Newport Pagnell Boptist Church CIO.. 1175783 MOPS rooted IW-BOYS BRIGADE Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 31 December2024
Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
CONTENTS
Reference and Administrative Details ................................................................................................. 2 Trustees Report ................................................................................................................................. 3 Constitution and Objects ............................................................................................................... 3 Achievements and Plans for Future Periods ................................................................................... 4 Building Development Update ....................................................................................................... 7 Structure, Governance and Management .................................................................................... 12 Policies & Risk Management ........................................................................................................ 14 Financial Review .......................................................................................................................... 17 Trustees' responsibilities in relation to the financial statements ................................................... 19 Independent Auditor's Report to the Trustees of Newport Pagnell Baptist Church ........................... 20 Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities ................................................................................. 23 Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024 ..................................................................... 24 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 ................................ 25 Notes to the Financial Statements ................................................................................................... 26
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Charity name: Newport Pagnell Baptist Church (CIO)
Charity registration number: 1175783
Principal office: Lovat Hall, Silver Street, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, MK16 0EJ
Trustees
The individuals who served as trustees during the year ended 31 December 2024 and up to the date on which these financial statements were approved (31 October 2025) were:
| Name | Role (if any) | Date appointed | Date resigned (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Wood | Trustee / Minister | March 2018 | – |
| Peter Young | Trustee / Minister | June 2021 | – |
| Emma Louise Beaney | Trustee / Elder | April 2021 | – |
| Margaret Mulwa | Trustee / Elder | April 2021 | May 2024 |
| Sue Winship | Trustee / Elder | April 2021 | May 2024 |
| Alex Millington | Trustee / Treasurer | April 2022 | – |
| Chrisann Meij | Trustee / Elder | June 2024 | – |
| Linda Mary Thompson | Trustee / Elder | June 2024 | – |
Trustees appointed after the end of the accounting period who remained in office on the date the financial statements were approved:
| Name | Role (if any) | Date appointed |
|---|---|---|
| Philippa Lei | Chair / Elder | April 2025 |
| Grace Miriam Inwood | Trustee | April 2025 |
| Adrian Robert Paul Dunn | Trustee / Elder | April 2025 |
Auditor
Michael J Emery & Co Limited
22 St John Street, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, MK16 8HJ Registered to conduct audit work by the ICAEW (Firm No. C001667580)
Bankers
CAF Bank Limited
25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ
Other Advisers
The charity had no appointed solicitors or investment advisers during the year.
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
TRUSTEES REPORT
The trustees present their report along with the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 . This report and the financial statements comply with the Church’s governing document, applicable law and the requirements of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019).
CONSTITUTION AND OBJECTS
Newport Pagnell Baptist Church ("the Church") has operated under a constitution dated 18[th] July 2017, amended 8[th] February 2021, and is registered with the Charities Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation ("CIO") (registration number 1175783) operating as a place of worship. The assets and liabilities of the original charity under which the Church operated (registration number 1127416) were transferred to the CIO with effect 1[st] January 2019.
The primary function of our church is to follow Christ’s example of serving our community, presenting people with the Christian gospel and enable them to live out their faith as part of our Church and in – their everyday living. We believe in the one true God who lives eternally in 3 persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Aligned to this is our church vision statement:
Devoted to being followers of Jesus who love, grow and go together.
And our church values:
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We are family
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We are Bible-centred
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We are Spirit-led
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We are generous
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We are for everyone
As God’s people, seeking to do life and faith together, our greatest challenge and opportunity is to find the appropriate balance between being an organisation that exists primarily for its members, and one that exists primarily for those who are not its members.
The address of the Church, where the trustees may be contacted, is Lovat Hall, Silver Street, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire MK16 0EJ.
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS
OVERVIEW: ROOTED IN ORDER TO BEAR FRUIT – STEVE WOOD, SENIOR MINISTER
It can be very easy for a church to measure success in the same way – that any charitable, volunteer-driven organisation might through the number of people actively involved and their donations. For a church, these are only indicators of something more significant.
NPBC’s mission is to see people grow in their relationship with Jesus. This is the fruit we want to see:
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people deepening in their day-to-day walk with God, hungry to learn more about who Jesus is and what it means to follow him.
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people’s faith impacting the way that they live, becoming more loving, more servant -hearted, more generous
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people sharing their faith more openly through what they say and do
In 2024 we have been blessed to see more and more of all three of these, and we carry both faith and expectation that this will continue into 2025. Our church family continues to grow numerically and our financial situation remains healthy. Having previously emphasised the need for this to translate into greater staff and volunteer resources, 2024 was the year in which this began to move forward through a combination of teaching, personal response and strategic decision-making.
The S.H.A.P.E. series helped people to explore their God-given gifts and calling, and we have since seen individuals step up to take on key roles. We began the recruitment process for a Chair of Trustees role and a new Operations Manager, both of which were fulfilled in early 2025. All of this represents a significant step in building the operational ‘trellis’ that will allow our ‘vine’, our ministries, to continue to grow.
The change we have spoken about many times before remains ongoing. While growth brings its challenges, we continue to thank God for his provision and for the blessing of being able to respond well to the opportunities he sets before us. We are encouraged by the growing momentum behind so many of our initiatives and are excited to see the fruit they will bear.
