
## **Trustees' Annual Report for the period** 

Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year **From** 1st January 2023 **To** 31st December 2023 

## Section A                        Reference and administration details 

**Charity name Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any)** 1157857 **Charity's principal address** Ipswich Street Stowmarket Suffolk **Postcode IP14 1AD** 

Stowmarket United Reformed Church 

**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** 

|1.<br> <br>2<br>3<br>4<br>5<br>6<br>7<br>8<br>9<br>11<br>12<br>13<br>14<br>15<br>16<br>17<br>18|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not**<br>**for whole year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**<br>**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||The Revd Robert<br>Sheard|Chair||Church Meeting|
||Mr Brian Hewitt|Secretary|From 1stJuly 2023|Church Meeting|
||Miss Anne Scarff|Treasurer||Church Meeting|
||Mrs MaryDurrant|||Church Meeting|
||Mrs Janet Webb|||Church Meeting|
||Mrs Helen Freeman|||Church Meeting|
||Mr John Webb|||Church Meeting|
||Mrs Jane Gurney|||Church Meeting|
||Mrs Margaret Jackson|||Church Meeting|
||Mrs Joyce Gardiner|||Church Meeting|
||Mrs Lois Muller|||Church Meeting|
||Mr Keith Scarff|||Church Meeting|
||Mrs Linda Baxter|||Church Meeting|
||Mrs Monika Sudirgo|||Church Meeting|
||Mrs Pauline Gosling|||Church Meeting|
||Mrs Irene Martin||Until 27thNov 2023|Church Meeting|
||Mrs Michaela Farmer|||Church Meeting|
||Mrs Margaret Clarke|||Church Meeting|



**Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)** 

||**Name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**|
|---|---|---|
||Eastern Synod URC||
||||



**TAR** 

March **2012** 

1 



|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**<br>**Type of adviser**<br>**Name**<br>**Address**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**<br>**Type of adviser**<br>**Name**<br>**Address**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**<br>**Type of adviser**<br>**Name**<br>**Address**|
|---|---|---|
|**Independent examiner**|Matthew Aldous|Matthew Aldous, 5 Market Place, Stowmarket, Suffolk|
|||Ip14 1DT|
|**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**|||
||||



## **Section B              Structure, governance and management** 

## **Description of the charity’s trusts** 

Type of governing document Constitution 

- (eg. trust deed, constitution) 

How the charity is constituted Trust (eg. trust, association, company) 

Trustee selection methods Elected by Church Members at Church Meeting. (eg. appointed by, elected by) 

## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)** 

You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about: 

- policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees; 

- the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works; 

- relationship with any related parties; 

- trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them. 

Activities of the church are overseen by the Elders’ Meeting of the Church in accordance with the provisions of The Structure of the United Reformed Church determined by the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church and supplemented by the Stowmarket URC constitution. 

The Elders’ Meeting is responsible for the financial administration of the Church, the care and maintenance of Church premises and the manse. The Elders report to the Church Meeting (all church members are entitled to attend) which has overall decision making and gives general guidance on the life and work of the Church. 

Groups (Buildings, Finance, Ministry and Social/Outreach with Fundraising) look at aspects of church matters and report to the Elders meeting. 

The Finance Group review financial practice using guidance from Charity Commission.  A Financial review was held in November 2023 based on cc8. 

The Elders of the church are Church Members and Trustees.  Elders normally serve a 3year period and then are able to be re-nominated.  All Elders, and therefore Trustees, are nominated by Church Members and elected at a Church Meeting. 

The Minister is a Trustee and is the Chair of the Trustees. 

The Church is a congregation of the United Reformed Church. 

**TAR** 

March **2012** 

2 



All major insurable risks are subject to normal churches’ and employees’ insurance. 

An annual review of the Safeguarding policy is carried out. 

