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← Croydon Vineyard

2023-12-31-accounts

Croydon Vineyard

Reports and Financial Statements

For the 12 months from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023

Croydon Vineyard

Charity & Company information

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Charity Registration Number 1151324 Company Registration Number 08409393, company limited by guarantee Company Directors (Trustees) Graham Bright (Chair) Tiffany Brown (from 19/06/2023) Cerys Brunsdon Sarah Hombarume Dayo Omolokun David Prothero Tom Thompson Yolanda Walker (to 16/10/2023)

Company Secretary

Cerys Brunsdon

Registered office The Harvest Centre 72 Chelsham Road South Croydon CR2 6HY

Company Bankers

CAF Bank: 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4TA

Independent Examiners

Archie McDowall, BA, CA, of Stewardship: 1 Lamb's Passage, London, EC1Y 8AB

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Croydon Vineyard

Contents Page
Charity & Company Information 1
Trustees’ and Directors’ Report 3
Independent examiner’s report to the members of Croydon Vineyard 9
Statement of financial activities (including the Income and Expenditure Account)
for the 12 months ended 31 December 2023 10
Balance sheet as at 31 December 2023 11
Notes to the Accounts 12

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Croydon Vineyard

Trustees’ and Director’s Report

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1. Introduction

I am pleased to introduce the Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements for the accounts of Croydon Vineyard. We give thanks for all the Lord has done in us and through us in the last 12 months.

Our mission remained:

A Culture of Worship - to see diverse people coming together for life-changing encounters with the presence of God, to be filled with his grace and his truth and to live for his glory all through the week.

Raising Sons and Daughters - to see a whole generation in Croydon meeting Jesus and, through the long-term nurture of our church, coming to their full potential in God.

Life-changing Groups - to have a wide range of healing spaces all through the week for people to find hope, life and to learn how to live in the fullness of all God has for them.

Loving Croydon - to equip all the church to share Jesus all over Croydon all through the week through their work, their rest, and their play, inviting people into life-changing groups and Sunday services where they come to life.

Multiplying Leaders - to be a sending church who raise up many leaders for many sectors in society, spreading the fragrance of the kingdom all through Croydon and seeing 100 churches planted across London and beyond.

And in God’s strength and with your support we will continue to do this.

Yours in Christ

Tom Thompson

Tom Thompson

Senior Pastor & Trustee/Director

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2. Trustees’ Report

The trustees of Croydon Vineyard, who also act as directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and financial statements for the 12-month period from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006. The trustees are satisfied, to the best of their knowledge, that these statements comply with the current statutory requirements, the church’s governing documents and are in accordance with the Charity Commission’s Statement of Recommended Practice (2019 SORP).

3. Objectives & Activities

The main object of Croydon Vineyard is the advancement of the Christian faith. This was achieved primarily, although not exclusively, through: the development and multiplication of small groups of people meeting mid-week, and the growth of local church congregations meeting on Sunday mornings and evenings in Croydon.

The trustees note that considerable volunteer time has been given by lay-leaders and church members in achieving the aims and objectives of the church.

4. Review of the year

Culture of Worship

We continued to use Harris Academy in Purley for our Sunday services. We have seen our numbers continue to grow, with 11 people baptised and over 250 regularly attending on a Sunday. We continued to make space for people to encounter Jesus in our midst. There were many stories of this occurring.

Raising Sons and Daughters

As our Youth Pastor and Kids Pastors continued to invest in under 18s, we saw more kids and teenagers engaging with our events, with over 40 attending the Vineyard national residential DTI. Our Thursday morning community toddlers group continued and we continued to grow our provision of midweek events for school years 7-13.

Life-changing Groups

We have seen numbers grow in our mid-week small groups, which we celebrate while at the same time recognising that the amount of hurt and hardship experienced by people attending these groups can often be too great for the groups to easily deal with. We have therefore begun to think more seriously about integration and welcome of people into these groups, and of pastoral care for those people who are part of them. In the next reporting period we are appointing new members of staff to address these issues.

Multiplying Leaders

We are deeply grateful for all the time that volunteers give to see people come to life in Jesus in Croydon.

Harvest Church’s very generous sharing of their facility with Croydon Vineyard enabled continued support of our staff team and in their capacity to host events during the week that, in turn, enhance the services we offer to the community.

Love Croydon

We pushed hard on expanding Vineyard English School (VES) to a 5-day-a-week operation, with a relocation of venues to asylum hotels and a CVA venue significantly enhancing our ability to serve more students.

We began to encourage more people to actively look outward, for example by asking our small groups to spend one week a month looking intentionally outwards. We continue to see this as an area that requires our attention and investment.

