Gateway Church, Poole
(A Company limited by guarantee)
Annual Report and Financial Statements Year Ended 31 March 2025 Company registration number: 07189544 Charity registration number: 1135330
Gateway Church, Poole
Contents
| Reference and Administrative Details | 1 |
|---|---|
| Trustees’ Report | 2-8 |
| Statement ofTrustees’ Responsibilities | 9 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 10-11 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 12 |
| Balance Sheet | 13-14 |
| NotestotheFinancialStatements | 15-25 |
Gateway Church, Poole
Reference and Administrative Details
| Trustees | Matthew Hosier |
|---|---|
| Matthew Ashton | |
| DrSamuel McGinley | |
| Rebecca Clarke | |
| Richard Stamp | |
| Belinda McArdle (appointed 7 November 2024) | |
| Alan Mainstone | |
| Secretary | Rebecca Bertrand |
| Principal Office | 133 Alder Road |
| Parkstone | |
| Poole | |
| Dorset | |
| BH12 4AA | |
| Company Registration Number | 07189544 |
| Charity Registration Number | 1135330 |
| Bankers | Barclays Bank Plc |
| Independent Examiner | Adrian CarrAAT |
| The Accounting Bureau Ltd | |
| 87 North Road | |
| Poole | |
| Dorset | |
| BH14 OLT | |
| Website | http://www.gatewaychurch.me |
1
Gateway Church, Poole
Trustees’ ' Report
The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Trustees
Matthew Hosier Matthew Ashton
Dr Samuel McGinley Rebecca Clarke Richard Stamp Belinda McArdle (appointed 7 November 2024) Alan Mainstone
Structure, Governance and Management
Gateway Church, Poole is a charitable company limited by guarantee. It is governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association and was incorporated on 15 March 2010.
The charity trustees are all directors of the charitable company and are appointed by ordinary resolution of the members as set out in articles 31 to 35 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Objects and Activities
Gateway Church, Poole is Bible-based, lively church serving BCP and the surrounding area with the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. It also supports and assists mission in other parts of the UK and overseas. Being part of the Advance Movement network of churches is its focus for achieving this.
The charity's objects are specifically restricted to the following:
(a) to advance the Christian faith in such ways and in such parts of Poole, the United Kingdom or the world as the trustees from time to time may think fit;
(b) 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 counseling and support in such parts of Poole, the United Kingdom or the world as the trustees from time to time may think fit;
(c) to further Christian education including but not by way of limitation to children of pre-school age in such parts of Poole, the United Kingdom or the world as the trustees from time to time think fit;
(d) to provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for the recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life in such parts of Poole, the United Kingdom and the world as the trustees may from time to time think fit.
2
Gateway Church, Poole Trustees’ ' Report
Annual Report
Our Vision and Values
We exist to preach the good news of Jesus Christ, to faithfully do justice to the instructions given to us through His word, the Bible, and to see as many people as possible impacted by this good news.
In doing this, three words sum up our values, and our goal is to be a people who live ina way that reflects the values encapsulated in these 3 words. Our plans and goals need to reflect:
Adventure : At the heart of the Christian faith is a great adventure to 'go to the ends of the earth’ in proclaiming the good newsofJesus Christ. The bible is jam-packed with stories of adventurous men and women risking all, and at times sacrificing all, to see people come to salvation through Jesus. We desire to live as modern day adventurers for Jesus in just the same way!
Purity; Being people who are committed to honesty, integrity and faithfulness in everything that we do and say. Serving one another and serving God with clean hearts and clean hands.
Compassion: The sound of war, famine, sickness and death in our world should move us to compassion, and therefore action, in offering support and action to those around us. This means serving locally and further afield to see social ills alleviated and people set free from the pain and isolation of social, financial, personal or spiritual hardship.
Summary of Gateway's Activities
The period that covers this annual report was marked by a third Gateway congregation in January 2025 that meets at Parkstone Church on Sundays.
