2021-02-28-accounts - Southampton Christadelphian Ecclesia

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/03/2020 Period start date To 28/02/2021 Period end date

Charity name: Southampton Christadelphian Ecclesia

Charity registration number: 1140168

Objectives and Activities

----- Start of picture text -----
SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of Para 1.17 To advance the Christian faith in accordance
the charity as set out in its with the Christadelphian Birmingham
governing document Amended Statement of Faith for the benefit
of the public, through the holding of
meetings for worship, prayer and the
preaching of the Gospel, providing religious
teaching and publications, the promotion of
charitable works and the provision of
pastoral care.
----- End of picture text -----

Objectives and Activities	Objectives and Activities	Objectives and Activities
SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document Para 1.17 To advance the Christian faith in accordance with the Christadelphian Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith for the benefit of the public, through the holding of meetings for worship, prayer and the preaching of the Gospel, providing religious teaching and publications, the promotion of charitable works and the provision of pastoral care.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	Sunday services are arranged for Breaking of Bread for worship, prayer and praise, and weekday meetings of Bible Class and Bible Reading Group for study and discussion of scripture. All members of the public are welcome to attend. Baptisms, weddings and funerals are also performed. However, since the introduction of Coronavirus restrictions it has not been practicable to hold our usual Sunday Bible Hour Services, and we have adopted alternative ways of proclaiming the Gospel message. We also use our Hall for Sunday School activities when required. These are open to all children. We wish to advance the gospel for its spiritual and moral benefits to individuals and the public at large, as is the Christian duty. Our activities and free literature are exclusively Bible based, intended for evangelising to attract new members and for encouraging the religious and spiritual development of existing members in furtherance of the way of life in Christ. We promote that way of life, the Bible duty “to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives... eager to do what is good” to all people and to “live at peace with everyone.” Whilst acknowledging social responsibility for the

Public Benefit, we have no involvement in political matters nor any secular aspiration in what we do. Our distribution of religious literature door to door either in person or via Royal Mail is to raise religious awareness by inviting the public to to have free literature to encourage Bible study and belief of the gospel. We raise members’ donations also to support gospel proclamation in the wider UK through other Christadelphian Ecclesias and in Europe and Africa via the Christadelphian Bible Mission. Our pastoral work is organised to visit the elderly, infirm or sick in homes or hospital and attend to the need to cheer and encourage them, as well as to deal with practical difficulties. This can include errands or purchases, financial help or advice, or transport to and from meetings, or medical appointments. Spiritual counsel is also arranged for those with such a need. For work farther afield in the UK, we raise members’ donations for the Christadelphian Benevolent Fund. We also financially support with donations pastoral work principally in the UK by the Christadelphian Isolation League which includes provision of Braille books and matter for those who are deaf, and overseas through the Christadelphian Bible Mission in the use of its Welfare Fund for alleviating hardship. Subject to restrictions we have also run Coffee Mornings which are open to the public and provides a social venue in the area. Another aspect of our charitable work is provision of low-cost accommodation. We own two flats which are let at low rental to tenants disadvantaged by age, infirmity or low income. We have no commercial motive and surplus (when there is any) is ploughed back into the Ecclesial funds. Elderly and ill members of our UK community are cared for in Christadelphian Care Homes and we raise financial support for them. Contributions from our members are made to Christadelphian Benevolent Fund for helping those in need in the UK, to Christadelphian Meal-a-Day for relief of poverty overseas and aid in providing fresh water supplies, farming and health advice. For disaster relief anywhere in the world, we donate to the Christadelphian Samaritan Fund. We also raise funds for charities with a local connection such as those supporting the homeless and needy in the Southampton area, Oakhaven Hospice (Lymington), and

		the Hampshire Air Ambulance, as well as well-known national charities with medical, social or care objectives. We have held fund-raising Coffee Mornings to allow those in the neighbourhood to support us in these causes.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The Trustees declare that, in the planning and execution of our activities, they have considered the Commission’s guidance on Public Benefit, including that given for charities for the advancement of religion.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

