2024-12-31-accounts - Sparkfish

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www.sparkfish.org.uk

SPARKFISH

Charity Registration Number: 1139684

31 December 2024

Annual Report and Financial Statements

Tandem Accounting Chartered Accountants 17 Heathville Road London N19 3AL

SPARKFISH

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024 Contents

	Page
Legal and administrative information	2
Annual Report of the Trustees	3
Independent Examiner's report to the Trustees	7
Statement of financial activities	8
Balance sheet	9
Notes to the financial statements	10

SPARKFISH

Legal and Administrative Information For the year ended 31 December 2024

Charity Name SparkFish Charity Registration no. 1139684. The Charity was registered with the Charity Commission on 5[th] January 2011. Registered Office St John's Church Centre, Church Road, Redhill, Surrey RH1 6QA. Governing Document Trust Deed dated 4[th] November 2010. Objectives (a) to advance the Christian faith in accordance with its stated statement of beliefs in Surrey and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Trustees may from time to time think fit and to fulfil such other purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the law of England and Wales and are connected with the charitable work of the Trust.

(b) to advance education in accordance with Christian principles by such means as the Trustees may consider appropriate in Surrey and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Trustees may from time to time think fit

Trustees The Trustees who served during the year or who were serving at the date of this report were: Paul Taylor Hermione Puzey Leslie Jackson (Chair) Eddie Newton Alison Elson Sue Land (resigned 31 December 2023) Philipsia Greenway Key Management Personnel Those in charge of planning, directing, controlling, running and operating the Charity, including those members of staff who are the senior management personnel to whom the trustees have delegated significant authority or responsibility in the day-to-day running of the Charity are the Director, Deputy Director and the Chair of the Trustees. Bankers Lloyds TSB 11 High Street Horley Surrey RH6 7BJ Independent John Helm ACA Examiner Tandem Accounting Limited 17 Heathville Road London N19 3AL

SPARKFISH

Annual Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 December 2024

The Trustees submit their annual report and the financial statements of SparkFish (“the Charity”) for the year ended 31 December 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in the format prescribed by the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP2019 (FRS102)) and the Financial Reporting Standard 102. The legal and administrative information set out earlier in this document forms part of this report.

1. Structure, Governance & Management

1.1. Trustees

The Trustees meet 10 times a year to discuss a full range of matters relating to strategy, project work, recruitment, finance and general administration. Trustees consult regularly with local church ministers. None of the Trustees receives remuneration. Business and pastoral skills are well represented amongst the Trustees. Trustees aim to maintain and, where necessary, expand this range of skills and experience through training.

The induction process for any individual newly appointed to the board of Trustees comprises an initial meeting with at least two of the Trustees (whenever possible one of these two Trustees being the Chair) and a written role description, referring to other key documents:

the Charity Commission’s guidance ‘The Essential Trustee’
the Trust Deed of the Charity
the Charity’s financial position

1.2 Risk Management

The Trustees acknowledge that they have a responsibility for the identification and proper management of risks faced by the Charity in achieving its primary aims. The Trustees have therefore assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, in particular those relating to the specific operational areas of the Charity, its investments and its finances. The Trustees believe that, by monitoring reserve levels, by ensuring that controls exist over key financial systems, and by examining the operational risks faced by the Charity, they have established effective systems and procedures to mitigate those risks.

1.3 Staff

During 2024 the Charity employed a Director (returned from maternity leave in January 2024), initially working part-time and then full-time again from September 2024. The Charity also employed a full-time Deputy Director, and one full-time and one part-time Co-ordinator for two of the strands of its ministry. The part-time Co-ordinator left in August 2024. The Deputy Director is also the Learn Co-ordinator. They were supported by one part-time paid sessional school mentor, staff from local churches and a team of regular volunteers. The charity also employs a part-time administrator.

2. Activities, Strategies and the Public Benefit

The Trustees have given due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The Trustees believe that the Charity provides benefit to the public by providing schools ministry on behalf of local churches. This involves leading and coordinating visits to local primary and secondary schools to support and provide:

Collective worship and religious education;
Opportunities for spiritual development; and
Mentoring, group work and support for transition, self-esteem and relationships.