– In 2025 we will begin the transition to a new articulation of the NPBC identity recognising that we are called to be followers of Jesus, devoted to love, grow and go together. We take this next step grateful for the year that has passed and with confidence in where God is leading us. As we continue to grow, we know the importance of releasing more people to serve so that ministries are well supported. This will be especially important as we embed new trustee and staff roles further releasing the ministers to serve the ministries and activities of the church. The church has also granted me the opportunity to take a three-month sabbatical in the middle of the year, further increasing the need for a more sustainable and shared approach to ministry.
Looking ahead, we recognise that continued growth will also require renewed focus on the areas that — help us remain a church family that loves, grows and goes together particularly in Life Groups and pastoral care. We step forward knowing, as always, that God has immeasurably more for us than we could ever ask or imagine.
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
OUR ACTIVITIES
Our teaching in 2024 focused on 3 areas. Firstly, we completed our 18-month journey through the Gospel of Matthew. 137 individual pieces of teaching that helped us gain the deepest of insights into the life of Jesus, his teachings, and what it means to follow him. Only in hindsight have we been able to see the positive impact this had on the church. From here, and in response to a desire from the church family, we shifted from our planned schedule to explore what it means to be a Spirit-led church. Finally, we ended the year’s core teaching focused on understanding the specific S.H.A.P.E. that God has made each of us, and how we are called to use that in serving Him through the church. This series, which included Life groups meeting altogether for a season, was a perfect example of being Rooted… in order to bear fruit.
Our Sunday services continue to be well attended, with an average of approximately 250 people coming together over the two services each Sunday. This is supplemented by an online congregation of around 40-50 regular viewers. Continued irregular patterns of attendance mean that the growth we’ve seen in the overall church family is not always obvious, albeit our monthly ‘One Big Family’ services are now regularly full.
Over the year, we have been privileged to share 5 baptisms, and our membership roll has seen a net increase of 5, with 11 new members joining the church and us sadly losing 6 members, either through death or them moving out of the area.
Our commitment to being a multi-generational church remains, and we continue to enjoy healthy – attendance at all of our activities ranging from Parent & Toddler and MumCo aimed at parents with – very small children to Food4Thought, our monthly service and afternoon tea for older generations. In both cases, there is a sense that these could be even more successful if we were to further build the volunteer teams or had more space in the building. Of course, these are both areas we are actively seeking to address.
In addition, our children’s and youth activities also remain healthy. Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades, and our Sunday evening Baseline youth group are well attended and – in the main – well served by volunteers.
During the week, our many Life groups continue to run, providing space for smaller communities of people to do life and faith together outside of the more traditional Sunday gatherings. There is definitely an opportunity for us to engage more people in these groups, and especially those new to life at NPBC. This will be a focus for the new year.
Other notable initiatives included
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continued work with children through school activities (Easter and Christmas Cracked) and alongside other churches in delivering our annual ‘Holiday’ Club. These two activities alone brought almost 500 children into the church building to experience interactive and educational sessions.
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continued role as both church and a community venue and facility, providing social connection and recreation. We remain home to over 30 regular user groups, benefitting everyone from babies to the elderly, and visited by more than 1,200 people a week. Included in this is regular availability and support for NHS Blood Donor and NHS Baby Clinic sessions.
PEOPLE AND VOLUNTEERS
Our greatest asset and resource is our people. Since the global pandemic back in 2020, we have experienced significant challenges in building the teams needed to facilitate many activities associated
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
with church life. In 2024, we made positive progress in releasing people to serve across a number of areas.
Operations Manager
Most significantly, the church family approved the recruitment for new Operations Manager role which will oversee the existing staff team. Recruitment to the role was concluded in early 2025.
Chair of Trustees
Simultaneously, we created and communicated a defined Chair of Trustees position and were blessed to have a church member express interest who brings significant leadership experience and expertise to this role and were pleased to be able to appoint her early in 2025.
Volunteers
Thirdly, we ran a cross-church programme in the Autumn called S.H.A.P.E., which helps people identify the specific spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality and experiences that have shaped them to serve. This has increased the pool of those willing to serve in church life, and we will continue to work to release these people into the right roles over the coming months. Across this entire area, we have recognised that this is a 3-year turnaround and aren’t expecting to achieve significant breakthrough in a single 12-month period.
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
BUILDING DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Each week, we see an average of 1,200 people come through Lovat Hall. Many of these come to enjoy activities initiated by the church family; from Sunday worship to Parent & Toddler groups; and from a summer Holiday Club, to the Winter Night Shelter. Other come to take part in community and sports groups, ranging from Zumba to table tennis and from Blood Donors to meetings of the Fine Art Society.
Lovat Hall is showing signs of its age (part 1940s, part 1970s) and the effects of decades of heavy use. Following several years of community consultations and planning we have lodged an application for planning permission for a redevelopment that will ensure our degrading, energy-inefficient building remains viable as a community asset with long-term sustainability. Our vision is for a new building that will allow even more people from the community to use and enjoy the facilities every week.
