2024-12-31-accounts

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WyldeLS Green United ReformediS Church Annual Report

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Wylde Green United Reformed Church Charity Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024

Trustee’s Report 2-6 Independent Examiner’s report 7 Statement of Financial Activities for the year 8 Balance Sheet 9 Notes to the Accounts 10-13

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report enema EEE ——————————e

Trustees Report

Reference and Administrative Details:

Wylde Green United Reformed Church is situated within the West Midlands Synod of the United Reformed Church.

Wylde Green URC is a charity registered with the Charity Commission (No. 1136135)

The correspondence address: Church Secretary Mrs Helen Rowe, 20 Beacon Road Sutton Coldfield B73 5ST

Structure, Governance and Management

Constitution

The Church is a constituent part of the United Reformed Church which was formed by Act of Parliament in 1972, as amended in 1981 and 2000. The Governing document of the Wylde Green United Reformed Church Charity was adopted by the Church, at a Church Meeting on 15th July 2009 and registration with the Charity Commission was formally confirmed on 1st June 2010. The pastoral and financial oversight of the congregation is achieved through the local councils of the Church and the wider representative councils. These being the elected Elders that formally meet monthly both as Elders of the Church and as Trustees of the Charity and as part of the collective membership at the Church Meeting, which is open to all persons who have been formally admitted to membership of the Church and whose names are on the membership roll. The wider representative councils are the West Midlands Synod to which the Church is affiliated and the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church.

Governance

The Elders meet monthly both as Elders and where financial matters are concerned, as Trustees of the Church and are the principal management committee of the Church. The Elders Meeting consists of the Minister and of Elders elected by the collective church membership at Church Meeting. The Treasurer (formally known as the Convenor of the Finance Committee) and the Convenor of the Fabric Committee, if not elected Elders, can attend the Elders Meeting as ex-officio members. Elders serve for three years and are then eligible for re-election for a further three years, after which they must stand down for at least a year. The Financial management of the Church is regulated through the Financial Standing Instructions (or the Financial Constitution), which was adopted by the Church Meeting in 2000 and amended in 2003 and further revised and approved at the Church Meeting in November 2011. The detailed financial management is delegated to the Finance Committee, working within this Constitution. The membership of the Finance Committee is made up of officers with particular responsibilities and representatives of the Trustees and the Church Membership. Due to the size of the charity; the Trustees consider that an audit is not required for the 2024 year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 and that accordingly only an Independent Examination is needed.

The Church Meeting was held six times in the year, one of which was an AGM. The Church Meeting endorses (or not) the decisions of the Trustees on Financial matters and regulates and approves (or not) all other matters associated with the running of the Church. Church Meetings can be attended by anyone connected with the Church, but voting is restricted to members of the Church.

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In September 2019 Revd Dr Christopher Dowd was inducted as the Minister of Wylde Green United Reformed Church. He is an enthusiastic Minister with many innovative ideas to help the Church progress.

Table of Elders

Youth Worker

In December our Youth Worker, Faye Boyd, started in post. This is 3 year post jointly funded by West Midlands Synod and Sutton Municipal Charities (a local charity). She supported the Christmas services and activities and started to get to know the church membership and local community.

Trainee CRCW

At the November church meeting Bev Lyne, a long time member of the church, was unanimously supported by the members to candidate as a non stipendiary CRCW.

Aims and Objectives

The Church operates within the Scheme of Union of the United Reformed Church and the Governing Document approved by the membership at Church Meeting.

The objectives of the church can be summarised as 'the advancement of religion’ but specifically quantified by the following:

e To provide regular public worship for all
e To promote the Christian faith
e To teach the faith to all ages
e To provide training, nurture and activities for children and young people e To serve the community
¢ To give pastoral care and support to members and others in need, particularly those in sickness, distress or poverty
e To provide premises and resources for community groups and activities.

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The Church's Mission Statement is: ‘Making the love of Jesus a reality in the community seven days a week. Reaching out, welcoming in,'

Activities and Performance

The number of church members as at 31st December 2024 was: 85.

The number of Junior Church children and young people at the same date was: 16.

