Trustees' Annual Report for the period
Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year From 1st January 2024 To 31st December 2024
Section A Reference and administration details
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not **for whole year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Revd Robert Sheard |
Chair | Until 3 Dec2024 | Church Meeting |
| Mr Brian Hewitt | Secretary | Church Meeting | |
| 2 Miss Anne Scarff | Treasurer | Church Meeting | |
| 3 Mrs MaryDurrant | Church Meeting | ||
| 4 Mrs Janet Webb | Church Meeting | ||
| 5 Mrs Helen Freeman | Church Meeting | ||
| 6 Mr John Webb | Church Meeting | ||
| 7 Mrs Jane Gurney | Church Meeting | ||
| 8 Mrs Margaret Jackson | aret Jackson | Until 29thJuly | Church Meeting |
| 9 Mrs Joyce Gardiner | Church Meeting | ||
| 11 Mrs Lois Muller | Until 5thDec 2024 | Church Meeting | |
| 12 Mr Keith Scarff | Church Meeting | ||
| 13 Mrs Linda Baxter | Church Meeting | ||
| 14 Mrs Monika Sudirgo | Church Meeting | ||
| 15 Mrs Pauline Gosling | Church Meeting | ||
| 16 Mrs Michaela Farmer | Until 1stJuly 2024 | Church Meeting | |
| 17 Mrs Margaret Clarke | Until 29thJuly | 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 ~~—s=>~~ 1
February 2025
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| Independent examiner | Matthew Aldous | Matthew Aldous, The Laurel Partnership, 16 Broad St, Eye. IP23 7 AF |
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
- (eg. trust deed, constitution)
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:
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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;
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relationship with any related parties;
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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 2024 based on cc8. This was approved by Elders.
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.
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February 2025
The Church is a congregation of the United Reformed Church.
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 charity set out in its governing document Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit) |
The object of the Charity is the advancement of the Christian faith for the benefit of the public in accordance with the Scheme of Union of the United Reformed Church. |
|---|---|
| The Trustees have regard to the guidance by the Charity Commission on Public Benefit. The Charity is a Public benefit Entity - we are set up to benefit the general public. Our activities include: Providing regular public worship for all. Promoting the Christian Faith. Teaching the faith to all ages. Providing training, nurture and activities for children and young people. Serving the community. Giving pastoral care and support to members and others in need, particularly those in sickness, distress or poverty. Providing premises and resources for community groups and activities. We are not aware of any detriment or harm resulting from the implementation of our purposes. We have one Trustee who is employed by the church as an Administrator. The role pre-dates her appointment as Trustee. Our Minister is paid expenses incurred in the fulfilment of his ministry. Otherwise, no Trustee benefitted from work at the church and there were no personal benefits paid to Trustees. . |
Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
You may choose to include further statements, where We rely on volunteers for our activities. In addition to Bible study and relevant, about: coffee mornings they also run our Fundraising activities. • policy on grantmaking; • policy programme related We do not offer grants. investment; We regularly review our finances to maximise them. • contribution made by volunteers.
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February 2025
Section D Achievements and performance
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year |
- We provided regular Public Worship for all. The worship is led by trained ministers, or lay people who adhere to the central messages of the Christian faith. We continue to offer our services on Zoom. - 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: Sunday School, “Messy Church” (This closed in July) 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. There is also a Community Brew open to all and for part of the year we ran a Time Out for Carers and the People they Care For. - 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. |
|---|---|
| Section E Financial review | |
| Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves Details of any funds materially in deficit Further financial review details Youmay chooseto include additional information, where relevant about: • the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising); • how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity; • investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted. |
|
| Weretain £10,000 inour accounts as reserves to meet unexpected demands of a general nature. Designated funds are held for:Growth; Projects; Commitment for Life;Organ; and Pirmasens. In addition we have historic Restricted funds for Local Needs Benevolent; Coupland;Foord. |
|
| NONE | |
| (Optional information) | |
The principal sources of income are through free will offerings, hire of premises and fundraising. A proportion of our income (approx. 1/3rd) is used exclusively for Ministry and Mission within the wider URC. We use TSB and CAF banks. For 2024 Income was £106992and expenditure £118363. A major problem with the Church Tower has increased our expenses. This is an on-going situation. Reserves being used. |
February 2025
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Section F Other optional information
At the end of the year our Minister stepped down..
