## Real Life Church, Sutton Coldfield
Company No. 8182165 Charity No. 1149821
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2023
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD**
## **COMPANY INFORMATION**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **Trustees**
Charlotte Senior Andrew Pinder Stuart Crane Aaron Abraham
## **Key Staff**
Stuart Crane (church leader) Melanie Crane (children and youth leader)
## **Governing Document**
Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 15 August 2012
## **Company Registration Number**
8182165
**Charity Registration Number** 1149821
## **Registered Office**
3 Aragon Drive Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B73 6BQ
## **Independent Examiner**
Archie McDowall BA, CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB
## **Bankers**
CAF Bank Shawbrook Bank
|**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|9-16|
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities with Comparatives|17|
Page 1
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD**
## **TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (INCORPORATING DIRECTORS' REPORT)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
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**
The charity is a charitable company and is governed by its memorandum and articles of association. The Trust seeks to demonstrate the Christian faith in action by the advancement of the Christian Religion in the United Kingdom and overseas, and through the relief of the aged, poor, sick and disabled.
## **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:
## Build and strengthen the church
Meetings were held on Sundays in Sutton Coldfield to worship, to teach and to pray for those attending. Ageappropriate teaching and activities were provided at each meeting for under 18s. The Sunday meetings are freely open to all to attend and we had guests and new members join us throughout the year. Small, mid-week “Life Groups” met throughout the year for members of the church to facilitate discipleship, build community and support each other practically. Regular mid-week meetings were also held to pray for the work of the church, our local community and the nations. In August we took a group of teenagers to Newday, a Christian summer festival for young people. Throughout the year we ran specific events for the Men and Women in our church to build relationship and provide a forum for discipleship.
Two Alpha courses were run during the year, which were advertised and open to anyone to attend. We also ran several lessons of our "Real Life School", focused on training and equipping members in Christian theology and doctrine.
We held two baptism services during the year, celebrating the special occasions with family and friends of those being baptised. A team of ladies from Real Life Church also supported the women's conference of another church in Hertfordshire, sharing teaching, encouragement and praying for the ladies who attended that conference.
## Bless the local community
The church ran a number of craft and activity events for children that were free and open to all. Messy Easter was held on Good Friday and was a popular session aimed at young children and their parents, to have fun learning about the Easter Story while doing fun art and craft activities. Messy Christmas was a similar event, run in the first week of December. We ran Messy Christmas at a second site in Castle Vale for the first time this year. We also held a number of "Messy Little Ones" events for children who are too young to attend our Messy Easter and Messy Christmas events.
In June, Real Life Church entered a team into the Great Midlands Fun Run, raising nearly £6,000 for local Food Banks.
Real Life Church began hosting a "Table Top Games" event for the local community in November, and this event will be held once a term going forwards. The event was free and open for all to attend, and was attended by a significant number of guests.
Page 2
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD**
## **TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (INCORPORATING DIRECTORS' REPORT)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements (continued)**
At Christmas, we participated in the Boldmere Community street festival and Christmas lights event, at which we provided live music entertainment. We also hosted a Carol Service that was open to all to attend.
## Help the poor and those in need
Throughout the year we made regular donations of food, finance and support to a local food bank run from the United Reform Church in Sutton Coldfield. We also provided volunteers to work at the Food Bank. We also supported families in need with food vouchers and financial support in times of difficulty. We gave gifts to other charitable activities, as follows:
- £3,000 to support a church plant in Egypt;
- £3,050 to LIV village, a project for orphans and the local community based in South Africa;
- £2,400 to Acacia Family Support;
- £600 to Birmingham 2020;
Significantly, most of the charity's activities are undertaken by volunteers and the charity could not operate effectively without their efforts.
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
Responsibility for strategic and financial oversight of the Church, health and safety, insurance, employment matters, and ensuring compliance with all relevant legal and charity obligations rests with the Directors. They discussed various matters and met regularly during 2023 and were consulted and informed on matters of importance. The Directors were: Stuart Crane, Andrew Pinder, Charlotte Senior and Aaron Abraham.
Real Life Church is led and overseen by Elders and a Senior Leadership Team. The Elders are Stuart Crane, Jeremy Douglas-Jones and Matt Yates. The Senior Leadership Team is led by Stuart and Melanie Crane, together with Jeremy Douglas-Jones, Ben and Charlotte Senior, and Matt and Philippa Yates.
The Elders and Senior Leaders met regularly during the year to discuss and oversee the affairs and operational matters of the Church. They work with a large number of volunteers to implement the vision, goals and objects of the Church. The Senior Leaders and Elders are given input and guidance from Andy Martin, an Apostle within the Catalyst network of churches to which Real Life Church belongs.
