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2024-03-31-accounts

Hoddesdon Christadelphian Services

Registered Charity no. 1163488

Annual report and accounts

Year Ended 31 March 2024

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.......................................................4 Provision of grants towards youth work in the wider community.....................................................4 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 Services9

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Administrative Information

Name: Hoddesdon Christadelphian Services

Charity number: 1163488 Principal address: 10 Wentworth Drive, Weybridge, KT13 9AJ Trustees: Mr James Bilton Mrs Jacqueline Bilton Mr David Cox Mr Redmond Peel Mrs Miranda Peel 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 26[th] 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 four times during the year (including the annual general meeting held on 14th October 2023) with an average level of attendance of 90%.

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

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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, specifically, guidelines on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular our intention is to focus activities on varied aspects of faith in practice by:

A principle underlying the conference weekend is that it should be inclusive, embracing all ages, all backgrounds, all views, all characters, those already committed to Christian belief and those still searching.

The age range at conference is wide (characteristically under 18 – 90+ 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. The under-18 booking form requires a signed declaration of care.

Whilst all those aged 25 years of age and under are automatically granted a significant two-thirds reduction in the weekend charge, any delegate can apply for, and be granted, the 50% subsidised 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 22[nd] – 24[th] March in 2024, marked the 61[st] celebration of the annual conference, all held at High Leigh Christian Conference Centre in Hertfordshire, an excellent venue offering great hospitality and all the facilities we need. In line with other conference venues significant changes have had to be made to their contracts to compensate for the impact the pandemic and cost of living crises have had on hospitality venues. Whilst, for us, these have been a challenge, we have been able to meet them due to generous donations from some of the 238 delegates, ages ranging from 16 – 90+ years who attended in 2024,

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not only from the UK but from Europe, Canada and the USA as well. Of these, 27 attendees were at conference for the first time, 36 attendees took subsidised places, of which 23 were under 25 years of age.

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 for the rest of the weekend. Of the seventeen different group activities (called focus groups) run on Saturday, covering aspects of the Christian life, four ran in Master class format, eleven were interactive workshops and three were practical sessions. The master classes were offered live as well as being recorded for later listening, enabling some delegates unable to attend in person to benefit from specific topics in their own time. Each conference delegate chose two group activities to attend on Saturday with plenary praise and social sessions in the evening. On Sunday morning the main study for this year’s conference , ‘Let me show you a better way’ was led by one of our members, followed in the afternoon by a Celebration communion service to conclude the event.

As has happened consistently, every year for more than sixty years, the delegates were asked to complete a questionnaire on every aspect of the weekend they attended. Overall, the comments received offered strong support validating the work of the committee , together with some suggestions for future consideration. The response rate (62%) was good, with many very positive comments, ideas and views useful for shaping future events.

The Worship Team co-ordinated music over the weekend and several delegates participated in the band which was highly praised.

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 worship books, together with one or two other selected books relevant to specific topics currently of interest to Christians. There were many comfortable indoor social spaces for couples or groups to relax and extensive well-tended gardens for walks.

A collection at Conference together with donations, both at conference and since, have proved a great help to the committee to meet the terms of the new contract together with retaining 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 great success with both the delegates and the committee satisfied and having positive projections for 2025.

Production and distribution of materials for worship resources

The primary worship resource we produce as a committee is the ‘Praise the Lord’ (PTL) hardbacked 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. During the year, 75 copies of the full compilation were sold.

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To further enhance the variety of our worship and maintain a library of contemporary resources, a smaller supplementary collection of songs, ‘Praise the Lord 2016’ (PTL 2016), so titled due to its release in 2016, comprising 37 more modern hymns, also sold more than 100 during the year. 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 and sales of these were also made during the year.

Provision of grants towards youth work in the wider community Requests were received for Youth Project funding for help with hiring a minibus for use at camp, as well as replacement of a large tent for young people’s use at camp. Once the safeguarding rules applied at camp had been checked these requests were granted; total grants of £1,145 were made.

The trustees wish to retain young people’s attendance at the annual conference and the impact of significantly increased charges for that event suggest a review of this object would be timely.

Financial review

Hoddesdon Christadelphian Services financial situation for the year ended 2024.

31.03.23 31.03.24
Conference Account £0.00 £0.00
On Going Services £16,388.17 £18,820.62
Subsidy Fund £11,899.42 £17,949.46
Youth project Fund £0.00 £0.00
Legacy Fund £12,897.65 £11,752.65
Total £41,185.24 £48,522.73
Movement in Year £7,337.49

Commentary for the accounts, year ending 31/03/24 (full breakdown in Appendix 1).

Total receipts on unrestricted funds were £62,706.49. This was represented by:

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Total expenses were (£55,369.00). We have grouped our explanation under the main account movements in our explanation below.

High Leigh Centre costs totalling £52,377.00 in relation to the 2024 conference.

A further £1,847.00 costs in relation to the running costs of the conference and administrative expenses including costs associated with the PTL and PTL 2016 songbooks (postage storage and handling).

Grants Awarded accounted for £1,145.00.

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.

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Appendix 1: Full Breakdown of Accounts

HODDESDON CHRISTADELPHIAN SERVICES

Year ended 31st March 2024

Year ended 31st March 2024
BALANCE SHEET 31.03.24
Lloyds Current 35,016.98

Lloyds Investment		 3,269.78

Lloyds Bookings		 10,235.97
48,522.73
Represented by:

Conference Account		 0.00
On Going Services 18,820.62

Subsidy Fund		 17,949.46

Youth Project Fund		 0.00

Legacy Fund		 11,752.65
48,522.73
CONFERENCE ACCOUNT 31.03.24
Gross Delegate fees 58,393.20

Refunds		 -2,005.00
Subsidised places incl students -6,020.00
Net Delegate fees received after refunds & donations 50,368.20

Bank Interest		 34.45
INCOME 50,402.65
High Leigh Centre -52,377.00

Liability insurance		 -548.60

Copyright & Direct Expenses		 -275.00
EXPENSES -53,200.60
DEFICIT for the year -2,797.95
Transfer from subsidy fund 2,797.95

Brought forward balance		 0.00
Carried forward balance 0.00
ON GOING SERVICES 31.03.24
Sales incl. postage repaid 3,455.85
INCOME 3,455.85
Admin, Committee expenses & Other -1,023.40
Movement on the year 2,432.45

Transfer to subsidy fund		 0.00

Brought forward balance		 16,388.17
Carried forward balance 18,820.62
SUBSIDY FUND 31.03.24
Brought forward 11,899.42

Collection and Donations (inc Gift Aid)		 8,847.99

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Transfer to Conference Account -2,797.95
Transfer from On going services 0.00
Carried forward 17,949.46
YOUTH PROJECT FUND 31.03.24
Brought forward 0.00

Grants awarded and paid		 -1,145.00

Transfer from Legacy Account		 1,145.00
Carried Forward 0.00
LEGACY FUND 31.03.24
Brought forward 12,897.65

Donations		 0.00
Transfer to YPF -1,145.00
Carried Forward 11,752.65

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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
31/03/24 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 31/03/24.

Responsibilites 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: Christian Carter Date:

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Name: Christian Carter Relevant professional Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales qualifcaton(s) or body (if any): Address:

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