2024-03-31-accounts

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1139586

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Unaudited Financial Statements

31 March 2024

GORDON DOWN & COMPANY LIMITED

Accountants & Business Advisers 144 Walter Road Swansea SA1 5RW

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Financial Statements

Year ended 31 March 2024

	Page
Trustees' annual report	1
Independent examiner's report to the trustees	5
Statement of financial activities	6
Statement of financial position	7
Notes to the financial statements	8
The following pages do not form part of the financial statements
Detailed statement of financial activities	17
Notes to the detailed statement of financial activities	18

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Trustees' Annual Report

Year ended 31 March 2024

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Reference and administrative details

Registered charity name	Bethlehem Church Life Centre
Charity registration number	1139586
Principal office	Bethlehem Church Life Centre
	Cefn Road
	Cefn Cribbwr
	Brigend
	CF32 0AA
The trustees
	D Udraufski
	R Lewis
	R Steed
Independent examiner	Carl West
	144 Walter Road
	Swansea
	SA1 5RW

1

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

Structure, governance and management

Governing document

BCLC was registered with the charity commission on 30th December 2010 and the Trust Deed that was made on the 5th June 1943 for Bethlehem Pentecost Church remains as the governing document. The Guiding Principles document of BCLC underpins and supports this. However, the charity is in a transition period, and these previously stated arrangements in relation to the trust deed and guiding principles are coming to an end. A new constitution has been drafted and accepted by the members in a vote in the AGM, October 30th 2022; this is to prepare BCLC to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The documentation and application in relation to becoming a CIO is being prepred and the trustees are looking to submit this to the Charity Commission for approval in the near future. This will complete the transition into a CIO.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Trustees are members of the Church and typically meet four times a year and will also meet on other occasions if necessary. They bring with them a broad range of skills and abilities drawn from their various roles within the Church and also in their professional lives to ensure the effective running of the charity. They are elected by the Church members for a three year period.

Risk Management

The centre reopened for church services and some community activities after a period of closure in relation to COVID. The trustees have invested considerable time and money in repairing and maintaining the fabric of the building, and this is an ongoing project.

Organisational Structure

BCLC Church currently has no paid staff. Eldership, leadership and trustee positions, as well as that of treasurer, are all undertaken voluntarily. However, as the building has gradually begun to be used by the community, we have enlisted the help of one our our tenants employees to man the building when it is being used or hired by community organisations.

Future Plans

To continue to meet weekly as a church on Sunday mornings, and to provide publicly accessible events reflecting the church calender to serve our community (e.g. Christmas, Easter, etc). To maintain mid-week local small group meetings in homes.

To maintain and, if needed, to develop our uniform swap shop and regular food box deliveries to help struggling families.

To continue to maintain our building and completion of some refurbishment already begun- specifically in relation to the electrics.

To consider taking on new public bookings of the facilities at BCLC; we are currently in discussions with community groups looking to make long term, on-going bookings of specific areas of the building. This situation makes the building improvement works even more pressing.

To investigate manageable and sustainable ways of staffing the building so that more regular bookings can be facilitated and BCLC can increase its presence in the community.

2

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

Objectives and activities

The objectives of the charity as as follows:

• " General Charitable Purposes

• " Education/training

• " The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives

• " Support of Disability

• " The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

• " Overseas Aid/famine Relief

• " Religious Activities

• " Arts/culture/heritage/science

• " Amateur Sport

• " Economic/community Development/employment

Who the charity helps:

• " Children/young People

• " Elderly/old People

• " People With Disabilities

• " Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies

• " The General Public/mankind

How the charity helps:

• " Provides Human Resources

• " Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space

• " Provides Services

• " Provides Advocacy/advice/information

3

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

Achievements and performance

The charity has successfully established long term tenants for the building, with the Bridgend Carers Association beginning a rental agreement from March 13th 2024. They are currently using the building as their working base and have also run community cafes and other events from the building. This is very much in line with the ethos of the charity to support community organisations which benefit those living in the Bridgend area.

The building has also gradually opened up to more community events and organisations, hosting Cefn Cribbwr Rugby Club, School District Choir Concerts, Bridgend Foster Association with the potential of facilitating further events and possible hires in 2025. The charity has successfully worked with the Bridgend Carers to identify one of their part time staff members as a Centre Event Manager, so that we are able to host more events, without having to over burden members of the church. This has already proven very successful and will continue to be an avenue the charity will look to develop.

