## **LIFE TRANSFORMATION CHURCH, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE.** ## **Trustees’ report and Financial statements** ## **For the year ended 31st December 2023** **Legal and administrative information** **Registered Charity Name** Life Transformation Church, (Newcastle upon Tyne) **Charity Number** 1136290 **Business address** Life Transformation Community Centre Havelock Place High Elswick Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 6JT **Trustees:** Dr. Julius Fashanu Appointed 27 Dec 2009 Mr. Robert Reeves Appointed 27 Dec 2009 Ms. Magret Chataika Appointed 27 Dec 2009 Mrs. Winifred Fashanu Appointed 27 Dec 2009 Rev. Pre Ovia Appointed 27 Dec 2009 Mr. Michael Adebayo Appointed 04 Dec 2016 **Independent Examiner:** Mr. John Bedigan 24 Otterburn Road North Shields Tyne and Wear NE29 9BJ ## **Bankers:** HSBC plc, 110 Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6JG 1 The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st December 2023 ## **Reference and Administrative Details** Reference and administrative details are shown in the schedule of members of the board and professional advisers on page 1 of the financial statements. All the Trustees who served during the period were as listed on page 1. ## **Structure, Governance, and Management** Life Transformation Church is a registered charity, registered number is 1136290. ## **Governing Document** Life Transformation Church is governed by its Constitution, adopted 27th December 2009. ## **Governance and Management** The Trustees, who are appointed in accordance with the requirements of the constitution, meet on a regular basis to decide overall policies and financial matters. The only Trustee who does not attend in person regularly because of his location from Newcastle has always been kept informed of the matters regarding the charity and most often his contributions are usually noted and discussed during meetings. It is important to mention that, this member of Trustees is always in attendance during our 3-day special anniversary conventions every year. When it is required, new Trustees are elected by the existing Trustees and members of the charity. Each new Trustee is provided with a copy of the charity’s constitution and is made aware of the advice obtainable from charities commission in respect of Trustees duties and responsibilities. The Trustees meet regularly to discuss matters of governance. The Trustees’ chairperson also appoints various heads of departments who report functionally to a member of the trustees or the sub-committee. These are heads of Choir, Children, Youth, Technical and Media, Ushers, Building committee, Planning committee, Prayer, Hospitality, House Caring Fellowship, Cleaning, Publicity and Evangelism and they meet regularly and whenever the need arises; and most especially during preparations for our yearly regular events. 2 ## **Objectives and Activities:** ## **Charitable objects** The Trustees have the responsibility of running the charity and promoting its various values in line with its charitable objects which are as follows: ## **Activities to achieve the objects** 1. Pastoral Care – The Trustees are committed to carrying out a pastoral needs analysis with a view to identifying persons who are in hardship and are in need of care. The Charity responds by providing financial help, prayers and counselling. This is provided to anyone who is in need of pastoral care and it is offered without any discrimination or prejudice. 2. Educational – In line with its charitable object, the Trustees provided monthly evangelistic forum in various communities in Tyne and Wear for people of different persuasions, classes, cultures and race to enable them to learn about the Christian Faith. 3. Spirituality – This is provided in the Christian context through worship, prayer and preaching. The Church helps members of the parish to live out their Faith and trust in Jesus Christ through practical teachings and illustrations/applications of Biblical doctrines. 4. Missions – The Charity is committed to missionary activities around the world. ## **Achievements and Performance** The following is a summary of some of our achievements and performances this year. - Since the beginning of the year 2010, the charity operated from the community hall of the premises that were secured on a long-term lease as a permanent place of worship. However, as a result of the progress of the building repair and restoration which commenced in 2014, the meetings progressed to other parts of the church building for church prayer meetings and children activities. On 31st December 2021, the main church building was opened for full church services and therefore, the whole premises became fully functional from December 2021 upwards. - During this financial year 2023, the charity started a food surplus collection and distribution activities. We collected surplus food items from food retail organizations that we were registered with. Every Saturday and Sunday, the premises are opened at specific times for members of the community