OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2023-03-31-accounts

Hoddesdon Christadelphian Services

Registered Charity no. 1163488

Annual report and accounts

Year Ended 31 March 2023

Contents

Administrative Information....................................................................................2 Structure, Governance and Management..............................................................2 Objectives and Activities.......................................................................................3 Achievements and Performance............................................................................3 Annual Conference.............................................................................................3 Production and distribution of materials for worship resources..........................3 Provision of grants towards youth work in the wider community.......................5 Financial review.....................................................................................................5 Contributions made by volunteers.........................................................................6 Appendix 1: Full Breakdown of Accounts...............................................................7

Appendix 2: Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Hoddesdon Christadelphian Services.......................................................................................9

Administrative Information Name: Hoddesdon Christadelphian Services

Charity number: 1163488 Principal address: 10 Wentworth Dene, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 9AJ Trustees: Mr James Bilton Mrs Jacqueline Bilton Mr David Cox Mr James Riley Mr Keith Riley Mrs Mary Riley Dr Joy Standeven (Secretary) Mrs Alison Tarrant Mr James Whitehorn (Treasurer)

Structure, Governance and Management

The Charity and its property are managed and administered by a committee of Charity Trustees. All the Trustees of the Charity are members of the Hoddesdon Christadelphian Services Committee. They are responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Charity. Members of the Hoddesdon Christadelphian Services Committee other than the Trustees are Members of the Charity.

The method of appointment of Trustees of the Hoddesdon Christadelphian Services Committee is set out in clause 10 of The Constitution of Hoddesdon Christadelphian Services (the governing document) dated 26th June 2015. The Trustees have taken steps to ensure that they all understand the charity’s purpose (objects) and rules as set out in the constitution and are aware of their responsibilities to comply with Charity Commission guidance as set out in ‘The Essential Trustee: What you need to know, what you need to do (CC3)’.

The Trustees met five times during the year (including the annual general meeting held on 15[th] October 2023) with an average level of attendance of 91%.

Government and Charity regulations, together with the development of technology, now enable management meetings to be wholly on-line using Zoom, or using a hybrid format, options we take advantage of to reduce unnecessary travel expenditure.

Objectives and Activities

To advance Bible-based Christian faith in accordance with Christadelphian beliefs for the benefit of the Christadelphian community and anyone interested in the practical application of Christian faith through:

  1. The holding of an Annual Conference open to anyone interested to attend for worship, spiritual renewal, to increase Biblical understanding and learn effective methods of preaching.

  2. Producing and distributing resource materials for worship.

  3. Providing grants towards youth work in the wider community consistent with the objects of the association.

  4. Promoting Christ-like behaviour towards all interested in the practical application of Christian faith.

When planning our activities for the year the Trustees have considered the Commission’s guidelines on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidelines on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular we try to enable people of the Christadelphian community, and anyone interested in the practical application of Christian faith to live this out through:

A principle underlying the conference weekend is that it should be inclusive, embracing all ages, all backgrounds, all views, all characters.

The age range at conference is wide (characteristically under 18 – 80+ years). A safe-guarding policy is applied for delegates under the age of 18 who will be present under the responsibility of their parent(s) or under the specific responsibility of another adult delegate. Attendance at Conference is subject to a signed declaration as required in the Under-18 booking form. Delegates 25 years of age and under, together with those of limited means, can apply for a significantly reduced attendance rate.

The object of promoting Christ-like behaviour towards all means that no individual or group will be treated any less favourably than any other, all will be welcome and given access to conference. By joining in activities with others it is the trustees wish that all will feel support and encouragement as everyone tries to shape their lifestyle to be the best that Christians aim for it to be.

Achievements and Performance

Annual Conference

The event held from 17 – 19 March in 2023 marked the 60[th] celebration of our annual conference, all held at High Leigh Christian Conference Centre in Hertfordshire, an excellent venue offering great hospitality and all the facilities we need. Close to 200 delegates attended, not simply from the UK but included six from Canada and the USA, and with delegates ages ranging from 16 – 80+ years.

As has been customary for many years, the weekend programme was structured to offer a choice of group activities during the day on Saturday followed by

plenary sessions on Saturday evening and Sunday. Of the seventeen different group activities (Workshops and Master classes) covering aspects of the Christian pilgrimage, the two Master classes were streamed live on YouTube enabling some delegates unable to attend in person to benefit from specific topics. Each delegate chose two group activities to attend on Saturday morning and afternoon with plenary praise and social sessions in the evening. On Sunday morning the main study of this year’s conference , ‘A Mid-Faith Crisis’ was led by one of our trustees James Riley, followed in the afternoon by a Celebration communion service to conclude the conference. All of the Sunday programme was streamed live on YouTube.

As has happened consistently, every year for sixty years, the delegates, both those who participated in-person or on-line, were asked to complete a questionnaire on every aspect of the weekend, as their views are central to shaping future conferences. Overall, the comments on the programme were very positive with results validating the work of the committee together with some suggestions for future consideration including minor changes to timing to ease out the strenuous weekend programme. Whilst the response rate was acceptable (60%) the committee noted the need to encourage greater participation with the opportunity to promote new topics for the future.

The Worship Team co-ordinated music over the weekend and several delegates participated in the band. This year, being the 60[th] celebration, a Praise Song Competition was held which produced two winners, one from the UK and one from Australia.

In addition to the structured programme, a prayer room was set aside as a quiet space for participants to engage in prayer, and opportunities were provided to purchase additional resources with copies of our song books for worship, together with one or two other selected books relevant to specific topics currently of interest to Christian groups. In view of the increasing costs of hospitality, due to the cost-of-living crisis, no special celebrations were held to mark the 60[th] event although Christian Conference Trust, our hosts, generously helped us to celebrate by providing some sparkling drinks on Saturday evening.