The Charity has continued to support local families suffering from food poverty, providing food boxes on a fortnightly and more recently monthly basis to families in the Bridgend Borough. Further funding has been secured during the year and a successful and necessary service has continued to thrive.

The Uniform Swap Shop has also continued to grow, with hundreds of items of clothing and shoes being freely distributed to families within the local community. This has been run on a purely voluntary basis, in collaboration with families and parents within the local community.

Financial review

The Charity's net outgoings for the year amounted to £9,413 (compared to net outgoing resources in 2023 of £420). There were various restricted funds received during the year. These funds were expended on agreed costs. Any unspent revenue income is carried forward to next year. The total unrestricted funds at the end of the year represent the Charity's free reserves and amounted to £27,211 (2023 - £39,612).

The trustees' annual report was approved on 6 January 2025 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

R Lewis Trustee

R Steed Trustee

4

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Year ended 31 March 2024

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Bethlehem Church Life Centre ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

3. the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.

I 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.

Carl West Independent Examiner

144 Walter Road Swansea SA1 5RW

6 January 2025

5

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Statement of Financial Activities

Year ended 31 March 2024

			2024		2023
		Unrestricted	Restricted
		funds	funds	Total funds	Total funds
	Note	£	£	£	£
Income and endowments
Donations and legacies	4	20,268	5,395	25,663	26,074
Other trading activities	5	696	–	696	608
Investment income	6	–	–	–	12
		────────	───────	────────	────────
Total income		20,964	5,395	26,359	26,694
		════════	═══════	════════	════════
Expenditure
Expenditure on charitable activities	7,8	33,365	2,408	35,772	27,114
		────────	───────	────────	────────
Total expenditure		33,365	2,408	35,772	27,114
		════════	═══════	════════	════════
		────────	───────	────────	────────
Net expenditure and net movement	in
funds		(12,401)	2,987	(9,413)	(420)
		════════	═══════	════════	════════
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward		39,612	3,925	43,537	43,957
		────────	───────	────────	────────
Total funds carried forward		27,211	6,912	34,123	43,537
		════════	═══════	════════	════════

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 8 to 15 form part of these financial statements.

6

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Statement of Financial Position

31 March 2024

		2024	2023
	Note	£	£
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets	13	12,646	8,936
Current assets
Debtors	14	3,275	96
Cash at bank and in hand		19,043	36,795
		────────	────────
		22,318	36,891
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year	15	840	2,290
		────────	────────
Net current assets		21,478	34,601
		────────	────────
Total assets less current liabilities		34,124	43,537
		────────	────────
Net assets		34,124	43,537
		════════	════════
Funds of the charity
Restricted funds		6,912	3,925
Unrestricted funds		27,211	39,612
		────────	────────
Total charity funds	16	34,123 ════════	43,537 ════════

These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 6 January 2025, and are signed on behalf of the board by:

R Lewis Trustee

R Steed Trustee

The notes on pages 8 to 15 form part of these financial statements.

7

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 March 2024

1. General information

The charity is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is Bethlehem Church Life Centre, Cefn Road, Cefn Cribbwr, Brigend, CF32 0AA.

2. Statement of compliance

These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act 2011.

3. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.

Going concern

There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.

8

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity; it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

• income from donations or grants is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement to the gift, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably.

• legacy income is recognised when receipt is probable and entitlement is established.

• income from donated goods is measured at the fair value of the goods unless this is impractical to measure reliably, in which case the value is derived from the cost to the donor or the estimated resale value. Donated facilities and services are recognised in the accounts when received if the value can be reliably measured. No amounts are included for the contribution of general volunteers.

• income from contracts for the supply of services is recognised with the delivery of the contracted service. This is classified as unrestricted funds unless there is a contractual requirement for it to be spent on a particular purpose and returned if unspent, in which case it may be regarded as restricted.

Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:

• expenditure on raising funds includes the costs of all fundraising activities, events, non-charitable trading activities, and the sale of donated goods.

• expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.

• other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities.

All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried at revalued amounts are recorded at the fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

9

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Tangible assets (continued)

An increase in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of a revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, unless it reverses a charge for impairment that has previously been recognised as expenditure within the statement of financial activities. A decrease in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, except to which it offsets any previous revaluation gain, in which case the loss is shown within other recognised gains and losses on the statement of financial activities.

Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:

Plant and machinery - 25% reducing balance

Impairment of fixed assets

A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.

For the purposes of impairment testing, when it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, an estimate is made of the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. The cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that includes the asset and generates cash inflows that largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.

For impairment testing of goodwill, the goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of the cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the charity are assigned to those units.

Financial instruments

A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs.

Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.

Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost.

Where investments in shares are publicly traded or their fair value can otherwise be measured reliably, the investment is subsequently measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in income and expenditure. All other such investments are subsequently measured at cost less impairment.

10

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Financial instruments (continued)

Other financial instruments, including derivatives, are initially recognised at fair value, unless payment for an asset is deferred beyond normal business terms or financed at a rate of interest that is not a market rate, in which case the asset is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

Other financial instruments are subsequently measured at fair value, with any changes recognised in the statement of financial activities, with the exception of hedging instruments in a designated hedging relationship.

Financial assets that are measured at cost or amortised cost are reviewed for objective evidence of impairment at the end of each reporting date. If there is objective evidence of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised under the appropriate heading in the statement of financial activities in which the initial gain was recognised.

For all equity instruments regardless of significance, and other financial assets that are individually significant, these are assessed individually for impairment. Other financial assets are either assessed individually or grouped on the basis of similar credit risk characteristics.

Any reversals of impairment are recognised immediately, to the extent that the reversal does not result in a carrying amount of the financial asset that exceeds what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not previously been recognised.

4. Donations and legacies

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2024
	£	£	£
Donations
Donations type 1	20,268	–	20,268
Grants
Welsh Church Act Fund	–	5,395	5,395
	────────	───────	────────
	20,268	5,395	25,663
	════════	═══════	════════
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2023
	£	£	£
Donations
Donations type 1	21,074	5,000	26,074
Grants
Welsh Church Act Fund	–	–	–
	────────	───────	────────
	21,074	5,000	26,074
	════════	═══════	════════

11

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

5. Other trading activities

		Unrestricted	Total Funds	Unrestricted	Total Funds
		Funds	2024	Funds	2023
		£	£	£	£
	Generated income	696	696	608	608
		════	════	════	════
6.	Investment income
		Unrestricted	Total Funds	Unrestricted	Total Funds
		Funds	2024	Funds	2023
		£	£	£	£
	Bank interest receivable type 1	–	–	12	12
		════	════	════	════
7.	Expenditure on charitable activities	by fund type
			Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
			Funds	Funds	2024
			£	£	£
	Charitable activities		32,524	2,408	34,931
	Support costs		841	–	841
			────────	───────	────────
			33,365	2,408	35,772
			════════	═══════	════════
			Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
			Funds	Funds	2023
			£	£	£
	Charitable activities		19,118	7,126	26,244
	Support costs		870	–	870
			────────	───────	────────
			19,988	7,126	27,114
			════════	═══════	════════

8. Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type

	Activities
	undertaken		Total funds	Total fund
	directly Support costs		2024	2023
	£	£	£	£
Charitable activities	34,931	–	34,931	26,244
Governance costs	–	841	841	870
	────────	────	────────	────────
	34,931	841	35,772	27,114
	════════	════	════════	════════
Net expenditure
Net expenditure is stated after charging/(crediting):
			2024	2023
			£	£
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets			2,775	2,978
			═══════	═══════

9. Net expenditure

12

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

10. Independent examination fees

2024 2023 £ £ Fees payable to the independent examiner for: Independent examination of the financial statements 840 450

11. Staff costs

The average head count of employees during the year was Nil (2023: Nil).

No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2023: Nil).

12. Trustee remuneration and expenses

No remuneration or other benefits from employment with the charity or a related entity were received by the trustees

13. Tangible fixed assets

			Plant and
			machinery
			£
	Cost
	At 1 April 2023		27,560
	Additions		6,485
			────────
	At 31 March 2024		34,045
			════════
	Depreciation
	At 1 April 2023		18,624
	Charge for the year		2,775
			────────
	At 31 March 2024		21,399
			════════
	Carrying amount
	At 31 March 2024		12,646
			════════
	At 31 March 2023		8,936
			════════
14.	Debtors
		2024	2023
		£	£
	Trade debtors	–	96
	Prepayments and accrued income	3,275	–
		───────	────
		3,275	96
		═══════	════

