TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1 FEBRUARY 2020 to 31 January 2021
Acts London
Charity No: 1159704
Weekly Saturday & Sunday Meetings
Our weekly meetings in early 2020 were initially healthy but as the pandemic set in and lockdown measures announced, we saw a dip in numbers. We consolidated our meetings in our London, Bristol, Edinburgh and newly launched Cambridge locations. And converted them into online gatherings via Zoom. We also started producing and broadcasting our Sunday Worship Service on to Facebook and YouTube.
Our average weekly attendance in 2020 was about 80 people every weekend. As a good handful of students in our congregation returned to their home countries to shelter from the pandemic.
Because of the temporary closure of universities and classes being switched to online, we were limited in our outreach of international students studying in the UK this year. But we continue to care for a growing number of locals joining us, including members from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, China in our church who were once students and have now graduated to become young professionals in the workforce.
Our weekly meetings, now pivoted to an online video experience, are still open to all and feature a lively contemporary worship experience with worship music, prayer being offered, preaching from the Bible and socialising after via Zoom.
Its aim is to provide an avenue for Christians to worship and grow in their faith despite the lockdown. As well as for members of the public to discover and learn more about Christianity. Especially the hope that Jesus provides in this life and the eternal. This is especially important when so many were surrounded by fear and death in the midst of last year’s pandemic.
Audio recordings of our weekly sermons are available for public listening on websites like Sound Cloud and mobile apps like Apple Podcast and Spotify.
And in addition to that, videos of our services are now also available on Facebook and YouTube. This has been very helpful in our outreach among the young.
Small Group Meetings
In order, to give members a better understanding of the Bible and create a closer bond with each other, we host small mid-week meetings via Zoom on Wednesday nights, where questions on faith can be asked and answered in a relaxed environment.
Besides Bible study, members in all locations also meet fortnightly for Prayer Meetings on Tuesday nights, we meet to pray for each other. As well as God’s peace, blessing and protection over the UK. This is done online via Zoom as well.
Public Evangelism
To raise awareness of Christianity among the public, our church launched a series of talks online using materials from “Alpha”, a widely used evangelism course initially curated by Holy Trinity Brompton, London. We ran this 10-week course, twice in 2020 and it lead to many new friends joining each other over the internet to discover Christianity for themselves. In total, this course was attended by about 30 people and lead to some converting to Christianity.
Helping The Homeless
While pandemic restrictions reduced our ability to help with the homeless, our church did unite for a bigger Christmas initiative to help bring comfort to those less fortunate. Before Christmas lockdown was announced, our group actively helped those in need by preparing and giving out parcels with food, toiletries, socks and gloves. This was a coordinated work across our locations in London, Bristol, Edinburgh and Cambridge during the winter months.
Marriage Enrichment Course
Due to the struggle of lockdown and working from home, we were mindful to provide marriage counselling and support for those who need it. This included an online marriage seminar to help spouses in church work on their communication and friendship in the midst of a global climate of fear, uncertainty and stress. The aim of the course was to strengthen the bonds of marriage and family. We had 8 married couples who participated.
Easter and Christmas Celebrations
While we were unable to celebrate Easter in person this time, for 21-days leading up to the Easter weekend, the whole church entered into a season of prayer and fasting to reflect on our personal growth as Christians and pray for persecuted Christians around the world. This year we also focussed our prayer on a cure for the global pandemic, as well as the mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of our NHS staff and other frontline workers. Our usual in-person Christmas Service was done online this year.
Volunteers
Except for Pastor David Yeow’s involvement, all our activities are supported by volunteers who give of their time and talents freely. We encourage all our members to volunteer at our weekly meetings. And over the pandemic that meant people volunteering to film themselves preaching, singing & praying, edit videos for our church services, host Zoom sessions for bible study & prayer and help out with charitable acts with the homeless.
