**Olton Baptist Church Trustees Report and Accounts 31 March 2024** **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 **15** ## **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 05/06/2013 – current Katharine Nancy Johnston 13/07/2012 – current Joseph David Belcher 02/07/2024 – 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 **15** ## **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 is led by a Minister 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. 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 use ‘Come and See’ as our motif 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 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. Page **4** of **15** Our Sunday service remains pivotal to our ‘Come and See’ Message and takes place at 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, our new Minister: Ogemdi Ndudi Ekwegh ‘ND’ was appointed in a special commissioning service in September 2023. ND and his family Emma, Asher and Joshi have already been a real blessing and encouragement to our fellowship. The emphasis in this period has been to ensure that OBC is a ‘Safe Place’, physically, mentally and spiritually for those meeting with us. For the reported period we advanced our Objectives 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 - Introducing Buffet gatherings and Breakfast gatherings to build fellowship. - 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. - Crossroads Homeless Soup Run, as part of a wider project, OBC offers volunteers once a month to take sandwiches, soup, and other items to the homeless in Birmingham. - Several small groups such as a weekly craft group, Men’s social activities etc. Page **5** of **15** ## **Plans for the Future** Having appointed our new Minister ND at the commissioning service in September 2023, our plans will be for ND and family to be established and lead our activities. We plan to set up a multi-generational afternoon gathering ‘The Hub’ which will take place at Langley School and will involve a social space, a craft space and a sports space. This coming year we will continue improving the facilities at our Church office building including a room used for our Young People ‘YOBS Group’ so that better use could be made with the space. We will also continue to update our IT equipment. Other plans for the future will be led and directed by our new Minister, Ogemdi Ndudi Ekwegh ‘ND’. ## **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. 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 10-15). 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 equivalent to circa £60,000 and is in place to ensure that OBC can continue to function effectively in the coming financial year. For 2023/24, the Church has been able to match this target. Page **6** of **15** ## **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 **15** ## ~~een~~ **Section F Other optional information** ## **Section G Declaration** ~~ee~~ **----- Start of picture text -----**
Approved by the board of Trustees on
and signed on their behalf by:
Signature(s)
a
Full name(s) Jim Hopton Martin McClelland
a
Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) ee Chair of Trustees Church Secretary
Date
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Page **8** of **15** ## **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 **15** OLTON BAPTIST CHURCH STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTMTIES ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 IAARCH 2024 Ywr to 31 March 2024 Year to 31 March 2023 TeA•l Fund• Unrntrfclod Fund8 IPICOIAE RESOURCES Funds FunOB Off*irgs gffts Incomè tax rall￿1 (m gft ald Bank Intwost 113,S21 22,91Xl 767 73 11J,521 22,9Lb) 767 17,215 222 Totsl EXPE14SES . Ch•rltable xlmlleg Admirn$trabc B￿dIr￿JS Fdlowstsp Gi¥irwJ . Gr•ts ply* Le•J•rs￿l Staff Cc*ts 7.009 16.418 419 20,215 0,924 39.774 779 19,495 19.49S 49.371 49.371 10 11 12 13 Worshy y{￿th 3.128 T(Aal 120.5n 120.5n 97.933 Ymrto 31 2024 Ymr to 31 M•rch 2tr23 G•n•ral - UnrE9trict￿I Funds G•n•rnl. Funds Fun(ts Funds GENERAL FUND: Surplu81 Itknficrt) for thè yaw 1l689 11&831 16,689 11Q831 (10.156 128,987 133.520 133.5x1 116,831 DESIGNATED FUND8 R•fug•• Support Fund 14 Bulldlng Fund - Brow Fw••fd Total Fund* 185.X(I 319.118 319,118 301,395 Page 10 of 15 OLTON BAPTIST CHURCH ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 BALANCE SHEET 2024 2023 ASSErs Tanglble Flx•d AM•ts Froehold Property Fixtures & Fittings Totsl FIX￿ Assets 185,300 185.300 185,300 185,300 Bank Account8 Cash Float Total Current AM•ts 133,802 16 133,818 116,095 116,095 Llabilltios . amounts du• in on• ymr Church holiday payments NET CURREKf ASSETS NET ASSErs 133.818 319.118 116.095 301,095 FUNDS G•n•ral Fund 133.520 115,737 Deslgnated Funds Building Fund TOTAL FUNDS 358 185,300 301,095 185,300 319,118 Approv•d by th• l>oard of trust••8 on 4LIAJ od and slg . its b•half by: JIM Hopton (Chalr of Trustee8) Page 11 of 15 OLTON BAPTIST CHURCH NOTES TO ACCOUNTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 1 Acc¢)unting polici ChBr Page 12 of 15 OLTON BAPTIST CHURCH P40TES TO ACCOUNTS ACCOUNT8 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 2 Tanglble fixed au•t• Land and Pl•nt & din9• MKhirnry T(*1 At1W2023 AddIt￿n$ Al 31 Marrh 2024 185.xl 185.3(K) t)•pw•clati At 1 ￿nI 2023 At 31 March 2024 P4•¢ b¢*o* v•lu• At 31 ￿•￿h 2Q24 At 31 2V14 185)JO 185.300 185.300 185.300 41M62 34.234 &S41 39.774 Page 13 of 15 OLTON BAPTIST CHURCH NOTES TO ACCOUNTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Yw Ji 2 4 OFFERINGS 137311 5 ADMINISTRATION 131 3374 &333 742 6 BUILDINGS 16,411 7 FELLOWSHIP 140 8 GIVING - Grants Payab Hm . HE&4 11• 1>) 1•A16 9 LEADERSHIP Speakerfees Coled8t lees 712 $212 Page 14 of 15 OLTON BAPTIST CHURCH NOTES TO ACCOUNTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Y•ar *? Y•or to 31 I1*￿h 2024 31 IA•r¢h 2023 10 MISSION -140 28 137 761 11 SUPPORT 328 12 WORSHIP 1.149 195 1.081 1067 J.128 13 YOLrrH 1347 TramiTrJ 3.938 14 Deglgnatod Fund - R•fuy• Support Bal•nu al 1 W 2023 Tfants G•r*4 Funds •131 IA•rrh 2tr24 Page 15 of 15