----- Start of picture text -----
SORP reference
Para 1.38
Policy on grant making
Para 1.38
Policy on social investment
including program related
investment
The functioning of the Ecclesia depends
Para 1.38 entirely on the services, time and financial
Contribution made by donations freely given by unremunerated
volunteers member volunteers.
The Trustees gratefully acknowledge that we
could not honour our commitments to our
Object without such generous and unstinting
support.
Other
----- End of picture text -----

Achievements and Performance

SORP reference

Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	Shortly after the start of this reporting period it was necessary to make changes to the ecclesial plan due to the implementation of restrictions due to Coronavirus. We have continued with our services by streaming them to our members on zoom. Except for the Bible Hour, the Ecclesial Plan was completed in full, with all the scheduled meetings and services taking place. Visiting speakers joined via Zoom and encouraged and uplifted the congregations. Bible study comprised a mix of lecture, DVD or visual presentations. The Bible Reading Group has continuing to run on Zoom and has attracted a regular visitor. As restrictions have eased we have been able to hold our Sunday services as hybrids, from our hall and on Zoom. The personal delivery of “Glad Tidings” magazines to areas of Southampton has continued and there has been an increase to 20 regular postal recipients. Attendance at the adult meetings averaged approximately 55 attendances per week spread over the three meetings. Total membership averaged 45. Currently we do not have any scholars in our Sunday School. In the year we have held a baptismal service, and sadly also three funeral services. Due to Coronavirus, we have had to change the focus of our gospel proclamation. As a substitute for our Bible Hour we have used both social media, newspapers and advertising outside of our hall to proclaim the Gospel Message. The amount and importance of welfare work is such that it is a standing item on the agenda of the monthly Arranging Trustees’ meeting. The trend towards care and help for the elderly continues. Strictly in accordance with Coronavirus restrictions and advice, this help has comprised visiting at home or in hospital, with private breaking of bread if requested, transport, shopping, comfort and help with funerals, continuing contact with those in Care Homes, dealing with social services and financial matters, all on behalf of those in need, some of whom for various reasons struggle to cope with today’s society. Whilst the requirement for welfare support expenditure has been low this year. The need continues, however, for volunteers’ time and effort for the welfare ministrations, especially since our membership is ageing and needs more and greater attention. This burden falls most heavily on our Welfare

Team and those who assist them and we are particularly indebted for their services. The tenancy of both flats continues, with long term tenants.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Significant expense was incurred to enable our services to be streamed on zoom. However, members donations have continued to be received and income has exceeded expenditure, this has been helped by the rents for the two flats which have both been occupied by tenants for the whole year. The finances of the charity remain in a healthy state.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	The Ecclesia’s policy is to establish within the General Fund (unrestricted) a reserve of £10,000 to meet future unforeseen contingencies, over and above a target working income of £5,000 per annum. This provision is calculated with reference to potential loss of one year’s income and council tax if the flats are vacated.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£10,000
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	No fund was in deficit at 28thFebruary 2021
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	There are currently no uncertainties, The age range of the members of the ecclesia is such that whilst we have a number of elderly members there are sufficient younger members to enable the ecclesia to continue as a going concern.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Our sources of funds are from collections and donations from members and tenants’ rents. When extra funds are needed, e.g., for unforeseen maintenance costs, members are asked to increase donations by single gifts or by contributions made. If further funding is required in time of real need, Ecclesias and other Funds within the Christadelphian body support one another mutually by special appeals. We have not needed to call upon this support to date.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46

Other

Structure, Governance and Management

----- Start of picture text -----
Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing document Para 1.25 Constitution adopted 25 October 2015
(trust deed, royal charter)
How is the charity Para 1.25 Unincorporated Association
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)
Trustee selection methods Para 1.25 All Trustees are elected by ballot of the
including details of any membership annually
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees
----- End of picture text -----