PROJECT RE-EVALUATION
Since the inception of the project in 2016, a great deal has changed:
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The COVID pandemic in 2020/21 resulted in the deferral of commencement of the project and the planning permission lapsed as a result meaning this need to be resubmitted
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The closure of the community Pre-School has meant the Portfields room could be redeveloped into dedicated office space reducing the importance of what was Phase 3
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Changes in planning law have resulted in advice that the dedicated Children’s area envisaged by what was Phase 2 of the project, and which would likely have been home to a community preschool, is now unlikely to receive planning permission due to the impact on protected trees
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Over the winter of 2023/24 the roof of the building deteriorated to a point where there was a need to re-evaluate and complete works to the roof in the summer of 2024. Fundraising for the refurbishment works was so successful that the decision was made to further accelerate additional refurbishment works to the church building in Q1 2025 including:
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replacement of the flat roofs over the offices
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replacement windows and fire doors to the glazed entrance area
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refurbishment of the stage and creation of additional storage areas to the sides of the stage
As a result, the Building Development Committee, in consultation with and as guided by the wider church membership, made the decision in early 2025 to re-evaluate the needs of the church and community with a view to changing the nature of planning permission required and the scope of the building project.
A new application was submitted in 2025 which seeks to secure permission for the development of a scheme similar to the original Phase 1 of the project comprising the demolition of the Tickford Room, Kitchen, Chapel and Stables storage area and the building of a new 2-storey community space with a new entrance foyer, kitchen and café facilities, a large hall space on the ground floor and a flexible hall space on the first floor than can be divided into two or three rooms. It is envisaged that work on this development will commence in early 2026 provided planning permission is secured.
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
REFURBISHMENT OF MAIN HALL – COMPLETED 2024/25
The refurbishment of the main hall was split into two phases.
Phase A – these works took place over summer of 2024 and comprised the replacement of the main hall roof, new windows, curtains, suspended ceiling and a solar PV installation on the roof.
Phase B – these works took place in Q1 2025 and comprised the replacement of all remaining single glazing, replacement of flat roofs over the offices, upgrade to the heating system and refurbishment of the main stage including creation of additional storage areas.
Included within the result for 2024 is the costs associated with the phase 1 works which can be broken down as follows. The expenditure listed below was incurred across 2024 and 2025 and the grant funding was also received across these years.
| Project | Grant | Church | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Funded | Funded | |
| Main Hall Roof | 122,863 | 120,623 | 2,240 |
| Fire Doors and Windows | 117,914 | 111,163 | 6,751 |
| New Suspended Ceiling | 72,503 | 71,935 | 569 |
| Solar Panels & Associated Electrical Installations | 53,282 | 50,030 | 3,252 |
| Curtains and Blinds | 17,170 | 13,736 | 3,434 |
| Architect Fees | 8,081 | - | 8,081 |
| Other works and equipment | 20,229 | 16,183 | 4,046 |
| TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURE | 412,042 | 383,670 | 28,373 |
| Operating expenditure incurred | 59,182 | 43,728 | 15,454 |
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE | 471,224 | 427,398 | 43,827 |
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
PROJECT FINANCIAL REPORT
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES – BUILDING DEVELOPMENT FUND
| Income Donations & legacies Other trading activities Investments Other income Total income Expenditure Raising funds Charitable activities Other expenditure Prior Year LHDC Correction Total expenditure Income less expenditure Transfers between funds Transfers to assets fund Other funds transfers Total transfers between funds Net movement in funds |
2024 Building Fund £ 792,804 1,045 35,380 - 829,229 39,979 61,287 - - 101,266 727,963 (409,419) 1,849 (407,571) 320,392 |
2023 Building Fund £ |
|---|---|---|
| 142,604 2,974 17,785 13 |
||
| 163,375 21,606 5,086 - (184,464) |
||
| (157,772) | ||
| 321,147 | ||
| (11,014) 1,490 |
||
| (9,524) | ||
| 311,623 |
Further analysis of the donations, grants and legacies to the fund is as follows:
| Donations & gifts Regular Giving Gift Aid Ad Hoc Donations Grants Income Total Donations & gifts |
2024 108,345 74,601 281,510 328,348 792,804 |
2023 93,075 20,243 29,285 260,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 402,604 |
Regular giving from the church family increased by 16% in the year as the church pressed ahead to the regular giving target of £9,500 per month by the time the project building work commences and to ensure that giving plus Gift Aid is sufficient to service the costs of the loan the church intends to take out as part of the funding for the project. At the end of 2024 regular donations to the building project were running at c.£9,200 per month.
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
BALANCE SHEET – BUILDING FUND
| Fixed Assets Tangible Assets Investments Total Fixed Assets Current Assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Total Current Assets Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Creditors: amounts < 1year Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net Current Assets Total Assets less Current Liabilities Net Assets |
2024 Building Fund £ 241,687 100 241,787 16,631 1,134,408 1,151,040 269,999 269,999 881,040 1,122,827 1,122,827 |
2023 (as restated) Building Fund £ |
|---|---|---|
| 239,336 100 |
||
| 239,436 5,586 817,689 |
||
| 823,275 260,276 |
||
| 260,276 | ||
| 562,999 | ||
| 802,435 | ||
| 802,435 |
At the end of 2024 the church was holding £993,320 of funds on a 3-month notice deposit account with the Baptist Union Corporation Limited paying an interest rate of 4.25%. Debtors at the period end are analysed as follows:
| Deed of Covenant Debtor Recoverable Gift Aid TOTAL DEBTORS |
2024 £ 7,777 8,854 16,631 |
2023 (as restated) £ |
|---|---|---|
| 3,809 1,777 |
||
| 5,586 |
The Deed of Covenant relates to funds due back from Newport Pagnell Baptist Church Development Limited (NPBCDL) under a Deed of Covenant whereby monies sent to NPBCDL in connection with the design and build contract but not spent by the end of the year are returned to NPBC to ensure NPBCDL does not make a financial gain or loss in connection with that design and build contract.
