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2023-03-31-accounts

BARNET CHURCHES ACTION

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISORS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Trustees Mr Julian Desborough Mr Roger Seaton Mrs Mary Boland Mrs Margaret Dixon (resigned 29 November 2022) Mr Simon Shoreman Rev Ray Thomas (appointed 1 March 2023) Patron Mr Martin Russell - Deputy Lieutenant of the Borough of Barnet Company registration number 8625115 Charity registration number 1154935 Registered Office 117 Fitzjohn Avenue, Barnet, Herts EN5 2HR Community Centre address Hope Corner Community Centre, 185 Mays Lane Barnet, Herts EN5 2DY Community Centre manager Mrs. Janet Nestor Independent examiners Griffin Stone Moscrop & Co, Chartered Accountants 21-27 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London WC1N 3GS Bankers CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ

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BARNET CHURCHES ACTION

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The trustees present their annual report together with the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.

The accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015).

Objectives and activities

The main object of the charity was: ‘To advance the Christian religion primarily but not exclusively in Chipping Barnet through promoting pastoral work for the benefit of the public and to enlighten others about the Christian religion’.

The main goal of the charity has been to build on the first six years of operations at Hope Corner Community Centre on Mays Lane which had been developed as part of the regeneration project of the Dollis Valley Estate. It continues to support and administer relief to residents in Dollis Valley and the Underhill Ward. The Centre is the official community hub for this area.

Activities in the year continue to be related to generating sufficient income through donations and applications to grant-making trusts to fund operations at the Centre and to introduce new projects that would help to improve the lives of residents in the surrounding area.

The charity has managed Hope Corner Community Centre on Mays Lane with a staffing structure which reflects the services and activities it provides. It has one full-time manager, a part-time seniors coordinator, a part-time assistant, a part-time cook, a part-time café assistant and a catch-up maths tutor.

In producing their assessment of the benefit to the public provided by the charity the trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. There are also a number of volunteers assisting with the seniors lunch club, lunch delivery project, art club and catch-up maths. More volunteers are being sought to assist with these projects.

Achievements and performance

Lettings

Lettings have recovered after Covid. The rent increase at the start of 2022 did not affect the appeal of the centre as a venue (except for Ward Councillors who wanted weekend sessions which we could not provide).

Classes

Projects

The Community Support Project has been busy with food bank enquiries, application form filling for Universal Credit, PIF, etc., council/organisation signposting, practical assistance like arranging hospital visits and transport for the most vulnerable, referrals to local welfare groups and so on.

The café continues to be well supported. We continue to operate the Crisis Food Voucher Scheme for anyone urgently needing a free meal.

After school clubs for Catch-up Maths (once a week) and Art Club (once a week) have been run. Also the Homework Club run 3 times a week but its future is being evaluated due to lack of funding and quantifiable results.

The Seniors’ Lunch Club operates weekly with 30-35 attendees, and we continue to deliver lunch to 7-12 vulnerable people twice a week.

Partnerships

Our work on the Dollis Valley Flexible Fund Steering Committee, saw grants awarded to:

We have an ongoing partnership with LBB, Barnet Library and other organisations around the issue of digital inclusion. Six reconditioned laptops from the council have been given out to residents (mainly to assist children with e-learning and homework) and a further 10 arrived in January, also for distribution.

Tablets (acquired through the Mayor’s IT Fund) are being used by the Catch-up Maths group and five new laptops (also from the Mayor’s Fund) have been transitioned into the centre’s machines. We are improving BCA’s digital resilience with a new email address for the charity; barnetca@outlook.com plus Community Fibre has installed public wifi (free for life).

We have received funding from Good Things Foundation to provide a survey of the non-development households on Dollis Valley, highlighting the lack of telecoms infrastructure and potential digital exclusion. This will then be fed back to the council and other organisations for action.

Pastoral

The prayer group meets Wednesdays to pray for the centre and local area. We are seeking God to expand the vision of Hope Corner.

