2023-12-31-accounts

Stapleford Baptist Church

Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2023

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

STAPLEFORD BAPTIST CHURCH

LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE Albert Street Stapleford Nottingham NG9 8DB GOVERNING DOCUMENT Constitution dated 3 November 2017 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1175549 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR David Wells MANAGING THE CHARITY John Horry Nicholas Dunn David Puls David Howe (appointed 1 September 2023) BANKERS Co-operative Bank Kingdom Bank INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Archie McDowall BA CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

INDEX

Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-4 Trustees' Report Page 5 Independent Examiner's Report Page 6 Receipts and Payments Account Page 7 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 8 Notes to the Accounts

Page 1

STAPLEFORD BAPTIST CHURCH

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Objects of the charity

Our primary purpose is to advance the Christian faith in accordance with our doctrinal statement.

Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements

To further the above objects and vision, the charity's main activities and achievements were as follows:

Throughout the year we have continued to hold our regular morning and evening Sunday services, with the morning service livestreamed on YouTube (and also available afterwards, with more than 40 viewings of each service). Attendance at services continues to grow and over the last two years has doubled. Our children and young people meet on a Friday evening and from being nearly extinct after the covid pandemic has flourished to the point we need to recruit more helpers, as many more children from the town have joined.

It has been a very encouraging year. We are thankful for the help of our Associate pastor Aaron Johnson who was in that role until November 2023, and very thankful that early in the year the church voted to invite David Howe to become pastor from September.

Our Monday morning Refresh programme (an open house drop-in for the local community) continues regularly, and one of our members has been running term time Pilates sessions open to the community as well as to members. An English language conversation class held weekly has drawn many Hong Kong immigrants from the town and beyond. Our church weekend was replaced by a special Fellowship Sunday in November.

We were again able to have a full Christmas programme this year, including two shows for children presented by Saltmine Theatre. We were additionally able to host a Cantonese carol service and a candlelight carol service, both of which were well attended.

As a church we continue to set aside funds to support Christian mission in the UK and beyond. There was a special Christmas offering for relief and Christian work in Ukraine. Locally, we also support the West Nottingham Foodbank, and Baby Basics.

We have not had to make any serious incident report to the Charity Commission.

Our Sunday services and online YouTube services are fully accessible, and we have a web site and Facebook page. A number of our activities open to the community are listed above.

Use of our premises is primarily for our own activities, which have increased significantly in recent years, but they also continue to be used weekly by the Midlands Ministry Training Course, and for oneoff events for some local community groups in which members are involved.

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

Page 2

Church staff and volunteers

Many of our members volunteer to lead or help with various activities – we could not function without this. We also have a paid part time administrator.

Leadership is through our elders working as a team, led by our pastor. We were privileged to have part time pastoral help from Aaron Johnson who supported the work of the elders for a year from November 2022. David Howe became our pastor on 1 September 2023.

Financial review and reserves policy

During the year income increased by £48,146, to £132,127 and expenditure decreased by £3,142, to £77,170. As a result the cash held by the charity increased by £54,957, to £161,973, all of of which is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.

The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £20,000 so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £161,973 and the charity is complying with its reserves policy.

The Treasurer monitors our financial position and reports to the elders as trustees and to Church Members’ Meetings. Throughout the year we have been well above our reserve policy requirement and we additionally hold a significant sum on deposit pending future decisions as to both future staffing needs and some increasingly urgent attention to our building. At the time of this report steps are being taken to examine options for renovating the rear part of our premises.

Affiliations

The church remains affiliated to FIEC, and is a member of the Midlands Gospel Partnership. Our membership of The Stapleford Churches Forum (constituted on the basis of the Evangelical Alliance Statement of Faith) continues too, and this enables us to share with other local churches in gospel witness in the town and to be mutually encouraging.

Governance

Responsibility for setting policy and for making operating decisions rest with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity and also serve as elders of the Church.

Members of the church are members of the CIO, and appoint the elders. Elders’ meetings are chaired by David Wells, and Members’ meetings by the pastor or another of the trustees. David Howe was appointed as church pastor and became a trustee on 1st September 2023.

