Grace Church Sydenham
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 August 2024
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
GRACE CHURCH SYDENHAM
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 18 Hillmore Grove London SE26 5RW GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO constitution dated 30 August 2017 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1174422 TRUSTEES Rev Timothy Iles Dr Richard Proctor Miss Helena Talbot-Rice Mr Benjamin Cook (appointed June 2024) Mr Benedict Cooper (appointed March 2024) 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 2-4 Report of the Trustees Page 5 Independent Examiner's Report Page 6 Receipts and Payments Account Page 7 Statement of Assets and Liabilities Page 8 Notes to the Accounts
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Grace Church Sydenham
Report of the Trustees
Year ended 31 August 2024
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.
In the past year we appointed two new trustees. The first of these was Ben Cooper who became an elder of the church and also a trustee at the beginning of 2024. The second was Benji Cook, who became a trustee in June. Benji is an assistant minister at a local church, and his appointment is in line with the Anglican Mission in England (AMiE) guidance for each AMiE church to have an external trustee who provides a more objective view of charity activities. We welcome both of them to our team.
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 was refreshed this year and is now “Love Jesus, love each other, love the lost”.
We believe the good news of Jesus, as revealed in the Bible, transforms lives and we hold out this good news to all. Our new Friday evening youth group in collaboration with other local churches (Grace Church Brockley, New Life Church Catford, and Honor Oak Christian Fellowship) has been meeting all year with good attendance from each church. Our other group for teenagers (Teens On A Sunday Time - TOAST) has continued to meet throughout the year on a Sunday afternoon. This is attended by children from the church and their friends. They also enjoyed a weekend camping trip over the summer. During the Sunday service, to which all are welcome, we run 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.
We were also able to share a weekend away with New Life Church Catford, one of our partner churches, in the spring. This was held at Ashburnham Place in Sussex, with teaching led by Andrew Sach from Grace Church Greenwich. Children and adults were both looked after, with good teaching and fun activities in the Sussex countryside - despite the wind trying to flatten the marquee.
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.
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After three years of regular courses, the Christians Against Poverty Job Club closed in December 2023. We had enjoyed running these courses which encouraged and equipped those who attended to succeed in their search for a job and linked them to other support agencies. Attendance at the group was often low and so the decision not to continue was taken when the funding we initially received ran out.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Safeguarding
An essential part of the way we fulfil our mission statement is our commitment to safeguarding, ensuring that we provide a healthy, safe and spiritually nurturing environment for everyone who engages with our church community.
Nicola Collett-White is the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Helena Talbot-Rice is the Safeguarding Trustee. We have a Safeguarding Policy and Procedure which is reviewed annually.
In the year under review:
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All volunteers who work with children or adults with care and concern needs were trained (or their training was updated) in Essential Awareness of Safeguarding (provided by Christian Safeguarding Services).
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The DSL updated the Safeguarding Policy in line with the latest statutory guidance and in order to more accurately to reflect our practice. The policy was discussed and approved by the Church Council.
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We had no significant safeguarding concerns or near misses related to our activity which required reporting to regulators.
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The Safeguarding Lead has attended Safeguarding Forums put on by Anglican Mission in England (AMiE) at which best practice is shared.
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Short, regular safeguarding updates for the whole church community were given as part of the Sunday service.
Achievements
Each year, as well as celebrating the main church festivals of Christmas and Easter, we have celebrated someone’s baptism and this year again we had a baptism to celebrate.
The church is slowly growing, and remains thankful to God for His ongoing provision. We have grown the youth work further, maintained the regular activities of the church, and continued to have regular visitors join us on a Sunday morning.
Financial Review and Reserves Policy
During the year income was £144,125 (2023: £73,674), expenditure was £111,176 (2023: £96,584) and the net cash inflow was £32,949 (2023: a net cash outflow of £22,910). Our cash balances increased by £32,949 to £98,657 of which £98,232 was unrestricted and £425 was restricted.
The Trustees aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £22,500, which an estimate of the amount that would be needed to wind down the charity should this ever become necessary. At the year end the charity held unrestricted cash of £98,232. The Trustees anticipate that income will revert back to normal levels and some of the excess will be used over the coming year.
