## City Church Bristol
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 August 2024
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
## **CITY CHURCH BRISTOL**
## **CHARITY INFORMATION**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024**
## **Trustees**
Nicholas Todd Samuel Dalziel Sarah Evens Rachel Donne-Davis Lloyd Maynard (appointed 1 January 2024) Christina Tucker (resigned 31 December 2023)
## **Key Staff**
## **Governing Document**
## **Charity Registration Number**
## **Principal Address**
## **Independent Examiner**
## **Bankers**
Andrew Cottingham Ben Welchman John Cooper James Lee (from September 2024) Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered 15 April 2014 1156712 The Elmgrove Centre Elmgrove Road Bristol BS6 6AH Sarah Crispin ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB Barclays Bank PLC 161 Whiteladies Road Bristol BS8 2RF
|**Contents**|**Page**|
|---|---|
|Charity Information|1|
|Trustees' Annual Report|2-9|
|Independent Examiner's Report|10|
|Statement of Financial Activities|11|
|Balance Sheet|12|
|Cashflow Statement|13|
|Notes to the Accounts|14-20|
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities with Comparatives|21|
Page 1
## City Church Bristol
Report of the Trustees
For the period 1 September 2023 – 31 August 2024
## **Objectives**
City Church Bristol is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO); its constitution states the charity’s objects as follows:
1. **The advancement of the Christian faith** and to fulfil such other purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the law of England and Wales and are connected with the charitable work of the CIO.
2. **To relieve persons who are in condition of need** or hardship or who are sick and to relieve the distress caused thereby.
3. **To advance education** .
In order to fulfil these objectives, the Trust functions as a church, holding regular meetings and undertaking various outreach projects, applying its funds as appropriate.
## **Governance**
The CIO was registered in April 2014, and functions as a church, previously known as Bridge Community Church. During 2017, the Elders and Trustees of Bridge Community Church made the decision to merge with City Church Bristol, a sister church meeting in central Bristol. This merger has resulted in a multi-site church with a shared Eldership, known as City Church Bristol. Following legal advice, and permission from the Charity Commission, the activities and assets of City Church (Bristol) Trust (registered charity 1087087) were transferred into this CIO, which was subsequently renamed City Church Bristol. City Church (Bristol) Trust ceased operations on 1 January 2018.
The Trustees delegate the day-to-day responsibility for leading the church and the organising of its meetings and various outreach projects to an Eldership. During this reporting period, the Eldership comprised Andrew Cottingham, Stuart Eggleston, James Lee, Nicholas Todd and Benjamin Welchman. Andy Cottingham, Benjamin Welchman and James Lee are employed full-time by the CIO.
Samuel Dalziel, Rachel Donne-Davis, Sarah Evens, Lloyd Maynard (from 4th December 2023), Nicholas Todd (Chair), and Christina Tucker (until 31st December 2023) served as Trustees during this reporting period.
Trustees are recruited from the membership of City Church. Trustees should have demonstrated commitment to the church and its vision and values, as well as demonstrating integrity and Godly character.
Page 2
## **Review of Activities**
City Church is a multi-site church, with congregations based in the Bradley Stoke, Cotham & Fishponds areas of Bristol. The church does not currently own any buildings, and hires rooms in Bradley Stoke Community School, the Elmgrove Centre and Chester Park School for Sunday and midweek meetings as well as an office space at Fenton Court. The staff team comprised five full time staff and 4/5 part time staff including a new trainee pastor role (2 year contract).
The overall vision of the church is ‘Helping Bristol believe’, and we aim to do this in three key ways: **reaching** the whole of Bristol with the Gospel (the Good News of Jesus); **restoring** broken lives and serving the city; and **resourcing** sites and cities by training and developing leaders. These aims are fully in keeping with, and map onto, our formal charitable objectives as detailed below.
With respect to the charity's objectives, the following summarises the activities of the church.
## **a) Advance the Christian Faith (reaching Bristol with the Gospel)** The church
continues to meet regularly, both on Sundays and mid-week, for worship, prayer and teaching on the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith and their practical application to everyday living. Each week, we see between 330 & 420 people joining and praying across Bristol.
