2024-12-31-accounts - Dorchester Family Church

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A Foundation Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Charity Number 1163899

Trustees’ Annual Report 2024

Objectives and activities

Dorchester Family Church has the following objectives;

To promote the Christian Faith within the United Kingdom and overseas.
To promote charitable purposes for the benefit of the inhabitants of Dorchester and elsewhere in Dorset including the relief of those in poverty or in need because of youth, age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage and the advancement of religious and secular education.

The trustees are committed to ensuring that as many people as possible can worship at our meetings and participate in our activities. We supported the provision of these activities by employing a full time Lead Elder/Pastor, a full time Children and Youth Lead Worker, a part time Elder and a part time Office Manager.

We have a regular Sunday morning meeting at the Thomas Hardye School theatre and the sixth form centre between 1000am and 1130am, which are open to the public. These meetings enable everyone to worship God, pray and listen to Bible teaching. In parallel, using the sixth form centre, we provide activities for children. These are divided into age-based groups (based on school years). They are;

“Live Wires” (0 – 3): This is a fully supervised crèche program for babies. It includes interactive bible based activities including stories, games, craft & prizes.

“Bright Sparks” (4 – 8): This group aims to communicate the love of God to a generation, and empower them to make a positive difference in the world. We promote acceptance of others and nurture a healthy self-image. The activities include; games, singing, drama, Bible teaching, craft and small group work.

“ Fusion” (9-12): This runs as a small group format and aims to help children deal with the pressures of teenage life. This involves discussion, games, drama etc. The group also has some mid-week meetings.

“ Ignite” (13-18): Meets Sundays at The Thomas Hardye School to discuss life and being an older teen, and also mid week to give our young people a safe place to air their views and values.

We provide a range of mid-week activities. These include;

“Connect Groups” : Smaller groups that meet in people’s homes across

Dorchester and the surrounding villages. The aim of these groups is to build relationships and to serve others in the community through team-based initiatives. Attendance is usually on a geographic basis, but groups are open to all.

“ Ignite Connect Group” : As indicated above, this is a mid-week group for fourteen to eighteen year olds, its aim is to discuss issues that relate to this particular age group and to give our young people a safe place to air their views.

“ Live Wires Playgroup” : This is a mid-week group that meets weekly at the Dorchester Youth Centre for parents with young pre-school age children, it allows the toddlers to play together, while the parents or carers have a cup of tea and cake and discuss the joys of parenting!

“Cameo Group”: a mid-week ministry for women, engaging in a range of activities.

“Men’s Group”: a mid-week/weekend ministry for men that also engages in a range of activities.

“ Worship Team Night” : This group meets once a week. Sometimes this involves having a meal together or playing music together.

From time to time we also provide the following course format activities, available to all, to assist in achieving our objectives;

“ The Alpha Course” : We run this course on a regular basis in the evenings or on Sunday mornings over a 10-week period. The course involves a meal, a talk and a discussion time. The aim of Alpha is to provide an opportunity for people within the community to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed atmosphere.

“ Getting Connected Course” : When people have done Alpha and are often attending regularly on a Sunday, a course is run once a week over a number of weeks to let them know exactly what it means to belong to the Church.

Achievements and performance

During the period January to December 2024 attendance at our events, in particular the Sunday morning meetings, has continued to increase slightly from 2023, with a typical meeting attracting 214 people. The attendance numbers mean that we have to continue to consider other options as the venue is nearing capacity. During this period we have not been able to find venues with a greater capacity, and so we anticipate considering a multiple Sunday meeting

approach in relation to our current venue, and to further consider a property purchase as an alternative. This approach will be reflected in our financial balances. With the permission of the school authorities, we had been able to continue our use of a mobile baptismal pool and have been able to conduct full immersion baptism for those seeking it.

We have ensured our venue is accessible on a step free basis, has appropriate sound relays and well-placed screens for reading accessibility.

In addition, we have run outdoor church meetings, sporting and family gathering events and have also joined with other churches in shared worship and teaching provision. The principal event in this calendar was the Commission Festival.

We have been pleased to actively support the Dorchester food bank and Dorchester Family Support as part of our work delivering outcomes in line with our charitable objectives.

Safeguarding

We continue to operate our safeguarding policy, which is reviewed each April as a minimum. We operate a system of Disclosure and Barring Service Checks, through “31:8”.

Financial Information

Our attached financial report provides details of our financial activities. At the close of this reporting period (31/12/2024) we had total unrestricted funds amounting to £241,352. This represents an increase of £26,437 on the total at the end of 2023.

This year we continued to use our funds to give to a range of groups and projects, in accordance with our objectives. The details are in our accounts report.

Reserves Policy

It is our policy to hold in reserves the equivalent of six months’ general running costs including salaries. It is also our policy to hold reserves to allow for the renewal of equipment and assets when this becomes necessary; to reserve for potential changes in staff and to reserve for any planned special events or projects. At the end of 2024 the sum identified for these purposes amounts to £110,200.