Real Life Church is a member of the Evangelical Alliance and is affiliated to Catalyst, an apostolic team within Newfrontiers, a worldwide family of churches.
## **Financial review**
During the year income increased by £7,775, to £246,968, and expenditure increased by £12,623 to £251,619. As a result, the charity had a deficit for the year of £4,651, compared to a surplus of £197 in 2022 and the charity's net assets decreased by the same amount, to £371,377, all of which are unrestricted. Net current assets increased by £23,060 to £404,245.
Page 3
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD**
## **TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (INCORPORATING DIRECTORS' REPORT)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **Reserves policy**
The trustees have determined that the Church should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £120k (which equates to about six months' of unrestricted expenditure) so that the Church could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the Church held unrestricted cash of £399,991 and the Church is complying with its reserves policy. Any surplus, free reserves are being held by the Church to meet future expenditure in relation to additional ministry needs or potential staff or venue expansion.
## **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**
The Church’s aims for the future are in line with its activities and achievements during 2023, i.e. building and strengthening the church, blessing the local community and helping the poor and those in need. It continues to rely on the support of a large number of volunteers and, as it is considered appropriate and supportable financially, will employ additional people to help further its aims and objectives. At the beginning of 2024 the trustees employeed an Administrative Assistant for 7.5 hours per week to support the efficient day-to-day running of the Church.
Page 4
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD**
## **TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (INCORPORATING DIRECTORS' REPORT)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **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.
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:
_____________________________________ Charlotte Senior
Date: _________________________
Page 5
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD ('the Company')**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2023 on pages 7 to 17 following, which have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out on pages 9 to 11.
## **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.
Archie McDowall BA, CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB
Date:
Page 6
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|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**
13
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**
13|Unrestricted
Funds
£
231,960
6,085
2,171
240,216
244,579
244,579
(4,363)
(287)
(4,651)
376,028
371,376|Restricted
Funds
£
6,752
-
-
6,752
7,040
7,040
(287)
287
-
-
-|Total
Funds
2023
£
238,712
6,085
2,171
246,968
251,619
251,619
(4,651)
-
(4,651)
376,028
371,376|Total
Funds
2022
£
233,977
3,904
1,312|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||239,193|
|||||238,996|
|||||238,996|
|||||197
-|
|||||197
375,830|
|||||376,028|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
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 9-16 form part of these accounts.
Page 7
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## **AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|Note
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
8
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
9
Cash at bank and in hand
10
**CREDITORS: Amounts falling**
**due within one year**
11
**Net current assets / (liabilities)**
**TOTAL NET ASSETS**
**FUND BALANCES**
13
Unrestricted Funds
General funds
Restricted Funds|Unrestricted
Funds
£
1,092
1,092
4,254
399,991
404,245
(33,960)
370,285
371,377
371,377
371,377
-
371,377|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Total
Funds
2023
£
1,092
1,092
4,254
399,991
404,245
(33,960)
370,285
371,377
371,377
371,377
-
371,377|Total
Funds
2022
£
1,703|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||1,703|
|||||1,981
379,203|
|||||381,185
(6,860)|
|||||374,325|
||||||
|||||376,028|
|||||376,028|
|||||376,028
-|
|||||376,028|
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 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 and were signed on its behalf by:
--------------------------------------Charlotte Senior
Date: ___________________
Company number: 8182165
Charity number: 1149821
The notes on page 9-16 form part of these accounts.
Page 8
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **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 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.
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.
- 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.
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 church retreats and other events and courses.
Income from other trading activities represents income receivable from activities undertaken to generate funds for the charity.
Investment income represents income generated by the charity's assets and includes income from bank interest.
The charity has taken the view that it has only one charitable activity, namely the advancement of the Christian faith, and all income from donations, legacies and charitable activities is in respect of this one activity.
Page 9
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **2 Accounting Policies (continued)**
## 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
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.
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 £500 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:
Equipment Over 3 to 7 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) Investments
Fixed asset investments are held to generate income and / or for their investment potential. Current asset investments are investments that are held specifically for sale or are investments that the charity expects to sell by the next balance sheet date. Investments, other than social investments (see below), are valued as follows:
- i) Investment property and listed investments are valued at their market value (fair value) at the balance sheet date.
- ii) Unlisted investments are measured at cost less impairment where it becomes apparent that the amount that could be realised is less than cost.
Impairment losses and losses arising on the disposal of social investments are included in the Statement of Financial Activities under the heading 'Expenditure on charitable activities'. Gains arising on the disposal of social investments are included in the Statement of Financial Activities under the heading 'Other income'. All other gains and losses on investment assets are included in the Statement of Financial Activities under the heading 'Net gains / (losses) on investments'.
## g) 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.
## h) 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.
Page 10
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **2 Accounting Policies (continued)**
- i) 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).
