## River Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2024
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
## **RIVER CHURCH**
## **CHARITY INFORMATION**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **Trustees**
Michael John Holt Graham Leslie Burgess Caroline Grace Read Mary Kathleen Porter Alistair John Handford Ruth Abigail Parry Ian Linton (resigned January 2024) Chris May (resigned April 2024)
## **Treasurer**
Nigel Rivers
## **Church Leaders**
Adam Chisnall River Maidenhead Paul Wratten & Anthea Wratten River Marlow Julie Ioakeim River Slough Rachael Pymm, Catherine France, The Journey (Englefield Joel Clarke (until Apr '24), Luke Saunders (from Jun '24) Green)
## **Governing Document**
Constitution dated 15 December 2022
**Charity Registration Number**
1146525
**Principal Address & Registered Office**
From 1 August 2024: _Until 1 August 2024:_ 1 Meadlake Place _Bank House_ Egham _81 St Judes Road_ Surrey _Englefield Green_ TW20 8HE _Surrey TW20 0DF_
**Independent Examiner**
Sarah Crispin ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB
## **Bankers**
CAF Bank Ltd Metro Bank 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, 1 Southampton Row West Malling London ME19 4JQ WC1B 5HQ
## **Contents**
|||
|---|---|
|**Contents**|**Page**|
|Charity Information|1|
|Trustees' Annual Report|2 - 10|
|Independent Examiner's Report|11|
|Statement of Financial Activities|12|
|Balance Sheet|13|
|Cash flow Statement|14|
|Notes to the Accounts|15 - 22|
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities with Comparatives|23|
Page 1
## **RIVER CHURCH REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of **Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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) (effective 1 January 2019).
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims**
The charitable aims of River Church are to:
- Advance the Christian faith in the Thames Valley, the United Kingdom and the wider world;
- Bring relief to persons who are in need, financial hardship or suffering from illness or deprivation;
- Further Christian or secular education in the Thames Valley, the United Kingdom and wider world as appropriate;
- Benefit the lives of people in the communities where River churches reside; by improving or providing local facilities and activities.
The vision of River Church is to serve our communities and to see transformation through the love and power of God.
River Church employed 10 staff on either a full-time or part-time basis as at 31 December 2024 (2023: 10), including the church leaders and other administration staff and youth workers.
In addition to the employed staff there are many teams of volunteers and helpers across our four churches who together seek to be "salt and light" within our communities to achieve the charity's aims.
## **Public benefit**
In planning the activities of River Church, the trustees have given regard to the Charity Commission's public benefit guidance (Reg 40 (2) (c) (ii)) and particularly the guidance for charities whose objects include the advancement of religion.
River Church provides public benefit in numerous ways across our four churches as follows:
## **The Journey Church - Englefield Green, Surrey**
Our church in Englefield Green has a strong community focus at its heart and runs a community hub in association with Runnymede Council.
During 2024, five community lunches were hosted, serving a total of 270 hot meals. Each lunch is free to attend to help those in financial need.
Page 2
**RIVER CHURCH REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
We see many elderly attendees from the home next door to the Hub. Our lunch in June had an eco-focus as part of The Great Big Green Week and in partnership with Runnymede Borough Council and featured a chicken and vegetable
barbeque. The Christmas community lunch also included a free raffle, quiz and Christmas presents given to all attendees.
Other activities held at the Hub include:
- An after-school children's club hosted every Thursday during school term, attended by 28 children ages 7-11 years. Each child received an Easter egg and Christmas present.
- Weekly dance club in partnership with Royal Holloway Dance Society.
- Weekly gardening club incorporating special family gardening day events during school holidays, promoting home-grown food and care for the environment. The gardening club earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s “It’s Your Neighbourhood” Award at Level 5 – Outstanding for the third year in a row.
- Weekly Community Cafe, providing a communal space for those in the local vicinity with coffee, tea and entertainment including quizzes, bingo and other games
We attended the Englefield Green Village Fair in June 2024 to promote the work of the Journey Church at the Hub, including:
- Prayer verses and encouragement
- Free refreshments
- Information about activities and volunteering opportunities at the Hub
- Free plant giveaway
During 2024 a party was held in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Journey Church in the Englefield Green community. This was attended by past and current members and friends of the church.
Two food hampers were donated to the Besom charity based in Egham as part of their Christmas appeal. These were funded by the church and put together as part of our small groups.
Our Christmas carol service was attended by 40 people, many not usual attendees of the church. The event featured dance performances by children of the Hub's dance club and a musical play telling the Christmas story.
We ran a free and well-attended Summer Fair, Carol Singing at Christmas and Easter events for residents at Aldwyn Place, an elderly rented housing centre with extra care situated adjacent to the Hub.
