## **Olton Baptist Church** **Trustees Report and Accounts 31 March 2023** **Charity number 1130659** ## **INDEX** ||page| |---|---| |Section A Reference and Administration details|
3| |Section B Trustees Report
|4| |Section E Financial Review Independent Examiner’s Report|6| |Section G Declaration of Trustees|8| |Declaration of Independent Examiner’s|9| |Statement of Financial Activities|10| |Balance Sheet
|11| |Note to Accounts
|12| Page **2** of **16** ## **Section A Reference and administration details** ## **Charity Name: Olton Baptist Church** ## **Charity Number: 1130659** ## **Registered Address:** The Branch, 85 Warwick Road, Olton, Solihull, West Midlands B92 7HP ## **Principal Place of Worship:** Langley School, Kineton Green Road, Olton, Solihull, West Midlands B92 7ER ## **Trustees:** ## **Name** ## **Term of Office** Ogemdi Ndudi Ekwegh 09/09/2023 – current Martin John McClelland – Church Secretary 29/01/2023 – current Jim Hopton– Chair of trustees & Treasurer 18/06/2019 – current Paul Cheesman (re-elected 2018) 05/06/2013 – current Katharine Nancy Johnston 13/07/2012 – current Jonathan Fortnam 18/06/2019 – current Rebecca Diane Ford 17/10/2020 – current ## **Property Trustees:** The Heart of England Baptist Association BMS International Mission Centre Selly Oak Birmingham B29 6QX ## **Bankers:** HSBC Bank Plc 34 Poplar Road Solihull West Midlands B91 3AF Page **3** of **16** ## **Section B Structure, governance and management** Olton Baptist Church (‘OBC' or the 'Church') is governed and guided by the Trustees, which consists of a Minister, the Vision and Leadership Team (‘VLT’) the Secretary and the Treasurer. The VLT would be led by a Minister (OBC is currently in pastoral vacancy) and consists of up to 6 Members in addition to any Ministerial staff. The Trustees each have delegated responsibility for overseeing particular areas of OBC life, in which they are ably supported by other members of the Church. OBC still continues to employ a part-time Children’s Ministry Co-ordinator (18 hours). Children’s ministry constitutes a major part of our church make-up. In addition, we employ a part-time (12 hours) Church Administrator, the role of which facilitates and guides the back-office function of the Church. During the reported period, one member of the Trustees was also a part-time (20 hours) paid community worker for the Church. The Trustees are elected by a vote by the members of OBC. The Trustees meet at least 4 times each year, and the VLT meet up to approximately 20 times per year. Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the Constitution, where they are encouraged to have been publicly baptised on the profession of faith in Jesus Christ or following other modes of baptism to renew their public profession of faith in Jesus Christ. The Church meets in a Members’ Meeting approximately 5 times per year and holds a pivotal role in shaping and agreeing the direction of the Church, as outlined in the Constitution. Relevant matters may be submitted to the Church Meeting by the Trustees for guidance or may be raised by Members in Church Meetings for further consideration by the Trustees. Though the Constitution permits decisions to be made at Church Meetings by appropriate majorities, the Church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible. The Trustees maintain a strong suite of policies which are aimed at safeguarding all those with whom OBC has contact as well as our obligations, legal and otherwise, as an Employer and as a Charity. ## **Section C Objectives and Activities** ## **Charitable Objective** OBC is a charity by virtue of its Approved Governing Document (Constitution) which states that the principal purpose of the Charity 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._ ’ OBC owns and occupies premises in Olton, the title documents of which are held on trust by the Heart of England Baptist Association (HEBA). This is entirely compatible with OBC’s objectives. ## **Objectives and Activities** OBC’s vision remains sharply focussed on engaging in the communities of which it is a part to share the love of Jesus `Christ and encourage individuals and communities to trust Him as Lord. To that end, when meeting together as the Church we are a ‘base camp’ in which the activities that promote fellowship, pastoral care, learning and worship provide an environment from which members are equipped to ‘explore’ the advancement of Christian faith wherever they Page **4** of **16** may find themselves in daily life. In all of the Church’s activities, we aim to show the love of Jesus Christ in both word and deed. Our Sunday service remains pivotal to the base camp model and takes place on 10.30am usually at Langley Secondary School on a Sunday. During this service, there is a full programme of children’s activities that are for all children from toddlers to secondary school age. OBC also runs a series of small groups which enable regular attendees of the Church to