Submission of Accounts to Charity Commission Rivercourt Methodist Church Year Ended 31 August 2023 Section One: Trustee's Report Section Two: Charity Commission - Independent Examiner's Report on the Accounts Section Three: Methodist Church - Standard Forn] of Accounts Section Four: Simplified Forn] of Accounts
Rivercourt fethodist Church OINIC) Trustees. RetK)rt to the Chan'ry Commission September 2022 to .4ugust 2023 Church Address: King StreeL HammsMIth. LL>ndon W6 9JT Chdse4 Hammetsmith & Fulham 35/04 Di51ct IA>ndon Ch2riry Number 1174328 tinister in Charge: Revd. Iesingd VunitK)la Trustees 2t 31 Aug 2023 Rev(L Iesinga Vunipola- Chair ,Mr. Stephen Lawrence - Treasurer. Property Mr. Kw2l<u fieku- Org2nist (paid) Ms. Julion2 Goode Ms. Joan Bennett Mr. A. A. ,M. Gw. Properry ,Ms. Vaness2 Brackett Ms. Francess Brovm fr. James G(K)de - Safeguarding* Ptoperry Bookkeeper ,44fr. &)lomon Sackey .luditor Verd2nt.4ccountants IAmited. (ChaweeN'an Williams FCCA) Trusrees The minister is 21ways Chair of the Trusrees and is appointed to one or more Churches in our Circuit (charity, 1133940). They are chosen by the Conference and paid b). the Circuit. Their levd of pay is deterniined b)" the Conference of the Brirish Nlethodist Church (Ch]. number 1132208). Our current minister is Revd. Iesinga Csinga) N'unip)la. The only other trustee paid by Rivercoutt is Kwaku Tieku. He plays the organ at seThices and is a trained music rherapist. He is an excellent o st and communicator which makes him one of Pa8elof8
the great assets to ILIIC. The two new Trustees ]ast ITear, Ills. Bro and Ntr. Goode, artended a professional rrustee traini course during the year. Mr. Goode has also attended safeguarding classes and regu]arly produces iisL 2n21)-sis reports for Church 2criiities. We hope 10 inrroduce a lime limit on how long a trustee may remain as a tnree. Howei"er, some of our lounger members have not been interesied in becoming a trustee. We will have to pra}, about rhis as none of the current Tte¢S are Circuit The Lmethodist Imdon District is made up of many Circuits. ILMC is 2 member of the Chelse4 H2mmersmith & Fulham CircuiL which consists of fil'e Ilethodist churches: ,Iskew RoaLI Chelse4 Fulham Broad1., ILNIC and Shepherd's Bush Road (SBR). The assignment of ministers within the Circuir is deaded bi, the Circuit itself. ILIIC shares Rei.. Sin with SBIi Congregation and Faith Initiatives We starred the }'e2r hopell> in September 2022. ,4lthough we lost our rnain source of rei'enue when the nursery in the basement pulled out in .Iwst 20L?, following our appointmenr of an estate ageni we had immediate interest from two porential tenants ar an increased rent from that our previous tenant paid. Following last !"e2es Trustee Report '11ii"ercourt 2025 - Red¢fIng our future at the he3rt of the Communirn,", the congregation ivas illIng ro dream of the potenti21 aN'ailable to us. The data from this project was carefully studied this year which resulted in some of the actiiities mentioned in this rep)rt. A lack of mone} slopped us from implemenring any of the more ambitious projects. A solution for damp in the basement wasn't an easy obstacle to OITerCOn and it cost us the initial tenent. EN'entually we found a nutseri. that would work with us on the damp problem and by the beginni of .lugust 2023 we had received our ftyst rental pa)rynent from .IBC Srudio. Iost people hai"e rerurned to worship albeit one or two who still wear masks. Tourists now make regular appearances on Sunday and duting the week when the front doors are open. Efforts continued to open the Church more often. However, it proved difficult to keep the Church open on both Wednesda! 2nd Thursdav due to the Rack of 3Dlunteers required by s2feguarding nes. Page2of8
.Is 2 resul¢ the Church dropped opening on Wednesd2ys. This has caused greater p2rtiapauon on Thursday opening from 10:30 to 14.30. .4t 12:30 2 thirtv-tninute seThe takes place. Ir is norn)ally led b!. a minister or local preacher and is on the preaching plan. Occasionall!" a la!. person steps in. .Itterance is stead) and supported b!. both ILIIC and other churches in the CircuiL A bring and share ljghr lunch follows the servkce. The Film alld Faith group moitd to Thursda!, fihns being W2tched on BBC iPla)er one week and then discussed on the follolving Thursd21'. As most rrustees are retired Thursday has become 2 regular meeting day. espeaall!. with extern21 people tho are workll)g. A GDPR register of all members and refy attendees was create(L A What's App group has he]ped those with mobile phones to stay in touch. Glass Door Homeless Ch2riry. which RNIC has partnered with for over 