Alongside our two existing congregations on Alder Road and Ashley Road, we are pleased to report that as at the writing of this report, all three locations are well attended on Sunday mornings, and we have seen another year of steady membership growth.
The paragraphs below set out our activities for the period April 2024-March 2025. In addition to this, further information can be found on our annual review.
Sunday Mornings
Usually on Sunday mornings we enjoy meeting together for worship and teaching. Our Sunday meetings are relaxed, informal and relevant to modern life. We have tea and coffee before and after our meetings. We worship God together and give time for a talk applying the truth of the Bible to life following which there is an opportunity for people to respond to what has been taught.
We operate as 'one church on three sites’ with a congregation based at Alder Road, another on Ashley Road (known as '502') in Poole and a new one based at Parkstone Church (known as "Ringwood Road’). As of the end of this reporting period, the church membership was 282 adults (247 last year) and our Sunday attendance was approximately 370 (340 last year).
Kids and Youth on Sundays
Similarly, our Sunday services also provide for under-18's through a rich program of bible teaching, worship, games and activities in their respective age groups. At all three of our locations we offer Sunday morning youth group for secondary school age children, kids group for primary schools ages children, and a toddler group for under-3's. Whilst numbers for these groups vary, on most Sundays we'd expect to cater for 10-15 in the creche, 60-70 in kids work and 20-30 in the youth groups.
3
Gateway Church, Poole
Trustees’ Report
Baptisms
Helping people to know Jesus Christ and to get baptized is a big part of the responsibility and joy of every believer and something we should all participate in fully! In the past year we have had the joy of witnessing seven people baptized.
Life Groups and Courses
Life Groups are our midweek groups that meet in smaller number in people's homes. They are built around five core values: Friendship, 'One-anothering', Outreach, Teaching and Body Life. Life Groups are at the heart of what we do at Gateway, and we want everyone to be involved in one.
Life Groups are a great place for people to learn leadership, and a place where everyone can contribute. Life Groups are where the mission of the church is put into action as we serve one another and seek to bless the world around us.
Throughout the past year our Life Groups have been a vital point of connection for members of Gateway as well as an important point of connection for people newer to the church.
At other times in the year we have run courses aimed at meeting our charitable objectives, specifically enabling people to achieve spiritual, physical and emotional wellbeing, and to equip people in believing, applying and communicating the good news of the gospel to all areas of life. Some of these courses include:
- Alpha Course
-
Understanding the End Times
-
Summer Socials Program - a series of events, meals and discussion groups aimed at building community cohesion. - Various men's and women's events and conferences
Christian Education and Equipping
Our charitable objectives involve furthering and teaching the Christian faith, and a core goal of the church is to equip people for Christian living, mission and ministry. To that end we have facilitated the following courses, groups and opportunities:
a) Advance Theology Course
A free, 2-year bible study course open to the church and the wider community. This course, developed by our friends in the Advance Movement UK involves a combination of home study and central gatherings to watch the teaching content and discuss together. There were 90 people signed up to this course in the reporting period.
b) Union School of Theology Learning Community
For students signed up to the 2-year Graduate Diploma run by the Union School of Theology, we have runa weekly learning community attended by delegates within Gateway and other churches as far afield as Cape Town.
c) Advance Church Planting Course
For people with an interest in church planting, we offer a free place on ACPC: a 2-year program of online and in-person teaching, discussion as well as practical and theological study alongside an experienced mentor.
4
Gateway Church, Poole
Trustees’ 1 Report
d) Internships
Gateway offers a 1-year internship for school and University leavers who wish to volunteer a year to serving the church, gaining hands-on ministry experience and attending a year of theological study.
Serving the Community
Alongside Sunday mornings and Life Groups we would expect members of the church to be actively engaged in activities that serve the wider community, and therein we place a disproportionate emphasis on serving the poor, the lonely, the isolated and the marginalised.