Despite a loss in income we remain 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 4-2-2024
February 2025
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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 2024
Accounts based on Accrual Accounting FRS102 SORP 2015
The accounts are prepared in accordance with Charity Law
January 2025
The United Refornied Church Stowmart(et - 1157857 Statement of Financial Activities For the perlod fmm 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 Tolal Prioryear nds totsl funds funds furbdj funds Donation$ and legacies Other tr8(thng aLvil Investmonts Other income 61,248 19,624 61,359 19.624 6,548 19,460 41,931 5,709 18,815 19,480 T¢)tal Incom• 106W1 110 106m2 88,764 Raing knd8 ExpendIre on charftsble advllle8 Othèr expendityre 137 53,019 51,718 58,418 $9,507 418 58,836 59.507 T¢>tal •xwNlilu 117,94S 118,363 104WS N•t kn¢om• l {•xp•ndw?l r•sourc• befor• tr81•r (3071 (16,110) Gro88 transfern befy¥een fund8. h Gro tranofer8 betsn fund8. fJJt 4,538 (4,538) OIIMrr•eognls•d 1104••s N•t mov•m•nt In funds 1307) {11,371) R•conclM•llon of fwxls Totsl fvnd brought fomrd 148,370 11J81 159,751 I751 Totsl funds carrl•d foN•rd 137W6 11,073 148,380 169,701 statement of Ca$tfflow$ has not been induded, as are not required due to thresholds. There are no related party transactions Th•r• maybe mlnor dlscr•pwl+8 In the tt4t•l8 If th• pwK• •r• notbdng •hob Page la
The United Reformed Church Stowmarket -1157857 Statement of Financial Activities For the period from 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 Unrestricted fvnds Restricted funds Endowment funds Tolal funds Prioryear total funds Income ond fjndowments )kn7.' Donations and legacies other tro(ng adiwlies Investments Other income 41.841 22.3118 5.7119 18.815 41.931 22.308 5.7(Y) 18.815 41.354 11S.794 4.605 24,547 Total income 88ffj74 8&764 89JJl Exp•ndlturo on.. Raislng fiJnds Expendire on charitable fjctivthes Other eXPendire 137 52.638 51.718 137 53.019 51.718 381 4&241 58.280 Ttslal trxpenditure IiHA93 104075 I1311 Nel incomel lexpendilure) resources before transfer {291) (16.111)) {17.21()1 Tr•nsl•r4 Gro88 tr8n8fern befvthn fund8 - In Gro86 transfèr8 bet4¥een fvnd8 - ¢Jrt 4,5311 (4.5311) (4.538) (5) Otherrecogrrised gains I losses Nèt movèment in lund8 (IS18) (291) 116JiO (17.21()) Re¢K)nciligtion of funds Tot81 fund8 brought forward IfA,IWJ 11.672 175J61 1931*1 Total funds carried forward 14NJ70 1 $9.711 17.wl Statement of Cashflows has not been included, as they are not required due to thresholds. There are no related paty transactions There maybe min(xdiscrepan(#es in the totals ifthe pence are not being shown Page 1b
The United Reformed Church Stowmarket - 1157857 Balance sheet (Summary) As at: 31 December 2024 AS at 31n2r2024 As at 31M212023 Flx•d assots Taniible assets 9,601 14.464 9,601 14.464 Debto Cash at bank and In hd 3.450 135.408 3,161 142,354 138,858 145,518 LbIlhi Credttorn.. Amount8 tslllng due In one y N•1 eurr•nt a•••ts l•ss ¢urr•nt Ilabllltl• 138,7T8 1•A,287 Totsl a#s•ts l•• cUrrt Ilabllitlo• 148,380 169,761 T¢)tsl n•t a•ts IMS Ilablllii 148,380 169,761 R•prn••nt•d by Unro•tsl¢t•d . Gener41 fimd 11,188 18.522 D•ilgrwt•d D881gnatgd- Improvement Fu Oesignated- Projèct Fund D••iated- Haughl•y Fund De8•wat- GroNth Fund D•8ignated- Commitm•nt for Uf• Fd De8ignated- Plrma8en$ Fund Oesignated- Organ Fd Defjtgnatsd . Pa8torate FWKI 112,084 114,467 8,500 8.500 452 4,377 724 494 4,377 1.752 Restricted- Local Needs 8engvdent Fd Re8trfcted- Coupland Fund Restrbcted- Foord Fund 2,191 rJ1 8,650 2,080 231 9.068 Funds olth• charlty 148J80 189,751 Not•.. Tru•te•S •gr•ed thal R•$trl¢t•dandD•slqnated Funds •r• GorrKtAc¢ounts aqr••d SignedonbehalfoftheTrustees........................................................................ Date...................... . Chainnan.. There m•y b• nthor dl$mp8ncle# In the totals If Ihe ar• not belng shown Page 2
