assets. which include debtors and cash and bank bala￿$, a￿ inrbally measured al transaclton price includirMJ iransadion costs and are subsequenlly carried al amortised Cost uslng the elfects've int6resl method unless the arrdngement Gonstilules a finar￿Ing trdnsaclion. whèr8 Ihe Irdnsaction is measijred at tho p¥e8ent value ol the luture receipts discDunted at a mark91 wale of Interest. Financlal assets assified as receivable ￿1h1n one year are not amortistsd. •slc fln•nclal Il•bllltl•¥ Basic financial liabilititrs, indudir¥J creditcws and bank loans are inltlalty recog￿8ed al tr8nsactlon pric& unless the arrangemenl constitutes a financing trans8CtK)n. where the debt instnJm&nt is measured 8t the presènt value ol the future payments di$¢ounted al a market fate of interest. Financial It8biliti•$ classified as payable wlthln one yeaf ar& not arwbsed. Debt instwments are sub8equenlty Carried al amorbs8d cost. usng the effective Interest ratg method. Trade creditors are obllgations to pay f¢X good$ c* Beryices Ihal have bwi acqulred kn Ihg ordinary coufsa of operalitin$ from suppliers. Amounts PaYa￿e are Cla￿rIed as current liabilitses il paymonl is due within ong year or less. If not, they are prgsenled as non-cufrent liabilib8s. Trade creditors are recognised Ini￿allY al tran$¥clion price and subsefwentty m8asured at amorli8ed cost using the effective Inte￿st mèthod. D•r•c¢)qnlllon olfln¥ncl•l Il•bllltles Financial liabililies are dereco9nised when the chanty'$ ¢ontr•ctual obligations expir• or are di8ch8r9&d or cancelled. 1.11 Employ•• b•n•flt8 The cost ol ¥ny unused enbll&ment ra rgcc#3ni88d in the period in the employee's $•ryices ar• received. Termlnallon benefits affj Teco9niW immedialdy as an oxp8n8e Ihe 1$ demonstrably Commitled lo lennlnale the employment ofan employe6 or lo provide teminaiM)n bèngfits. Crltl¢al accountlng ￿tIMat•1 and ludgem•nts In the App11¢al￿n of lh• Chwity's at￿￿￿ting policie5. the charty is required to rnake judgemen15. estimatè$ and assumptions about the carrying amounl of asseis and li8biliiies that ale nol readily apparent trorn othgr sourcas. The eslimales and assoualed assumptions are based on historical frxperie￿ 8nd other factors that ar6 ¢on8idered to be relevant. Actual ￿sUlts may diff8r from ihese e$tirn8tes. The estimates and undgdyirvJ assumpbons are an ongoSwJ basls. Revisions lo accounting estimates arè recognised in the perioij in which Ihe estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revi&on and luture periods whwe the revisK)n affects t#)th Current and future periods. 16- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 DonaUon8 and l•g¥c5•8 Unrn•trlct•d Restrlcted fvnd8 fund• Total 2023 2023 2023 2022 Glfts. Donalions and Legacles Sundry Income Government Grants Glft AJd refund8 303.041 7,595 54 43222 303,041 7.595 59,829 43.222 304,721 336 95.462 60,919 59.775 353.912 59.775 413,687 461,438 Inv•¥tments Unr¢•trfct*d Unffjstricted funds funds 2023 2022 Inv8Stmenl Income Rents Rec8lved Interest rec8ivaNe 20,830 45.015 2,318 18,000 47.842 1.567 68.163 67,409 17- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Charitabl• #clivlU•s Unr•strlct•d fund6 Total 2023 Total 2022 St[￿nds, salarles 8nd expenses Youth and children's work Fellowshlp events Training and study matarlal Subscriplions and ¢onf8ron¢e8 Music and Sound Ikence Missionary expenditure Gift and donations Out￿aCh ev6nl and activiti9$ VisitirrfJ speakers Advertising and w8b$ile Office cost$ Motor and travgl 157,683 2,231 4,345 172 3,421 2,545 59.158 6,060 7,026 5.128 1,212 27,922 5,704 112,359 2,478 224 1.093 1,255 2,300 44.868 4,668 6,430 6,603 661 24,025 r 11 Insurance8 Uts'lities 6uildiThJ expenses To18phone Repairs and maintgnartè MUS￿ and PA expen$g8 Postage. prfnlJtYJ and slallonery Rgfreshmenls Book-Keeping Sundries Depreciation Bank Charges Service costs 3,085 16.245 39,287 6.218 3.476 132,030 4,993 6,253 1.360 975 2,095 904 666 3,381 15,440 56,848 8,420 3.341 376,441 3,474 2,690 4.395 1,120 1,113 950 757,222 427.930 Re8trf¢t•d funds Total 2023 Total 2022 Rep8iTr and m8inlenance Legal and profession81 fees 133.906 22fj.504 18,995 133,9)6 245,499 18- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Governan￿ Costs 2023 2022 AudSl 108$ Legal and prole85iortal 5,940 753 5,406 458 6,693 5,864 Govemance costs Includes paymen18 lo the aL*Jrfors 01 £5.94012022- £5.4061 for audlt fea8. Truit•• Dlr•ctorn' Remun•ratl¢n •nd B•n•fits Trustee DIr￿or8. Stip8nds and other bon&fits for th& year ended 31st Decgmber 2023 iotall¢d £157,6831 12022.. £112,359). The Twslee Directors were rnlmburs8d from trav818nd expensgs Ir￿￿#d when perfomilng Ihelr work on behalf ol the charity for th• year end8(J 31st December 2023. Employ••• Tha average monthly nurnber ol ￿M￿OyeeS dull￿ the year was.. 2023 Numb•r 2022 Numb•r Ministers Church Workgr Totsl Ther* were no employees whosè wnual remuner81ion was mor& than £60,0(KJ. N•t galnsllloss•BI on tanglble fix•d a88•ts Unr•8trlct•d tunds Total 2023 2022 Ngt loss on diskx)sal ol tang*Jle fixed assets {796.1291 1796.1291 19- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 10 Net ga5n81lloss••l on inv•stm•nts Unre8trlcted Unrestricted funds fiJnd8 2023 2022 Revaluatson of investmen18 32,605 150.7721 11 T•nglbl• flx•d ￿lets Frn•hold land Propprty Fbxits￿ •nd Cryryut•r• Ihd Iwlldlrys Imwov•rn•nts Total C￿t or v•lu•tlon Al 1 January 2023 Additions Disposals Revaluation 15.048.568 647,858 7,229 14,562 15.718,217 2.249.093 2,249,093 Al 31 D8cembeT 2023 17,297.661 647,858 7,229 14,562 17.967,310 D•pr•clatlon •nd Impalmwnt At 1 January 2023 D8pre¢ialion char98d in the year Ellmlnated in Tesp8Ct of dlsptsBal8 6020 9.538 787 15,558 180 Al 31 Decfjm￿r 2023 6.200 10.305 16,505 Carryln9 amount At 31 Decgmber 2023 17,297,661 647.858 1,029 4,257 17.950,805 Al 31 Dfj¢omber 2022 15.048,568 647.858 15,702.659 The Union has over many years acquire(I Churches and other Freehold Pro￿rtieS. The cost of mo81 of thg aady a￿￿181t10nS would not be possible to eslablish. The Trust8e 01￿CLorS have iherefore brought these properties into the accounts at tha lalest insuran¢e valuations 7*th due reduction made in th8 valuation for costs induded vthich appty to rainststemenl valugs orty. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 11 Tanglbl• flx•d ass•t$ IContlnu•dl The Fr8ehold Propety is made up of th8 follovAng: 2023 2022 CarnbeThYell 1,942,237 1,734,140 CannSrKJ Town 1.871,990 1,671,419 Chelm$lcKd 986.(HJ6 880,362 Corringham 849,062 758.091 Cr8$$ing 951.511 849,563 08ws Heath 32$,￿9 290.990 Eashvood 796.627 711.274 Great Wakering 932,409 832.508 Shoebury 732.311 653,849 Southtrnd on Sea 1.202.988 1,074,096 Stanford Le Ho 870,288 777.042 Stanway 1.878,47S 1.245,210 Tolhem 694.216 619.835 Wickford 981,021 875,911 W¢lham 1356 574 1211226 16.371.624 14.185,516 Cannlng Town 333.307 306,817 Chelm$for(I 310,792 292,430 Crg$5iThJ 263,805 926.037 663,052 Tt)tsl 17.297,681 1S048568 The Charity obtains annual valuations of the properb8s held at the year ended and as at 31st Decèmber 2023 ther¢ was an increa$e of £2.249,093 in the amount brought forward from 2022. The al)ove 2023 valuations arè based on the curr&nl rebuilding ¢osts. as advised by the insurers. 21 THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 12 Flx•d a¥s•t Invmthwnts Unllsted Inv•stments Cost or valuation Al 1 January 2023 Oisposals Valuauon charvJ8 1,169,525 1120,0001 32,605 At 31 Dgcember 2023 1,082.130 Carrylng #mount At 31 December 2023 1,082,130 At 31 D$¢trrnber 2022 1,16 13 D•btorn 2023 Amounts falllng du• whhln on• y•ar: 2022 Trad6 debtors Prepayments and wued irKom8 37.951 41,137 708 38.659 41,845 14 Credltor8'. amounts fallln9 du• wlthln ono year 2023 2022 Trade Creditors Accru818 and defer￿￿ income 1,875 10.962 7.470 29.784 12.837 37,254 15 cr￿￿tOrs. amounts fallong due •ft•r mor• than one y•ar 2023 2022 Other creditors 389.813 351,186 -22- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 16 Relat¢d party tran¥actlons There were rel8led paty transaclions with Ihe Truslee Direct(Ns which totalled £8.162 for administration and repair purw5es wilhin the year. £540 of ihis VAS ou15tandiny 81 the year ènd.. -23- Charity ro918tratlon number 1126849 C¢)mpany reglstratlon numb•r 06691fj33 {England and Wal￿) THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Trustee DSrect<>rn E Blowes G Cutmore C Banks M Rithard$ K Britton K Little F Hintze R Partridg O Ivey S FarTOW L Mengio S BtKJd T Mathèws C Mayers ANIX Y Mwampulo PLO C Pag8 P Landy J Johal Comp•ny S•¢r•tsry Mf H R Gardner Charlty numb•r 1126849 Company numb•r 08691633 R•gl•l•r•d ofn Stsnway Ev8r#Jeli¢81 Church Chapel Road Stanway Cdchester E5se¥ United Kingdom C03 OPU Auditor Az9ts Audit Services 7-8 Britannia Business Park Comel Way s0ulhend-0n￿ea Essex United Kingdom SS2 6GE THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES CONTENTS Trustee Directors, report Ststement ofTrustee responsitslities IndepetK1gnl audilo¢$ report 7-10 Sialemenl of finanrAal actwitss 11 Balan¢fj sh901 12-13 Noles to the finaneièl 6tslemenl8 14-23 THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES TRUSTEE DIRECTORS. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 The Trustee Directots present their reFMYt and finarKial siatements fcw the yeai endad 31 Decembèr 2023. The financial statemenls have been pmparad In wirdan¢e wilh the accwnbng policies sel ovl in note 1 to the financial statemenls and comply with the Charity5 goveming documenl. the Cornpanies Act 2006 8nd 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Stslemenl of Recommended Practice applicable lo charitiès preparing their accounts in accordan¢e with the Financial Repoiting Stsndard applicabl8 In the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 l$ff8cIIv8 1 January 20191". Oblectlv•s and acllvltl•• The Union of Evangelical Chuiches is a gnjup of 14 Church&s &tual8d in Essex, east LondM and south48st London. and ovms chapels and houses at 18 sitas. As a tharilable cornpany. il seeks lo add value lo Ihe outreach and ministry ol each individual UEC Church. and to present Ihe deTh)mination lo today's socièty as viable and falovant organlsation. speakiNJ tho truths ol Ihe Gospel and providing relgvanl 8¢tivities to &ach local ¢ommunity. H•ad Offlc• The UEC conknnued to provide an office siaff8d for days each week. giving adminl$tr8tsve, Insuranc6. and legal and management suppori and advi¢e to member Churchtr$. It continued lo expand the content of tha UEC Handbook wlth infomiallon and advice on 8 ran￿ of suty'8cts to ensure Complia￿ in 811 m8tters rèlevant lo Churchès, aclwities in today's $o¢i*ty- The relocation ol the office to Stanway EvarYJelic81 ChLtrch ha8 tumed out to be beneficial In many ways. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES TRUSTEE DIRECTORS, REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Mlnlst•rlal Commrtt•• The Ministerial Commitlee met every three rnonths or so. and monitOTed the S￿"NtUal health of membèr Churches. sometimes intervening in the life of stmggling Churches. The -dècline" mentality that ha$ chafacterised the UEC lor many years is bss prominenl and the commrtloe is kÈen to assist Churches lo b8 more gr0￿h orientated.. however. the legacy of the covid pandemic was sts'll affecting some Church act1Vltié$. A Vlsion Day was held in Sepièmbèr 2023, was p0￿Y attonde11.. L8at18rship Te8ms were invited to 8ttend, and those that did found it helpful. Thè committee decided to albcale each committee membèr a group ol UEC Minisltrs, lo.come alongs¢de" them 8nd offer pastoral support as nece55ary. The committee mel with senior staff from the FIEC with a view to re4nststirrfJ ihe connection and fellowship previously 8nloy8d,' 8nquiries ￿11 also be made to Affinity, where our connectKJnlmembership had also lapsed. The committee was pleased io put forward Jag Johal lo ba a Ministèr at Wicklord Evangelical Church. H18 Ordination and Induction service takes place in January 2024. Flnane• & G•n•ral purpos￿ Commltt•• The F&GP Committee Iknown 88 Ihe Fin8n¢e Committee) mel every tsyo months or so, and dI￿u$$ed a wid& range of lopi¢s, procedures, needs and oppor1unil￿. 