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5. Administrative Operations

Staffing

Tom and Lesley Thompson lead Croydon Vineyard, with a focus on setting the vision and direction of the overall ministry of the church, leading weekly congregational celebrations on Sundays as well as the day-to-day running of the church and overseeing the development of the ministry of the church by working alongside and through volunteers. Tom also acts as a trustee.

Additional staff were as follows:

Compliance

We continue to develop and enhance our policies on Child Protection, Risk Management and Financial Control. Further policies will be implemented as required by the growth of the church. We have continued membership of the 31:8 (formerly CCPAS) scheme to assist us in our Safeguarding. We have continued to apply for Disclosure and Barring Service checks as appropriate for all children’s leaders, following the church’s Child Protection Policy and Operational Guidelines. The accounts have been independently examined by Stewardship.

6. Future Plans

Over the coming financial reporting period we are hoping to settle into a new incarnation of Croydon Vineyard. In particular, we have identified the following 5 headline goals:

  1. We want to contend for a Spiritual Awakening in Croydon and beyond, fuelled by worship, pursuing the presence of God and learning to trust in the word of God. In particular, we are launching a second Sunday service, scheduling regular periods of prayer and fasting and preaching on renewal and spiritual awakening.

  2. We want to continue to see a major growth in “family feel” in the church through fun, healing mid-week connection points, with our small group leaders particularly feeling like they are growing and seeing their groups grow. We are using the phrase “from dozens to hundreds” to help us shift our expectation and planning across everything we do as a church.

In particular, we are appointing a new Assistant Pastor to help integrate and care for new people and are looking to launch additional pastoral care support.

  1. We want to equip our congregation to reach more of their neighbours and the nations, beginning to pray more for those who don’t know Jesus and, as an overflow of God’s mercy, giving them easy and attractive opportunities to experience the love of Jesus. We are hoping to achieve more grant funding to achieve a step change in what we can provide to

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internationals and young people in Croydon. In particular, we want to begin to actively pursue a Monday-Sunday venue so that our mid-week work and Sunday work are all colocated. We are also partnering with Boon Family Cafe - a social enterprise - to provide a hospitality space for local families and individuals to build community.

  1. we want to see a major step up in how our online resources awaken people to Jesus reality and his love, reaching people through high quality worship recordings and through the New Testament Journey, alongside other material. In particular, we hope to release our first EP and begin working towards another one, to continue to release our Tour of the Torah material and to find sustainable ways to see the reach of these projects continue to expand.

  2. We want to see our kids and young people flourish as they increasingly do the stuff, not only learning how to know God for themselves, but how to invite others into encountering him and coming to life in his name. In particular, we hope to see kids and youth numbers grow through the additional Sunday service, and to see the Sunday afternoon become a “go-to” space for young people in Croydon looking for community and hope.

Alongside these we will continue to pursue the other aspects of our five emphases.

7. Structure, Governance & Management

Croydon Vineyard (incorporated on 19 February 2013) is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association which were adopted on 19 February 2013. As a charity the church acts entirely as a non-profit making organisation. The church has also been granted exemption from using the word “Limited” in its title. The trustees of the church are appointed by resolution of the Board and act as directors for the purposes of company law.

The church is also affiliated to Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland, a wider network of some 100 or so churches across the country. Croydon Vineyard regularly grants a proportion of its income to the work of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland in the establishing of new churches and missions work abroad.

Trustees & Directors…

The trustees below have held office during the period from 1 January 2023 to the date of this report are listed on page 1.

The trustees met formally to discuss business on a quarterly basis throughout the year. The board of trustees requires a range of skills and experience to carry out its duties effectively. When recruiting trustees, an important attribute is a passion for the work of our church, and all trustees are active church members. Trustees are responsible for different areas of oversight such as safeguarding, finance, IT and communications. The senior pastor is on the board of trustees to enable insight into management and strategic direction.

8. Statement of Responsibilities

Charity and company law require the trustees/directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing those financial statements the trustees/directors are required to:

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The trustees/directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company 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 company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Internal Controls

As part of their continuing responsibility the trustees have endeavoured to ensure that reasonable internal control procedures are in place as appropriate for the development of the church. They include:

Risk Management

Throughout the period the trustees maintained a centralised risk log to identify and mitigate major strategic, operational, and financial risks to the charity.

9. Financial Review

Results for the year

Total income for the year was £410,152 (2022: £259,149). Total expenditure for the year was £331,715 (2022: £265,638). Overall, the surplus was £78,437. The charity has unrestricted funds at 31 December 2023 of £339,060 (2022: £299,498). The restricted fund total is £38,875 (2022: £nil). The Charity relies on the generous donations of its members as its principal source of income.

Investment Policy

Currently, all investments are held as cash at bank balances.