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: CE004515 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1163899 Re ort of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 for Dorchester Famil Church A Hunter & Co Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants 61 St Thomas Street Weymouth Dorsel DT4 8EQ

Dorchester Famil Church Contents of the Financial Statemenls for the Year Er)ded 31 December 2024 Page Report of the Trustees Independent Examinerfs Report statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet Notes lo the Financial Statements 6 to 11 Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 12 to 13

Dorchester Famil Church Re ort of the Trustees lor the Year Ended 31 December 2024 The trustees who are also direclors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006. present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounling and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with Ihe Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 1021 {effective 1 January 2019)- STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing do¢ument The charity is controlled by ils governing document, and constitutes a Charitable Incorporated Organisalion created by The Charrties Act 2011. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATJVE DETAILS Registered Company number CE004515 (England and Wales) Registered Charity number 1163899 Reglstered offl¢e Unil 2 Red Cow Business Park Dorchester Dorset DT1 1YD Trustees D Keeling A Whiling Mrs R Simons C Osborne J Kinder Company Se¢retary Independent ExamineT A Hunter & Co Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants 61 St Thomas Slieet Weymouth Dorsel DT4 8EQ Approved by order of the board of trustees on 5 March 2025 and signed on rts behalf by". A Whiling - Trustee Page 1

Inde endent Examiner's Re Dorchester Famil Chufch ort lo the Trustees of Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Dorchester Family ChuTch I'the Company,) I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Ihe Company for the year ended 31 December 2024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charitls trustees of the Company (and also ils directors for the purposes of company law} you are responsible for the preparalion of Ihe accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 {'the 2006 Act,). Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audrted under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination. I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act,). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145151 {b) of the 2011 Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confim) that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe". accounting records were nol kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Acl, or the accounts do nol accord wth those records", or the accounts do not comply with the accounling requirements of Seclion 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement Ihal the accounts give a true and fair view vthich is not a matler considered as parl of an independent examination- or the accounts have not been prepared in accordan wilh the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 1021). I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which altentiori Should be drawn in this report in order to enable a pioper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. Alison Hunter A Hunter & Co Lld Chartered Certified Accountants 61 St Thomas Street Weymouth Dorset DT4 8EQ 5 March 2025 Page 2

Dorchester Famil Church Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 31.12.24 Uniestri¢ted fund 31.12.23 Tot21 funds Notes INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 229.644 187,800 Other trading activities Investment income 3.110 6,170 3.284 3,346 Total 238,924 194,430 EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 59,836 63,517 Other 152,651 134,061 Total 212.487 197.578 NET INCOMEIIEXPENDITURE) 26,437 (3,148) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 214.915 218.063 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 241.352 214.915 The notes form parl of these financial slalemenls Page 3

Dorchester Famil Church Balance Sheet 31 December 2024 31.12.24 Unrestricted fund 31.12.23 Total funds Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 6,454 7,593 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Cash at bank 14,782 224.121 9,448 201,602 238,903 211,050 CREDITORS Amounts falling due thin one year 10 {4.005) (3,728} NET CURRENT ASSETS 234.898 207,322 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 241.352 214,915 NET ASSETS 241,352 214,915 FUNDS Unreslricled funds 241,352 214,915 TOTAL FUNDS 241,352 214,915 The charitable company is enlilled lo exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Cornpanies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 December 2024. The members have not required the company lo obtain an audTt of ils financial slatemenls for the year ended 31 December 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for (al ensLsring that the charitable company keeps accounting records Ihal comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and Ibl preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the slate of affairs of the charitable company as at Ihe end of ea¢h financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requiiements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the Tequiremenls of the Companies Acl 2006 relating to financial slalements, so far as applicable lo the charitable company. The notes form part of these financial statements Page 4 continued...

Dorchesler Famil Church Balan Sheet- continued 31 December 2024 These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime. The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 5 March 2025 and were signed on its behalf by.. A Whiling - Trustee The notes foTm part of these financial statements Page 5

Dorchester Famil Church Notes lo the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of preparlng the financial statements The financial statements of the charitable company. which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordan with the Charities SORP {FRS 102} 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance wrth the Financial Repotting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) leffeclive 1 January 2019),, Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and Ihe Companies Acl 2006. The financial statements have been prepared UT)der the historical cost convention. Income All income is recognised in the Slatemenl of Financial Activities once the charity has entillemenl to the funds. it is probable that the income will be reived and Ihe amount Can be measured reliably. Expenditure 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 a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly altributed to particular headings they have been allocated lo activities on a basis consislenl with the use of resources. Tangible fixed a$$ets Depreciation is provided al the following annual rates in order lo write off each asset over its estimated useful life. Fixtures and fittings 15% on reducing balance Taxation The charity is exempt from corporation lax on its charitable activities. Fund accounting Unrestricted funds Can be used in accordance wilh the charitable objectives al the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular reslri¢ted purposes. Further explanation of the nalure and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements. Hire purchase and leasing commitments Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Adivilies on a straight line basis over the peiiod of the lease. Page 6 continued...