The primary responsibility for the Sunday teaching rests with the salaried pastors of the church, but other ‘lay’ and visiting preachers participate in this role.
Midweek Connect Groups continue to help the community life of our church flourish. A change from the previous year, Connect Group leaders were asked to commit to a whole year of running rather than a termly cycle. Over the year, there have been 11 sermon series based midweek groups and 9 alternative groups, including a board game social group, support groups for mental health and exercise groups. As well as fellowship groups, we continued to train new and existing leaders, providing coaching sessions on pastoral care and leading groups both in personal and online.
At the Bradley Stoke site, the congregation continues to grow numerically on Sundays. In December there were successful double Carol Services in Bradley Stoke, in the new year a 12 week course helping people with their mental wellbeing (Kintsugi Hope), and in the spring an 8 week Alpha course and Easter Egg Hunt for over 250 children. All these events attracted people from the local community as well people who connect regularly with City Church.
At the Cotham site, there has been a fantastic year for growth where 7 people have been baptised. There were a number of successful community events at Christmas and Easter, bringing over 40 non-church guests as well as building relationships with other local causes.
The Fishponds site has had the most change over this year. With a change in
Page 3
leadership, the number in attendance on Sundays has fallen from consistently 65-75 weekly to 40-65 weekly. There have been 4 baptisms at the site.
## **CHILDREN’S MINISTRY**
The 0-11 age provision has continued to steadily grow in number. In City Kids, for children aged 5–11, each site has been able to provide a fun and safe environment to learn about God and build friendships. A few highlights from this year include: teaching a new curriculum that helps children understand how the big story of the Bible fits together and points to Jesus, and termly parties that provide an opportunity for children to invite their friends to church.
This year we have engaged with new families and children, further developing ways of engaging children holistically: through listening, watching, games, music and crafts, and training new team members to support the ministry. We are also looking at how we can better support those with additional needs, for example through visual aids and social stories.
## **YOUTH**
Sunday Youth has had its largest numbers in attendance since before the pandemic across all sites. At Bradley Stoke, there has been organic growth from between 7-16 attendees to 12-25 and have had 6 professing their faith in baptism. There have also been moments for guests to give their testimonies in "real lives, real stories". A youth Alpha course has run as well as a Bible study looking at Jesus' life in Luke. At Cotham there have also been 6 baptisms of youth and 3 at Fishponds.
On Fridays in term time, Youth meet together with their youth leaders for fellowship and Bible study.
In March, 60 youth and leaders went for a weekend away at Hill House Christian Centre. This was followed in August when 70 youth and leaders camped for a week at the Newday youth festival in East Anglia.This was the largest group to attend from Bristol so far.
## **OUR CITY (students and young adults)**
This year focussed particularly on discipleship as the group have been meeting bi-weekly. A weekend away occurred at Heatree House with just under 50 in attendance. We've seen students and young adults deepen their relationship with Jesus and step out into new opportunities.
## **LITTLE ELMS**
In addition to weekly Sunday and midweek meetings, the church runs regular activities to help share the Christian faith whilst serving the community. The church runs a stay-and-play toddler morning, Little Elms, every Wednesday during term time
Page 4
at The Elmgrove Centre, which has had a fantastic year. The vast majority of attendees are not from City Church and are drawn from parents, childminders or grandparents from the local community. Each week, there are between 30 and 50 children in attendance with their caregivers.
## **EASTER & CHRISTMAS**
As the key festivals in the Christian calendar, Christmas and Easter provide a fantastic opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with our local communities, and welcome those who may not normally attend church to our services. At Easter 2024, the church hosted Easter Egg hunts for local families in Cotham and Bradley Stoke which were each well attended. The Cotham site ran the popular Christmas Pudding making evening which was attended by more than 70 guests, the majority of whom were not members of our church.
## **ALPHA:**
Two Alpha courses ran this year, in the spring, hosted by the Bradley Stoke and Cotham sites which were attended by 30 people.
## **b) Relieve the Poor, Needy, Sick and Aged (restoring broken lives and serving the City)**
We have been able to make our office and meeting space available to other organisations for training events this year. Home for Good champions have had their termly meetings in this space, as well as Safe Families volunteer training and hosting trustee meetings for other partner organisations.