## **Section C                    Objectives and activities** 

|**Summary of the objects of the**<br>**charity set out in its**<br>**governing document**<br>**Summary of the main**<br>**activities undertaken for the**<br>**public benefit in relation to**<br>**these objects (include within**<br>**this section the statutory**<br>**declaration that trustees have**<br>**had regard to the guidance**<br>**issued by the Charity**<br>**Commission on public**<br>**benefit)**|The object of the Charity is the advancement of the Christian faith for the benefit<br>of the public in accordance with the Scheme of Union of the United Reformed<br>Church.|
|---|---|
||The Trustees have regard to the guidance by the Charity Commission on<br>Public Benefit.<br>The Charity is a Public benefit Entity - we are set up to benefit the<br>general public.<br>Our activities include:<br>Providing regular public worship for all.<br>Promoting the Christian Faith.<br>Teaching the faith to all ages.<br>Providing training, nurture and activities for children and young people.<br>Serving the community.<br>Giving pastoral care and support to members and others in need,<br>particularly those in sickness, distress or poverty.<br>Providing premises and resources for community groups and activities.<br>We are not aware of any detriment or harm resulting from the<br>implementation of our purposes.<br>We have one Trustee who is employed by the church as an<br>Administrator.  The role pre-dates her appointment as Trustee.<br>Our Minister is paid expenses incurred in the fulfilment of his ministry.<br>Otherwise, no Trustee benefitted from work at the church and there were<br>no personal benefits paid to Trustees.<br>.|



**TAR** 

March **2012** 

3 



**Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)** 

You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about: 

We rely on volunteers for our activities.  In addition to Bible study and coffee mornings they also run our Fundraising activities. 

- policy on grantmaking; 

- policy programme related investment; 

We do not offer grants. 

We regularly review our finances to maximise them. 

- contribution made by volunteers. 

## Section D                      Achievements and performance 

We provided regular Public Worship for all. The worship is led by trained **Summary of the main** ministers, or lay people who adhere to the central messages of the Christian **achievements of the charity** faith. We continue to offer our services on Zoom. **during the year** We promoted the Christian faith. We taught the Faith to all ages through Services, Meetings, Bible study groups, and Children’s Activities.  Children’s activities include: Family Church, “Messy Church” and “Open the Book”, the latter involves a group from the Church enacting Bible stories at one of the local Primary Schools. 

We served the Community by providing opportunities for quiet reflection when we were able to do so.  We provided a location for baptisms, weddings and funeral services, irrespective of whether the individuals have strong Christian beliefs, or not. We supported the Stowmarket Food Bank. We provided a venue for a Charity Christmas Day dinner. . We provide opportunities for the community to come together over refreshments. Our coffee mornings are warm spaces available to the community. We continued to give pastoral care and support to members and others in need, particularly those in sickness, distress, or poverty We provided premises and resources for community groups and activities. The Church allowed a Dance School, Choirs, U3A, and other organisations to use part(s) of the church premises. Organisations hired part of the premises for a variety of events and activities. A number of Concerts have been held on our premises. Fundraising events for Church funds are also held. Some Charity enterprises were offered facilities free of charge or at a reduced rate. 

**TAR** 

March **2012** 

4 



## **Section E                    Financial review** 

**Brief statement of the** 

## **charity’s policy on reserves** 

We retain £10,000 in our accounts as reserves to meet unexpected demands of a general nature. Designated funds are held for :Growth; Improvement; Projects; Building; Commitment for Life; Organ; and Pirmasens. In addition we have historic Restricted funds for Local Needs Benevolent; Coupland; Foord; 

**Details of any funds materially in deficit** 

NONE 

## **Further financial review details (Optional information)** 

The principal sources of income are through free will offerings, hire of premises and fundraising. 

You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant about: 

A proportion of our income (approx. 1/3[rd] ) is used exclusively for Ministry and Mission within the wider URC. 

- the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising); 

We use TSB and CAF banks. 

