Charity registration number: 1153995
## GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 March 2023
## **GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD**
## **Contents (continued)**
|Reference and Administrative Details|1|
|---|---|
|Trustees' Report|2 to 4|
|Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities|5|
|Independent Examiner's Report|6|
|Statement of Financial Activities|7|
|Balance Sheet|8|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|9 to 15|
## **GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD**
## **Reference and Administrative Details**
**Trustees** Mr Bryan Walsh Mr Edward Boyes Mr Jamie Robert Sparkes Mr Sydney Alexander Elliott Mr Rodney Wort Mr Mark Wesley Armstrong Mr Stephen David Wells **Charity Registration Number** 1153995 **Principal Office** 9 Hedingham Close Halewood L26 6LX **Independent Examiner** GRC Accountants Limited 166 Banks Road West Kirby Wirral CH48 0RH
Page 1
## **GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD**
## **Trustees' Report**
## **Introduction to Grace Church**
Grace Church Halewood was constituted in 2006 and registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in 2013. This eighth Annual Report is prepared in accordance with our obligations as a CIO and relates to the period from 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023.
## **Aims and purposes of Grace Church**
The Trustees are responsible for the objectives of the charity. Grace Church Halewood specifically seeks to advance the Christian faith for the benefit of the public in Halewood, Knowsley and beyond, and to relieve distress in these areas and elsewhere.
## **Grace Church leadership**
Grace Church leadership duties are shared by the Trustees, who are also elders, a group of men and women appointed as Deacons, and a group of ministry leaders. One of the Trustees is specifically employed as the principal teaching elder who also delivers specific and bespoke pastoral care for the members, and the wider community, whenever he becomes aware of such needs. Throughout the year we had a team of seven elders serving in our Church leadership team, a figure which includes the teaching elder.
In addition, we now have two full-time employees who focus on supporting and mentoring our young people with one overseeing the under 11-year-olds and the other working with those of secondary school age. The second employee was appointed from January on an initial fixed term basis. We also have another part time employee who works primarily to support effective administration within Grace Church.
## **Grace Church membership and Sunday attendance**
During the period of this report, Grace Church had an active membership of some 100. Many more individuals and families attend services each Sunday with a wide range of children’s and youth ministries also taking place. Numbers are further boosted with people watching our morning service on-line.
## **Communication within Grace Church**
The Trustees recognise the need for, and understand the value of, communicating regularly and effectively with our membership. Having held formal member meetings over Zoom during the previous financial year in response to members` on-going concerns over the impact of COVID-19 restrictions, members were encouraged to attend in-person the three member meetings that took place during the year. Those unable to attend were again offered the opportunity to join each meeting over Zoom. To help improve communication between meetings and make the actual member meetings more streamlined, a member's newsletter is now produced between each formal meeting containing regular updates. Church lunches are held after a Sunday service to also make sure the wider church community understand any key decisions made by the charity. Weekly notice sheets are also distributed electronically, important updates are shared by email and members are encouraged to communicate with each other using the ChurchSuite data base to access contact information members are prepared to share.
The Trustees and Leadership Teams also make use of WhatsApp to ensure quick and effective communication between individuals and within groups. Communication was further enhanced during the year when Grace Church adopted Microsoft Office 365. Our church website is also updated regularly with useful resources as well as information on upcoming events.
Page 2
## **GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## **Grace Church achievements and performance**
As the country moved further away from COVID restrictions the trustees were very aware that some people, especially the older generation, continued to feel somewhat isolated and anxious about going out. We therefore continued to make sure that each individual and family linked to Grace Church had the contact and support they needed. Our care team continued to meet the needs of the elderly, the more vulnerable and others within our church community where specific needs were identified.
As well as meeting at Halewood Leisure Centre for our Sunday morning service, we also rent office space. This has resulted in more visibility and involvement with the local community by offering a central hub where people can drop in and chat to one of our staff or members. Coffee mornings are also hosted in the office.
As well as various midweek activities being held for young people and toddlers, a wide range of events are also held for adults. Several ‘Grace Groups’ meet in houses spread throughout local communities to support each other and provide study opportunities with, following a review, more intergenerational groups. Bespoke men's and ladies' activities were held across the year to encourage those meeting together and sporting activities offered included football, badminton and cricket.
