BIGGLESWADE BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examine$ Report Report to the trust8] membern of Biggleswade Baptist Church On accounts for the year •nded 31 March 2024 Charlty no (if any) 1144614 Set out ¢>n pages 2to10 I repcrft to the trustees on my examinatKJn of the accounts of the above tharrtyllhè Trust") for tho year ended 3110312024. Responslbllltl08 and As the charrty trustees of the Trust, you are reSpSIbl? for the proparation basls of report of Ihe ac¢ounls in accordance with the requirem8nts of the Chariti8s A 2011 (Ihe A). I report in resped of my examliation of tho Trust's accounts cwried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act in carying out my examination, I have followed Ihe applicable Drections gwen by the Charity CommissKYt under sedion 145151{b} of th8 Ad. I have completed my exanination. I confirm that no material matters h8V com8 to my attentKtn in connection with the exwnination gNes me cause to bel¥& that in. any material resped.. counting recd$ were nal képt in aCcdanCe WTth seclion 130 of the Act or the accourrts do not with the accounting record$ I have no concern3 and have come acyoss no other matters in conneciion with the gxaminatK)n to attention shiwld be dr84vn vi der lo 8nabl8 a propw understanding crf the attojnts to b8 reached. Independent examlnerfs ststement Sign•d: Date: 1610112025 Nam•: Alison Smyth Relevant professional quallftcallon(81 or body {if any): ICAEW AddrKs: 4 Hwjh Street. Langford. Biggleswade. Bedfordshi, SG18 9RR
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGL4ND AND WALES Trustees, Annual Report for the period From 0110412023 To 3110312024 Charity name: Biggleswade Baptlst Church Charity registratlon number: 1144614 Objectives and Activities SORP referee Part117 Summary of the purposes of the charty as sèt out in rts goveming document The principal purpose of the church is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist derbomination. The Church may also advance education and carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world. The Church through voluntary living, supports a full-time minister, the part time offi manager ènd full time Youth Worker are employed by the Church. A tenth of all general incorne is given to five Christian charitable organisations supporting work L)th in UK and overseas developini nations. Summary of the main activrtiès in relatK)n to those purposes for the public benefrt, in particular. the activities, projects or servrs NlenItfd in tho aCcnts. P•rn 1 17 4wKI The church also hosts the weekly bereavement supwrt group run by trained counsellor5. A Drop-in-centre and Community Hub was opened in February 2020 on 4 larye new hous1 estate in 8i88leswade to provide contatt wint for residents. This facility 15 also used by an IT literacy group and also yxial services Staff for client meetings. A'men's Shed, facility is run 2 times per week enabling use of primari woothNorking equipment for projects and 'wellbein support. Statement confimiing vthelher the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on wblic benefrt Parnt18 Biggleswade Baptist Church has served the ccffimunty for ovw 250 years and the Trustees a abfdre of rts pEace in the Communty. The Trustees 11 review Ihe details in PB11o ensure that the actiVFti8S continue to meet the guKlance gtV8n.
