2024-03-31-accounts

HEATHERVALE BAPTIST CHURCH Annual Report from 1[st] April 2023 to 31[st] March 2024

Statutory Information

Registered Address:

Heathervale Baptist Church, Heathervale Road, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey. KT15 3NW

Charity Number: 1142507

Trustees:

Rev. Martin Robinson, Pastor, (Worship, Prayer, Teaching & Evangelism) Mr. Anthony Nelson, Elder, (Small Groups, Discipleship, Mission & Administration)

Mr. Nigel Straker, Elder, (Premises & IT)

Mr. Paul Greenwood, Deacon, (Treasurer)

Mr. Adrian Meadley, Deacon, (Premises) (Retired February 2024)

Mrs. Janine Hooper-Windsor, Deacon, (Hospitality)

Mrs. Barbara Pargeter, Deacon, (Community Outreach)

Mr. Marc Cousins, Deacon, (Family & Community Evangelism and Under 30s) Mrs Louise James, Deacon, (Administration) (from February 2024)

Mrs. Jennifer McAllister, Deacon, (Prayer & Prophecy) (from February 2024)

Property Trustees

The Baptist Union Corporation Limited, Baptist House, 129 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 8RT

Bankers

HSBC

Independent Examiner

Mr Quentin Ford

Annual Report for 2023/2024

The trustees present their Annual Report and financial statements for 2023/2024.

Our Purpose Statement

Helping people to make a journey to know and to love Jesus.

Our Vision Statement

We seek to be a Christ-centred, Spirit-filled church family of all ages that reflects the age profile of our local community and that brings transformation to our community through what we say, what we do and through signs and miracles.

The four church Values

We seek to be a community of God's people who are: Spirit Filled Bible Saturated Sharing Jesus Loving God & Others

Charitable Object

The Charity is governed by an Approved Governing Document which states that the principal purpose of the charity is the advance of the Christian Faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination to include the advancement of education, community service and such other general charitable purposes in such parts of the United Kingdom and the world as the Church shall determine.

The Church occupies premises which are held by the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd, on Trusts which are entirely compatible with the above object.

Organisational Structure and Decision making processes

Members of the church are accepted in accordance with the Constitution which normally requires them to be or to have been publicly baptised by immersion on the profession of faith in Jesus Christ.

The members’ meeting normally takes place four times per year and has responsibility for the overall policy of the church. In accordance with the Constitution, the members appoint Trustees, consisting of elders and deacons, who together with the Minister, are responsible for the day to day running of the church’s work and witness, and the financial and legal aspects of the charity.

New and existing Trustees are reminded each year to read the charitable documents from the Baptist Union and Charity Commission. They are also brought up to date on their roles and responsibilities and are encouraged to attend local Baptist Association training as required. New Trustees are given additional induction training by existing Trustees who ensure that they are made familiar with the Vision and Constitution of the church and the specific responsibilities they carry within a leadership portfolio as well as in the general duties of Trustees within the church.

All members are encouraged to take an appropriate part in the spiritual and practical tasks involved in the furtherance of the charitable objective.

Relevant matters may be submitted to the Church Meeting by the Trustees for guidance, or may be raised by members in Church Meetings for further consideration by the Trustees. Though the Constitution permits decisions to be made at Church Meetings by appropriate majorities, the church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible.

Objectives and Activities

In order to achieve the principal objective which is set out above, the Church provides a variety of activities both to its membership and to the community generally. The aim is to show the love of Jesus Christ in both word and deed and to bring people into a closer relationship with Him as living Lord.

Central to the work and witness of the Church is the provision of regular public services of Christian worship. These services take place each Sunday morning at 9am and 10.30am. There is a full children’s programme during the 10.30am service. The church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community and anybody is free to attend any of these services.

On Monday mornings the church continues to be open to the community as a Coffee Stop where drinks and homemade cakes are available for those who want to just come and chat.

For the younger people an open youth group called ‘Emerge’ continues to meet on a Monday evening, this is primarily, in two groups, for school years: 3 to 5 and 6 to 8.

The church runs a weekly group for parents/carers and pre-school children (during term time) on Friday mornings as well as a Dads & Toddlers’ Group which meets once a month on a Saturday morning. These are for the purpose of assisting the community and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ.

On the 3[rd] Friday afternoon of each month the church holds a Bereavement Café on the premises, for those who need someone independent to talk to, as they grieve.

