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2024-03-31-accounts

FATHER’S PLACE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR

31 MARCH 2024

Company number 8004028 Charity Number 1147137

FATHER’S PLACE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

CONTENTS PAGES
Charity information 1
Directors’ annual report 2 to 6
Independent examiner’s report 7
Statement of financial activities 8
Balance sheet 9
Notes to the financial statements 10 to 16

Page 1

FATHER’S PLACE

CHARITY INFORMATION

Company number 8004028
Charity number 1147137
Working names The Community Church Wrexham
Directors Mr P H Arton
Mr I Thomas
Mr P S Izzard
Mr G York
Mrs S A Black
Registered office 15 Prices Lane
Rhosddu
Wrexham
LL11 2NB
Independent examiner Mr L M Howson
Finansure Limited
2 Sheppard Street
Brymbo
Wrexham
LL11 5FF

Page 2

FATHER’S PLACE

DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The directors have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The directors have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities (revised 2019)” in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The charity is a company limited by guarantee registered on 23[rd] March 2012 and governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Father’s Place was registered with the Charity Commission on 4[th] May 2012.

Directors

The directors during the year are as stated on page 1. New directors are appointed by the board of directors, on the basis of their personal Christian faith and commitment to the objectives of the charity. They serve for an indefinite period. In accordance with the governing document, there is always to be a minimum of three directors and the number of directors receiving paid remuneration from the charity must always be a minority.

OBJECTIVES, ORGANISATION AND ACTIVITIES

The objects of the charity, as set out in its Memorandum of Association, are:

Page 3

FATHER’S PLACE

DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Organisation

The directors meet formally on an annual basis to approve the Directors’ Annual Report and Accounts. Additionally, they meet on a much more frequent basis to seek God’s will and to discuss operational aspects of the charity’s work. Day to day management of certain operational functions is delegated to various other people in the church, for example:

The directors have the power to invest the resources of the charity in such assets as they see fit.

Reserving Policy

It is the policy of the charity to maintain unrestricted cash assets at a level which equates to three months unrestricted expenditure. For the Community Church this is approximately £30,000. In the view of the directors, this provides sufficient funds to cover essential management, administration and support costs during a year where changes may be necessitated through adverse circumstances.

At the year-end the general cash reserves in the bank were £52,387. Then, less an accrual for building maintenance of £20,130 and adding £6,233 Gift Aid we were owed, gives an actual reserve figure of £38,490 at that point in time.

There are various small charitable enterprises which operate under the umbrella of the charity – The Community Café & Shop in Rhosllanerchrugog; Acorns Playgroup; Baby Basics – as well as the Villages Church based in Rhos. These all have their own separate funds and budgets, and therefore have their own reserves policies separate from the general reserves policy of the charity.

Risk Assessment

The directors have considered the key operational, financial, and strategic risks that have a bearing on the charity. Suitable management information is available to the directors on a regular basis to monitor these risks, and allow any mitigating action to be taken to address them. Insurance cover is in place and reviewed on an annual basis. The charity has a child protection policy in place, and all those who work regularly with children and young adults have had appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

Public benefit

The charity directors have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit, and the supplementary guidance on the advancement of religion for the public benefit, published by the Charity Commission, in exercising their powers and duties.

Page 4

FATHER’S PLACE

DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

HIGHLIGHTS OF ACTIVITIES AND FUTURE PLANS

This is the twelfth year that the charity has been in existence, and it continues actively to pursue its objectives. This is the eleventh complete 12 months as a reporting period. The Community Church Wrexham is the working name of Father’s Place. The Community Church has previously been registered under a separate trust, operating since 1988; it separated from this trust and started to run under its own identity on 1[st] September 2012. The building at 15 Prices Lane was also transferred to this charity on the same date.

The charity communicates and advertises its work through its own website - www.fathersplace.org.uk.

Nick Pengelly continued to work full-time in ministry, alongside the leadership team of Sue Pengelly, Phil and Mary Arton, Paul and Sue Izzard, and Phil and Jodie Jones.