Operating Reserves

The church aims to hold Cash Operating Reserves in line with the monthly expenses incurred. The trustees aim to maintain such reserves to at least the equivalent of 3 months of operating expenses in these accounts in the future. This equates to target cash reserves of c. £65,000. At 31 December the cash balance held in the general fund was £285,870 after designating £53,190 to the Go and Grow fund.

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Grants & Gifts

As detailed below in the financial statements, the church has made payments to Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland (VCUKI) connected to the licensing of the church. VCUKI promotes the planting of new churches and provides support to churches in the Vineyard movement in the UK. During the period, including those payments, Croydon Vineyard gave away 5% of its unrestricted income in the form of grants and gifts.

Public benefit

The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Company’s aims and objectives both in the year under review and in planning future activities. The trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no private benefit – Tom Thompson is paid a salary by the Company in his role as Senior Pastor of Croydon Vineyard, as set out in Note 5.

Independent Examiner

So far as each of the trustees is aware at the time the report is approved:

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small entities.

Approved by the trustees/directors on 27 July 2024 and signed on their behalf.

Tom Thompson

T. Thompson 27 July 2024 Trustee/Director

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Croydon Vineyard

Independent examiner’s report to the members of Croydon Vineyard

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I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2023 on pages 10 to 16 following, which have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out on page 12-13.

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

Since the Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, which is one of the listed bodies.

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

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the 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

Archie McDowall, BA, CA Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland

Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London, EC1Y 8AB

Date: 26 July 2024

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Croydon Vineyard

Statement of financial activities (including the Income and Expenditure Account) for the year ended 31 December 2023

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Notes Unrestricted Restricted 31 Dec 2023 31 Dec 2022
Funds Funds Total funds Total funds
£ £ £ £
Income 2
Donations 3 356,665
46,933		 403,598 246,551
Grants -
-		 - 11,000
Other income 6,554
-		 6,554 1,598
───────
───────		 ─────── ───────
Total income 363,219
46,933		 410,152 259,149
───────
───────		 ─────── ───────
Expenditure
Charitable activities 4 323,657
8,058		 331,715 265,638
─────── ─────── ─────── ───────
Total expenditure 323,657
8,058		 331,715 265,638
───────
───────		 ─────── ───────
Net 39,562
38,875		 78,437 (6,489)
income/(expenditure)
─────── ─────── ─────── ───────
Net movements in funds 39,562
38,875		 78,437 (6,489)
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 299,498
-		 299,498 305,987
─────── ─────── ─────── ───────
Total funds carried 8 339,060
38,875		 377,935 299,498
forward
═══════ ═══════ ═══════ ═══════

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities.

Movements on reserves and all recognised gains and losses are shown above. The notes on page 12-16 form part of these accounts.

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Croydon Vineyard

Balance sheet at 31 December 2023

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31 December 2023 31 December 2023 31 December 2022 31 December 2022
Notes £ £ £ £
Current assets
Debtors 6 19,657 9,615
Cash at bank and in hand 368,250 298,181
────── ──────
387,907 307,796
Current Liabilities: Amounts 7 (9,972) (8,298)
falling due within one year
────── ──────
Net current assets 377,935 299,498
──────── ────────
Net assets 377,935 299,498
════════ ════════
Funds 8, 9
Unrestricted Funds 339,060 299,498
Restricted Funds 38,875 -
──────── ────────
377,935 299,498
══════════ ══════════

For the year ended 31 December 2023, the company was entitled to the exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. Responsibilities of directors/trustees:

Approved and authorised for issue by the board on 27 July 2024 and signed on its behalf by

==> picture [127 x 65] intentionally omitted <==

T. Thompson, Director/Trustee 27 July 2024

Charity Registration Number 1151324 Company Registration Number 08409393

The notes on page 12-16 form part of these accounts.

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Croydon Vineyard

Notes to the Accounts

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1 Accounting policies

1.1 Accounting convention

The accounts have been prepared under the historic cost convention, 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) issued on 16 July 2014; and with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

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.”

The following are the accounting policies which have been applied in dealing with material items: -

1.2 Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are those which are not subject to any special restrictions, and they can be used as the Trustees decide in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds are part of unrestricted funds and are amounts the Trustees have set aside to cover particular expenditure.

Restricted funds are those where the donor has imposed restrictions on how the fund may be used, but which do not prevent the fund being spent. The details of restricted fund are given in note 8.

Endowment funds are those where there is a requirement imposed by the donor to retain capital, but which allows income arising to be used. On 31 December 2022 Croydon Vineyard held no endowment funds.

1.3 Income

All income is included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

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1.4 Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be recovered and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.

1.5 Pension costs

The company operates a defined contribution scheme for certain of its employees. Pension premiums are charged as they are paid.

1.6 Taxation

The company is a registered charity and is exempt from taxation under the Income & Corporation Taxes Acts.