Registered Charity No: 1159704 Acts London Financial Statement for the year Ended 31 st January 2021 Correspondence Address:Flat 2, 26, Rochester Place, London,NW19DF
Acts London ncome and Expendilur¢ Statement for the year ended 31.01.2021 General Fund Total In¢om¢ General Offering & Donations Total 109,720 109.720 109,720 109,720 Expenses Rent & Rates Light and Heat Salaries. NI and payroll cosls Meeting venue hire cost Telephone Refreshment al meetings Insurance Campsit¢ fe¢s Sundry Expenses Accountancy Le&Fal and Professional Fees Payroll costs Total 31.113 721 23.(K)O 8,888 950 2.950 300 405 293 562 31,113 721 23,000 8,888 950 2,950 300 405 293 562 341 69,523 341 69,523 Tax payable 7,637 7,637 Surplus for the year 32,560 32,560 Page I
Act5 London Balance Sheel as at.11sl Janu4n 2021 31.01.2021 31.01.2020 Fixed Assets Fixtures & F ittings-Nei Book Value Current Assets Other Dcbiors Prepaytnents Cash at bank 550 550 4,348 18.519 23,417 64.316 64,866 Current Liabilities Dire¢tors' curr¢nt accounts Tax Payable Accrucd Expenses Amounts due to Acts Malaysia 250 7.637 2,515 14.063 24,465 250 675 588 14,063 15,576 Net Liabilities 40,402 7,842 General Fund Balance Brought Fonvard Surplusl(Defi¢it) for the year Balance Carries Forward 7,842 32,560 40,402 4,963 2,879 7,842 Page 2
Accountan¢s' Report to the TnleeS of Acts tAbndon on the Financial Statements for the Year ended 31° January 2021 elive res onsibilities of trustees and examiner The trustees (who ate c11so the direciors of eompany foi the purposes of company law.) are rc5ponsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees cotksider Ihai an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011(the Charities Acil and Ihar an independeiit examination is needed. I am qualified to iindertake the examination by being a qualified mefftr of Instilule of Chartered Accountanls in Enoland & Wales- ICAEW. It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of ihe Charities Act. to follow the picedureS laid down in the general Direciions given by the Charity Con)mission (under seciion 145{5)(b) of ihe Charilies Aci. and to state whether P<2rticular matters have come lo my attention. Basis of inde endent examiner s statement My exatnin1& tion ii'<iS catried out in accoidance with ihe gene Directions given by the Charity conimission. An examination include5 a review of the accounting records kepi by Ihe charity and a comparison of the accounls presented with those records. It also i]Kludes consideration of any usual items or disclosures in the accounis. and seeking explanaiions from the trnstees concerning any such Tnatters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence thai 'OU[d be required in an audit and conseqiienily no opinion is given as to whether Ihe accounts present a 'ttue and fair Vie and ihe report is limited 10 those mailers sei oui tn ihe nexi Slamen( belo%. Inde endent examiner's statement In coiinection with my examination. no tnatter has come to my aitention to indicaie thai.. Accoiinting records have not been kepl in accoidance with section 386 of Ihe Cornpanies Act 2006. The accounts do not accord wilh such records: Where accoun15 are prepared on an Accruals basis. wheiher t]ry fail to comply with relevcint ciecouniing requiremenis under seciion 396 of the Companies Act 21K)6. or are noi consistent wilh Ihe chariiies SORP (FRS102) any mcltter %vhich the examinei believe5 Should be draivn to the aiieniion of the reader to gain a proper undersianding of ihe accounts. illr fvlehboob KK ani, FCA Cliartered Accoiintant 506 Kiilgsbury Road l.oiidon '1I'9 9HE Ih 29 October 2021
(HARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent exarniner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members ot Charj'.J blani- ACTS LONDON On accounts for the year ended ST 31 January 2021 Charily no (if any) 1159704 Sel out on pages Iremember lo UK1Je the page nufflber5 of addi11cl sheets) I report to the Iruslees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ('Ihe Trust") for the year ended 3110112021. Responsibilities and basis ot report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Acl 2011 ('Ihe ACV,). I report in respect of my examination of the Trusfs accounts Carried oul under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Direclions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no malerial matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection wth the examination which gives me cause to believe thal in, any material respect= the accounting records were not kept in accordance wilh section 130 of the Charities Act., or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records", or the accounts did not comply wlh the applicable requirements concerning the fomi 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 lair. view which is nol a matter considered as part of an independenl examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attentior) should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets if tl7ey do not apply. Signed: Date: 2911012021 Name: MR MEHBOOB KESHANI Relevant professional qualilication(s) or body (if any): INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS IN ENGLAND & WALES- ICAEW Address: 506 KINGSBURY ROAD LONDOI NW9 9HE IER
Section B Disclosure Only complete IT the examiner needs to highlight material mallers ol conGein (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items thal the examiner wlshes to disclose. IER