Regular Sunday meetings continue with a monthly family service known as ‘Church All-in’. We live-stream our services each week apart from the family services. This is broadening our reach and influence. Twice weekly Bible studies continue to be posted on YouTube by Nick Pengelly.

Overall, the charity is sustaining and showing some evidence of growth. Regular giving has been maintained and grown in line with inflation. The café and playgroup have also successfully applied for many relevant grants to grow and sustain the activities of these ministries. We have taken on the governance and support of another enterprise, called ‘Baby Basics’, since September 2023. This provides new mothers with a Moses basket full of new-baby clothes and other items. These are distributed to mothers on referral from health-visitors and mid-wives.

The Wrexham building continues to be used by a regular term-time playgroup that provides four morning sessions per week. In addition, we have been running a ‘Stay and Play’ group on Fridays since November 2023. The activities of these groups and the related funds are under the auspices of the charity. Three to five people are employed to run the playgroup depending on numbers and the need to support children with additional needs. The setting continues to enjoy a good reputation with parents and the inspecting authorities and is prospering. This group registered for ‘Flying Start’ provision taking in children from their 2[nd] birthday and took in the first children under this scheme in January 2024. Initially this was for just 2 children, but numbers have increased since. This will help anchor the viability of the setting.

The work into the local villages continued with a small congregation meeting in Rhosllanerchrugog under the leadership of Grace Lockhart. This has grown to the point they now (since Easter ’24) use premises kindly provided by the local branch of the Salvation Army. The congregation has its own bank account but operates with the support and governance of Father’s Place. The Community Café was an initiative launched in Rhos in 2011 This is run mainly by volunteer help. The cafe has continued to grow in popularity and community impact with a variety of activities based there. The charity shop next door, which operated for Nightingale House Hospice, became available during 2020 and we agreed to take it over. It has been running now for 3 years since, generating useful funds for the villages work. It allows Grace to be paid a full-time salary for all the work she manages and does in support. Grace also runs a foodbank in the village.

Sue Izzard continued to be employed as administrator but is also active in pastoral care and leads a Bethel Sozo ministry with a small team. She is working in the church office providing significant support to all aspects of the church ministry.

Page 5

FATHER’S PLACE

DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The church initiated a project late in 2014 to set up a centre for youth mentoring under the XLM banner. Abi Hughes continues to head up this project. Activities were curtailed during the pandemic and the number of active volunteers dropped significantly, a trend observable across a number of other volunteer-supported activities. The ongoing viability of this project is currently under review. Abi has been lending her support to the ‘Stay and Play’, parents and toddlers’ group

People attending The Community Church work with Christians Together in Wrexham to support various activities across the town that provide support to the local community. This includes Street Pastors, a Foodbank, an Environment Group and a Pregnancy Counselling Service (Y Bont). We also have hosted worship evenings with other churches under the banner name of ‘Burn 24-7’.

The church operates several restricted funds for charitable purposes. One is the hardship fund for the relief of financial need. It is administered by two directors and is generally, but not exclusively, used to meet individual needs within the congregation. The other is a missions’ fund which has allowed us to sponsor a few individuals involved in missionary work at home and abroad.

Phase 1, refurbishment, of the church building project has been completed this financial year. This project kicked off in March 2021 with the appointment of a main building contractor and this contractor finished his work by early November that year with a total expenditure to March 2023 including VAT and professional fees of about £200k. Since then, the new fire exit has been created and installed from the main hall and other fire safety work done bringing the total expenditure to about £220k. We are very pleased with the outcome. Phase 2, extension, is likely to cost another £300,000 with inflation, and will need grants and further fund-raising before it can be progressed. In the meanwhile, dry rot manifested in one of the main roof timbers which has cost us over £30k from our general reserves to repair. There is also a rot-issue with part of the floor in the back hall. A quinquennial plan is being developed to safeguard the integrity of the building.

REVIEW OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Total income for the year was £276,476 (2023 - £244,690). The main sources of income during the year were donations received £153,984 (2023 - £130,520), community café/shop sales £55,882 (2023 - £49,126), Gift Aid claimed on donations £25,601 (2023 - £23,114) and playgroup fees £18,203 (2023 - £18,237).

