Charity registration number: 1204759
Grace Baptist Church, Southport
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND TRUSTEES REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
http://gracebaptist.org.uk/
## GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT
## INDEX TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
||Page|
|---|---|
|Legal and administrative information|1|
|Trustees' report|2 - 5|
|Independent examiner's report|6|
|Statement of financial activities|7|
|Balance sheet|8|
|Notes to the financial statements|9 - 13|
## GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
|Trustees:|Zelda Bentham|
|---|---|
||Maciek Stolarski|
||David Sutton|
|Treasurer:|Bill Harrison|
|Charity number:|1204759|
|Charity Address:|40 Market Street|
||Southport|
||PR8 1HJ|
|Charity Website:|http://gracebaptist.org.uk/|
|Independent Examiners:|O J GrillsFCA|
||J A Fell & Co|
||40 Hoghton Street|
||Southport|
||PR9 0PQ|
|Bankers:|Lloyds Bank|
||23 London Street|
||Southport PR9|
||0UX|
||TRUSTEES'|
||REPORT|
The trustees submit their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in
Page 1 of 13
## GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT
## FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard Applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)', issued October 2019 in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.
## STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
## Governing document
The organisation was a Charitable Trust which was registered on 22 July 2009 with the Charity Commission (previously excepted registration). It was governed by its Constitution adopted on 10 June 2009 as amended 26 September 2009 and 24 March 2010. The charity incorporated into a
Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 18 September 2023 and transferred the assets from the old trust on 1 October 2024. It is now governed by its Foundation Constitution dated 18 September 2023.
## Recruitment and appointment of the trustees
The board seeks to achieve a balance of skills and experience amongst the trustees. In order to maintain this, the board reviews its skill and experience mix each year and seeks to recruit new trustees when necessary who are voted in by a majority vote of the church membership.
In appointing trustees due consideration is given to ensuring that the trustees have, between them, the skills and experience necessary to manage the charity effectively and in accordance with charity law.
Normally, the Elders and Deacons form the Charity Trustees. Since February 2022 the charity had no Elders and only one Deacon, until his resignation in September 2022. Temporary Trustees were appointed to serve until the constitutional provision of Elders and Deacons are satisfactorily established to meet the requirements of the Charities Commission.
## Trustee induction and training
The current board of trustees will provide any new trustee with an overview of the timetable of board meetings, copies of the recent minutes of meetings, the recent reports and accounts and explains their general and specific responsibilities.
Ongoing training is provided by the board of trustees as and when the need arises.
## Risk management
The trustees are aware of the major risks to which the charity is exposed to and have plans in place to mitigate these as far as possible. These issues included financial controls, health and safety and safeguarding.
## OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
## Objects of the charity
The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
Page 2 of 13
## GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT
## TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)
## FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The principal object of the charity is the advancement of the Christian faith according to Baptist principles and in accordance with the Basis of Faith. The charity may also carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world but in practice operates almost entirely in the local community.
## ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
When planning our activities for the year, we consider the public benefit and, in particular, the advancement of true religion. We preach the truths of Scripture to challenge and help ordinary people to come to a personal knowledge of and trust in Jesus, and live out their faith through worship, prayer and learning about the Bible.
This is also supported through practical pastoral care and support for members and others in the local area, particularly those attending the regular services.
Grace Baptist Church is committed to encouraging as many people as possible to worship with us and to become part of our community of faith. We provide activities for all age groups, both on Sundays and on week days. These include Bible teaching as well as craft and other more energetic activities. Each week Southport Foodpantry (run in co-operation with Compassion Acts Ltd) uses our premises to supply food to those in longer term need of practical support.
Examples of our outreach activities are separate ladies and men's meeting, childrens / youth activities and toddler groups. We offer open invitations to events such as barbeques, coffee mornings, craft evenings and walks in the countryside.
The church runs and maintains its own minibus, which provides transport for the elderly and disabled to church meetings on a weekly basis and transporting the youth to activities and Christian summer camps. The minibus is equipped with a tail lift and has space for wheelchairs.