## **Local, regional and national cooperation**
Grace Church is a member of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) which provides legal and professional support, training, useful resources and networking opportunities with over 600 churches. We also partner with other churches in the Liverpool City Region and beyond to further teaching and education aims through inter-church support and collaboration, providing speakers for each other's church meetings. Members of the church attend and hold leadership positions in Bible Study Fellowship and others take an active role in the city-wide Barnabas Bible Class. We also partner with the North West Gospel Partnership, which provides training, conferences and networking support for churches in this region.
## **Grace Church mission and evangelism**
As the number of new homes being built in east Halewood increases, Grace Church offers opportunities for the growing, wider community to engage with us. We continue to support the work of the New Hutte Neighbourhood Centre when they raise specific needs such as helping with their main Christmas event, ‘Twinkle Twinkle’. At Christmas we held an event widely publicised for the whole community in a local woodland area. This was a major logistical operation requiring the support of many from the church and local community groups. It was well attended and well received by locals and stakeholders alike.
We held an on-line marriage course using our website to invite other people to join in and during the summer we were able to partner with a local Church for our children’s summer camp, sending both children and adult worker volunteers.
## **Financial review**
The Trustees acknowledge the generous giving of the fellowship, and the hard work of the Finance Team in accounting for and expending these funds over the financial year. The modest balance in all accounts is entirely in line with the Trustees expectations and wishes for the Charity. Grace Church relies entirely on the freewill giving of members and others sympathetic with our aims, purposes and objectives and no public appeals for money are made.
Grace Church allocates 10% of our income to Mission activities outside of Halewood. This includes financial help to support a family engaged in world mission based in America as well as regular support for two separate missionary families working in Papua New Guinea. We have also supported the work of Open-Air Mission, European Mission Fellowship and Faith in Kids.
Page 3
## **GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
When cross referencing this report with the formal Accounts of Grace Church, it should be noted that we have identified restricted funds which refer to monies donated towards the ‘Footprint Fund.’ This is money specifically designated to further our aim of identifying a building to provide our own premises in the Halewood neighbourhood. We believe this provision would further the aims of the Charity.
## **Looking forward: 2023/24**
Grace Church Halewood benefits from many children and young people attending the wide range of activities that take place each Sunday and throughout the week. To reflect this growing trend, during the financial year we employed another full-time member of staff to work with our children aged 0-11 years, initially on a fixed term basis of 12 months before a formal review takes place during the next financial year, centring on both the benefits of the role as well as financial considerations.
We also intend to review our Church vision and values, refresh the Grace Church ‘branding’ ahead of relaunching our web site to ensure it remains relevant, accessible, and informative for our members, the existing local community and new people moving into Halewood. We will also build our social media presence to again further our aims, purpose, and objectives.
The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 16 October 2023 and signed on its behalf by:
......................................... Mr Mark Wesley Armstrong Trustee
Page 4
## **GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD**
## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations.
The law applicable to charities requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Approved by the trustees of the charity on 16 October 2023 and signed on its behalf by:
......................................... Mr Mark Wesley Armstrong Trustee
Page 5
GRACC CHURCH HALEWOOD
Tndepondent Examiner's Report to the truste¢s of GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD
I Irporl lo Ili¢ tnis(L¢s oil n)y exlliiiination of thc a¢couiils of GRACE CFIURCH HALEWOOD for tli¢ year
cnded 31 Mar¢li 2023.
R¢sponslbilltles and bAsls of report
A5 the cl?arity trustees of CJRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD you are responsible for the preparjtion of th¢
aewunts iii a¢cord4ncc with tli¢ requirements of tli¢ Charitio% Act 2011 I'tlie A¢t'}.
I repoit in iespecl of Iny examination of the QTRACE CHURC14 HALFWOOD'$ accounis ¢ari'ied out under
5CCtion 145 of 111¢ 2011 Act aiid iii c&riying out Iny cxaminulion I huve followcd all the appIlbI¢ Dire¢tions
given by tli¢ Charity COl1J8S1Qn under swtioft 145{5llbl of th¢ Aet.
Indeptndent examln¢r'$ stat¢mtnt
I hav¢ coinplclcd my ¢xuiMinalion. I confirin Il)at Jio material tnoltcr¥ hav¢ coille to my atleiiiioii in conncctioi)
with th¢ ¢xomination giviiig mc cause to b¢licv¢ Ihul in any material $pect..