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
CASH FLOW – BUILDING DEVELOPMENT FUND
| Net movement in funds Adjustments for: Interest income (Increase) / decrease in debtors Increase / (decrease) in creditors Increase / (decrease) in def. inc. Total adjustments Net cash from operating activities Cash from investing activities Purchase of tangible fixed assets Prior year LHDC correction Interest income Net cash from investing activities Changes in cash in the year Opening cash and cash equivalents Closing cash and cash equivalents |
2024 Building Fund £ 320,392 (35,380) (11,045) 9,723 - (36,702) 283,690 (2,351) - 35,380 33,029 316,719 817,689 1,134,408 |
2023 (as restated) Building Fund £ |
|---|---|---|
| 311,623 (17,785) 2,555 (1,807) 260,000 242,962 |
||
| 554,586 (54,872) (184,464) 17,785 |
||
| (221,551) | ||
| 333,035 | ||
| 484,655 | ||
| 817,689 |
Cash balances increased by a total £316,719 in the year (2023: £333,035) and expenditure on fixed assets (transfers to assets fund plus WIP costs on the building project shown in cash flows) totalled £411,770 (2023: £65,886) in the year. Expenditure on fixed assets predominantly related to the refurbishment of the main hall.
SUMMARY
While the church is holding significant cash balances towards the development of Lovat Hall, there is still a long way to go to fully secure the total forecast £3.8m required to complete the building project. Trustees are currently exploring significant loan funding to bridge the gap between funds held and funds required. The building development committee are pleased to report that the project is currently on track.
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
ORGANISATION
Although a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, Newport Pagnell Baptist Church is (like most British Baptist churches) an independent charity. The ultimate control of the Church is vested in the – Church members. At the end of 2024, the Church had 193 (2023 186) members. The members meet at least four times a year to discharge their business responsibilities.
Day to day management of the Church’s affairs is performed by the Minister s and Operations Manager and is overseen by the Trustees. The church ceased to operate a diaconate from 19[th] April 2021 as approved by a Special Church Members Meeting. The number of Elders is determined by the Church Members’ Meeting from time to time.
The Ministers are employees of the Church, having been appointed by a Special Church Members’ Meeting. The appointment is open-ended, but terminable by notice on either side.
INDUCTION AND TRAINING OF TRUSTEES
Charity Trustees are appointed at a Church Members’ Meeting in accordance with the Church’s constitution. Nominations are invited from the membership in advance of the election, with each nomination supported by two further Church Members. Nominations are then reviewed by the Eldership to ensure that nominees are suitably gifted and eligible to serve before they are nominated for election at an Ordinary Church Members’ Meeting. Elections are conducted by secret ballot at such meeting with candidates requiring at least two-thirds of votes cast to be appointed.
Newly appointed trustees are given a copy of the Church’s constitution, the most recent annual report and accounts, and a summary of current governance matters (as required by clause 17.1 of the constitution). This enables them to understand the Church’s legal framework, ministry priorities and ways of working as early as possible after appointment. They are also invited to have short induction meetings with the Operations Manager, Senior Minister and Chair of Trustees to ensure they understand their role and responsibilities fully.
In 2024 the trustees also continued to embed a culture of shared leadership and accountability, reflecting Baptist practice in which discernment and governance flow from the life of the local church. Training and development for trustees is ongoing through regular discussion of governance responsibilities, reference to Charity Commission guidance, and support from the regional Baptist Association when required. The recent appointment of a Chair of Trustees in early 2025 further strengthens ongoing trustee development, succession planning and clarity of role.
RELATIONSHIP WITH SUBSIDIARIES
In 2019 the church incorporated a development company, Newport Pagnell Baptist Church Development Limited (company number 11934841), with the purpose of undertaking a design and build contract for the development of the church building. Certain payments are made each year to this company in connection with that contract. The company has no other remit and at least two Trustees of NPBC serve as directors of that company at all times.
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
REMUNERATION OF KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
The trustees consider the key management personnel of the church to be the Ministers and any employed senior operational staff who have responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and oversight of the Church’s activities. During the year this included the Senior Minister and Associate Minister.
Ministers are Charity Trustees by virtue of their role and are remunerated in accordance with clause 9.2.7 of the Church’s constitution, which permits a minister to receive a stipend and reasonable allowances. The level of stipend and the nature of associated allowances are reviewed annually alongside the Church’s budget, making reference to external guidance issued by the Baptist Union, to CPI and to relevant regional cost indices (such as rental and utility price data), to ensure remuneration remains fair, reasonable and consistent with the Church’s charitable purposes.