The umbrella term we use for this activity is called, 'Gatehouse’. The mission statement of Gatehouse is that we exist to, ‘prevent and alleviate isolation and marginalization in the BCP area and beyond.’ Further details can be found on our website: https://www.gatewaychurch.me/gatehouse
Outlined below are some of the activities that have been undertaken to this end under the Gatehouse umbrella.
a) Gatehouse Hub
A central plank in our Gateway strategy is having our buildings on Ashley Road and Alder Road open in the midweek to serve the local community in various ways. Since July 2022 we have opened Ashley Road on Thursdays and Fridays, serving free tea, coffee and other refreshments to anyone in the community. At Alder Road we now also have a thriving adults and toddler group, and at both sites combined, we expect to host upwards of 180 people per week through our Gatehouse hubs.
This has served as a de facto 'warm space’ and we are part of the National Warm Spaces network. Additionally we have run board game competitions, arts and craft sessions and we offer a free workspace with access to wi-fi for home-workers in the community. This has provided a vital lifeline for the elderly, for young Mums and for the the lonely. The Gatehouse team are trained and equipped to offer practical help and signposting to those experiencing social pressures, including debt, food help, housing advice and domestic violence.
Gateway is a member of the 'We are Here’ network - an alliance of local warm spaces, day centres and churches hosting similar midweek social events.
b) |AmConfident
This is a free 10 week course, run as a joint venture between members of Gateway and another local church open to the whole community, signposted by doctors surgeries and other statutory bodies aimed at helping vulnerable women gain confidence in life skills and relationships. We are working with lamConfident for it to become an independent charity.
c) Golden Generations
Golden Generations is a free weekly group for older people, for refreshments, friendship and support that is run from our Gatehouse Hub. We are so pleased to report that this group has been regularly well attended and continues to grow in number, playing an important role in addressing loneliness and social isolation.
Some have reported this group as being their only social outlet and has become a place where the local council have from time to time, recommended people in this demographic to attend.
5
Gateway Church, Poole
Trustees’ 1 Report
d) Students & 20's
Bournemouth and Poole are home to thousands of students. Bournemouth University together with the Arts University College at Bournemouth has a student roll of around 24,000. The main BU & AUCB campus is only 1.5 miles from our church building and an increasing number of students are finding their way to Gateway. During term time we have run student lunches with church families - a great way to meet people as well as get free food! We also encourage students to join Life Groups and become part of the church family.
Given the challenges associated with leaving home for the first time, particularly if coming from another country, this work has also served to sustain the spiritual life of students, as well as alleviating the marginalisation and isolation often experienced within this demographic.
Our students and 20's meet once a week in homes, and organised a successful weekend away to Studland last year. It is a delight to serve this community and this will remain an important part of our service to the BCP area.
e) Truth be Told
Truth be Told is an award-winning independent charity birthed at Gateway and led by a member of our church. The premise of Truth be Told is to host and run activity and song-led toddler groups in care homes, This initiative fits well with our Gatehouse philosophy as it communicates Christian truths and draws together demographic groups who might also be most vulnerable to isolation and marginalization, such as young parents and older people in care homes.
It has been a pleasure to run Truth be Told sessions at Gateway, involving the young and the old, and to make use of the intergenerational element of Truth be Told to help rebuild social cohesion post-Covid. Additionally we have been pleased to have run a Truth be Told Group at a local care home.
f) Home Education Group
On Friday afternoons during school term we run a Home Education group for carers and students who are home educating. The Home Ed group has a curriculum aligned to the National Gallery and is open to anyone in the community for free.
Started in January 2024, this group is now routinely attended by 30+ carers and students each week and continues to grow.
g) Youth
The Gateway Youth group (for ages 11-18) meets every Friday evening and most Sunday mornings, during term time (for ages 11-14). We create a welcoming fun space in which all youth from the area can come and join in activities and have a safe place to hang out.
Our aim during these times is to see people come to know Jesus and to grow in their faith. We disciple the youth, with each youth having the opportunity to have a mentor, provide teaching from the bible, reach the local youth community through outreach events, help the community around us with social action events and generally build friendship and have fun. All youth leaders have had training and are covered by enhanced DBS checks.