## **STREETLIFE:**
Street Life continues to reach out to the homeless and vulnerably housed with meals and clothing. The number of guests has steadily increased over the year from 50 to more than 100 people weekly. There have been a lot of new people, including asylum seekers, who were housed in local hotels. The number of asylum seekers reached 50 people, including children: boosting our numbers to more than 150 people. We have successfully signposted asylum seekers to specialist provision during the year, to better suit their needs. The team is composed of volunteers from City Church, various other churches, and from the wider community, including Scout groups & local community groups.
## **ENCOUNTER:**
Over the past year, Encounter has become a Bible study group for those who connect with us and a separate outreach to Logos House, a large Salvation Army hostel in central Bristol. We took 12 people to a week-long camp in July providing
Page 5
people with a safe place to have a holiday and experience good advice on staying spiritually healthy and avoiding the dangers of addiction and poor mental wellbeing.
## **HARDSHIP:**
The church holds a Hardship Fund, and from time to time provides financial support to church members in need. This may be in the form of food vouchers, purchasing essential items, or subsidising the cost of attending events.
## **PASTORAL CARE:**
We place a high value on friendship and supportive relationships, as shown in the ‘one-anothering’ passages in the New Testament. We encourage everyone who calls City Church home to participate in the community life of the church. We recognise that there are some situations where church members, or those closely connected to the church, require a greater level of care or support than can be reasonably provided by their friends within the church. The church has developed a Pastoral Care Team, which is a network of people who can provide pastoral care for more challenging situations such as serious illness, hospital admission, bereavement, or marriage breakdown. Provided pastoral care may include meeting regularly for a time, prayer support, recommended resources, or signposting to external agencies.
## **PARTNERSHIPS:**
As a church we have several charities that we partner with. For example, with Sixty-one we provided finance and practical support for their Christmas prisoners present initiative and with Beloved we organise a holiday away for their clients. Simon Allen is a trustee with Turnaround Bristol, a day centre for homeless and vulnerable people.
## **c) Advance Education (resourcing)**
The church continues to develop leaders to help start services and ministries that will serve people in Bristol, and to plant churches beyond Bristol. In March 2023 the church had one of its largest ever gift days to raise money to partly fund a new trainee pastor. From September 2023, Christian Cunningham started a two-year training program. We have continued a leadership development programme for people who want to learn leadership skills and gain experience that they can apply both in the church and in their own working lives - 10 people took part in this during the reporting period. In Summer 2024 Christian Cunningham, James Lee & Ben Welchman completed their Masters in Scripture and Theology.
Beyond Bristol, we have continued to support the Emmanuel Church Belfast plant, both financially and with in-person visits. Churches in Exmouth, Sidmouth, Bath and
Page 6
Swindon have also been supported by visits from Church Leadership.
## **Charitable Objects**
The Trustees consider that the church continues to meet the objectives set out in the CIO’s constitution, and have complied with the duty to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission in December 2008.
The church would not be able to provide a wide range of services to beneficiaries without the continued support of a large number of willing supporters who give their time and skills voluntarily.
## **Financial Review**
The CIO is financially dependent on the voluntary support of the church members.
Incoming and expended resources are reflected in the Statement of Financial Activities. All of the CIO’s assets were employed directly in pursuing the CIO’s charitable objective.
Unrestricted voluntary income (included associated Gift Aid) during the year totalled £570,735. Most of the income was from gifts from church members, supporters and associated gift aid receipts. Unrestricted expenditure for the year totalled £557,003 (2023: £532,047) resulting in a surplus for the year of £13,732 (2023:surplus £73,195). Total funds at the year end totalled £568,384,which included restricted funds of £98,636.
We received £54,775 in gifts and reclaimed gift aid from a Gift Day in March 2024. This income has been designated to be used for a trainee pastor scheme in 2024/2025 and towards our new buildings fund.
The **New Venue Fund** holds gifts given with the restriction that they be expended on activities related to identifying, purchasing or developing buildings for core church activities within Bristol.
The **City Hands Fund** holds funds received from grants and donations given to support the work of our social action project City Hands, and the Fund continues to be expended.