20 )"e2rs operated nght shelters with hosr churches this yeat induding ILlfC. The maximum number of guests sleeping oi"ernight dropped from 35 ro 25. No guests thrre allolved to eat onl!.. LIIC N"olunteers supported Glass Door b}, partiapating in the sponsored Sleep OUL Tr4ext }'ear it is anticipated that Glass Door rerum to haking 35 guests eat and sleep. .41so additional guests could be allowed to ear only, without srairyng overnight. The Circuit paid for a Zoom infr2srrncture to be used in every Circuit church. This consisted of a PC, a camera and sound through existing speakers. This is very rdrely used. If someone brings their oTTr PC and a person to operate IL they could use the camera 2nd speakers for fimerals. weddings and baptisms. The Church may no longer hai'e a paid for license. Our minisrer is head of the Tongan Fellowship Communiry. RNIC is the perfect size for Tongan services and as a resull although a nomjal congregation could be 20 to 25 people, if the Tongans attend it could be doubled. If it is 2 special serlryce, there could be 80 to 90 people indudll)g Tongan officials. On the 9th of Jul!" Rii"ercourt hosted a Concen which was jointly sponsored by ILIIC and the CircuiL People from all the churches in the Circuit partiapared regardless of Sk lei'el. On the whole the qu21iry was good and ei"cry'one had a great time. Howevet, it s a lot of work for selected lesoitma'orma not be hdd Pa8e3of8
next year .4 budget was agreed to purchase equipment for children to play at the back of the worship 2re& We don't haNe man!, children attending senices. Howei"er. we Oll n'e[ haiTe m2n) children if we don't haTr"e space for them to play. Also, the Tongans bting children when thei. come so it ryll be used. At Pentecost ir was agreed the .Ifricans in the congregation would put on a seThice themseli"es. We have i4fricans from 2 I7ariety of countties. Ir was a great succes5 finding our about each country and what m2kes each country. spelllal. It was followed by an -4frican meal combining dishes from all the countries. Unfortunatel!.. we didn't h2N'e the Pentecost experience of hearing and understandulg ei"er)one's langu2ge. Not necess247 as we all speak English. We had a "Holidai at Home" da}1 on a Saturday. It to bring Rivercourr closer to some of the users of our building. We learned a bit about each other and sang everyone's national anthenL Duting the year, we had two Conversational Worship Services. A member of who does his own tK)dcasts interviewed a person at RNIC who had an interesiing story to tell about their ]ife outside 2nd inside the church. We mal not continue this as the IntereWer died not long 2frer the second seThice. Caring for memlxrs who are Shelting and not computer literate has been a challenge. HoweN"er a Fastoral group srays in cont2Ct ith people are not regular attendees but would like to sray in touch as indicated using GDPR infornution. .4 mobile communion group has ert instigated to allow anyone who is unable to attend church to take communion at home. linistertal Oversight Re,. Singa was happ}. to come to West IA)ndon as it is a good location for her calling to minister to the Tongan Fellowship in this countrv". She does this in addirion to her Circuit responsibilities. She began her role in the Circuit in August 2019. Rei.d. Singa completed her fourth yeat with us in August 2023. We share her minism. with SBR Church. -lugust 2024 ryll be her fifth year. appointment should norndls: last fiiTe l'ears. ,4t this point both she and the congregations have to decide if she moves on at the end of .lugust 2024 or completes another fil'e years with RNIC / SBR. She have reached retirement age prior ro the end of her intment. She could then retire. If she chooses to sr2 ' on and Page4of8
the Circuit Tr"otes for her to continue, she could opt-in for another five years or less as she be c'ble to retire. Building ILIIC is an impressii"e church Cmsured i'alue £12,739221 as of 24 June 2023) from both the inside and the outside. It opened in 1875. This means Llfc ill celebrdte irs 150 anniirrsa4T in 2025. This celebration is altead}' being planned. RMC converted in the late 1990s to proi-ide flexibiliry in a modern worship space. The building is both a clse and a blessing. The blessing is that as a lugh stteei church, there are many people passing b! tho express a genuine interest into what is going on inside. INfan) people stop to pral". Its location close to both bus and tube senices as well as a cJd¢ 12ne makes it an e2s}' place to hait meetings. classes or other get togethers. .Ilany people tho come in off the street are i'ery impressed with the worship space. A