13

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

15. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

	2024	2023
	£	£
Accruals and deferred income	840	2,290
	════	═══════

16. Analysis of charitable funds

Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds
				At
	At		31 March 202
	1 April 2023	Income	Expenditure	4
	£	£	£	£
General funds	39,612	20,964	(33,365)	27,211
	════════	════════	════════	════════
				At
	At			31 March 202
	1 April 2022	Income	Expenditure	3
	£	£	£	£
General funds	37,906	21,694	(19,988)	39,612
	════════	════════	════════	════════
Restricted funds
				At
	At		31 March 202
	1 April 2023	Income	Expenditure	4
	£	£	£	£
Foodlocker	3,925	–	(1,868)	2,057
Welsh Church Act Fund	–	5,395	(540)	4,855
	───────	───────	───────	───────
	3,925	5,395	(2,408)	6,912
	═══════	═══════	═══════	═══════
				At
	At			31 March 202
	1 April 2022	Income	Expenditure	3
	£	£	£	£
Foodlocker	6,051	5,000	(7,126)	3,925
Welsh Church Act Fund	–	–	–	–
	───────	───────	───────	───────
	6,051	5,000	(7,126)	3,925
	═══════	═══════	═══════	═══════

14

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

17. Analysis of net assets between funds

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2024
	£	£	£
Tangible fixed assets	7,792	4,854	12,646
Current assets	20,260	2,058	22,318
Creditors less than 1 year	(840)	–	(840)
	────────	───────	────────
Net assets	27,212	6,912	34,124
	════════	═══════	════════
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2023
	£	£	£
Tangible fixed assets	8,936	–	8,936
Current assets	32,966	3,925	36,891
Creditors less than 1 year	(2,290)	–	(2,290)
	────────	───────	────────
Net assets	39,612	3,925	43,537
	════════	═══════	════════

15

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Management Information

Year ended 31 March 2024

The following pages do not form part of the financial statements.

16

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities

Year ended 31 March 2024

	2024	2023
	£	£
Income and endowments
Donations and legacies
Donations type 1	20,268	26,074
Welsh Church Act Fund	5,395	–
	────────	────────
	25,663	26,074
	────────	────────
Other trading activities
Generated income	696	608
	────	────
Investment income
Bank interest receivable type 1	–	12
	────	────
	────────	────────
Total income	26,359	26,694
	════════	════════
Expenditure
Expenditure on charitable activities
Purchases	–	2,710
Rates and water	–	287
Light and heat	8,235	3,366
Repairs and maintenance	10,508	1,834
Insurance	4,340	3,686
Other establishment	58	489
Legal and professional fees	841	870
Telephone	713	536
Other office costs	1,491	(290)
Depreciation	2,774	2,978
Direct charitable activity 1- bank charges	83	84
Direct charitable activity 1 - Foodlocker	1,867	7,615
Direct charitable activity 1- Donations	3,338	1,958
Direct chaitable activity 1 - Leasing & equipment hire	1,145	991
Direct charitable activity - website and software costs	379	–
	────────	────────
	35,772	27,114
	────────	────────
	────────	────────
Total expenditure	35,772	27,114
	════════	════════
	────────	────────
Net expenditure	(9,413)	(420)
	════════	════════

17

Bethlehem Church Life Centre

Notes to the Detailed Statement of Financial Activities

Year ended 31 March 2024

	2024	2023
	£	£
Expenditure on charitable activities
Charitable activities
Activities undertaken directly
Direct charitable activity 1 - purchases	–	2,710
Direct charitable activity 1 - rates & water	–	287
Direct charitable activity 1 - light & heat	8,235	3,366
Direct charitable activity 1 - repairs & maintenance	10,508	1,834
Direct charitable activity 1 - insurance	4,340	3,686
Direct charitable activity 1 - other establishment	58	489
Direct charitable activity 1 - telephone	713	536
Direct charitable activity 1 - other office costs	1,491	(290)
Direct charitable activity 1 - depreciation	2,774	2,978
Direct charitable activity 1- bank charges	83	84
Direct charitable activity 1 - Foodlocker	1,867	7,615
Direct charitable activity 1- Donations	3,338	1,958
Direct chaitable activity 1 - Leasing & equipment hire	1,145	991
Direct charitable activity - website and software costs	379	–
	────────	────────
	34,931	26,244
	────────	────────
Governance costs
Governance costs - accountancy fees	841	870
	────	────
	────────	────────
Expenditure on charitable activities	35,772	27,114
	════════	════════

18