meet and pray together, share fellowship, grow in faith, and disciple each other pastorally for the ‘explorer life’ and pray together regarding all issues affecting us individually and those affecting the wider world. There are two additional groups for teenagers, one that runs weekly and one fortnightly in school term-times. The Church also runs a toddler’s group which meets at St Margaret’s Church on Kineton Green Road, every Monday morning during school term-times. This popular ‘explorer’ group offers an important community service and visibly demonstrates the love of Jesus Christ. From time to time, as required, the Church also runs Membership and Baptismal courses for those interested in developing their faith and/or becoming more formally committed to OBC. OBC operates systems to ensure that all people working with children are appropriately vetted with regard to the Disclosure and Barring Service and in accordance with our safeguarding policy. The Trustees have read the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and are satisfied that the activities outlined above demonstrate that OBC is involved in charitable and public benefit activities. ## **Section D Achievements and Performance** ## **Advancement** OBC does not measure the success of its programmes only in numbers, that is membership and finance, but also in less tangible areas like acts of fellowship and encouragement. This reporting period has been an exciting time for the church where our search for a new Minister through the Settlement process and the help of HEBA met with success. A candidate to be appointed as the new Minister was identified and voted in by the church. The new Minister ND has subsequently started – to be included in next year’s report. In the meantime, for the reported period we advanced our Objects by: - our continued employment of a part time Children’s Ministry Co-ordinator to lead the engagement our community of young people in the Church. - Our continued Employment of a part time Church Administrator - Our connections in the community have meant that we were again able to put on an outdoor Carol Service called “Carols by Headlight” to enable us to build community in Olton and our surrounding area. - Maintaining the toddler group which the church membership continues to support well. - Continuing contact with other charities, including the support of asylum seekers and refugees with befriending, practical assistance and accompaniment through their legal process. - Running a T4U (Tea for You) group, which support our older members, continued to engage together with care packages taken door to door and meeting online or outdoors where appropriate. Page **5** of **16** ## **Plans for the Future** Having confirmed the candidate for the Ministerial Vacancy, and the candidate accepting the offer, the plan for the next year will be to appoint the Minister through a commissioning service (September 2023) and establish the new minister along with his family in a Manse. Meanwhile, we will continue to support the part time church community worker in through Cardiff Bible College. She has now moved to another Church in the area to further develop. This coming year we may start considering the options for improving the facilities at our Church office building so that better use could be made with the space that we have and also updating our IT and PA equipment. Other plans for the future will be led and directed by our new Minister, as we receive him into Membership. ## **Section E Financial review** OBC continues to raise the funds it requires to continue its activities from within its own membership and congregation. No wider public appeal was made, or required, for funds during the year. Our membership has dropped since COVID-19, as we have seen across many churches, and this has led to a drop in our regular income of around 20%. As we are currently in a pastoral vacancy this has enabled OBC to continue to function at a normal level. The most significant expenses relate to staff costs, hire of rooms and giving to charities closely associated with OBC (this is outlined in the Financial Activities and Notes to Accounts report, on pages 12-16). The Church actively responded to its principal purpose (as outlined earlier in the ‘Charitable Object’ section of this report) and its moral duty as a Church to tithe a minimum of 10% of its income by making gifts to organisations and missionaries with Christian aims and objectives compatible with the church’s own charitable purpose. OBC is heavily dependent on its membership working as volunteers in all aspects of the Church’s activities, many of which run with little or no impact on the Church’s expenditure, but nevertheless contribute substantially to the Church’s objectives and achievements as outlined earlier in this report. The financial results for the year are set out on pages 12 to 17. Our finances have remained balanced through the year; and as indicated last