Three free, quiz events, open to the community were held as fun events with numerous fun prizes.
Page 3
**RIVER CHURCH REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **River Church, Maidenhead**
Our church in Maidenhead has blossomed in 2024, adding a third to our weekly gatherings and doubling our River family. These individuals came from our community outreach work, through our congregations' own personal witness, and through our social media and website efforts. We ran 2 Alpha courses in 2024 and baptised 4 individuals.
Our CAP debt centre celebrated its eighth year of operation, and we approach a major milestone with over £950,000 of debt repaid or written off in that period across 64 families by the end of 2024. We anticipate crossing the £1m line in 2025.
We ran monthly community lunches, creating a community around the meal table in a fresh expression of church.
Our Youth Work doubled in size and our youth are now inviting their friends along as they practice mission and witness.
The young people attended a Christian summer camp where we saw a new depth to their relationship with Jesus.
Our Children’s Work doubled in size, and we began running regular River Kid’s meetups outside of a Sunday gathering, increasing their community with each other.
We ran a packed-out Easter event for children, with 75% of those attending from the community, giving us an opportunity to reach out to the community in a different way with the gospel message.
We continued to run our toddler group every week and again have watched this double in size, and a ‘River Tots’ program has been formed to teach the basics of the bible in an engaging way while sharing the importance of Prayer and Worship.
Our Larchfield Ladybirds toddler group has been growing and we’re delighted to begin to see fresh fruit from those family attending, also coming along to community lunches and events at church, exploring what we believe.
We meet in rented accommodation (as indeed we have in our 50 year history). However, we pursued God as he is leading us ever close to our ‘Miracle Building’, with an emphasis on raising awareness, deepening faith and fundraising for this big project on the horizon.
## **River Church, Slough**
In our Slough church, we have seen a good level of growth in the size of our congregation in 2024 and an increase in our influence across the borough.
We operate a weekly toddler group.
Page 4
**RIVER CHURCH REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
We have recently gone into a care home on several occasions to deliver a church service and communion, we then pray privately with those that are unable to gather in the main living area.
We offer midweek small groups to support our congregation in building relationships and learning the truth of the Word of God.
We have been excited to have seen a number of physical healings in 2024 following prayer including;
- Feet painfully swollen with gout, healed
- Feet painful and red, healed
- Knees, healed
- Painful back where the person was unable to walk properly, healed
- Woman who had a stroke and family told would be brain dead, healed
In 2024 we held both a Christmas and an Easter outreach in a large temporary housing building that houses up to 800 individuals and families. We had Santa giving Christmas presents, carol singing with the occupants joining in with song sheets. There was facepainting, games, colouring, chocolates, glowsticks and balloons.
At Easter, we had the Easter Bunny giving Easter eggs and children listened to the Easter story. There was also facepainting, games, colouring, chocolates, glowsticks and balloons. Both events offered prayer to the people and many now receive lifts and join us on Sundays for Church.
At the end of 2023 we started the Giving Hope Furniture project which collects donated furniture and household items, and through referrals from different organisations such as DASH (domestic abuse), the Council, 1st for Children, NHS, Community connectors and many others, we give those items to people in crisis in the SL postcode area. This covers Slough, Langley, Colnbrook, Cippenham, Britwell, Windsor, Maidenhead, Taplow, Burnham and Dorney.
The project is run by volunteers who give up their Saturday to help collect and deliver to those in need and financial hardship resulting from many different reasons, such as escaping domestic abuse, those who have been homeless, refugees, and anyone who has found themselves in crisis, regardless of their religion, race, nationality, age, gender or disability.
This project also offers a placement midweek to a 17-year-old autistic person from BCA college who found it difficult to communicate with those around him. He is learning to clean, sand, paint and varnish, and fix furniture. He loves his placement and is communicating well with us.
The project is funded by generous donors without which we cannot continue. We have been truly blessed by several companies such as SEGRO who offer a building on six monthly contracts, Dulux paints who supply paints for the restoration of furniture, and ASDA who donate bedding.
Page 5
**RIVER CHURCH REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **River Church, Marlow**
Our church in Marlow continued to grow and flourish during 2024.
We were active in meeting the needs of those in our community experiencing financial hardship through regular use of our hardship fund and referrals to our CAP Debt Centre.
We run a weekly lunch group to over 60's supported housing which continues to grow. Now with up to 20 attendees each week.
Our parents, carers and toddlers' group has grown with the addition of singing and craft activities, with more older, single people popping in for coffee and chat.
Church members volunteer at a busy monthly lunch for the homeless in High Wycombe.
We have partnered with World Vision and many of us are now part of their ‘Chosen’ program.
A mission trip partnering with Links International to Malawi is planned for September 2025.
