Charity Registration Number 1168374 ROTHERHAM EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUSTEES REPORT AND AUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 ROTHERHAM EVANGELICAL CHURCH LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Trustees: Trustees who served during the period up to the approval of this report were: Mr. lan Fenton Mr. David HaNey (aprx)inted 11th Juty 2023) Mr. Elliot Hyliger (appointed 11th Juty 2023) Mr. David lan Jones Mr. Benjamin Keen Mrs. Claire Lovell Mr. Ji PatttsoTrSmith Mr. Richard Proctor Mr. Paul Robinson (appointed 11th July 2023) Mr. Andrew Walker Charity Number: 1168374 Independent Examiner. SMH Haywwj & Co Lirnited 24-26 Mansfield Road ROthert￿rn South yO￿shIre S60 2DT ROTHERHAM EVANGELICAL CHURCH CONTENTS Page Trustees Report Independent examine¢s report Payments and receipts account Statement of assets arKI liabilities Notes 10 ROTHERHAM EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The twstees have pleasure to present their report and examined financial statements of Rotherham Evangelical Church (REC) for the period 161 April 2023 _ 31# March 2024. Constitution REC was constituted as a Charitable Incofporated Organisation (CIO) on 25th May 2016 and was registered with the Charities Commission on 21* July 2016 with the reference 1168374. Registered Office The registe￿ office of REC is Wellgate, Rothert￿ffl, S60 2PD. Advisers The principal professional advisers to REC during the period were: Solicitors.. Bradford and Sons. Rotherham Examiners: SMH Haywood & Co Limited, Rothert￿M Bankers: Clydesdale Bank PLC (Trading as Virgin Money). Rotherham Objectives The objeGtives of REC are the advancew£nt of the Christian Faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith primarity. but not exclusivety, within Rotherham and the surrounding neighbourhood. and such other charTtable purposes as shall. in the opinion of the chaiity trust*s, put into practi￿, the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ in acc￿￿nCe with the Basis of Faith. Public Benefft The tTusfres have paid due regard to guilance issued by the Charity Commission In deciding what activities the charity should undertth. Governance Members of REC meet regukrty thrDugh(xrt the year, including at the Annual Generdl Meeting. The membeT5 have full responsibilty for the directi￿ of REC. The [r￿MberS appoint the trustees of the church at their regular nEetings in accordance with ￿ charitr/8 cortstitution. The trustees seek to meet at least three tirrns a year in order to exercise the general control and management of the administrabon of the charity. The day to day operation of REC'S different mistries is delegated to indi￿ual or groups of trustees with specific roles arKI responsibilitRs. Risk management The trustees examine the major risks facing the charity on at least an annual basis. with ongoing rnonitoring provided by the church staff. Policies are in pla￿ foi both safe-guarding and dats protection. Fundraising REC does not in any way use professional fundraisers. Funds co￿￿ from npmbers of the church. other attendees of church services. the rental of REC church property and extemal donors supporting the obJ"eclives of the charrty. No complaints have been received relating to fundraising by REC. Developments during 2023-24 Eleven persons joined the rnembership of the church during the 202>24 financial year. Four adult baptisms took place during the same pericKI. An Assistant Minister joined the paid staff in September 2023. The part-tirrE Women's Ministry tsordinator retumed overseas in September 2023. One Assistant Minister left the paid staff in August 2023, but remained an Ekler and Trustee. The church continues to be most grateful lo Broom Methodist Church for their willing atbtude and flexibilty tOW8rds REC worshlpping in their prerTises. Plans for 202￿25 and further ahead It is anticipated thai the impact of the increasing cosl of Irving will continue to irnpact spending on staffing costs, rent. utiltties and benevolen￿ in the nexi year. The trustees have estimated that ten persons will be added to Trembership of the church in 202 2025. The financial statements have been Fyepared on a going (x)ncem basis. The expected future income and expenditure, together ￿th current reserves alkyws the charity to continue as a going con￿rn for at least 12 from approval ofthese financial ststenEnts. Tho trustees, rnsponsibilitios in relation to the financial statements The law relatj'ng to charilies requires the trustees to prepare finar￿la1 state1T￿￿ for each financial period which give a true arKI frair view of the state of affair5 of the charity and the incorYMng resources and application of resources of the charity for the perK)d. The trustees are responsible for keeping prow accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any tirre the financial posibon of the charty and enable them to ensu￿ that Ihe financial statements compty with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Charl￿S Consbtulion. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the tharity and laking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irwularities. Review of Financial position Income During the twelve months ended 3151 March 2024, REC received £142,771 (£122.941 2022-23). Wrthin this figure. giving in the year increased to £119,219 (£100.832 2022-23) a significant increase reflecting the SOTTEwhat larger cOngregatic￿ in 202>24. During the period £18,687 of gift aid was recovered for the year 2022-23 (£15,322 recovered in 2022-23 for the year 2021-22). Other receipts and gifts decreased to £4.865 from £6.787 in 2022- 23 partly from monies re￿iVed from events hosted by the church. Gift aid for 202>24 has not been recovered as at the time of this report and is estimated to amount 10 £18,200. Expenditure In the financial year 2023-24, REC incurred expenditure of £137,964 (£118.526 2022-23). This included an increase in Staffing Costs with the addition of an Assistsnt Minister. Nompl pattems of expenditure on ministries of the chutch resumed after the COVID pandemic. Support for studies by a potential Minister in the Rotherham area and do[￿lOnS to Christian organisations continue. SurpluslDeficit Given the above figures. the overall financial positi'on of REC in 2023-24 was a surplus of £4,807 (surplus of £4,415 in 2022-23) which increased the fund balances from £26,371 at 31& March 2023 to £31.178 at 31%t March 2024. Reserves Policy In order provKle for unanticipated falls in income levels, rises in expenditure or emergency situations. REC will seek to maintain a minirNm 15% of ts annual expenditure in reseNes in kne with ts principles of restx)nsible fin￿Kaal nwerr£nL Typicalty organisatsons that fol￿ such a poliry will firKI that cash reserves build up over the mediunVlong.tenn. REC does nol aim to acn 145 of the 2011 A¢ To folkm the procedures taid down in the general Diredi)ns given by the Chaffity Commission under seclion 145(5)(b} of the 2011 * and To stats vthether paritular matter5 FAve to my attention. Basis of independent examlnerfs report My exarninath?n was carried out in W>rdarKX with the general Dire(thns gvlen by the Chart CoTnmission. An exBmfflatKin incJude5 a teview of ts accounlirNJ T￿r(IS hdd by the (*aiity and a cOMparts(￿ of the xcourrts PreS￿t￿j wth those records. It also indudes conslderab'on of any ¢• unusual items 01 disclosures in 1he accnunts. and seeking expkfptions from you as trustees (m￿GeMing ary such matters. The Pfoi£dures undertaken do not Fvovide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequenty no opIn￿n is given as to whthr the acu)unts present a Irue and fair vtev* and report is Imited to those matter5 set out in the statement bek)w. Independent examiner6. Statement In LY)nneL*ion wilh rny examinaiion. no material has fJ)me to my attenlioft: (a) gNes me reag)nable tsuse to betwe that in any material respedthe requirements: To keep ac￿nting re￿rdS in X0)rdan￿ *ion 130 of the 2011 To prepare accounts v4hi(* acc£*d wth the a(xounfjNJ rvJ>)rts and