11 cDntinued lo monilor the capllal Invested Iwhich stlll shows good retumsl and this included meeting during the year wilh Ihe Managing Director ol Kingsfleol Weallh. which handles our investments. In conjunction ￿th each respective Church, the committè& 8150 reviewed ihe buildlngs portfolio Ihouses. flats and church prgmisèsl to ènsure they 8r8 fit for purpose. The TTI. Ennial Property Surveys ITEPSI werè rèplacèd by SBIP- th& Fws-year Building Inspection Programme (carried out by Indapendanl surveyofsl and thls Is proving lo be useful in h￿￿h1￿htyr￿ defects In thè buildings, It is managed by this Committee. wth b&spoke repairs el¢ being discussed with each Church,. some buildings were in a poor stale of repair, 8nd rt was hoped thal 811 ￿paIrS will be cDmpleted by SpriryJ 2024. Serious consderation was given to a wide range of legal. praclKal. adminisiratsve and manag8menl aspects of operating the UEC as a charitable company. The UEC Handbook available to all Ministers, Seuetarias, Administralors and Tioa$urerg. 18 updated as necessary and is now available in Ihe "doud" version. Th& Flnance Commlttee p￿ded finatKial support lo the Churches al Corringh8m, Cressing and Chelmsford. Financial & Admin Reports We￿ presented lo Boart1 meebros fdlowir¥J e8ch FC rn8elirKJ and arè proviryJ helpful in Ihe careful $lew8rdship ol rnonies 8vailabk. The UEC'S general financial position 1$ improving. Income from ils investments continues to gTOW. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES TRUSTEE DIRECTORS, REPORT {INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Promotlon Commltt•• Thg Promots"on Committee 18¢count*A& to the Fina￿ Commthee) continued lo pr￿lUCe well-run and professional events and publications. Few8r evgnls werg organiséd.. Faith Matters Day at Souihend EC was attended by 36 peopb. which included Mernbe￿ of thal Church. The Prayer Focus ho¢Jse magazine continued to be an excellenl and useful publication {￿kIng back and looking forwardl, and was distributed not only to UEC Churches, but far beyond. The Week of Pr8yer leaflet was also produced and v&ry well-recwved. Considèrallon was giv8n to organisiThJ a UEC Family Day. and to re-instating the Quart8rfy Prayer Meetings, whi¢h have èncouragÈd the k)cal Churches that hosted them: these may happ8n in 2024. ChrislSne Ox8nh8m w)lin￿l in h8r rde 88 Chalr. Churche•, progr•ss during the year Some Churches in the Union a￿ showing slgns of postive grovAh and wtness in thelr resp8cliv8 Communit￿8. li is r8cognis&d that change and ils accompanying risks are necossary for Churches to grow in these post-rnodern limes. Somè ar8 struggling. and $0 benèfit from bèing part of a group ol Churchès,. othw3 began to rn4nslat theSr f8c8-10-18ce pro9rammes- weekday meetsngs and groups as well as Sunday services. Slruclural surveys on all the UEC chaFds and churches were condudthj (thè 5BIP prcgrammel and using some of the monies from the sa18 01 Rayleigh Evangelical Church. nece&8ary rep8irs have begun. Camberwell EC is st511 looking for a Minister,. at Grove Road EC, Chelmsford. electrical repairs wo￿$ ale likely., Eastwood EC is in need of additional leadership," at Great Wakering. Carf Page is now an Associate Minlsler, and the Church looks for a Minister to lead th& 1gllowship., at Llttlg Totham tho buihYirrfJ w0￿S reouired are n88rfy completed,. al Shoebury EC, the ¢omrnunily work managed by Hub 151 is developin9 wèll. and the Balm of Gilead Church has full land increasingl use of the building on Sundays.. al Soulhend EC. the Church flal is now occupled and the rental from this is beiThJ pul inio a fund for a successor paslor in due time.. al Stsnford l& Hop8 the Fresh Hope Communrty Church is beginning to make progress.. Stanway Ec's building project Is now eomplele and in Increaslng use for community ev6nts,' at Valley Church. Witham, Pfogress is being made in ouiwch ministn'es. but no pro9ress in finding a Minister. Revlewing Ihe work of all the Chur¢hg8 (Ir￿lUdIng th0￿ r￿( mgnlwd ab￿1. 11 seems that the effects of covld have been left behind, although the le9a¢y $lill affs¢ts attJ"lude$ ¢0 outr*ach ètc.; mtssl Chijrches are beginnlng to look forward, with servictrs and meetings r&inst81eil, and new pro￿18 ¢onsider8d or begun. Board me•tlng• Eri¢ Blowes IRetirg¢ Mlnister at Stanway ECI and Chrls Banks Isenior Minister al Daws Hgathl ￿re appointed a$ c￿Chair[nen for 2024. Once again Azèts wèrè appointed as Auditors fof 2024. The Board decided to retaln mo$1 of thè PP and UEC memorabilia by haviThJ it scanned and saved for futu￿ acc8$$,' 59me legal docurnenls el¢. are held al the UEC office. Infomal Discu&8iMs - as parl ol Board deliberations - h8ve been moderately useful, bul 30mets.mes irwclusive. The Board decideil that the PromolK)n Committee is no longer appropriate to the UEC 8Ctivities and would therefore ¢eas8, subje¢l to a vote in 2024. In Novernber. the 8oard was vary pleased to agree to the prokY)sal from Ihe Ministerial Cofflmiltee app(Mnt JWJ Johal to be a Minister at Wickford Evangelical Church. The Board agreed wlh the proposal from the Finance Committee to begin thè process of selling the chapel al Shoebury. Followiro an infomial survey. the Board was P￿ased to canc61 the outst8nding loan to Cressing Community Church. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES TRUSTEE DIRECTORS, REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Plans for Future Period• The following strategic initiabves are continually consider&J and actioned as opprwiate.. the support, promotion and development ol Bib￿-baS6d Chwislian minislry and Trjtreach, induding relevant training. Thi$ Indude$ condderation of al￿ther Wision Day, ar¥J the provision of finarKial support for individvals to 8ttènd training cour￿. help 8nd encouragement lo all of OLtr Churches to Ident￿ what SW and combinab.on of fflinislries work best in their locality and suppori them in implementing their programmes. This includ8s makirvJ Informatlon avallabla from oulslde of th& UEC. for Churches lo acouire and us8 where approprtgte. th8 tjevelopmenl of training programmes that wTrll help expand the activities available to children and people ol 811 ages, to help reconnect wth those who are ￿ of