We join with churches together in Marlow to provide joint services at Easter and a praise service as part of Marlow Regatta.
We run regular Christian teaching series on Sunday mornings at our gatherings and nearly all church members are part of small groups that meet during the week.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **General Funds**
During the year total incoming resources to General Funds were £391,334 (2023: £1,026,049) and total resources used from General Funds were £359,188 (2023: £341,480), resulting in a General Fund surplus for the year of £32,146 (2023: £684,569). Included in this income is a legacy gift of £59,220 (2023: £679,750) from a church member who died in the year. Good general regularity of giving continues across the four churches, combined with the continued budgetary spending controls.
## **Designated Funds**
Donations to Designated Funds totalled £37,100 (2023: £11,076) with designated expenditure totalling £6,870 (2023: £20,184). The surplus of £40,463 (2023: deficit of £9,108) was added to the surpluses brought forward, after some agreed specific transfers between funds.
## **Restricted Funds**
Restricted Funds income totalled £101,067 (2023: £53,407) for the year with restricted expenditure totalling £93,972 (2023: £78,043). The surplus of £7,095 (2023: deficit £24,636) was added to Restricted Funds surpluses brought forward with some agreed transfers from other funds.
Page 6
**RIVER CHURCH REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
At the end of the year, 31st December 2024, the Charity held £909,492 (2023: £879,713) in General Funds, £48,091 (2023: £6,802) in Designated Funds and £183,522 (2023: £174,885) in Restricted Funds.
General Funds continue to exceed the trustees' minimum reserve policy of £75,000 (2023: £75,000) by a good margin.
## **Bank Balances**
River Church bank balances at 31st December 2024 stood at £970,245 (2023: £862,874) which the trustees consider sufficient to meet all foreseeable and future risks now that the 2025 General Fund income and expenditure budget has been approved.
## **Investment policy and objectives**
The trustees of River Church acknowledge they have a key responsibility for good stewardship of church funds. In decision-making in these areas the following investment principles and guidelines are considered.
River Church will:
- Invest funds in a manner that is consistent with the teachings of Jesus Christ and in line with its charitable objectives;
- Handle all funds with integrity, transparency and with good governance;
- Invest funds in a way that is both compliant with prevailing charitable law and that balance both the medium- and longer-term needs foreseen;
- Invest funds in a manner that seeks to maximise the return or to achieve other agreed aims in line with its charitable objectives;
- Formally review the investment policy annually as to its adequacy.
## **Reserves policy**
The trustees have established a policy of maintaining reserves at a level they feel would enable them to continue the current activities of the church in the event of a short-term significant drop in income.
The largest regular operating costs of the charity are staff salaries and church building leases and meeting hall hire. Consequently, the trustees' policy is to maintain sufficient reserves to cover three months of such expenditure (£75K). Unrestricted funds exceeded this level throughout the year.
The governing body review the level of reserves annually to confirm their adequacy and the potential risk. On the 31st of December 2024 this General Fund "risk reserve" stood at £75,000 (2023: £75,000).
The current total level of reserves remains relatively high mainly due to substantial giving to River Maidenhead's 'Miracle Building Project', CAP debt management designated funds and Englefield Green Community Hub. The church also benefitted from a legacy gift in 2023 & 2024 of which £ 59,220 (2023: £679,750) was received at the balance sheet date.
Page 7
**RIVER CHURCH REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **FUTURE PLANS**
The key strategies for the charity during 2025 are both to build and to expand on the local community focus work and initiatives where the individual churches reside, ie., to continue to build churches that develop strong healthy followers of Jesus who bless and serve the community within which they operate.
We aim to capitalise on the online opportunity that the pandemic created by continuing to build online capability and integrate this as a complement to other approaches to church outreach. For example, by using online capability to host mid-week meetings for prayer and Bible study thus avoiding the need for additional hall rental costs. We also use online capability to 'broadcast' Sunday services to those who are unable to attend in person.
Our goals for 2025 are to;
- invest in and train up a new generation of leaders;
- continue to encourage the four churches to remain financially independent so that the central cost overhead is reduced and shared among them;
- to support the development of the four independent churches within a common set of shared values;
- continue the search for a suitable property for the Maidenhead Miracle Building project and to find a suitable location for the continuation of our Giving Hope Furniture project in Slough. - continue to build and invest in the work of the CAP Debt Centre supporting Maidenhead and Marlow
- further develop our online church capability and community: reaching, connecting and sharing in the digital space
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
In December 2022 River Church converted to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with a new written constitution duly received and accepted by the Charities Commission on 15th December 2022.
This constitution replaced the 2012 Memorandum and Articles. The limited company therefore closed in December 2022.
## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees**
The powers of appointment and removal of trustees rests with the 'members' of River Church. Trustees are selected from committed attendees of the churches that make up River Church. This aims to ensure that the trustee body as a whole is involved practically in working out the church's mission and the trustees have also subscribed to a statement of faith. No trustees are remunerated for their services to River Church.
During 2024 the trustees of River Church met on seven occasions. Each meeting of the trustees during the year was led by the Chair of trustees, who is not a member of the spiritual leadership of River Church. The Chair is elected annually by the other non-leadership trustees.
Page 8
**RIVER CHURCH REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
Each trustee meeting had a full and balanced agenda covering the spiritual, strategic, performance, financial, legal and risk issues facing the church.
## **Organisational structure**
## **Local Management**
Directions relating to the charity for 2024 were made by the trustees, in consultation with the church leaders, who were responsible for governing the activities and teaching of the church. Day-to-day decisions on the use of resources remained the responsibility of the staff and volunteers in charge of the different departments within the churches.
Expenditure is controlled by budgets set and expense approval monitored by the trustees. The establishment of a new Restricted or Designated Fund is at the joint discretion of the trustees in consultation with the leader of each Church.
## **Network Structure**
River Church is a member of the Evangelical Alliance and has a long-standing relationship with Pioneer; a Christian organisation that pursues similar objectives in the United Kingdom and overseas. The church works with Pioneer in assisting other churches and receives help itself where needed.
## **Responsibilities of trustees under charity law**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charity as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, for the financial year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
1. select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
2. observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
3. make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
4. state whether the applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
5. prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. They 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.
Page 9
**RIVER CHURCH REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **Approval**
Sep 15, 2025 Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:
## MJHolt
MJHolt (Sep 15, 2025 15:58:13 GMT+1) ..............................................................................
M J Holt - Trustee
Page 10
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **RIVER CHURCH**
## **('the Charity')**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2024 on pages 12 to 23 following, which have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out on pages 15 to 16.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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**
Since the Charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. 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.
## Sarah Crispin
Sarah Crispin (Oct 2, 2025 11:37:06 GMT+1)
Sarah Crispin ACA Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB
Date: Oct 2, 2025
Page 11
## **RIVER CHURCH**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|Note
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Investments
5
**Total income and endowments**
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
Charitable activities
6
**Total expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
14
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**
14|Unrestricted
Funds
£
414,552
135
23,981
438,667
366,058
366,058
72,609
(1,542)
71,067
886,515
957,583|Restricted
Funds
£
94,257
5,343
1,468
101,067
93,972
93,972
7,095
1,542
8,637
174,885
183,522|Total
Total
Funds
Funds
2024
2023
£
£
508,809
1,079,223
5,477
5,586
25,449
5,722
539,734
1,090,531
460,030
439,706
460,030
439,706
79,704
650,825
-
-
79,704
650,825
1,061,401
410,576
1,141,105
1,061,401|
|---|---|---|---|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing operations.
The notes on page 15 - 22 form part of these accounts.
Page 12
## **RIVER CHURCH**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## **AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|Note
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
8
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
9
Investments
10
Cash at bank and in hand
11
**CREDITORS: Amounts falling**
**due within one year**
12
**Net current assets / (liabilities)**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**TOTAL NET ASSETS**
**FUND BALANCES**
14
Unrestricted Funds
General funds
Designated funds
Restricted Funds|Unrestricted
Funds
£
25,190
25,190
15,480
151,883
786,723
954,086
(21,694)
932,393
957,583
957,583
909,492
48,091
957,583
-
957,583|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
183,522
183,522
-
183,522
183,522
183,522
-
-
-
183,522
183,522|Total
Funds
2024
£
25,190
25,190
15,480
151,883
970,245
1,137,608
(21,694)
1,115,915
1,141,105
1,141,105
909,492
48,091
957,583
183,522
1,141,105|Total
Funds
2023
£
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||-|
|||||216,727
-
862,874|
|||||1,079,601
(18,200)|
|||||1,061,401|
||||||
|||||1,061,401|
|||||1,061,401|
|||||879,713
6,802|
|||||886,515
174,885|
|||||1,061,401|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and were signed on its behalf by:
## MJHolt
MJHolt (Sep 15, 2025 15:58:13 GMT+1)
---------------------------------------
M J Holt
Sep 15, 2025 Date: ___________________
Charity number: 1146525
The notes on page 15 - 22 form part of these accounts.
