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South Central Gospel Partnership
Report and Accounts
year ended 31 July 2022
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## **SOUTH CENTRAL GOSPEL PARTNERSHIP**
## **COMPANY INFORMATION**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2022**
## **Directors/Trustees**
Piers Bickersteth (until 16th February 2022) Philip Butcher (from 16th February 2022) Peter Comont (until 7th October 2022) Elisabeth Ling (from 16th February 2022) James Muldoon Thomas Putt (from 16th February 2022)
**Company Secretary** Andrew Menary **Director of Training** Matthew Searles (to March 2022) **Governing Document** Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 31 July 2012 **Company Registration Number** 8163369 **Charity Registration Number** 1149625 **Principal Address** 2 Roger Bacon Lane Oxford OX1 1QE **Registered Office** 2 Roger Bacon Lane Oxford 19 April 2023 OX1 1QE
## **Independent Examiner**
Ajay Rajani FCIE Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB
## **Bankers**
CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ
|**Contents**|**Page**|
|---|---|
|Company Information|1|
|Trustees' Annual Report|2-5|
|Independent Examiner's Report|6|
|Statement of Financial Activities|7|
|Balance Sheet|8|
|Notes to the Accounts|9-11|
Page 1
**SOUTH CENTRAL GOSPEL PARTNERSHIP**
## **TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (INCORPORATING DIRECTORS' REPORT)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2022**
The trustees, who are the charity's directors for the purposes of company law, have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year.
## **Objects of the charity**
Our Vision Statement:
The South Central Gospel Partnership is a group of evangelical churches in the south central region of England working together to promote the gospel of Christ. This includes strengthening and planting churches and training leaders.
Our purpose as set out in the objects contained within the company’s memorandum of association is, "To advance the Christian faith for the benefit of the public, and in accordance with our doctrinal basis, predominately but not exclusively within the loosely defined area of the South Central region of England. This includes:
- Strengthening and planting churches,
- Training and supporting existing and potential leaders,
- All other things that might promote the gospel of Christ."
Our current primary means of achieving this purpose is through running bible training courses and conferences that enable people to better understand, apply and teach the Bible. These courses and conferences are open to all who wish to attend and are promoted widely across churches in the South Central region.
Provision of our conferences and training relies heavily upon the sacrificial contribution of volunteers to teach and lead, for which we remain hugely grateful. It also depends upon the enthusiastic participation of all those attending.
The trustees have reviewed all their activities for the past year and those planned. They consider, in regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission, that they continue to offer public benefit, both through their wide availability and the impact on society of those attending our training through their growth in Christian maturity and being able to pass on biblical truth.
During the past year the charity has not made any grants, but such may be considered by the trustees in the future provided they are in furtherance of our objectives.
## **Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements**
To further the above objects and vision, the charity's main activities and achievements were as follows:
The past year for the Ministry Training Course (MTC) was once again successful, though not at the record numbers of the previous year. 95 students (2021: 125) from over 25 different churches enrolled in the course or returned for their second year, seeking to become better equipped to understand and teach the Bible in different contexts. We have students from all walks of life, from young college leavers to those in retirement and a large proportion are actively involved in full or part-time service in their home church. Due to the need to be cautious around COVID we offered both in person and online delivery of the course, which provided its own unique challenges and opportunities. A South Central Women's Day was able to return in 2022 attended and very much appreciated by 187 people from across the region (Glorious Jesus - First & Last).
The goal is never to replicate what churches are doing, nor pull people away from church events and commitments, but rather to provide events that no one church might be able to support, but for which there may be a need across a number of churches.
Page 2
## **SOUTH CENTRAL GOSPEL PARTNERSHIP**
## **TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT**
## **(INCORPORATING DIRECTORS' REPORT)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2022**
During the year we said goodbye to Matt Searles, our first Training Director. We owe Matt a huge thanks for all that he accomplished in developing the MTC over the past 8 years. He has been a wise leader and careful teacher, and we cannot quantify how many MTC students, conference attendees, visiting church congregations, fellow teachers and pastors, and many others, are so very grateful for his service. The trustees are delighted to be able to put on record their own immeasurable thanks and assure him of their best wishes and prayers as he takes up his new role with Crosslands. We are also so grateful for the skill and hard work 'beyond the call' of Toni Searles, his wife, who also stepped down from her administration role - we could not have run without you!
We are indebted to and hugely grateful for the many who have given of their time to speak on our courses and to lead small groups over the past year, without whom we could not operate. We estimate that roughly 30 people have served us in this way over the past year.
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England on 31st July 2012 and registered as a charity on 6th November 2012. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association and is governed by its Articles of Association, which together established the objects, powers and governance of the charitable company. These articles have not been amended since incorporation. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 each.