ihree generalions away from our Christian heritagè. This may include unusual or asymmetric actNities or prc*3rammes and rnvi&wing procédu￿$ lo see which work best in the local setting. - En¢ourag¥menl lo be own and wel¢omlng to th08e seekiTh3 8n8wefS lo Ihe bKJ qu8Stion$ of life. 80 thal they r¢•iv*'Chur¢h' ¥$ Somwhere lo c811 th8ir.spirrtual home" and 80 Ilourish. - contrtbuting lo local ¢ommunrtie5 through aCtiv￿e$ prowded by Churches {such as a Fr￿XIbank and tsklng part In or organising communily aclm'liesl and th1o￿3h c(wrallThJ othgr Ilk8-mind8d Churches 8nd organisations outside of ihe UEC monllorirKJ and improvin9 the fin8nci81 wollbeirvJ of the UEC. InCI￿j11￿j encouraglrg each Churth to continuo with ils own lund-r8isng Imainly from its own Members aThJ fri8ndsl. structure, governance and manag•m•nl Gov•rnlng documont The charity is conlrolled by Its govemiThJ document. a deed of trust. and constituies a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by Ihe CompaniesAct 2006. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES TRUSTEE DIRECTORS, REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) {CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Org4nl$atbonal structure The charity is governed by its Board of Twslees which is responsible for sgthng the Strat$9￿ direction of the organisatson and the policy of the charity. The Directors carry the ultimale ￿SponsIbl1ty for the conduct of the charity and lor ènsuring that the charity satisfies ils *al and contractual obligations. Trustees me$1 at a minimum ol three tin￿ a year. The Union of Evangelical Churches is a group 0114 churc￿$, whose r&sults are included within those financial statements. 11 also owns three propthes Ihvo ol whth are Manses for thtr in¢urnbent Ministers, and one which is privalely lell, and a two-b8df(knm flal as an integral part of one chuich premises. and a three-bedroom flat as an integral part ol another church premises. 118150 iy•4n5 another chap81 which 15 lel for community purposes weekdays and used by another Church on Sunt1ays. The r8sp8cts.ve cash balances s￿￿41n9 per the accounts 81 tha yèar-ènd belong to thè individual UEC Churches in qu881ion. Inductlon and tralnlng of n•w Tru8t•• Dlr•ctor8 New Trustee Directors are briefed on their Obl￿allOnS untjer Chanty 8nd Company Law, the content ol tho Mamorandum and A￿j&S ol A$so¢iation. the Agroernnt lor Commn Purpo88$ (known a8 the ACPI. the Committees and d8ci&on-making procedvres. Audlt¢r In accordance wlth tho comparrys arti¢l¥s. 8 resdution k¥owsIr￿ Ih8lh2etsAudit SwvKe8 be reappointgd as audllor of the company *ill b8 Put èl a Gar￿81 Meeting. The Trustee DifectNs ieport was approvet1 by th& Trusleo Directors. Mr H R Gardn•r Company Secretary THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE DIRECTORS, RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 The Tnjslee Directors, who a￿ also the Dirèctors ofThe Union of EvangelKal Churches for the purpose ol company law. are responsibl& for pfep8ring the Twstee Directors. Report and Ihe financial statements in accordance with applicablè law and United KiTWom Accounling Slandards (Uniled Kingdom Generalty AcLepted Accounting Pracli¢trl. Company Law requires them lo prepare financial statemÈnts for each ffinancial year %thlch 9lve 8 true and fair vlgw of the state of affairs of Ihe charity ènd of the incoming resources and applicabon of resources. incIL￿ing the incomo and expendilur8. of lh& tharitsble comp8ny for thai year. In prtP8ring the88 financjal ststements, the Trustee Direciors are ioquired lo: - select suitable acccyJntiThJ pollcies and app￿ them con&stenVy. - observe the methods and prfn¢l5Yes In Ihe Charibes SORP.. - make jud9em6nis and g$timate$ Ihal are reasonèble arKf prwjenl., and prepar8 the finandal statement8 on the gjing concern basis Lbnlgss it 1$ inappropriate to Pfasum8 th81 th8 company wlll continue in OP8Tation. The Twstee Directors afe responwble for kegyng adequale accounting reco￿8 that di￿10$0 with reasonable accuracy at any tsme the flnancial k)owbon of the and enable il to ensure that the financial s18lements comply with thè Companiès Act 2006. It 1$ also responsible for safeguarding the asseis ol the chadty and hfjn￿ for tsknng reasonable st8ps for the p￿VenI￿)n and dele¢lKJn of tr8ud and other wregulanties. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES INDEPENDENT AUDrroR'S REPORT TO THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES Oplnlon We have audited the finarKial statements ol Th¢ Union of Evangelicgl Churches Ilhe "Charrty") for the year ended 31 December 2023 whlch Comprise Ihe stslemenl ol financial ￿tiVitieS, U)e b818nce sheel and the notes to the financial stalemÈnts, irKluding sunificanl accounting poliryes. The finanryal reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is 9ppI￿able law 8nd Unrted Kirudom Accounting Slandards. including FRS 102 The Financial ReportiThJ Standard applicable in Ihe UK and R6￿￿1C ol Imland {Unit￿ Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). In our opinlon. th& ffinan¢ial ststements.. glva a trua and fair vlw ol Ihg stsle of the ¢haritatye wnpany's affairs as 8t 31 Dec8mtrw 2023 and of its Incoming resour¢ss and application ol resources, for the year then ended.. have been properfy prepared in accordance Mth Unit8d Kingdom Gon&rally Accepted AccounllrYJ Pr8CtiC8,' and have been prepared in accordar￿ with th8 requiremenls oflhe Compani8sAct 2006. 