- how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity; 

- the key objectives of the charity; For 2023 Income was £88764 and expenditure £104875.  A number of 

- • investment policy and repairs to the building and the boiler; the increase in oil prices; and the need for professional help with Finances resulted in Reserves being 

- objectives including any ethical used. 

- investment policy adopted. 

## **Section F                     Other optional information** 

During the year we appointed a new Secretary. 

Despite a loss in income we are a going concern. 

## **Section G                    Declaration** 

**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** 

**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** 

**Signature(s)** 

**Full name(s)** Anne Maureen Scarff 

**Position (eg Secretary, Chair,** Treasurer **etc) Date** 31/3/2024 

**TAR** 

March **2012** 

5 




## **Stowmarket URC Charity, Registered Charity No 1157857 Stowmarket United Reformed Church** 

## **Ipswich Street** 

## **Stowmarket** 

**Suffolk, IP14 1AD** 

## **End of Year Financial Statements** 

**Year ending 31[st] December 2023** 

## **Accounts based on Accrual Accounting FRS102 SORP 2015** 

**The accounts are prepared in accordance with Charity Law** 

**January 2024** 



## **The United Reformed Church Stowmarket - 1157857** 

## **Statement of Financial Activities** 

## **For the period from 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023** 

||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Endowment**|**Total**|**Prior year**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**total funds**|
|**_Income and endowments from:_**||||||
|Donations and legacies|41,841|90|—|41,931|41,354|
|Other trading activities|22,308|—|—|22,308|18,794|
|Investments|5,709|—|—|5,709|4,605|
|Other income|18,815|—|—|18,815|24,547|
|**Total income**|**88,674**|**90**|**—**|**88,764**|**89,301**|
|**_Expenditure on:_**||||||
|Raising funds|137|—|—|137|—|
|Expenditure on charitable activities|52,638|381|—|53,019|48,241|
|Other expenditure|51,718|—|—|51,718|58,280|
|**Total expenditure**|**104,493**|**381**|**—**|**104,875**|**106,521**|
|**Net income / (expenditure) resources before transfer**|**(15,818)**|**(291)**|**—**|**(16,110)**|**(17,219)**|
|**_Transfers_**||||||
|Gross transfers between funds - in|4,538|—|—|4,538|5|
|Gross transfers between funds - out|(4,538)|—|—|(4,538)|(5)|
|**_Other recognised gains / losses_**||||||
|**Net movement in funds**|**(15,818)**|**(291)**|**—**|**(16,110)**|**(17,219)**|
|**_Reconciliation of funds_**||||||
|**Total funds brought forward**|**164,189**|**11,672**|**—**|**175,861**|**193,081**|
|**Total funds carried forward**|**148,370**|**11,381**|**—**|**159,751**|**175,861**|



**Statement of Cashflows has not been included, as they are not required due to thresholds.** 

**There are no related party transactions** 

_**There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown**_ 

Page 1a 



## **The United Reformed Church Stowmarket - 1157857** 

## **Statement of Financial Activities** 

## **For the period from 01 January 2022 to 31 December 2022** 

||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Endowment**|**Total**|**Prior year**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**total funds**|
|**_Income and endowments from:_**||||||
|Donations and legacies|41,343|11|—|41,354|40,970|
|Other trading activities|18,794|—|—|18,794|10,055|
|Investments|4,605|—|—|4,605|4,181|
|Other income|23,906|—|—|23,906|28,379|
|**Total income**|**88,650**|**11**|**—**|**88,661**|**83,586**|
|**_Expenditure on:_**||||||
|Expenditure on charitable activities|47,199|401|—|47,601|37,986|
|Other expenditure|58,280|—|—|58,280|53,221|
|**Total expenditure**|**105,479**|**401**|**—**|**105,881**|**91,207**|
|**Net income / (expenditure) resources before transfer**|**(16,829)**|**(390)**|**—**|**(17,219)**|**(7,620)**|
|||||||
|**_Transfers_**||||||
|Gross transfers between funds - in|5|—|—|5|10,000|
|Gross transfers between funds - out|(5)|—|—|(5)|(10,000)|
|**_Other recognised gains / losses_**||||||
|**Net movement in funds**|**(16,829)**|**(390)**|**—**|**(17,219)**|**(7,620)**|
|**_Reconciliation of funds_**||||||
|**Total funds brought forward**|**181,018**|**12,063**|**—**|**193,081**|**200,702**|
|**Total funds carried forward**|**164,189**|**11,672**|**—**|**175,861**|**193,081**|



