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← Hope Churches

2023-12-31-accounts

Hope Churches

Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2023

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1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk

HOPE CHURCHES

LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 17 Hunloke Way Malmesbury SN16 9FL GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO Constitution dated March 2013, as amended May 2019 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1151101 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Ian Cambray-Smith MANAGING THE CHARITY Mark Faithfull David Jones Susan Jones NAMES OF ADVISERS EG BANKERS CAF Bank Limited INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Archie McDowall BA CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

INDEX

Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-4 Trustees' Report Page 5 Independent Examiner's Report Page 6 Receipts and Payments Account Page 7 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 8-9 Notes to the Accounts

Page 1

HOPE CHURCHES

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Objects of the charity

Hope Churches is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (reg: 1151101) and is governed by a Constitution dated 6 March 2013 (as amended 26 May 2019). Its charitable purposes are:

Objectives and activities

The aims of the charity are primarily outworked through the operation of Hope Church in the town of Malmesbury, Wiltshire. 2023 was the eleventh year of operation for Hope Church. The Church continued to hold public worship services every Sunday along with a programme of complementary midweek activities including mid-week bible study and home groups called Centre. The church continues to offer live streams of its services which allows members who are otherwise unable to travel to the church to participate online.

Hope Church has a very practical, inclusive and family friendly approach to all its activities, enabling ordinary people to live out their faith through:

Achievements and performance

Worship, prayer and establishing Services of Christian Worship are held every Sunday morning in the main hall of Malmesbury Town Hall. These are characterised by modern, high energy worship and a very relaxed and child friendly atmosphere.

The service includes bible-based teaching from the Church Pastors and Elders, visiting speakers and members of the congregation. The sermons are recorded and made freely available on the Church website and Apple, Google and Spotify podcasts.

Page 2

Achievements and performance (continued)

All services and events are open to all and free of charge and are funded by the donations of the congregation and friends of Hope Church.

In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.

In support of the charity’s objective to relieve need and hardship we launched a new initiative Good News Shoes which, in partnership with a local Clark’s Shoe Shop, provides vouchers for school shoes to primary shool aged children who come from families in need (defined as qualifying for free shool meals) in the town of Malmesbury.

An Alpha Course was run, open to the general public as well as church members which provides an opportunity to learn more about the Christian faith in a relaxed environment.

Financial review

Total incoming resources for unrestricted funds were £42,246 (2022: £49,859) including Gift Aid claimed and bank interest. There were no restricted funds received. Total payments for the year were £47,960 (2022: £53,664).

The deficit for the year was £5,714 compared to a deficit of £3,805 in 2022. This is primarily due to a reduction in donations due to a post-COVID drop in attendance and the resumption of paying rent for church meetings after lockdown ended. The church also paid for the installation of equipment in the Town Hall, where the church meets, meaning this was effectively donated to the venue, although the church continues to enjoy the benefit.

The charity ended the year with cash of £70,700, of which £53,254 was unrestricted.

Lead Pastor Mark Faithfull was paid a salary of £7,198 and Lead Pastor Lydia Faithfull was paid a salary of £7,198 in respect of their employment as church pastors. No other Trustee received any remuneration or reimbursement of expenses during the year for acting as a Trustee.

Reserves policy

The Trustees have set a target for reserves of around six months running costs (£20,000), in order to protect the work of the charity from sudden changes in donation levels and to fund the replacement of any material equipment that should fail. Total reserves at the end of 2023 were £70,700, of which £53,254 (which includes the designated fund referred to below) was available to support the reserves policy.

Mindful of the need to continue to invest in the infrastructure of the growing church and fund the charitable objectives, the Trustees have agreed that they should continue to build the reserves of the charity over the next few years with the aim to purchase a suitable building to support the charity’s activities. No additional funds were specifically designated from unrestricted funds to support this vision as the charity had operated at a budgeted deficit for the year.

Page 3

Volunteers

The majority of the work of the charity is performed by volunteers, including the Pastors and Trustees. It has been gratifying to observe more members of the congregation get involved in practical ways in the running of Sunday services, special events, midweek groups and pastoral care.

Structure, governance and management

The charity is managed and administered by the trustees who give due regard to the spiritual leadership of the church which is provided by the Pastors and Elders. New trustees are appointed by the existing trustees by a majority vote.

The Trustees at the end of 2023 were: Mark Faithfull, Ian Cambray-Smith, David Jones, and Sue Jones who are supported by a book-keeper and treasurer.

The spiritual leadership of the church is provided by the Lead Pastors, Mark and Lydia Faithfull. The Pastors are assisted by the Church Elders: David and Sue Jones.

Responsibilities of trustees

Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.

We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.