Page 13
## **RIVER CHURCH**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **CASH FLOW STATEMENT**
|Note
2024
£
**Cash flows from operating activities:**
**_Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities_**
a
263,504
**Cash flows from investing activities:**
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
25,449
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(29,698)
Purchase of investments
(151,883)
**_Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities_**
(156,133)
107,371
b
862,874
b
970,245
**Analysis of changes in net debt:**
At start of
year
Cash-flows
£
£
Cash
862,874
107,371
Total net funds / (debt)
862,874
107,371
**Note a: Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities**
2024
£
79,704
**Adjustments for:**
Depreciation charges and provisions for impairment
4,508
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
(25,449)
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
201,247
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
3,494
**_Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities_**
263,504
**Note b: Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**
2024
£
Cash at bank with immediate access
817,796
Notice deposits
152,449
**Total cash and cash equivalents**
970,245
**_Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period (as per the statement of financial_**
**_activities)_**
**Cash and equivalents at the beginning of the year**
**_Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year_**
**_Change in cash and equivalents in the reporting period_**|2023
£
482,915|
|---|---|
||5,722
-
-|
||5,722|
|||
||488,637
374,237|
||862,874|
||At end of
year
£
970,245|
||970,245|
||2023
£
650,825
-
(5,722)
(166,149)
3,961|
||482,915|
||2023
£
716,203
146,671|
||862,874|
Page 14
## **RIVER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **1 Statutory Information**
The charity is a charitable incorporated organisation registered with the Charity Commission in England & Wales. The charity's registered number and principal address can be found on the Charity Information page.
## **2 Accounting Policies**
These financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, under the historical cost convention.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the "Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) ("the Charities SORP"), with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland ("FRS 102") and with the Charities Act 2011. The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity as set out in FRS 102.
The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (the '2008 Regulations') requires charities to prepare their accounts in accordance with 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005' but this accounting standard has since been withdrawn and has been replaced by the Charities SORP mentioned in the preceding paragraph. The charity has prepared these financial statements in accordance with the new Charities SORP; this departure from the 2008 Regulations is believed to be necessary for these financial statements to give a 'true and fair view'.
The principles adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below.
## a) Going concern
The trustees (who are the charitable company's directors for the purposes of company law) have assessed whether the use of the going concern basis is appropriate and have considered possible events or conditions that might cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The trustees have made this assessment for a period of at least one year from the date of approval of the financial statements. In particular the trustees have considered the charity's forecasts and projections and the possible implications should projected income and / or expenditure vary unexpectedly. The trustees have concluded that there is a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue to operate for the foreseeable future. The charity therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements.
## b) Income
Income including investment income is recognised in the period in which the charity becomes entitled to receipt, the amount receivable can be measured with reasonable certainty, and receipt is probable. For the most part, income is generally recognised when it is received. Income is only deferred when the charity has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor has specified that the income is to be expended in a future period.
Income from donations and legacies includes:
- i) Recoverable gift aid. This is recognised when the related donation is received. Gift aid that has not been recovered by the balance sheet date is included as a debtor.
- ii) Legacies. Income from legacies is recognised when a distribution is received from the estate or, if earlier, when the charity has been notified that a distribution will be made and the amount receivable can be measured reliably. During the year, the charity received a single legacy which comprised cash & a property. Part of the cash legacy was received during 2024 and included as accrued income in these accounts. The property was sold and the proceeds recognised on sale. The associated costs are shown as 'Legacy costs' in expenditure.
The charity relies on volunteers to carry out many of its activities. However, in accordance with the SORP, the value of these services has not been included in these financial statements as they cannot be reliably measured.
Income from charitable activities represents income receivable from goods, services and facilities supplied in furtherance of the charity's charitable objects. It includes income from facilities hire which represents contributions to services from other community groups using the Forest Estate Community Hub.
Investment income represents income generated by the charity's assets and includes income from bank interest.
## c) Expenditure
Expenditure, including irrecoverable VAT, is recognised when it is incurred or, if earlier, when a legal or constructive obligation for a payment arises provided that it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
The charity makes grants to other institutions and individuals to further its charitable objectives. Grants payable are recognised as constructive obligations arise, which is generally when the charity expresses a commitment to the recipient that can be measured reliably and then only to the extent that any conditions associated with the grant are outside of the control of the charity.
Page 15
## **RIVER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **2 Accounting Policies (cont.)**
The cost of raising funds is not significant and has not been separately disclosed.
Governance costs, which are included in expenditure on charitable activities but are identified separately in the notes to the accounts, includes costs associated with the independent examination of the financial statements, compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements and any other expenditure incurred on the strategic management of the charity.
## d) Fund accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects. Endowment funds are donations that are retained as capital in accordance with the donor's wishes. The nature of the restriction determines whether the endowments represent permanent endowments or expendable endowments.
## e) Tangible fixed assets
Items purchased or donated for the charity's own use are capitalised when the cost of purchased items, or the fair value of donated items, is more than £10,000 and the item is expected to benefit the charity over more than one accounting period. Depreciation is charged on a straight line basis so as to write down the value of each asset to its estimated residual value (if any) over its expected useful economic life. To achieve this objective the following rates of depreciation are charged:
Computers & Sound Equipment Over 3 years Vehicles Over 5 years
The carrying values of tangible fixed assets are reviewed for impairment in periods when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.