Risk statement

The charity is exposed to various risks - be they operational, financial or reputational. The trustees review the charity's activities regularly to identify significant risks and, where possible, they take appropriate measures to mitigate those risks.

Page 3

Responsibilities of trustees

Charity law requires us as 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:

David R Wells

_____ David R Wells (May 31, 2024 09:45 GMT+1) DAVID WELLS Date:___ May 31, 2024

Page 4

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF

STAPLEFORD BAPTIST CHURCH

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Stapleford Baptist Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2023 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 2011 Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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 2011 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 accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.

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

Archie McDowall

Archie McDowall (May 31, 2024 11:53 GMT+1)

Archie McDowall BA CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

Date: May 31, 2024

Page 5

STAPLEFORD BAPTIST CHURCH

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Notes Income receipts Donations Gift aid receipts Legacies Interest Other Total receipts Payments 2 3 Total payments Transfers between funds 5 Net movement in funds Cash funds as at last year end Cash funds at this year end A Net of receipts / (payments) before Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly	General Designated Funds Funds £ £ 72,994 - 15,637 - 36,353 - 3,239 - 3,904 - 132,127 - 72,573 - 4,598 - 77,170 - 54,957 - - - 54,957 - 107,016 - 161,973 - Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	2023 £ 72,994 15,637 36,353 3,239 3,904 132,127 72,573 4,598 77,170 54,957 - 54,957 107,016 161,973	2022 £
				65,628 13,247 44 109 4,953
				83,981
				68,534 11,778
				80,312
				3,669 -
				3,669 103,347
				107,016

The notes on page 8 form part of these accounts.

Page 6

STAPLEFORD BAPTIST CHURCH

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Notes A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access Notice deposits B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity C Liabilities Falling due within one year Taxes due Fee for Independent Examination	General Designated funds funds £ £ 29,776 - 132,197 - 161,973 - 7,115 - 7,115 - 610 - 1,140 - 1,750 - Unrestricted Funds	Restricted funds £ - - - - - - - -	2023 £ 29,776 132,197 161,973 7,115 7,115 610 1,140 1,750	2022 £
				107,016 -
				107,016
				6,866
				6,866
				- -
				-

D Assets retained for charity's own use Land and buildings (give brief details) Furniture, fittings and equipment	Fund to which asset belongs General General	Insurance value £
		1,555,533 108,498
		1,664,031

Current values have not been quoted because reliable valuations are not available and current insurance values utilised instead.

E Guarantees and secured debts

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:

David R Wells David R Wells (May 31, 2024 09:45 GMT+1) _____ DAVID WELLS May 31, 2024 Date:_____

The notes on page 8 form part of these accounts.

Page 7

STAPLEFORD BAPTIST CHURCH

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

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.

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. 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 (see note 4) Printing, stationery and advertising Youth and groups Memberships, conferences and training Small equipment Utilities and maintenance Insurance Hospitality and catering Other ministry and running costs 3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Grants for: Organisations Individuals		Unrestrict	Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - ed Funds	Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - -	Total 2023 £ 44,246 2,896 1,131 3,652 1,007 10,160 1,521 3,457 4,502 72,573 3,098 1,500 4,598	Total 2022 £
		General funds £ 44,246 2,896 1,131 3,652 1,007 10,160 1,521 3,457 4,502 72,573 3,098 1,500 4,598
						34,991 2,492 1,136 3,119 - 14,777 - - 12,019
						68,534
						3,416 8,362
						11,778

4 Transactions with related parties

David Howe served as a church leader and was received total employment benefits of £15,516 (2022: £nil) for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustee; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.

Joanna Dunn, who is closely related to Nicholas Dunn, who is a trustee, received total employment benefits of £11,742 (2022: £5,300) as an administrator of the charity; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.

5 Movement of funds

vement of funds
General funds Total funds	Opening balance £ 107,016 107,016	Receipts £ 132,127 132,127	Payments £ (77,170) (77,170)	Transfers £ - -	Closing balance £ 161,973
					161,973

Page 8