In addition to the founding nine subscribers, membership of the charitable company is open to other individuals and organisations who apply, signify their assent to the doctrinal basis (as established with the governing documents), and are approved by the directors. There is only one class of membership.
During the year one of the founding director's resigned and we appointed three new directors. Futhermore another founding director resigned after the year end. We are exceedingly grateful for the vision and commitment of these founding directors in establishing the work of the charity and setting us on a firm footing. We very warmly welcome our new directors who will bring a refreshed commitment to our mission.
On a day to day basis the charitable company normally operates through its Training Director, who is not a trustee or member. He oversees the training programmes and development of the charity according to the guidance of the trustees and the annual meeting of the members. Upon his departure in March the training director role was taken over by interim MTC leaders and by the trustees, pending a new appointment.
The charity is supported in prayer and action by a network of evangelical churches, ministers and individuals, many of whom are members, who hold to our doctrinal basis and wish to work together to promote the gospel of Christ.
## **Financial review**
The charity had a further very good year financially speaking. Numbers attending MTC understandably dropped from the previous year's high, leading to reduced income of £62,744 (2021 £73,092) including generous donations from churches and individuals for which we are exceedingly grateful. Notably, our expenditure fell (£48,527 compared with 2021 £57,074), predominately because we did not have a permanent training director for the last 4 months of the year. Our operating surplus was £14,217 (2021: £16,018).
Page 3
## **SOUTH CENTRAL GOSPEL PARTNERSHIP**
## **TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (INCORPORATING DIRECTORS' REPORT)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2022**
## **Reserves policy**
The Board of Directors have established a policy whereby free reserves (which the directors define as being unrestricted net current assets) held by the charity should be somewhere between £12,000 and £25,000 (i.e. between three to six months of expenditure) so that the charity could continue to operate if income falls short of expectations. At the year end the charity’s free reserves rose above this figure to £51,338. The directors are seeking to appoint a development director when the time and opportunity are right, which will need to draw on these reserves for at least an initial period. Possibly partly as a knock-on from the pandemic the numbers attending our course have dropped for the year 2022/23 and we are forecasting a small reduction in reserves for the coming year as a result. In light of these matters we consider this a prudent level of reserves to maintain for the timebeing.
## **Key risks and uncertainties**
The charity is exposed to various risks - be they operational, financial or reputational. The trustees review the charity's activities regularly to identify significant risks and, where possible, they take appropriate measures to mitigate those risks.
## **Plans for the future**
Our main service will continue to be the weekly Ministry Training Course, where we hope to further broaden the recruiting base of churches that encourage attendance. Even though we are now meeting in-person we are also still making MTC training sessions available online. The appointment of a new Training Director from August 2022 brings the opportunity to consider new ways to expand our mission beyond the weekly MTC.
Each year we make contact with more churches, and we hope that these relationships bear fruit in better networks between churches that, in addition to more people benefitting from our training, can lead to partnership in outreach to areas that are less well served by churches – for example by encouraging church planting. We are considering the appointment of a part-time development director to lead this aspect of our work.
## **Responsibilities of trustees under company 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).
Company 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 charitable company 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.
Page 4
## **SOUTH CENTRAL GOSPEL PARTNERSHIP**
## **TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT**
## **(INCORPORATING DIRECTORS' REPORT)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2022**
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
## **Approval**
This report, which has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies, was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
J Muldoon
**James Muldoon**
Date: 17.4. 2023
Page 5
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **SOUTH CENTRAL GOSPEL PARTNERSHIP ('the Company')**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 July 2022 on pages 7 to 11 following, which have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out on page 9.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
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 Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or
4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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.
Ajay Rajani FCIE
A Rajani Date: 19th April 2023
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB
Page 6
## **SOUTH CENTRAL GOSPEL PARTNERSHIP**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2022**
|Note
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other income
**Total income and endowments**
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
Charitable activities
5
Other
**Total expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|Unrestricted
Funds
£
10,561
52,183
-
62,744
48,527
-
48,527
14,217
-
14,217
37,121
51,338|Total
Funds
2022
£
10,561
52,183
-
62,744
48,527
-
48,527
14,217
-
14,217
37,121
51,338|Total
Funds
2021
£
12,467
60,625
-
73,092
57,074
-
57,074
16,018
-
16,018
21,103
37,121|
|---|---|---|---|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All of the charity’s income and expenditure in 2021 and 2022 was unrestricted and there are no brought forward, or carried forward, restricted fund balances.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing operations.
The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account required by the Companies Act 2006.
The notes on page 9-11 form part of these accounts.