Donations and a collection at Conference were broadly in line with pre-pandemic years helping the committee to retain the subsidy fund that enables delegates, young or old, to attend the conference irrespective of their own personal circumstances.

Altogether this year’s conference was judged to have been a success since both the delegates and the committee were satisfied and have positive projections for 2024.

Production and distribution of materials for worship resources

The primary worship resource we produce as a committee is the ‘Praise the Lord’ (PTL) hard-backed compilation of 300 songs (full score music and words). This, first and foremost, is a book of hymns from Christian and Christadelphian sources used throughout the Christadelphian community and more widely by one or two related groups.

To further enhance the variety of our worship and maintain a library of contemporary resources, we also produce a supplementary collection of songs, ‘Praise the Lord 2016’ (PTL 2016), comprising 37 more modern hymns. A reprint of 1000 hard copies was undertaken during 2016-17 which included a smaller A5 version to complement the A4 for musicians.

For the year ending 31[st] March 2023 worship book sales of both the full hardbacked version, and the smaller supplementary collection, PTL 16, were reduced, compared with years prior to that, but still 90 of the full collection and 32 of the supplementary books were recorded as sold. Reduced sales are due, in part, to the total circulation over the years since publication now accounting for some 40,000+ song book copies distributed, and the widespread projection of the song words onto big screens which has the benefit of singers keeping their heads up thus improving the quality of the sound. In addition to our ongoing hardcopy worship materials, electronic versions of both the full PTL and PTL 2016 have been made available for personal devices.

Provision of grants towards youth work in the wider community A request was received for Youth Project funding for screens to divide up a hall used for Kids Club activities at one of our churches in the Midlands (£350); this was granted once safeguarding had been checked.

Financial review

Hoddesdon Christadelphian Services financial situation for the year ended 2023.

31.03.22 31.03.23
Conference Account £0.00 £0.00
On Going Services £25,553.83 £16,388.17
Subsidy Fund £14,540.16 £11,899.42
Youth project Fund £0.00 £0.00
Legacy Fund £13,496.65 £12,897.65
Total £53,590.64 £41,185.24
Movement in Year (£12,405.40)

Commentary for the accounts, year ending 31/03/23 (full breakdown in Appendix 1):

Total receipts on unrestricted funds were £41,129.74. This was represented by: - £37,004.44 net delegate fees received and £6.14 interest.

Total expenses were (£53,535.14). We have grouped our explanation under the main account movements in our explanation below.

High Leigh Centre costs totalling £50,020.00 in relation to the 2023 conference. A further £559.47 costs in relation to the running costs of the conference and administrative expenses.

The sales of both the PTL and PTL 2016 songbooks incur some cost (reprint, postage, storage, copyright and handling) accounting for £2,356.67.

Grants Awarded accounted for £599.

Contributions made by volunteers

We are grateful for the many volunteers who contribute so much to the running of our Conference and the production of our music resources.

In running our Conference;

all give their services voluntarily.

In the production of music resources:

all give their services voluntarily which means that our costs are minimised in the production of our publications and together with digital media are made available at well below real cost.

HODDESDON CHRISTADELPHIAN SERVICES

Year ended 31st March 2023

Year ended 31st March 2023
BALANCE SHEET 31.03.23
Lloyds Current 26,908.88

Lloyds Investment		 3,235.33

Lloyds Bookings		 11,041.03
41,185.24
Represented by:

Conference Account		 0.00
On Going Services 16,388.17

Subsidy Fund		 11,899.42

Youth Project Fund		 0.00

Legacy Fund		 12,897.65
41,185.24
CONFERENCE ACCOUNT 31.03.23
Gross Delegate fees 47,025.89

Refunds		 -4,071.45
Subsidised places incl students -5,950.00
Net Delegate fees received after refunds & donations 37,004.44

Bank Interest		 6.14
INCOME 37,010.58
High Leigh Centre -50,020.00

Committee meetings & Admin		 0.00

Liability insurance		 -559.47

Equipment and Production costs		 0.00
EXPENSES -50,579.47
DEFICIT for the year -
13,568.89

Transfer from subsidy fund		 13,568.89

Brought forward balance		 0.00
Carried forward balance 0.00
ON GOING SERVICES 31.03.23
Sales incl. postage repaid 3,191.01
INCOME 3,191.01
Admin, Committee expenses & Other -1,203.60

Equipment and Production costs		 -1,153.07
Movement on the year 834.34

Transfer to subsidy fund		 -10,000.00

Brought forward balance		 25,553.83
Carried forward balance 16,388.17
SUBSIDY FUND 31.03.23
Brought forward 14,540.16

Collection and Donations (inc Gift Aid)		 928.15
Transfer to Conference Account -13,568.89
Transfer from On going services 10,000.00
Carried forward 11,899.42
YOUTH PROJECT FUND 31.03.23
Brought forward 0.00

Grants awarded and paid		 -599.00

Transfer from Legacy Account		 599.00
Carried Forward 0.00
LEGACY FUND 31.03.23
Brought forward 13,496.65

Donations		 0.00
Transfer to YPF -599.00
Carried Forward 12,897.65

Appendix 2: Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Hoddesdon Christadelphian Services

Report to the
trustees/ members
of
On accounts for the
year ended		 Charity Name
Hoddesdon Christadelphian Services		 Charity Name
Hoddesdon Christadelphian Services		 Charity Name
Hoddesdon Christadelphian Services
31/03/23 Charity
no (if
any)		 1163488

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/23.

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 Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination, which gives 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.

Signed:
Name:		 Christian Carter Date: 11/12/2023
Christian Carter

Relevant Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: Orion Gate, Guildford Rd, Woking, GU22 7NJ