During 2024 we continued our church services at 11am on Sunday mornings and we were able to offer a digital Zoom service for those not able to join us in person. We introduced with a monthly rotation of service styles for Sunday evening: Soul Space; a time of quiet and reflection in the sanctuary with quiet music followed by Compline; Film and discussion, Discussion group exploring such issues as the general election and assisted dying. Other services included daily morning and evening online prayers and our 4.30pm phone in service on Sunday afternoons and an Open Table communion once a month aimed at the LBGT+ community. Once a month there is family time for the children and parents of the church. We have started a grief support group for the community running twice a month. Our midweek prayer lunch on Wednesdays continued to thrive. For those in our fellowship who are not online, we continued to prepare and deliver a weekly pack, which included daily liturgy, prayers, Sunday sermon and prayers for others. Weekly Bible Study continued on line and in person and included people from as far as Cardiff and Yorkshire. Christian Education continued also with several study days. We held morning Holy Week Prayers and Breakfast at Easter, and invited the local Ministers from different Christian traditions to lead the services each day. We did an re enactment of the last supper on Maundy Thursday and held a Taizé service on Good Friday.

It was a great joy to hold Sunday services on the church field. Worshipping God outside for Easter Day sunrise service, pet service, carols and fireworks etc as well as church fairs.

We continued our social events throughout the year with concerts, films, quizzes, and fairs. As an expression of our concern for the environment and the fragility of God’s creation our Wylder& Greener Eco group continued work in preparing our community garden space with a grow to share ethos and using the LOAF principles of Locally Grown, Organic, Animal Friendly and Fairtrade. The Eco group also organised several children’s Eco sessions during the year to increase awareness and develop learning and continued the work of increasing the wildlife and diversity on the church field. We held several events to raise awareness of Fair-Trade issues including a fair-trade breakfast and autumn coffee morning. In July we enjoyed a sponsored walk from Wylde Green URC to Lichfield Cathedral; a distance of 14 miles; to raise funds for a community defibrillator and bleed kit to site on the outside of the church. The fundraising was so successful we were able to purchase a second defibrillator which has been installed elsewhere in the community. Our older person chair exercise class to promote health and well being continues to be a popular weekly event and we also enjoy the tea and chat afterwards! Over the winter months we again offered a warm welcome space where we served breakfast, board games and prepared crafts and other activities for families to enjoy. We have welcomed the local repair café to our premises once a month which has proved very popular. We have continued to decorate our Church doors to share our Christian ethos with our neighbours. Our outside prayer box continues to be well used by people in the locality, and the prayers form part of our morning worship. Our crafty

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knitters have continued regular decoration of the post box situated outside our church and the scenes have included Father’s day, Easter, Mothering Sunday and Remembrance Day.

Britwell Fair Trade and Eco Shop CIC continued to run with additions of new Eco Friendly products and a refill station for cleaning products. The shop has four charities it supports and profits are donated to: The Fair Trade Foundation, Climate Coalition, Transform Trade and a local community charity. The shop continued to open on Saturday mornings, Wednesday evenings and Sunday after the church service. We also were successful in opening after our university concerts held throughout the year.

We are delighted that the Hen Welfare Trust continue to use our field to rehome hens. This was arranged three times during 2024.

Following the successful church holidays held over the last few years we travelled this year to Swansea. Twelve people travelled from Wylde Green and we were joined by Rev Dr Janet Tollington who led daily Bible Study.

Our Junior Church was run and co-ordinated by Susan Jones. Junior Church was active on Sundays and catered for babies through to teenagers. During the school holidays we ran a breakfast and crafts club for a week, with children from junior church and from our local community.

The Church also has 6 uniformed organisations: A Guide Unit (currently not meeting), one Brownie pack, one Rainbow Unit, a Scout Troop, a Cub Scout pack and a Beaver Colony. The scouts held their annual bonfire night fundraising event in November. We also provided room space for some Uniformed groups connected to a different church.

Adult Groups and activities which are part of the Church include:

A Badminton club, a book group, the Church Choir, a Sunday lunch at a local restaurant for those people who live alone, and family lunches held at the church and in the grounds. We hosted a monthly film club, and several community Food Courts and began a weekly gentle chair exercise group. Our Wylder&Greener Eco Group met regularly and took positive actions which gained us a silver award. We are now working hard to achieve gold status. A variety of other organisations not directly connected with the Church, use the Church premises each week and pay a rental for their use of the facilities.

We were very happy to welcome students from Birmingham University to perform regular Sunday afternoon concerts and continued to delight in the orchestral concert performances from Enigma Brass, Sutton Wind Band and the Black Country Big Band. We held a Proms event where Enigma Brass, Sutton Wind Band, Black Country Big Band and The Peoples Show choir all performed over the space of an afternoon. Refreshments were available and the event was well supported by the community.

The church was involved in collections for Papyrus, a young person’s suicide prevention charity, Christian Aid, and supported the Leprosy Mission, Birmingham City Mission, a local food bank and St Basils homeless charity, as well as appeals made by the Disasters Emergency Committee. This year we

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paraded the streets in December with the Christmas Santa Float, raising funds for Acorns Children’s Hospice. A group of members joined the Christians at Gay Pride in Birmingham city centre.