large hotd is ver! dose so we see toutists almost every Sunday now th2t COVID is OiTer and people are travelling. The curse of a large church with 2 small congregation is its upkeep. Propem Tnanagement is a major cost of time and money for the Trustees. In recent vears have had exceptiongj costs for the spire and the roof. Both projects have now been paid for. Now it was lime for the basement. It iniToINed the sewage problem that C2used dim" ter to flood the basement from bdow. It happened in Jul!, 2021. The insurance work finished in 2022. By the end of the school ye2r, we were stuck with 2 basement that had rising damp. The quesiion was had the rising damp been c2used as a result of improper repairs to the b2sement or had it always been there? A major t2sk for this year w to get in a new tenant into the basement following the sewage problem. We fdt a nursery would probablTr' be a gr fit as the b2sement had been a nuL3ery since the12te 90's. We li5tcd the basement with a local est2te agent in who inunediatel . ut it on the markeL E4inancial Accounts 2022-23 saw a big increase in receipts to £122,647 up ?80/o. This increase is due co the first quarter palrynent of our new nursery tenant in the b2semenr as ivell as £40,0(J) paid to RNIC b}. The IDndon Commitree (ILQ in back rent21 payments for Rivercourt House tenants (not the Chutch basement as Sho[ in the accounrs). HoThri'er, p21rynents also saw a much bjgser increase to £130.881 380/0. This includes PageSof8
(l) drainage problems under Properry maintenance (2) Pa}g £5,145 in Business Rates (3) Estate 2genr fees of £5.430 paid for acquiring a tenant (nursen.) to use the b2semenL This resulted in a deficit of £8.234. Volunrary ling which was down in the previous COVID year bounced up again. Dips should not be so great in the future as more people hai"e turned to planned giiryng, thich curs the tie benveen attend2nce and We are also i'ery gocKI at collecting Gift ,4id. .1$ banks hai"e become more ai'erse to accepring cash, planned giiing must rise. We also would ]ike to collect nx)ney direcdy from }ltorS via a moblle card reader. Howes'er, it ryll be some time until we can stop "passing the plate" It is interesring to see the income from next door shops and the ar broken down. This hasn't been done in preNryous reports. The receipts from the fiaL managed by ILIIC, haN'e risen in line with housing costs. Ilonthl!" renr is collected by a realtor next door to RNIC. The process gjmost nms itself. However, the shops located in next door Rivercourt House (two of them) are managed by the ,Nfethodist IA)ndon Comnittee (NILQ using a Central IA)ndon realtor. This process completely broke down and has meant ILNIC has been grossly undetpgid for the two shops. "Ihe result me2ns a decrease in income of almost 25Q/o to the preiryous ve2r. .It the end of this financi21)ear increased pressure on the LIILC h2s meant a £40,(M)O back payment to ILNIC. .Idditional b2ck pavments next year to manage the properties propedv should result in another increase in receipts for 2023. This left ILNIC in a precarious position at the end of last financial )"e3r with no income from the b2sernent and one of the shops. The second shop paid rent at a reduced rate. The estate agenis handling the markettng of the basement got right to work after the preiious nurseTh closed dowj and produced rwo prospecriN'e tenants. De21s fell through with both potential basement nurseries. -{ lot of this because of suspected d2mp problems in the basemenL HoweNrr, we eiTentUgJl! did swi a licence to occup ivith a third nutseThF wbich included a promise from us to conrml the d2mp problems. We collected our first rentsl pa}ryr£nt from the nursm in .lugust 2023, 2 year after the previous nursery had left. ILMC welcomed a drop in Circuit assessment of 2hnost one-third 8,872. This could next leat but ho efullv not back Pa8e6of8
to the prMqous amounr of £24,IXK). The Gener Fund is do1 from £48.164 last year to £39,930 this year. We should be able to collect addttion21 back rent for properties managed b!" the IILC next !"ear. Our ne tenant for the basement, ,IBC Studio is palg us £40,IKK) 2 1ye2r in rent. We hope we will get the lease signed someiime next ye2r. There ts pressure for IUIIC to come up with a solution for the damp problem. The full cost of this and h2biliti" for pa!Thent has yer to be deterniined. ReseTh'es Reserves are the amount of monev held b! ILNIC in case of unforeseen circumstances. ILIIC aims to keep six months of tumoirr in cash that is easdN accessible. Our bank 2ccoi]nt (Central Board of Finance) took a hit as we struggled to get a tenant for the basemcnt and collect