ICLOillltiiig r¢eoTols were iiol k¢pl in resp¢¢I of GRACE CHURCFI HALEWOOD n8 requircd by yeclioi)
130 of the Aci; or
2, the vcoiinis do Iiol llCrd wilh IliosL I'¢¢ords' or
3. Ilie accouiils do not coinply willi 11)¢ acetsuntlll8 r¢quiirincn15 conc¢riiin8 the foTln and conl¢iit of acct)unts
set out in th¢ Charities IAccoiint,% lind Rcpoi1&) RcsulKliun% 2008 olhLI' than aiiy roquirL'inent that the
ac¢oiinLs 8Tve a 'tnie und fail. view, wliicli 1$ not a I111¢1. consid¢red &8 port ol. an independ¢nl
oxaiminolion.
I Iiave iio coliri18 Jnd hav¢ LOEno nLID55 110 Othe]. Jnnll¢r8 iii ci)IlllCelioii willi lh¢ exainiiiT¢lion tr) which altontioii
shmild b¢ diywn in this r¢porl in 01¢r to enRblo a proper undersiHttding of Ihc accoiinis lo b¢ IrHLhed.
Gareih Cooper
ACC'A
166 Banks Road
Wcst Kirby
Wirral
C1148 ORI-I
Dat¢..
Page 6
## **GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
|**Note**
**Income and Endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Total income
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
Other expenditure
4
Total expenditure
Net (expenditure)/income
Net movement in funds
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
9
**Note**
**Income and Endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Total income
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
Other expenditure
4
Total expenditure
Net (expenditure)/income
Net movement in funds
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
9|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
27,550
127,507
155,057
(159,907)
(3,244)
(163,151)
(8,094)
(8,094)
104,632
96,538
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
27,893
124,766
152,659
(153,157)
(3,869)
(157,026)
(4,367)
(4,367)
108,999
104,632|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
960
960
-
-
-
960
960
156,906
157,866
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
940
18,121
19,061
-
-
-
19,061
19,061
137,845
156,906|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
27,550
128,467|
|---|---|---|---|
||||156,017|
||||(159,907)
(3,244)|
||||(163,151)|
||||(7,134)|
||||(7,134)
261,538|
||||254,404|
||||**Total**
**2022**
**£**
28,833
142,887|
||||171,720|
||||(153,157)
(3,869)|
||||(157,026)|
||||14,694|
||||14,694
246,844|
||||261,538|
All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2022 is shown in note 9.
The notes on pages 9 to 15 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 7
## **GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD**
## **(Registration number: 1153995) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2023**
|**Note**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
6
**Current assets**
Debtors
7
Cash at bank and in hand
8
**Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
**Net current assets**
**Net assets**
**Funds of the charity:**
**Restricted income funds**
Restricted funds
9
**Unrestricted income funds**
Unrestricted funds
**Total funds**
9|**2023**
**£**
-
2,559
254,313
256,872
(2,468)
254,404
254,404
157,866
96,538
254,404|**2022**
**£**
3,244
2,679
262,920|
|---|---|---|
|||265,599
(7,305)|
|||258,294|
|||261,538|
|||156,906
104,632|
|||261,538|
The financial statements on pages 7 to 15 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 16 October 2023 and signed on their behalf by:
......................................... Mr Mark Wesley Armstrong Trustee
The notes on pages 9 to 15 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 8
## **GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Statement of compliance**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
## **Basis of preparation**
GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.
## **Going concern**
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
## **Income and endowments**
Voluntary income including donations, gifts, legacies and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.
## _**Donations and legacies**_
Donations and legacies are recognised on a receivable basis when receipt is probable and the amount can be reliably measured.
## **Expenditure**
All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.
## _**Raising funds**_
These are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, the management of investments and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.
## **Support costs**
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, for example, allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.
Page 9
## **GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 (continued)**
## **Taxation**
The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Individual fixed assets costing £2,000.00 or more are initially recorded at cost.
## **Depreciation and amortisation**
Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:
**Asset class** Equipment and Furniture
**Depreciation method and rate** 20% straight line basis
## **Trade debtors**
Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business.
Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.