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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:
Helena Talbot Rice
Helena Talbot Rice (Mar 17, 2025 10:01 GMT) ………………………………………….
Miss Helena Talbot-Rice – Trustee
Date: Mar 17, 2025
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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 2024 on pages 6 to 8 following.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity 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:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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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
Ajay Rajani (Mar 17, 2025 11:34 GMT)
Ajay Rajani FCIE Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB
Date: Mar 17, 2025
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GRACE CHURCH SYDENHAM
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
| Notes Income receipts Donations and grants Gift aid received Charitable activities (church retreat) Interest Other income Total receipts Payments 2 3 Total payments Net receipts before transfers Transfers between funds 5 Net movement in funds 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 £ 104,068 28,432 5,735 956 159 139,350 104,766 1,500 106,266 33,084 107 33,191 65,041 98,232 |
Restricted Funds £ 4,060 715 - - - 4,775 4,910 - 4,910 (135) (107) (242) 667 425 |
2024 £ 108,128 29,147 5,735 956 159 144,125 109,676 1,500 111,176 32,949 - 32,949 65,708 98,657 |
2023 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60,266 11,924 500 469 515 |
||||
| 73,674 |
||||
| 95,084 1,500 |
||||
| 96,584 |
||||
| (22,910) - |
||||
| (22,910) 88,618 |
||||
| 65,708 |
The notes on page 8 form part of these accounts.
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GRACE CHURCH SYDENHAM
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
| A Cash funds Held at bank Cash in hand B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity Deposit paid for 2024 church retreat C Liabilities Independent examination fee for preparing and examining the accounts Pension contributions Money received for 2024 church retreat Annual contribution payable to AMiE D Assets retained for charity's own use Computers and IT equipment (at cost) |
Unrestricted funds £ 98,154 78 98,232 1,561 - 1,561 1,050 130 - - 1,180 990 |
Restricted funds £ 425 - 425 - - - - - - - - - |
2024 £ 98,579 78 98,657 1,561 - 1,561 1,050 130 - - 1,180 990 |
2023 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65,680 28 |
||||
| 65,708 |
||||
| 4,701 1,400 |
||||
| 6,101 | ||||
| 960 609 500 1,800 |
||||
| 3,869 |
||||
| 990 |
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 Helena Talbot Rice date Mar 17, 2025 Helena Talbot Rice (Mar 17, 2025 10:01 GMT) -------------------------------------------------------Miss Helena Talbot-Rice Trustee
The notes on page 8 form part of these accounts.
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GRACE CHURCH SYDENHAM
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
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 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Employment costs (note 4) Venue hire Christians Against Poverty Job Club Safeguarding Church events Ministry training Other ministry expenses including conference expenses Equipment Insurance Licences and subscriptions Accounts preparation and examination Payroll fees Other costs |
Unrestricted Funds £ 79,033 10,288 - 572 4,845 - 2,625 432 336 4,766 960 662 248 104,766 |
Restricted Funds £ - - 560 - - 4,350 - - - - - - - 4,910 |
Total Total 2024 2023 £ £ 79,033 75,314 10,288 9,663 560 1,380 572 371 4,845 1,650 4,350 - 2,625 3,747 432 127 336 322 4,766 447 960 888 662 584 248 591 109,676 95,084 |
|---|---|---|---|
3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others
| London City Mission Project Timothy Crosslinks |
750 750 - 1,500 |
- - - - |
750 750 - 1,500 |
750 - 750 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,500 |
4 Transactions with related parties
During the year the charity paid employment benefits totalling £54,414 (2023: £52,268) to 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.
5 Movement in restricted funds
| ement in restricted funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christians Against Poverty fund Ministry training fund |
Balance at 1.9.23 £ 667 - 667 |
Receipts £ - 4,775 4,775 |
Payments £ (560) (4,350) (4,910) |
Transfers £ (107) - (107) |
Balance at 31.8.24 £ - 425 |
| 425 |
The restricted Christians Against Poverty fund was created from donations received to help support a Job Club operated in partnership with Christians Against Poverty.
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