## j) 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.
o) 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.
ln preparing financial statements certain judgements, estimates and assumptions have to be made that affect the amounts recognised in the financial statements. The trustees consider the following to be significant:
- i) The annual depreciation charge for property, plant and equipment is sensitive to changes in the estimates for useful economic life and residual value. These estimates are reassessed annually and, when necessary, adjusted to reflect current circumstances.
## **3 Donations and legacies**
|Donations of cash and similar
Income tax recoverable
**Income from charitable activities**
Church retreats and events
**Investment income**
Bank interest|2023
£
197,336
41,376
238,712
2023
£
6,085
6,085
2023
£
2,171
2,171|2022
£
192,573
41,404|
|---|---|---|
|||233,977|
|||2022
£
3,904|
|||3,904|
|||2022
£
1,312|
|||1,312|
## **4 Income from charitable activities**
## **5 Investment income**
Page 11
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **6 Charitable expenditure**
|**6**
**Charitable expenditure**|||
|---|---|---|
|**a**
**Costs incurred directly on specific activities**
Employment costs
Venue hire
Publicity and Communication
Ministry costs and expenses
Children and youth
Events
Grants payable (note 8c)
**b**
**Costs incurred on support & administration**
Governance costs
Accounts preparation and independent examination
Equipment and office costs
Subscriptions and professional fees
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
Insurance
**Total expenditure**|2023
£
119,274
19,016
5,668
17,378
23,132
14,638
199,105
45,435
244,540
1,980
3,052
654
611
782
7,079
251,619|2022
£
109,155
18,126
8,280
12,236
14,222
19,346|
|||181,365
48,586|
|||229,951|
|||1,920
2,798
436
3,108
782|
|||9,044|
|||238,996|
## **c Grants payable**
|2023
Unrestricted
Funds
Organisations/purposes
£
Catalyst
5,795
Emmanuel Hub
17,384
Foodbank
2,400
Acacia Family Support
2,400
LIV Village sponsorship
3,050
Church Planting Africa
3,000
Hope Debt Centre
-
Christ Central Church
-
Christ Church Birmingham Food Pantry
-
Sutton Coldfield Baptist Church Foodban
-
Spitfire Advice & Support Services
-
Other gifts < £1,000
613
Individuals
4,113
38,755|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
1,840
-
-
-
-
-
1,500
1,500
1,840
-
-
6,680|2023
Total
£
5,795
17,384
4,240
2,400
3,050
3,000
-
-
1,500
1,500
1,840
613
4,113
45,435|2022
Unrestricted
Funds
£
10,790
17,235
2,400
2,400
2,400
2,400
2,300
1,000
-
-
-
1,100
2,784
44,809|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
320
-
-
-
-
-
1,733
1,725
-
-
-
3,777.69|2022
£
10,790
17,235
2,720
2,400
2,400
2,400
2,300
1,000
1,733
1,725
-
1,100
2,784|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||48,586|
The charity has taken advantage of an exemption conferred by the Charities SORP and has not disclosed the names of some grant receiving institutions as they operate in territories where Christians are persecuted; the disclosure of this information would be prejudicial.
Page 12
**7 Analysis of staff costs, the cost of key management personnel and trustee remuneration**
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**lysis of staff costs, the cost of key management personnel and trustee remuneration**|||
|---|---|---|
|Gross wages and salaries
Employer's National Insurance costs
Pension costs (employers' contribution)
Other employment benefits|2023
£
109,459
4,602
5,213
119,274|2022
£
100,728
3,812
4,615|
|||109,155|
The average monthly number of employees during the year was 4 (2022: 5). 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 key staff named on the Company Information page. Total employment benefits payable to key management for the year were as follows:
|Other
Employer
Wages &
employment
pension
salaries
benefits
contributions
Trustees:
Stuart Crane
52,844
309
2,642
Key management connected to trustees:
Melanie Crane, spouse of Stuart Crane
28,567
166
1,198
Other members of key management|2023
£
55,795
29,931
-|
|---|---|
||85,726|
The following amounts were payable in the previous year:
|following amounts were payable in the previous year:||
|---|---|
|Other
Employer
Wages &
employment
pension
salaries
benefits
contributions
Trustees:
Stuart Crane
48,481
307
2,424
Key management connected to trustees:
Melanie Crane, spouse of Stuart Crane
21,978
166
1,099
Other members of key management|2022
£
51,212
23,243
-|
||74,455|
Stuart Crane served as a church leader and received the above payments for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustee; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.
