# Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements 2024 Over 100 years of making Jesus Christ known, to the glory of God ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION** The trustees, who are the church officers named in 1.3 including the Pastors, have pleasure in presenting this report of the church for the year ended 31[st] December 2024. The information set out regarding the trust forms part of our report and the attached accounts are the accounts of the church which we have prepared and were adopted by church members at the AGM on 18[th] March 2025. ## **Name & Address:** Swindon Evangelical Church 17-19 Devizes Road, Swindon. SN1 4BH ## **Registration with the Charity Commission:** The church is registered directly with the Charity Commission, no. 1129912. ## **Trustees during the period:** Holding Trustees: 17-19 Devizes Road The Fellowship Property Trust Ltd 41 The Point, Rockingham Road, Market Harborough, LE16 7QU. 38-42 Newport Street (plus garden of 36 Newport Street) Richard Foster, Mark Trafford, Jonathan Redhead, Colin Bentley Managing Trustees: Brian Whittaker, Pastor Tom Brewer, Assistant Pastor Mark Trafford, Elder Richard Foster, Elder and Chair of Trustees Jonathan Redhead, Elder John Baker, Deacon Luke Moody, Deacon Colin Bentley, Deacon Michel Crabol, Deacon Barney Main, Deacon Paula James, Deacon Katie Gurr, Deacon (resigned 26[th] February 2025) Michael Jeffery, Deacon ## **Bankers:** CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, WEST MALLING ME19 4JQ Lloyds Bank plc, 5 High Street, SWINDON SN1 3EN ## **Independent Examiner:** Paxton Software Ltd, 61a High Street South, Rushden, Northants, NN10 0RA **----- Start of picture text -----**
March 1927.
[[th]] April 1955.
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Governing Documentation:** Swindon Evangelical Church Constitution, November 2008. A - Chapel, 17 & 18 Devizes Rd - Conveyance (and Declaration of Trust), 17[th] March 1927. B - Meeting Rooms, 19 Devizes Rd - Conveyance (and Declaration of Trust), 30[[th]] April 1955. A & B – Charity Commission Scheme (appointing FIEC Ltd as Trustee), 11[th] May 1993. Church Rules, June 2009. ## **Members and Employees** The church is an independent body made up of members who, on public profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and acknowledgment of His authority over their lives, voluntarily agree to adhere to the church Basis of Faith and Constitution. The membership on 31[st] December 2024 stood at 151 members, 16 of whom joined the church during 2023. During the year five members resigned (two transferred to another church) and two died. The Annual General Meeting was held on 26[th] March, with three other Members’ Meetings held on the 25[th] June, 24[th] September, and 26[th] November. The church employed a full-time Pastor, a full-time Assistant Pastor, a part-time Ladies’ Worker (resigned 31[st] July 2025), a part-time Women’s Ministry and Development Worker, a part-time Administrator, and a part-time Children’s and Youth Worker. ## **Volunteers** The church continues to benefit from committed people who are willing to give their time to help in the work of the church across the range of activities. ## **OBEJECTIVES AND ACTIVTIES FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT** ## **Aims and Objectives** The church exists for the: - worship of God through the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, praise and prayer; encouragement of spiritual growth in the lives of its members; promotion of fellowship between the members; - organisation of evangelistic efforts to tell other people the good news of the Gospel; support of missionary activities both at home and abroad; in accordance with the governing documentation. ## **Public Benefit** The trustees consider that they have complied with the duty in section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission as described in the section below. ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** ## **Church Activities** The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ was faithfully preached throughout the year by our Pastor, Assistant Pastor and members of the church, as well as a number of visiting preachers and speakers. Sunday services were held in the church building but also broadcast online for the benefit of a number of worshippers who would normally be unable to attend meetings due to age or infirmity. Other meetings held by the church during the year were: ## Weekly & Fortnightly - Sunday services of public worship, both morning and evening. - Adventurers and Explorers (Sunday School) and Ignite (for teenagers) each Sunday. Care Groups (house groups) for Bible Study, prayer & fellowship on alternate Tuesdays. Church Prayer Meeting on alternate Tuesdays. - Stepping Stones parent-toddler group on Wednesday mornings. - Women’s Fellowship meeting on Wednesday afternoons. - Rooted, the group for teenagers (age 14+) on Wednesdays. - Ladies’ Bible Study on Thursday mornings. - Men’s Bible Study on Thursday mornings. - One-Way Club and Pathfinders outreach clubs for children on Thursdays. Oasis outreach & lunch on alternate Fridays. ## Other regular meetings - Triple-C card making club held once per month. - 20+ group meet monthly for Bible Study, prayer & fellowship on Friday evenings Women’s Breakfast meeting roughly every 6 months on Saturdays. - Men’s Breakfast meeting roughly every 3 months on Saturdays. - Ladies