Page 7
## **SOUTH CENTRAL GOSPEL PARTNERSHIP**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## **AS AT 31 JULY 2022**
|Note
**FIXED ASSETS**
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
7
Cash at bank and in hand
8
**CREDITORS: Amounts falling**
**due within one year**
9
**Net current assets / (liabilities)**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**TOTAL NET ASSETS**
**FUND BALANCES**
Unrestricted Funds
General funds
Restricted Funds|Unrestricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
53,295
53,295
(1,957)
51,338
51,338
51,338
51,338
-
51,338|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Total
Funds
2022
£
-
-
-
53,295
53,295
(1,957)
51,338
51,338
51,338
51,338
-
51,338|Total
Funds
2021
£
-
-
-
42,464
42,464
(5,343)
37,121
37,121
37,121
37,121
-
37,121|
|---|---|---|---|---|
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 July 2022.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2022 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006 however, in accordance with Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011, the accounts have been examined by an independent examiner and their report has been included in these financial statements.
The directors (who are the charitable company's trustees for the purposes of charity law) acknowledge their responsibilities
- (a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records which comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
- (b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its net income or expenditure for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 17.4.2023 and were signed on its behalf by:
J Muldoon
## **James Muldoon**
The notes on page 9-11 form part of these accounts.
Company number: 8163369
Charity number: 1149625
Page 8
## **SOUTH CENTRAL GOSPEL PARTNERSHIP**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2022**
## **1 Statutory Information**
The charity is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in the United Kingdom. The company's registered number and registered office address can be found on the Company 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"), with the Companies Act 2006 and with the Charities Act 2011. The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity as set out in FRS 102.
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 any 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.
## 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 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
Unrestricted funds are funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. We currently have no designated funds (comprising unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes) nor any restricted funds (being donations that must be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; this includes donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects).
- 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 £1,000 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 date no expenditure has been incurred that needs to be capitalised.
f) Taxation The company is a registered charity; it has taken advantage of the various reliefs from taxation available to charities and no tax is payable on the charity's income.
## g) Exemption from preparing a cashflow statement
The charity has taken advantage of an exemption conferred by the Charities SORP and has not prepared a cash flow statement.
- h) 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.
Page 9
## **SOUTH CENTRAL GOSPEL PARTNERSHIP**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2022**
## **3 Donations**
|Donations of cash and similar
Other grants receivable
**4**
**Income from charitable activities**
Ministry Training Course
Conferences
Other Charitable Activities
**5**
**Charitable expenditure**
**a**
**Costs incurred directly on specific activities**
Ministry Training Course
Conferences
Training Director
**b**
**Costs incurred on support & administration**
Governance costs
Independent examiner's fee
Other
Administrative Support
**Total expenditure**|2022
£
10,561
-
10,561
2022
£
49,930
2,253
-
52,183
2022
£
2,101
2,227
34,331
38,659
920
-
920
8,948
9,868
48,527|2021
£
12,467
-
12,467
2021
£
60,625
-
-
60,625
2021
£
1,095
-
51,125
52,220
900
-
900
3,954
4,854
57,074|
|---|---|---|
## **6 Analysis of staff costs, the cost of key management personnel and trustee remuneration and expenses**
The charity’s key management comprise the trustees and the Director of Training (until March 2022). The charity reimburses St Ebbe’s PCC for the cost of them employing the Director of Training. The reimbursements payable for the year to 31 July 2022 amounted to £30,796 (2021: £51,125). After March we were served by interim Training Directors whose reimbursement was made directly by the charity, (£3,535, 2021 Nil). In addition, we directly employ a part-time administrator at a cost of £3.542 (2021 £857). Until December 2021 this administrator position was held by Mrs A Searles who is married to the Director of Training (she received £964). No employment benefits were paid to the trustees, nor to any person closely connected to them, in either the current or preceding year. Except for the reimbursement of expenses incurred when acting as agent for the charity, no expenses were paid to (or for) the trustees.
Many of the charity’s activities are undertaken by volunteers.
## **7 Debtors**
|**Falling due within one year:**
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
**Total debtors**|2022
£
-
-
-|2021
£
-
-
-|
|---|---|---|
Page 10
## **SOUTH CENTRAL GOSPEL PARTNERSHIP**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2022**
## **8 Cash at Bank and in Hand**
|Cash at bank with immediate access
**itors: liabilities falling due within one year**
St Ebbe's PCC - Accruals
Other Accruals|2022
£
53,295
53,295
2022
£
985
973
1,957|2021
£
42,464
42,464
2021
£
4,443
900
5,343|
|---|---|---|
## **9 Creditors: liabilities falling due within one year**
## **10 Members**
Each member of the company commits to contribute if the charity is wound up an amount of £10.
## **11 Events after the Balance Sheet date**
A new permanent part-time Training Director was appointed from August 2022, employed directly by the charity. In November 2022 we were advised that the charity was the beneficiary of a legacy of £10,000 (which has since been received). There are no restrictions on these funds and the trustees have initially determined that it should be designated to provide funding for course attendees who are unable to pay our full fees, with this decision to be reviewed as necessary in light of needs.
Page 11