back. rent from the tenants in Rii"ercoutt House. We also had costs regarding damp in the basemenL Enew costs have skTr'rocketed. We had to withdraw monei to coi-er costs. Inste2d of reseD¥es being 500/0 of income they dropped down to 300/0 Finding a tenant for the basement is a bg step forward. However, they hai"e onl!. a licence to occup) as mentioned above. Hopefull! next Tr"ear we will ger a lease signed and damp problems ill be resoli"ed. We need to conrinue collecting back rent from the properties managed b!. ,IILC in Rii-.ercoutt House. We need to mol-e fonvard iTrith ItLC to detern]ine a new method for collecting rent from the two Rii'ercourt House properties in a timdy manner. If this happens, we should be able to maintain a healthy reserve. If we can get a dependable flow of rental incom4 keep building Costs under control and maintain the income from extern21 users of the Church, should able to spend mone) on RNIC to enhance the worship experience and to grow the congregation. Hopefully we ryll be able to follow this path. Much of our work in the cornmunity is the result of hairng a space that is exrremd}' usable. With a small congregation the church building must pa!" its for the Cofwegation to grow the Church's mission in Hammersmith and West London. RiNercourt receii.ed no special grants Irom Goi'ernment or private interests. Income was deni.ed from public giNingy lettings and users of KIIC itself. No profession21 fundraisers were used. All monies raised and s t were done so in En Other Pa8e7of8
It is N'ery imFK)rrant that Rivercourr can keep a nursery to occupy the basement of the Church and that we find a solution ro our damp problems. Business rates for the basement must be paid by ILIIC if V¥T can't fmd a business to p2p thenL We paid £5,145 in business rates this year. We also had to pay for costly utilities in the basemenL Stel'e l.awrence - Church Treasurer Pa8e8of8
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the tru51eosl members of RIVERCOURT METHODIST CHURCH On accounts for tho year ended 31 August 2023 Charlty no {If any 1174328 Sot out on page I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above chaiityllhe Trusf) for the period ended 31 August 2023. Responsibilities and the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation basis of roport of the accounts in accordance viith the requirements of the Chariti8s Act 2011 (Ihe Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts Caled out under Secon 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying oul my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I conffim that no material matters have come to my attention in connection wilh the examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not ac1rd with the accounting records Independent examinerfs statoment I have no cOnmS and have come across no other matters in connection th the examination to which attentFon should be drawn in order to enable a proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. Slgned: Date: 22 May 2024 Name: Chaweevan Williams FCCA Relevant profossional qualification{s} or body . Chartered Certtfied ACuntsnts Address: Verdant Accountsnts Limtled 21>22 Wenlock Road, London N1 7GU
CHARITY COMMISSIO fOR ENGiANO AND WALE RIVEIICOURT IIETHOThST CHURCH 1174328 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forthe perlod 0IW1022 To 3110812023 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricied funds Restricted Endow1 Tolal fund$ La$t y A1 RKeipt• 19103 101.731 19.gD3 101.7 17.825 73,757 87 Letbng IrK4Y Bank Intwosi 512 S12 4,212 121147 Sub tot•l(Grass income forAR) A2 A88et•nd In¥•1n¢nt •al¢•. l•eo tsbl•}. Sub to ia647 647 Churth Circu Pwperty mainn8rte 37 12.072 13.233 28.598 28,8 30,823 Stsff oxts 23N 1$.409 Sub to 12 A4 A••ot •nd In¥tment purtha8•8,18ee t•bl•l As••t Purth¥s 551 Sub to 5$1 1X*,881 130.881 94863 Netof receiPlpats) AS Trnn•ferB belw•en funds A6 ¢h fvnd• la•t year end Cash fun¢ls th1$ y•ar 18,lJ41 14234 40.164 39.930 ,164 47.060 48,164
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricled Restricted funds fund• Endowment fundi n•arD¥t£ Categories Detabls B1 Ch ndS 23,523 Tolal cash filnds ¥1) Unr•strlctsd funds Restrlctsd Endowment fundi funds n•ar•¥t£ to nMr•e Detsi Dtt•il$ B3 Inv•stm•nt •ssots Fundlo D¢tsils B4 As80ts retain•d for th• eharlty's own I gn du• Detail$ 85 U•bllltl•s ShJrKd onB ortwJ In*tees behalf 01811 the tDJstee5 Print Name Date of approval rz- VX
