## **Stratford Church of Christ**
# **Charity No. 1153326**
**Trustees' Report and Unaudited Accounts For the year ended 31 December 2023**
_Ease Accounting “We Make It Easy” Ltd 20-22 Wenlock Road London N1 7GU_
**Stratford Church of Christ Contents**
||Pages|
|---|---|
|Trustees' Annual Report|2 to 3|
|Independent Examiner's Report|4|
|Statement of Financial Activities|5|
|Balance Sheet|6|
|Notes to the Accounts|7 to 14|
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities|15 to 16|
Page 1
**Stratford Church of Christ Trustees Annual Report**
The Trustees present their report with the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
## **Charity No. 1153326**
## **Principal Office**
2 Clare Court Aveley South Ockendon Essex RM15 4HY
## **Trustees**
The following Trustees served during the year:
E Adade-Boateng Kwaku Twumasi M Armstrong P Ntim-Adei
## **Accountants**
Ease Accounting We Make It Easy Ltd
20-22 Wenlock Road London N1 7GU
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
The charity's object are:-
- To advance the Christian religion in the United Kingdom for the benefit of the public
- To work with other Churches of Christ locally and internationally to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ Various policies were adopted in furtherance of these objects during the year.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake..
The trustees are grateful for the services freely rendered by the volunteers. May the Lord reward you richly.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
We continue to help needy individuals who call on us for support both in kind and in cash. It is our prayer and hope that we are able to continually provide an avenue and an environment for people to establish and maintain friendship leading to the study of the holy bible.
We realised how our previous efforts have helped many to know the teachings of Christ thereby impacting on both their physical and spiritual lives. We hope to lunge even deeper and wider in the coming years. We believe that this will go a long way to cut down on the number of people involved in social vices.
Page 2
**Stratford Church of Christ Trustees Annual Report**
We believe that we have made good progress over the years. We plan reinforcing our strategies in order to make greater achievements in the coming years.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
The Statement of Financial Activities shows an income from the year of £72,263 (2022 - £71,983) and total expenditure of £39,015 (2022 - £31,736) leaving a net surplus for the year of £33,248 (2022 - £40,247). The net assets of the charity as at 31st December 2023 was £212,839 (2022 - £179,591).
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level between three and six month's expenditure. The trustees considers that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity's current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds my be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
The charity is a Charitable incorporated Organisation (CIO). It was registered on 9th August 2013 and governed by foundation model constitution dated 9th August 2013.
## **Statement of trustees' responsibilities in relation to the financial statements**
The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees' annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the Trust deed. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees
..................................................... E Adade-Boateng Trustee 16 August 2024
Page 3
**Stratford Church of Christ Independent Examiners Report**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Stratford Church of Christ**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Stratford Church of Christ for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and the related notes.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011('the Act'). The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under the Charities Act 2011, s.144(2) (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
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 Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I can 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:
- the accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
- the accounts do not accord with those records; or
- the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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.
........................................