8￿1$ for oplnlon We conducted ouf audit in accordance with Inlernatlonal Slandard$ on Auditing IUKI IISAS IUKII and appI￿able law. Our respOn￿bIlItIeS under those standards are lurthef in th& Audit(¥$ responsibililies ihe 8udit ol Ihè fjnancial sÈaÈemeftls sèction ol our retth. We are independent ol the Charity in accordancg with th8 ethlcal requirements that a￿ ￿levant lo our 8vdrt ol the fin8nci81 ststements in the UK. including the Financial Reporting Council'6 IFRCI Elhical Standard, 8nd ￿ have ￿￿illed our other elhic81 responsibilitlgs In accordance with thèse requirements, We believe that the audit evidence we have obtsined is sufficient and appropriate to provldo a basis for our opinion. C¢n¢lu*l<)n• r•l•tlng to goln9 ¢on¢•rn In auditin9 the financial statements, wè havè ¢on¢lude(1 lhal Ihg Trusteg Dbreclors usè of the golng con¢8rn basls of accoun¢J'r¥J in the prep8ralton of th& financial statements Is 8PFryriat8. Based on the work we have performed. we have nol identified any material uncertainti9$ relats'ng lo events or ¢ondilions that. individually or collecbvely. may cast sNJnificant dcwjbl on the Charty's ability lo conlinue as a goin9 n¢em lor a pentry of al least tsvelve months from when the financial slatements are aLrthorised for issu8. Our responslbllltl8s and the lospon￿bI￿t18s ol ￿ Trus￿ Dirgctfms vA¢h ￿Spect lo going concem a￿ tjescribed in thè 1816vant sècbons ol this f8wL Oth•r Inform•tlon The othar inlomatlon comprfs&$ thè infomatK)n Ir￿l￿ded in Ihe annual report other than the fina￿1￿13t8ternenl8 and our auditorfs raport th8fètsn. Thè Tnjstee DIr￿lOr$ are responsible for Ihe other infomation con¢8ined within the nnu81 report. Our opinion on the fin8ncial ststernents does not cover the other information and we do not express any fomi of assurance condusion thereon. Our respOn￿bilIty is lo read the oiher infMn8tion and, in doing sg. consider whether the other infornMtion is materially inconsisient vAlh ihe finanaal stslements or our knowledge obtained in the course ol the audit. or otherwise appears to t* materialty misstat&J. If we ideniify such rnalerial Inconslstencies or apparent malerial misslatemenls, we are requlred lo delerniine whether Ihis give$ rise 10 8 material misstatement in the financial ststements themselves. If. basèd on the work we have ptrrformed, we conclude that there Is a malerlal misstalemenl of this oth¢r infomation. we are required lo report that f8cI. We have nothing to rèport in thiB rryar(l. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES Matt•r8 on whleh w• ar• r•qulr•d to r•port by •xuptlon We have nothing to report in respect ol the following matter5 in relation to wh￿h the Charibes IAccounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 roquire us to report to you rf. in our opinion.. the information given in the financial statements is Inconsistent in any rnaterial wpecl with Ihe Tnjstae Directors report., or sufficient Jccounting records have rK&t been kept.. or Ihe financial statements ale not in agreement with tha a¢cwnUrKJ fecor¢J8'. or we have not f￿alVed 811 the in10m￿tIOn and explanations we require for our audit. RMpon8lbllltle8 of Trust•• Dlr•ctor• As exFAained more fully in Ihe statement of TrLtstee Direclors, responsibilitK*s, thè Truslee Direclofs, who are also the directors of the Charity IOT the purpose ol company law, arè reswM)sible for the preparation of the financlal Ststements and for beirrfJ satisfied that Ihey give a truè and lair view, and for such intemal control as delemiinèd necessary lo enable the preparats'on ol financial slalemènts that a￿ free from malerial mi$$lalgment. whethèr due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial st8lements. the Truslee Directors are responsible for assas￿n9 th ¢haiily's ability lo continu• a$ ¥ going concem. di6dosing. as applscable. matters relat¥d lo going concem and v8ing thè going ctsncefn basis of accounting unles5 the Tnjslee Directors eithei intend to liqu￿ate ihe charitable cornpany or lo ¢è88e operations. or have no rea118tK aliemative trwjt to do so. Audltorfs r••ponslbllltl•s for th• audlt of th• finan¢l•l •tat•m•nt• We have been appointed as audilor under section 144 01 the Chariti8s Acl 2011 8nd report Sn a￿OrdanCe wlth tho Act and relevant regulations made or having effect th&reund8(. Our obj8Ctives are lo obt8in rèa$onable assurance about vthelher the financial stat&ments 85 a whole a￿ frge from material misstalem8nl, whether due to fr8ud or error. and lo issue an auditorfs raport thal includès our opinion, Rtsasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guaran188 that an audil conducted in accordance with ISAS IUKI will always detect a material misstatement when il exists. Mi$$lalernents can ari$9 from Iraud or error and are considered malerial il. indfvidually or In the aggregate, they could reasonably ba oxpectsd to influence the economic decisions of users tsken on the basis ol th&sè finanoal statements. A further de8¢riplion of our ￿Sponsibl1111tss L% aval18￿8 on the Finanual Reportlng C¢)unril's websile al.. http3'.11 www.frc.org.uklatJdil¢xsresponsibilities. This descripbon fonns part of OLtr auditor's rèport. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES Extent lo which the audit was con%dered Capab￿ of detecting irregularities, I￿l￿d1￿j fraud irwul8rities, inchjding fraud, are insiances ol non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line wth our responsibilities, outlir*d atove and on th• Finawal Repo￿n9 Counctl'6 {FRC'g} website. lo detect mat$ri81 misslatemenls in r8$p8ct ol irr8gul8riti8s, includirrtJ fraud. We obtsin and update our understsnding of the eniity, its actNilies. its Contr￿ environment, and likely future developments, induding in relation to the Jegal and regulatory framework applicable 8nd how the entity is complying with that Iramework. Based on this understanding, we idantify and assess thg risks ol malerial misstatement of the flnancial statements, whether due to fraud or error. d$*gn and perform audit procedurès responsive lo thosè risks, and oblaln audit eviden¢& thal is suffi¢ienl arbd appropriate lo provide a ba&s fr)r our opinion. Thls Ineludes ¢on$idÈration ol Ihtr risk of acts by Ihe entity that were conlrary io applicable laws and wulatsons, indudln9 fraud. In response to the risk of irregularit￿S and nonacompliance v41th taws and rwwlaUon8, Inclu(￿n9 frau¢J. we dewgned procedures which induded.. Enquiry of manwm&nt and those ¢har9e11 with governar￿ èrfJJnd actual and wlentlal lilMJatlon and cIAims as wèll as adual. suspe¢t8(18nd 8lleged fraud- Reviewing mlnutes ol moetings of those charged with govemance.. Assessing the eytenl of compliance wth Ihe laws and regulations considered lo have a dI￿¢t m8lerf81 effect on the financi81 Stateff￿nt$ Of the operatsons