Together fellowship for all women roughly every 3 months. Teen girls’ group meeting termly, began in October 2024 - EQUIP online topical Bible training, eight sessions throughout the year Monthly bring and share church lunch ## Other special meetings or events: - 101[st] Church Anniversary on 14[th] January - There were nine baptisms, three funerals, but no weddings or babies dedicated Trustee training, 17[th] January - New Members’ class, 25[th] February - Easter Cracked outreach to primary schools, four days in March Good Friday service, 29[th] March - Easter Day Service, 31[st] March - Holiday Bible Club, 9[th] to 13[th] April Chess Tournament, 20[th] April Quiz Night outreach, 24[th] May - Old Town Festival stall, 1[st] June Football Tournament outreach, 22[nd] June Hope Explored 3-week course in July - Church Weekend Away, 20[th] to 22[nd] September - Visiting speakers Tuangpi & Michaela Zam Suan, 29[th] September Harvest Thanksgiving, 6[th] October - Light Party for children, 31[st] October - Farewell Lunch for Mary Hodson, 10[th] November Ladies’ Wreath Making outreach, 29[th] November Christmas Unwrapped outreach to primary schools, 5 days in December Carol Singing outside local shop, 14[th] December - All age Christmas Service, 15[th] December - Christmas Lunch for older people, 20[th] December Carol Service, 22[nd] December Christmas Day Service, 25[th] December Other ministries include outreach using posted literature; visitation of the sick and elderly; and practical care including collections for Swindon Food Bank. ## **Missionary Support** The church supports missionary organisations both practically and financially. We support Sarah Deacon, a youth worker in Slovenia and member of the church, via ECM. Organisations regularly supported were 20Schemes in the UK; Cranford Baptist Church and Penhill Community Church in the UK; UFM in Asia; and Baptist Church in Myanmar. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Financial Review and Policies** God always provides for our needs when we seek to trust Him and follow in obedience to the way He leads. We have seen this again this year. Free unrestricted reserves at the end of last year were below the level that we would like. Members responded to the need and now reserves are back up to the agreed level for which we thank God. Income in the General Fund increased by over 16%, with a good proportion of that an increase in regular giving and, along with good control over expenditure, the free reserves position has improved. Total income is significantly down on last year, from £577k to £271K, because of the gifts last year to cover the purchase of the new sites but total reserves have increased to £2.3m. ## **Principal Funding Sources** The principal source of funding is from our members who generously give to support the work of the church in seeking to meet its charitable objectives. ## **Reserves policy** Our current reserves policy is to hold unrestricted reserves that are at least equal to three months operational expenditure. Some of our unrestricted reserves are designated to particular aspects of the church’s ministry, which means that the actual free reserves currently stand at £50,528 which is around the level we ideally require. ## **Investment Policy** Income is generally received to support the work of the church so any surplus income is held in relatively accessible current or short-term deposits accounts. ## **Going Concern** The trustees have reviewed the circumstances of the charity and believe that sufficient resources are available to fund the activities for the foreseeable future. Therefore, the trustees are of the view that the charity is a going concern. ## **Future Plans** The site at 38-42 Newport Street, Swindon (two office buildings and car park) is now in full use and the garden adjacent to both Newport Street and Devizes Road sites, 35-36 Newport Street, is being cleared. While getting these new acquisitions into regular use, we have started to investigate, with professional help, how they can be developed to meet the needs of the church going forward and hope to make progress during the coming year. At the members meeting in November, the church voted to make an application to the Charity Commission to convert the charitable trust into a charitable incorporated organisation. The application will be submitted in early 2025 and, if and when approved, the transfer of assets will begin. ## **Risk Management** The church has a risk management strategy involving an annual review and update by the trustees of identified operational, personnel, financial and reputational risks. The trustees are satisfied that appropriate systems and procedures are in place to monitor, manage and, where appropriate, mitigate these risks. Richard Foster Chair, on behalf of the Managing Trustees 18[th] March 2025 Swindon Evangelical Church Trustees’ Annual Report 2022 Independent examiner's report on the accounts |Section A
Indep|endent Examiner’s Report| |---|---| |**Report to the trustees/**
**members of**
**On accounts for the year**
**ended**
**Set out on pages**|Swindon Evangelical Church
31 December 2024
**Charity no**
**(if any)**
1129912
Accounts from pages 6 to 11| ||31 December 2024