## **Grants Policy**
City Church Bristol is part of the Commission family of churches and has links with other churches within the UK and overseas. No specific proportion of our income or expenditure is set aside for grants, but the CIO will make gifts to individuals and/or other charitable organisations where finances allow and where the supported work aligns with our charitable objectives.
Page 7
## **Reserves Policy**
Salaries of permanent staff form the largest single component of church expenditure. The Trustees aim to hold reserves equal to approximately three months’ salary expenditure; this was achieved throughout this reporting period.
## **Risk Policy**
From the beginning of the CIO’s existence in April 2014, in order to establish good practice, the Trustees and church Eldership have implemented a variety of systems, measures and control procedures to manage the risks to which the charity might be exposed. These are kept under regular review, with systems in place to mitigate the major risks. It is recognised that improvement of the measures in place is an ongoing activity and various actions were taken over the period covered by this report to address identified deficiencies.
## **Investment Powers**
The CIO constitution authorises the Trustees to make and hold investments using the general funds of the charity, but no such investments are held currently.
## **Statement of Trustees Responsibilities**
Charity law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year that give a true and fair view of the state of the charity and of its income and expenditure for the year.
In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view the Trustees follow best practice and:
a) Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
b) Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and
## prudent;
c) State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures being disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
d) Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
Page 8
## **Approval**
This report was approved by the Trustees and is signed on their behalf by:
## nick todd
nick todd (Jun 19, 2025 16:33 GMT+1)
N.D. Todd, Chair of Trustees
Date: Jun 19, 2025
Page 9
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **CITY CHURCH BRISTOL ('the Charity')**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 August 2024 on pages 11 to 21 following, which have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out on pages 14 to 15.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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**
Since the Charity’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 in England and Wales, 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 Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do 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.
Sarah Crispin
Sarah Crispin (Jun 20, 2025 15:38 GMT+1)
Sarah Crispin ACA Intitute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB
Date: Jun 20, 2025
Page 10
## **CITY CHURCH BRISTOL**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024**
|Note
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Investments
Other income
**Total income and endowments**
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
Charitable activities
5
**Total expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
12
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**
12|Unrestricted
Funds
£
550,314
19,814
607
-
570,735
557,003
557,003
13,732
-
13,732
456,016
469,748|Restricted
Funds
£
31,997
-
-
-
31,997
30,817
30,817
1,180
-
1,180
97,456
98,636|Total
Funds
2024
£
582,311
19,814
607
-
602,732
587,820
587,820
14,912
-
14,912
553,473
568,384|Total
Funds
2023
£
623,809
16,977
430
248|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||641,463|
|||||541,291|
|||||541,291|
|||||100,172
-|
|||||100,172
453,301|
|||||553,472|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing operations.
The notes on page 14-20 form part of these accounts.
Page 11
## **CITY CHURCH BRISTOL**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## **AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024**
|Note
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
7
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
8
Cash at bank and in hand
9
**CREDITORS: Amounts falling**
**due within one year**
10
**Net current assets / (liabilities)**
**TOTAL NET ASSETS**
**FUND BALANCES**
12
Unrestricted Funds
General funds
Designated funds
Restricted Funds|Unrestricted
Funds
£
5,122
5,122
20,308
459,955
480,263
(15,636)
464,627
469,748
322,307
147,442
469,748
-
469,748|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
967
98,918
99,884
(1,248)
98,636
98,636
-
-
-
98,636
98,636|Total
Funds
2024
£
5,122
5,122
21,275
558,872
580,147
(16,885)
563,262
568,384
322,307
147,442
469,748
98,636
568,384|Total
Funds
2023
£
3,647|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||3,647|
|||||17,761
549,530|
|||||567,291
(17,465)|
|||||549,826|
||||||
|||||553,473|
|||||346,237
109,779|
|||||456,016
97,456|
|||||553,473|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and were signed on its behalf by:
nick todd nick todd (Jun 19, 2025 16:33 GMT+1) --------------------------------------N.D. Todd (Chair of Trustees) Jun 19, 2025 Date: ___________________
Charity number: 1156712
The notes on page 14-20 form part of these accounts.