## f) Pension scheme arrangements
The charity operates defined contribution pension schemes for its employees. Obligations for contributions to these schemes are recognised as an expense when the liability arises. The assets of these schemes are held separately from those of the charity in independently administered funds.
## g) Taxation
The charity has taken advantage of the various reliefs from taxation available to charities and no tax is payable on the charity's income.
## h) Financial instruments
The charity's financial assets and financial liabilities all qualify as basic financial instruments, as defined by FRS102. Except for loans, creditors and debtors are measured at their expected settlement value (normally the amount of cash that the charity expects to pay or receive). The charity recognises liabilities for the principal of those loans that remains outstanding at the year end (i.e. the liabilities exclude any interest chargeable on the loans in future years).
## i) Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement
The trustees do not consider that there are any material sources of estimation or uncertainty at the balance sheet date that could result in a material adjustment to the carrying values of assets and liabilities in the next reporting period.
## **3 Donations and legacies**
|**3**
**Donations and legacies**|||
|---|---|---|
|Donations of cash and similar
Donations in kind (note 3a)
Other grants receivable
Legacies receivable
Income tax recoverable
**a**
Donations in kind comprise:
Donated services|2024
£
339,505
3,750
45,200
59,220
61,134
508,809
2024
£
3,750
3,750|2023
£
321,127
-
10,211
679,750
68,136|
|||1,079,223|
|||2023
£
-|
|||-|
Donated services comprise pro bono services of a fundraising specialist for CAP Debt Centre.
Page 16
## **RIVER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **4 Income from charitable activities**
Forest Hub - Facilities Hire
|2024
£
5,477
5,477|2023
£
5,586|
|---|---|
||5,586|
## **5 Investment income**
Bank interest
|-|2024
£
25,449
25,449|2023
£
5,722|
|---|---|---|
|||5,722|
|**6**
**Charitable expenditure**
**a**
Incurred directly on activities
Salaries, travel & training
Church ministry costs
Outreach & events
CAP Debt centre running costs
Equipment
Premises expenses including venue hire
Building costs
Communications
Legacy costs
Grants payable (note 6c)
**b**
Support costs
Professional fees
Office costs & insurance
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
Governance|Church
Activities
178,209
16,870
18,258
-
10,365
44,050
4,193
4,094
645
60,367
14,253
12,203
4,508
4,048
372,063|CAP Debt
Centre
36,601
-
6
1,708
-
-
-
-
-
7,200
3,750
249
-
419
49,932|Forest
Hub
22,942
474
5,996
-
270
3,622
4,751
654
-
-
500
202
-
334
39,743|Total
Charitable
Expenditure
2024
237,752
15,636
24,260
1,708
10,635
47,672
8,944
4,748
645
67,567
18,503
12,653
4,508
4,800|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||460,030|
||||||
|Incurred directly on activities
Salaries, travel & training
Church ministry costs
Outreach & events
CAP Debt centre running costs
Equipment
Premises expenses including venue hire
Communications
Legacy costs
Grants payable (note 6c)
Support costs
Professional fees
Office costs & insurance
Governance|Church
Activities
152,325
12,936
20,152
-
17,824
46,281
4,185
29,901
56,862
11,608
10,089
4,368
366,533|CAP Debt
Centre
33,512
-
-
1,323
538
278
46
-
7,200
253
12
95
43,258|Forest
Hub
19,348
-
3,719
-
985
4,923
135
-
33
256
419
96
29,916|Total
Charitable
Expenditure
2023
205,185
12,936
23,871
1,323
19,347
51,483
4,366
29,901
64,096
12,118
10,520
4,560|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||439,706|
||||||
Page 17
## **RIVER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **6 Charitable expenditure (cont.)**
As the charity's income is over £500,000 in the current year, expenditure is disclosed by charitable activity.
Professional fees and Governance costs are allocated to the CAP Debt Centre and the Forest Hub based on the proportion of total income restricted to these projects.
The fee payable to the independent examiner for preparing and examining the accounts was £4,560 (2023: £4,560); in addition the charity paid £350 (2023: £210) to Stewardship for consultancy services.