The church also runs a monthly Saturday event for senior citizens during the year which seeks to demonstrate and communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ in providing food, fun and a short message about the Christian faith.

The church runs a series of weekly homegroups for the growth of faith and discipleship in the homes of some members.

During the year Marc and a team prepared and served, 'Let's Do Lunches' on the premises and also continued to provide 'Take-away Lunch' for those who preferred that option. These were greatly appreciated due to the growing need for this provision within the community. These were generally provided once or twice a week during most of the main school holidays.

Once or twice a year the church hosts an Alpha Course for those who may be interested in learning more about the Christian faith in an environment where they can ask questions and meet together with others over a hot meal that is also provided.

Further details on any of the activities can be obtained from the Trustees on request or from the church website/church office.

The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately vetted with regard to the Disclosure & Barring Service.

The Church has read the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and is satisfied that the activities outlined above clearly demonstrate that the charity is providing a benefit to the public.

Achievements and Performance

The Church does not measure the success of its programmes only in numbers, including financial numbers, but also in less tangible areas like fellowship and encouragement. The Trustees recognise that these are difficult to measure, and believe that 2023/2024 was a better year than the previous one, and that it will be able to pursue its mission purposes in the future with renewed enthusiasm.

During the year, there were 2 baptisms; 2 members resigned their membership due to moving out of the area and 2 of our members died during the year. However, 4 people were welcomed into membership during that year. At 31[st] March 2024 the membership stood at 100 which was the same as the previous year.

The church continued to support the local Foodbank initiative and the collection boxes were available in the foyer for donations. With the rise of local families in need, this continued to be greatly appreciated.

Financial Review

The Church continued to raise the funds which it needed to carry on its activities from within its own membership and congregation.

The Church expressed its part in the life of the wider church by making donations to national and international Christian organisations and societies with Christian aims and objectives compatible with the church’s own charitable purpose.

The Minister acts as one of the church's trustees and receives remuneration and other benefits in respect of his services as Minister, including the provision of manse accommodation.

The Deacon for Family and Community acts as one of the trustees and receives a remuneration in respect of his services as Church Evangelist.

The Church is heavily dependent on its membership working as volunteers in all aspects of the church’s activities, many of which run with little or no impact on the church’s expenditure, but nevertheless contribute substantially to the achievement of the church’s objectives.

The financial results for the year, together with a summary of the accounting policies adopted are set out in the accompanying financial statements.

The Trustees have established a Reserves Policy and are satisfied that they have sufficient reserves at the Balance Sheet date, together with ongoing income anticipated, to enable the church to function effectively in the coming year.

The Trustees have made an assessment of the major risks facing the church and are satisfied that there are policies in place to minimise these risks.

HEATHERVALE BAPTIST CHURCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Notes

		RECEIPTS AND
Section A	1	PAYMENTS
		£	£
		2024	2023
		Total	Total
General Receipts
Offerings and payroll giving		125770	116079
Income tax recovered on donations		32068	35399
Other income	2	3977	6973
Interest		519	237
Total General Receipts		162334	158688
General Payments
Ministry	3	104779	95530
Upkeep of church premises	4	44575	41937
Administration	5	5449	6060
Mission	6	19779	21322
Total General Payments		174581	164850
Net General Receipts/ (Payments) for the year		-12247	-6162
Adjusted Net General Receipts/
(Payments) for the year after expected
receipt of Gift Aid monies from the
HMRC	14	6052	12796
Adjusted Net General Receipts/ (Payments) for the year		-6195	6634

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Roport to the trusteesl members of HeatherVa￿ BaOist Church On accounts for tho year ended 31 March 2024 Charity no (rfanyl 1142507 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above harity nhe Trust-) for the year ended 3110312024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charivs trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in acc(xdan￿ with the requirements of the Chartties Act 2011 ('the A￿). I report in resFect of my examination of the Trusvs accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the appltcable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection V￿th the examination (other than that disclosed below ") which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records we not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Art or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or I have r)0 concerns and have come acr¢)ss no other matters in connection with the examinth.on to which attentson should be drawn in this report in order to enable a F￿0per understanding of the accounts to te reached. Signed: Date: Name: QCRFord Relevant professional qualification(s} or body (if any): Address: 7 Hartland C105e New Haw, Addlestone Surrey KT15 3AD IER Oct 2018