Total expenditure for the year was £255,081 (2023 - £211,124). The main areas of expenditure for the year were church running costs £80,097 (31%), ministry support £60,007 (24%), running costs of the community café & shop £52,701 (21%) and playgroup £30,184 (12%).

The charity made a net surplus during the year of £21,395 and its unrestricted reserves at the yearend were £358,074 of which £271,519 are the general reserves of the Community Church and £52,387 of these are held in the bank.

Page 6

FATHER’S PLACE

DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

Charity law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of its financial activities for that year. In preparing those financial statements the directors are required to:

The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud or other irregularities.

This report was approved by the directors on 11[th] November 2024 and is signed on their behalf by:

Philip Arton

Page 7

FATHER’S PLACE

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE DIRECTORS

I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 8 to 16.

Respective responsibilities of directors and examiner

The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) 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 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

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 directors 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 to indicate that:

12th November 2024 L M Howson MAAT …………………………

Finansure Ltd, 2 Sheppard Street, Brymbo, Wrexham, LL11 5FF

Page 8

FATHER’S PLACE

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Unrestricted Restricted Totals Totals
Funds Funds 2024 2023
Note £ £ £ £
INCOME FROM:
Donations 2 151,007 49,584 200,591 175,529
Charitable activities 3 56,436 18,203 74,639 69,003
Investment income 1,246 - 1,246 158
─── ─── ─── ───
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 208,689 67,787 276,476 244,690
─── ─── ─── ───
EXPENDITURE ON:
Charitable activities 4 194,480 60,601 255,081 211,124
─── ─── ─── ───
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 194,480 60,601 255,081 211,124
─── ─── ─── ───
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
FOR THE YEAR 14,209 7,186 21,395 33,566
Gross transfers between funds - - - -
─── ─── ─── ───
Net movement in funds 14,209 7,186 21,395 33,566
Balances brought forward 343,865 14,017 357,882 324,316
─── ─── ─── ───
Balances carried forward 358,074 21,203 379,277 357,882
─── ─── ─── ───

The charity has no recognised gains or losses other than the results for the year as set out above.

All of the activities of the charity are classed as continuing.

The notes on pages 10 to 16 form part of these financial statements.

Page 9

FATHER’S PLACE

BALANCE SHEET

31 MARCH 2024 31 MARCH 2024
Note 2024 2023
£ £
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets 9 233,002 235,918
─── ───
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 10 7,909 6,610
Cash at bank and in hand 164,476 154,663
─── ───
172,385 161,273
CREDITORS:amounts falling
due within one year 11 (26,110) (4,309)
─── ───
NET CURRENT ASSETS 146,275 156,964
─── ───
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES 379,277 392,882
CREDITORS:amounts falling
due after more than one year 12 - (35,000)
─── ───
NET ASSETS 13 379,277 357,882
─── ───
FUNDS 14
Unrestricted funds
General reserve 271,519 271,530
Designated funds 86,555 72,335
Restricted funds 21,203 14,017
─── ───
TOTAL FUNDS 379,277 357,882
─── ───

The directors are satisfied that the charity is entitled to exemption from the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) relating to the audit of the accounts for the year by virtue of section 477, and that no member or members have requested an audit pursuant to section 476 of the Act.

The directors acknowledge their responsibility for:

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for companies subject to the small companies’ regime, and with the Financial Reporting Standard (FRS 102).

These financial statements were approved by the directors on 11[th] November 2024 and are signed on their behalf by:

Philip Arton

The notes on pages 10 to 16 form part of these financial statements.

Page 10

FATHER’S PLACE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with the Companies Act and Charities Act, the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) Accounting and Reporting by Charities (effective January 2019) and the Financial Reporting Standard (FRS 102).

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are general funds which are available for use at the discretion of the directors in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes.

The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. Investment income and gains are allocated to the appropriate fund.

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

No amounts are included in the financial statements for services donated by volunteers.

Resources expended

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.

Fund-raising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities.