## **c Grants payable**
|Institutions
£
Grants for UK and overseas mission
41,448
Grants for the relief of poverty
7,674
49,122
The comparatives for the previous year are as follows:
Institutions
£
Grants for UK and overseas mission
23,542
Grants for the relief of poverty
7,240
30,782
The charity's principal grants to institutions comprised:
Pioneer
Frontiers
Light International
Friends of Asha
Englefield Green Community Hub
Christians Against Poverty
Grants to institutions for less than £1,000 each
**7**
Gross wages and salaries
Social security
Pension costs
**Analysis of staff costs, the cost of key management personnel and trustee remuneration**|Individuals
£
16,750
1,695
18,445
Individuals
£
17,519
15,794
33,314
2024
£
7,748
8,700
10,000
-
15,000
7,674
-
49,122
2024
£
207,717
12,059
5,766
225,542|2024
£
58,198
9,369|
|---|---|---|
|||67,567|
|||2023
£
41,061
23,034|
|||64,096|
|||2023
£
9,292
3,000
7,333
3,000
-
7,200
957|
|||30,782|
|||2023
£
172,241
2,655
5,005|
|||179,901|
The average monthly number of employees during the year was 10 (2023: 9). Most of the charity's activities are carried out by volunteers.
No staff received salaries at a rate of more than £60,000 per annum.
The charity's key management comprise the trustees and the church leaders on the Charity Information page. During the year key management received employment benefits totalling £89,801 (2023: £87,157).
Payroll costs included redundancy and termination payments totalling £nil (2023: £10,062) and comprise statutory payments and exgratia payments where this was considered appropriate. Redundancy and termination payments are charged when the liability or obligation arises.
No trustees received employment benefits in either the current or preceding year.
Page 18
## **RIVER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **8 Tangible fixed assets**
|Cost
At 1 January 2024
Additions
At 31 December 2024
Accumulated depreciation
At 1 January 2024
Charge for the year
At 31 December 2024
Net book value
At 31 December 2024
At 31 December 2023
**9**
**Debtors: falling due within one year**
**Falling due within one year:**
Tax recoverable
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
**10**
**Current asset investments**
Cash equivalent deposits
**11**
**Cash at Bank and in Hand**
Cash at bank with immediate access
Notice deposits
**12**
**Creditors: liabilities falling due within one year**
Trade creditors
Taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals
Deferred income|-
17,500
17,500
-
1,458
1,458
16,042
-
Vehicles|Computers
& Sound
Equipment
£
25,656
12,198
37,854
25,656
3,050
28,706
9,149
-
2024
£
6,599
118
8,763
15,480
2024
£
151,883
151,883
2024
£
817,796
152,449
970,245
2024
£
6,229
3,744
80
9,360
2,281
21,694|Total
2024
£
25,656
29,698|
|---|---|---|---|
||||55,354|
||||25,656
4,508|
||||30,164|
||||25,190|
||||-|
||||2023
£
11,063
503
205,161|
||||216,727|
||||2023
£
-|
||||-|
||||2023
£
716,203
146,671|
||||862,874|
||||2023
£
185
3,520
3,794
10,701
-|
||||18,200|
## **13 Pension commitments**
During the year employer’s pension contributions totalling £5,766 (2023: £5,005) were payable to defined contribution personal pension schemes. Pension contributions of £nil were owing at the balance sheet date (2023: £3,364).
Page 19
## **RIVER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **14 Funds**
During the year the movements in the charity's funds were as follows:
|_Designated Funds_
Congregational Funds
Community Support Funds
Miracle Building Fund
_General Unrestricted Funds_
Total Unrestricted Funds
_Restricted Funds_
International Support Funds
CAP Debt Centre
Miracle Building
Forest Hub
Other Community Support Funds
Other Congregational Support
Aggregate of funds|Opening
balance
2024
£
111
6,691
-
6,802
879,714
886,517
3,626
3,463
148,219
19,692
(129)
14
174,885
1,061,402|Incoming
resources
2024
£
-
625
46,708
47,333
391,334
438,667
3,225
47,066
11,833
37,536
698
710
101,067
539,734|Outgoing
resources
2024
£
-
(2,169)
(4,701)
(6,870)
(359,188)
(366,058)
(1,725)
(49,932)
-
(39,743)
(956)
(1,615)
(93,972)
(460,030)|Transfers
in the year
2024
£
(111)
-
938
826
(2,368)
(1,542)
-
-
-
-
650 a)
892 b)
1,542
-|Gains and
losses
2024
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Closing
balance
2024
£
-
5,147
42,945|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||48,091
909,492|
|||||||957,583|
|||||||5,126
597
160,052
17,484
262
-|
|||||||183,522|
|||||||1,141,105|
The transfers referred to above were made for the following reasons:
a) Transfer from the Charity's Christmas offering to the Whycombe project's Christmas event.
b) Transfer from General Unrestricted Funds to Other Congregational Support to cover excess outgoing resources.