Additional informatlon {optlonal) You ma choose to indude further statements where revant atout: SORP relererLe Para 1 38 Policy grant making Par 1.38 Policy on sorial investment induding prcgrarn relat•J investment All support artivities and work in the church is provided voluntarily by the church members and con8re8ation. ¢er 70 volunteer5 are normally involved with the annual Holiday Bible aub. The volunteers a $upported by paid staff in areas of Food Bank, Youth Work and •dministration Pa 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Achlevements and Performance SORP re1wce Weekly meeting5 on Sundays. During the week small groups meet for bible Study, prayer and fellowship. Summary of the main achievements of the charty, identrfying thé drflèrence th8 charity's vrtxk has made to the circumstances of rts benefickqries and any Wer benefrts to SOCi8ty as whoh. P*• 1.2) The churth runs a Baby Group and Toddler group which provides support and play facilTties for è large nurnber of families in Big8leswade., these have now re-started with restricted numbers and appropriate safeguarding Measu5. Weekly lunchtime rneetings have cornmenced again in the town's middle schtr)Is for pupils with a relevant topic theme. Breakfast aub for childtEn aged 8- 11 years normally runs once a month. with food and games. A'men's Shed, facilty has been opened wlth three sessions a week enabling use of
woodworking facilitie5 a 5Ultable environmenL A'mens Breakfasv is normally held monthly on Saturday morning and attracts between 25 - 30 men for a full breakfast and an opportunity for conversation and sharing together. A similar'Ladies Breakfast. rneeting is held on the subsequent Saturday morning with around 55 ladies attending. A Holiday Bible aub was arranged during the first week of the annual schcol summer holidays for 240 children invofving bible teachir& games, craft and rnusio Applications for places are often oversubscribed The Church is also involved with the other churches in Biggleswade to facilitste the joint worship service on Good Friday, supporting the Town Christmas Lights event, Christian Aid and other joint events. Biggle5wade Baptist Church 15 the local centre for a food aid Food Bank in conjunction with the local social services and is sUPPOrted by f¢)od gifts by local supemiarket collection points and other or8anizations. Biggleswade 6aptist Church seeks to serve the comrnunity in which it is srtuated and to share God's love with the town. The Trustees review the church artivities to ensure that thls is a rima aim. Addltlonal Infonnatlon loptlonal) You ma Choose to include further stalements vthere felevanl abtyJL' Not applicablè Achievements against obiecives set P4n141 Perfomiance of fundraising activtties against objectives set P¥a141 Investment perfomiance against objeclives Pa 1.41
Financial Review Review of the charlty's financial posrtion at the and of the nod Statément èxplaining thé policy for holding reserrfes stating why they are hekl P 1.21 def11 for the yew of £18,47412023- surplus £44,158) P¥a 1.22 The charity nomially maintains a bank deposit account of funds to cover unexpected requirements. This deposit sum is t4rgeted to have a minimum value equivalent to an average monthly expenditure. Almost all gNing to the work and witness of the church has been made via direct bank transfers or Standing Orders. Total reserves £73 234 at 31 March 2024 Not applicable Amount of reserves held R8asons for holding zero reserves Details of fund materialty in defKrt Explanation of any une8rtainties about the charrty rx)nlinuing as a going conc8m Par4 1 Z2 P•r4 1 P•r• 1 24 None Parg 1 YJ No uncertaiitios identifthl Addltlonal Inforniatlon (OPlOonall You ma hoose to include further statnentS bthere re¥1 about: The VDrk and bwtness of the Church is supwtèd entirely by voluntary contribution8 from those attending Grft Aid refvnds under an approved scheme also supwt the finances of tho )rk. The charity's prinapal sources of funds lincludwig any fundraising) Pw•147 Investment policy and objedives induding any social investment policy adopted 1.46 None dirllY Klentifh A description of the principal risks facing the charty P•*148 Other