The Unlted Refomied Church StoWmaet - 1157857 Statement of Assets and Liabilities (by code) As at.. 31 December 2024 Class and nomlnal >x ¢3en•ral l)#slgnatad Restrlcted Total Last ye Flx•d ass•ts- Tanglble FA102020 . Kitchenette 7.497 7,497 8,996 FA2020 . Churdb Tec nology 2,310 FA2021 '. New Church Mlcrophone and Camera 2,104 2.104 3,157 Total 9,601 9,601 14,464 Curr•nt •u•l•- Cash al bk •nd In 11 C30.. CAF General Cash ACcot {125,708) 117,738 8,970 1,000 1,000 C31 . CAF Gold A¢In1 47,835 {3,04n 45,1TI 43.1( C34 . CAF Pastorote AccoLnt 724 1.752 C36 .' TSB Pgty Ca8h Account C37 .' TSB Bullne Instsnt Acce Savlng8 4.600 1,122 1.794 7.S18 lo.7) 80,989 80,989 85,7C Total 7,716 116,538 11,154 135,408 142,354 Curr•nt as•ots . D•blorn ZOS .' Accounts Rec•ble 3,450 3,450 3.161 Totsl 3,450 3,450 3.161 Uabllltl••. Ag•ncy accounts 8699 .' Agènoy coll8clonB Total N•t total a•s6ts 11,166 126,140 11,073 148,380 159,751 Therp may be minordiscmpancies in tho totals if the pence arn not being shown Page 3
The United Refomied Church Stowmarftet - 1157857 Analysis of income and expendlture Selected period: 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 Totsl Thls L•st 5 Income and •ndowments Donatlons and legacl B7- Local Need8 8enevolent FLmd D1 . Donations Re¢aved D2- Donations allocated to Sperific Fund8 F3- Freewill Offering G6- Gift Day . Commitment for Llfe Y2- Youth and Children8 Ik 110 110 170 150 170 150 56.951 3,726 56,951 5,122 245 245 Don•don8 and l•ga¢l•* Total• 61,003 245 110 61,359 41,931 Oth•rtradlng a¢Uvld•s C1- Coffee Momlnk P8- Prenw8e8 Lting S1- Special Fund Raing Events SS- SHCT (Cyde Rlde) f2- IAfjde Hortzo 2,545 14,479 1.867 2.545 14,479 1,687 2,748 16,676 1,575 178 1,132 752 752 oth•rdIng aetlvltI Total8 19,624 19,624 22.308 112- Inl on Manse account at Synod IS- Int on TS8 8u¥ln•s8 Instant Acce88 16- Interest on CAF Gold alc 17- Interest on CAF Cash alc Y1- Ya¥ley TnBt 3,857 1,283 1,190 3,857 1,283 1,190 3,821 850 214 214 210 Inv08tmwts Tot•l• 6,548 6,548 5,709 Oth•r Inm• C20- Church Projects Income G8. Grant 11- Income Tax Gift Refund 114- Improvement GrantWDonallcr m1- Magazines m8- Mi8cellaneou8 Income P28. Pastor&te Group Income T1- Tran$f•r¥ from Pa¥torats W4. Worship 2,480 2,405 7,688 7,731 7,731 7,541 7,541 7,159 1295 Otherlneom• Total8 9,439 10.021 19,460 18,815 Income and endowments Grand totals 96,615 10286 110 106.992 88,764 Th•r• maybe mlnor dl•¢repanciu In lh• to18 Mthe pence are nol b•ing •hry• Page 415
Total Th1 s L#st Expenditure Ralslng funds S03- Special Fund Rai8ing Events T03- Training Vm. Imde Horizo R•l•lng funds Totrl• 137 Exp•ndlturn on ¢harft•bl• •cdvltlo• A05- Church Office B07- Local Need5 Benevolent F D01- Donalions Made D02- Donalon5 allocated to 8pedfic fvjnth F06- Foord exp G07- Pimiasens Gernn Tv•innirvJ M010- M8n8e Costs not Shared from 1110112 M04- Minlsterlal CostsE¥pen8es M09- Miscellaneous Exp 003- Organ & Plano )keeP 01- Orgpnht P010- Premises Watsr P012- Office Equip wef111r20 P013- Pulpit SupF P027- Heoting Replr P03- Preml8e8 Clearmng P04- Prem18e8 Electrlctty P05- PreThM8es Fife PreUl0n$ P06. Prerra8e4 Repalr P07- Pr•mlBe8 He4lJng P09- PremlBe8 TelephoneBroadband S06- Sound EqLlpm&nt S07. Salaries W03. Commltmèntfor Ufo WO4. Wor8hlp N8¢elle0u5 Y02- and Clilthen 19 258 140 140 418 418 42 5,674 361 5.674 7,001 1,365 1,365 1,365 15Q 2,240 2,120 778 240 939 2,120 778 240 939 3,438 591 5.083 832 18.796 5,075 1,590 5,083 832 18,796 5,075 1,590 3,853 820 4.2 11.669 1,430 225 11,834 12,936 12,936 501 501 1,153 Expondlturn on ¢harltabl• actlvltl•8 Total 57,874 543 418 58,836 53.019 B01- Bookkeeper B08- Bank Charg88 D03- Depreciation E01- Eryloyee Income Tax Pald 102- Insurance M07- Mlnisty & Mtsslon nd P028- P88torato Group Expenthre P08- Premises Letting T01- Tran$fern to Pastorate ac¢ount 1,608 1,608 1,547 4.862 933 5,880 33,696 8,568 7.395 855 5,385 24,396 7.853 933 5,880 33,696 8,568 3,802 3.8Q2 4223 Oth•r expendlturn Totsl• 46,076 13,431 59,507 51,718 Exponditure Grand totals 103,971 13,974 418 118,363 104,875 There maybe mlnor dls¢repancles In Its• totals lff the p•nce ar• notbdnq 8ho Page 415
