2022-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From: 1st January 2022 To: 31st December 2022

Charity name: Romsey Baptist Church Charity registration number: 1127624

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The principal purpose of the Church is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination. The Church may also advance education and carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	In order to achieve the above principle objective, the church is active on two main fronts: Firstly, we provide a number of activities for those associated directly with the church. We meet together for public worship morning and evening each Sunday, providing an additional monthly ‘Traditional Service’. Communion of the Lord’s Supper is observed normally twice each month. We provide a full children’s programme, including teaching during Sunday morning worship, Parent and Toddler groups, Youth clubs, GRACE (girls weekday evening group) and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. There are House groups meeting at various homes on a number of weekdays, providing support and spiritual growth within the fellowship. Secondly, we seek to reach out into the community around us. We are involved in Churches Together in Romsey, the umbrella organisation of the seven local churches. The church premises are made available for community use, and a wide range of organisations make use of the facilities. Our church works with Churches Together in Romsey for a number of united events each year. We are a Fairtrade church, support Romsey

		Foodbank by collecting groceries for distribution to needy people and have an active group supporting Christian Aid. We support the local Christians Against Poverty group financially and with a part time staff member. Every Saturday the church provides a Community cafe for all to attend, but is particularly focused towards those more vulnerable in our older-aged society.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	All trustees are made aware of the rights and obligations of a trustee on appointment. Confirmation of understanding is acknowledged through the signing of the document setting out said rights and obligations.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	N/A
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	N/A
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	Many volunteers contribute their time and expertise to support the work and outreach of the church.
Other		N/A

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	2022 brought back ‘normality’ in Sunday worship at Romsey Baptist Church (RBC). Numbers have remained steady, if not increasing, and we have seen online users also increase. We were also able to have our first baptismal service for two years during the Summer, which was an amazing experience for all involved. The Youth Worker has settled in well and both our youth and children's work is a real blessing to the church. Now that the Youth Worker is established, there are plans for 2023 in regards growth and opportunities for RBC’s youth work.

The church continues to support CAP, the food bank and more recently the food pantry in Romsey. The monthly Community Cafe has now become weekly due to its need and popularity. At the end of 2022 the church also signed up to the ‘Warm Space’ initiative and offers times during the week to anyone who needs a warm space. The most significant event of 2022 was the death of Jonathan Beer, the Minister of Romsey Baptist Church. Jonathan has gone to be with the Lord and has left a lasting impression on all those who have worshipped at Romsey Baptist Church. We thank God for his life and the impact he has had on the church and wider community. This has led to the church being in a state of interregnum, which RBC is being supported through by a Church Moderator.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	N/A
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	N/A
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	N/A
Other		N/A

Financial Review

Total income £147,458 Total expenditure £145,068 Surplus £2,390

Total income £147,458 Total expenditure £145,068 Surplus £2,390
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Cash at bank and in hand at 31/12/2022 is £202,802
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	The church needs reserves to cover its financial commitments in the event of any significant variation in its income or any significant unexpected expense. It would seem prudent to set the level of reserves to 35% of the anticipated annual spend. The amount is to be assessed annually against the budget, which is set based on our vision, commitments and anticipated income. Special attention should be paid to changes in the requirements of the Charity Commission, the BU Guidelines and any special circumstances encountered, e.g. loans, together with cash-in-hand and a carefully considered view of the expected income.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£75,000
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	None
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	None

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

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Church congregation and membership.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	N/A
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	Risk: Church congregation/membership are unable to contribute financially to the church due to the impact of the ‘Cost of Living crisis’ Outcome: A reduction in income would reduce the work the church could do in achieving its aims

Mitigation: The trustees would prioritise the outgoings to ensure that the ‘business critical’ work could continue and the church could support its employees in the work they do Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Approved Governing Document for Baptist Churches known as “Constitution for Baptist Churches 20th March 2008” and adopted by Romsey Baptist Church 24 November 2008 (administrative changes May 2018)
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Charitable Unincorporated Association
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Trustees are appointed by the Church Members’ Meeting in accordance with Clause 15 of the Church Constitution

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

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	The Charity Commissions documents and processes are used in the induction of new Trustees.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	The Trustees are the Leadership Team composed of the Minister(s) and lay members elected under the authority of the Church Meeting. The lay members include leaders of teams overseeing the: Administration, Discipleship, Fellowship, Mission, Children Young People and Families (CYF) and Worship life of the Church. Alongside these Team Leaders are the Church Secretary and Church Treasurer. At times there may be additional Trustees who hold no portfolio or position. Individuals may hold more than one role during the year.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	Romsey Duke of Edinburgh Baptists Together Evangelical Alliance
Other		N/A

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name Romsey Baptist Church

Other name the charity uses	RBC
Registered charity number	1127624
Charity’s principal address	22 Bell Street Romsey Hampshire SO51 8GW

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any)
	Jonathan Beer	Minister	Deceased on May 10th 2022 All Trustees are appointed by the Church Members’ Meeting in accordance with the Church Constitution Stepped down after the Church AGM on the 28th of March 2022 Stepped down after the AGM on the 28th of March 2022 Also known as Mary Richards Elected at the Church AGM on the 28th of March 2022 Elected at the Church AGM on the 28th of March 2022
	Rosemary Green	Treasurer
	Aaron Shutt	Secretary
	Alun Richards
	Bronwen Mary Elizabeth Clemons
	Dr Hisham Saba
	Jeremy Langdon
	Dorothy Mary Le Feuvre
	Hannah Richardson
	Helen Polden
	Hazel Hayter

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

Director name

N/A

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for whole year
N/A

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

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

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

N/A

Other optional information

N/A

Declarations

Signature(s) Rosemary F Green Full Name(s) Aaron George Shutt Rosemary F Green ~~|[Ade~~ Position held Church Secretary Church Treasurer Date 19/01/2023 25/1/2023