Management and administration costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

Fixed assets

Assets are capitalised if they cost more than £100 and have a useful life of more than one year. Depreciation is calculated to write down the cost of fixed assets over their expected useful lives.

Depreciation therefore is provided on the following basis:

No depreciation is charged on freehold land.

Page 11

FATHER’S PLACE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

2. DONATIONS

2024 2023
£ £
Unrestricted donations
- Tithes and offerings 109,951 96,925
- Community café donations 918 22,100
- Villages donations 5,533 4,719
- Other unrestricted donations 1,169 50
Restricted donations
- Building fund 24,809 1,620
- Baby Basics 2,411 -
- Missions 5,400 4,025
- Hardship fund 600 700
- Special offerings - 231
- Other restricted donations 190 150
Income tax recoverable:
- Unrestricted 24,253 21,589
- Restricted 1,348 1,525
Chaplain salary contributions 3,003 3,003
Grants received
- Community café grants 6,004 6,434
- Playgroup grants (restricted) 9,502 7,237
- Baby Basics 5,500 -
- HMRC JRS grants - 5,221
─── ───
200,591 175,529
─── ───

3. INCOMING RESOURCES FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

2024 2023
£ £
Acorns playgroup income 18,203 18,237
Community café / shop income 55,882 49,126
Conferences and events income 495 1,625
Other income 59 15
─── ───
74,639 69,003
─── ───

Page 12

FATHER’S PLACE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

4. COSTS OF ACTIVITIES IN FURTHERANCE OF THE CHARITY’S OBJECTS

Activity or project Activities
undertaken
directly
Grant
funding
of
activities
(note 5)
Support
costs
(note 6)
Employment
costs
(note 7)
Total
2024
Total
2023
£ £ £ £ £ £
Church running costs 3,633 - 56,990 19,474 80,097 48,385
Ministry support 50,070 - - 9,937 60,007 55,827
Playgroup 10,871 - - 19,313 30,184 24,822
Community café/shop 27,235 - - 25,466 52,701 64,901
Missions & giving 1,900 7,339 - - 9,239 6,632
Building renovations 16,141 - - - 16,141 4,592
Children & youth 493 - - 6,219 6,712 5,965
TOTAL 110,343 7,339 56,990 80,409 255,081 211,124

5. GRANTS PAYABLE IN FURTHERANCE OF THE CHARITY’S OBJECTS

2024 2023
£ £
Charities (UK)
- Christians Against Poverty 309 750
- Christians Together in Wrexham 200 -
- Other (< £200) - 125
Individuals (UK)
- Missions 6,750 5,117
- Hardship fund gifts 80 640
─── ───
7,339 6,632
─── ───

Page 13

FATHER’S PLACE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

6. SUPPORT COSTS

SUPPORT COSTS
2024 2023
£ £
Computer & website 601 116
Depreciation 3,981 4,164
Flowers and hospitality 405 417
Insurance 1,852 1,743
Office expenses 391 110
Equipment expenses 219 144
Leased equipment 936 328
Postage, printing and stationery 514 143
Repairs and maintenance 30,701 2,926
Cleaning costs 1,609 -
Subscriptions and licences 908 746
Telephone and internet 840 1,077
Heat and light 3,965 3,287
Water 631 571
Bank charges 160 32
Bookkeeping & payroll 8,400 7,800
Accountancy & examiner’s fee 600 600
Other expenses 277 1,382
─── ───
56,990 25,586
─── ───

7. EMPLOYMENT COSTS

2024 2023
£ £
Community café wages 25,466 29,161
Playgroup wages 19,313 17,383
Ministry salaries 9,937 9,423
Youth mentoring wages 6,219 5,758
Administration salaries 18,327 17,741
Employer’s pension contributions 1,147 1,058
─── ───
80,409 80,524
─── ───

No employee received emoluments, as defined for taxation purposes, amounting to over £60,000 in the tax year.

The total number of employees during the year was ten (2023 – nine), one of which was fulltime. They were made up of six staff at Acorns Playgroup, one café staff, one administrator, one XLM youth mentor and one hospital chaplain.

