2022-12-31-accounts

Birtley Community Church Financial Statements For the period ended 31 December 2022

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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Contents

Item	Page No.
Legal and Administrative Information	3
Trustees’ Annual Report	4 - 9
Independent Examiner’s Report	10
Statement of Financial Activities	11
Balance Sheet	12
Signature on behalf of Trustees	12
Notes to the Accounts	13 - 14

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 (Administrator) 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 Blaydon-on-Tyne Branch (Branch changed September 2022) 3 Wesley Court Blaydon-on-Tyne NE21 5BY

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 2022

Objects:

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

1. 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

2. 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 timeto-time think fit

3. 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 2022 has been the year in which the church fully reopened and returned to normal activities as the year progressed. The year began with a month of zoom meetings while the trustees considered the potential impact of the Omicron variant of Covid, but following this all activities in church returned to normal. The year marked considerable growth in many areas of church life and ministry with Sunday attendance approximately doubling and large numbers of children from the local community attending Royal Rangers and Messy Church activities. In summary, the Trustees believe that the Charity is continuing to thrive and to fulfil its objectives.

Leadership and Oversight

The leadership of Birtley Community Church is unchanged in 2022.

The trustees (alphabetic order) are: Patrick Briddon (Chairman), Joe Clifford (Treasurer), Phil Phillimore (Secretary) and Rachel Snaith (Administrator).

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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The elders responsible for spiritual leadership remain Patrick Briddon and Phil Phillimore. John and Meme Cama have been invited to participate in leadership meetings.

We continue to receive support and oversight from Taking Ground, formerly a regional sphere of Salt and Light, but now an independent network of churches.

Church Worship and Teaching

As described above, our Sunday meetings returned to a much more normal format this year. It has been particularly encouraging that our attendance has actually grown compared to our position prior to Covid, with Sunday attendance typically 50-60 throughout most of the year. Initially, meetings were somewhat shorter with reduced contact between members, but as all government guidelines were gradually relaxed and the congregation gained in confidence, we returned to a more normal service length and format. There was a great excitement at seeing so many new people meeting with us and the opportunity to worship without restrictions was a huge release for the majority of the church.

Bible teaching and its application has continued through Sunday ministry, but also in mid-week housegroups, and I will return to these later.

A church weekend away was held at Minsteracres,13-15 May 2022. That was the first church retreat since 2019. It was attended by 47 people (34 adults, 13 children), again a significant increase on 2019 when 26 people attended (2 children). Ray and Sylvia Mills ministered to us and this was a positive spiritual experience in which members grew in faith but it was also a good time for the church to spend together, given the large percentage of newer church members. This involved a significant investment of nearly £3000 by the church, but this was believed to beneficial in terms of achieving our objects.

It is part of the church’s ethos that we encourage members to grow in gifting and confidence. In 2022, this has been reflected in us expanding our worship team to include a further nine people It was particularly encouraging that when Phil and Linda tested positive with covid the night before our retreat started, the team were well able to support worship throughout the weekend. We also have a rota of people sharing and leading communion each week as a stewarding team, and more than half the church members are serving in some capacity. It is particularly pleasing that the newer members who joined during lockdown are now serving and leading alongside others.

Four Ladies Breakfasts have been held on Saturday mornings. These are open to ladies from the church plus friends, family and others from the local community. They have been well attended, by up to 70 ladies. In addition to this, we have started a biweekly meeting for ladies, initially

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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starting with church members. This is to give a further opportunity for support and fellowship, especially important given the make-up of the church.

We have had some very busy meetings, for example at Christmas when parents of children involved in community groups such as Rangers or Messy Church attended, doubling our numbers. The Trustees consider that in these ways, we have continued to make progress with the first object of our Trust.

Pastoral Care and Housegroups

Clearly pastoral care has been especially important as we readjusted following the covid hiatus:

• Particular attention was given to people who may have been particularly vulnerable or badly affected by the lockdown.

• Home visits by leaders have also taken place where this was needed.

We run three housegroups led by the Briddons, the Camas and the Phillimores. These are provided so that members have the opportunity to share and pray with each other as well as study the Bible. Approximately 30 adults are involved with these, mainly from our church.

Church Ministries: Youth and Community

Royal Rangers (https://www.royalrangers.co.uk/) ran throughout the year, this time led by Patrick and Denise with a team of helpers from the church. The numbers of children at these gradually built up to about 30 by the start of the summer. We ran a summer camp that ran over 3 days and 45 children registered for this, including 28 from our regular group. It went very well indeed, with lots of very positive feedback from both children and from parents.

We were more cautious in restarting our Messy Church ministry

(https://www.messychurch.org.uk/), with this being an indoors event with provision and sharing of food being a very significant part of it. This ran successfully throughout most of the year, led by Pauline and Nicola. We look forward to this continuing to build in strength in 2023.

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.

