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2024-04-05-accounts

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust

Report and Financial Statements

Year ended 5 April 2024

Charity number: 1159751

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust Report and Financial Statements Contents

Page
Legal and administrative information 1
Report of the Trustees 2 - 5
Report of the Independent Examiner 6
Statement of financial activities 7
Balance sheet 8
Cashflow statement 9
Notes forming part of the financial statements 10 - 14
Additional information 15

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust Legal and administrative information

Trustees

Mr M J Hearn Mr S Hill Mr I Lawrence Resigned 8 October 2024 Mr S Robertson Chair Mr N Silcock Resigned 8 November 2023 Mr R Woolgar Appointed 8 November 2023

Title to all freehold properties was held jointly at the report approval date by Messrs M Hearn, S Hill, S Robertson, and N Silcock.

Correspondence address

Ashcombe House Reading Road Harwell Didcot Oxfordshire OX11 0JJ

Independent examiner

Dr J R Ayling BSc FCA 8 Troutbeck Avenue Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV32 6NE

Bankers

Lloyds Bank plc PO Box 1000 Andover BX1 1LT

Solicitors

Challenor & Son Stratton House Bath Street Abingdon OX14 3LA

Wace Morgan Tomleys 31 Market Street Newtown Powys SY16 2PG

1

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust Report of the Trustees for the year ended 5 April 2024

The Trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 5 April 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on pages 10 and 11, and comply with the Trust Deed and applicable law.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing document

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust is an unincorporated trust constituted by a Deed of Trust dated 27 March 1992, amended 12 August 2005 and 8 August 2014, and was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 2 January 2015.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

The Trustees who have served during the year and since the year end are set out on page 1. No Trustees received remuneration or expenses from the Charity in the year ended 5 April 2024 (2023: none).

The Trust operates five Gospel halls and Trustees are chosen from among the regular congregation of the halls. New Trustees are nominated by the existing Trustees or by the congregation and must be appointed by unanimous resolution of the congregation. New Trustees are selected according to their skills and experience and are expected to use both in furthering the objects of the Charity. Checks are made to ensure the Trustees’ eligibility to act, and incoming Trustees are made aware of their responsibilities by the existing Trustees, who ensure that new Trustees read the Trust Deed and relevant Charity Commission guidance.

Wider network

The Trustees maintain informal links with similar charities with a view to pooling experience considered useful in pursuing the objects of the Charity. The Charity also maintains particular links with Foxhall Gospel Hall Trust (FGHT), with which it shares members of its congregation. Regular donations are made by Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust to cover the maintenance and running expenses of FGHT.

Risk management

The Trustees have examined the major strategic, business and operational risks which the Charity faces and confirm that systems have been established to mitigate those risks.

Objectives and activities

Objectives and aims

The charitable purposes of the Charity are the advancement of the Christian religion for the public benefit, including by the carrying on of the service of God in accordance with the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible as followed by those Christians forming part of the world-wide fellowship known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (the “Brethren”) and any other charitable purposes connected with Brethren. The core doctrine of the Brethren and proper practices in furtherance of certain aspects of doctrine are summarised in two schedules to the Trust Deed.

Public Benefit

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance to charities on public benefit. The detail of activities is included under the section ‘Main activities and achievements’.

Funding

Funding is sought through gifts from the congregation and Gift Aid is claimed on eligible donations. Funding is sometimes received from other charitable trusts with complementary objectives.

2

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust Report of the Trustees for the year ended 5 April 2024

Main activities and achievements

The Trust provides and maintains five Gospel halls in Didcot, Wallingford and the surrounding area, where religious meetings are held by the local Brethren community. Details of the origins, teachings and way of life of the Brethren can be found on the website www.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org and in the schedules to the Trust Deed.

The Trust’s main achievement this year has been to continue to open the halls to the congregation and visitors and encouraging good works which benefit the wider community as detailed below.

For the year ended 5 April 2024 these activities included the refurbishment of ten park benches, the fitting of a new kitchen in the local sports pavilion in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, refurbishment of a large slide in a local park, the upgrading of a bus shelter on behalf of a local Parish Council, and involvement in a local litter picking event. In addition, members of the Trust are volunteers of a separate charity, the Rapid Relief Team (RRT). During the year to 5 April 2024, the RRT served 1,100 hot meals with drinks at the John Radcliffe Abseil Event in June 2023, and served 1,200 hot meals with drinks at the NHS Anniversary Churchill Event in September 2023. Congregation members delivered significant numbers of care packs to Ronald McDonald House Charities. Further detail is provided in our Public Benefit Report attached as an appendix to these accounts.

Plans for Future Periods

Despite the increased cost of energy, the Trustees feel that these increased costs are not significantly impacting on the ability of the Charity to continue as a going concern.