Ease Accounting We Make It Easy Ltd
20-22 Wenlock Road London N1 7GU
16 August 2024
Page 4
**Stratford Church of Christ Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 December 2023**
|**Notes**
**Income and endowments**
**from:**
Donations and legacies
3
Other
4
**Total**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
5
Other
6
**Total**
Net gains on investments
**Net income**
Transfers between funds
**Net income before other**
**gains/(losses)**
**Other gains and losses**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
70,128
-|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
-
2,135|**Total funds**
**2023**
**£**
70,128
2,315|**Total funds**
**2022**
**£**
71,771
212|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||70,128
15,488
23,527|2,315
-
-|72,263
15,488
23,527|71,983
12,392
19,344|
||39,015
-|-
-|39,015
-|31,736
-|
||31,113
-|2,135
-|33,248
-|40,247
-|
||31,113|2,135|33,248|40,247|
||31,113
83,873|2,135
95,718|33,248
179,591|40,247
139,344|
||114,985|97,853|212,839|179,591|
Page 5
**Stratford Church of Christ Balance Sheet**
## **At 31 December 2023**
|**Charity No. 1153326**||**2023**
**£**||**2022**
**£**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Fixed Assets**
Tangible fixed asset
8
**Current assets**
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors:**Amount falling due within one year
9
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Net assets excluding pension asset or liability**
**Total net assets**
**The funds of the charity**
**Restricted funds**
Restricted income funds
10
**Unrestricted funds**
10
General funds
**Reserves**
10
**Total funds**||17,945
195,914
213,859
(1,020)
212,839
212,839
212,839
212,839
97,853
97,853
114,986
114,986
212,839||-
180,251|
|||||180,251
(660)|
|||||179,591
179,591|
|||||179,591
179,591
95,718|
|||||95,718
83,873|
|||||83,873
179,591|
Approved by the trustees on 16 August 2024
And signed on their behalf by:
................................................... Kwaku Twumasi Trustee 16 August 2024
Page 6
**Stratford Church of Christ Notes to the Accounts For the year ended 31 December 2023**
## 1 **Accounting policies**
## **Basis of preparation**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 if Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
## **Change in basis of accounting or to previous accounts**
There has been no change to the accounting policies (valuation rules and method of accounting) since last year and no changes have been made to accounts for previous years.
## **Fund accounting**
|**Fund accounting**||
|---|---|
|Unrestricted funds|These are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the|
||general objects of the charity.|
|Designated funds|These are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.|
|Revaluation funds|These are unrestricted funds which include a revaluation reserve representing the|
||restatement of investment assets at their market values.|
|Restricted funds|These are available for use subject to restrictions imposed by the donor or through|
||terms of an appeal.|
|**Income**
Recognition of
income|Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity
becomes entitled to, and virtually certain to receive, the income and the amount of
the income can be measured with sufficient reliability.|
|Income with related|Where income has related expenditure the income and related expenditure is|
|expenditure|reported gross in the SoFA.|
|Donations and|Voluntary income received by way of grants, donations and gifts is included in the|
|legacies|the SoFA when receivable and only when the Charity has unconditional|
||entitlement to the income.|
|Tax reclaims on|Income from tax reclaims is included in the SoFA at the same time as the|
|donations and gifts|gift/donation to which it relates.|
|Donated services|These are only included in income (with an equivalent amount in expenditure)|
|and facilities|where the benefit to the Charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and|
||material.|
|Volunteer help|The value of any volunteer help received is not included in the accounts.|
|Investment income|This is included in the accounts when receivable.|
|Gains/(losses) on|This includes any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value|
|revaluation of fixed|at the end of the year.|
|assets||
|Gains/(losses) on|This includes any gain or loss on the sale of investments.|
|investment assets||
Page 7
**Stratford Church of Christ Notes to the Accounts Expenditure**
Recognition of Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis. Expenditure includes any VAT expenditure which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. Expenditure on These comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income, fundraising raising funds trading costs and investment management costs. Expenditure on These comprise the costs incurred by the Charity in the delivery of its activities and charitable activities services in the furtherance of its objects, including the making of grants and governance costs. Grants payable All grant expenditure is accounted for on an actual paid basis plus an accrual for grants that have been approved by the trustees at the end of the year but not yet paid. Governance costs These include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the Charity, including any audit/independent examination fees, costs linked to the strategic management of the Charity, together with a share of other administration costs. Other expenditure These are support costs not allocated to a particular activity.
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
## **Freehold investment property**
Investment properties are measured initially at cost and subsequently at fair value at each balance sheet date and are not depreciated. All gains or losses are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities as they arise.
## **Stocks**
Stock is included at the lower of cost or net realisable value. Donated items of stock are recognised at fair value which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay for the items on the open market.
## **Trade and other debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## **Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and on hand, demand deposits with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. In the statement of financial position, bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings or current liabilities. In the Statement of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents are shown net of bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the company's cash management.
## **Trade and other creditors**
Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
Page 8
**Stratford Church of Christ**
## **Notes to the Accounts Research and development**
Expenditure on research and development is written off in the year in which it is incurred.
