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2023-03-31-accounts

Wilmslow United Reformed Church Charity

Trustees’ report and financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Trustees’ report and financial statements

Contents

Legal and administrative information 3
Trustees’ report 4
Statement of financial activities 6
Balance sheet 7
Notes to the financial statements 8
Treasurer’s statement 16
Independent examiner’s report 17

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Legal and administrative information

Charity Name: Wilmslow United Reformed Church Charity (Wilmslow URC)
Registered Charity Number: 1128170
Minister/Trustee Revd Dr KE Thorpe
Elders/Trustees Mr P Bradley
Mrs A Brander
Mrs C Carne (stood down from office 31 December 2022)
Mrs A Dean
Dr I Duncan
Mrs E Gilliland
Mrs N Moss
Mrs T Shepherd
Mrs W Williams
Mrs F Wood (stood down from office 31 December 2022)
Mr R Wood
Mr S Wood
Church Address: Chapel Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 1PR
Independent Examiner: Teresa Fennell ACMA, CGMA
It Doesn't Have to Cost the Earth Ltd
47 St Dunstans Close
Worcester
WR5 2AJ
Bankers: NatWest Bank plc
4 Grove Street
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 1EJ

3

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Trustees’ report

The elders, acting as trustees, present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Structure, governance and management

The minister and elders are the trustees of the charity as defined under the Charities Act 2011.

The responsibilities of elders are defined in the Basis of Union which was the founding document of the United Reformed Church. The minister and elders are responsible for leading the church; fostering the spiritual development of the congregation; giving pastoral care to the congregation, ensuring that public worship is held on a regular basis and exercising stewardship over the church’s property and finances. Elders are church members elected, normally for a three-year term, by the church meeting. The elders normally meet once a month and the meetings are usually chaired by the minister.

Many of the elders’ responsibilities are delegated to a number of teams covering: Worship, Finance, Property, Outreach and Administration. These teams have members some of whom are elders and they report to the elders’ meeting.

Church meetings are normally held quarterly and are open to all members of the church; all major decisions affecting the church are made by church meeting.

The governing document is in line with an approved instrument issued by the United Reformed Church.

Objectives and activities

The church is committed to providing public worship open to all; having a programme of Christian education for all ages; providing social and recreational activities for all ages; giving pastoral support to the congregation; providing premises, resources and services to the local community.

The elders declare that they have complied with the duty imposed by the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission. Worship is open to all and all are welcome. The church premises are used by both church groups and other social, community and commercial organisations.

Achievements and performance

A public worship service is conducted every Sunday morning and a monthly mid-week service designed for those who struggle to attend on a Sunday morning has also continued over the past year. Messy Church continues on the first Sunday each month and continues to be highly appreciated. There is also Modern Believers, a faith-based discussion group.

The year has seen the Community Café held on Monday and Wednesday mornings continue the development of its outreach mission. The support for Wilmslow Youthwork, the charity set up in 2019 has continued through the year and makes a significant difference in the lives of young people and their families in and around Wilmslow and links with Wilmslow High School continue to be developed.

The social, study and recreational activities include a badminton club, bowling club, quilters group and book club. These groups and the uniformed youth organisations which meet on our premises are open to and attended by people who are not church members.

Pastoral care is provided through a network led by two support coordinators to offer the best possible and most relevant support to those members of the congregation with pastoral needs. The network is organised to coordinate the many members who volunteer to offer services such as home visiting to the sick or lonely and transport for those with limited mobility. There is also a much-valued Prayer chain.

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WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Trustees’ report (continued)

Financial review

The church's principal funding comes from freewill giving which was down on the previous year because of a significant donation received in 2022. Lettings income from the use of the church buildings increased as we continued to promote the use of the premises to the community.

Expenditure in the year was ahead of budget (£166,600) as in some areas additional expenditure was approved and with some increased costs linked to inflationary pressures. Significant work in the year included finishing the refurbishment of the church halls, installing new projection screens in Church and completing repairs to the Church drainage.