**Charity no**
**(if any)**
1129912| ||Accounts from pages 6 to 11| ||The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s| |---|---| |**Respective responsibilities**|trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the| |**of trustees and examiner**|Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is| ||needed.| It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. - **Basis of independent** My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the **examiner’s statement** Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. - **Independent examiner's** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention **statement** 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or |**Signed:**
**Name:**
**Address:**|2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Date:**
18 March 2025|2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Date:**
18 March 2025|2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Date:**
18 March 2025| |---|---|---|---| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| Registered Charity No. 1129912 ## **Swindon Evangelical Church Report and Financial Statements - 31 December 2024** ## **Statement of Financial Activities** ## **for the year ended 31 December 2024** |**Notes**
**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
Interest
**Total**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
3
**Total**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
10
**Net movement in funds**
Total funds brought forward
10
**Total funds carried forward**
**10**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
242,806
1,972
244,778
220,942
220,942
23,836
(3,338)
**20,498**
414,278
**434,776**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
21,025
5,915
26,940
17,156
17,156
9,784
3,338
**13,122**
29,564
**42,686**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**£**
50
-
50
50
50
-
-
**-**
1,825,500
**1,825,500**|**Total funds**
**2024**
**£**
**263,881**
**7,887**
**271,768**
**238,148**
**238,148**
**33,620**
**-**
**33,620**
**2,269,342**
**2,302,962**|**2023**
**£**
564,548
12,737
577,285
276,194
276,194
301,091
-
**301,091**
1,968,251
**2,269,342**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| 6 ## **Swindon Evangelical Church Report and Financial Statements - 31 December 2024** ## **Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024** |**Notes**
**Fixed Assets**
Tangible assets
6
Investments
7
**Current assets**
Debtors
8
Cash at bank and in hand
**Current liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due
9
within one year
**Net current assets**
**Total net assets**
**Funds of the charity**
Endowment funds
10
Restricted income funds
10
Unrestricted funds
10
**Total funds**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
18,576
-
18,576
158,783
261,261
420,044
(3,844)
416,200
**434,776**
-
-
434,776
**434,776**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-
-
2,507
40,758
43,265
(579)
42,686
**42,686**
-
42,686
-
**42,686**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**£**
1,725,500
100,000
1,825,500
-
-
-
-
-
**1,825,500**
1,825,500
-
-
**1,825,500**|**Total funds**
**2024**
**£**
**1,744,076**
**100,000**
**1,844,076**
**161,290**
**302,019**
**463,309**
**(4,423)**
**458,886**
**2,302,962**
**1,825,500**
**42,686**
**434,776**
**2,302,962**|**Total funds**
**2023**
**£**
1,747,018
100,000| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||1,847,018| ||||||171,429
261,404| ||||||432,833| ||||||(10,509)| ||||||422,324| ||||||| ||||||2,269,342| ||||||1,825,500
29,564
414,278| ||||||2,269,342| Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by: **Richard Foster** Chairman 18th March 2025 7 **Swindon Evangelical Church Report and Financial Statements - 31 December 2024** ## **Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024** ## **1. Basis of preparation** ## **a) Basis of preparation** The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011. The trust constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. Swindon Evangelical Church meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. ## **b) Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis** The church has sufficient unrestricted reserves that trustees are happy the church prepares accounts on a going concern basis. ## **2. Accounting policies** ## **a) Fund accounting** Unrestricted funds are donations receivable without further specified purpose and are available as general funds. Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund. Details of the nature and purpose of each fund is set out in note 12. ## **b) Income** Voluntary income is received by way of donations and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. Gift Aid is recognised on the date of the donation and recovered on an annual basis. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included. ## **c) Expenditure** Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Support and governance costs are recognised in the costs of the charitable activities of the church. ## **d) Tangible fixed assets and depreciation** All assets costing (excluding land and buildings) more than £1,000 are capitalised and valued at historical cost. Depreciation is charged on the assets at the following rates: Fixtures, fittings and equipment 20% per annum on a straight line basis IT and digital equipment 33.33% per annum on a straight line basis Land and buildings are not depreciated as the trustees believe the property's market value is in excess of the carrying value. ## **e) Investments** Investments are a form of basic financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the balance sheet date. The same treatment is applied to unlisted investments unless fair value cannot be measured reliably, in which case it is measured at cost less impairment. 8 **Swindon Evangelical Church Report and Financial Statements - 31 December 2024** ## **Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024** |**3. Charitable expenditure (including support and governance costs)**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