The church relies extensively on the generous support of volunteers who deliver a substantial part of the programme. This includes those who lead and support the various youth activities; transport the older church members; teach English; lead craft activities; provide food for the hungry; help older and sick friends; clean and maintain the buildings; and carry out administrative and financial work.
Page 3 of 13
## GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT
## TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
FINANCIAL REVIEW
## Principal funding sources
The major source of income for the charity has come from donations from the church congregation to whom the church are very grateful as it supports the charity in accomplishing its objectives more effectively.
## Reserves policy
The Charity’s policy on reserves is to generate and maintain a balance which is sufficient:
to preserve the financial viability of the Charity in the event that unforeseen and/or
- =
- unavoidable circumstance precipitate a short-term fall in its income; and to enable the Charity, in the interests of meeting its objectives, to undertake from time to time the setting up of new and innovative projects on a pilot basis to demonstrate the
- =
viability and potential benefits of such activities as a precursor to securing the external funding necessary to maintain such projects on an on-going basis.
For these purposes the Charity will endeavour to generate and maintain reserves which would equate to at least 3 months expenditure.
As at 31 December 2024, 3 months unrestricted costs was calculated to be about £42,500, whilst the amount held in unrestricted reserves was £63,197. The trustees appreciate that this level is slightly in excess of what is immediately needed but is deemed appropriate for the time being as the trustees consider how to best apply the funding to further achieve its charitable objectives and have planned spending for 2025 which will utilise some of the reserves.
## Remuneration of Trustees
All trustees act in a voluntary capacity and receive no remuneration or other material benefits from their services to the Charity.
Out-of-pocket expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by trustees in promoting the purposes of the Charity are reimbursed at cost.
## Financial review of the year
In the year to 31 December 2024 income of £164,470 was received (2023 - £127,808). Expenditure during the year totalled £206,962 (2023 - £121,074) which generated a deficit for the year of £42,492 (2023 - £6,734 surplus). Part of this deficit arose from committing funds to projects to maintain and improve buildings. This was taken from the Legacy Fund (see below).
For clarity, whilst the charity receives the benefit of being able to use the property from which it operates to fulfil its charitable objectives, the property asset is held in a separate trust which is why no amount is included in these accounts for this asset.
During the prior year the trustees agreed to review the designated funds and create a legacy fund and tithe fund to replace all other designated funds brought forward. An explanation of these can be found at note 9 to these accounts.
Page 4 of 13
## GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT
## TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS
## General plans
The charity will continue its operations throughout the year, with a view to further its objectives as much as practical.
## STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity's financial activities during the period and of its financial position at the end of the period. In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view, the trustees should follow best practice and:
- a. select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
- b. observe the methods and principals in the Charities SORP;
- c. make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- d. state whether applicable UK accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- e. prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. 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.
This report was approved by the board of trustees on 17 October 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
………………………………
## Zelda Bentham - trustee
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT
## FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 7 to 13.
## 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.
Page 5 of 13
## GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT
It is my responsibility to:
- (i) examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
- (ii) 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
- (iii) to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general directions given by the 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 statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- a) 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
- b) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
OJ Grills FCA (Independent examiner) for and on behalf of JA Fell and Company
Dated: ….........................
40 Hoghton Street, Southport, PR9 0PQ
Page 6 of 13
## GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
|||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||funds|funds|funds|funds|
|||2024|2024|2024|2023|
||Notes|£|£|£|£|
|INCOMING RESOURCES||||||
|Incoming resources from generated funds:||||||
|Voluntary income:||||||
|Donations and gifts|2
|113,530|29,486|143,016|106,657|
|Investment income|2
|14,000|4,335|18,335|19,270|
|Other income|2
|574|2,545|3,119|1,881|
Page 7 of 13
## GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT
|GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH,SOUTHPORT|SOUTHPORT|||
|---|---|---|---|
|TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Charitable activities
3 117,100
Governance
4 3,974
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED
NET INCOMING RESOURCES FOR
THE YEAR 6,734
Fund balances at 1 January 2024
Fund balances at 31 December 2024
128,104
36,366
167,872
36,645
2,445
-
170,317
36,645
(42,213)
(279)
288,316
61,976
246,103
61,697
|
128,104
36,366
|127,808
121,074
343,558
350,292
164,470
204,517
2,445
206,962
(42,492)
350,292
307,800|7,808|
|||||
||||1074|
||||,|
|||||
||||0,292|
|||||
||246,103
61,697
|||
The notes on pages 9 - 13 form part of these financial statements.
