TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
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 |
The Trustees present their annual report and the financial statements of the charity for the period ended 31[st] December 2024
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TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
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 Ms. Elizabeth Farley Mr. Trevor Palfreyman Pastor. Niyi Oludayomi Dr. David Jarrett Chief Executive Officer: Mr. James Lynch Independent Examiner: Mr. Eric Moore 2, Orchard Way Great Barr Birmingham B43 6PN Principal Bankers: Lloyds Bank Ltd.
CHARITY STATUS
The charity is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) registered in 2016
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TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
AIMS AND PURPOSE
The objects of Sandwell Churches Link are to:
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Play a key strategic role in reducing poverty in all its forms in Sandwell, including homelessness, food poverty, financial exclusion, and loneliness.
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Help local churches rooted in neighbourhoods to connect with the wider community including other faiths, businesses, voluntary and community groups and public sector organisations
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Help local churches to connect with each other in collaborative learning, shared resources and combined social action
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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 2024
REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES
Sandwell Churches Link (SCL) 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 2024, the core activities of Sandwell Churches’ Link were continuing to:
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Develop the Sandwell Church Network, in each of the 6 towns.
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Develop of the Sandwell Clothing Bank Project.
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Support ‘Places of Welcome’ and ‘Warm Spaces’ initiatives.
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Provide support and innovation to the Sandwell Food Power Network, through a
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network of Foodbanks, Pantries and Community Meals.
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Work with local churches on effective community engagement and outreach through the
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‘Opening New Doors’ project.
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Tackle financial exclusion, through the expansion of CAP Debt provision across the 6- towns of Sandwell.
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Pioneer the development of Community Hubs across the borough.
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Help churches and community groups to communicate more effectively with their neighbourhoods and local networks.
During 2024, cost of living continued to rise, and the impact as always, is experienced most acutely by those on the margins of poverty, with the least resources. Consequentially, the need for food banks and pantries has continued to grow, along with the rising need for the provision of clothing and school uniforms. The inability to afford even the basic necessities has resulted in the knock-on effect of many resorting to borrowing money, leading to the added pressure of mounting debts. Against this worrying backdrop SCL has seen the heartening willingness of local churches and other community organisations to step into the gap, despite their own financial shortages, to help those on the margins of their communities.
Sandwell Churches Link has continued to play an important role in helping coordinate, resource and encourage many of these projects, including the operation and development of the Sandwell Clothing Bank, and Sandwell Debt Centre, in partnership with Christians Against Poverty (CAP). Sandwell Churches Link also plays a key role in sharing key information, resources and learning across the borough, working closely with Sandwell Council for Voluntary Service (SCVO) and Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and all the main food networks, such as Trussell Trust, Your Local Pantry and Black Country Food Bank who continue to lead on the provision of food 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 2024
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Income generation
The total income for the year was £120,585 (2023: £128,330), which was generated through voluntary donations, grants, consultancy, and training courses.
Expenditure
Total expenditure was £90,795 (2023: £74,972)
Funds
Overall funds are £101,071 ( 2023: £71,281 ) of which £41,031 (2023: £22,283 ) are restricted funds and £20,000 are designated funds ( 2023: £20,000 )
Reserves policy
The charity holds unrestricted, restricted and designated funds. Transfers can be made from unrestricted to restricted funds to prevent restricted funds from going into deficit. Our overall policy 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. (The charity currently holds £20,000 in designated funds, specifically allocated for this purpose.)
Signed:
Ms. Elizabeth Farley, Chair of Trustees
ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES
Date: 16[th] May 2025
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TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES
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TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
STATEMENT of FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
For the accounting period 1[st] January 2024 to 31[st] December 2024
| Note s Unrestricted Funds 2024 Restricted Funds 2024 Total Funds 2024 Unrestricted Funds 2023 Restricted Funds 2023 Total Funds 2023 |
Note s Unrestricted Funds 2024 Restricted Funds 2024 Total Funds 2024 Unrestricted Funds 2023 Restricted Funds 2023 Total Funds 2023 |
Note s Unrestricted Funds 2024 Restricted Funds 2024 Total Funds 2024 Unrestricted Funds 2023 Restricted Funds 2023 Total Funds 2023 |