Paid employees Staff Costs Thls year Last year Salaries and wages Soclal security costs Penslon costs (deflned contrlbutlon scheme) Other employee beneffts 12936 11834 Totsl staff costs 12936 11834 Band £2000 to £6000 £6000 to £10 000 Number ofom lo ees Averago head count In tho year Tho parts ofthe charlty In whlch the employees work This year Number Last year Number Fundrnising Charltsble Actlvltles Governance Other 0.62 0.62 Totsl 0.62 0.62 The church used trE services of one part-time deaner to dean the premises, and a part-time Church Administrator to run the Church Offi. We do not run a d8fln8d contrlbutlon Penslon Scheme Trustsa 8xpens8s. There was no trustee's remuneration in the year endod 31•1 December 2024 Fees for examlnatlon of the accounts The independent examiner fees. 2024 2023 Independent examinerfs fee 300+vat 300+vat Page 6
Tanglble Flxed Assets Freehold land & bulldlngs Flxtures, ffttings and equlpment Totsl At the beginning of the year 11112024 Additions 19703 41620 61323 0.00 0.00 0.00 Revaluations 0.00 0.00 0.00 Disposals Transfers ' 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 At end of the year 3111212024 19703 SL 41620 SL 61323 SL -Basis Rats 100 100h &200 At beginning of the year 11112024 10706 36153 46859 Disposals 0.00 0.00 0.00 Depreciation 1499 3363 4862 At end of the year 3111212024 12205 39516 51721 Net book value at the beginning of the year 8997 Net book value at the end of the year 2024 7497 2105 9602 Items 1, 2 and 3 listed below are assets held by the URC (Eastern Province) Trust asthe Custodian Trustees of these assets and hence these rtems do not appear in the balance sheet of this church. Fixtures, frttings and equipment purchased sinc8 1 It January 2001 have b88n capitalized, subject to the following: (a) The item has a value >£10 (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 signrficant immediale realisable value. 1. The Freehold contents in the Church in Ipgwich Street. 2. The Freehold of the Manse in Temple Road. 3. £134k invested by the Synod in COIF Bank. (The income alone is expendable, allowable by existing URC policy- may b8 subject to thange). The church does not have a pollcy for r•valuation of assets. Page 7
Debtors and re ments Please complete thls note If the charity has any deblors or prepayments. 2024 2023 Anatysis of debtors Trad8 debtors 0.00 0.00 Prepayments and accrued Incomo Other debtors 1432 1379 2018 1782 Totsl 3450 3161 Creditors and accruals Please complete this note rfthe charlty has any credltors or accruals. Analysls of crndltors Amounts falling due wlthln one year 2024 2023 Bank loans and ovordrafts 0.00 0.00 Accruals and deferred Income 0.00 0.00 Taxatlon and soclal socurity Other creditors 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Totsl 0.00 0.00 There is no Security over assets.. Endowment and Restricted Funds The church has no Endowment Funds Grant-makin olic 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 2024
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 2024
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:
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Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the ACT: or
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The accounts do not accord with those records: or
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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 16 Broad Street Eye IP23 7AF Suffolk
24[th] March 2025