Transfers to funds were made to cover future planned maintenance.

Reserve policy

The General Fund, from the regular freewill giving, contributes to the day to day running costs of the church and there are designated funds set aside for repairs and improvements. Monies are set aside each year from the general fund, net of any costs incurred in the year, to maintain sufficient balances in this fund for future expenditure without recourse to special appeals. The General Fund balance, excluding the manse fund, equates to two months’ expenditure which is broadly in line with requirements.

The year-end balance for the designated fund is shown in note 17.

Approved by the elders on 5 June 2023 and signed on their behalf by:

Steve Wood, Church Treasurer

5

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 March 2023

Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
Note General Designated Funds 2022-23 2021-22
£ £ £ £ £
Income from:
Donations and legacies 2 173,406 - 16,385
189,791		 221,600
Charitable activities 3 27,787 - - 27,787 16,740
Other trading activities 4 9,468 - 757 10,225 5,075
Investment income 5 2,919 - 57
2,976		 1,151
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Total income 213,580 - 17,199
230,779		 244,566
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Expenditure on:
Raising funds 6 1,853 - 691
2,544		 1,230
Charitable activities 7 185,145 27,657 15,506 228,308 222,952
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Total expenditure 186,998 27,657 16,197
230,852		 224,182
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Net income / (expenditure) 26,582 (27,657)
1,002		 (73) 20,384
Transfers between funds (4,000) 9,000
(5,000)		 - -
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
22,582 (18,657)
(3,998)
(73)		 20,384
Total funds brought forward 1 April 2022 250,244 42,192
16,786
309,222		 288,838
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Total funds carried forward 31 March 2023 272,826 23,535
12,788		 309,149 309,222
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
(Note 16) (Note 17)

The notes on pages 8 to 15 form part of these financial statements.

6

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Balance sheet as at 31 March 2023

Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
Note General Designated Funds 2023 2022
£ £ £ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 12 - - -
-		 -
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
- -
-		 - -
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Current assets
Debtors 13 28,782 -
1,679		 30,461 11,583
Investments 14 218,690 -
-		 218,690
 216,178
Bank and cash balances 42,784 23,535
13,632
79,951		 88,692
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
290,256 23,535
15,311
329,102
 100,275
Current liabilities
Creditors payable within one year 15 (17,430) - (2,523)
(19,953)		 (7,231)
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Net current assets 272,826 23,535
12,788
309,149		 93,044
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Total net assets 272,826 23,535
12,788		 309,149
 309,222
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
The funds of the charity
Unrestricted income funds
General 272,826 - -
272,826
 250,244
Designated 16 - 23,535 -
23,535		 42,192
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Total 272,826 23,535 -
296,361
 292,436
Restricted funds 17 - - 12,788
12,788		 16,786
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
272,826 23,535
12,788		 309,149
 309,222
——— ——— ——— ——— ———

The notes on pages 8 to 15 form part of these financial statements.

Approved by the elders on 5 June 2023 and signed on their behalf by:

Revd Dr KE Thorpe, Minister

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WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Notes to the financial statements

1 Accounting policies

Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 and in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice: (FRS 102) issued by the Charity Commission on the basis that the charity is a Public Benefit Entity. The accruals basis of accounting has been adopted, and the principal accounting policies set out below are applied consistently.

There are no estimates or assumptions made creating estimation uncertainty as at the year-end that put the carrying values of assets and liabilities at risk of material adjustment in next year’s financial statements.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the church in furtherance of its charitable objectives. Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donors.

Tangible fixed assets

Freehold property : The trustees of the church buildings are the URC (North Western Province) Trust Limited who hold them for purposes connected with Wilmslow URC. Expenditure incurred on the church is written off in the year it is incurred.

Equipment : Currently all furniture and equipment is regarded as fully depreciated.