No other charity trustees received any remuneration for their role as trustees. Trustees are entitled to reclaim reasonable expenses incurred while carrying out their duties, although no material trustee expenses were claimed during the year.
The Church had no bonus, incentive, or performance-related pay arrangements, and no loans or other taxable benefits were made to any key management personnel.
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
POLICIES & RISK MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC BENEFIT POLICY
In planning and managing activities for the year the trustees pay due notice to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The church’s activities are offered to those interested and in need and are not restricted by ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or religious belief. The trustees attempt to make sure that its building and activities are as accessible as possible. It is part of the church’s objectives to provide services open for all people in the community. In this way the church provides benefit to its own members, but also to the wider community we serve.
POLICY ON GRANTS AND DONATIONS BY THE CHURCH
The Church adopted its current policy on grants and donations in 2004. In summary:
| Policy Principle | Summary |
|---|---|
| Core denominatonal giving |
The Church maintains regular giving to the Baptst Union Home Mission appeal (via the Central Baptst Associaton) and to BMS World Mission, at the levels recommended by those bodies. |
| Tithe on general income |
10% of total income is set aside to support other nominated charites agreed by the Church Meetng. In 2024 this included Bridgebuilder Trust and the Winter Night Shelter, along with one-of gifs to Milton Keynes Hospital and Hope for Romania. |
| Event-related giving | Income from individual events may be designated for charitable partners whose objectves align with the Church. |
| Internal hardship support |
The “Be A Blessing” fund remains available to support church members facing fnancial hardship. |
The Church made donations during 2024 of £31,209 (2023: £54,588).
INVESTMENT POLICY
The Church holds funds available for investment in liquid assets, primarily cash at bank, to ensure that these are available for use in the Church's charitable activities. These funds are held in interest bearing deposit accounts with instant access at reputable UK-regulated banking institutions which reflect the Church's values and ethos and do not run counter to its aims. During 2023 the church opened a new 3-month deposit account bearing a significantly higher rate of interest with the Baptist Union Corporation Limited. This account has a 3-month notification policy on withdrawals without suffering a penalty of the interest that would otherwise have accrued during that period.
RISK MANAGEMENT
In accordance with the principles outlined in the document produced by the Charity Commission – Charities and Risk Management – the Church maintains a Risk Register that is reviewed by the Trustees at least annually. It identifies threats to the church on reputational and financial bases. Each threat is quantified in terms of the probability of the threat becoming an issue (actually occurring) and the severity of the effect of the issue. Both probability and severity are assessed as High, Medium, Low, Very Low. Should either probability or severity be rated as High, then mitigating or threat reduction processes are put into effect to lower the overall threat level. A monetary sum is held in reserve to offset costs associated with risk threats becoming issues. (See Reserves Policy). A summary of the principal risks and mitigation / controls in place to manage those risks is presented below.
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
| Risk Area | Key Risks | Mitgaton / Controls | Oversight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governance & Compliance |
Inappropriate beneft to trustees; actvites outside charitable objects; gaps in policy framework; legal non- compliance |
Collectve decision-making; declaratons of interest; writen policies; periodic review and policy development; access to external advice |
Chair of Trustees |
| People & Safeguarding |
Safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults; ministerial capacity; succession and resilience |
Safeguarding policy and annual review; DBS checks; training; pastoral oversight; planned staf/volunteer development |
Trustee for Safeguarding / Chair |
| Operatonal Health & Safety |
Fire safety; premises hazards; legionella; asbestos; volunteer H&S awareness |
Risk assessments; maintenance and compliance checks; inducton and training for volunteers; regular monitoring |
Operatons Manager |
| Data Protecton & IT Contnuity |
GDPR breaches; data loss; IT failure | Data protecton policy; twice-yearly data sweeps; cloud-based systems; IT support contract |
Operatons Manager |
| Financial Resilience |
Insufcient income; dependency on limited sources; fraud or fnancial crime |
Financial procedures; mult-person authorisaton; cashfow monitoring; independent audit; giving analysis |
Treasurer |
| External & Reputatonal |
Breakdown of relatonships with community, councils or partner organisatons |
Clear policies for building use; proactve engagement and communicaton |
Senior Minister |
| Spiritual Health & Unity |
Spiritual discouragement or division | Teaching, pastoral care, Life Groups, prayer and discipleship |
Senior Minister |
RESERVES POLICY
The funds held in reserve by the Church are based upon the following criteria considered by the Trustees, and with the current sums re-allocated to each area for the 2024 financial year:
| Category | Descripton | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance of services for benefciaries |
Commitments to individuals or organisatons | £6,000 |
| Redundancy costs for orderly close down of charity |
Employer obligatons | £62,000 |
| Funding or loan covenants | None | £0 |
| Planned commitments | Antcipated defcit in the general fund over the next two years following recruitment of an Operatons Manager |
£46,000 |
| Risk provisions | Unmitgated risks identfed in the Risk Register (range estmate) |
£15,000 – £30,000 |
| Total exposure | (commited + potental) | £129,000 – £144,000 |
The Reserves Policy is reviewed annually by the Trustees as part of the budget process. Current required reserves as identified by the reserves policy total £129,000-144,000. At the end of 2024, the church has unrestricted reserves of £128,166 (2023: £124,222).