and city to pick/collect food and other 3 non-perishable products from our premises. The Trustees’ were pleased to be able to contribute their part in alleviating hunger for the needy residents in the city by providing this service. - During year 2023, Life Transformation Church, organised and hosted numerous activities which were physically held in the church and also online. Programs such as Sunday services, Friday services, FAPUSSH were held physically in the church premises while the Sunday school bible studies were held online three Saturdays every month. - Anniversary programs, Women of Glory conference and Praise and Worship programs that promote social cohesion and skills building for the benefit of the local and wider community were held physically and broadcasted live through social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, etc. - Homework study club for pupils and the Gr8 Youth activities which were designed to engage and equip our youths with necessary skills were held every Friday after school hours during school term. - The Trustees decided that it will continue to engage with the community through its monthly evangelistic program and other social cohesion events by investing in streaming instruments to enable live broadcasting of all programs. - During the year, the charity hired the upstairs space of the church hall as premises to other Religious denominations. The downstairs part of the community Centre is also hired out to others on a long term basis for community activities. - The major regular annual events such as: the Easter events and the Christmas carols by candlelight, Summer activities and Annual anniversary convention, Praise festival and Cross-over service which attracted a number of members and other members of Christian organizations were held during the year 2023. - The charity also sent money to United Christian Broadcast in the UK as a donation for receiving “Word for Today” quarterly devotional booklets for Church members. Other charitable organizations that were also supported included the Christian Aid and Mercy ships, UK. - The Charity is a member of Together in Christ (Churches in Newcastle) and has been involved with projects that help, listen and care for vulnerable people. The senior 4 pastor meet as often as possible every week with other church leaders via the ZOOM platform for prayers for the city, nation, and other matters that promote cohesion and leadership unity. We are also part of the Tyneside Leader’s Forum which meets twice a year at selected locations within Newcastle City Centre. - Special seminars and activities which addressed the needs of singles and couples within the Church community in order to promote and enhance family unity and uphold marriage values were held during the year. The charity will continue to support and promote these programs as part of the main activities of the church. - Women within the community were given opportunities to socialize, interact and pray for each other via the weekly mothers’ prayer group held every Wednesday evening. They also hold annual convention which is titled “women of Glory convention” and this affords our women to meet and socialize and relate with other women nationally and internationally. - Regular monthly meetings of the Men group within the church which enhance greater fatherly roles in the Church and help family stability within the society were held every third Saturdays of each month at an agreed location. Father’s day activities were also held during the year and these helped the men in the church and the wider community to interact positively. The Charity continues to enjoy the services of various volunteers. All volunteers worked so hard day and night to make our Church the lively and vibrant community that it is today, and we are immensely grateful to every one of them. The Trustees reiterate that the success of the Charity could not have been achieved were it not for the priceless contributions of all those who volunteered to serve, for example, the pastoral team, members of the Core Team, and Heads of Departments and their teams. Once again, the Trustees would like to thank every Church volunteer for their excellent and relentless contribution; and we pray that our Almighty God will reward each one of them abundantly in their endeavors. ## **Financial Review** The income of the Church is derived predominantly from donations by the members through voluntary gifts of Tithes and Offerings. Total receipts on unrestricted funds during the year amounted to £84,717.00 whilst total receipts on the restricted funds amounted to zero, i.e. there were no restricted funds received during the year. 5 The Charity will continue to process gift aid claims arising from Gift Aid donations from the Inland Revenue as we have done in previous years. The gift aid donation received from the government for contributions made by members in the year 2023 was £8,295.00. This year, the Charity is carrying forward a total unrestricted fund of £2,445.00. ## **Statement of Responsibilities of the