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

Resources expended

The URC Ministry and Mission contribution is paid regularly and is included in the financial statements for the year to which it relates. Resources expended are recognised in the period in which they are incurred and include VAT which cannot be recovered. They are allocated to the particular activity to which they relate. As most of the management and activity of the church is carried out by volunteers, this intangible asset is not included in the financial statements as this voluntary contribution to the life of the church is incalculable.

Financial instruments

The charity’s basic financial instruments as defined by FRS 102 are all recognised at their settlement value and the charity has no “other” financial instruments.

Taxation

As part of the United Reformed Church, the church is an excepted and registered charity within the meaning of the Taxes Acts. Accordingly, it is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income and capital gains received to the extent that such income or gains are applied to exclusively charitable purposes. No provision for taxation has been made in these financial statements.

8

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

2
Donations and legacies
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2022-23 2021-22
£ £ £ £ £
Offertory and standing orders(£1,820 per week;
2022: £2,063) 94,635 -
-		 94,635 107,255
Income tax refunds under Gift Aid 60,430 - -
60,430		 27,492
Special offerings and donations 14,763 - 11,385
26,148		 83,981
Legacies 328 - 5,000 5,328 2,872
Grants 3,250 -
-		 3,250 -
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
173,406 -
16,385
189,791		 221,600
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
3
Charitable activities
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2022-23 2021-22
£ £ £ £ £
Use of church rooms 27,787 -
-
27,787		 16,740
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
27,787 -
-
27,787		 16,740
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
4
Other trading activities
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2022-23 2021-22
£ £ £ £ £
Fund raising 6,069 - 757 6,826 2,418
Café income 2,560 - -
2,560		 1,936
Manse energy feed in tariff 839 - -
839		 912
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
9,468 -
757
10,225		 5,075
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
5
Investment income
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2022-23 2021-22
£ £ £ £ £
Bank interest 407 - 57
464		 76
Investment income 2,512 - - 2,512 1,075
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
2,919 -
57
2,976		 1,151
——— ——— ——— ——— ———

9

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

6 Raising funds

6
Raising funds
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2022-23 2021-22
£ £ £ £ £
Fundraising expenses 1,816 - 691
2,507		 950
Running expenses 37 - -
37		 280
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
1,853 -
691		 2,544 1,230
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
7
Charitable activities
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2022-23 2021-22
£ £ £ £ £
Ministry costs
URC Ministry and Mission Fund 68,085 - -
68,085		 69,435
Youth Work 20,000 - -
20,000		 18,400
Synod levy 3,408 - -
3,408		 3,615
Churches Together in Wilmslow - - -
-		 -
Missional Partnership 150 - 1,796
1,946		 229
Pulpit supply 550 - -
550		 6
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
92,193 -
1,796		 93,989 91,685
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Ministerial costs
Travel and subsistence 2,533 - -
2,533		 3,084
Pastoral support 704 - 3,800
4,504		 1,755
Worship resources 528 - -
528		 342
Wedding and funeral expenses 200 - -
200		 -
Flowers 735 - -
735		 419
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
4,700 -
3,800		 8,500 5,600
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Church costs
Cleaning 12,993 -
-
12,993		 9,881
Supplies 3,609 -
-
3,609		 2,441
Heat, light and water 17,089 -
-
17,089		 13,080
Repairs and maintenance 28,288 27,657 -
55,945		 52,535
Insurance 4,453 -
-
4,453		 5,982

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WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