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	Trustees are elected from among experienced members of the Ecclesia. Induction per se is not necessary, since Trustees are introduced to the Charity Commission website publications, with emphasis on CC3 – The Essential Trustees: what you need to know and Public Benefit principles. All periodically receive CC newsletters to keep them abreast of developments. When necessary they are briefed on current topics, such briefings drawing heavily on CC guidance notes.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	All Trustees are members of the Arranging Committee, which makes day-to-day arrangements on behalf of the charity in consultation with the Treasurer. On a monthly basis Trustees review all matters and make necessary decisions on activities and expenditure. The teams for Welfare, Preaching, and Bible Class all report to the Arranging Trustees. Quarterly interim accounts for the Ecclesia are received and reviewed. Members receive minutes of Arranging Trustee meetings and review them half yearly at business meetings to confirm that all aspects of our Object are receiving due attention and diligence.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	To ensure the appropriate use of charitable donations by the Ecclesia and members, these are channelled through other charities in the Christadelphian body, as listed in the Annual Accounts. These charities share our objectives and Trustees are able to be represented on the major ones by attendance and/or voting. We also from time to time collect for local

		Southampton or Hampshire and national charities who help the disadvantaged or have some specific project for public benefit. The aims of these bodies are always examined before we propose them to members for a donation. Consideration of risks which could threaten the operation or reputation of the Ecclesia takes place at the Annual Trustee Meeting in July or otherwise as necessary.
Other		Trustees are elected from among experienced members of the Ecclesia. Induction per se is not necessary, since Trustees are introduced to the Charity Commission website publications, with emphasis on CC3 – The Essential Trustees: what you need to know and Public Benefit principles. All periodically receive CC newsletters to keep them abreast of developments. When necessary they are briefed on current topics, such briefings drawing heavily on CC guidance notes.

Reference and Administrative details

----- Start of picture text -----
Charity name Southampton Christadelphian Ecclesia
Other name the charity uses Southampton Christadelphians
Registered charity number 1140168
Charity’s principal address Christadelphian Hall,
16 St. James Road,
Shirley,
Southampton
SO15 FH
----- End of picture text -----

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

----- Start of picture text -----
Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled
Trustee name Office (if any)
year to appoint trustee (if any)
1 Nicholas Oulton Secretary
2 Timothy Evans Assistant Secretary
3 Martin Haines Treasurer
4 Kenneth Lacey
5 Paul Bonner
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
----- End of picture text -----

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

----- Start of picture text -----
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
David Cox Holding Trustee
Kenneth Lacey Holding Trustee
Keith Millington Holding Trustee
Nicholas Oulton Holding Trustee
----- End of picture text -----

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets None held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date	N. Oulton M. Haines
	Joseph Nicholas John Oulton Martin John Haines
	Secretary Treasurer
	23/12/2021
	23/12/2021

SOUTHAMPTON CHRISTADELPHIAN ECCLESIA

(Charity Reg. No. 1140168)

Statement of Accounts for period from 1[st] March 2020 to 28[th] February 2021

ricted Fund £ 6,861 - 96 10,368 1,148 474 General Fund	Restricted Funds £ £ £ 508 101 6,211 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Witness Fund Welfare Fund External Causes	£ £ 13,681_18,222_ -- 96_160_ 10,368_9,388_ 1,148_916_ 474_442_ Total 2020/21 *Total* *2019/20*
18,947	508 101 6,211	25,767 29,128
£ £ £ £ £ £ -4 0 0 0 -4 848 0 0 0 1,242 1,242 3,196 0 69 0 0 69 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 0 0 0 33 0 501 211 0 0 712 969 0 20 0 0 20 71 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 233 0 0 0 233 0 611 0 0 0 611 0 100 0 0 0 100 0 0 41 0 0 41 322 152 0 0 0 152 37 0 0 0 0 0 255 0 0 679 0 679 1,059 40 0 0 0 40 40 65 0 0 0 65 681 0 0 16 0 16 0 0 0 0 4,969 4,969 4,591 0 0 0 0 0 261 446 0 0 0 446 724 182 0 0 0 182 443 112 0 0 0 112 92 30 0 34 0 64 308
2,501	341 729 6,211	9,782 13,907