Structure, Governance and Management Descrtption of tharity's trusts: Type of goveming dooJment Pafa 1.25 Standard Baptist Union Constitution athjpted Hthv is the tharty constrtuted? Par8 1.YJ UnIncorpt8d ass(riation Trustee selecti¢)n methods including details of any constitLrtional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any pèrson or body entit to appoint one or more trustees Para 1.25 Appointed by AnnLsal Church members, meeting held in June. Addltlonal Infomiatlon {optionAII You ma choose to include further sL*èm8nt$ re relevant abc. Child protection Policy is in place based on national Baptist Union guideline5. All youth workers hold CPC accreditation. Guidance publications issued by the Baptist Union are available for any new Trustees ap inted at the annual church rneetin Policies and procedur08 adopted for the inducti¢)n and training of Irustees Pw¥151 The Churth is in membership of the Baptist Unton of Great 8ritain and is a member of the Evangelical Alliance. The charty's org8nisatiMal slrudure and any wider nefvrk with the charrty IrkS 1.51 The Church is also a partner with other churches in 8iggleswade through Bi8gleswade Churches Together. Monthly leadership meetings are held involving all trustees to consider the onsoin¢ work of the Church and any relevant govemance and operational iSSLfres that may arise. Relationship wrth any relaled partitis P•a 1.$1
Reference and Administrative details Cha name Other name the thar uses istered charit number Charty's pnncipal address swade Ba 1st Church 1144614 24 London Road Bgb$wade Beds SG18 8TS Namos of the charity trustee• who manage the charity tes •cl•d 11 not for whol• ear Tru•t•• n•Tr Offi¢• Irf •nyl Nam• of p•rnon lor body) •ntrf•d oint Irust•e Rev Martin Ceaser Mr Clrfl Andrev3 Minister Mrs Ell8n Andr8ws Mrs Ibim Ban0 Mrs Clare 8otterill Mr Gareth Godfrey Mr John Ingrey Mrs Gi51 Reeves Mr Mike Sladen Mrs Yvonne Tobin Mr Julian Thomas Re8yntsJ Tr Maren 2W24 CcawJ 2P jUary 3J24 Treasur 10 12 Mr Kevin Wilkes 13 Mr Robert Jon8S 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Name of trustees holding t0 to Fyoperty belonging to the tharty TnJst•• n•m• Dats• ¢ted rf not for whole
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others DesCriPtK of Ihe assets held in this capaaty No fvnds are hekl as custodian trustees and obj'eds of the charrty on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falLs wrthin the custodian thafriy s objects Not applicable Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the thartty s ovm assets Not applible Declarations The trusleos declare that thoy have approv•d th• tru•tM•' r•port abov•. Slgned on behalf of tho charity'8 truIt5 Slgnaturnl8) Full namo18) Posltlon (•g S•cretary, Chair, et¢1 John Ingrey Treasurer 16 January 2025
Recei tsand ments accounts CC16a Forthè period from a11u4,?,i23 31.V>?024 Section A Receipts and payments lunth funds funds Totsl lund• L•t y•af A1 Rec¢ Gnal iyfp GIftd Incorm. G•nyrnl Lknion. R•trK•d 8•llk lThternBt Rec•Md ol Premiws Income 129.19• lJ8.617 14.014 IY7 190 2•1 Sub total(Gro$$ fNAR) 172 A2 A81•t and im••tm•m •al•i. (see tablo). Sub total Tot•1 T•IPts 172.J27 1.)47 222.767 AJP• and Sal•n Ind NIC Conf4fOrt ¢••ts OT Sd 4•1 Trni Trnv Ex Fe•44nd Sthtsi 47Z C4t•r 1202 01 4J• , PoKL4 nd Sl•ton•ry MAt•n•ls •r Bok• PrD4ctrer¥ Tmchi 315 4.621 IL Edble Clu Cc•ts Othèr DilCith' Irrter4n 822 11.714 ¥.FiJ n• Co* ¢o•l¢ nkfe•s 4Ji 12 73 17.501 13.291 21.141 Sub tot•1 117.116 20S.810 A4 A8•¢t and Inv•Thnt urchases. 3.235 J2JS Sub iotsl Totslwyments 2DD.115 178.fJ)9 Nel of rKeiptsl{poymentsJ A5 Tran$fen betwe•n funds A6 Cash fund# last year end C•$h fund¥ thts yvar ond 8J2J 118,4741 44.158 74.8TT 91,708 73234 47.550 76.080
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Un$te nds Restricte¢J funds Endowment Categories 81 Cash funds Tot•1 cash funds YJJ54 fu1 funds Details WJ Deiailg Curr•nlv4I I4)POTr Details 4•1•1 b•lrty• C••1 84 Assats r•tain•d for th• ¢hrtty'• own u 1•,•17 J,2M fo thlch Affntdll• DelHif* BS Uabllitsos natu Prinl NaN appfoval S¥n•J by one cy tru8tffls on tehaf uf all the trL¢tee8 J Irorey 161011225 10