year this now gives us the confidence to seek further ways of reinforcing our community approach to church life. The Trustees have made an assessment of the major risks facing the Church and are satisfied that there are policies in place to minimise these risks. ## **Reserves** The Trustees still adopt the policy of maintaining a balance in its General Funds to approximately six months’ unrestricted fund expenditure at all times. Whilst this is a variable figure it is currently Page **6** of **16** equivalent to circa £60,000 and is in place to ensure that OBC can continue to function effectively in the coming financial year. For 2022/23, the Church has been able to match this target. ## **Statement of Trustees Responsibilities** The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to: - Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Page **7** of **16** ## **Section F Other optional information** ## **Section G Declaration** **Approved by the board of Trustees on** **and signed on their behalf by:** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Signature(s)
Full name(s) Jim Hopton Martin McClelland
Position (eg Secretary, Chair of Trustees Church Secretary
Chair, etc)
Date
**----- End of picture text -----**
Page **8** of **16** ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is our 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 Page **9** of **16** 81*ls of o￿le￿￿nt •x•Thln•Vs sl•t•m•nt r examin8tsr￿ w88 ¢8rried (xrt m a¢￿(￿d￿ *ith general Directions gI￿n by the Charity Commi88bon An èxaminatttift Incl￿ a revwi ol the accounlry recordg kept by ihe chanty and a crfnpansw ofthe accounts wesenled with those record5 It 0150 indudes wnsideration of any unusual item$ or disdosures in Itr￿ accwrt6. and 68ek*YJ explanati¢M fr(ffi Iho trustees conceming any such matters. The w0¢edu￿3 urthrtaken do not provvje all the evidence that would be required in an audrt. and consequently oplnion Q given as lo whether the accounts a Iluè and f*'r' vthw *M1 IM f•POrt is limrted to th09e matteryJ get in the 8t8lemenl below. Ind•p•nd•nt ouminof• ststom•nl In ccw*ctit)n *ilh our examination, no rnatter has come to our attention which gi￿9 reasonable Cause 10 télbe¥e Ihal In. any matenal respect. the requirements". . lo k￿p account1r￿ r•￿rdS m aC0)fdan￿ wrth secbon 130 of the Chartr$ Art. and . to prepare accounts vknich actord wth accounbng records and compiy wrth the a¢¢ountsng requirements of the Charrt￿5 Ac* ha¥e not met. Mrs H Arthur Dated: 07. 1 i 2J Page 10 of 16 OLTON BAPTIST CHURCH STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTMTIES ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDEO 31 MARCH 2023 Y•af to 31 Il•rch 2023 Y￿r to General . Unrnatrlct•d Funds Unr•*rlct•d R•strkt•d Totsl Fun Fun(ls Fund• INCOIIE RESOURCE8 OkntyJ¥ and gffls Irw7)e ￿nd Bank Int•e51 1&4 70.340 17.215 222 70.340 17.21S 222 81,644 20,711 Tot41 07.778 87.778 101364 EXPENSES. c￿lIt￿ble actfr Administration Bu1￿1r￿j￿ F81kTh￿lP GNlry. Gr¥ts L•*J8rship S¢aff Costs Mi%6iC Supp¢rt 7.009 16.418 419 20,215 5.924 39.774 779 6,329 11,311 419 20.215 S.924 39.774 n9 328 3.128 3.938 S,815 53,610 6,Z22 10 11 12 13 3.128 1,016 Youth 97,933 107,421 to 31 March 2023 Ywr tg JI Mlrth 2022 Genernl- G￿rnI. UnioStrkt8d Funds Rqslrlctgd Fund• Funds Fund5 GENERAL FUND: Inefutl ltr thè >*aF 0 110.1881 131.903 131.903 1J6,962 121.747 121.747 131,903 DESIGNATED FUNDS R•lug•• Support Fund 14 704. eulbdlng Fund . Brwllht FO￿¥d Trrtal Funds 186,3￿) 18S3ty) 307.408 18fj.30Q 318,070 Th• nots• on pag* 13to 11 fonn pqrt of Ihww I￿￿11p Page 11 of 16 OLTON BAPTIST CHURCH ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENOED 31 MARCH 21 BALANCE SHEET 2023 2022 ASSET8 Tangll)1o Flx•d Axs•ts Frothold Prowrty Flxlures & Filting9 Total Flxed Assets 186,300 186.3(Kl 186,300 185,300 Curr•nt A819ts Bank Accounts Ca8h Floal Total Current Assets 122,615 135.271 122,616 135.271 U•bllltlo8 . amounts du• In y￿1 Church holklay payments 2,501 NET CURRENT ASSETS NET ASSETS 122,615 307,915 132.770 318.070 FLINDS G¥n¢rnl Fund 121,747 Deslgnated Fund• Building Fund TOTAL FUNDS 864 185,300 327.557 185.300 307,916 Approved ty the board of trust¢¢s on 13 Nov 2023 IMI signod on Its behaff by: JIM Hopton Ch•lr of Tfu•teul Th• n(ts• on pago8 13 to 16 fvnn pArt of th•1• accounts Page 12 of 16 OLTON BAPTIST CHURCH NOTES TO ACCOUNTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 1 Accountlng poll¢l The 8co)unt8 h•¥e been twied ￿ 8 c*h b•*. Lhv holtyic•l o)¥1 ttrnrthon. In 9wrds Iokn lh• Staitynort ol R￿orr￿ded Pfxtse Accounty by ChwthD8 2015 FRSSE The follthw¥ l IB 1ccourt￿ fov grnu. betrfe thjuthg ts8&Or￿th. ch￿th. •￿udIng £0sL¥ ol mll1ntqnll￿e rnpoir Supwt Gl¥kw kn rAkn4Yg•*thÈ gMm•tx• costs 8rn dwn8d to d￿(*￿ 10 oflhe Churth wnount ofll* TBqulred Io gethe the obllgakn are 9Ne roe lo a prtyrt*ion •(%ounts. ' et fv 8(thunwd TThe PTO¥*K)n Is IncfeaW lo rtf¢£l •ny b￿bl￿bE$. •nd K* d*¢1••￿ tylhtr oIArry the perté. and ie¥ersed pr¢ytyion is ￿ bnoor Th￿6 are