6
Gateway Church, Poole
Trustees’ 1 Report
Once a year our youth group attend Newday, a week long Christian camp in Norfolk for other youth from around the country attended by approximately 10,000 young people.
Our youth community continues to grow steadily in terms of number and Spiritual depth and play a vital part in the life of the church.
h) Bikers Curry
Once a month we host a curry night for local bikers from our Ashley Road building. This has been a good way of engaging the local biker community, helping people to build relationships and serves under the Gatehouse objective of bringing people out of isolation and marginalisation.
Approximately 50 people attend the bikers curry night.
i) Other
Throughout the year we run and host a variety of other events for the local community, including carol services, Christmas Markets, Taste the Nations - celebrating food and culture of the 25+ nations represented by members of Gateway, beach lunches, walks and board game evenings.
j) Serving other Organisations
A number of our leadership team also sit on various trustee boards (of NGO's and churches) in an effort to help other, similarly minded organisations to flourish, with an eye to serving those in need and bringing the truth of the gospel to light through acts of service.
Advance Movement UK & Europe
Gateway is a partner church of Advance - part of Newfrontiers. Advance is a global network of churches with shared mission and doctrine and has 23 partner churches in the UK, and 2 in Europe with whom we are in apostolic relationship. Advance exists to help plant and strengthen churches around the world in order for people to hear the good news of the gospel and belong to the body of Christ around the world as expressed in local churches.
The vitality of Gateway Church enables the leadership team to volunteer time to lead and serve in various capacities within Advance, and to plan and host a number of conferences aimed at stimulating church planting and growth across the UK and Europe.
As a partner church in Advance, we have benefitted from a number of local and international visiting speakers and leaders over this reporting period. Additionally, we hosted 12 students for a week who served the Gateway youth from an Advance partner church in Texas.
Public Benefit Statement
The trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their power and duties.
The trustees have given due regard to public benefit when planning the charity's activities, in accordance with Sections G2 and G3 of the Charity Commission's General Guidance on Public Benefit (January 2008),
7
Gateway Church, Poole
Trustees’ Report
The paragraphs above set our our activities, achievements and performance during the year, which are directly related to the objects and purposes for which the charity exists. The charity achieves its principal objects and purposes through worship, teaching, counseling, group activities and pastoral support. These benefits are directly related to the aims of the charity and are fully compliant with Principles 1 and 2 of the Charity Commission Principles on Public Benefit.
The trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their power and duties.
Financial Review
During the year ended 31 March 2025 there was a net inflow of funds of £37,731 (year ended 31 March 2024 net inflow of £44,671).
The principal funding sources of the church are via offerings of the church members and regular attendees and the gift aid reclaimed on these gifts. Total funding during the year was £680,440 (year ended 31 March 2024 £639,014).
Reserves Policy
The trustees have examined the charity's requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the charity. A policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets held by the charity should be between 3 and 6 months' of the expenditure has been established, Budgeted non-capital expenditure for 2025/26 is approximately £631,000 and therefore the target is £158,000 to £315,000 in general funds. The reserves are needed to meet the working capital requirements of the charity and the trustees are confident that at this level they would be able to continue the current activities of the charity in the event of a significant drop in funding. The level of free net current assets at 31 March 2025 was £193,452 (31 March 2024 £229,380). The Trustees meet regularly and review the financial position and will continue to monitor income and expenditure closely over coming months.
Risk Management
The trustees examine the major risks that the church faces each financial year when preparing and updating the strategic plan. The church has developed systems to monitor and control these risks to mitigate any impact that they may have to the church in the future.
Trustees
The trustees who are directors for the purpose of company law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out on page 1.
The report of the directors has been prepared taking advantage of the small companies exemption of section 415A of the Companies Act 2006.
