2021-08-31-accounts

Grace Church Sydenham

Report and Accounts Year ended 31 August 2021

1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk

GRACE CHURCH SYDENHAM

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 5 Burghill Road London SE26 4HJ GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO constitution dated 30 August 2017 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1174422 TRUSTEES Rev Timothy Iles Dr Richard Proctor Mr Matthew Wagstaff BANKERS Charities Aid Foundation 25 Kings Hill Avenue West Malling ME19 4JQ INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Ajay Rajani FCIE Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB INDEX Page 1 Legal and Administrative Details Pages 2-3 Report of the Trustees Page 4 Independent Examiner's Report Page 5 Receipts and Payments Account Page 6 Statement of Assets and Liabilities Page 7 Notes to the Accounts

Page 1

GRACE CHURCH SYDENHAM

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021

The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year.

Objects of the charity

The objects of the charity are, for the public benefit, the advancement of the Christian faith in such ways as the Trustees may from time to time decide.

Government

The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the Trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity.

Every Trustee must be appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the Trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as Charity Trustees, the Charity Trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the charity. All Charity Trustees must subscribe and adhere to, in belief and lifestyle, the Statement of Faith.

During the past year the trustees have taken steps to strengthen governance through reviewing recommended policies and implementing a formal appraisal process for Reverend Iles. We have also reviewed our safeguarding policies in light of the Jonathan Fletcher report and this report was discussed at church council and with the wider church.

Review of activities

The main activities undertaken for the public benefit are teaching from the Bible, the worship of God and the encouragement of the Church at regular Sunday services, weekday small group Bible studies and prayer meetings and other Christian ministry. The mission statement of the church is “to proclaim and live out the good news of Jesus Christ to the glory of God”.

We believe the good news of Jesus, as revealed in the Bible, transforms lives and we hold out this good news to all. During the Sunday service, to which all are welcome, this includes running age appropriate activities for children up to 13 years old. Children gather in crèche or Sunday Club part way through the meeting while the teenagers and adults are hearing God speak through the explanation of Bible teaching in the main meeting. This year we have also provided a youth group for teenagers that meets weekly on a Sunday afternoon.

Adults have the opportunity for further Bible study and pastoral support in small groups that meet during the week in and around Sydenham. Many also take up the offer of meeting in pairs for mutual support and encouragement, Bible reading and prayer during the week. This provides, among other things, a knowledge of each other’s struggles and the opportunity for spiritual and practical support.

The Covid 19 pandemic has affected the way that these activities were provided for part of this review period. We ran church online through the Zoom platform when meeting in person was not possible, and have met in a Covid-safe way once meeting in person became possible again.

In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.

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GRACE CHURCH SYDENHAM

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES CONTINUED

Achievements

A Covid 19 risk assessment allowed us to start meeting face-to-face soon after this was allowed in government guidance. We needed to use a different building temporarily, but were able to quickly make this transition and continue to provide services from this new location. This included running services at Christmas time with online booking and having extra services to allow social distancing. These were also available online for those who were unable to attend. We are now back meeting in our usual building with our full range of meetings occurring.

As in previous years, there has been training for lay members in leading Bible study groups and some of the men in the congregation have prepared talks for our congregation and our partner church Grace Church Brockley (GCB). We have also welcomed some from GCB to preach at Grace Church Sydenham and from our partner church New Life Church Catford.

In partnership with Christians Against Poverty, Grace Church Sydenham has started a Job Club. This is an initiative which helps the unemployed with skills that are useful for their job search and which introduces people to the church community and the good news of Jesus. Running the club has developed links with other local community organisations and with churches running other Christians Against Poverty services.

Financial Review and Reserves Policy

During the year income was £83,836 (2020: £88,135). Expenditure was £65,696 (2020: £62,476) so that net receipts were £18,139 (2020: £25,639). Hence unrestricted cash increased to £70,261 from £50,435 at the previous year end. Restricted cash for the CAP activity was £4,013 at year-end (2020: £5,700)

The Trustees aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £19,000, which equates to about three months' budgeted costs, to help ensure that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary unexpectedly. The Trustees are holding additional cash reserves with the intention of employing a second member of staff in due course.

Trustees' Responsibilities

Charity law requires Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.

We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.

We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.

Approval

This report was approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Matthew Wagstaff

Date: 19 January 2022

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF

GRACE CHURCH SYDENHAM

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Grace Church Sydenham (the charity) for the year ended 31 August 2021 on pages 5 to 7 following.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with those records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Ajay Rajani FCIE Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB

Date: 20 January 2022

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GRACE CHURCH SYDENHAM

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021

Notes Income receipts Donations and grants Gift Aid Interest Other income Total receipts Payments 2 3 Total payments Net receipts Cash funds at last year end Cash funds at this year end A Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others	Unrestricted Funds £ 67,117 16,562 156 1 83,836 63,110 900 64,010 19,826 50,435 70,261	Restricted Funds £ - - - - - 1,687 - 1,687 (1,687) 5,700 4,013	2021 £ 67,117 16,562 156 1 83,836 64,796 900 65,696 18,139 56,135 74,274	2020 £
				71,645 16,299 172 20
				88,135
				62,026 450
				62,476
				25,659 30,476
				56,135

The notes on page 7 form part of these accounts.

Page 5

GRACE CHURCH SYDENHAM STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021

A Cash funds Held at bank Cash in hand B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity C Liabilities Independent examination fee for preparing and examining the accounts Venue rent payable Pension contributions Other amounts payable D Assets retained for charity's own use Computers and IT equipment (at cost in 2021)	Unrestricted funds £ 70,211 50 70,261 1,252 864 1,000 262 - 2,126 528	Restricted funds £ 4,013 - 4,013 - - - - - - 462	2021 £ 74,225 50 74,274 1,252 864 1,000 262 - 2,126 990	2020 £
				56,086 50
				56,135
				1,180
				780 - 262 88
				1,130
				-

The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities.

The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf

by Matthew Wagstaff Trustee

date: 19 January 2022

The notes on page 7 form part of these accounts.

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GRACE CHURCH SYDENHAM

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021

1 Accounting policies

The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.

Unrestricted funds are funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.

2 Employment costs (note 4) Venue hire Licences and subscriptions Minister's expenses Safeguarding Equipment Insurance COVID related costs Marketing Mission costs Events Accounts preparation and examination Payroll fees Christians Against Poverty Job Club Other costs Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly	Unrestricted Funds £ 51,429 4,760 1,913 667 903 528 317 206 48 99 150 780 459 - 851 63,110	Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,687 - 1,687	Total 2021 £ 51,429 4,760 1,913 667 903 528 317 206 48 99 150 780 459 1,687 851 64,796	Total 2020 £
				51,814 5,800 1,101 680 240 - 324 - 167 13 - 672 454 - 760
				62,026

3 Individual mission partners 450 Institutions 450 900 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others	- - -	450 450 900	450 -
			450

4 Transactions with related parties

The employment costs disclosed in note 2 above are in respect of the employment of Rev T Isles, who is a trustee. Rev Isles is paid for serving as church Minister and is not remunerated for serving as a trustee; this is permitted by the charity's governing document.

Except for the reimbursement of expenses, no other amounts were paid or are payable to any trustee or to any person connected to them.

5 Movement on restricted funds

Christians Against Poverty fund	Balance at 1.9.20 £ 5,700	Receipts £ -	Payments £ (1,687)	Balance at 31.8.21 £ 4,013

The Christians Against Poverty restricted fund holds donations received towards the Job Club operated in partnership with Christians Against Poverty.

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