Page 12
## **CITY CHURCH BRISTOL**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024**
## **CASH FLOW STATEMENT**
|Note
2024
£
**Cash flows from operating activities:**
**_Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities_**
a
14,276
**Cash flows from investing activities:**
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(4,934)
**_Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities_**
(4,934)
9,342
b
549,530
b
558,872
**Analysis of changes in net debt:**
At start of
year
Cash-flows
£
£
Cash
549,530
9,342
Total net funds / (debt)
549,530
9,342
**Note a: Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities**
2024
£
14,912
**Adjustments for:**
Depreciation charges and provisions for impairment
3,459
Loss/(profit) on the sale of fixed assets
-
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
(3,514)
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
(581)
**_Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities_**
14,276
**Note b: Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**
2024
£
Cash at bank with immediate access
473,872
**Total cash and cash equivalents**
558,872
**_Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period (as per the statement of financial_**
**_activities)_**
**Cash and equivalents at the beginning of the year**
**_Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year_**
**_Change in cash and equivalents in the reporting period_**|2023
£
106,803|
|---|---|
||(1,619)|
||(1,619)|
||105,184
444,346|
||549,530|
||At end of
year
£
558,873|
||558,873|
||2023
£
100,172
4,082
-
12,487
(9,937)|
||106,803|
||2023
£
549,530|
||549,530|
Page 13
**CITY CHURCH BRISTOL**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024**
## **1 Statutory Information**
The charity is a charitable incorporated organisation registered with the Charity Commission in England & Wales. The charity's registered number and principal address can be found on the Charity Information page.
## **2 Accounting Policies**
These financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, under the historical cost convention.
These financial statements have been prepared 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) ("the Charities SORP"), with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland ("FRS 102") and with the Charities Act 2011. The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity as set out in FRS 102.
The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (the '2008 Regulations') requires charities to prepare their accounts in accordance with 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005' but this accounting standard has since been withdrawn and has been replaced by the Charities SORP mentioned in the preceding paragraph. The charity has prepared these financial statements in accordance with the new Charities SORP; this departure from the 2008 Regulations is believed to be necessary for these financial statements to give a 'true and fair view'.
The principles adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below.
## a) Going concern
The trustees 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.
## b) Income
Income including investment income is recognised in the period in which the charity becomes entitled to receipt, the amount receivable can be measured with reasonable certainty, and receipt is probable. For the most part, income is generally recognised when it is received. Income is only deferred when the charity has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor has specified that the income is to be expended in a future period.
Income from donations includes:
i) Recoverable gift aid. This is recognised when the related donation is received. Gift aid that has not been recovered by the balance sheet date is included as a debtor.
The charity relies on volunteers to carry out many of its activities. However, in accordance with the SORP, the value of these services has not been included in these financial statements as they cannot be reliably measured.
Income from charitable activities represents income receivable from goods, services and facilities supplied in furtherance of the charity's charitable objects. It includes income from consultancy and church activities and events.
The charity has taken the view that it has only one charitable activity, namely the advancement of the Christian faith, and all income from donations, legacies and charitable activities is in respect of this one activity.
## c) Expenditure
Expenditure, including irrecoverable VAT, is recognised when it is incurred or, if earlier, when a legal or constructive obligation for a payment arises provided that it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
The charity makes grants to other institutions and individuals to further its charitable objectives. Grants payable are recognised as constructive obligations arise, which is generally when the charity expresses a commitment to the recipient that can be measured reliably and then only to the extent that any conditions associated with the grant are outside of the control of the charity.
The cost of raising funds is not significant and has not been separately disclosed.
The Charities SORP requires charities with income over £500,000 to allocate costs to the various activities undertaken by the charity. The nature of the work of the church is considered to be so integrated that the core charitable activity costs are considered to be for the one activity.
Governance costs, which are included in expenditure on charitable activities but are identified separately in the notes to the accounts, includes costs associated with the independent examination of the financial statements, compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements and any other expenditure incurred on the strategic management of the charity.
Page 14
## **CITY CHURCH BRISTOL**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024**
## **2 Accounting Policies (cont.)**
## d) Fund accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects. Endowment funds are donations that are retained as capital in accordance with the donor's wishes. The nature of the restriction determines whether the endowments represent permanent endowments or expendable endowments.