of Ihe entity through enquiry and inspection.. Reviewing financial stalernenl dSsdosures and to$llrvJ lo supp(wbn9 th)cumeniation to a$8e88 cornpli8r￿e wilh applicable laws and regulations: Perfoming au¢Jit work ovèr the risk of mafiagemenl ts88 8nd override ol controls, including tesbng ol joumal enlries 8nd other adjuslments for appropriaieness. evaluatiThJ the buslness rationala of 819nlfi¢anl lrnns8clion5 Outside Ihe norn81 course of business and ￿viewIng accounting esknmates for indic8lors 01 potential bias. Because ol the inherent limitations ol an audit, there is a risk that w8 ￿11 not detect all irregularities, including Ihose 18Bding to a material missialement in the financial $tatemgnts or rK)n-¢ompli8nce with regulation. This risk Increases the more that compliarte wilh a law or ragulalion 1$ ￿moVed from the evenls and transactions reflected In the financial statements, as we will ￿ lèss likety lo becomtr awa￿ of instances of non-compliance. The risk ol not delecling a malerial misslalemonl resulting Irom fraud is h￿her than for one resultsng from error. as fraud may involve collusion, forgery. intention81 omissions. mi8represenlations, or the override of inlemal control. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES U•e of our rnport This report Is rnade solety lo the charty's twvslees. 85 a body. in accordance wrth part 4 of the Charities IAccounts and R•portsl Regulations 2008. Our 8udil work has be8n undetsken so that we M￿ht slate lo the charity's trustees those matters we are required lo slate to them in an a¢JJilor's report and for no olher purpose. To the fullest axtenl permitted by law. we do not accept or assume responsibAity to anyone other than ihe charity and the ¢harity's trustees as a body, lor Ouf audil wor*. for Ihis rgport. or for Ihe Opini¢￿$ w& have lormed. Paul Ealt IS•nlor Sl¥¢utory Audltorl For and on behalf olAz•ts AudSt S•rvlc•8 Chartered Accountants Statutory Audltor 74 Britannla Business Park Comat Way Southend-0n￿8a EBsex UnFl8d Kingdom SS2 6GE A2els Audit SeThl¢es Is for 8ppointm8nt as audilor ty vitlue of its elKJiblity for appointment as audttor of company und&r sgclKsn 1212 01 the Comp8n*s A¢1 2CK)6. 10- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 u￿r￿¢t•d RestrTrcted funds funds 2023 2023 Total Total 2023 2022 Donations and legacl8S Investments 353,912 68.163 59,775 413.687 68.163 461,438 67.409 Total Incom• 422,075 59,775 481.850 528.847 Charita￿e activits'es & Govemance costs s&e 763,915 133.*)6 897.821 679,293 L088 on tan9ibl8 fixed as891 796,129 Totsl ?xp•ndltur• 763.915 133.9)6 897,821 1.475,422 Nel gains1l1os￿8I on inveslm8nt8 10 32,805 150,7721 N•t loutgolngvlncomlng r••ourc•• 1309.235) 174.1311 1383.3661 1997,3471 O¢h¢r r•¢ognlud g•Sn• ¥nd lo•u• Revaluallon of larKJiUe fixed asselg 2.249.093 2.249.093 1,122.886 N•t movement In fvnd• 1,939,858 174,1311 1,865,727 125.539 Fund balances at 1 January 2023 ResoNe Movement 17.570.648 75,894 17,646,542 17.521,003 181.026 Fund balon￿$ at 31 D•¢•mb•r 2023 17.570.648 75.894 17,646.542 17 646.$42 The $181emenl of finan¢i81 activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All incorne and expenditure derive from continuiThJ acbviiies. Thg s¢at8mgnt of financial activilie$ al￿ ¢0m￿leS the requirements for an ir￿￿M8 and oxK*nditure account under the Compan1è5 Act 2006. THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES BALANCE SHEET AS AT31 DECEMBER 2023 2023 2022 Flxéd assèts Tangible assets Investments 11 12 17.950.805 1,082.130 15.702,659 1.169,525 19,032,935 16,872,184 Curr¢nl o$$•t$ Debtors Cash al bank and in hand 13 38.659 843,325 41,845 1.120,952 881.984 1.162,798 Crodltor•.' amounts falllng du• wlthln on• y••r 14 {12,837) 37,2541 Nel current assets 869.147 1.125,544 Totsl a88•t•1•88 curr•nt Il•bllltl•• I9.￿2,082 17,997,728 Credllor8: amounts lalllng du• •ft•r mor• than on• y•ar 1389.8131 1351,1861 N•t a88•ts 19.512.269 17,646,542 Incom• lund• Restricted funds 1.763 75,894 General unrestricted funt1s R￿aluatIOn reservo 20.905.657 11.395.151) 21,214,892 13.644.244) 19,510.506 17,570.648 19,512,269 17,646,542 12- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED) AS A T 31 DECEMBER 2023 The charity is entitled to the exemption from thè audit requir8menl contsined in secbon 477 of thg Companles Act 2006, for the year èndèd 31 Docember 2023, although an audit has been carried out under section 144 of thè Ch8ritigsAet 2011. The Trustee Directors ackr¥)wledge th￿r responsibilib"e$ for enswing that Ihe charity keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 01 thè Act and for préparirvJ finarKi81 stslernents which 9IVg a true and fair view ol the state ol affairs of the chanty as 8t the end of the finanrial year and of its incoming resources and application of resources, includi￿ its Income 8rKI experKlitvre. for the financial year in accordan¢8 Wth the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otheThwse comply with ihe requirements ol the Companies Act 2006 rel81ing lo financial stslements. so far as appluble to the company. The Trustèè Directors have not required the company to obtsin an a￿JIt of Its financ681 statemonts unt18r th8 requlr6ments ol the Companies Act 2006, for the year in quests'on in aCCo￿ance with section 476. The8e finanual 8tstemen15 have been prepared in accordance wth th8 provlslons applicable lo comp8nStrs subject to Ihe small companies regime. The ￿nar￿[al Slalements were apyov8d by the Board on . IL E G Blowes TrUIt￿ Olr•ctor Company R•gl•tratlon No. 06691633 13- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 A¢¢ounting polici•* Charlty Informatlon The Union of Evangelical Churches is a prwate company fimiled by guaranlee incorporated in England Bnd Wales. The registered off￿ is Slanway Evang81ical Church. Chapel RO￿1, Slanway, Col¢hesler. Essex. C03 OPU, Unlted KlrKJ¢Jcth. 1.1 Ac¢ountlng conv•ntl<¥n The financial statements ol the charitable company. whKh is a pU￿1C benefit èntity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charilies SORP IFRS1021'Accounting and Rtsporb.r￿ by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applubk to