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2023-12-31-accounts

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1127223

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 FOR WELCOME BAPTIST CHURCH

Grugeon Reynolds Limited Adams & Moore House Instone Road Dartford Kent DA1 2AG

WELCOME BAPTIST CHURCH

CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Page
Report of the Trustees 1 to 3
Independent Examiner's Report 4
Financial Statements 5
Statement of Assets and Liabilities 6 to 7
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 8 to 9

WELCOME BAPTIST CHURCH

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number

1127223

Principal address

Alexandra Road Heathfield East Sussex TN21 8EQ

Trustees

A Caldwell (Minister) C Adams (Church Secretary) C Goodsell (Treasurer) L Selby J Martin R Stevenson J Selby G Durrant A Taylor

Independent Examiner

Grugeon Reynolds Limited Chartered Certified Accountants Adams & Moore house Instone Road Dartford Kent DA1 2AG

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes an unincorporated charity.

The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the Trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the Trust.

New Trustees are appointed by the church members in accordance with section 15 of the Church Constitution.

Risk management

The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.

Page 1

WELCOME BAPTIST CHURCH

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims

The Trust seeks to demonstrate the Christian faith in action by being a church in the community of Heathfield, Sussex.

The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities.

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE Review of activities

2023 was a good year in the life of Welcome Baptist. Sunday services were generally very well attended. In order to accommodate the larger numbers attending church we continued with two Sunday services. However, from August to December 2023 we returned to one service, with a decision to revert to two services in January 2024.

In order to ensure that we didn’t have separate congregations, we had a monthly, combined, celebration service. This was well attended and tended to number approximately 120-210 including 35 in Children’s Church. Our Christmas Carol service was conducted at the local community centre in order to accommodate numbers.

We began to look at the possibility of using our adjacent property to increase our space. Some funds were donated towards this development project and an architect was instructed to work on some ideas.

The House groups, children’s groups and other organisations have continued to thrive. We had another Men’s Weekend in 2023 and, from January to March, ran a warm space as a response to the cost of living crisis. As well as baby and toddlers’ midweek groups, we continue with a highly valued group for children with special needs. This is well attended and meets a great need within the community. We have thriving Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and children’s and youth groups. In 2023 Jeff and Jackie Selby took a group of teenagers away for a weekend which was a huge success and much appreciated. Also in 2023 Jeff Selby initiated an early morning men’s prayer time. This is in addition to weekly Saturday prayer meetings.

We have continued to provide pastoral care to the church, led by our Pastoral worker Sue Lade who, as well as her other roles, oversaw the ‘Warm space’. Joanne Martin has continued to work extremely hard with children and their parents. Janet Cole has continued to work hard on keeping the church connected and informed of all that is happening in the church. I have continued to preach most Sundays as well as providing online sermons and pastoral support and leadership. Our links with New Life Church Blackboys strengthened further and at the end of 2023 we released Phil and Janet Cole to serve there as their Pastor and Worship leader.

Reverend Andrew Caldwell on behalf of The Trustees of Welcome Baptist Church

Date…………3 June 2024

Page 2

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

WELCOME BAPTIST CHURCH

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The comparison of income with 2022 reflects the country’s recovery from lockdown with increase and decrease in different areas and an overall increase of unrestricted receipts of £14,304. The unrestricted payments were also up on 2022 by £7,136. The cash funds at the year end show an increase of £13,549 but this includes a restricted donation for the Development project, which is still in its early stage, amounting to £10,000.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD :

C Goodsell – Trustee/Treasurer

Date: ………3 June 2024

Page 3

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF WELCOME BAPTIST CHURCH

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Hakeem Adeleye BA (Hons) ACCA Grugeon Reynolds Limited Chartered Certified Accountants Adams & Moore House Instone Road Dartford Kent DA1 2AG

Date: 3 June 2024

Page 4

WELCOME BAPTIST CHURCH

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
Note
£
£
Receipts
Voluntary Receipts
Voluntary income
135,667
150
Development project
10,000
Give It Away fund
11,521
Child and family worker
10,005
Incoming resources from charitable
activities
Welcome “Holiday”
9,278
D of E group
3,969
Alpha course
0
Social events
1,647
Cedars
942
Children’s Groups
3,601
Other incoming resources
Investment income
254
1
Solar panel tariff
1,077
Other receipts
125
Total incoming resources
156,560 31,677
Payments
Church activities
D of E Group
3,928
General
139,594
10,155
Welcome "Holiday"
8,716
Give It Away Fund
11,557
Governance costs
738
Total resources expended
152,976
21,712
Net of (Payments)/Receipts
Transfers between funds
3,584
9,965
Cash funds last year end
26,939
154
Cash funds this year
30,523
10,119		 2023
Total
funds
£
135,817
10,000
11,521
10,005
9,278
3,969
0
1,647
942
3,601
255
1,077
125
188,237
3,928
149,749
8,716
11,557
738
174,688
13,549
27,093
40,642		 2022
Total
funds
£
129,033
0
16,618
10,005
3,500
4,607
1,125
1,402
895
2,487
60
710
0
170,442
4,259
147,854
3,884
16,684
1,410
174,091
(3,649)
30,742
27,093

