2020-12-31-accounts

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Birtley Community Church Financial Statements For the period ended 31 December 2020

Item	Page No.
Legal and Administrative Information	3
Trustees’ Annual Report	4-10
Independent Examiner’s Report	11
Statement of Financial Activities	12
Balance Sheet	13
Notes to the Accounts	14-16

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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Legal and Administrative Information.

Name: Birtley Community Church

Charity No: 1133513

Address:

Edward Road Birtley Chester-le-Street Co Durham DH3 1HG

Trustees:

Prof Patrick Roy Briddon Bsc Phd (Chair) Mr Rowan Marsh Phillimore (Secretary) Mrs Joanna Rachel Snaith Mr Joseph James Clifford. (Treasurer)

Document Prepared by:

Mr Joseph James Clifford. (Treasurer)

Governing Document:

The Charity is operated under the rules of its constitution adopted 6 November 2009

Bankers:

Lloyds TSB Whickham Branch 44 Front Street Whickham Newcastle Upon Tyne NE16 4DS

Independent Examiner:

Kate Tully FMAAT FCIE AATQB 20 Ennerdale Crescent Winlaton Blaydon on Tyne NE21 6PS

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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Birtley Community Church Trustees’ Annual report 2020

Objects:

The objects of the Birtley Community Church Trust (referred to as “the Trust” below) are as follows:

To advance the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement in such ways and in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Church Council from time to time may think fit
To relieve sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health by the provision of funds, goods or services of any kind including through the provision of counselling and support in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Church Council from time-to-time think fit
To advance education in such ways and in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Church Council from time to time may think fit.

Summary

The year 2020 has been a year unlike any other in the experience of our Church. The arrival of the Covid pandemic in March 2020 meant that many of our activities had to be either cancelled or rearranged on-line. It also put to test a number of questions regarding the resilience of our Trust in the face of difficult circumstances. It has been pleasing that Birtley Community Church has been able to continue in its work, even when entirely deprived of access to physical infrastructure. In summary, the Trustees believe that the Charity is continuing to thrive and fulfil its objectives.

Leadership and Oversight

The leadership of Birtley Community Church is unchanged in 2020, with the Elders and Trustees remaining the same as in 2019. We have continued to receive support and oversight from Taking Ground, the regional sphere of Salt and Light.

Church Worship and Teaching

2020 began with approximately 30 people typically present at Sunday meetings. The situation changed rapidly with the arrival of the pandemic in March. The trustees decided that all face-to-face meetings be suspended immediately, a decision formalised by the announcement of the first lockdown a week later on March 23rd.

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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From April, Sunday Worship became a mixture of a zoom prayer and communion service, followed by us connecting with broadcasts from Tees Valley Community Church. The Trustees decided not to recommence face-to-face meetings later in the year, partly in view of the risk posed by Covid given the age profile of the congregation but also because the limitations that would be placed on face-to-face meetings. Our ethos is to promote spiritual growth in our members and to encourage all of us to share and participate in meetings and ministry, and this would not be possible in the front-led format prescribed by government guidance. Instead, we developed a zoom meeting that included worship, communion, sharing by our congregation and preaching/teaching. The ability and willingness of members to interact and share together has been a very positive development over the course of the year. Eventually, even Sunday School was able to restart, using a breakout group from the central Zoom meeting.

Bible teaching and its application has continued through Sunday ministry, but also in mid-week housegroups, and I will return to these later. A central church prayer meeting began once each week, attended by an average of approximately 15 people over the year. This focused mainly on outwards facing issues, prayer for the country, the NHS and the developing Covid crisis around the world.

Typically, Sunday zoom meetings have an attendance of 35-40 people, including 7 new attendees who joined us during the course of 2020. It is notable therefore that our average attendance has grown by about 25% compared to our pre-lockdown size, and more than this when we take into account our long-established members who don’t use zoom but who remain connected with us. The age profile of the church has also balanced slightly as a result of this growth.

The Ladies Breakfasts have also been able to restart with zoom and a Christmas special meeting was held in December, attended by about 30 ladies, these being a mixture of church members and visitors.

The Trustees consider that in this regard, we have continued to make progress with the first object of our Trust in these ways.

Pastoral Care and Housegroups

Clearly in view of the lockdown restrictions and the resulting physical separation between members, the provision of pastoral care has been especially important during 2020, and we therefore followed a number of strategies:

At the start of the pandemic, the members and attendees of church were assigned a principal contact among the housegroup leaders, who would ensure they were contacted regularly, and that they were safe and supported.

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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Special attention has been paid to the church members who were not able to use Zoom, as they were cut off from a lot of our on-going activities.
Particular attention was given to people who may be particularly vulnerable or badly affected by the lockdown.
A social group was run on zoom in addition to usual church activities. This was intended to add light-hearted fun to the program, and this proved popular with a group of members throughout the year.
During the summer, smaller groups of members were able to meet together following relaxation of Government guidelines.
All members were encouraged to stay in touch by phone or other means, and it was very clear that this had functioned well throughout the year.
Home visits by leaders have also taken place in situations where this was needed.