Ministry
115,810
Outreach and mission
29,512
Premises
29,000
Admin
34,307
Other costs
1,407
Governance costs
10,906
220,942
**4. Governance costs**
Governance costs include:
Independent examiner's fees
**5. Staff costs and numbers**
Staff costs were as follows:
Salaries and wages
Employer's National Insurance contributions
Pension costs
The average number of employees during the year:
Charitable activities|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
14,815
2,204
187
17,206|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**115,810**
**44,327**
**31,204**
**34,307**
**1,594**
**10,906**
**238,148**
**2024**
**£**
**390**
**2024**
**£**
**112,415**
**4,023**
**8,990**
**125,428**
**2024**
**6**
**6**|Total
funds
2023
£
127,838
49,785
60,438
33,223
2,797
2,113| |---|---|---|---| ||||276,194
2023
£
390
2023
£
117,323
4,070
8,456| ||||129,849
2023
6| ||||6| No employee received total emoluments (excluding employer pension costs) above £60,000. 9 ## **Swindon Evangelical Church Report and Financial Statements - 31 December 2024** ## **Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024** |**6. Tangible Fixed Assets**
Used by the Charity
**Cost**
As at 1 January 2024
Additions
Disposals
As at 31 December 2024
**Depreciation**
As at 1 January 2024
Charge for year
Eliminated on disposal
As at 31 December 2024
**Net book value**
As at 31 December 2024
As at 31 December 2023
**7. Fixed Asset Investments**
Carrying value at 1 January 2024
Revaluations
Less: impairments
Carrying value at 31 December 2024
**8. Debtors**
Loan to trustee and staff
Income Tax recoverable for Gift Aid donations
Prepayments
Accrued income|Freehold
land &
buildings
£
1,725,500
-
-|Fixtures,
**Total**
fittings &
equipment
£
**£**
66,091
**1,791,591**
4,068
**4,068**
-
**-**
70,159
**1,795,659**
44,573
**44,573**
7,010
**7,010**
-
**-**
51,583
**51,583**
18,576
**1,744,076**
21,518
**1,747,018**
**Other investments**
**£**
**100,000**
**-**
**-**
**100,000**
**2024**
2023
**£**
£
**128,400**
128,500
**32,890**
36,442
**-**
-
**-**
6,487
**161,290**
171,429|**Total**
**£**
**1,791,591**
**4,068**
**-**| |---|---|---|---| ||1,725,500||**1,795,659**| ||-
-
-||**44,573**
**7,010**
**-**| ||-||**51,583**| ||1,725,500
1,725,500||| ||||**100,000**
2023
£
128,500
36,442
-
6,487| ||||171,429| Loan was made to Brian Whittaker, Associate Pastor in 2021 to enable his relocation to Swindon. This loan was for £105,000 at 0% interest with an equal interest in any property revaluation. An additional loan of £23,500 was made in 2023 to Brian & Becca Whittaker on the same basis as the original loan for the creation of a home office. Having become aware of the discrepancy between the loan agreement and the amount paid to the builders for the second loan, the Trustees have agreed that the stated amount of the loan in our accounts be restated to be brought into line with the agreed loan agreement figure of £128,400 and the £100 difference be written off in these accounts. 10 **Swindon Evangelical Church Report and Financial Statements - 31 December 2024** ## **Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024** ## **9. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year** |**2024**
**£**
Accruals
**4,423**
**4,423**
**10. Movements in funds**
**At 1**
**Income Expenditure**
**Transfers**
**Gains/**
**January**
**(losses)**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Endowment funds:**
Church Premises
1,725,500
-
-
-
-
Manse Trust Fund
100,000
50
50
-
-
-
**Total endowment funds**
1,825,500
50
(50)
-
-
**Restricted funds:**
Building fund
-
19,251
(2,391)
-
-
Other restricted funds
29,564
7,689
(14,765)
3,338
-
**Total restricted funds**
29,564
26,940
(17,156)
3,338
-
**Unrestricted funds:**
General funds
27,297
235,157
(182,411)
(28,235)
-
Building fund provision
136,791
-
-
-
-
Other unrestricted funds
250,190
9,621
(38,531)
24,897
-
**Total unrestricted funds**
414,278
244,778
(220,942)
(3,338)
-
**Total funds**
2,269,342
271,768
(238,148)
-
-
**11. Related party transactions**
The following trustees received remuneration:
Name
Salary
Pension
**Total**
£
£
**£**
Paul Williams
-
-
**-**
Ruth Williams
-
-
**-**
Brian Whittaker
42,745
3,420
**46,165**
Rebecca Whittaker
12,547
1,004
**13,551**
Deborah Baker
11,637
931
**12,568**
Thomas Brewer
29,225
2,338
**31,563**
Trustees were reimbursed for the following expenses in the year:
Travel expenses
**836**
Telecoms expenses
**484**
**1,320**
The related party transactions in the reporting period are:
Brian Whittaker
Trustee Board
Trustee of South West Gospel Partnership
1,000
Mark Trafford
Trustee Board
Family of Ben Trafford Plastering
551
Church constitution
Legal Authority
Church constitution
Church constitution
Church constitution
Church constitution
Church constitution|2023
£
10,509
10,509
**At 31**
**December**
**2024**
**£**
**1,725,500**
**100,000**
**1,825,500**
**16,860**
**25,826**
**42,686**
**51,808**
**136,791**
**246,177**
**434,776**
**2,302,962**
2023
£
24,275
3,009
43,968
13,551
12,568
10,080
1,947
926
2,873| |---|---| 11