7 Charitable activities (continued)


Charitable activities (continued)
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2022-23 2021-22
£ £ £ £ £
Church costs (continued)
Waste disposal 1,585 -
-
1,585		 1,393
Gardening 306 -
-
306		 2,081
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
68,323
27,657
-		 95,980 87,393
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Manse costs
Council tax 3,286 - - 3,286 3,188
Telephone 876 - - 876 852
Water 490 - - 490 503
Repairs and maintenance 13
-		 - 13 -
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
4,665
-		 - 4,665 4,543
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Office costs
Telephone 1,573 -
-		 1,573 1,502
Stationery and furniture 145 -
-		 145 531
Printing 412 -
-		 412 414
Photocopying 493 -
-		 493 493
Postage 23 -
-		 23 -
Newsletter 849 -
-		 849 469
Website 88 -
-		 88 58
Sundries 652 -
-		 652 490
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
4,235 -
-		 4,235 3,957
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Team and activity costs
Community lunches - -
-		 - 24
Fellowship 1,085 -
-		 1,085 580
Messy Church - -
-		 - 37
Music 455 -
-		 455 385
Outreach 234 - - 234 1,304
Uniformed organisations 14 - - 14 -
Worship 800 -
-		 800 1,023
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
2,588 -
-		 2,588 3,353
——— ——— ——— ——— ———

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WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

7 Charitable activities(continued)
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2022-23 2021-22
£ £ £ £ £
Finance and admin costs
Secretarial expenses 994 - - 994 850
Finance expenses 662 - - 662 699
Premises expenses 296 - - 296 348
Bad debts 112 - - 112 150
Bank charges 557 - - 557
551
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
2,621 - - 2,621
2,598
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Donations
Northern College 250 - - 250 250
Parkinson’s Support Group - - - - 1,283
East Cheshire Hospice 1,590 - - 1,590 1,283
NSPCC 1,590 - - 1,590 1,283
Samaritans 1,590 - - 1,590 -
Disaster Emergency Committee appeals 500 - - 500 -
Church Action on Poverty 50 - - 50 50
East Manchester Community Assoc’n 250 - - 250 -
Penrhys - - - - 450
Money for Madagascar - - - - 1,000
Redeeming our Communities - - - - 500
Commitment for Life - - 2,513 2,513 2,400
Disaster appeals - - 2,302 2,302 5,660
Harvest appeal - - 2,729 2,729 4,419
Christian Aid - - 1,856 1,856 3,120
Other donations - - 510 510 2,125
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
5,820 - 9,910 15,730
23,823
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Charitable activities 185,145 27,657
15,506
228,308		 222,952
——— ——— ——— ——— ———

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WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

8 Trustee remuneration and expenses

None of the trustees ( 2021-22: £Nil ) were paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from their employment with the church. The Minister is remunerated by the United Reformed Church and her settlement agreement includes the manse which is owned by the Synod, but whose costs of £4,651 ( 202122: £4,543 ) are paid by the church.

Donations without conditions totalling £15,279 ( 2021-22: £17,882 ) were received from trustees.

Expenses totalling £11,440 ( 2021-22: £3,436 ) were paid to seven ( 2021-22: eight ) trustees including the Minister. These were for travel, subsistence and the reimbursement of out of pocket expenses.

9 Related party transactions

Donations without conditions totalling £12,080 ( 2021-22: £8,695 ) were received from related parties.

Expenses totalling £909 ( 2021-22: £696 ) were paid to three ( 2021-22: two ) partners of trustees. These were for travel, subsistence and the reimbursement of out of pocket expenses.

One of the trustees is also a trustee of Wilmslow Youth. Amounts paid to Wilmslow Youth in the year were £18,977 ( 2021-22: £13,767 ). Donations amounting to £6,000 ( 2021-22: £5,000 ) were received from Wilmslow Youth in the year as contributions towards use of the Undercroft.

10 Staff costs

Staff costs in the year totalled £60 ( 2021-22: £Nil ) in relation to one employee ( 2021-22: Nil ). There were no social security or pension costs payable.

11 Independent examination

The fee in the year for independent examination of the financial statements was £720 ( 2021-22: £Nil ).

12 Fixed assets

For the reasons stated in the Accounting Policy (Note 1), the church buildings are not tangible fixed assets of the church. For insurance purposes the church buildings are insured by the church for £6,556,000 and the contents of the church buildings are insured for £387,000.