## **Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
## **Fund structure**
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside for specific purposes at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
Page 10
## **GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 (continued)**
## **2 Income from donations and legacies**
|Donations and legacies;
Gift aid reclaimed
**Total for 2023**
**Total for 2022**
**3**
**Income from charitable activities**
**Total for 2023**
**Total for 2022**
**4**
**Other expenditure**
Depreciation, amortisation and other similar costs
**Total for 2023**
**Total for 2022**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
27,550
27,550
27,893
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
127,507
127,507
124,766
**Note**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-
940
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
960
960
18,121
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
3,244
3,244
3,869|**Total**
**funds**
**£**
27,550|
|---|---|---|---|
||||27,550|
||||28,833|
||||**Total**
**funds**
**£**
128,467|
||||128,467|
||||142,887|
||||**Total**
**funds**
**£**
3,244|
||||3,244|
||||3,869|
## **5 Taxation**
The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
Page 11
## **GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 (continued)**
## **6 Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost**
At 1 April 2022
At 31 March 2023
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2022
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2023
**Net book value**
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2022
**7**
**Debtors**
Other debtors
**8**
**Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash at bank||**Furniture and**
**equipment**
**£**
44,461
44,461
41,217
3,244
44,461
-
3,244
**2023**
**£**
2,559
**2023**
**£**
254,313|**Furniture and**
**equipment**
**£**
44,461
44,461
41,217
3,244
44,461
-
3,244
**2023**
**£**
2,559
**2023**
**£**
254,313|**Total**
**£**
44,461
44,461
41,217
3,244
44,461
-
3,244
**2022**
**£**
2,679|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||44,461|||
|||41,217
3,244|||
|||44,461|||
|||-|||
|||3,244|||
|||**2023**
**£**
2,559
**2023**
**£**
254,313|||
|||||**2022**
**£**
262,920|
Page 12
## **GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 (continued)**
|**9**
**Funds**
**Unrestricted funds**
**_General_**
General
**_Designated_**
Footprint
**Total unrestricted funds**
**Restricted funds**
Footprint
**Total funds**
**Unrestricted funds**
**_General_**
General
**_Designated_**
Footprint
**Total unrestricted funds**
**Restricted**
Footprint
**Total funds**|**Balance at 1**
**April 2022**
**£**
79,632
25,000
104,632
156,906
261,538
**Balance at 1**
**April 2021**
**£**
83,999
25,000
108,999
137,845
246,844|**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
155,057
-
155,057
960
156,017
**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
152,659
-
152,659
19,061
171,720|**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
(163,151)
-
(163,151)
-
(163,151)
**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
(157,026)
-
(157,026)
-
(157,026)|**Balance at 31**
**March 2023**
**£**
71,538
25,000|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||96,538
157,866|
|||||254,404|
|||||**Balance at 31**
**March 2022**
**£**
79,632
25,000|
|||||104,632
156,906|
|||||261,538|
## **10 Analysis of net assets between funds**
|Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets|**Unrestricted funds**
**General**
**£**
**Designated**
**£**
74,006
25,000
(2,468)
-
71,538
25,000|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
157,866
-
157,866|**Total funds at**
**31 March**
**2023**
**£**
256,872
(2,468)|
|---|---|---|---|
||||254,404|
Page 13
## **GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 (continued)**
|**Unrestricted funds**
**General**
**£**
**Designated**
**£**
Tangible fixed assets
3,244
-
Current assets
83,693
25,000
Current liabilities
(7,305)
-
Total net assets
79,632
25,000
**11 Staff costs**
The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:
**Staff costs during the year were:**
Wages and salaries|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
156,906
-
156,906
**2023**
**£**
90,598|**Total funds at**
**31 March**
**2022**
**£**
3,244
265,599
(7,305)|
|---|---|---|
|||261,538|
|||**2022**
**£**
76,632|
No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year
## **12 Trustees remuneration and expenses**
No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.
No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year.
Page 14
## **GRACE CHURCH HALEWOOD**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 (continued)**
## **13 Analysis of support costs**
## **Support costs allocated to charitable activities**
|**Basis of allocation**
Premises/Video conferencing
Mission
Caring
Training, Children & Youth work
Outreach
Support ministries
Accountancy
**Basis of allocation**
Premises/Video conferencing
Mission
Caring
Training, Children & Youth work
Outreach
Support ministries
Accountancy|**Administration**
**costs**
**£**
32,335
16,075
870
12,300
3,629
2,588
1,513
69,310
**Administration**
**costs**
**£**
34,664
21,965
7,693
7,635
977
2,203
1,388
76,525|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
32,335
16,075
870
12,300
3,629
2,588
1,513|
|---|---|---|
|||69,310|
|||**Total**
**2022**
**£**
34,664
21,965
7,693
7,635
977
2,203
1,388|
|||76,525|
Page 15