3. Achievements and Performance

In 2024 SparkFish expanded our support to officially include the town of Horley. As of September 2024, our staff team now consists of three full-time workers, one part-time administrator and a sessional school mentor.

The Charity:

Had contact across all of the strands of its work with approximately 7800 students;
Worked with 25 of the 31 Primary Schools in Reigate, Redhill, Merstham and Horley; and

SPARKFISH

Annual Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 December 2024

Worked with 8 out of 9 Secondary Schools in Reigate, Redhill and Merstham;

Achievements under each strand were as follows:

1. Learn : RE collective worship

Led collective worship in 7 Primary Schools, partnering with three ‘Open the Book’ teams (a Bible Society initiative) and a partner school’s worker in Horley;
Provided in-person RE events for Years 2 and 5 to learn about the key stories of the Christian faith, welcoming 21 schools to ‘The Christmas Journey’ with 1100 children attending and 12 schools to ‘The Easter Experience’ with 600 children attending;
Had our second Horley Christmas Journey, welcoming new Horley volunteers to the team;
Led additional RE lessons in 3 schools, using ‘Walk through the Bible’ (a Bible.org initiative), ‘RE Inspired’ resources and a workshop on ‘friendships and social interactions’; and
Started 3 new Christian Unions in 3 of the main Secondary Schools.
Think : A special space in the curriculum for reflection, wonder and prayer
Led Think! Spaces in a total of 14 schools, 10 Primary Schools and 4 Secondary Schools; and continued to support Think Spaces in Caterham School.
Hope : Student support at times of transition and challenge, through lessons, mentoring, courses and clubs
Led transitions workshops in 8 Primary Schools, supporting 460 children moving to Secondary School;
Provided Drawing and Talking Therapy in 2 Primary Schools to support children with their emotional and wellbeing needs; and
Provided mentoring, lunchtime clubs and group work in 6 Secondary Schools and 1 Primary School, with support from local partner church youth workers.

We continue to have excellent, inspirational feedback from students and staff in schools for all three areas of our work. There are many testimonials and encouraging stories on our website: sparkfish.org.uk

4. Financial Review

Funding for the Charity comes from churches in the Reigate and Redhill area and Horley, donations from individual supporters (regular and one-off), donations from schools, and specific grants or awards.

4.1 Financial Activity and Financial Position

The Statement of Financial Activities and Balance Sheet can be found on pages 8 and 9 respectively. The Charity’s reserves decreased by £10,982 during the year (2023: increased by £20,119). The balance sheet shows total net assets of £46,336 (2023: £57,318).

Included in total funds are amounts totalling £14,500 (2023: £14,000) which are restricted. These monies have either been raised for, and their use restricted to, specific purposes, or they comprise donations subject to donor-imposed conditions. Full details of these restricted funds can be found in note 8 to the accounts together with an analysis of movements in the year.

4.2 Reserves Policy

The Trustees have examined the requirements for free reserves, in other words those unrestricted funds not invested in tangible fixed assets. The Trustees consider that, given the nature of the Charity’s work, free reserves should be equivalent to approximately 3 months’ routine general fund expenditure, plus committed future expenditure on other projects, where funds permit. The Trustees are of the opinion that this provides sufficient flexibility to cover temporary shortfalls in incoming resources and will allow the Charity to cope and respond to unforeseen emergencies whilst specific action plans are implemented. At 31 December 2024 the Charity had net free reserves of £31,724 (2023 £43,094) as follows:

SPARKFISH

Annual Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 December 2024

Total reserves Less: restricted funds Less: unrestricted fixed assets used for the continuing work of the Charity Free reserves Free reserves requirement:3 months’ budgeted routine expenditure	2024	2023 £ 57,318 (14,000) (224)
	£

	46,336
	(14,500)
	(112)

		43,094
	31,724

		30,000
	30,000

4.3 Investment Policy

Funds not immediately required for operating purposes are placed in a bank deposit account.