ricted Fund £ 2,501 7,560 - 88 360 1,580 106 143 - - - 400 General Fund	Restricted Funds £ £ £ 341 729 6,211 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Witness Fund Welfare Fund External Causes	£ £ 9,782_13,907_ 7,560 14,213 - 5 88 8 360 360 1,580 1,563 106 0 143 0 - 0 - 85 - 60 400 0 Total 2020/21 *Total* *2019/20*
12,738	341 729 6,211	20,019_30,201_

£ 6,209 18,779	£ £ £ 167 -628 - 1,320 11,554 1	2020/21 2019/20 £ £ 5,748 -1,073 31,654_32,728_
24,988	1,487 10,926 1	37,402_31,655_
		£ £ 12,731_12,119_ 89_50_ --
		12,820_12,169_
		24,582_19,486_
		37,402 31,655
		2020/21 2019/20 £ £ 360,000 -- Not valued Not valued 37,402_31,655_ --

Signed on the Ecclesia's behalf by:

Martin Haines Nick Oulton – Secretary Martin Haines -Treasurer

NOTES

1 The Ecclesia's financial statements and accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with Charity Commission guidelines as published, particularly in publication CC15b, Charity Reporting and Accounting: the Essentials (January 2013) and with the use of example accounts.
2 "Members' donations" and “Donations in memoriam” comprise voluntary money contributions to causes approved by them and grants made by the Trustees, in each case to organisations with our own objectives of spreading the Gospel and Bible teaching and promoting welfare and charitable works. In this way, our activities benefit not only the community in Southampton but also a wider field throughout the UK, Europe, Africa and, where natural disasters occur, anywhere in the world. These donations are analysed below:

	2020/21	2019/20	2020/21	2019/20
Spreading the Gospel	£	£	Total	Total
Christadelphian Bible Mission General Fund	445	1,192
Christadelphian Bible Mission Project Aid	250	675
Christadelphian Isolaton League	236	330
Christadelphian Auxiliary Lecturing Society	152	216
Christadelphian Sunday School Union	86	314
Christadelphian Magazine and Publishing Associaton	73	369
Ecclesias and Christadelphian bodies in UK	-	-
Christadelphian Youth organisatons	-	100
			1,242	3,196
	2020/21	2019/20	2020/21	2019/20
Welfare and Charitable Works	£	£	Total	Total
Christadelphian Care Homes	1,362	1,249
Christadelphian Meal-a-Day	1,415	1,479
Christadelphian Bible Mission Welfare	1,050	192
Christadelphian Samaritan Fund	320	412
Christadelphian Benevolent Fund	155	278
Agape in Acton	305	130
Riga Winter Welfare	-	113
Other Christadelphian Bodies	-	400
Local Causes	402	378
			5,009	4,631
			6,251	7,827

3 The Local Cause donations were spread between MacMillan Cancer and Cancer Research, Hampshire Air Ambulance and SCRATCH - a local charity which helps those suffering hardship.
4 The freehold properties are all situate in St James Road, Shirley, Southampton. The Hall is no. 16 and the residential flats nos.18 and 18a. The estimates of sale value were provided by Messrs Pearsons of Southampton in June 2021

Independent Examiner’s report to the Trustees of Southampton Christadelphian Ecclesia (“the Charity”) Reg. No. 1140168

I report on the accounts of the Charity for the accounting period ended 28[th] February 2021, which are set out on pages 1 to 3 of this document.

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(2) of the Charities Act 2011 ("the 2011 Act") and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility:

® to examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
® to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
® to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of Independent Examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the 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 or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as 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:

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

® to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
® to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 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.

Paul Hosking

34 Treeside Road Southampton SO15 5FZ

Date: 21[st] July 2021