Our Christmas events and services included Blue Christmas which took place on the 21° of December, the shortest day of the year, Carols and Fireworks, a community event on the church field, Beer and Carols which took place at our local Deli shop, a 70s sing along nativity service and a more traditional crib service as well as our regular Christmas Eve, Midnight and Christmas Day services. The Christmas charities we supported were Christian Aid Sudan appeal, Papyrus (a local suicide prevention charity), Centrepoint and Medicine Sans Frontier.

Church Premises

The condition of the Church, Manse and other associated buildings is of constant concern and a large part of our annual budget is devoted to the routine repairs, maintenance and upkeep of these facilities.

External contractors were employed to carry out specific duties such as the regular servicing of the fire system, the heating system and lightning protection.

The Church has been the recipient of a number of bequests and it is the duty of the Eldership to ensure the responsible use of these funds and as such the Elders have liaised with the Fabric and Finance Committees in order to discuss and plan how these funds should be used to support the objectives of the church.

There are two principal concerns that face the Charity on an on-going basis:

° The reliability of ‘Congregational Giving’ as its major income ° A fabric ‘disaster’

The Church has a team whose particular responsibilities are being aware of and implementing the Health and Safety requirements on the premises; as part of this we are fully aware of the varying needs of our members and visitors and print the details of the provisions we have for those with disabilities or special needs at the back of the Church Handbook.

Prepared on behalf of the Trustees by Helen Rowe

Signed on behalf of the Trustees

Wylde Green United Reformed Church

Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024

Independent Examiner's report to the members of Wylde Green URC

| report on the accounts of Wylde Green United Reformed Church for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Charities Act") and that an independent examination is needed.

Basis of independent examiner's statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items presented with those records 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

which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirement (a) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 ofthe Charities Act: and (b) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed on 26 June 2025 by Word

Roger Monk Independent Examiner

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Wylde Green United Reformed Church Charity Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2024

		General	Legacy	People&	Fabric	Total	Total
		Funds	Fund	Outreach	Projects	Funds	Funds
				Funds	Fund
						2024	2023
	Notes	£	£	£	£	£	£
Incoming resources
Congregational giving Taxrecovered Lettings Donations and grants Investment income Other& Fundraising events Wedding fees	2	48,352 14,026 51,028 32,143 1,199 13,164	- - - - - - -	- - - - - - -	- - - - - - -	48,352 14,026 51,028 32,143 1,199 13,164 950	60,346 16,262 44,434 34,814 1,341 7,084 700
		950
Total incoming resources		160,86	-	-		160,862	164,981
		2
Resources expended
URC disbursements Salaries, fees& grants Manse expenses Church expenses Fabric committee	3 4 5 6	44,940 29,750 13,036 25,149	- - - - -	- - - - -	- - - - -	44,940 29,750 13,036 25,149 17,904	52,464 23,050 4,232 =16,901 64,040
		17,904
General expenses Subscriptions and donations		5,585 5,180	- ™	- -	- =	5,585 5,180	12,837 §,133
Church life		11,442	-	-	-	11,442	6,970
Total resources expended		152,98	-	-	-	152,986	183,627
		6
Net incoming /(outgoing)		7,876	-	-	-	7,876	(18,646)
resources
Fund balances at	January		76,702	72,840	13,399	-	143,359
Fundbalancesat31December		64,996	72,840	13,399	-	151,235	143,359

The notes on pages 10 to 15 form part of these Accounts.

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Charity Balance sheet as at 31 December 2024

		Total funds	Total funds
		2024	2023
	Notes	£	£
Fixed assets
Investments			-
Current assets
Debtors	7	11,508	7,887
Cash on deposit	8	133,989	115,306
Cash at bank		10,481	25,669
		155,978	148,862
Creditors: amounts falling due
within oneyear	9	4,743	5,479
Net current assets		151,235	143,383
Creditors: amounts falling due
aftermorethan oneyear		-	-
Nettotalassets		151,235	143,383

Net total assets

The notes on pages 10 to 15 form part of these Accounts. Approved (ork 2022S by the Trustees on.xx October 2024-and authorised to be signed on their behalf by:

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Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report smear

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Charity Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024

1 Accounting Policies

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice ‘Accounting by Charities’ issued by the Charity Commissioners and with applicable accounting standards in the United Kingdom.

The accounts have been prepared on the basis of accruals accounting. Therefore income is matched with associated expenditure. In summary, accruals accounting requires that: income is recognised at the point when it is due to the charity, regardless of whether any cash associated with the transaction has actually been received and expenditure is recognised at the point when the relevant goods and services are supplied, regardless of whether or not an invoice has been received or payment has actually been made.