**Statement of Cashflows has not been included, as they are not required due to thresholds.** 

**There are no related party transactions** 

_**There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown**_ 

Page 1b 



**The United Reformed Church Stowmarket - 1157857** 

## **Balance sheet (Summary) As at: 31 December 2023** 

||**As at 31/12/2023**<br>**£**|**As at 31/12/2022**<br>**£**|
|---|---|---|
|**Fixed assets**<br>Tangible assets<br>**Current assets**<br>Debtors<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>**Liabilities**<br>Creditors: Amounts falling due in one year<br>**Net current assets less current liabilities**<br>**Total assets less current liabilities**<br>**Total net assets less liabilities**<br>**Represented by**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>Unrestricted - General fund<br>**Designated**<br>Designated - Improvement Fund<br>Designated - Project Fund<br>Designated - Haughley Fund<br>Designated - Growth Fund<br>Designated - Commitment for Life Fund<br>Designated - Pirmasens Fund<br>Designated - Organ Fund<br>Designated - Pastorate Fund<br>**Restricted**<br>Restricted - Local Needs Benevolent Fund<br>Restricted - Coupland Fund<br>Restricted - Foord Fund<br>**Funds of the charity**|14,464<br>14,464<br>3161<br>142,354<br>145,516<br>228<br>**145,287**<br>**159,751**<br>**159,751**<br>18,522<br>—<br>114,467<br>—<br>8,500<br>256<br>494<br>4,377<br>1,752<br>2,080<br>231<br>9,068<br>**159,751**|21,859<br>21,859<br>3,180<br>150,955<br>154,135<br>133<br>**154,002**<br>**175,861**<br>**175,861**<br>22,212<br>2,291<br>123,867<br>—<br>8,500<br>—<br>494<br>4,377<br>2,446<br>2,010<br>231<br>9,430<br>**175,861**|



_**Note: Trustees agreed that Restricted and Designated Funds**_ **are** _**correct Accounts agreed**_ 

_Signed on behalf of the Trustees_ ……………………………………………………………… Date ………………………… Revd: Robert Sheard Chairman 

_**There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown**_ 

Page 2 



## **The United Reformed Church Stowmarket - 1157857** 

## **Statement of Assets and Liabilities (by code) As at: 31 December 2023** 

|**Class and nominal code**|**General**|**Designated**|**Restricted**|**Endowment**|**Total**|**Last year**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Fixed assets - Tangible assets**|||||||
|FA032014 : Balcony Rails|—|—|—|—|—|588|
|FA042014 : Staging|—|—|—|—|—|485|
|FA102020 : Kitchenette|—|8,996|—|—|8,996|10,496|
|FA2013 : New Church Chairs|—|—|—|—|—|1,217|
|FA2017 : HP Photocopier|—|—|—|—|—|242|
|FA2020 : Church Technology|—|2,310|—|—|2,310|4,620|
|FA2021 : New Church Microphone|—|3,157|—|—|3,157|4,209|
|and Camera|||||||
|**Total**|—|14,464|—|—|14,464|21,859|
|**Current assets - Cash at bank and in hand**|||||||
|C30 : CAF General Cash Account|(125,457)|116,357|10,099|—|1,000|1,000|
|C31 : CAF Gold Account|45,764|(3,047)|389|—|43,106|56,581|
|C34 : CAF Pastorate Account|—|1,752|—|—|1,752|2,446|
|C36 : TSB Petty Cash Account|9,348|321|1,120|—|10,790|6,072|
|C37 : TSB Business Instant Access|85,706|—|—|—|85,706|84,855|
|Savings|||||||
|**Total**|15,361|115,383|11,609|—|142,354|150,955|
|**Current assets - Debtors**|||||||
|Z05 : Accounts Receivable|3,161|—|—|—|3,161|3,180|
|**Total**|3,161|—|—|—|3,161|3,180|
|**Liabilities - Agency accounts**|||||||
|6699 : Agency collections|—|—|228|—|228|133|
|**Total**|—|—|228|—|228|133|
||||||||
|**Net total assets**|18,522|129,847|11,381|—|159,751|175,861|