We continue to look for further sites and buildings that would be suitable for use as meeting halls. We have identified that we require further halls in the Wallingford and Harwell areas.

We plan to continue to support and assist the local parishes with maintenance and other outreach works. This will be carried out by members of the congregation to support the communities in which we live and worship. We also plan to increasingly support and promote the amazing work of the RRT.

Meetings

Meetings held at the Gospel Halls include the Lord's Supper (Communion), Gospel preachings, Bible readings and Bible addresses. There is a structured weekly schedule of meetings and, depending on the particular meeting, between 45 and 600 people normally attend these occasions.

The meetings are attended by the regular congregation and most are open to other properly disposed visitors. The notice board outside the Hall welcomes visitors and displays the times of Gospel preachings, along with a telephone number for those seeking further information or help. Gospel tracts, which are distributed by street preachers, also display this information.

Bibles and an extensive range of other Christian reading material are on display at the halls and visitors are free to help themselves.

3

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust Report of the Trustees for the year ended 5 April 2024

Spreading the Gospel message

The Gospel Halls are a base from which the regular congregation, and others who attend the meetings, are encouraged to spread the Christian Gospel, in word and deed.

Members of the congregation participate in a programme of street preaching and Gospel tracts are provided free of charge by the Charity to such preachers to be handed out to interested members of the public. There were 56 scheduled street preachings during the year to 5 April 2024 with up to 12 members of the congregation included in each session. As mentioned above, these preachings took place in Didcot and Wallingford and a large number of gospel tracts were also distributed at each session. The preachings are carried out at regular times and locations so that interested members of the public know when to attend.

In addition to street preaching, members of the congregation regularly volunteer to help in charitable activities and to assist local community needs as they arise. These activities are encouraged by the Trust.

The life of a Christian

In carrying out this work, the congregation considers itself to be living out its faith in practice, as particularly exemplified in the following extract from the schedule to the Trust Deed on living a Christian life:

Financial review

In the year ended 5 April 2024 the Trust had a net deficit of £54,181 (year ended 5 April 2023: deficit of £52,660). Although voluntary donations are sufficient to cover the running costs of the Charity, the depreciation charged on fixed assets produces a net deficit result. Total voluntary income received this year was £163,238 compared with £147,779 in the previous year.

All funds held were unrestricted funds.

Reserves policy

The Trustees have considered the level of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the Charity's needs, based on its size and the level of its financial commitments. The Trustees have decided to adopt a policy of maintaining sufficient reserves to cover day to day expenditure and any capital expenditure needs that may arise. The congregation is kept regularly informed as to particular needs for funds, and other relevant matters, and the Trustees aim to ensure that the Charity will be able to continue to fulfil its charitable objectives even if there is a temporary shortfall in income or unexpected expenditure, by raising a funds appeal to the congregation. Free reserves at 5 April 2024 were £184,554 (5 April 2023: £181,335).

4

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust Report of the Trustees for the year ended 5 April 2024

Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the Trust Deed require the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the Charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the Trust Deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

All transactions have been reviewed and approved by two trustees.

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

23[rd] December 2024

Mr S Robertson - Trustee

Date

5

Independent examiner's report To the Trustees of Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust

I report to the Charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 5 April 2024 which are set out on pages 7 to 14.

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 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

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:

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.

30 December 2024

Dr J R Ayling BSc FCA (Fellow of the ICAEW)

8 Troutbeck Avenue Leamington Spa CV32 6NE

6

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 5 April 2024

Expenditure on:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Charitable activities
5
Other
Bible Conference hosting costs
4
Net expenditure being net movement in funds
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies
Investments
Other
Contibutions to Bible Conference hosting costs
Sundry
Notes
3
4
246,212
300,393
4,981,200
4,927,019
205,226
95,167
(54,181)

Year ended
5 April 2024
£
163,238
1,543
81,401
30
Year ended
5 April 2023
£
147,779
-
-
779
148,558
201,218
-
201,218
(52,660)
5,033,860
4,981,200

There were no recognised gains and losses for the Charity for the current or prior years other than those included in the Statement of Financial Activities. All income and expenditure arises from continuing activities. All funds are unrestricted.