Housegroups also moved to on-line meeting with zoom, and it is notable that attendance at these had increased compared to pre-lockdown. In fact, about 25-30 of our members who use zoom attended housegroup regularly.

The Trustees consider that in this way, we have been able to continue to fulfil the second object of our Trust.

Church Ministries: Youth and Community

Our Messy Church ministry (https://www.messychurch.org.uk/) began strongly at the start of 2020, attended by 20+ children plus parents, largely non-church members from the surrounding community. Following encouraging events in January-March we finished with a large event combining both Messy Church and Ranger activities as part of the visit of an international ministry team. Following the lockdown, a Messy Church community has continued to connect via Facebook, and we retain telephone contact with some of the children and parents.

Royal Rangers (https://www.royalrangers.co.uk/) also began strongly with events in February and March in addition to our usual outpost meetings. From April onwards, Rangers has taken place by four Zoom meetings each week, led by Patrick and Denise from April to July and Karol from October. We regularly met with 20-30 children in these. Regular contact has thus been maintained throughout with our children and some of their parents in the community surrounding our church.

A number of church members a have participated in a “Hope Rocks” ministry(https://www.facebook.com/edithandrussell/), in which messages of hope are painted on stones and placed around the community. There has been good feedback from some people who have been encouraged when finding the stones.

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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These activities promote the first object of the Trust, with the Rangers ministry also contributing to education and growth in social and leadership skills of young children from our community.

Texan Ministry Team visit

In March, we hosted a ministry team of Texan students for a week. During their time here, they visited Barley Mow Primary School, conducting assemblies, physical education (line dancing) and delivering religious education in classrooms. After this, approximately 50 children plus parents attended a Messy Church/Rangers activity in our building on Saturday. The Texans also provided a community event, a line dancing event, attended by approximately 70 people, of whom roughly half were visitors from the community. This visit thus contributed to the first and third objects of our trust. A Texan team will return in March 2022, hopefully with a similar or extended itinerary.

Birtley Churches Together

Birtley Community Church remains part of Birtley Churches together, and we hosted a joint meeting in January and participated in their Open the Book ministry prior to the first lockdown. Occasional contact between the church leaders has continued throughout the lockdown process.

Church Staff

Our two youth leaders were given the choice of remaining in the UK during the lockdown, or of returning to Germany to spend this time with their families. They both chose to return to Germany. However, as time passed, it became clear that we would not be restarting activities during their existing contracts. Karol decided to return to work for us for a second year, and was furloughed under the Government scheme through the summer months. She returned in October 2020 and led a single outdoor outpost before the November lockdown and has continued to run four zoom sessions each week since then. In addition, she has led Sunday School and provided German lessons by zoom for the older children in Rangers. Joshua decided not to continue here, and is currently continuing with his studies in Germany.

Our church administrator, Rachel Snaith, is now in her second year with the church. The main projects she has worked on during 2020 are

Conducting Human Resources activities relating to the employment of three staff, including policy development and implementation, and administration of the furlough scheme.

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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Running the church payroll.
Updating our Safeguarding policy and procedures. This included undertaking training, conducting an urgent developing of policies and guidelines for engagement of children and vulnerable adults using social media or on-line platforms and updating policies and procedures we will follow when face-toface meetings recommence
Commencing a fresh round of DBS checks, and setting in place new policies needed to do this.

These activities are crucial to our efficient and legal operation as a trust.

Estates

No substantial projects of work have been conducted on the Church premises during 2020.

Gifts

Birtley Community Church has continued to support a number of external organisations. We give a monthly gift to support our regional sphere of Salt and Light (2% of our donation income) and, in addition to this, have given particular support in the effort to establish a new church in York (£2,500), and to develop youth leadership (Daniel Challenge, £500). We made a gift to support Kathleen Homes (£1,000). All of these gifts are clearly associated with promotion of the Christian faith and indeed all objects of our Trust are involved in these gifts, namely the promotion of the Christian faith, the alleviation of hardship and the promotion of education. The total of the gifts was £5,568, that is 19% of the donation income during 2020.

Financial Review:

The income from Sunday morning offerings and standing orders was £18,756 in 2020 compared to £26,008 in 2019. This is a reduction in giving of £7,252. Overall income amounted to £25,452 in 2020 compared to 36,682 (excluding the provision for a loan made in 2019, 39,653 in total) in 2019. Gift aid provision, based on donations in 2020, was £2,508, whereas in 2019 this was £2,939.

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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The overall expenditure in 2020 was £35,761 compared to £58,952 in 2019 (Less provision for loan), £62,017 in total. This is a reduction of £26,294, reflecting the lack of large estate projects or capital expenditure this year.