1.7 Cash Flow Statement

The charity has taken advantage of the exemption in Financial Reporting Standard 1 ‘Cash Flow Statement’ which allows small companies not to prepare a Cash Flow Statement.

1.8 Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

The trustees do not consider that there 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.

2 Income

The income and net movement on funds are wholly attributable to the company’s main object. The income arises entirely in the UK.

3 Donations

3
Donations
Total Total
Unrestricted Restricted 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
Donations 297,956 44,365 342,321 207,416
Gift Aid receivable 58,709 2,568 61,277 39,136
─────── ─────── ─────── ───────
Total 356,665 46,933 403,598 246,552
═══════ ═══════ ═══════ ═══════

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4 Expenditure on Charitable activities

Total Total
Unrestricted Restricted 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
Staff costs (note 5) 188,270 − 188,270 163,775
Ministry costs† 40,410 8,058 48,468 36,886
Premises costs 49,629 − 49,629 38,673
Marketing and administration 5,687 − 5,687 4,827
Charitable giving 15,191 − 15,191 5,558
License payments to VCUKI 17,450 − 17,450 11,890
Governance costs* 7,020 − 7,020 4,029
─────── ─────── ─────── ───────
Total 323,657 8,058 331,715 265,638
═══════ ════════ ══════════════

† Ministry expenses consist of the following spend elements, which are core to the Church mission: Sunday adult hospitality and materials, Kids hospitality and materials, Youth hospitality and materials and mentoring, football academy, adult small group materials and training, outreach initiatives, Vineyard English School running costs, pastoral care gifts and travel.

Note* The independent examiner’s fee, included in governance costs, was £1,440 (2022: £1,440).

5 Staff costs

5
Staff costs
2023 2022
£ £
Wages and salaries (including directors’ emoluments) 160,871 144,218
Payroll taxes 8,191 6,049
Pension contributions 19,208 13,508
─────── ───────
Total 188,270 163,775
═══════ ═══════

The charity had 4.7 full time equivalent employed staff (2022:4.6). Its activities are generally carried out by volunteers. No staff member received remuneration at a rate of more than £60,000 per annum (2022: none).

Remuneration payable to key management (gross, including pensions) amounted to £48,888 in the year ended 31 December 2023 (2022: £44,877).

Salaries of key management was the only remuneration paid to trustees (and connected parties) as allowed in the Memorandum and Articles of Association in their capacity as pastors to the church and not for work undertaken as trustees.

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6 Debtors
2023 2022
£ £
Gift aid 19,657 9,6158
═══════ ═══════
7 Creditors
2023 2022
£ £
Amounts falling due within one year:
Payment to VCUKI 5,700 2,885
Accruals 4,272 5,413
─────── ───────
Total 9,972 8,298
═══════ ═══════
8 Funds
2023 2022
£ £
General funds 285,870 249,697
Designated funds 53,190 49,801
─────── ───────
Total unrestricted funds 339,060 299,498
Duncan’s Theology fund 3,021 −
Vineyard English School fund 448 −
EP fund 2,406 −
Building fund 33,000
─────── ───────
Total restricted funds 38,875 −
─────── ───────
Total funds at 31 December 377,935 299,498
═══════ ═══════

The company is limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital.

There is a single designated fund: Go and Grow of £53,190 (31 December 2022: £49,801). The purpose of this designated fund is to provide funding for activities that will help the members of the church “go and grow” in the Mission Jesus has called them to.

Restricted funds comprise:

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9 Analysis of net assets between funds

Total Total
Unrestricted Restricted 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
Fund balances at 31 December are
represented by:
Debtors 19,657 − 19,657 9,615
Cash at bank and in hand 329,375 38,875 368,250 298,181
Creditors due within one year (9,972) − (9,972) (8,298)
─────── ─────── ─────── ───────
Total 339,060 38,875 377,935 299,498
═══════ ════════ ══════════════

10 Related party transactions

Vineyard Churches (UK) is deemed to be a connected charity for the purposes of applicable accounting standards and Companies Act 2006. Vineyard Churches (UK) provides oversight and leadership to Vineyard Churches in the United Kingdom. The charity has a policy of making payments to Vineyard Churches (UK). A total of £17,450 was due to VCUKI for the year (2022: £11,890).

Remuneration paid to the senior pastor and connected parties in their capacity as pastors to the church is disclosed in note 5 above. No other trustee or connected party received emoluments from the charity during the year (2022: £nil).

One trustee was reimbursed expenses of £913 in relation to administrative and trustee costs (2022: £97 to three trustees).

The total amount of donations to the charity funded by trustees and connected parties was £71,306 (2022: £24,900).

11 Members

Each director of the company commits to contribute if the charity is wound up an amount of £1.

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