7

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust Balance Sheet as at 5 April 2024

5 April 2024 5 April 2023
Notes £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 8 4,742,465 4,799,865
Current assets
Debtors 9 9,818 10,597
Cash at bank and in hand 205,194 173,053
215,012 183,650
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
10 (30,458) (2,315)
Net current assets 184,554 181,335
Total assets less current liabilities being total net assets 4,927,019 4,981,200
Unrestricted funds 4,927,019 4,981,200

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

23[rd] December 2024

Mr S Robertson - Trustee

Date

8

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust Cash flow statement for the year ended 5 April 2024

Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of fixed assets
Net cash used in investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents brought forward
Cash and cash equivalents carried forward
Analysis of changes in net debt
Cash flows from operating activities
Net expenditure
Adjustments for:
Depreciation
Decrease in debtors
Increase / (decrease) in creditors
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
Cash at bank
Cash
Loans falling due within one year
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of fixed assets
Net cash used in investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents brought forward
Cash and cash equivalents carried forward
Analysis of changes in net debt
Cash flows from operating activities
Net expenditure
Adjustments for:
Depreciation
Decrease in debtors
Increase / (decrease) in creditors
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
Cash at bank
Cash
Loans falling due within one year

At start of year
£
173,053
-
173,053
(54,181)
49,081
(16,940)
(16,940)
32,141
173,053
205,194
205,194
Cash flows
£
Year ended
5 April 2024
£
74,340
779
28,143
32,141
(15,000)
17,141
(52,660)
Year ended
5 April 2023
£
77,105
3,428
(990)
26,883
(10,151)
(10,151)
16,732
156,321
173,053
173,053
At end of year
£
205,194
(15,000)
190,194

9

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2024

1 Accounting policies

{a} General information and basis of preparation

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust is constituted by a Deed of Trust dated 27 March 1992, amended 12 August 2005 and 8 August 2014, and is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (2 January 2015). The address of the registered office is given in the charity information on page 1 of these financial statements. The principle activity of the Charity is to provide and maintain Gospel Halls in Didcot, Wallingford and the surrounding area for the religious activities of Christians often referred to as ‘Brethren’.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention. The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £.

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

{b} Funds Structure

Unrestricted income funds comprise those funds which the Trustees are free to use for any purpose in furtherance of the charitable objects. Unrestricted funds may include designated funds where the Trustees, at their discretion, have created a fund for a specific purpose.

{c} Income recognition

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

Collections are recognised upon receipt. Donations are recognised when the Trust has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the Charity and it is probable that those conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

Grants are recognised at fair value when the charity has entitlement after any performance conditions have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. If entitlement is not met then these amounts are deferred.

No amount is included in the financial statements for volunteer time in line with the SORP (FRS 102).

{d} Expenditure recognition

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses including support costs and governance costs are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings. For more information on this attribution refer to note {f} below.

{e} Irrecoverable VAT

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

10

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2024

1 Accounting policies (continued)

{f} Allocation of support and governance costs

All support costs have been attributed to charitable activities.

Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice.

{g} Fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are capitalised above a threshold of £2,500 per asset and are stated at cost (or deemed cost) less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset on a systematic basis over its expected useful life as follows:

Freehold land No depreciation Freehold buildings 2% straight line Plant & machinery 10% straight line Office equipment 25% reducing balance Assets under construction No depreciation

2 Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the Trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The Trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the Charity to be able to continue as a going concern.

Income and endowments from donations and legacies
Collections
Gift aid donations
Gift aid tax recoverable
Year ended
5 April 2024
£
128,400
27,870
6,968
163,238
Year ended
5 April 2023
£
106,135
33,315
8,329
147,779

3 Income and endowments from donations and legacies

4 Bible Conference

A Bible Conference was held at the High Road hall in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell in August 2023. This event included international as well as local attendees, and comprised Gospel preachings, Bible readings and Bible addresses. The costs of the event (which included equipment hire, catering, security measures, etc) were financed by giving from the congregation and other Gospel Hall Trusts.

11

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2024

Other charitable activity costs
Support costs (note 6)
5
Expenditure on charitable activities
Donations made
Foxhall Gospel Hall Trust
Lateral flow tests for the congregation
Emergency Needs Fund
Meeting rooms running costs
Insurance
Light and heat
Repairs and maintenance
Cleaning
Telephone
90
85,316
205,226
Year ended
5 April 2024
£
15,750
6,198
-
21,948
5,267
36,755
50,375
3,809
1,666
97,872
Year ended
5 April 2023
£
8,558
18,395
150
27,103
-
3,247
27,340
52,208
4,154
1,282
88,231
85,884
201,218

6 Allocation of support costs

All support costs associated with charitable activities are allocated to the sole charitable activity of the Charity being the provision and maintenance of Gospel Halls for the local Brethren community.

Support cost
Legal fees
Depreciation
Governance costs
Year ended
5 April 2024
£
8,601
74,340
2,375
85,316
Year ended
5 April 2023
£
6,464
77,105
2,315
85,884

Governance costs comprise the independent examiner's fee of £2,375 (2023: £2,315). No other fees were payable to the independent examiner (2023: £nil).

7 Trustee remuneration and staff costs

No Trustees received remuneration or reimbursement of expenses from the Charity in the year ended 5 April 2024 (2023: none). The Charity employs no staff (2023: none).