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
Notes
Page 8 of 13
## GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT
|CURRENT ASSETS|||funds|funds|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||2024|2023|
|Tax reclaim due|||£|£|
|Cash at bank and in hand|||||
|Prepayments|||||
|PAYE refund due|||||
||||6,954|6,425|
||||302,878|348,102|
|CURRENT LIABILITIES|||4,573|4,042|
||||-|-|
|Accruals|||||
|PAYE owed|||314,405|358,569|
|Other creditors|||||
|Pensions owed|||||
||||4,345|7,911|
||||1,949|366|
|NET CURRENT ASSETS|||298|-|
||||13|-|
|TOTAL NET ASSETS|||||
||||6,605|8,277|
||||307,800|350,292|
|FUNDS|||||
||||307,800|350,292|
|Restricted funds||10|||
|Designated funds
Unrestricted funds||9|||
|TOTAL FUNDS|||||
|Total
Approved and signed on behalf of the|Total
Approved and signed on behalf of the||61,697
221,240|61,976
256,143|
|board on 17 October 2025 by:|||24,863|32,173|
|2 O Benittem|||307,800|350,292|
|………………………………|||||
|Zelda Bentham - trustee|Zelda Bentham - trustee||||
The notes on pages 9 - 13 form part of these financial statements.
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
- a Basis of preparation
Page 9 of 13
## GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the FRSSE Statement of Recommended Practice (FRSSE SORP), "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" published in March 2015.
- b Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements where relevant.
## c Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the SOFA when the charity is legally entitled to the income and can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. For legacies, entitlement is the earlier of the charity being notified of an impending distribution or the legacy being received. No amounts are included in the financial statements for services donated by volunteers.
## d Resources expended
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.
Fund raising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities. Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity and include project management costs. Management and administration costs are those incurred in connection with the administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
## e Fixed assets and depreciation
Tangible fixed assets costing more than £500 are capitalised and included at cost including and incidental expenses of acquisition.
Page 10 of 13
## GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
|||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||funds|funds|funds|funds|
|||2024|2024|2024|2023|
|||£|£|£|£|
||Donations and gifts:|||||
||Donations received|87,453|29,486|116,939|84,970|
||Gift aid recoverable|18,499|-|18,499|18,687|
||Legacies received
|7,578 Investment|-|7,578|3,000|
||income:|||||
||Bank interest received|11,750|4,335|16,085|6,555|
||Church rental income|2,250|-|2,250|3,500|
||Manse rental income|Other income:|-|-|9,215|
||Other income|574|2,545|3,119|1,881|
|||128,104|36,366|164,470|127,808|
|3|COSTS OF CHARITABLE|ACTIVITIES|Restricted|Total funds|Total funds|
||||funds|2024|2023|
Page 11 of 13
## GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
|2
VOLUNTARY INCOME
Administration costs:
Wages and salaries
Pensions
Administration
Other costs Property
costs:
Repairs and maintenance
Utilities
Insurance Mission
costs:
Grants and donations
Other ministry activities
Visiting speakers
Youth work
Training
Support costs:
Bank charges
Accountancy and bookkeeping|Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
68,227
1,672
847
13,220
14,878
17,767
4,042
34,167
3,573
5,580
2,490
315
554
540
167,872
2024
£
-
-
-
211
8,666
-
-
27,723
45
-
-
-
-
-
36,645
£
68,227
1,672
847
13,431
23,544
17,767
4,042
61,890
3,618
5,580
2,490
315
554
540
204,517|
£
26,653
602
2,872
8,754
17,225
10,988
3,868
33,898
2,398
7,862
339
455
646
540
117,100|
|---|---|---|
||||
Page 12 of 13
## GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
## 4 GOVERNANCE COSTS
||Unrestricted|Restricted|Restricted|Total|Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||funds|funds||funds|funds|
||2024|2024||2024|2023|
||£|£||£|£|
|Independent examination|660|-|-|660|741|
|Legal fees|1,785|-|-|1,785|3,233|
||2,445|-|-|2,445|3,974|
## 5 TRUSTEES REMUNERATION
No trustee received any remuneration throughout the year.