----- Start of picture text -----
The annual report was-appyoved by the trustees of the Charity on od BIZ) 26, And
dee
LZ
: foa
Richard stab
----- End of picture text -----
Trustee
8
Gateway Church, Poole
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities
The trustees (who are also the directors of Gateway Church, Poole for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
-
~ select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
-
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
-
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-
state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subjects to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
-
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They 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.
----- Start of picture text -----
Approved by the trustees of the charity on As jiz}es and signed on its behalf by:
<G.
Trustee
----- End of picture text -----
9
Gateway Church, Poole
Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Gateway Church, Poole
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Gateway Church, Poole Charitable Company (‘the Company‘)
| report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for the independent examination, | report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination | have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
| have completed my examination. | confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
-
1 Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
-
2 The accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
3 The accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
-
4 The accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].
10
Gateway Church, Poole
Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Gateway Church, Poole
| have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Adrian Carr AAT
The Accounting Bureau Ltd
87 North Road Parkstone Poole Dorset BH14 OLT
‘2 December 2025
11
Gateway Church, Poole
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | 2025 | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income and Endowments from: | ||||
| Donations and legacies | 2 | 664,075 | - | 664,075 |
| Other income | 3 | 16,365 | - | 16,365 |
| Total Income | 680,440 | - | 680,440 | |
| Expenditure on: | ||||
| Charitable activities | 4 | 642,709 | - | 642,709 |
| Total Expenditure | 642,709 | - | 642,709 | |
| Netmovement in funds | 37,731 | . | 37,731 | |
| Reconciliation offunds | ||||
| Total funds broughtforward | 1,470,907 | - | 1,470,907 | |
| Total funds carried forward | 17 | 1,508,638 _——_—__} |
- SSS |
1,508,638 SSSS==== |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | ||
| funds | funds | 2024 | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income and Endowments from: | ||||
| Donations and legacies | 2 | 638,568 | - | 638,568 |
| Other income | 3 | 446 | - | 446 |
| Total Income | 639,014 | - | 639,014 | |
| Expenditure on: | ||||
| Charitable activities | 4 | 594,343 | - | 594,343 |
| Total Expenditure | 594,343 | - | 594,343 | |
| Net movement in funds | 44,671 | - | 44,671 | |
| Reconciliation offunds | ||||
| Total funds brought forward | 1,426,236 | - | 1,426,236 | |
| Transfers | 18 | - | - | > |
| Totalfundscarriedforward | 17 | 1,470,907 | - | 1,470,907 |
All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2025 is shown in note 17.
12
Gateway Church, Poole
Balance Sheet 31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | |||
| Fixed assets | |||||
| Tangible assets | 11 | 2,432,052 | 2,429,444 | ||
| Current assets | |||||
| Debtors Cash atbankand inhand |
12 | 30,271 306,965 |
26,548 350,749 |
||
| 337,236 | 377,297 | ||||
| Creditors:Amountsfallingduewithinoneyear | 13 | - | 143,784 | - | 147,917 |
| Netcurrentassets | 193,452 | 229,380 | |||
| Total assets less current liabilities | 2,625,504 | 2,658,824 | |||
| Creditors:Amountsfallingdueaftermorethanoneyear | 14 | - | 1,116,866 | - | 1,187,917 |
| Provisions | - | - | |||
| Netassets | 1,508,638 =O |
1,470,907 ———_<———— |
|||
| Funds ofthe charity: | |||||
| Restricted funds | |||||
| - | - | ||||
| Unrestrictedfunds | 1,508,638 | 1,470,907 | |||
| Total funds | 16 | 1,508,638 | 1,470,907 | ||
| = | ———OOOO |
13
Gateway Church, Poole
Balance Sheet
31 March 2025
For the financial year ending 31 March 2025 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Directors’ responsibilities:
-
The members have not required the charity to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476; and
-
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements onpages 12 to 26 were approved by the[ trustees,] and authorised for issue on ABI] 20S... and signed on their behalf by:
Richard Stéfnp Trustee
Company Registration Number: 07189544
14
Gateway Church, Poole
Notes to the Financial Statements
Year Ended 31 March 2025
1 Accounting policies
Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.