Trustees:** The trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law in United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity's financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view, the trustees are required to: - Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently - Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent - Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## **Independent Examiner** : The charity’s Board of Trustees agreed that the services of a new firm of accountants should be sought to replace Mr. John Bedigan (who has informed us of his intending retirement later this year, 2025). The new firm, once the terms of the engagement have been agreed and approved by the trustees will then act as the independent examiner for the Charity in the near future. The report was approved by the board of trustees on……………………… Date:………..... 17th June, 2025…………… and Signed on behalf of Board of Trustees by _Chairperson, Dr. Julius Fashanu, Ph.D., Newcastle._ 6 Life Transformation Church Havelock Place ComD]unity CeDtre Newcastle upon Tyne NE46 Cbarity Regtstered Number 1136290 Financial Statement Year ended 31 December 2023 John Bedigan Accountant and coY￿lIant 24 Otted)urn Road North Shields Tyue and W¢ar NE29 9BJ TeUF￿ 0191 258 5521 Email: JohnBedigall@mail.com Life Tr￿fO￿ation Church Receipts Paynients Accouut Year elld￿ 31 December 2023 UDr￿tricted Funds Restrfficted Fllnds Total 2023 Total 2022 Bulldi Receipts Tithes and offerings Rent receiv 51559 51559 59490 7513 7513 3450 Building fill Interest received 260 124 124 Gift Aid Tax 8295 8295 9468 Books 236 236 Audio proj¢ Mcn's Gro 4045 4045 404 3070 Other tnswan¢¢ recovered 68 12473 68 12473 1014 84717 84717 76761 Payments R¢nt and rdt¢s 8425 8425 9471 4621 4621 4221 Heating and lighting Buildiog njaintenance and ¢l¢aning Other repairs Equipment and fixttres Profe8sionai f¢es and licellc 8384 8384 5566 4507 4507 2538 848 2825 2825 17173 197 197 1337 Building renovation Bank charges Stationery and books aliidren and youth minisiry Transport Ministy f¢es and costs Head Offi¢¢ tithe 12723 12723 14692 179 179 189 301 301 731 1062 1062 513 2263 2263 2843 13595 13595 13142 325 ChaTiti¢s and p&storal ￿ft5 Conferences and events 3300 33(Kl 2015 5773 5773 2695 Sundries 158 158 645 Tele¢ommunicaiions Audio project 738 15551 738 15551 801 84602 84602 79745 Net surplus (deficit) before transfe SuTplus (deficit) brought forward 115 (2984) {16028) (19012) (1￿12) Adjusted s￿pIUS (deficit) c2rri¢d forwBrd (18897) (18897) (19012) Llfe TransformatioD Church Movement of Funds Opening b*lanc Crnt a¢count Closing balaDCf5 CwTent account 1323 1445 Deposit account Cash io haad 10(KJ D¢p)sit account Cth in Iw¥J iooo 2330 2445 Surplus for the y¢ar 115 Dcficit for the year 2445 2445 Lfife Transforniation Churcb Statement of Assets and Llsbllities as at 31 December 2023 FMDd to whfie asset belongs Restricted Cash funds Bank balartts and cash UDTcstrict 2445 Cost Current value Restricted 479250 479250 As5et5 retsined for ibe ¢harity'8 ovrn use 88822 88822 62524 36518 Signed on behalf of the trustees Date LI............J.WKL. 2oxg Ind¢peDdent examin¢r's report to the tru$te¢s of Llfe Tran$f0rn12tion Church (Newcsstle upon Tyne) Charity re￿atiOll number 1136290 I report on the accounts of th¢ ctLur¢h for the year ended 31 December 2023. Respeelfive responsibllities of trustee5 and examfiner The church's trustKs ar¢ Iwonsible for the wcpatation of the acc(Kmts. The church's ttU5trKs consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act)) and that an ltide￿dent exaMI￿tion is nttd It 15 tlly rcsponsibility to: examine the a¢¢ounts under section 145 of the CEMtities Acl to follow the pr(￿eth￿e8 laid down in tbe general Directiolls given by the Charity Conllnissioll under s¢¢tion 145(5)(b) of the Cbariti&s ACL. and to state whether particular matters have come to my attelltion. Basis of examiner's statement My ¢xamitvdtion was carried out in accordance with the general Directions giv¢n by the Cl)arity Commission. An examination includ¢s a review of the accounting records kept by the church and a comparison of the ￿Oullts presented with those I￿OrdS. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedurc5 undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no OPiDion is ￿Ven as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair'view and the report is limited to thos¢ matt￿S set out in the statenKnt below. Iodepelldent eiaminer's statement In coDn¢ction with my examiDatio￿ Th) matter has c¢)me to my attention: which gives me reasonable callse to believe that in any nut¢rial reSp￿t the requirements: to keep accounting records in accorance with section 130 of th¢ Chatities Act. to prcpar¢ accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the counting requirements of the awities Act have not be¢n nwL or to which. in my Opinio￿ attcntion should be drawn in order to enable a prO￿r understsnding of the accounts to be reache(L John Bedigan AccountAnt and Tax Consultant 24 Otterburn Road North Shields Tyllc and Wear NE29 9BJ I210612025