A summary follows of the more important accounting policies, which have been applied consistently.

Tangible fixed assets

Property associated with the charity is vested in URC (W.Midlands) Trust Ltd, the Synod trust body, and cannot be disposed of without the consent of the Synod Finance Committee. This property is therefore considered inalienable and no useful purpose would be gained by the inclusion of an amount in the accounts for land and buildings. Equipment, furniture and fittings purchased by the charity are treated as outgoing resources in the year of purchase and therefore no amount is shown in the balance sheet for such items.

Fixed asset investments

Investments in government stocks and similar items which are intended to be held for more than one year are treated as fixed assets. The initial cost of investments is their purchase cost. Investments are valued at market value at the balance sheet date. Changes in value during the year are reported in the Statement of Financial Activities. Income from investments is included, together with any recoverable tax element, as an incoming resource to the general fund on an accruals basis.

Legacies

Legacies are treated as income in the year in which they are received. Where a donor has placed conditions on the use of a legacy it is set apart from the general funds of the charity and used only for the specific purpose intended. Legacies over £500 received without conditions should be designated to particular reserves in accordance with the charity’s Financial Standing Instructions and Reserves policy.

Income Tax recovered

Receipts in respect of Tax claims for Gift Aid donations are treated as relating to the calendar year in which the tax year ends i.e. those relating to the tax year ended 5" April 2023 are included as income in 2023. Similarly, with regard to claims under the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme these are treated as income quarterly in arrears i.e. tax recoverable in this respect up to 30" September 2023, is included as income in 2023.

a WyldeA Green Uniteda Reformed Church Annual Report

Reserves

The charity has no endowment or restricted funds at present. Funds apart from the charity’s general fund are established by the Trustees and Reserves may be designated to those funds in accordance with the charity’s current reserves policy.

2 Donations and grants received

2 Donations and grants received
	2024	2023
	ff	£
Genera] Funds
Donations passingthrough	5,432	4,475
Mothers& ToddlersGroup	0	1,680
Othergrants	3,846	1,578
Youth project income	7,525	0
From formermembers	2,000	520
Music Events	0	1,358
Traidcraft	0	0
Badminton	225	220
Baptism, wedding& funeral donations	800	300
Fees donated	0	0
Synod grant manse and church	11,948	0
Others inc food court	0	840
Synod energy improvement grant	0	17,796
Community garden grant	367	4,300
	32,143	33,067
People& Outreach Fund (includes Older
persons activity project)
Congregational donations	0	647
Sutton Coldfield Town Council Grant	0	1,100
	0	1,747
Total	32,142	34,814

3 Salaries, fees & grants

2024 2023 £ &

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report a

Wages and Salaries
Minister's carand book allowances (after	1,310	55
20% Synod recovery)
Pulpit& Organist supply	320	160
Caretakers, Cleaners and others	25,325	20,876
Youth worker expenditure	2,033
Employers’ NIC& Pension contributions	762	1,958
	29,750	23,050
4 Manse expenses
	2024	2023
	£	£
Council tax (after20% Synod recovery)	2,554	2,359
Water (after20% Synod recovery)	293	549
Repairs& renewals (after £500 Synod	10,189	1,324
Grant)
	13,036	4,232

5 Church expenses
	2024	2023
	£	£
Gas	9,702	11,557
Insurance (2023 inc fabric spend)	5,841
Electricity	4,43]	3,637
Water	893	1,099
Rates
Telephone& WIFI	547	608
Subscriptions and Licences	2,363
Instrument Maintenance	1,372
	25,149	16,901

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6 Fabric Committee

6 Fabric Committee
	2024	2023
	£	£
Church and halls (2023 inc insurance)	12,364	15,896
Fabric Projects 2023 energy	317	37,354
improvements
Synod Fencing Grant	0	0
Field toilet and community garden	5,223	8,790
	17,904	62,040
7 Debtors
	2024	2023
	£	£
Lettings	4,862	1,448
Prepayments	6,646	6,439
Other debtors	0	0
	11,508	7,887

8 Investments

Churches’ Mutual Credit Union account having a balance of £40,407 (2022: £40,306). HSBC deposit accounts £43,582 Chartiy bank account £50,000

9 Creditors

Creditors
	2023	2022
	£	£
Commitment for
Life
Utilities		2,029
Other creditors&	4,743	3,450
accruals
Amounts held for
Church purposes:
Choir gown fund	0	0
Christmas	0	0
Collections
	4,743	3,795

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