## **Analysis of net assets by fund**
The assets and liabilities of the various funds were as follows:
|**lysis of net assets by fund**
assets and liabilities of the various funds were as follows:||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Tangible fixed assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors falling due within one year|General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
25,190
-
15,480
-
738,632
48,091
(21,694)
-
909,492
48,091
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
funds
£
-
-
183,522
-
183,522|2024
£
25,190
15,480
970,245
(21,694)|
||||1,141,105|
Page 20
## **RIVER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **14 Funds (cont.)**
In the previous year the movements in the charity's funds were as follows:
|_Designated Funds_
Congregational Funds
Community Support Funds
_General Unrestricted Funds_
Total Unrestricted Funds
_Restricted Funds_
International Support Funds
CAP Debt Centre
Miracle Building
Forest Hub
Other Community Support Funds
Other Congregational Support
Aggregate of funds|Opening
balance
2023
£
8,309
12,494
20,803
195,252
216,055
1,944
18,569
146,982
26,196
829
-
194,521
410,576|Incoming
resources
2023
£
1,165
9,911
11,076
1,026,049
1,037,125
4,793
22,803
1,238
23,059
588
927
53,407
1,090,531|Outgoing
resources
2023
£
(4,470)
(15,714)
(20,184)
(341,480)
(361,664)
(3,111)
(42,910)
-
(29,563)
(1,545)
(914)
(78,043)
(439,706)|Transfers
in the year
2023
£
(4,893)
-
(4,893)
(107)
(5,000)
-
5,000
-
-
-
-
5,000
-|Gains and
losses
2023
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Closing
balance
2023
£
111
6,691|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||6,802
879,714|
|||||||886,516|
|||||||3,626
3,463
148,219
19,692
(129)
14|
|||||||174,885|
|||||||1,061,401|
## **Analysis of net assets by fund**
In the previous year, the assets and liabilities of the various funds were as follows:
|Tangible fixed assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors falling due within one year|General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
-
-
216,727
-
681,187
6,802
(18,200)
-
879,713
6,802
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
funds
£
-
-
174,885
-
174,885|2023
£
-
216,727
862,874
(18,200)|
|---|---|---|---|
||||1,061,401|
## _Designated funds_
Community Support Funds represent funds set aside for local charitable giving. Miracle Building Fund represent funds set aside for the purchase of a new building.
## _Restricted funds_
International Support Funds relate to money received for various international ministries and the support of church missionaries abroad.
CAP Debt centre funds are restricted to this project.
Miracle Building fund relates to money donated for the purchase of a building. Forest Hub funds are restricted to activities at the Forest Hub.
Other Congregational Support funds are restricted to support the individual congregations. Other Community Support Funds represent funds set aside for local charitable giving.
Page 21
## **RIVER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **15 Transactions with related parties** During the year the charity:
- a) received donations totalling £35,448 (2023: £66,041) from related parties (which includes trustees, any other members of key management and anyone closely connected to them).
- b) No expenses (2023: £nil) were paid to, or for, the trustees.
During the year the charity also made the following payments to, or for, related parties:
- a) Bethani Chisnall, who is closely related to Adam Chisnall, who is a member of key management, received employment benefits totalling £22,385 (2023: £17,598) for her work as Head of Childrens & Families work.
- b) Alex Ioakeim, who is closely related to Julie Ioakeim, who is a member of key management, received employment benefits totalling £19,693 (2023: £2,296) as site manager for the Giving Hope Furniture project.
## **16 Members**
Each member of the charity commits to contribute if the charity is wound up an amount of £10.
Page 22
## **RIVER CHURCH**
## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES WITH COMPARATIVES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|Note
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Investments
5
**Total income and endowments**
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
Charitable activities:
6
**Total Expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
14
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**
14||General
Designated
2024
2024
£
£
377,452
37,100
135
-
13,748
10,233
391,334
47,333
359,188
6,870
359,188
6,870
32,146
40,463
(2,368)
826
29,778
41,289
879,713
6,802
909,492
48,091
Unrestricted funds|Restricted
2024
£
94,257
5,343
1,468
101,067
93,972
93,972
7,095
1,542
8,637
174,885
183,522|Total
2024
£
508,809
5,477
25,449
539,734
460,030
460,030
79,704
-
79,704
1,061,401
1,141,105|||General
Designated
2023
2023
£
£
1,020,264
11,076
63
-
5,722
-
1,026,049
11,076
341,480
20,184
341,480
20,184
684,569
(9,108)
(107)
(4,893)
684,461
(14,000)
195,252
20,803
879,713
6,802
Unrestricted funds|Restricted
2023
£
47,883
5,523
-
53,407
78,043
78,043
(24,636)
5,000
(19,636)
194,521
174,885|Total
2023
£
1,079,223
5,586
5,722
1,090,531
439,706
439,706
650,825
-
650,825
410,576
1,061,401|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 23