## **Foreign currencies**
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the charity are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing at the end of the reporting period. Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency of the charity are recorded at the rate of exchange on the date that the transaction occurred.
All exchange differences are are taken into account in arriving at net income/expenditure.
## **Leased assets**
Where the charity enters into a lease which entails taking substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of an asset, the lease is treated as a finance lease.
Leases which do not transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to charity are classified as operating leases.
Assets held under finance leases are initially recognised as assets of the charity at their fair value at the inception of the lease or, if lower, at the present value of the minimum lease payments. The corresponding liability to the lessor is included in the balance sheet date as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are apportioned between finance expenses and reduction of the lease obligation so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance expenses are recognised immediately, unless they are directly attributable to qualifying assets, in which case they are capitalised in accordance with the charity's policy on borrowing costs.
Assets held under finance leases are depreciated in the same way as owned assets.
Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. In the event that lease incentives are received to enter into operating leases, such incentives are recognised as a liability. The aggregate benefit of incentives is recognised as a reduction of rental expense on a straight-line basis.
## **Tangible fixed assets and Depreciation**
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment loss. Part of an item of property, plant and equipment having different useful lives are accounted for as separate items.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives, using the straight-line method. The estimated useful lives, residual values and depreciation method are reviewed at the end of each reporting period, with the effect of any changes in estimate accounted for on a prospective basis.
Depreciation is provided to write off the cost less estimated residual value, of each asset over its ex pected useful life as follows:
## **Asset class and depreciation rate**
Motor Vehicles 25% reducing balance
Page 9
**Stratford Church of Christ Notes to the Accounts**
## **Pension costs**
The charity operates a defined contribution plan for its employees. A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which the charity pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. Once the contributions have been paid the charity has no further payments obligations. The contributions are recognised as expenses when they fall due. Amounts not paid are shown in accruals in the balance sheet. The assets of the plan are held separately from the charity in independently administered funds.
## **Receipt of donated goods, facilities and services**
All donated goods, facilities and services received are recognised within incoming resources and expenditure at an estimate of the value to the charity.
Page 10
## **Stratford Church of Christ**
## **Notes to the Accounts**
|**Stratford Church of Christ**
**Notes to the Accounts**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|2
**Statement of Financial Activities - prior year**
**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
Other
**Total**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
Other
**Total**
**Net income**
**Net income before other**
**gains/(losses)**
**Other gains and losses:**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**
3
**Income from donations and legacies**
General weekly giving
Donation
Preacher special
contributions
Gift aid reclaims
4
**Other income**
Bank interest receivable|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2022**
**£**
71,771
-
71,771
12,392
19,344
31,736
40,035
40,035
40,035
43,838
83,873
**Unrestricted**
**£**
62,246
5,040
2,842
-
70,128
**Restricted**
**£**
2,135
2,135||**Restricted**
**funds**
**2022**
**£**
-
212
212
-
-
-
212
212
212
95,506
95,718
**Total**
**2023**
**£**
62,246
5,040
2,842
-
70,128
**Total**
**2023**
**£**
2,135
2,135|**Total funds**
**2022**
**£**
71,771
212|
|||||71,983
12,392
19,344|
|||||31,736|
|||||40,247|
|||||40,247|
|||||40,247
139,344
