## **Wakefield Baptist Church** ## **Annual Report** ## **And** ## **Accounts** ## **for the period** ## **6th April 2020 to 5th April 2021** **Content Annual Report pg 2 – 4 Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts pg 5 Accounts pg 6 – 10** Page | 1 ## **Annual Report** ## **Section A – Reference and administration details** Charity name Wakefield Baptist Church Registered charity number 1134998 Principal office Belle Isle Christian Centre Belle Isle Avenue Wakefield WF1 5JY 01924 382966 Email: centremanager@gmail.com The following were Managing Trustees on 19th September 2021 being the date on which these Accounts were approved by the Community Council. Michael Norman Bradley Deacon Retired July 2020 Flora Catherine Davies Deacon Melanie Angela Neale Deacon Susan Jane Phillips Deacon David Andrew Taylor Deacon Andrew Willis Deacon Vivienne Rowden Deacon Elham Khassafi Deacon Appointed September 2020 The above named were the Managing Trustees during the actual financial year to which the Accounts relate. The custodian trustee of the charity is the Yorkshire Baptist Association (Charity No. 247173). 17 -19 York Place, Leeds, LS1 2EX Tel: 0113 2784954 Advisers: Bank: Independent Examiner: Triodos Bank Mr Nigel P L Wyatt B.Sc, FCA, Brunel House Wyatt & Co. 11 The Promenade Chartered Accountants, Clifton 125 Main Street, Bristol Garforth, BS8 3FA Leeds LS25 1AF Page | 2 ## **Section B – Structure, Governance and Management** Type of governing document: Trust Deed, Registered 14th July 1843. Approved Governing Document, registered 17th March 2010 Wakefield Baptist Church is a city-wide community of Christians of a broadly evangelical nature committed to ‘helping people follow Jesus’. Before God and one another, we have covenanted to help each other discern and do what God’s will is for Christians in Wakefield. All members are encouraged to play a full part in the life and witness of the Church by undertaking such spiritual and practical tasks as are required for the furtherance of our vision and objective. ## **Section C – Objectives and Activities** Our principal objective is the advancement of the Christian Faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination to include education, community service and such other general charitable purposes in such parts of the UK and the World as the Church shall determine. The Trustees have given due consideration to the Charity Commission’s guidance on Public Benefit. The church building is held by the Custodian Trustees for the use of the church. See note 14 in the accounts. ## **Summary of main activities:** We encourage each other to live balanced and healthy Christian lives and to adopt a practice of whole life discipleship. This means we take seriously each person’s call under God and as a body of people support one another in how we work that out in the place God has put us. We run a host of church groups as part of our wanting to equip each other to seek God in the ordinary day to day routine. Page | 3 The Church ran the cold weather night shelter during the winter funded by the local Council for another year. We are in discussions to further this provision in the future. We are grateful for the number of volunteers who each year help us to man the Shelter However, the system this year was to put them in local Hotels when temperatures dropped to zero and below.. We continue our work to provide a drop in for homeless or vulnerable housed, and those with mental health issues and learning disabilities. This year was our 11[th] year year of running the drop-in. For 2 days a week, attendees receive a cooked meal and clothing needs and received help with their applications for housing or employment. Our work with asylum seekers continues and we have seen many come into membership and they now run a worship group once a week. Many are helped with their applications to remain in the UK. Those who choose to stay have made a great contribution to our fellowship. Once a week we run a toddlers group called Acorns. An average of 35 children attend every Wednesday, to play, sing and listen to stories. The children enjoy their time at Acorns which is a safe place to play. The community at WBC is very diverse but rich in fellowship; all are very welcome. We didn’t expect to be still in lock down due to the Coronovirus, however it has not stopped us meeting together for services, Bible study, prayer meetings and Quiz nights via ZOOM. However we are meeting in the Church for Sunday Morning Services which are now broadcasting live to those who are at home. We have managed to support each other spiritually and prayerfully. Life has certainly been different and we look forward to meeting everyone again Soon. Page | 4 ## **Financial Review** The church received income of £100,520 (2019 £118,145) and paid out £141,753 (2019 £119,784) leaving a deficit of £41,233. This was partly due to the Night Shelter receipt from Wakefield Council not being received until after the year end. This has resulted in a small transfer of £280 being made between the restricted reserve and the unrestricted reserve. The closing unrestricted reserves were £116,871 (2019 £136,018). There was £116,871 within bank accounts at the year end. Which is more than is required to meet the ongoing needs of the charity. ## **Plans for future periods** The plans of the charity going forward are to move towards providing a safe environment for all people to be able to come and meet and worship following the Covid-19 virus. In particular as rules begin to relax, to provide a safe place to worship. Along with continuing with the Night Shelter work. ## **Reserves policy** The reserves policy of the church is to have sufficient cash resources to meet its day to day needs including staff and premises costs. The church would expect to have at least 6 months of running costs in bank accounts. ## **Section D: Declaration** The Church Leadership Team has received approval from Church members at the AGM of the Annual Report contained on pages 6 to 10. Page | 5