The average number of employees calculated on a full-time equivalent basis was four (2023 – four).

Page 14

FATHER’S PLACE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

8. TRANSACTIONS WITH DIRECTORS AND RELATED PARTIES

Mrs S Izzard, the spouse of a director, received remuneration of £18,318 (2023 - £17,740) in her role as office administrator.

None of the directors received any remuneration or expenses during the year.

9. FIXED ASSETS

Cost
At 1 April 2023
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2024
Depreciation
At 1 April 2023
Charge for year
Disposals
At 31 March 2024
Net book value
At 31 March 2024
At 31 March 2023
Freehold
property
£
250,926
-
-
250,926
20,290
1,805
-
22,095
228,831
230,636
Church
equipment
£
29,104
1,065
-
30,169
24,609
1,791
-
26,400
3,769
4,495
Café
equipment
£
Total
£
1,921
-
-
281,951
1,065
-
1,921
283,016
1,134
385
-
46,033
3,981
-
1,519
50,014
402
233,002
787
235,918
10. DEBTORS
2024 2023
£ £
Income tax recoverable 6,459 5,202
Prepayments 1,450 1,408
─── ───
7,909 6,610
─── ───

Page 15

FATHER’S PLACE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

11. CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year

2024 2023
£ £
Trade creditors 16,290 -
Accruals 3,546 3,047
Other creditors 1,274 1,262
Member loans 5,000 -
─── ───
26,110 4,309
─── ───

12. CREDITORS: amounts falling due after more than one year

2024 2023
£ £
Member loans - 35,000
─── ───

13. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Restricted
funds
£
Fund balances at 31 03 24
represented by:
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
-
26,203
(5,000)
21,203
Unrestricted
funds
£
233,002
146,182
(21,110)
358,074
Total
£
233,002
172,385
(26,110)
379,277

14. STATEMENT OF FUNDS

At 1 April At 31 March
2023 Income Expenditure Transfers 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted funds:
General reserve 271,530 139,060 (134,585) (4,486) 271,519
Designated building fund - 50 - 5,079 5,129
Designated community café 63,644 62,967 (54,933) 148 71,826
Designated villages 8,691 6,612 (4,962) (741) 9,600
──── ──── ──── ──── ────
Total unrestricted funds 343,865 208,689 (194,480) - 358,074
──── ──── ──── ──── ────

Page 16

FATHER’S PLACE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

14. STATEMENT OF FUNDS (continued)

At 1 April At 31 March
2023 Income Expenditure Transfers 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Restricted funds:
Building fund - 20,300 (16,142) - 4,158
Building repair fund - 4,509 (4,509) - -
CAP 219 90 (309) - -
Hardship fund 930 700 (80) - 1,550
Missions fund 2,356 6,500 (6,750) - 2,106
Acorns playgroup 9,942 27,705 (30,711) - 6,936
Acorns parent and toddler 72 - (72) - -
XLM youth fund 498 - (138) - 360
Baby Basics - 7,983 (1,890) - 6,093
──── ──── ──── ──── ────
Total restricted funds 14,017 67,787 (60,601) - 21,203
──── ──── ──── ──── ────
Total funds 357,882 276,476 (255,081) - 379,277
──── ──── ──── ──── ────

The general reserve represents the free funds of the charity which are not designated for particular purposes.

The designated building fund represents funds which the directors have set aside towards an extension on the current building at Prices Lane. This was transferred back to general funds on completion of the project.

The community café and villages designated funds represent funds set aside for these projects. Transfers into these funds represent balances brought forward which weren’t distinguished from general reserves in the previous year.

The restricted building funds represent donations used to renovate the church building.

The CAP fund represents donations given towards the work of CAP (Christians Against Poverty) in Wrexham.

The hardship fund represents monies given towards helping those affected by poverty.

The missions fund represents donations given towards supporting missionaries.

The Acorns playgroup and Acorns parent and toddler group are run separately but operate from The Community Church Centre. The parent & toddler group closed during the year.

The XLM youth fund represents grants and donations towards the XLM youth mentoring project.