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 5

WELCOME BAPTIST CHURCH

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Cash Funds
CAF Cash account
CAF Gold account
CAF Give it away account
CAF Mini bus account
Metro D of E
Metro Welcome holidays
Metro Development project
Metro Cash account
Other Monetary Assets
Gift Aid recoverable
Assets retained for the charity’s own use
Church – Insurance value
Manse - cost
Equipment - cost
Liabilities
Accounts and examination
Other creditors
NEST pension contributions		 2023
£
12,782
10,231
119
1,237
2,951
2,812
10,000
510
40,642
2023
£
1,786
2023
£
1,356,667
291,494
46,159
2023
£
738
783
300		 2022
£
9,836
10,043
53
1,993
2,910
2,258
0
0
27,093
2022
£
2,122
2022
£
1,232,199
291,494
45,756
2022
£
738
123
285

The movements in designated and restricted funds during the year were:

Give it away fund - restricted
Development project - restricted
Messy church - restricted
Child/family worker - restricted
Minibus fund- designated		 Bal b/fwd
154

0
0
0
1,993
2,147		 Receipts
11,522
10,000
150
10,005
284
31,962
Payment
11,557

0

150

10,005


1,040

22,753
Bal c/fwd

119

10,000

0

0

1,237

11,356

The “Give it away fund” is to provide a fund from which the Trustees may make donations. The other three restricted funds were to finance particular aspects of the Church’s work. The “Minibus fund” is to replace the minibus when this becomes necessary and finance running costs. The Development project is to fund expansion and improvement of worship and community spaces in Alexandra Road, Heathfield.

Page 6

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

WELCOME BAPTIST CHURCH

Grants Payable

The total grants paid to institutions during the year were as follows:



All We Can
Ass Guatemal Para El Sindrome De Down
Baptist Union Home Mission
Christian Aid
Community Garden
Crowhurst Divine Healing Mission
Crisis at Christmas
Edfri Kenya
Global Care
Hailsham Food
London City Mission
Mankind
Matthew 25 Mission
Medair
Mission Aviation Fellowship
Open Doors Brother Andrew
Quicken Trust
Salvation Army
Samaritans Purse – Ukraine
Street Kids
Tear Fund
Translations Trust		 2023
2022
£
£
1,172
0
1,176
0
3,308
3,570
1,040
1,212
0
100
657
0
0
794
0
3,525
0
520
1,218
0
930
0
646
0
374
0
1,167
2,363
1,115
0
653
0
506
0
0
1,094
20
3,738
0
540
903
2,898
500
1,200

Related party transactions

A Caldwell who is also a trustee receives a salary as a minster of £23,082 (2022 £22,292) and a pension contribution of £4,044 (2022 £5,315) and receives a lease back payment of £19,200 (2022 - £18,000) and expense payments of £566 (2022 £180). Joanne Martin, a trustee, received a salary of £ 27,529 (2022 £26,242) as a Children and Families Worker, but none were received in respect of her role as a trustee. The charity receives online mission services amounting to £12,001 (2022 £11,775) from Dragoon Digital a related party via Joanne Martin’s husband.

Page 7

WELCOME BAPTIST CHURCH

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

INCOMING RESOURCES
Voluntary income
Donations
Give it away fund (including Gift Aid)
Development project
Other Gift aid
Investment income
Deposit account interest
Solar Panel tariff
Incoming resources from charitable activities
Welcome “Holiday”
D of E Group
Children and Families Worker
Social Events
Cedars
Children’s Groups
Other incoming resources
Other receipts
Total incoming resources
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Charitable activities
Minister's salary & NIC
Minister’s pension contributions
Minister’s lease back payments
Pastoral care
Pension costs
Children's activities
Catering
Outreach
On line mission
Worship costs
Carried forward		 2023
£
112,559
11,522
10,000
23,257
157,338
255
1,077
9,278
3,969
10,005
1,647
942
3,601
29,442
125
188,237
23,082
4,044
19,200
11,010
781
31,395
1,363
2,410
12,001
1,107
106,393		 2022
£
106,979
16,619
0
23,179
146,777
60
710
3,500
4,607
10,005
1,402
894
2,487
22,895
0
170,442
22,292
5,315
18,000
11,599
1,386
29,192
1,547
3,386
11,776
465
104,958

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 8

WELCOME BAPTIST CHURCH

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Charitable activities
Brought forward
Maintenance of buildings and equipment
Grants to institutions
Governance costs
Accountancy
D of E Group
Welcome “Holiday”
Give It Away Fund
Grants
Total resources expended
Net income/(outgoings)
Support costs
Other
Insurance
Light, heat, water, refuse and TV
Telephone
Motor and travel expenses
Admin and support services
Training and materials
Professional and membership fees
Bank charges
Bungalow expenses
Other costs		 202 3
£
106,393
4,246
3,828
738
3,928
8,716
11,557
174,688
13,549
2,480
7,824
704
2,751
12,638
491
3,044
185
3,414
1,751
149,749		 202 2
£
104,958
7,173
4,870
1,410
4,259
3,884
16,684
174,091
(3,649)
2,391
6,632
854
2,105
12,358
659
2,205
162
1,828
1,659
147,854

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 9