_**There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown**_ 

Page 3 



## **The United Reformed Church Stowmarket - 1157857** 

## **Analysis of income and expenditure Selected period: 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023** 

|||||||**Total**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|**Designated**|**Restricted**|**Endowment**|**This year**||**Last year**|
|**Income and endowments**||||||||
|**_Donations and legacies_**||||||||
|B7 - Local Needs Benevolent Fund|—|—|90|—|90||11|
|D1 - Donations Received|—|—|—|—|—||2,694|
|F3 - Freewill Offering|36,463|—|—|—|36,463||34,571|
|G6 - Gift Day|5,122|—|—|—|5,122||3,945|
|W3 - Commitment for Life|—|256|—|—|256||132|
|**_Donations and legacies Totals_**|41,585|256|90|—|41,931||41,354|
|**_Other trading activities_**||||||||
|C1 - Coffee Mornings|2,746|—|—|—|2,746||2,337|
|P8 - Premises Letting|16,676|—|—|—|16,676||14,776|
|S1 - Special Fund Raising Events|1,575|—|—|—|1,575||547|
|S5 - SHCT (Cycle Ride)|178|—|—|—|178||150|
|W2 - Wide Horizons|1,132|—|—|—|1,132||983|
|**_Other trading activities Totals_**|22,308|—|—|—|22,308||18,794|
|**_Investments_**||||||||
|I12 - Int on Manse account at Synod|3,821|—|—|—|3,821||3,790|
|I5 - Int on TSB Business Instant Access|850|—|—|—|850||355|
|I6 - Interest on CAF Gold a/c|824|—|—|—|824||249|
|I7 - Interest on CAF Cash a/c|2|—|—|—|2||0|
|Y1 - Yaxley Trust|210|—|—|—|210||208|
|**_Investments Totals_**|5,709|—|—|—|5,709||4,605|
|**_Other income_**||||||||
|F4 - Funerals|—|—|—|—|—||300|
|G8 - Grant|2,405|—|—|—|2,405||—|
|I1 - Income Tax Gift Aid Refund|7,688|—|—|—|7,688||7,522|
|L2 - Loss of 2020/21 Income Insurance|—|—|—|—|—||7,478|
|Claim||||||||
|M8 - Miscellaneous Income|200|—|—|—|200||640|
|P28 - Pastorate Group Income|—|7,159|—|—|7,159||6,796|
|T1 - Transfers from Pastorate|1,295|—|—|—|1,295||1,809|
|W4 - Worship Misc:|66|—|—|—|66||—|
|**_Other income Totals_**|11,655|7,159|—|—|18,815||24,547|
|**Income and endowments**|81,259|7,415|90|—|88,764||89,301|
|**Grand totals**||||||||