13 Debtors

3 Debtors
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2023 2022
£ £ £ £ £
Accounts receivable 4,001 - -
4,001		 585
Bad debt provision (514) - -
(514)		 (402)
Income tax recoverable 22,519 -
1,670
24,189		 3,416
Prepayments 2,776 -
9
2,785		 7,984
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
28,782 -
1,679		 30,461 11,583
——— ——— ——— ——— ———

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WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

14 Investments

4 Investments
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2023 2022
£ £ £ £ £
At 1 April 2022 216,178 - -
216,178		 215,103
Interest applied in the year 2,512 -
-
2,512		 1,075
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
At 31 March 2023 218,690 -
-
218,690		 216,178
——— ——— ——— ——— ———

The investments represent the amount held on behalf of the Church by the Synod following a review which resulted in responsibility for the manse passing to the URC (North Western Province) Trust Limited.

15 Creditors payable within one year

5 Creditors payable within one year
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2023 2022
£ £ £ £ £
Accounts payable 15,461 - -
15,461		 1,389
Accruals and deferred income 1,969 - 2,523
4,492		 5,842
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
17,430 -
2,523
19,953		 7,231
——— ——— ——— ——— ———

16 Designated funds

The church operates one designated fund with the encouragement of the church meeting.

Repairs fund - this is established to fund the maintenance of the church and manse premises; it receives regular budgeted transfers from the general fund when funds are available. The maintenance is supervised by the Property Team.

The movements on the designated fund were as follows:

Repairs Total Total
fund 2022-23 2021-22
£ £ £
Brought forward at 1 April 2022 42,192 42,192 38,964
Expenditure on charitable activities (27,657) (27,657) (46,772)
Transfers from other funds
9,000
9,000		 50,000
——— ——— ———
Carried forward at 31 March 2023 23,535
23,535		 42,192
——— ——— ———

14

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY 15

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

17 Restricted funds

The church accounts include four restricted funds where the monies can only be used for the specific purposes for which they were entrusted to the church. These monies are not at the disposal of the church meeting for any other purpose and represent:

Specific gifts – at different times of the year monies are raised in the church to support specific projects.

Additional ministry fund – this represents the balance of a legacy and although it is totally expendable, it may only be used to provide additional ministry.

Ministerial hardship fund – this represents funds donated for use by the minister as she determines to provide gifts or support. The use of these funds is kept confidentially.

Missional partnership fund – this represents the funds held by the church on behalf of the Greater Manchester South and Cheshire Missional Partnership of which the church is part.

The movements in the restricted funds during the year were:

Specific Additional Missional Hardship Total Total
gifts ministry partnership fund 2022-23 2021-22
£ £ £ £ £ £
Brought forward at 1 April 2022 - 2,692 261 13,833 16,786 18,279
Donations and legacies 14,844 - 1,541 - 16,385 18,392
Activities for generating funds 757 - - - 757 -
Investment income - 57 - - 57 1
Expenditure on raising funds (691) - - - (691) (258)
Expenditure on charitable (9,910) - (1,796) (3,800) (15,506) (19,628)
activities
Transfers to other funds (5,000) - - - (5,000) -
——— ——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Carried forward at 31 March
2023		 - 2,749 6 10,033 12,788 16,786
——— ——— ——— ——— ——— ———

Treasurer’s statement

I have prepared the financial statements on pages 6 to 15 for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Stephen David Wood, FCA

8 May 2023

16

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Independent examiner’s report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Wilmslow United Reformed Church Charity (“the Church”) for the year ended 31 March 2023 which are set out on pages 6 to 15.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Church, 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 Church’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying my examination I have followed all 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 giving 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 this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed:

Date: 17th December 2023

Teresa Fennell, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

It Doesn’t Have to Cost the Earth Ltd 47 St Dunstans Close Worcester, WR5 2AJ

17