Funding

We are expecting funding to come for 2023-4 to come from:

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There are also applications in progress with the Hyde Foundation (Art Club), L&Q Placemakers and City Bridge Trust (Seniors Worker) and Dollis Valley Flexible Fund (Catch-up Maths for 2023-4, second session per week).

Financial review

The charity’s funds are divided into restricted, designated and unrestricted funds .

Restricted funds can only be used for the purpose for which they have been given. During the year grants were received amounting to £38,145. Grant monies of £62,623 were used during the year. The balance on restricted funds at the end of year was £48,952.

The designated fund was set up in 2018 following the receipt of a grant of £100,000 from the funds bequeathed for charitable purposes which the trustees have designated for the following purposes:

 To fund core costs (excluding core salaries) in running the community centre which could not be otherwise funded by grant-making trusts

No use of the fund was made during the year so that a balance of £42,708 continues to be carried forward to future years, to be spent as the need arises on activities and services that the charity would be unable to develop without it.

The unrestricted fund, the general fund, is the main fund into which income is paid and payment is made for the cost of running the charity. The income of the year was £50,163 and expenditure for the year was £68,046.

As a result, there was net expenditure on the general fund for the year of £17,883 and the balance to carry forward at the end of the year was £5,112.

Because of continuing support from charitable organisations the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the accounts.

It is the policy of the trustees to maintain a balance on general fund, if possible, which equates to three months unrestricted payments. The budget for core costs for the year to 31 March 2024 is about the same as for 2023 at £70,000 so that the balance carried forward only meets this policy due to the availability, if required, of the designated fund. Grant funding has been sought since the year end to improve the charity’s financial position. It is expected that most of the restricted funds carried forward to 2024 will be used in that year to fund continuing projects.

Structure, governance and management

The company was incorporated on 25 July 2013 and was registered as a charity on 9 December 2013. The charity took over the operation and assets of The Valley Centre, an unincorporated association sponsored by Churches Together for Chipping Barnet, as from 1 April 2014.

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New trustees are appointed from time to time, being persons who have an interest in the objectives of the charity. The trustees have been in contact as the need has arisen during the year.

The members of the company are two representatives from each of the eleven churches that make up Churches Together for Chipping Barnet and each member has liability limited to a sum not exceeding £1.

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity may be exposed, in particular those relating to the operations and finances of the charity. They are satisfied systems are in place to mitigate any exposure to major risks. All necessary insurances are in place, CCTV is installed, there is a fireproof safe for documents, a minimal amount of cash is kept on the premises and safeguarding procedures are in place.

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities

The trustees (who are also directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ annual report and accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the balance sheet date and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure for that year. In preparing these accounts, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the accounts 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.

In preparing this report, the trustees have taken advantage of the small companies exemption provided by section 415A of the Companies Act 2006.

Approved by the board of trustees on 9 October 2023 and signed on their behalf by:

JULIAN DESBOROUGH Director

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BARNET CHURCHES ACTION

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Notes
Income from:
Donations
2
Charitable activities:
Centre lettings
Café income
Government Covid grants
HMRC furlough grants
Interest
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
3,4
Total expenditure
Net (expenditure) income and net
movement of funds for the year
Reconciliation of funds:
Total Funds at 1 April 2022
Total Funds at 31 March 2023		 Unrestricted Designated
Restricted
Total
Total
funds
funds
funds
funds
funds
2023
2023
2023
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
£
19,056
-
38,145
57,201
113,311
10,658
-
-
10,658
9,409
19,834
-
-
19,834
14,788
-
-
-
-
17,579
-
-
-
-
7,851
615
-
-
615
356
50,163
-
38,145
88,308
163,294
68,046
-
62,623
130,669
109,702
68,046
-
62,623
130,669
109,702
(17,883)
-
(24,478)
(42,361)
53,592
22,995
42,708
73,430
139,133
85,541
5,112
42,708
48,952
96,772
139,133

All activities relate to continuing operations.

The attached notes form part of the accounts.