_**There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown**_ 

Page 4 



## **Expenditure** 

|**_Raising funds_**|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|S03 - Special Fund Raising Events|29|—|—|—|29|—|
|T03 - Training|50|—|—|—|50|—|
|W02 - Wide Horizons|58|—|—|—|58|—|
|**_Raising funds Totals_**|137|—|—|—|137|—|
|**_Expenditure on charitable activities_**|||||||
|A05 - Church Office|863|—|—|—|863|894|
|B07 - Local Needs Benevolent Fund|—|—|19|—|19|—|
|C020 - Church Projects Expenditure|—|—|—|—|—|433|
|D01 - Donations Made|282|—|—|—|282|30|
|F06 - Foord exp|—|—|361|—|361|401|
|M010 - Manse Costs not shared from|7,001|—|—|—|7,001|3,992|
|1/10/12|||||||
|M04 - Ministerial Costs/Expenses|1,365|—|—|—|1,365|1,374|
|M09 - Miscellaneous Exp|32|—|—|—|32|1,550|
|O03 - Organ & Piano Upkeep|150|—|—|—|150|362|
|O1 - Organist|2,240|—|—|—|2,240|2,080|
|P010 - Premises Water|562|—|—|—|562|499|
|P012 - Office Equip wef 1/1/20|38|—|—|—|38|—|
|P013 - Pulpit Supply|880|—|—|—|880|696|
|P027 - Heating Repairs|3,438|—|—|—|3,438|528|
|P03 - Premises Cleaning|733|—|—|—|733|357|
|P04 - Premises Electricity|3,853|—|—|—|3,853|2,173|
|P05 - Premises Fire Precautions|820|—|—|—|820|649|
|P06 - Premises Repair|4,062|—|—|—|4,062|6,103|
|P07 - Premises Heating|11,669|—|—|—|11,669|12,936|
|P09 - Premises Telephone/Broadband|1,430|—|—|—|1,430|1,614|
|S06 - Sound Equipment|225|—|—|—|225|—|
|S07 - Salaries|11,834|—|—|—|11,834|10,582|
|W03 - Commitment for Life|—|—|—|—|—|132|
|W04 - Worship Miscellaneous|1,153|—|—|—|1,153|850|
|**_Expenditure on charitable_**|52,638|—|381|—|53,019|48,241|
|**_activities Totals_**|||||||
|**_Other expenditure_**|||||||
|B01 - Bookkeeper|1,547|—|—|—|1,547|322|
|B08 - Bank Charges|60|—|—|—|60|82|
|D03 - Depreciation|242|7,153|—|—|7,395|8,104|
|E01 - Employee Income Tax Paid|855|—|—|—|855|594|
|I02 - Insurance|5,385|—|—|—|5,385|5,109|
|M07 - Ministry & Mission fund|24,396|—|—|—|24,396|32,856|
|P028 - Pastorate Group Expenditure|—|7,853|—|—|7,853|6,995|
|T01 - Transfers to Pastorate account|4,223|—|—|—|4,223|4,215|
|**_Other expenditure Totals_**|36,711|15,006|—|—|51,718|58,280|
|**Expenditure Grand totals**|89,486|15,006|381|—|104,875|106,521|



_**There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown**_ 

Page 5 



## **Paid employees** 

## **Staff Costs** 

|**Paid employees**<br>**Staff Costs**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Salaries and wages**<br>**Social security costs**<br>**Pension costs (defined contribution scheme)**<br>**Other employee benefits**<br>**Total staff costs**|**This year**<br>**£**|**Last year**<br>**£**|
||**11834**|**10583**|
||0|0|
||0|0|
||0|0|
||**11051183483101**<br>**11005**|**10583**|



|**Band**|**Number of employees**|
|---|---|
|**£2000 to £6000**|1|
|**£6000 to £10,000**|1|



|**Average head count in the year**<br>**The parts of the charity in which the**<br>**employees work**||**This year**<br>**Number**|**Last year**<br>**Number**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**Fundraising**|-|-|
||**Charitable Activities**|0.62|0.62|
||**Governance**|-|-|
||**Other**|-|-|
||**Total**|<br>0.62|0.62|



The church used the services of one part-time cleaner to clean the premises, and a part-time Church Administrator to run the Church Office. 