We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.

Approval

This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Mark EJ Faithfull

Mark EJ Faithfull (Sep 26, 2024 16:00 GMT+1)

MARK FAITHFULL Date:_____ Sep 26, 2024

Page 4

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF

HOPE CHURCHES

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Hope Churches ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2023 on pages 6 to 9 following.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Archie McDowall

Archie McDowall (Oct 10, 2024 11:28 GMT+1)

Archie McDowall BA CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

Date: Oct 10, 2024

Page 5

HOPE CHURCHES

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Notes
Income receipts
Donations
Gift aid receipts
Bank interest
p
p
Total receipts
Payments
2
3
Total payments
Transfers between funds
5
Net movement in funds
Cash funds as at last year end
Cash funds at this year end
A
Net of receipts / (payments) before
Grants
paid
in
relation
to
charitable
activities undertaken by others
Payments
in
relation
to
charitable
activities undertaken directly		 General
Designated
Funds
Funds
£
£
32,532
-
9,570
-
144
-
42,246
-
44,030
-
3,930
-
47,960
-
(5,714)
-
-
-
(5,714)
-
38,968
20,000
33,254
20,000
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
17,446
17,446		 2023
£
32,532
9,570
144
42,246
44,030
3,930
47,960
(5,714)
-
(5,714)
76,414
70,700		 2022
£
General
Funds
£
32,532
9,570
144
42,246
44,030
3,930
47,960
(5,714)
-
(5,714)
38,968
33,254
39,764
10,024
72
49,859
50,408
3,370
53,778
(3,919)
-
(3,919)
80,333
76,414

The notes on pages 8-9 form part of these accounts.

Page 6

HOPE CHURCHES

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Notes
A
Cash funds
Cash at bank with immediate access
Petty cash
B
Other monetary assets
Gift aid due to charity
C
Liabilities
Falling due within one year
Trade creditors
PAYE/NI and pensions due
Fee for Independent Examination
Wages payable		 General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
33,254
20,000
-
-
33,254
20,000
7,325
-
7,325
-
-
-
131
-
1,128
-
200
-
1,459
-
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
funds
£
17,446
-
17,446
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 2023
£
70,700
-
70,700
7,325
7,325
-
131
1,128
200
1,459		 2022
£
76,414
-
76,414
9,570
9,570
1,451
132
1,104
-
2,687

D Assets retained for charity's own use

Contents and equipment Value
£
17,089
17,089

The trustees have used insurance values as the trustees are unable to reliably estimate current values; insurance values may differ materially from current values.

E Guarantees and secured debts

The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities.

The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Mark EJ Faithfull Mark EJ Faithfull (Sep 26, 2024 16:00 GMT+1)

_____MARK FAITHFULL

Sep 26, 2024 Date:_____

The notes on pages 8-9 form part of these accounts.

Page 7

HOPE CHURCHES

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

1 Accounting policies

The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.

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.

2
Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly
Employment costs (see note 4)
Rent & property costs
Insurance
Independent examination
Adminstration & support
Repairs, maintenance & equipment
Motor vehicles
Other ministry costs
3
Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others
Organisations:
SAT-7 Trust
Malmesbury PCC
Other small grants to organisations
Grants to individuals		 Unrestricted Fun
General
funds
£
19,888
11,690
265
1,104
4,938
1,277
-
4,867
44,030
600
750
2,580
-
3,930		 ds
Designated
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total
2023
£
19,888
11,690
265
1,104
4,938
1,277
-
4,867
44,030
600
750
2,580
-
3,930		 Total
2022
£
15,133
10,885
253
2,100
5,381
11,349
1,754
3,554
50,408
2,000
1,000
120
250
3,370

Page 8

HOPE CHURCHES

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

4 Transactions with related parties

Mark Faithfull and Lydia Faithfull served as church leaders and were each paid £7,198 (2022: £7,198) for serving in that capacity, not for serving as trustees; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.

No other payments were made to trustees or persons related to them, except for reimbursement of expenses paid out on behalf of the charity for duties unrelated to their duties as a trustee.

5 Movement of funds

vement of funds
General funds
Designated funds
Building Fund
Restricted funds
Building Fund
Total funds		 Opening
balance
£
38,968
20,000
20,000
17,446
17,446
76,414		 Receipts
£
42,246
-
-
-
-
42,246		 Payments
£
-47,960
-
-
-
-
-47,960		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Closing
balance
£
33,254
20,000
20,000
17,446
17,446
70,700

The designated Building fund represents funds set aside by the trustees to secure a future church building (known as the Home 4 Hope project).

The restricted Building fund was created from donations received to help secure a future church building (known as the Home 4 Hope project).

Page 9