## e) Tangible fixed assets
Items purchased or donated for the charity's own use are capitalised when the cost of purchased items, or the fair value of donated items, is more than £1,000 and the item is expected to benefit the charity over more than one accounting period. Depreciation is charged on a straight line basis so as to write down the value of each asset to its estimated residual value (if any) over its expected useful economic life. To achieve this objective the following rates of depreciation are charged:
## Equipment Over 3 to 7 years
The carrying values of tangible fixed assets are reviewed for impairment in periods when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.
## f) Pension scheme arrangements
The charity operates defined contribution pension schemes for its employees. Obligations for contributions to these schemes are recognised as an expense when the liability arises. The assets of these schemes are held separately from those of the charity in independently administered funds.
## g) Taxation
The charity has taken advantage of the various reliefs from taxation available to charities and no tax is payable on the charity's income.
## h) Financial instruments
The charity's financial assets and financial liabilities all qualify as basic financial instruments, as defined by FRS102. Except for loans, creditors and debtors are measured at their expected settlement value (normally the amount of cash that the charity expects to pay or receive). The charity recognises liabilities for the principal of those loans that remains outstanding at the year end (i.e. the liabilities exclude any interest chargeable on the loans in future years).
## i) Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement
The trustees do not consider that there are 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.
## **3 Donations**
|Donations of cash and similar
Grants receivable
Income tax recoverable|2024
£
474,570
4,240
103,501
582,311|2023
£
516,379
-
107,430
623,809|
|---|---|---|
## **4 Income from charitable activities**
|Church activities and events
Consultancy income|2024
£
17,814
2,000
19,814|2023
£
12,362
4,614
16,977|
|---|---|---|
Page 15
## **CITY CHURCH BRISTOL**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024**
## **5 Charitable expenditure**
|**a**
**Costs incurred directly on specific activities**
Staff Costs
Staff expenses
Teaching and pastoral
Evangelism and outreach
Student, youth and children's work
Church Support
Room hire
Other meeting costs
Commission Festival
Grants payable (note 6c)
**b**
**Costs incurred on support & administration**
Governance costs
Independent examiner's fee
Other
Office and building running costs
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
Other costs
**Total expenditure**|2024
£
328,136
1,142
16,870
19,470
23,930
3,132
71,743
23,846
7,366
495,635
41,834
537,468
3,960
3,279
7,239
38,546
3,459
1,108
50,352
587,820|2023
£
296,245
1,058
15,326
19,186
13,995
-
72,010
20,408
3,330
441,557
54,376
495,932
3,840
1,005
4,845
35,712
4,082
720
45,359
541,291|
|---|---|---|
In addition to the fees payable for the preparation and examination of the accounts, the charity paid £1,472 (2023: £1,427) to Stewardship for payroll bureau and consultancy services
## **c Grants payable**
|Grants for UK and overseas mission
Grants for the relief of poverty
The comparatives for the previous year are as follows:
Grants for UK and overseas mission
Grants for the relief of poverty
The charity's principal grants to institutions comprised:
Anthem Church Leicester
Commission
George Muller Charitable Trust
Newday
Bridges for Communities
Home for Good
Grants to institutions for less than £1,000 each|Institutions
£
38,493
3,340
41,834
Institutions
£
53,288
1,088
54,376|Individuals
£
-
-
-
Individuals
£
-
-
-
2024
£
14,000
20,493
1,690
2,000
1,000
1,100
1,550
41,834|2024
£
38,493
3,340
41,834
2023
£
53,288
1,088
54,376
2023
£
30000
22,788
1,000
-
-
-
588
54,376|
|---|---|---|---|
Page 16
## **CITY CHURCH BRISTOL**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024**
## **6 Analysis of staff costs, the cost of key management personnel and trustee remuneration**
|Gross wages and salaries
Social security
Pension costs|2024
£
258,123
20,603
22,540
301,266|2023
£
255,635
19,698
17,912
293,245|
|---|---|---|
The average monthly number of employees during the year was 10.25 (2023:9.7). Most of the charity's activities are carried out by volunteers.
No staff received salaries at a rate of more than £60,000 per annum.