charities prepariThJ thèir accounts in the Companies Act 2006 and "AccountiThJ and Reporting by Chariliès= Ststemgnl ol Recommended Practice applicable to charitie$ preparing their accounts in accordanc& ￿th Ihe Financi81 Reporting Stsndard applicable in tha UK and R8wbll¢ ol Ireland IFRS 1021 leff8cb.ve l January 20191.. Th8 is a Banefll Enbty as defined by FRS 102. The Charity has taken a¢fvantsge of the In the SORP for charillgs opplwng FRS 102 Up(1818 Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flvws. Th8 flnanclal stat8ments a￿ prepared in stw1irrfJ. whth ￿ Ihe lunctlonal rjjrrency of the ¢harlty. Mon8t8ry amount$ In Ih&se finan¢i¥l slalements are rounded lo the ￿areSt £. The financial stalemenls have been Pfepar8d under the hislori¢al ¢osl convention. modlfied lo include the Teval¢Jation of freehold woperties and to inclu¢Je invèstm8nl properl￿ 8nd certain financi81 instruments al fglr value. The princlpal accounllng polkias adopted a￿ sel out Wow. 1.2 Golng ¢on¢•rn At the time of approvin9 the financial $tsl$ments. thtr Trustee tlirectors have a reasonable eypectatlon ¢h81 the chadty has adequate resources lo contsnue in 0p6rnlTr￿b1 tsxistence for the lorgsee8ble future. Thus the charity continues lo adopt the goirvJ ¢oncem basis of aczountirKJ in pr8parin9 the financi81 statem8nl8. 1.3 Ch8dtobl• fvntl• Unrestricted funds are avalloblè for use 81 the dis¢ffjl•J) of thè charity in lurth8ran¢¥ ol their charitablg obj8ctlv8s. Restricted lunds ar8 subj8Ct to SP8cific cmditsons by donors •$ lo how they may bg u8et1. The purposes and usès of th& restrtt$d fvnd$ a￿ sel out in the noles to Ihe financial slalements. Endowment funds arg subig¢t to specifi¢ conditsons by donors that the caplial mu81 m8lntained by the charity. 1.4 Incom• Income is re¢ognised when the charity is kgalty entiued lo it after any F*rfomance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measuTed reliably. and it is wobable that Income will be received. Cash don8b.ons 8re recognised on Teceipt. Other donaiions are recognised once Ihe charty has been nots'fied of the donation, unless perfo￿nar￿e condii*)ns doferral of thè amount. Income tax r8cover8ble in relation to donations receN&Y under Grfi Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised al the time of the donation. Legacies are rec(KJnise(l on receipt or olherwise if the charity has been notified of an impendlng distribution. the amount is known, and ￿ceipt is expected. If the amount is r￿t known. Ihe legacy is treated as a contingent asset. 14- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS {CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 A¢¢ountlng polirAe {Conllnu?dl 1.5 Exwndltur• Liabllitie$ a￿ re¢ognis8d 88 expenditure as soon as there is a legal construction obligation cornmittin9 the charity to that expenditijre. It is probab￿ Ihal a transfer of economic be￿fits will be required in setuement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure accounted for on an accruals basis and has been clas6ified under headings that aggre9aled all Costs ￿lated lo the category. Where ¢ost5 cannot be direcily attributed to paiticulaf headirwJs they hav¥ bgen all￿￿ted lo activities on a bas6s consistenl with the use of ￿$0Yr¢$S. 1.8 Tanglbl• fix•d ass•t$ Tangible fixed assets are Initiat￿ measuren 11 'Basic Financial In$lruments' and S8don 12 'Olher Fin¥n¢i81 In8truments183ues' of FRS 102 lo all of its finanaal instruments. Financial InstTuments are recognised in Ihe chaiivs balance shaèt vth8n the Charity becom8s party lo Ihe contractual pfovisions of the inslnjment. Financial assets and liabilities a￿ offset, wth thè net amurrts pr8senled in Ihe financial stslernents. when there is a legally enforteable rbht to set off Ihe recc*Jnise(J amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis Of to realise the asset and setu8 thè 118tMlity $muWan8(KJsty. 15- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 A￿OUntIng polSc5e8 Icontlnuedl B•sk Iln•ncl•l •ss•ts B8sic financAal assets, which indude detjtors arKI cash and bank balances, are initially m8a5ured at transaction price including transaction costs arwj are Subsequently carried al amotb'8ed cost using the effective inlerest method unl&ss thè arrangement constitutes a financir¥J transaction, where the transaction is measured al the present value of the luture receipts discounted at a mart(el rate of interest. Financts21 assets ¢lassifiad as rwivable within on8 year are not amorti88d. Baslc Iln•ncl•l Il•bllltl•s Basic financial liabilities. induding cre(Irlor$ and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constllules a financing transaction. where th8 d8bt inslrumonl is measured al the present value of the future payments di$¢ounted 81 a markel rale of interest. Financial li8bilibes classified 86 payable within on8 y8ar 8ffj not amorti88d. Debt instruments 8Te subsequently carri8d at amortisod Cost. uwng th8 effective intgresl rale method. Trade Creditors are obligations to pay for gr￿$ or serwices Ih8t have been acquired in the ordinary ¢<)urs8 of operal￿nS from suppliers. Amounts payablg ar& dassffied 85 current liablliues if p8yrn8nt is du8 wlthin one year or less. 11 not. they arè présènted as non-current liabil￿es. Trade creditgrs are recogniseil Iniually at Iransaction price and subsequenily meaBured al aM0￿"s0￿ c08t U8lng effective interast method. D•r•GOgnltloft of flnancl•l Il•bllltle$ Financial liabilities are d•re¢ognised when the charity's cl￿tractUal obli9ation$ expire or ar• distharged or Can￿lI￿d. 1.11 Employee b•n•fits The cost ol any unused hc4iday enbtlamenl is reccgnisod in the period in whKh lh• employee's ￿r¥I¢l$ a r6¢èivèd. Ternination benefits are Ieccgnl¥￿ immedialety 88 #n expense when the 1$ denh)nstrably commltted lo termlnate the employm6nt of on employee or lo provKJe termination benefits. Cfltl¢al a¢¢¢untlng •stlrnates and ludgem•nt• In the application of the charity's ac¢ountin9 poli¢ies, the charity 16 rwuired lo make judgement8, •$limates and assumptions about the carrying amount ol assels and liabilities that are nol readily appargnt frorn other sources. The esllmatos and 8$SOCi8t8(l assumpbons are based on histor￿1 experience and other f8clors that a￿ considèred to b8 rèl$vanl. Actual resulls may differ frcffl these estimal8s. The eslimales arKI undeilying aswmpth'ons are ravle￿￿ on an ongoing basis. R8vi$ions to accounting eslirnales are reccpjnised in Ihe period in vthich thè &$tsmale is revised where thè revision affects only th81 period, or in the period of the revi&on and future pewiods where Ihe revision afftsds both current and future periods. 16- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 D¢natlon8 •nd legacie8 unr￿ty1¢￿d R06trlct•d fvnds funds Total Tol81 2023 2023 2023 2022 Gifts. Donations and Legacies Sundry Income Govemment Grants Gift Aid refundB 303.041 7,595 303.041 7,595 59.829 43.222 304.721 336 95.462 60,919 59.775 43.222 353.912 59.775 413,687 461.438 Inv••tment• Urtr•*trlcted Unrastrieled fund• funds 2023 2022 Inve8tmenl Income Rents Received Interest reCeiv8￿e 20,830 45,015 2,318 18.¢)00 47.842 1,567 68,163 67,409 17- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Charftabl• actlvltt•s Unr•strSct•d funds Total 2023 Total 2022 Slipen(Is. salaries and expenses Youth and children's work Fellowship evènl$ Trainiro and study mat8dal Svbscripb'ons and confererTh8 Music and sound licence Missionary oxpendrtu Gift and don8tions Oulreach event and acb'vitie$ Visiting speakers Advgrtising and webslte Office costs Motor and travèl Insur8n¢88 157,683 2,231 4,345 172 3.421 2,545 59,158 6,060 7,026 5.128 1,212 27.922 5.704 15.440 56.848 8.420 3,341 376,441 3.474 2.690 4,395 1,120 1.113 950 383 112,359 2,478 224 1.093 1.255 2,300 44.868 4,666 6.430 6,603 661 24,025 3,085 16.245 39.287 6.218 3,478 132,030 4,993 6.253 1,380 975 2,095 904 666 3,381 Buildin9 expen Telephone Repairs and m8inten8nc• Muslc and PA expen￿$ Postage. prinlir4J and stationery Refreshment8 Book-Keep'ng Sundrfès Depreciation Bank Charges Service costs 757,222 427,930 R••td¢t•d fund• Totsl 2023 Total 2022 Repairs and maintenance Legal and professional fees t33.￿6 226,504 18,995 133,906 245,499 18- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEKfs (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Governance Costs 2023 2022 Audit fees Leg818nd prolessK)nal 5.940 753 5,406 458 6,693 5,864 GOv9rn9n￿ ￿$1$ t￿lUdeS payments to Ihe OUd￿￿Or3 of £5.940 {2022- £5.4LNSI for audil f8&8. TN•t•• Dlr•¢tcrt' R•mun•r•tl¢)n *nd B•n•fits Trvslee Dire¢lors' stipend8 and other b8nefiis for iho year 8nd8d 31st 0o¢emb&r 2023 totall¥d £157.6831 12022. £112.3591. The Trustee th'reclors were reimbursèd from Irav&l atvj miknage ex￿n6&S i1￿Urred when parforrnlng thelr work on behalf of the charfty for th& ye8r erKled 3181 December 2023. Employe Thg average monthly number of ￿M￿0ye8S during the year was: 2023 Numb•r 2022 Numb•r Ministers Church Worker Totsl There were no employees whose ￿n￿81 remun*r¥lK)n w•s mtye Ih¥n £60,1)JO. gaIn￿lI￿N￿l on tanglble flx•d as8•ts Unre•lrfct•d funds Totsl 2023 2022 Nel los$ on dlsposal of trng1b￿ ffixei1 assets 1796,1291 1796.1291 19- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 10 Net galnsl{lossesl on Inv•stm•nts Unr¢strlcted Unrestri¢led fund• funds 2023 2022 Revaluation of inveslmenls 32.605 150,7721 11 Tanglbl• flx•d ••s•ts Fr••hold l•nd Pfop•rfy FIll￿￿ •nd Comput•r• •nd tr￿Ik11n￿* lrnpro¥•rn•nls rothi ¢￿t or valuatl¢Jn Al 1 January 2023 Adtjluons Disposals Revaluation 15.048,568 647.858 7.229 14,562 15,718,217 2.249.093 2.249,093 Al 31 December 2023 17.297,661 647.858 7,229 14,562 17.967.310 Depr•clallon and Impalrment At 1 J8nu8ry 2023 08precSation charg8d In lh8 year Elimlnated in respect of disposals 9,538 767 15.558 947 Al 31 Oecember 2023 6,2 10.305 16.505 Carrylng amount Al 31 Decembèr 2023 17,297.661 647.858 1.029 4.257 17,950.805 Al 31 December 2022 15,048.568 847.858 15,702,659 The Union has over many years acquired Churches and other Freehold Properties. The cost of m051 of the earfy acquisitions would not be possible to establlsh. The Trustee DIred0￿ have therefore brou9ht Ihese propèrties into the accounts at the latast insuranc8 valuations due ￿1￿ctiOn made In the valuation for Costs included which appty tts rèinstslemenl values onty- THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 11 Tanglblo Ilx•d aBs•t8 IContInu￿) The Freehold Proporty is madè up of folk)wing.' 2023 2022 CambèrM*ll 1,942,237 1.734.140 C8nniThJ Town 1.871.990 1.671,419 Ch8lm8foTd 986.006 880,362 Corrlngham 849,062 758,091 CressiThJ 951.511 849,563 Daws Heath 325,909 29).990 Eastr￿d 796,627 711.274 Great Wakering 932,409 832,508 Shoebury 732,311 653,849 Southend on Sga 1.202.988 1.074,096 Stsnford Le Hor 870,288 777,042 Stanwby 1.878,475 1,245.210 Totham 694.216 619.835 Wlckford 981,021 875,911 Wilham 1356 574 1211226 16.371.624 14.185,516 House Buikli Cannlng Town 333.307 306.817 Chelmsford 310,792 292,430 Cressing 281,938 926.037 863.052 Total 17,297,681 15,048,s88 The Charity obtains annual valuations of the pro￿r0.￿S hèkj at the year ended and as at 31st December 2023 there was an increase of £2,249.093 in thé aM￿l￿t browJht lon￿ard from 2022. The above 2023 valuations a￿ based on the current ￿buIld1r9 ¢osts. as •Jvised by Ihe insurers. 21 THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 12 Flx•d *¥set Investments Unll8t•d Inv•8tm•nts C￿t or valuatSon At 1 January 2023 Disposals Valual*)n ch 1,169.S25 1120,0001 32,605 At 31 Dec8mb&r 2023 1,082,130 CarrySng amount At 31 Dacember 2023 1,082.130 At 31 D8¢&mber 2022 1,169525 13 D•btor• 2023 2022 Amount• fallln9 du• wlthln on• y•ar: Tradè debtors Prepayments and 8c¢rued irKome 37,951 41,137 708 41,845 14 Crtdltor•: amounts fallln9 wlthln on• y•ar 2023 2022 Tr8de creditors Accruals and deferred incoff 1.875 10,962 7.470 29.784 12,837 37,254 15 Credltors: amounts falling due after morn than on• y•4r 2023 2022 Other creditors 389,813 351,186 THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 18 R•lat•d party transactlons There were related party transactions wth the Trustee Directors vthich to1811ed £8.162 for admlnistralion and T6pair purposes within the year. £540 of this was outstandiThJ at the year end..