## 6 EMPLOYEES
The average number of employees during the year were:
|||2024|2023|
|---|---|---|---|
|||Number|Number|
||Number (head count)|||
|7|EMPLOYMENT COSTS|||
|||2024|2023|
|||£|£|
||Wages and salaries|||
||Pension costs|68,227|68,227
26,653|
|||1,672|602|
|||69,899|27,255|
||No employee earned more than|~~a~~||
||£60,000 throughout the year (2023|||
||- none).|||
Page 13 of 13
## GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
## 8 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
|Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
funds
funds
funds
2024
2024
2024
£
£
£
Current assets
252,708
61,697
314,405
Current liabilities
(6,605)
-
(6,605)
246,103
61,697
307,800|Total
~~fd~~|
|---|---|
||~~uns~~|
||2023
£
358,569
(8,277)
350,292|
- 9 UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
|General funds:
Designated funds:
Tithe fund:
fund:
A (General fund deficit)
(Capital projects)
(Relief/urgencies)
D (Committed)|Balance at
1 Jan 24
£
32,173
25,614 Legacy
50,000B
105,629C
46,900
28,000
Incoming
Resources
£
120,346
180
7,578
-
-
Resources
Expended
£
(117,061)
(21,000)
(11,666)
(7,590)
(13,000)
-
Transfers
£
(10,595)
11,353
(758)
-
-
230,529
7,578
(32,256)
(758)
288,316
128,104
(170,317)
-|Balance at
1 Jan 24
£
32,173
25,614 Legacy
50,000B
105,629C
46,900
28,000
Incoming
Resources
£
120,346
180
7,578
-
-
Resources
Expended
£
(117,061)
(21,000)
(11,666)
(7,590)
(13,000)
-
Transfers
£
(10,595)
11,353
(758)
-
-
230,529
7,578
(32,256)
(758)
288,316
128,104
(170,317)
-|Balance at
31 Dec 24
£
24,863
16,147
38,334
104,859
33,900
28,000|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
||230,529|7,578
|205,093
246,103|
||288,316|128,104
||
During the prior year the trustees reviewed legacies that the church has received in the past and allocated those to a new designated legacy fund, which was subsequently split into 4 parts as described above. The purpose of these designated funds is to separate those generous gifts for special and specific projects rather than be swept up into the general day to day running of the church.
Additionally, a designated tithe fund was also created at the end of the prior year and 10% of the designated legacy fund was transferred into it as a starting balance for 2024. The designated tithe fund is setup as a
Page 14 of 13
## GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTHPORT
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
mechanism to set to one side 10% of all unrestricted income the church receives each year so that its regular giving can be better monitored and taken from that designated fund.
## 10 RESTRICTED FUNDS
||Balance at|Balance at|Incoming|Resources|Balance at|Balance at|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||1 Jan|24|Resources|Expended|31 Dec|24|
||£||£|£|£||
|Bryan Scholes pastor training|51,639||4,335|-|55,974||
|Electrical remedial work||-|2,500|(2,500)||-|
|Flowers rota||-|45|(45)||-|
|Manse repairs|9,215||-|(6,166)|3,049||
|Minibus||211|-|(211)||-|
|Polish literature translation||183|-|(183)||-|
|Mission: -|||||||
|Christmas card scheme||313|238|(313)||238|
|Myanmar member gifts||-|9,750|(7,750)|2,000||
|Pakistan member gifts||415|10|-||425|
|Peru member gifts||-|17,826|(17,815)||11|
|Zimbabwe member gifts||-|725|(725)||-|
|Sundry other member gifts||-|937|(937)||-|
||61,976||36,366|(36,645)|61,697||
Restricted funds represent donations and legacies from church members for specific missional giving as described above.
Page 15 of 13