12

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2024

At 5 April 2023
Depreciation
At 6 April 2023
Annual charge
At 5 April 2024
8
Tangible fixed assets
Cost
At 6 April 2023
Additions
At 5 April 2024
Net book value
At 5 April 2024
4,710,537
908,816
71,064
979,880
Freehold
land and
buildings
£
5,690,417
-
5,690,417
4,919
17,239
2,463
19,702
Plant &
machinery
£
24,621
-
24,621
2,441
24,568
3,254
7,628
8,111
813
8,924
-
-
-
Office
equipment
Asset under
construction
£
£
11,365
7,628
-
16,940
11,365
24,568
2,441
24,568
3,254
7,628
8,111
813
8,924
-
-
-
Office
equipment
Asset under
construction
£
£
11,365
7,628
-
16,940
11,365
24,568
2,441
24,568
3,254
7,628
8,111
813
8,924
-
-
-
Office
equipment
Asset under
construction
£
£
11,365
7,628
-
16,940
11,365
24,568
Total
£
5,734,031
16,940
5,750,971
934,166
74,340
1,008,506



4,742,465

4,781,601

7,382

3,254

7,628

4,799,865

Included within freehold land and buildings at 5 April 2024 and 5 April 2023 is land at a cost of £2,137,260 which has not been depreciated. The asset under construction comprises professional fees incurred in the pursuit of planning permission for a potential additional meeting hall site.

9
Debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
No debtors are due after more than one year.
5 April 2024
£
9,818
5 April 2023
£
10,597
10
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income
Loans
5 April 2024
£
13,083
2,375
15,000
30,458
5 April 2023
£
-
2,315
-
2,315

In July 2023, loans of £15,000 were made to the Charity to fund any potential shortfall in contributions to the Bible Conference hosting costs, see note 4. All loans are interest free, unsecured, unrestricted, and remain outstanding at 5 April 2024.

13

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2024

11 Related party transactions

Donations of £19,520 (year ended 5 April 2023: £17,810) were made by the Trustees, or their immediate family or business interests, to the Charity in the year ended 5 April 2024. These donations were made to the general fund on the same basis as all other donors.

In July 2023, a loan of £5,000 was made to the Charity by a company of which Mr Stuart Hill (Trustee) is a director. Also in July 2023, two loans totalling £5,000 were made by companies of which Mr Nigel Silcock (Trustee until 8 November 2023) is a director.

There were no other related party transactions during either the year ended 5th April 2024, or the year ended 5th April 2023 that require disclosure.

12 Post balance sheet events

After the 5 April 2024 year end the Trustees ended their pursuit of planning permission for the potential meeting hall site classified as an asset under construction within tangible fixed assets, see note 8. As a consequence of this decision, the capitalised cost of £24,568 at 5 April 2024 will be reclassified as an expense in the year ending 5 April 2025.

During the year ending 5 April 2025 all loans outstanding at 5 April 2024 were waived by the donors and will be recognised as donations received in the year ending 5 April 2025.

13 Controlling party and ultimate controlling party

The controlling party and ultimate controlling party of the Charity is the Board of Trustees of Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust.

14

Lime Walk Gospel Hall Trust Additional information which does not form part of the financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2024

1 Analysis of freehold land and buildings

Didcot High Station Dunsomer Woodway
Road Road Road Hill Road Total
Cost £ £ £ £ £ £
At 6 April 2023 268,581 3,721,989 630,940 539,231 529,676 5,690,417
Additions - - - - - -
Disposals - - - - - -
At 5 April 2024 ~~268,581~~ ~~3,721,989~~ ~~630,940~~ ~~539,231~~ ~~529,676~~ ~~5,690,417~~
Depreciation
At 6 April 2023 53,745 759,828 46,926 24,527 23,790 908,816
Annual charge 5,372 46,440 8,704 4,784 5,764 71,064
Disposals - - - - - -
At 5 April 2024 59,117 806,268 55,630 29,311 29,554 979,880
Net book value
At 5 April 2024 209,464 2,915,721 575,310 509,920 500,122 4,710,537
At 5 April 2023 214,836 2,962,161 584,014 514,704 505,886 4,781,601
Land registry references:
Didcot Road: BK123069
High Road: ON248874 and ON282044
Station Road: ON281565
Dunsomer Hill Church & Gospel Hall ON327820
Woodway Road Church: ON345758

2 Fund movements for the prior year

Balance
at 6 April
2022
General fund
5,033,710
Designated fund:
Emergency
Needs Fund
150
5,033,860
148,558
(201,068)
-
(150)
114,725
(137,268)
Income Expenditure
Transfer
-

-
-
Balance
at 6 April
2023
4,981,200
-
4,981,200

15