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BARNET CHURCHES ACTION

Company Registration Number: 8625115

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2023

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2023
Notes
Current assets
Debtors
7
Bank deposit account
Cash on bank current account and in hand
Current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
8
Net current assets
Funds
9
General fund
Designated funds
Restricted funds		 2023
2022
£
£
860
897
40,000
40,000
62,432
100,746
103,292
141,643
6,520
2,510
96,772
139,133
5,112
22,995
42,708
42,708
48,952
73,430
96,772
139,133

The directors consider that the company is entitled to exemption from the requirement to have an audit under the provisions of section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 ("the Act") and members have not required the company to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Act.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at 31 March 2023 and of its net incoming resources for the year then ended in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 of the Act and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to the financial statements so far as applicable to the company.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements were approved by the directors on 9 October 2023 and signed on their behalf by:

ROGER SEATON JULIAN DESBOROUGH Director Director

The attached notes form part of the accounts.

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BARNET CHURCHES ACTION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1. Accounting Policies

1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities : Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Companies Act 2006.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

1.2 Company Status

The company is a company limited by guarantee. The members of the company are two representatives from each of the eleven churches that make up Churches Together for Chipping Barnet and each member has a liability limited to a sum not exceeding £1.

1.3 Income

All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income can be measured reliably.

Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid is recognised at the time of the donation.

1.4. Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payment to a third party. It is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses including support costs and governance costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure headings.

Support costs are costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity. These include development costs and equipment which have been written off. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with the administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the expenditure heading for which it was incurred.

1.5 Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are expendable at the discretion of the directors in furtherance of the objects of the company. Designated funds are those funds that have been set aside by the directors for a particular purpose. Restricted funds are those funds that have been donated for a particular purpose and must be spent by the directors on the furtherance of that purpose.

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BARNET CHURCHES ACTION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1.6 Debtors

The unpaid lettings invoices are regognised at the settlement amount. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

1.7 Creditors

Creditors are recognised where a charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in a transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably.

1.8 Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liablities of a kind that qualifies as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments (including debtors and creditors) are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

1.9 Cash on bank current account and in hand

Cash on bank current account and in hand includes cash and current and immediate access deposit accounts.

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BARNET CHURCHES ACTION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

2. Income from donations

Grants from charities:
Elizabeth Allen
Hadley Trust
Barnet Community Fund
Good Things Foundation
Other grants:
Churches Together for Chipping Barnet
London Boro of Barnet
Ground rent fund of landlord
Other donations		 Unrestricted Designated
Restricted
Total
Total
funds
funds
funds
funds
funds
2023
2023
2023
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
£
-
-
2,000
2,000
12,000
-
23,000
35,000
33,000
-
-
8,327
8,327
-
-
2,000
2,000
-
-
-
-
6,000
-
-
-
-
60,000
-
-
2,818
2,818
12,347
7,056
-
-
7,056
1,964
19,056
-
38,145
57,201
113,311

For the year ended 31 March 2022 £22,464 related to unrestricted funds and £90,847 related to restricted funds.

3. Expenditure on charitable activities Summary by fund type

Grants
Staff costs (excluding café manager)
Utilities
Repairs, maintenance and equipment
Catering costs (including café manager)
Other Centre running costs
Administrative costs
Governance costs (see note 5)		 Unrestricted Designated
Restricted
Total
Total
funds
funds
funds
funds
funds
2023
2023
2023
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
£
-
-
7,200
7,200
23,580
-
49,129
72,709
68,261
10,613
-
-
10,613
8,024
3,234
-
2,818
6,052
3,594
27,211
-
1,100
28,311
23,307
1,420
-
2,376
3,796
4,174
668
-
-
668
1,262
1,320
-
-
1,320
1,080
68,046
-
62,623
130,669
109,702

For the year ended 31 March 2022 £61,850 related to unrestricted funds and £47,852 to restricted funds.