Statement of compliance
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practie applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Basis of preparation
Gateway Church, Poole is a registered charity, registration number 1135330, company number 07189544, registered in the United Kingdom. The address of the charity is given in the reference and adminstrative details on page 1 of these financial statements. The nature of the charity's operations and principal activities are described in the Trustees' annual report.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest whole pound.
Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement
The charity has adopted Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2016 and have therefore not included a cash flow statement in these financial statements.
Income and endowments
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of the income receivable can be measured reliably.
Donations and legacies
Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to condition that require a level of
performance by the charity before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.
15
Gateway Church, Poole
Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 March 5
Expenditure
All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset's use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.
Charitable activities
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Grant provisions
Provisions for grants are made when the intention to make a grant has been communicated to the recipient but there is uncertainty about either the timing of the grant or the amount of grant payable.
Governance costs
These include the costs attributable to the charity's compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including audit, strategic management and trustee's meetings and reimbursed expenses.
Taxation
The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitiable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
Tangible fixed assets
Individual fixed assets costing £500 or more are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated deprecation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
16
Gateway Church, Poole
Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 March 2025
Depreciation and amortisation
Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:
Asset class Depreciation method and rate Fixtures, fittings and equipment 25% per annum ona reducing balance basis
Church property and improvements
2% straight line basis
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
Borrowings
Interest-bearing borrowings are initially recorded at fair value, net of transaction costs. Interest- bearing borrowings are subsequently carried at amortised cost, with the difference between the proceeds, net of transaction costs, and the amount due on redemption being recognised as a charge to the Statement of Financial Activities over the period of the relevant borrowing.
Interest expense is recognised on the basis of the effective interest method and is included in interest payable and similar charges.
Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the charity has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at leat twelve months after the reporting date.
Fund structure
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees’ discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside for specific purposes at the discretion of the trustees,
Restricted income funds are those donated for use ina particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
Pensions and other post retirement obligations
The company offers a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions are charged in the income and expenditure account as they become payable in accordance with the rules of the scheme.
Gateway Church participated in a multi-employer defined benefit pension scheme for Baptist Ministers in the UK which has been closed to new members. Deficit contributions are charged in the income and expenditure account as they become payable and Gateway Church's liability towards the scheme deficit is included in the financial statements as a provision.
17
Gateway Church, Poole
Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 March 2025
2 Income from donations and legacies
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Donations and legacies; | |||||
| Donations to majorappeals | 121,169 | - | 121,169 | 187,104 | |
| Donationsfrom individuals | 430,065 | - | 430,065 | 344,289 | |
| Grants | 29,650 | - | 29,650 | - | |
| Gift aid reclaimed | 83,191 | - | 83,191 | 107,175 | |
| 664,075 | - | 664,075 | 638,568 | ||
| 3 Other income |
|||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | ||
| funds | funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Employer's NIC rebate | - | - | - | - | |
| Bank interest received | 1,366 | - | 1,366 | - | |
| Vision Fund Tithe | 14,999 | - | 14,999 | 446 | |
| 16,365 SS———————— |
———— | - nnd |
16,365 aS |
446 ————————— |
18
