I SANDWELL
CHURCHES,
I LINK
TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 ST DECEMBER 2022

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2022 


## Contents 

|REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION|3|
|---|---|
|AIMS AND PURPOSE|4|
|REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES|5|
|FINANCIAL REVIEW|6|
|INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT|7|
|STATEMENT of FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES|8|
|ANALYSIS of INCOME|9|
|ANALYSIS of EXPENDITURE|9|
|APPENDIX|10|



The Trustees present their annual report and the financial statements of the charity for the period ended 31[st] December 2022 

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TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2022 


## REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION 

> Registered charity name: Sandwell Churches Link 

> Charity registration number: 1167003 

> Registered address: Wesley Methodist Church 291 High Street West Bromwich B70 8ND 

> Trustees: Mrs. Hazel Bloxham Rev. Bev Thomas Mrs. Esther Spence Rev. Jon Grant Miss Elizabeth Farley Mr. Trevor Palfreyman 

> Chief Executive Officer: Mr. James Lynch 

> Independent Examiner: Mr. Eric Moore 2, Orchard Way Great Barr Birmingham B43 8PN 

> Principle Bankers: Lloyds Bank Ltd. 

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TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2022 


## CHARITY STATUS 

The charity is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) registered in 2016 

## AIMS AND PURPOSE 

The objects of Sandwell Churches Link are to: 

- _Play a key strategic role in reducing poverty in all its forms in Sandwell, including homelessness, food poverty, financial exclusion, and loneliness._ 

- _Help local churches rooted in neighbourhoods to connect with the wider community including other faiths, businesses, voluntary and community groups and public sector organisations_ 

- _Help local churches to connect with each other in collaborative learning, shared resources and combined social action_ 

- _Support churches by offering training, to enable them to use an asset-based approach to working with their local communities._ 

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TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2022 


## REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES 

Sandwell Churches Link is a small charity, with a bold mission to work together to help end poverty in Sandwell. The charity operates with an extensive network of partners all of whom share this mission. Our partnerships start with churches of all denominations, but also extends to other-faith groups and community organisations with no particular faith connection. 

During 2022, the core activities of Sandwell Churches’ Link were: 

- Developing the Sandwell Church Network, in each of the 6 towns 

- Supporting ‘Places of Welcome’ initiative 

- Pioneering the ‘Warm Spaces’ initiative with church and community partners 

- Providing support and innovation to the Sandwell Food Power Network 

- Working with 40 churches on effective community engagement through the ‘Opening New Doors’ project. 

- Tackling Financial Exclusion 

- Pioneering the development of Community Hubs across the borough 

Throughout 2022 Sandwell Churches Link continued to work closely in partnership with Transforming Communities Together (Lichfield Diocese) and Thrive Together (Birmingham Diocese) 

In 2022 Sandwell Churches’ Link worked in partnership with Sandwell Council and Nurture Development to facilitate a further series of Asset Based Community Development workshops, and an 8-week Discovering ABCD Course, which was attended by 22 local partners from churches and community groups. 

During 2022 more new food banks and Pantries have sprung up, which reflects both the continuing needs across the communities, and the preparedness of churches and other community organisations to step into the gap. Sandwell Churches Link has continued to play an important role in helping coordinate these projects and helping to share information, resources and learning across the borough. We work alongside Sandwell Council and all the main food networks based in Sandwell, or who deliver services in Sandwell. 

Sandwell Churches Link is very grateful for the privilege to work with so many great churches and community partners, and to its sponsors who enable us to operate the charity. 

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TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2022 

## FINANCIAL REVIEW 

## Income generation 

The total income for the year was £69,702 (2021: £28,325) which was generated through voluntary donations, grants, and training courses. 

## Expenditure 

Total expenditures were £75,091 (2021: £36,686) 

## Funds 

Overall funds are £17,923 (2021: £23,312) of which restricted funds are £0 (2021: £0) 

## Reserves policy 

The charity holds unrestricted and restricted funds. Restricted funds are held for particular reasons and are usually spent within the financial year. Our overall policy for unrestricted funds is to hold reserves at a minimum threshold necessary to operate the organisation (not more than 3 months expenditure) or higher when specific projects are being planned for subsequent years. 

## ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES 

Rev. Jon Grant as Chair of Trustees 

Signed: 


Date: June 2023 

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TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CH
LIN%RCHES' FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
ST
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES
CHARITY COMMISSION
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TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2022 


## STATEMENT of FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 

For the accounting period 1[st] January 2022 to 31[st] December 2022 

||Notes|Unrestricted<br>Fund|Restricted<br>Fund|Total Funds<br>2022|<br>Total Funds<br>2021|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Income|1|£|£|£|£|
|Voluntaryincome||50,320|19,061|69,381|28,325|
|Charitable activities||321|-|321|-|
|Total Income||50,641|19,061|69,702|28,325|
|||||||
|Expenditure|2|||||
|Raisingfunds||||100|100|
|Charitable activities||||68,592|36,586|
|Total Expenses||||75,091|36,686|
|||||||
|Net Income/Expenditure||||(5,389)|(8,360)|
|||||||
|Funds brought forward||||23,312|31,672|
|Balance||||17,923|23,312|



ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES 

Rev. Jon Grant as Chair of Trustees 

Signed: 


Date: June 2023 

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TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2022 


## 1. ANALYSIS of INCOME for 2021/2022 

||Unrestricted<br>Funds|<br> <br>Restricted<br>Funds|Total Funds<br>(2022)|Total Funds<br>(2021)|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Voluntary<br>Income|£|£|£|£|
|Charity Donations|113|-|113|-|
|Grants|50,207|19,061|69,268|28,325|
|Total Voluntary<br>Income|50,320|19,061|69,381|28,325|
|Charitable<br>Activities|||||
|Training Courses|321|-|321||
|TOTAL INCOME|50,641|19,061|69,702|28,325|



## 2. ANALYSIS of EXPENDITURE for 2021/2022 

||TotalExpenses<br>(2022)|TotalExpenses<br>(2021)|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Expenditure on raisingfunds|-|-|
|Website and Promotion|100|100|
|Total expenditure on raising<br>funds|100|100|
|Charitable Activities|||
|Employee Salaries|32,736|28,571|
|Sessional Workers Costs|12,206|3,791|
|Office Rental|975|1,075|
|TrainingCourses|3,600||
|Events|120|25|
|Promotional Filming|1,467|632|
|IT and Comms|1,233||
|Legal and Insurance|544|552|
|HR Support|-|727|
|Travel and other Expenses|3,049|1,213|
|Partner Project Support|19,061|-|
|Total Charitable Activities|75,091|36,686|
|TOTALEXPENDITURE|75,091|36,686|



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