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
FUNDRAISING POLICY AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees are responsible for ensuring that all fundraising undertaken in the name of the Church is carried out in a way that is consistent with its Christian ethos, in line with Charity Commission guidance (CC20), and compliant with relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
General fund income is raised primarily through voluntary giving by members and friends of the Church. The Church does not use external agencies for general fundraising and does not apply pressure techniques. Giving is invited through church communications, through a Sunday offering bowl and via the Church website (npbc.org.uk), where guidance is provided on ways to give regularly or through one-off donations. All giving continues to be voluntary and is treated respectfully and confidentially.
In relation to the building project, the Church engages two self-employed fundraising executives who support applications to grant-making bodies, trusts and potential philanthropic partners. They act under the oversight of the Trustees and do not operate on a commission basis. No fundraising is outsourced to professional fundraising companies.
The trustees monitor fundraising activity to ensure that:
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fundraising remains proportionate to the Church’s charitable purposes
-
donors are treated fairly and transparently
-
safeguarding, confidentiality and GDPR requirements are respected; and
-
no inappropriate pressure is placed on individuals to give
The Church did not receive any fundraising complaints during the year.
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
FINANCIAL REVIEW
PERFORMANCE FOR 2024
Total income, including the building fund, has increased to £1,127,819 (2023: £489,232) which includes grant income for the building project of £328,348 (2023: £Nil). Expenditure on achieving its charitable objectives increased to £415,848 (2023: £356,288) driven largely by additional costs associated with the hall refurbishment programme. We are grateful to all our supporters and volunteers without whom this would not have been possible, and to God for His blessings and provision.
Unrestricted income grew in the year to £296,324 (2023: £291,422) reflecting a continued growth in church membership and wider church family but impacted by reduced hall lettings in part related to a decision to cease large evening party bookings to ease parking availability and reduce impact on nearby residents. The trustees are also pleased to report that the church had another year of positive cash generation on the general unrestricted funds of £12,550 (2023: £10,062).
The Charity ended the year with satisfactory levels of funds. The balance on the Building Fund currently stands at £1,122,827 (2023: £802,435) with a further planning application due to be submitted in 2025 and works on the building currently anticipated to commence in 2026. General reserves are at an acceptable level of £121,098 (2023: £117,866) which is in line with the Charity’s reserves policy and provides financial strength to weather any financial shocks in the coming year, as well as providing the church with the ability to take advantage of opportunities should they arise.
KEY FINANCIAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
| Area of uncertainty | Descripton | Mitgaton / management approach |
|---|---|---|
| Income volatlity | Giving contnues to be strong but is not guaranteed, and the church is currently running a planned defcit budget as stafng capacity is expanded. Wider economic pressures could impact household giving levels. |
Regular cashfow forecastng and giving analysis; quarterly reportng to trustees; teaching and engagement on stewardship; targeted reserves maintained to absorb short-term fuctuatons. |
| Stafng cost growth | The appointment of an Operatons Manager increases fxed costs at a tme of transiton, while ministerial remuneraton is subject to natonal infaton-linked review. |
Mult-year budgetng; staged introducton of stafng capacity; periodic review of role scope and impact; charity reserves aligned to future stafng commitments. |
| Compliance & safeguarding costs |
Strengthening governance, policy framework and training requirements may bring additonal fnancial outlay (training, legal advice, policy implementaton). |
Planning compliance costs within annual administratve budgets; seeking subsidised support from the Associaton; using volunteer expertse where appropriate. |
| Premises risk & maintenance |
Health & safety, fre, asbestos, and legionella obligatons could give rise to unplanned expenditure if remedial work is required. |
Actve monitoring through risk assessments and maintenance plans; building contngency within reserves; long-term capital maintenance planning. |
| Financial crime & fraud risk |
Although current fraud controls are strong, fnancial crime legislaton around high-value donatons is tghtening in the wider charity environment. |
Strengthening ant-fnancial crime controls; trustee training; mult-person payment authorisaton; external scrutny via independent audit. |
| External economic climate |
Cost-of-living pressure may afect regular giving; infaton increases cost base (utlites, |
Reserves reviewed annually; incremental cost control; use of designated funds and |
17
Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
| Area of uncertainty | Descripton | Mitgaton / management approach |
|---|---|---|
| insurance, ministry expenses) regardless of income stability. |
restricted giving for specifc ministries; ongoing monitoring of energy and contractual costs. |
Summary of mitigation approach
Collectively, the trustees are managing uncertainty by:
-
Holding an appropriate level of free reserves to ensure financial resilience
-
Using forward financial planning to anticipate staffing and ministry developments
-
Building governance capacity (Chair and Operations Manager) to improve oversight
-
Transparent engagement with the church family around giving, mission, and stewardship
-
Regular internal and external scrutiny through accounts oversight and independent audit
18
Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Trustees are responsible for preparing a Trustees' annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Applicable law requires the Charity Trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable group for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
-
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
-
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
-
state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
-
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO AUDITOR
Each trustee has taken steps that they ought to have taken as a trustee in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditor is aware of that information. The trustees confirm that there is no relevant information that they know of and of which they know the auditor is unaware.