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BARNET CHURCHES ACTION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

4. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Direct Support Governance Total Total
costs costs costs 2023 2022
£ £ £ £ £
Grants 7,200 - - 7,200 -
Staff costs (excluding café manager) 68,044 4,665 - 72,709 68,261
Utilities 10,613 - - 10,613 8,024
Repairs, maintenance and equipment 6,052 - - 6,052 3,594
Catering costs (including café manager) 28,311 - - 28,311 23,307
Other Centre running costs 3,796 - - 3,796 4,174
Administrative costs - 668 - 668 1,262
Governance costs (see note 5) - - 1,320 1,320 1,080
124,016 5,333 1,320 130,669 109,702
5. Governance costs (included in analysis in notes 3 and 4)
Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total Total
funds funds funds funds funds
2023 2023 2023 2023 2022
£ £ £ £ £
Independent examination fee 1,320 - - 1,320 1,080
1,320 - - 1,320 1,080

For the year ended 31 March 2022 all costs related to unrestricted funds. During the year no expenses were reimbursed to trustees (2022 : nil).

6. Staff costs

The average number of staff employed during the year was 6. (2022 : 7). Gross salaries and wages amounted to £84,550 (2022 : £79,609). Employer's national insurance contributions of £nil were paid in the year (2022: £nil). Pension contributions of £1,099 were paid in respect of 2 employees (2022 : 2 - £846). The Centre Manager, Janet Nestor, along with the trustees as a body but chiefly Julian Desborough, are considered the key management personnel of the charity and total remuneration paid in this category amounted to £35,586 (2022: £30,358)

7. Debtors
Prepayments
8. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Accruals
Other creditors		 2023
2022
£
£
860
897
860
897
1,850
1,490
4,670
1,020
6,520
2,510

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BARNET CHURCHES ACTION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

9. Statement of funds

Restricted funds

Education
Seniors work
Lunches
Drop in project
Play/art club
Repairs / equipment
Fixation Academy for Performing Arts - scholarships
Volunteers / staff training program
Digital exclusion
Dollis Valley Flexible Fund
Designated funds
General fund		 Brought
Incoming Resources
Carried
forward
resources
expended
forward
£
£
£
£
-
2,000
2,000
-
14,771
8,000
19,584
3,187
2,000
8,327
2,000
8,327
2,515
15,000
17,515
-
2,436
-
2,436
-
-
2,818
2,818
-
1,950
-
1,950
-
15,258
-
8,320
6,938
-
2,000
-
2,000
34,500
-
6,000
28,500
73,430
38,145
62,623
48,952
42,708
-
-
42,708
22,995
50,163
68,046
5,112
139,133
88,308
130,669
96,772

The above restricted funds are all separate activities of the Centre and are grant funded. The Dollis Valley Flexible Fund is for use in the regeneration of Dollis Valley. This fund is administered by the charity together with other interested parties including London Boro of Barnet, Countryside, L&Q and the residents. One of the trustees chairs this committee while another trustee represents the residents.

The designated funds are to be used to fund core costs which could not otherwise be

grant funded; to support shortfalls in funding for the drop in project; to offset costs incurred by projects that have subsidised elements; to help develop and extend new projects and to fund new projects.

10. Analysis of net assets between funds

10. Analysis of net assets between funds
Current assets
Creditors : amounts falling due
within one year		 Unrestricted Designated
Restricted
Total
Total
funds
funds
funds
funds
funds
2023
2023
2023
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
£
11,632
42,708
48,952
103,292
141,643
(6,520)
-
-
(6,520)
(2,510)
5,112
42,708
48,952
96,772
139,133

11. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents

Bank deposit account
Bank current account
Cash in hand		 2023
2022
£
£
40,000
40,000
62,332
38,456
100
100
102,432
78,556

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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Barnet Churches Action

I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2023 which are set out on pages 6 to 12.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

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

  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

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.

Richard Hill FCA Griffin Stone Moscrop & Co Chartered Accountants 21-27 Lamb’s Conduit Street

London WC1N 3GS Date: 14 November 2023

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