CHURCH (Short Forni) RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS (SHORT FORM) Rivercourt Methodist Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED Thursday 31 August 2023 Chelsea, Hammersmlth and Fulham Circuit no 35104 Reglstered Charity - Charity Registratlon number 1174328 If not a registered charity HIS Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid numbor (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in tems of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisalion's charilable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242> Minister. Church sIards.. J ANtrS GL)ob TreaSUr. srL-L/É LA ¥k/C
Rlvercourt Moth¢)dknt $EellC4 A REceTS 1• 17.825 43 BAnM&ThJ 87 Leii 101.rA 73.751 45 TOTALRECEMS 95.911 SECTUN B PAYIIENTS b2 26 37 12M72 b5 13233 TOTAL PAYIAENIS 1JOMI b7 5ECThY4 C NET RECElmJPAY¥ENTSFCffjtTHE YEAR 8-bn 48.164 d7.1 TOTAL FUNDsATENDYE Ic1 • t21 39 c7 sinere the 11•Db SECTV)N DANALY $C FUK6 atThKP51 Q2 ewho•tcF8IlJ1 d3 Bbkandrath bkn&t31 kn•Jlt 27n02 TOT•Ll3 SECTION E BALANCE 5TUToeepAI ie1••2431
Name of Church RIVourt lknth¢)di•t Church Declarations and Scrutiny I corffim that these Recapt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2023 have been prepared from the records of the Church and thal Ihey indude all funds urKler the control of the Church trustees. Signature of treasurer ... Name and wjdress of treasurer ...... . PostCode...w.&.*.rA Pre8entatlon to the Church trustees l ¢onfirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 weralwill be" presented to the meeting of the Church trustees held on ........... Signature of the Chair of the meeti Name of the Chair of the meeting Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of the Rivercourt Methodist Church Charfty Number 1174328 Responsibilities and basls of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Rtvercourt Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2023 set out on pages 2. As the Church's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Acf ). I report in respect of my examination of Church's accounts caled out under section 145 of the Act and. in carrying out my examination, I have followed all Ihe applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the ACL 3014
Name of Church RN•fc3)Urt mechr Independent Examinees Statement I have completed rny examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that in, any matenal respect.. the accounting records Vre not kept in a(rOrdan with section 130 of the Act,. or the accounts do not accord with the accountsng records. I have no concerns and have Come xross no other matters in connection wth the examination to which attents" should be dravm in this P]rt in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I have obtained independent Verifition of all investments Vth the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes held in other trusts. l)ank balances and fvnd$ at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 Iten thousand pound$) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner Relevant professional qualificatson of independent examiner. Chart8r8d Certifi•d Ac¢ounlonl Name of fimi.. Address.. 2fy22 Ro>d. . N1 7GU CW short.fomi•St¥rthrd-forrTrof-xa>unts-ts4hur(tsfrW23 rf2.x15 4of4
Rivercourt Methodist Church Accounts Year ended 31 August 2023
Rivercourt Methodist Church Recei tsand ments summa Year ended 31st Au ust 2023 2023 2022 Recelpts Volunta Incorr Collection5. donabons and Gfft Aid Rental in¢ome". Shops & Flats Church basment Church hall lettings 19.903 17.82S 20,527 47,709 33,S02 20,665 26,358 26,734 101.738 73.757 Others income.. Bank Interest Tenants. conth"bution towards costs Insurance protseds Miscellaneous 87 4,292 512 Total Receipts 122.647 95,961 ments Circuit assessment Stsff salaries and NatDnal Insurance Music DIClorIOr98n Propety rnaintenace Insurance Light and healing Water rates Busness rates Cleaning and refvse colleCt)n Telephone and intemet Professional fees- includes estsge agent's fee £5.430 Accountancy Postage and sLitionery Travel Bank charges Other payments- flowers, Christmas tree, etc. Purchase of equipment- computer. Hoover & Fndge Donations Honorarium 8,872 30,623 4.850 32,749 8.647 13.639 688 5.145 3,885 933 10.083 730 4.OS5 24,000 28.598 5,600 12,072 7.898 3,669 1.666 2,703 739 2,516 730 2,088 485 97 1,451 551 134 1.907 2,025 800 Totsl Payments 130,881 94,863 IDefleitySurplus 1.098
Rivercourt Methodist Church Balance Sheet Asat31Au ust 2023 2023 2022 General Fund Accumulated Ideficitysurplu$ at 01 Septembgr 2022 (Doficit ISurplu$ for the year 48.164 18,2341 47,066 1,098 Accumulatfjd {deficitVsurplus at 31 August 2023 39.930 48.164 resented b Bank & Cash - Central Board of Finance bank deposit account - HSBC bank current account - Petty Cash 16.407 23,$23 20,802 27,352 10 Total fiunds at 31 August 2023 39,930 48.164