During the year key management received employment benefits totalling £155,475 (2023: £145,908).
## **7 Tangible fixed assets**
|Cost
At 1 September 2023
Additions
Disposals
At 31 August 2024
Accumulated depreciation
At 1 September 2023
Charge for the year
Eliminated on disposal
At 31 August 2024
Net book value
At 31 August 2024
At 31 August 2023
**8**
**Debtors**
**Falling due within one year:**
Tax recoverable
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
**9**
**Cash at Bank and in Hand**
Cash at bank with immediate access
Notice deposits|Fixtures,
fittings and
equipment
£
22,571
4,934
-
27,505
18,923
3,459
-
22,383
5,122
3,647
2024
£
7,817
3,442
10,015
21,275
2024
£
473,872
85,000
558,872|Total
2024
£
22,571
4,934
-
27,505
18,923
3,459
-
22,383
5,122
3,647
2023
£
6,479
1,400
9,882
17,761
2023
£
549,530
-
549,530|
|---|---|---|
Page 17
## **CITY CHURCH BRISTOL**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024**
## **10 Creditors: liabilities falling due within one year**
|Trade creditors
Other creditors
Accruals|2024
£
9,161
410
7,313
16,885|2023
£
6,094
1,421
9,950
17,465|
|---|---|---|
## **11 Pension commitments**
During the year employer’s pension contributions totalling £20,970 (2023: £17,912) were payable to defined contribution personal pension schemes.
## **12 Funds**
During the year the movements in the charity's funds were as follows:
|_Designated Funds_
Leadership Development and
Buildings
_General Unrestricted Funds_
Total Unrestricted Funds
_Restricted Funds_
New venue fund
City Hands
Fishponds Site
Streetlife
Green Pastures
Anthem Church Leicester
Social Action Fund
Trainee Pastor Fund
Other restricted funds
Aggregate of funds|Opening
balance
2024
£
109,779
109,779
346,237
456,016
43,232
1,472
366
18,616
3,375
10,317
5,000
12,500
2,578
97,456
553,472|Incoming
resources
2024
£
52,776
52,776
517,960
570,735
6,073
-
-
3,118
1,500
10,635
-
-
10,671
31,997
602,732|Outgoing
resources
2024
£
(26,808)
(26,808)
(530,195)
(557,003)
-
(140)
(116)
(6,969)
-
(14,000)
-
-
(9,593)
(30,817)
(587,820)|Transfers
in the year
2024
£
11,695
11,695
(11,695)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Gains and
losses
2024
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Closing
balance
2024
£
147,442
147,442
322,307
469,748
49,304
1,332
250
14,765
4,875
6,953
5,000
12,500
3,656
98,636
568,384|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
## **Analysis of net assets by fund**
The assets and liabilities of the various funds were as follows:
|Tangible fixed assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors falling due within one year|General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
5,122
-
19,788
520
313,033
146,922
(15,636)
-
322,307
147,442
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
funds
£
-
967
98,918
(1,248)
98,636|2024
£
5,122
21,275
558,872
(16,885)
568,384|
|---|---|---|---|
Page 18
## **CITY CHURCH BRISTOL**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024**
## **12 Funds (cont.)**
In the previous year the movements in the charity's funds were as follows:
|Opening
balance
2023
£
_Designated Funds_
Anthem Church Leicester
30,000
Leadership Development and Building
-
30,000
_General Unrestricted Funds_
352,821
_Total Unrestricted Funds_
382,821
_Restricted Funds_
New venue fund
38,194
City Hands
1,936
Fishponds Site
1,647
Mozambique training
141
Streetlife
15,385
Green Pastures
1,875
Anthem Church Leicester
5,647
Social Action Fund
5,000
Trainee Pastor Fund
-
Other restricted funds
655
70,479
_Aggregate of funds_
453,301|Incoming
resources
2023
£
-
-
-
604,462
604,462
5,038
-
-
-
7,447
1,500
6,606
-
12,500
3,911
37,001
641,463|Outgoing
resources
2023
£
(30,000)
-
(30,000)
(502,047)
(532,047)
-
(464)
(1,281)
-
(4,216)
-
(1,936)
-
-
(1,348)
(9,244)
(541,291)|Transfers
in the year
2023
£
-
109,779
109,779
(108,999)
781
-
-
(141)
-
-
-
-
-
(640)
(781)
-|Gains and
losses
2023
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Closing
balance
2023
£
-
109,779
109,779
346,237
456,016
43,232
1,472
366
-
18,616
3,375
10,317
5,000
12,500
2,578
97,456
553,472|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
## _**Analysis of net assets by fund**_
In the previous year, the assets and liabilities of the various funds were as follows:
|Tangible fixed assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors falling due within one year|General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
3,647
-
15,003
-
345,053
109,779
(17,465)
-
346,237
109,779
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
funds
£
-
2,758
94,699
-
97,456|2023
£
3,647
17,761
549,530
(17,465)
553,473|
|---|---|---|---|
The New Venue fund holds gifts given for activities related to identifying, purchasing or developing buildings for core church The City Hands fund is for grants and donations given to support the work of our social action project City Hands. The Fishponds Site fund is set aside towards the set up costs of establishing a third site of City Church in east Bristol. The Mozambique training fund is to support our partnership with Ebenezer Agricultural College, Nampula, Mozambique.