DECLARATION
The Trustees Annual Report was adopted by the board of Trustees on 31 October and signed on its behalf by Philippa Lei, Chair of Trustees.
Philippa Lei Chair of Trustees
Date: 31 October 2025
19
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF NEWPORT PAGNELL BAPTIST CHURCH
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Newport Pagnell Baptist Church (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 December 2024, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet, Statement of Cash Flows, and Notes to the Financial Statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is United Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising Charities SORP - FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and applicable law (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
-
give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 31 December 2024 and of its results for the year then ended;
-
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
-
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Other matters
We draw to your attention the fact that the corresponding figures for the year ended 31 December 2023 are unaudited.
We also draw your attention to the fact that a material prior year adjustment has been made impacting the corresponding figures for 2023, and the opening net asset and fund position at 1 January 2024. Please see notes 3 and 12 to the financial statements for further information (set out on pages 26-36).
Conclusions relating to going concern
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you where:
-
the trustees use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate; or
-
the trustees have not disclosed in the financial statements any identified material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt about the charity’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting for a period of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Other information
The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
20
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF NEWPORT PAGNELL BAPTIST CHURCH
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees' Report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities Act 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
-
adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
-
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
-
certain disclosures of trustees remuneration specified by law are not made; or
-
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities (set out on page 19), the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
We have been appointed as auditor under section 152 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK), we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
- Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
21
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF NEWPORT PAGNELL BAPTIST CHURCH
-
Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the charity’s internal control.
-
Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the trustees.
-
Conclude on the appropriateness of the trustees use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the charity to cease to continue as a going concern.
-
Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
-
Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities within the charity to express an opinion on the financial statements. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and performance of the charity audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our work has been undertaken so that we might state to the trustees those matters we are required to state to trustees in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and its trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
......................................
Michael Emery ACA (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of Michael J Emery & Co Limited, Statutory Auditor
22 St John Street
Newport Pagnell Buckinghamshire MK16 8HJ
Date: 31st October 2025
22
Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| Note Income Donations & legacies Other trading activities Investments Other income Total income 2 Expenditure Raising funds Charitable activities Prior Year LHDC Correction 6 Total expenditure 4 Income less expenditure Transfers between funds Funds transfers 12 Total transfers between funds Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forwards Total funds carried forwards |
2024 Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ 250,436 795,070 1,045,506 37,365 1,045 38,410 8,523 35,380 43,903 - - - 296,324 831,495 1,127,819 4,376 40,483 44,859 303,361 67,627 370,989 - - - 307,737 108,110 415,848 (11,414) 723,385 711,971 407,331 (407,331) - 407,331 (407,331) - 395,917 316,054 711,971 265,057 810,099 1,075,157 660,975 1,126,153 1,787,128 |
2023 (as restated) Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ |
|---|---|---|
| 231,611 176,530 408,141 55,699 3,478 59,177 4,112 17,790 21,902 - 13 13 |
||
| 291,422 197,810 489,232 4,745 21,608 26,353 292,532 37,403 329,935 - (184,464) (184,464) |
||
| 297,277 (125,453) 171,824 |
||
| (5,855) 323,263 317,408 |
||
| 9,204 (9,204) - |
||
| 9,204 (9,204) - |
||
| 3,349 314,059 317,408 |
||
| 261,708 496,040 757,748 |
||
| 265,057 810,099 1,075,157 |
Newport Pagnell Baptist Church, CIO 1175783
23
Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Note Fixed Assets Tangible Assets 6 Investments 9 Total Fixed Assets Current Assets Debtors 10 Cash at bank and in hand Total Current Assets Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Creditors: amounts < 1year 11 Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net Current Assets (Liabilities) Total Assets less Current Liabilities Net Assets Funds of the charity 12 General funds Assets funds Designated funds Restricted funds Total Funds |
2024 Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ 535,022 241,687 776,710 - 100 100 535,022 241,787 776,810 6,987 17,422 24,410 136,662 1,137,965 1,274,627 143,649 1,155,387 1,299,037 17,697 271,021 288,718 17,697 271,021 288,718 125,952 884,366 1,010,318 660,975 1,126,153 1,787,128 660,975 1,126,153 1,787,128 121,098 - 121,098 532,808 - 532,808 7,068 - 7,068 - 1,126,153 1,126,153 660,975 1,126,153 1,787,128 |
2023 (as restated) Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ |
|---|---|---|
| 140,835 239,336 380,172 - 100 100 |
||
| 140,835 239,436 380,272 6,792 5,985 12,777 124,112 825,968 950,080 |
||
| 130,905 831,953 962,857 6,683 261,290 267,972 |
||
| 6,683 261,290 267,972 |
||
| 124,222 570,663 694,885 |
||
| 265,057 810,099 1,075,157 |
||
| 265,057 810,099 1,075,157 |
||
| 117,866 - 117,866 140,835 - 140,835 6,356 - 6,356 - 810,099 810,099 |