Birtley Churches Together

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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Birtley Community Church remains part of Birtley Churches together, and we will look forward to meeting more with our local churches in 2023.

Church Staff

Our church administrator, Rachel Snaith, is now in her fourth year with the church, working 10 hours per week. The main projects she has worked on during 2022 are:

• Conducting Human Resources activities relating to the employment of staff, including policy development and implementation.

• Running the church payroll.

• Maintaining Church rotas.

• Updating, maintaining and implementing our Safeguarding policy and procedures. This included undertaking training, developing of policies and guidelines for engagement of children and vulnerable adults using social media or on-line platforms and updating policies and procedures in view of state of external advice.

• Producing a volunteer policy that we are now implementing for all new volunteers with the church.

• Completing a round of DBS checks.

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

In September, we recruited two volunteers from Germany. They are here as part of a programme run by Arbeitsgemeinschaft Pfingstlich-Charismatischer Missionen (APCM). This involved getting our Church registered with the German Government as a hosting organisation and getting us registered with the UK Government as an organisation trusted to sponsor and to host volunteers. The scheme runs for a maximum 12 months, and our two volunteers will be with us until July 2023. They are mainly supporting children’s work in the church (Rangers, Messy Church, Sunday School) but are also contributing in further ways to our work and ministry.

Estates

The main investment into our estate concerned the refurbishment of the manse prior to our volunteers arriving. This included recarpeting and decoration as well as the conversion of a second room into a bedroom. In addition we have invested into our central heating system and the projection system in the church, upgrading from a projector to a large TV screen. This has proved to be more reliable and produces a far better quality image.

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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Gifts

Birtley Community Church has continued to support a number of external organisations. Notable gifts include:

• a monthly gift to support our regional sphere of Salt and Light (total £845)

• support for churches and humanitarian work in the Ukraine (£1,007)

The total of all gifts was £4,049 that is 12.6% of the donation income during 2022

Financial Review:

The income from Sunday morning offerings and standing orders was £32,081 compared to £20,187 in 2021. This is an increase in giving of £11,894. Overall income amounted to £44,441 compared to £29,462 in 2021. Gift aid provision, based on donations in 2022, was £3,042, whereas in 2021 it was £2,242. Income from Royal Rangers amounted to £3,253.

The overall expenditure in 2022 was £41,329 compared to £31,227 in 2021. This is an increase of £10,102 as a result of additional expenditure on furniture and fittings, church retreat and the Royal Rangers young people’s work.

An offering for humanitarian relief for the people affected by the conflict in Ukraine was taken, which raised £1,993.00 to which the church added an additional £1,007 as a gift. This was forwarded through Tees Valley Community Church who were co-ordinating North East Churches’ contribution.

Salaries and expenses amounted to £6,101 in 2022 compared to £12,347 in 2021.

The loan, which was authorised in 2019, has continued to be repaid.

The Church’s finances were in surplus of £3,112 in 2022 compared to a loss of £1,815 in 2021.

The total of our bank balances in deposit and current accounts was £284,922 at the end of December 2022.

The value of our land and buildings was continued to be estimated at £230,000 as at the end of December 2022,

The Trustees consider the financial position of the charity to be stable.

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

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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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.

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 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 Date

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 2021 set out on pages 11-15.

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 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

Date……………………………………………………………………………

Signed.......................................................................................................

acie association of charity independent examiners

Kate Tully is a Fellow Member of the Association of Charity Independent Examiners and a Fellow Member of the Association of Accounting Technicians

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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Statement of Financial Activities Birtley Community Church for the period ended 31 December 2022

Note Income and Endowments from: Donations and Legacies Charitable Activities Other Trading Activities Investments Other Total Incoming Resources Expenditure on: Raising Funds Charitable Activities Other Total Net income/(expenditure) Transfers between funds Net movement in funds Total Funds brought forward Total funds carried forward	Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds £ £	Total Funds 2022 £	Total Funds 2021 £
	35,165 6,844 1,993 139 300	35,165 8,837 0 139 300	22,471 6,110 0 27 854
	42,448 1,993	44,441	**29,462 **
	0 39,336 1,993	0 41,329 0	0 31,277 0
	39,336 1,993	41,329	31,277
	3,112 0	3,112	(1,815)
	3,112 0	3,112	(1,815)
	515,448	515,448	517,263
	518,560 0	518,560	515,448

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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Balance Sheet

Birtley Community Church as at 31 December 2022

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 2021 £ 230,000
	230,000	230,000
	746 3,042 284,922	886 2,242 282,470
	288,710	285,598
	518,710	515,598
	150 0 0	150 0 0
	518,560	515,448
	0 518,560	0 515,448
	518,560	515,448

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

Print Name Prof. P R Briddon

Signature

Print Name

Signature

Date of Approval

Charity Registration Number 1133513

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the period 1 January to 31 December 2022

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.

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Expenditure and Liabilities

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

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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