The Streetlife fund is set aside to cover the ongoing running costs of providing food, clothing and supplies every Saturday evening in Bristol City Centre.
The Green Pastures fund is for monies directly donated toward the establishment of a house run and supported by City Church to home the vulnerable.
The Anthem Church Leicester fund is for monies donated towards an associated church plant in Leicester. The Social Action Fund is for grant monies received towards our social action initiatives. The Trainee Pastor Fund is for a trainee pastor at the Bradley Stoke site.
Other restricted funds includes one-off gifts given for specific causes in line with our charitable objectives and hardship funds.
Page 19
## **CITY CHURCH BRISTOL**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024**
## **13 Operating lease commitments**
The charity has an operating lease for its church office. The minimum amount payable (until the next break clause and ignoring the potential effect of future rent reviews) in respect of this lease is as follows:
|Within one year
Between one and five years
After five years
Payments falling due:|2024
£
21,857
12,750
-
34,606|2023
£
6,777
-
-
6,777|
|---|---|---|
During the year the charity was charged £21,348 (2023: £20,331) for its operating lease.
## **14 Transactions with related parties**
During the year the charity:
- a) received donations totalling £32,604 (2023: £40,383) from related parties (which includes trustees, any other members of key management and anyone closely connected to them).
- b) paid £2,776 for a weekend away for Trustees and Leaders including Key Staff.
During the year the charity also made the following payments to, or for, related parties:
- a) Sarah Todd, who is married to Nicholas Todd, a trustee, received employment benefits totalling £7,734 (2023: £6,098) for providing administrative services to the charity.
Except as disclosed in note 6 'Analysis of staff costs', there have been no other transactions with related parties during the year.
Page 20
## **CITY CHURCH BRISTOL**
## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES WITH COMPARATIVES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024**
|Note
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Investments
Other income
**Total income and endowments**
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
Charitable activities:
5
**Total Expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
12
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**
12||General
Designated
2024
2024
£
£
497,539
52,776
19,814
-
607
-
-
-
517,960
52,776
530,195
26,808
530,195
26,808
(12,235)
25,967
(11,695)
11,695
(23,930)
37,662
346,237
109,779
322,307
147,442
Unrestricted funds|Restricted
2024
£
31,997
-
-
-
31,997
30,817
30,817
1,180
-
1,180
97,456
98,636|Total
2024
£
582,311
19,814
607
-
602,732
587,820
587,820
14,912
-
14,912
553,472
568,384|||General
Designated
2023
2023
£
£
586,808
-
16,977
-
430
-
248
-
604,462
-
502,047
30,000
502,047
30,000
102,414
(30,000)
(108,999)
109,779
(6,584)
79,779
352,821
30,000
346,237
109,779
Unrestricted funds|Restricted
2023
£
37,001
-
-
-
37,001
9,244
9,244
27,758
(781)
26,977
70,479
97,456|Total
2023
£
623,809
16,977
430
248
641,463
541,291
541,291
100,172
-
100,172
453,301
553,472|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 21