5. Plans for Future Periods

Demand for all strands of the Charity’s services is strong, and the trustees are committed to energetic fundraising in 2025, to continue to build up the reserves necessary to sustain staffing and meet the needs of local schools and their students. The development of partnership working in Horley will be consolidated and continue in 2025, with wider involvement of local churches in volunteering, hosting events, financial support and governance.

6. Responsibilities of Trustees for the Financial Statements

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. Charity law in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of income and expenditure of the Charity for that period.

In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any 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 activities of the Charity will continue.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enables them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the governing document. The Trustees 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. The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Charity and financial information included in the Charity’s website.

SPARKFISH

Annual Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 December 2024

7. Approval

The report of the Trustees was approved by the Trustees on 26 June 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Leslie Jackson Chair of Trustees

SPARKFISH

Report of the Independent Examiner to the Trustees of SparkFish

I report on the financial statements of SparkFish for the year ended 31 December 2024, set out on pages 8 to 14.

This report is made solely to the Trustees in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). My independent examination has been undertaken so that I might state to the Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by the law, I do not accept responsibility to anyone other than the Trust and the Trustees for my independent examination, for this report, or the opinions I have formed.

RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER

The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144(2) of the Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts (under section 145 of the Act);
follow the procedures laid down in the General Direction given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Act); and
state whether particular matters have come to my attention

BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT

My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. 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 or disclosures in the accounts, 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 I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.

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:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
the accounts 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.

John Helm ACA

26 June 2025

SPARKFISH

Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 December 2024

Unrestricted Funds 2024 £ 92,756 22,605 -		Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ 109,244 11,105 85	Total 2023 £ 123,244 11,105 85
	Total
	2024
	£

	107,256
	22,605
	-

115,361		120,434	134,434
	129,861

126,843 126,843 (11,482) (11,482) 43,318 31,836		110,315	114,315

	140,843

		110,315	114,315
	140,843

		10,119	20,119
	(10,982)

		10,119 33,199	20,119 37,199
	(10,982)

	57,318

		43,318	57,318
	46,336

SPARKFISH

Balance Sheet

For the year ended 31 December 2024

Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
2024	2024	2024	2023
£	£	£	£

112	-	112	224


4,661	-	4,661	6,237
28,480	14,500	42,980	53,754

33,141	14,500	47,641	59,991

1,417	-	1,417	2,897

31,724	14,500	46,224	57,094

31,836	14,500	46,336	57,318




-	14,500	14,500	14,000
31,836	-	31,836	43,318

31,836	14,500	46,336	57,318

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 26 June 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Leslie Jackson Chair of Trustees

Notes to the Financial Statements For the period ended 31 December 2024

SPARKFISH

1. Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 and in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102). The financial statements are drawn up on the historical cost basis of accounting.

The Charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

Income recognition

Voluntary income and donations (including legacies) are accounted for once the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable the income will be received, and the amount of income receivable can be reliably measured. The income from trading activities is shown gross, with the associated costs included in fundraising costs.

Grant income is recognised on a receivable basis. Where grant income specifies use over a time period in which the expenditure of resources will take place, grants received in advance of costs incurred are recognised as deferred income.

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

Expenditure recognition

Expenditure is accrued as soon as a liability is considered probable, and the amount of obligation can be measured reliably. Longer term liabilities are discounted to present value. The Charity is not registered for VAT and accordingly expenditure includes VAT where appropriate.

Expenditure included in Raising Funds includes amounts incurred in obtaining grants and other donations.

Charitable expenditure includes those costs in fulfilling the Charity’s principal objects, as outlined in the Report of the Trustees. These include grants made, governance costs and support costs. Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the Charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice. These costs include costs related to the independent examination and legal fees together with an apportionment of overhead and support costs.

The Charity contributes to certain employees' personal pension plans. These are defined contribution schemes, the assets of which are held separately from those of the Charity. Contributions are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis.

Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are included in the balance sheet at cost. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the full cost or valuation less estimated residual value of each asset over its estimated useful life. The principal rates in use are, for Equipment, fixtures and fittings: 25% on cost.

Debtors

Grants receivable and other debtors are included at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

Notes to the Financial Statements For the period ended 31 December 2024

SPARKFISH

1. Accounting Policies (continued)

Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the Charity has a present obligation arising from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are recognised at their settlement amount.

Fund accounting

The funds held by the Charity are either:

Unrestricted general funds - these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds - these are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the Charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

2. Income

		Total 2023 £ 63,796 5,983 53,465
	Total
	2024
	£

	72,344
	5,412
	29,500

		123,244 11,105 85
	107,256

	22,605


	-

		134,434
129,861

3. Expenditure on Charitable Activities

	Total		Total
	2024		2023
	£		£


	140,003		113,415
	840		900

140,843		114,315

SPARKFISH

Notes to the Financial Statements For the period ended 31 December 2024

3. Expenditure on Charitable Activities (continued)

Staff Costs

Included within expenditure on charitable activities are the following staff costs:

Wages and salaries Social security costs Employer allowance Pension costs Of which the following relate to Key Management Personnel: Wages and salaries Pension costs		2024		2023
		£		£

		108,182		87,608
		9,475		6,742
		(5,000)		(5,000)
		5,143		6,115

		117,800		95,465


		61,879		40,415
		1,485		755

		63,364		41,170

The number of employees during the year was 7 (2023: 6), being 3 (2023: 3) full time school workers, 2 part time school workers (2023: 2) and 2 (2023: 1) part time administrator. No employees received payments in excess of £60,000 during the year.

4. Net Expenditure

This is stated after charging: Depreciation Independent examination		2024		2023
		£		£

		112		488
		840		900

SPARKFISH

Notes to the Financial Statements For the period ended 31 December 2024

5. Tangible Fixed Assets

5. Tangible Fixed Assets
Cost Brought forward at 1 January 2024 Additions Disposals At 31 December 2024 Depreciation Brought forward at 1 January 2024 Charge for Year Disposals At 31 December 2024 Net Book Value At 31 December 2024 At 31 December 2023		Fixtures,
		fittings &
		equipment
		£

		2,262
		-
		-

		2,262


		2,038
		112
		-

		2,150


		112

		224

All of the fixed assets are used for charitable purposes.

6. Debtors

Donations Receivable Gift Aid Tax receivable Prepayments Other Debtors		2024		2023
		£		£

		1,250		-
		2,471		2,934
		940		941
		-		2,362

		4,661		6,237

7. Creditors - Amounts Falling Due Within One Year

Accruals

	2024		2023
	£		£

	1,417		2,896

SPARKFISH

Notes to the Financial Statements For the period ended 31 December 2024

8. Restricted Funds

8a. Current year

Bridging the Gap Hope Strand Draw and Talk Merstham and Redhill	At 1 January 2024 £ 1000 0 13,000 14,000		Income £ - 1,500 13,000 14,500	Expenditure £ (1,000) - (13,000) (14,000)	Transfers £ - - - 0	At 31	At 31
						December
							2024
							£

							0
							1,500
							13,000

							14,500

8b. Prior year

Bridging the Gap Draw and Talk Merstham and Redhill	At 1 January 2023 £ 0 4,000 4,000		Income £ 1,000 13,000 14,000	Expenditure £ - (4,000) (4,000)	Transfers £ - - 0	At 31	At 31
						December
							2023
							£

							1,000
							13,000

							14,000

Descriptions of the main funds are as follows:

Bridging the Gap. The funds received to support workshops that enable Year 6 pupils move onwards to Year 7.

Draw and Talk Merstham. Funds received for Draw and Talk therapy in a Merstham Primary school and Redhill Primary School.

Hope Strand. Funds received for student support at times of transition and challenge, through lessons, mentoring, courses and clubs.

9. Related Party Transactions and Balances

Trustees made aggregate unrestricted donations of £2,330 (2023: £3,300) during the year.

There are no other related party transactions or balances.