Note s Unrestricted Funds 2024 Restricted Funds 2024 Total Funds 2024 Unrestricted Funds 2023 Restricted Funds 2023 Total Funds 2023 |
Note s Unrestricted Funds 2024 Restricted Funds 2024 Total Funds 2024 Unrestricted Funds 2023 Restricted Funds 2023 Total Funds 2023 |
Note s Unrestricted Funds 2024 Restricted Funds 2024 Total Funds 2024 Unrestricted Funds 2023 Restricted Funds 2023 Total Funds 2023 |
Note s Unrestricted Funds 2024 Restricted Funds 2024 Total Funds 2024 Unrestricted Funds 2023 Restricted Funds 2023 Total Funds 2023 |
Note s Unrestricted Funds 2024 Restricted Funds 2024 Total Funds 2024 Unrestricted Funds 2023 Restricted Funds 2023 Total Funds 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income 1 £ £ £ £ £ £ |
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| Grants, Donations & Legacies 26,756 92,090 118,846 27,720 97,639 125,35 9 |
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| Income from Charitable Activities 1,015 724 1,739 1,690 1,281 2,971 |
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| Total Incoming Resources 27,771 92,814 120,585 29,410 98,920 128,33 0 ~~aBe~~ ~~es~~ ~~ee~~ ~~eeee~~ |
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~~aBe~~ ~~es~~ ~~ee~~ ~~eeee~~ ~~essses~~ |
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| Expenditure 2 ~~a Be~~ ~~es~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee ee~~ ~~essses~~ ~~aee ee~~ |
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| Raising Funds 4,901 ~~es ss es~~ ~~aee ee~~ ~~aBe~~ ~~es~~ ~~ee~~ ~~eeee~~ |
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| Charitable Activities 85.894 ~~a ee ee~~ ~~aBe~~ ~~es~~ ~~ee~~ ~~eeee~~ ~~essses~~ |
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| Support Costs ~~a Be~~ ~~es~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee ee~~ ~~essses~~ ~~aee ee~~ |
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| Total expenditure 90,795 74,972 ~~es ss es~~ ~~aee ee~~ ~~aBe~~ ~~es~~ ~~ee~~ ~~eeee~~ |
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~~a ee ee~~ ~~aBe~~ ~~es~~ ~~ee~~ ~~eeee~~ ~~eses~~ ~~eses~~ |
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| Income/Expenditure 29,790 53,358 ~~a Be~~ ~~es~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee ee~~ ~~eses~~ ~~eses~~ ~~eeeeee~~ |
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~~es es~~ ~~es es~~ ~~eeeeee~~ ~~aBe~~ ~~es~~ ~~ee~~ ~~eeee~~ |
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| Balance B/fwd 71,281 17,923 ~~ee ee ee~~ ~~aBe~~ ~~es~~ ~~ee~~ ~~eeee~~ ~~eses~~ ~~eses~~ |
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~~a Be~~ ~~es~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee ee~~ ~~eses~~ ~~eses~~ ~~ee~~ |
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| Balance C/Fwd ~~es ~~ ~~ee~~ |
~~es~~ ~~ee~~ |
~~es ~~ ~~ee~~ |
~~es~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
101,071 ~~es~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
~~ee~~ |
~~ee~~ |
72,281 ~~ee~~ |
Ms. Elizabeth Farley, Chair of Trustees ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES
Signed:
Date: 16[th] May 2025
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TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
1. ANALYSIS of INCOME for 2023/2024
| INCOME | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UnrestrictedR | Restricted | ctedDesignatedT | Totals | Unrestricted | Restricted | Designated | atedTotals | |||
| Grants & Donations | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| WalterStanleyTrust | £25,000 | £14,000 | £39,000 | WST | £25,000 | £14,000 | £20,000 | £59,000 | ||
| National Lottery | £60,000 | £60,000 | NatLot | £9,500 | £9,500 | |||||
| ACTS435 | £1,945 | £1,945 | Benefact | £21,660 | £21,660 | |||||
| Churches | £250 | £14,800 | £15,050 | Churches | £7,219 | £7,219 | ||||
| Donations | £1,506 | £1,345 | £2,851 | Donations | £620 | £2,324 | £2,944 | |||
| Charitable activities | £1,015 | £724 | £1,739 | Charitable acts | £1,690 | £1,281 | £2,971 | |||
| Sandwell MBC | £12,000 | £12,000 | ||||||||
| Othergrants | £2,100 | £10,936 | £13,036 | |||||||
| **£27,771 ** | £92,814 | £120,585 | £29,410 | £78,920 | £20,000 | £128,330 | ||||
| B fwd from 2023 | £28,998 | £22,283 | £20,000 | £71,281 | £17,923 | |||||
| Expenditure | ||||||||||
| (see over) | £16,729 | £74,066 | £74,972 | |||||||
| Balance at the bank | **£40,040 ** | £41,031 | £20,000 | £101,071 | £71,281 |
2. ANALYSIS of EXPENDITURE for 2023/2024
| 2. ANALYSIS of EXPENDITURE for 2023/2024 | 2. ANALYSIS of EXPENDITURE for 2023/2024 | 2. ANALYSIS of EXPENDITURE for 2023/2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Expenses Total Expenses |
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| 2024 2023 |
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| £ £ |
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| Expenditure on raisingfunds £4,501.00 £2,838.00 |
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| Website and Promotion £400.00 £115.00 |
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| Total expenditure on raising funds £4,901.00 £2,953.00 |
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| Charitable Activities ~~ee~~ |
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| Employee Salaries 49,316 46,746 |
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| Sessional Workers Costs 2,278 |
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| Office Rental 1,250 1,275 |
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| TrainingCourses 500 679 |
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| Events 630 |
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| Promotional Filming 1,100 433 |
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| IT and Comms 1,386 252 |
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| Legal and Insurance 739 527 |
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| Travel and other Expenses 9,363 2,930 |
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| Partner Project Support 19,332 19,177 |
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| Total Charitable Activities 85,894 72,019 |
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| TOTAL EXPENDITURE | 90,795 | 74,972 |
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