Page 13
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **8 Tangible fixed assets**
|Cost
At 1 January 2023
Additions
At 31 December 2023
Accumulated depreciation
At 1 January 2023
Charge for the year
Eliminated on disposal
At 31 December 2023
Net book value
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2022
**9**
**Debtors**
Tax recoverable
Other debtors
**10**
**Cash at Bank and in Hand**
Cash at bank with immediate access
Notice deposits (with a term of three months or less)
**11**
**Creditors: liabilities falling due within one year**
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Accruals|Fixtures,
fittings and
equipment
£
48,144
-
48,144
46,441
611
47,052
1,092
1,703
2023
£
2,774
1,480
4,254
2023
£
120,058
279,933
399,991
2023
£
1,483
30,497
1,980
33,960|Total
2023
£
48,144
-|
|---|---|---|
|||48,144|
|||46,441
611
-|
|||47,052|
|||1,092|
|||1,703|
|||2022
£
462
1,520|
|||1,981|
|||2022
£
101,223
277,981|
|||379,203|
|||2022
£
2,369
2,571
1,920|
|||6,860|
## **12 Pension commitments**
During the year employer’s pension contributions totalling £5,213 (2022: £4,615) were payable to defined contribution personal pension schemes. No pension contributions were owing at the balance sheet date (2022: £nil).
Page 14
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **13 Funds**
During the year the movements in the charity's funds were as follows:
|_General Unrestricted Funds_
Total Unrestricted Funds
_Restricted Funds_
Foodbank Fundraising
Aggregate of funds|Opening
balance
2023
£
376,028
376,028
-
-
376,028|Incoming
resources
2023
£
240,216
240,216
6,752
6,752
246,968|Outgoing
resources
2023
£
(244,579)
(244,579)
(7,040)
(7,040)
(251,619)|Transfers
in the year
2023
£
(287)
(287)
287
287
-|Closing
balance
2023
£
371,377|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||371,377|
||||||-|
||||||-|
||||||371,377|
## **Analysis of net assets by fund**
The assets and liabilities of the various funds were as follows:
|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
£
£
1,092
-
4,254
-
399,991
-
(33,960)
-
371,377
-
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-|2023
£
1,092
4,254
399,991
(33,960)|
||||371,377|
Page 15
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **13 Funds (continued)**
In the previous year the movements in the charity's funds were as follows:
|_General Unrestricted Funds_
Total Unrestricted Funds
_Restricted Funds_
Foodbank Fundraising
Aggregate of funds|Opening
balance
2022
£
375,830
375,830
-
-
375,830|Incoming
resources
2022
£
235,467
235,467
3,726
3,726
239,193|Outgoing
resources
2022
£
(235,218)
(235,218)
(3,778)
(3,778)
(238,996)|Transfers
in the year
2022
£
(52)
(52)
52
52
-|Closing
balance
2022
£
376,028
376,028|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||-|
||||||-|
||||||376,028|
## **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
£
£
1,703
-
1,981
-
379,203
-
(6,860)
-
376,028
-
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-|2022
£
1,703
1,981
379,203
(6,860)|
|---|---|---|---|
||||376,028|
## **14 Transactions with related parties**
During the year the charity:
- a) received donations totalling £57,450 (2022: £55,038) from related parties (which includes trustees, any other members of key management and anyone closely connected to them).
- b) paid expenses totalling £nil (2022: £nil) to trustees in connection with carrying out duties associated with being trustees; reimbursements for expenses incurred when acting as agent for the charity or incurred when undertaking employment duties not connected with serving as a trustee are not included in this disclosure.
Except as disclosed in note 7 'Analysis of staff costs', there have been no other transactions with related parties during the year.
## **16 Members**
Each member of the company commits to contribute if the charity is wound up an amount of £1.
Page 16
## **REAL LIFE CHURCH, SUTTON COLDFIELD**
## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES WITH COMPARATIVES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|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**
13
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**
13||General
Restricted
2023
2023
£
£
231,960
6,752
6,085
-
2,171
-
240,216
6,752
244,579
7,040
244,579
7,040
(4,363)
(287)
(287)
287
(4,651)
-
376,028
-
371,377
-
Unrestricted funds|Total
2023
£
238,712
6,085
2,171
246,968
251,619
251,619
(4,651)
-
(4,651)
376,028
371,377|||General
Restricted
2022
2022
£
£
230,251
3,726
3,904
-
1,312
-
235,467
3,726
235,218
3,778
235,218
3,778
249
(52)
(52)
52
197
-
375,830
-
376,028
-
Unrestricted funds|Total
2022
£
233,977
3,904
1,312
239,193
238,996
238,996
197
-
197
375,830
376,028|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||General
2023
£
231,960
6,085
2,171
240,216
244,579
244,579
(4,363)
(287)
(4,651)
376,028
371,377||||General
2022
£
230,251
3,904
1,312
235,467
235,218
235,218
249
(52)
197
375,830
376,028||
Page 17