Salaries and expenses amounted to £15,075 in 2020 compared to £6,450 in 2019.

The result was a deficit of £10,309 in 2020 as opposed to a deficit of £22,364 in 2019.

The total of our bank balances in deposit and current accounts was £282,982 at the end of December 2020.

The value of our land and buildings was continued to be estimated at £230,000 as at the end of December 2020.

Risk Management:

The Trustees continue to monitor for major risks, which the charity faces in relation to external factors, governance and management, internal operations and business, giving consideration to the likelihood and the impact of risks, and review what systems should be in place to control and reduce those risks. The systems are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material loss or misstatement of loss.

Reserves Policy:

It is the policy of the charity to try to build up unrestricted funds, which are free reserves of the charity, to a level that equates to approximately 6 months unrestricted expenditure. This will provide sufficient funds to cover management and administration support costs and any emergencies that may arise from time to time.

expenditure. This will provide sufficient funds to cover management and administration support costs and any emergencies that may arise from time to time.

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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Trustees’ responsibilities:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ascertain the financial position of the company and which enable them to comply with applicable law. The Directors/Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees

Name Prof. P R Briddon Position: Chair Trustees Signature P R Briddon Date 28-04-2021

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/members of Birtley Community Church on Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2020 set out on pages 9-13.

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 s.144 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’), and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Examine the accounts under s.145 of the 2011 Act;
Follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145 (5)(b) of the 2011 Act;and
State whether particular matters have come to my attention

Basis of examiner’s statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with these 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:

(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 2011 Act ; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Kate Tully FMAAT FCIE AATQB

29th April 2021 Date…………………………………………………………………………………………… Signed............................................................................................................................ K A Tully

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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Statement of Financial Activities Birtley Community Church for the period ended 31 December 2020

Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds £ £	Total Funds 2020 £	Total Funds 2019 £
21,272 741 0 102 3,337	21,272 741 0 102 3,337	28,986 10,522 0 145 0
25,452 0	25,452	39,653
0 35,761	0 35,761 0	0 62,017 0
35,761 0	35,761	62,017
(10,309) 0	(10,309)	(22,364)

(10,309) 0	(10,309)	(22,364)
527,572	527,572	549,936
517,263 0	517,263	527,572

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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Balance Sheet Birtley Community Church as at 31 December 2020

Note Fixed Assets Land and Buildings Current Assets Debtors Hardship Loan HMRC Cash at Bank and In Hand Total Current Assets Total Assets Liabilities Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year Hardship Payment Creditors: Amounts falling due after one year Total Assets less Total Liabilities The Funds of the Charity: Restricted income funds Unrestricted income funds TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS	Total Funds £ 230,000	Total Funds 2019 £ 230,000
	230,000	230,000
	1,923 2,508 282,982	2,971 2,939 294,877
	287,413	300,787

	517,413	530,787
	150 0 0	150 3,065 0
	517,263	527,572

	0 517,263	0 527,572
	517,263	527,572

Signed by one or two of the Trustees on behalf of all the Trustees:

Print Name Prof. P R Briddon Signature P R Briddon

Print Name

Signature

Date of Approval 28-04-2021

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the period 1 January to 31 December 2020

1 Accounting Policies

Basis of Preparation

These accounts 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 accounts 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 with the Charities Act 2011

There has been no change to the accounting policies, valuation rules and methods of accounting since last year.

No changes have been made to accounts for previous years.

Incoming Resources

These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when:

the charity becomes entitled to the resources;
the trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and
the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability

Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.

Resources expended have been analysed using a natural classification. Investment Income is included in the accounts when receivable

The value of volunteer help is not included in the accounts but is described in the Trustees Annual Report.

Expenditure and Liabilities

Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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Governance costs include costs of Trustee meetings and relevant travel expenses.

Grants are recognised in the accounts as they are paid to the charity.

2 Funds

The Charity has one fund: An unrestricted general fund.

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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Contents

Legal and Administrative Information.

Charity No: 1133513

Address:

Trustees:

Document Prepared by:

Governing Document:

Bankers:

Independent Examiner:

Birtley Community Church Trustees’ Annual report 2020

Objects:

Summary

Leadership and Oversight

Church Worship and Teaching

Pastoral Care and Housegroups

Church Ministries: Youth and Community

Texan Ministry Team visit

Birtley Churches Together

Church Staff

Estates

Gifts

Financial Review:

Risk Management:

Reserves Policy:

Trustees’ responsibilities:

Signed on behalf of the Trustees

Independent Examiner’s Report

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

Basis of examiner’s statement

Independent examiner’s statement

Statement of Financial Activities Birtley Community Church for the period ended 31 December 2020

Balance Sheet Birtley Community Church as at 31 December 2020

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the period 1 January to 31 December 2020

1 Accounting Policies

Basis of Preparation

Incoming Resources

Expenditure and Liabilities

2 Funds