## **We do not run a defined contribution Pension Scheme** 

## **Trustee expenses.** 

**There was no trustee’s remuneration in the year ended 31[st] December 2023** 

## **Fees for examination of the accounts** 

The independent examiner fees. 

|Independent examiner’s fee|**2023**|**2022**|
|---|---|---|
||300+vat|300+vat|



**Page 6** 



## **Tangible Fixed Assets** 

|At the beginning of the<br>year 1/1/2023<br>Additions<br>Revaluations<br>Disposals<br>Transfers *<br>At end of the year<br>31/12/2023<br>****Basis**<br>**** Rate**<br>At beginning of the year<br>1/1/2023<br>Disposals<br>Depreciation<br>At end of the year<br>31/12/2023<br>Net book value at the<br>beginning of the year<br>Net book value at the<br>end of the year 2023|**Freehold land &**<br>**buildings**<br>**£**|**Fixtures, fittings**<br>**and equipment**<br>**£**|**Total**<br>**£**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**19703**|**41620**|**61323**|
||0.00|0.00|0.00|
||0.00|0.00|0.00|
||55792|13987|69779|
||0.00|0.00|0.00|
||**19703**|**41620**|**61323**|
||SL|SL|SL|
||<br>10%|10% &20%|10% & 20%|
|||||
||**8618**|**30845**|**39463**|
||0.00|0.00|0.00|
||2088|5308|7396|
||**10706**|**36153**|**46859**|
|||||
||**11085**|**10775**|**21860**|
||**8997**|**5467**|**14464**|



Items 1, 2 and 3 listed below are assets held by the URC (Eastern Province) Trust as the Custodian Trustees of these assets and hence these items do not appear in the balance sheet of this church. Fixtures, fittings and equipment purchased since 1[st] January 2001 have been capitalized, subject to the following: 

- (a) The item has a value >£1000 (previously> £500) 

- (b) The item does not represent a maintenance, or replacement item. 

- (c) If the item is a gift of equipment,or money to purchase equipment it must add significantly 

to the existing overall value of the church premises, or have a significant immediate realisable value. 

1. The Freehold and contents in the Church in Ipswich Street. 

2. The Freehold of the Manse in Temple Road. 

3. £117k invested by the Synod in COIF Bank. (The income alone is expendable, allowable by existing URC policy- may be subject to change). 

**The church does not have a policy for revaluation of assets** . 

**Page 7** 



## **Debtors and prepayments** 

## _**Please complete this note if the charity has any debtors or prepayments.**_ 

|<br>**Analysis of debtors**<br>**Trade debtors**<br>**Prepayments and accrued income**<br>**Other debtors**<br>**Total**|**2023**<br>**£**|**2022**<br>**£**|
|---|---|---|
||0.00|0.00|
||1379|1258|
||1782|1922|
||3161|3180|



## **Creditors and accruals** 

## _**Please complete this note if the charity has any creditors or accruals.**_ 

|**Analysis of creditors**<br>**Bank loans and overdrafts**<br>**Accruals and deferred income**<br>**Taxation and social security**<br>**Other creditors**<br>**Total**|||
|---|---|---|
||**Amounts falling due**<br>**within oneyear**||
||**2023**<br>**£**|**2022**<br>**£**|
||0.00|0.00|
||0.00|0.00|
||0.00|0.00|
||0.00|0.00|
||0.00|0.00|



There is no Security over assets: 

## **Endowment and Restricted Funds** 

The church has no Endowment Funds 

## **Grant-making policy** 

Grants made to institutions in a given year are agreed at a Church Meeting. 

**Page 8** 



## **Stowmarket URC Charity Independent Examiner’s Report Year ending 31[st] December 2023** 

## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Stowmarket URC Charity** 

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Stowmarket URC Charity for the year ended 31[st] December 2023 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011. ("the Act"). 

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's Accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable directions given by the Chairty Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. 

## **Independent examiner's statement** 

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

1. Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust 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. 

## _Matthew Aldous_ 

Matthew Aldous FMAAT 5 Market Place STOWMARKET Suffolk 

11th April 2024 