Gateway Church, Poole
Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 March 2025
4 Expenditure on charitable activities
| Activity | Grant | Total | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| undertaken | fundingof | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| directly | activity | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Mission | 53,032 | 37,882 | 90,914 | 39,473 | |
| Establishments costs | 18,716 | - | 18,716 | 14,500 | |
| Insurance | 5,949 | - | 5,949 | 5,786 | |
| Repairsand maintenance | 14,353 | - | 14,353 | 8,413 | |
| Printing, postageand stationery | 6,439 | - | 6,439 | 7,210 | |
| Telephone Advertising |
. | 2,124 - |
- - |
2,124 - |
2,372 - |
| Equipment repairsandrenewals | 5,971 | - | 5,971 | 8,922 | |
| Staff salaries and costs (note 7) | 256,123 | - | 256,123 | 259,619 | |
| Group activities | 19,034 | . | 19,034 | 27,138 | |
| Training, conferencesand travel | 30,023 | - | 30,023 | 16,389 | |
| Cleaning | 8,963 | : | 8,963 | 9,313 | |
| ITmaintenanceand costs | 3,160 | - | 3,160 | 3,353 | |
| Bank charges | 435 | - | 435 | 432 | |
| Legal and professional fees | 6,197 | - | 6,197 | 9,487 | |
| Loan interest Depreciation |
87,517 76,933 |
- - |
87,517 76,933 |
98,351 73,479 |
|
| Sundries | 2,327 | - | 2,327 | 2,127 | |
| Governance costs Subscriptions |
3,182 4,349 |
- - |
3,182 4,349 |
4,589 3,390 |
|
| 604,827 ——— |
37,882 _——————— |
642,709 ————_= |
594,343 =————————— |
5 Analysis of governance and support costs
Governance costs
| Unrestricted | Total | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Independent | Examiner's remuneration | 1,440 | 1,440 | 1,440 |
| Bookkeeping | and payroll costs | 1,742 | 1,742 | 3,149 |
| 3,182 | 3,182 | 4,589 |
19
Gateway Church, Poole
Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 March 2025
6 Grant-making
| Analysis ofgrants | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nameof Institution | Activity | 2025 | 2024 |
| £ | £ | ||
| Advance Movement | Mission | 20,742 | 17,342 |
| Social Action | Mission | 9,696 | 2,705 |
| Baptist Union | Mission | 1,392 | 1,412 |
| New Day | Mission | 18,059 | 4,132 |
| Hardship fund | Mission | 2,210 | 1,903 |
| Gatehouse | Mission | 3,263 | - |
| Vision Fund Tithe | Mission | 29,500 | - |
| OtherGrants Paid and GiftsMade | Mission | 6,052 | 11,979 |
| 90,914 | 39,473 | ||
| rf Netincoming/outgoing resources |
|||
| Netoutcoming resources forthe year include: | |||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | & | ||
| Depreciation offixed assets | 76,933 | 73,479 | |
| Independent Examiner's Fee | 1,440 | 1,440 | |
| 78,373 Sa |
74,919 aeeeS——e—>>== |
20
Gateway Church, Poole
Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 March 2025
8 Trustees' remuneration and expenses
No trustees have received any other benefits from the charity during the year apart from those disclosed below.
9 Staff costs
The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:
| The aggregate payroll costs werewere as follows: | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Staffcostsduringthe yearwere: | ||
| Wagesand salaries | 222,059 | 226,249 |
| Pension costs | 23,223 | 21,340 |
| Staffhealth insurance | 5,598 | 5,503 |
| Staffsabatical costs | 5,243 | 6,527 |
| 256,123 —————_— |
259,619 OOOC_—————— |
The monthly average number of persons {including senior management team) employed by the charity during the year expressed as full time equivalents was as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| No | No | |
| Staff | 7 | 7 |
| ——————== | _—————————eese | |
| The total employee benefits ofthe keymanagement personnel ofthe charitywere£180,952 (2024: | ||
| £174,113). |
One member of the key management team received a salary and benefits in excess of £60,000 (2024: 1).
21
Gateway Church, Poole
Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 March 2025
10 Taxation
The company is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
11 Tangible fixed assets
| Fixtures | Cycleto | Church | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| and | work | propertyand | ||||
| fittings | bicycles | improvements | Total | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Cost | ||||||
| At 1 April 2024 | 177,278 | 1,988 | 2,595,383 | 2,774,649 | ||
| Additions | 40,076 | - | 39,589 | 79,665 | ||
| Disposals | - | - | 1,988 | - | - | 1,988 |
| At 31 March 2025 | 217,354 | - | 2,634,972 | 2,852,326 | ||
| Depreciation | ||||||
| At 1 April 2024 | 101,035 | 1,864 | 242,306 | 345,205 | ||
| Charge fortheyear | 29,080 | - | 47,853 | 76,933 | ||
| Eliminated on disposal | - | - | 1,864 | . | - | 1,864 |
| At 31 March 2025 | 130,115 | - | 290,159 | 420,274 | ||
| Net bookvalue | ||||||
| At 31 March 2025 | 87,239 _————— od |
- SSS—————— |
2,344,813 eC |
2,432,052 ———:: |
||
| At 31 March 2024 | 76,243 ————__} |
124 Sooo |
2,353,077 SSS—S————————= |
2,429,444 ————————— |
The Alder Road building is held in trust by the Baptist Union, the Ashley Road property is owned by Gateway Church.