Dorchester Famil Church Notes lo the Financial Slatemenls - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Continued Penslon costs and other post-retirement benefits The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financi81 Activities in the period lo Nthi¢h they relate. OTHER TRADING ACTivrriES 31.12.24 31.12.23 Cornmission Refund Ignite l Bright Sparks Event Tickets Books Newday Fund Income 58 145 385 69 49 1.731 1,050 2.907 3.110 3,284 INVESTMENT INCOME 31.12.24 31.12.23 Deposit account interest Interest receivable - trading 6,170 3,279 67 6,170 3,346 NET INCOMEIIEXPENDITUREI Net incomel(expendilure) is staled after chargingl{crediting}'. 31.12.24 31.12.23 Depreciation owned assets Other operating leases 1.139 39,367 1,340 37,476 Page 7 continued..

Dorchester Famil Church Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 TRUSTEES. REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS There were no tTUStees' remuneration or other benefils for the year ended 31 December 2024 nor for the year ended 31 December 2023. Trustees, expenses There were no Iruslees, expenses paid for the year ended 31 December 2024 nor for the year ended 31 December 2023. STAFF COSTS The average monthly number of employees during Ihe year vrns as follows". 31.12.24 31.12.23 Support No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Unrestricled fund INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 187.800 Other trading activities Investment income 3,284 3,346 Total 194,430 EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 63,517 Other 134.061 Total 197,578 NET INCOMEIIEXPENDITUREI {3,148) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 218,063 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 214,915 Page 8 continued...

Dorchester Famil Church Notes lo the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Fixtures and fillings COST At 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024 17,982 DEPRECIATION At 1 January 2024 Charge for year 10.389 1.139 At 31 December 2024 11.528 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 December 2024 6,454 At 31 December 2023 7,593 DEBTORS: AMOUTrs FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 31.12.24 31.12.23 Other debtors Prepayments 14,605 177 9,271 177 14,782 9,448 10. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 31.12.24 31.12.23 Trade creditors Social security and olher taxes Accrued expenses 3,222 782 2,996 732 4,005 3,728 Page 9 continued...

Dorchesler Fami Church Notes lo the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 11. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Nel movement in funds Al 31.12.24 At 1.1.24 Unrestrlcted funds General fund 214.915 26,437 241.352 TOTAL FUNDS 214,915 26,437 241.352 Net movemenl in funds. included in Ihe above are as follows= Incoming Resources Movement resources expended in funds Unrestricted funds General fund 238.924 (212.487) 26,437 TOTAL FUNDS 238.924 (212.487) 26,437 Comparatives for movement in funds Net movement in funds At 31.12.23 At 1.1.23 Unrestricted funds General fund 218.063 13.148) 214,915 TOTAL FUNDS 218.063 (3.148) 214,915 Comparative net movement in funds. included in ihe above are as follows.. Incoming Resources Movement resour5 expended in funds Unrestricted funds General fund 194.430 (197,578) (3,148) TOTAL FUNDS 194.430 {197.5781 {3.148> Page 10 continued...

DorchesteT Famil Church Notes lo the Financial Statements- continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 11. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS- continued A current year 12 months and prior year 12 monlhs combined position is as follows-. Net movement in funds Al 31.12.24 At 1.1.23 Unrestricted funds General fund 218.063 23,289 241.352 TOTAL FUNDS 218.063 23.289 241,352 current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows.. Incoming ReSoUrS Movement resources expended in funds Unrestricted funds General fund 433,354 (410,065) 23,289 TOTAL FUNDS 433,354 (410.065) 23,289 12. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES There were no related party transactions for the year ended 310ecember 2024. Page 11

Dorchestei Famil Church Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 31.12.24 31.12.23 INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Donation$ and legacies Gifts Donations Gift aid 191,278 156,915 150 30,735 38,366 229.644 187.800 Other trading activities Commission Refund Ignite l Bright Spatks Event Tickets Books Newday Fund Income 58 145 385 69 49 1.731 1.050 2.907 3,110 3,284 Investment In¢ome Deposit account interest Interest receivable - trading 6.170 3,279 67 6.170 3,346 Total incoming re$our¢es 238.924 194,430 EXPENDITURE Raising donations and legacies Olher operating leases Evangelism l Mission Commission l Mission Fund Alpha Speakers Gifl Church Family Family fun day Church Gift Newday Commission Feslival 39.367 785 7,510 528 550 2.691 37,476 221 11,075 494 550 580 390 2,370 3.833 6,528 1,050 4,177 3,178 59.836 63,517 Other Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 1,139 1,340 This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements Page 12

Dorchester Fami Church Oetailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 31.12.24 31.12.23 Support costs Management Wages Social security Pensions Insurance Light and heat Telephone Postage and stationery Sundries Training Website Software Subscriptions Travel Other direct costs 115,562 6.256 5.784 758 2.569 709 3.605 492 1.971 125 76.405 21,913 7,932 772 3,893 680 2,407 810 1,742 125 114 2,140 207 10.066 2.931 308 7.161 148.321 129,206 Finance Bank charges 70 65 Information technology Repairs and renewals 1.756 2.100 Governance costs Accountancy and legal fees 1,365 1,350 Total resources expended 212,487 197.578 Net incomel(expenditure) 26,437 (3.148) This page does nol form part of the slatulory financial statements Page 13