179,591
**Total**
**2022**
**£**
48,551
2,706
1,770
18,744|
|||||71,771|
|||||**Total**
**2022**
**£**
212
212|
Page 11
**Stratford Church of Christ**
## **Notes to the Accounts**
## 5 **Expenditure on charitable activities**
|_Expenditure on charitable_
_activities_
Benevolence
Worship
Evangelism
Support for India
_Governance costs_
Accountancy fees
6
**Other expenditure**
Rent and rates
Administration
Motor and travel costs
General administrative costs|**Unrestricted**
**£**
11,427
1,620
581
1,200
660
15,488
**Unrestricted**
**£**
11,008
9,393
1,071
2,055
23,527|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
11,427
1,620
581
1,200
660
15,488
**Total**
**2023**
**£**
11,008
9,393
1,071
2,055
23,527|**Total**
**2022**
**£**
8,998
810
724
1,200
660
12,392
**Total**
**2022**
**£**
11,569
7,071
591
113
19,344|
|---|---|---|---|
## **7 Staff Costs**
No employee received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
## **8 Tangible Fixed Assets**
|**Cost**
Addition during the year
**Total Cost**
**Depreciation**
Charged during the year
**Total Depreciation**
**Net book Value C/fwd**|**2023**
**£**
20,000
20,000
2,055
2,055
17,945|**2022**
**£**|
|---|---|---|
|||-|
|||-|
|||-|
|||-|
Page 12
**Stratford Church of Christ Notes to the Accounts**
## **9 Creditors**
|**Amounts falling due within one year**
Accruals and deferred income
**10 Movement in funds**
**Restricted Funds:**
**Restricted income funds:**
Total
**Unrestricted funds:**
**General funds**
**Revaluation Reserves:**
**Total funds**|**At**
**January**
**2023**
**£**
95,718
95,718
83,873
179,591|**Incoming**
**resources**
**(including**
**other**
**gains/losses)**
**£**
2,135
2,135
70,128
72,263|**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
1,020
660
1,020
660
**Resources**
**expended**
**At 31**
**December**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
-
97,853
-
97,853
(39,015)
114,986
(39,015)
212,839|
|---|---|---|---|
Page 13
**Stratford Church of Christ Notes to the Accounts**
## **11 Analysis of net assets between funds**
|Net Current Assets|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
212,899
212,899|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
(60)
(60)|**Total**
**£**
212,839
212,839|
|---|---|---|---|
## **12 Reconciliation of net debt**
|Cash and cash equivalents
Net debt|**At 1 January**
**2023**
**£**
180,251
180,251
180,251|**Cash flows**
**£**
15,663
15,663
15,663|**At 31 December**
**2023**
**£**
195,914|
|---|---|---|---|
||||195,914
195,914|
Page 14
**Stratford Church of Christ**
## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities For**
## **the year ended 31 December 2023**
|**Income and endowments**
**from:**
Donations and legacies
General weekly giving
Donation
Preacher special contributions
Gift aid reclaims
Other
Bank interest receivable
**Total income and endowments**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
Benevolence
Worship
Evangelism
Support for India
Governance costs
Accountancy fees
**Total of expenditure on**
**charitable activities**|**Unrestrict**
**ed funds**
**2023**
**£**
62,246
5,040
2,842
-
70,128
-
70,128
11,427
1,620
581
1,200
14,828
660
660
15,488|**Restricted**
**funds 2023**
**£**
-
2,135
2,135
2,135
-
-
-|**Total**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
62,246
5,040
2,842
-
70,128
2,135
2,135
72,263
11,427
1,620
581
1,200
14,828
660
660
15,488|**Total funds**
**2022**
**£**
48,551
2,706
1,770
18,744|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||71,771|
|||||212|
|||||212|
|||||71,983
8,998
810
724
1,200|
|||||11,732|
|||||660|
|||||660|
|||||12,392|
Page 15
## **Stratford Church of Christ**
|Other expenditure
Rent and rates
Administration
Motor and travel costs
Vehicles - General costs
General administrative costs,
including depreciation and
amortisation
Sundry expenses
Depreciation
**Total of expenditure of other**
**costs**
**Total expenditure**
Net gains on investments
**Net income**
**Net income before other**
**gains/(losses)**
Other Gains
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward|11,008
9,393
20,401
1,071
1,071
2,055
2,055
23,527
39,015
-
31,113
31,113
-
31,113
83,873
114,986|-
-
-
-
-
-
2,135
2,135
-
2,135
95,718
97,853|11,008
9,393
20,401
1,071
1,071
-
2,055
2,055
23,527
39,015
-
33,248
33,248
-
33,248
179,591
212,839|11,569
7,071|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||18,640|
|||||591|
|||||591|
|||||113|
|||||113|
|||||19,344|
|||||31,736|
|||||-|
|||||40,247|
|||||40,247
-
40,247
139,344
179,591|
Page 16