12 Debtors
----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
Prepayments = -
Other debtors 30,271 26,548
30,271 26,548
----- End of picture text -----
22
Gateway Church, Poole
Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 March 2025
13 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Bank loans | 88,650 | 88,650 |
| Othertaxation and social security | 2,239 | 2,269 |
| Other creditors | 51,455 | 55,558 |
| Accruals | 1,440 | 1,440 |
| 143,784 ————__:: |
147,917 ———————— |
Creditors due within one year includes the following liabilities, on which security has been given by the charity:
Bank loans
| 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|
| £ | £ |
| 88,650 —e—C=== |
88,650 —V———————————— |
There is a legal charge in respect of the property mortgage from National Westminster Bank Pic. The mortgage is secured against the Ashley Road property.
A further loan was drawn down during the year ended 31 March 2023 for £1,200,000. These funds were paid to third party developers for work carried out on the Alder Road building project.
14 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Bank | loans | 1,116,866 SSS |
1,187,917 DaSS—=———= |
Creditors amounts falling due after more than one year includes the following liabilities, on which security has been given by the charity:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |||
| Bank | loan | 1-2 years | 88,650 | 88,650 |
| Bank | loan | 2-5 years | 265,950 | 265,950 |
| Bank | loan | > 5 years | 762,266 | 833,317 |
| 1,116,866 oo: |
1,187,917 ———_—$————— |
There is a legal charge in respect of the property mortgage from National Westminster Bank Plc. The mortgage is secured against the Ashley Road property.
Included in the creditors are the following amounts due after more than five years:
After more than five years
----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
762,666 833,317
—————————————— ———————
----- End of picture text -----
23
Gateway Church, Poole
Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 March 2025
15 Pension and other schemes
Defined contribution pension schemes
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the charity to these schemes and amounted to £23,223 (2024: £21,340).
Defined benefit pension schemes
The Baptist Union have confirmed that the Defined Benefit Plan previously held directly by them has now been moved to a third party organisation. It has also been estimated by the Baptist Union that the scheme is now in surplus so the ongoing contributions of £1 per month are no longer required and since October 2024, Gateway Church, Poole no longer has any further responsibiliy towards this pension scheme.
16 Funds
| Balance at | Balance at | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April | Incoming | Resources | Transfers | 31March | |
| 2024 | resources | expended | 2025 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
| General | |||||
| Unrestricted fund | 1,470,907 | 680,440 | - 650,011 | - | 1,501,336 |
| Restricted funds | |||||
| Vision fund | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total funds | 1,470,907 ——————————__ |
680,440 = |
- 650,011 ———ES=_—— |
- ad |
1,501,336 ———— |
| Balance at | Balance at | ||||
| 1 April | Incoming | Resources | 31 March | ||
| 2023 | resources | expended | Transfers | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
| General | |||||
| Unrestricted fund | 1,426,236 | 639,014 | - 594,343 | - | 1,470,907 |
| Designated | |||||
| Social action fund | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total unrestricted funds | 1,426,236 | 639,014 | - 594,343 | - | 1,470,907 |
| Restricted funds | |||||
| Vision fund | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total funds | 1,426,236 | 639,014 | - 594,343 | - | 1,470,907 |
| ——— 7 |
Se | ——————— | ——_ | ———————— | |
| 24 |