||
| 265,057 810,099 1,075,157 |
The notes on pages 26 to 36 form part of these accounts Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Philippa Lei Chair of Trustees Date: 31 October 2025
Newport Pagnell Baptist Church, CIO 1175783
24
Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Note Net cash from operating activities 14 Cash from investing activities Purchase of tangible fixed assets 6 Interest income Prioryear LHDC correction 6 Net cash from investing activities Changes in cash in the year Opening cash and cash equivalents Closing cash and cash equivalents |
2024 Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ 419,671 278,967 698,638 (415,644) (2,351) (417,995) 8,523 35,380 43,903 - - - (407,121) 33,029 (374,092) 12,550 311,997 324,546 124,112 825,968 950,080 136,662 1,137,965 1,274,627 |
2023 (as restated) Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ |
|---|---|---|
| 20,334 555,188 575,522 (14,384) (54,872) (69,256) 4,112 17,790 21,902 - (184,464) (184,464) |
||
| (10,272) (221,546) (231,818) |
||
| 10,062 333,642 343,704 |
||
| 114,050 492,326 606,376 |
||
| 124,112 825,968 950,080 |
ANALYSIS OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
| Cash on hand Current accounts Short term deposit accounts Notice deposit accounts Closing cash and cash equivalents |
01-Jan-2024 £ Cash flow £ 31-Dec-2024 £ |
|---|---|
| 795 392 1,187 18,953 (3,863) 15,090 32,722 110,012 142,734 897,610 218,005 1,115,616 |
|
| 950,080 324,546 1,274,627 |
Newport Pagnell Baptist Church, CIO 1175783
25
Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 – Accounting policies
(a) Statutory information
Newport Pagnell Baptist Church is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission in England & Wales. The registered office and operational address is Lovat Hall, Silver Street, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, MK16 0EJ.
(b) Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019) – (Charities SORP (FRS102)) and the Charities Act 2011.
Newport Pagnell Baptist Church meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
(c) Basis of consolidation
The group financial statements consolidate those of the Charity and its subsidiary undertaking (see note 9) drawn up to 31 December 2024. The results of the Charity’s non-charitable trading subsidiary have been incorporated on a line-by-line basis. Surpluses or deficits on intra-group transactions have been eliminated in full.
(d) Going concern
These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. In the assessment of the trustees there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. The trustees make this assessment in respect of a period of one year from the date of approval of the financial statements.
(e) Incoming resources
All monetary donations and gifts are included in full in the statements of financial activities when receivable. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included. Donations under Gift Aid, together with the associated income tax recoveries, are credited as income when donations are receivable. Investment income is recognised when receivable.
(f) Grants recognition
Grants are recognised when the charity becomes entitled to the income, it is probable that the charity will receive the income, and the income can be measured reliably.
If receipt of a grant is conditional on the charity meeting specified performance criteria, then the grant is recognised as deferred income until that performance criteria has been fulfilled.
(g) Income from other trading activities
Income from other trading activities comprises income arising from the hire of church premises to third party users. Income is recognised when use of the premises takes place.
(h) Resources expended
Resources expended are charged in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accrual’s basis, inclusive of VAT which cannot be recovered.
(i) Tangible fixed assets
Newport Pagnell Baptist Church, CIO 1175783
26
Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
Tangible fixed assets are capitalised at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over the following estimated useful lives:
Freehold building (Lovat Hall) 25 years Fixtures, fittings, and equipment 5-10 years Plant and machinery 5-10 years
No value has been attributed to the freehold land on which Lovat Hall stands in view of the restrictions placed upon its alternative use by planning consents, its location and condition.
Assets (or groups of assets) costing less than £500 are not capitalised.
(j) Debtors
Short term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment.
(k) Cash
is represented by cash in hand and deposits with financial institutions repayable without penalty on notice of not more than 30 days.
(l) Creditors
Short term creditors are measured at transaction price.
(m) Pension costs
The Church is an employer participating in a pension scheme known as the Baptist Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”). The Scheme is a separate legal entity which is administered by the Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust Limited). The Minister(s) are eligible to join the Scheme, which is not contracted out of the State Second Pension.
The Scheme, previously known as the Baptist Ministers’ Pension Fund, started in 1925, but was closed to future accrual of defined benefits on 31 December 2011. Prior to this date the main benefit provided through the Defined Benefit (DB) Plan was a pension of one eightieth of final minimum pensionable income for each year of pensionable service together with additional pension in respect of premiums paid on Pensionable Income in excess of Minimum Pensionable Income.
From January 2012, pension provision is being made through the Defined Contribution (DC) Plan within the Scheme. In general, members pay 8% of their Pensionable Income and employers pay 6% of members’ Pensionable Income into individual pension accounts, which are operated and managed on behalf of the Pension Trustee by Legal and General Life Assurance Society Limited. In addition, the employer pays a further 4% of Pensionable Income (or 3% if the employer is in the segregated DC section) to cover Death in Service Benefits, administration costs, and an associated insurance policy which provides income protection for Scheme members in the event that they are unable to work due to long-term incapacity. This income protection policy has been insured by the Baptist Union of Great Britain with Unum Limited. Members of the Basic Section pay reduced contributions of 5% of Pensionable Income, and their employers also pay a total of 5%.
Recovery Plan
In addition to the contributions to the DC Plan set out above, where a valuation of the DB Plan reveals a deficit the Trustee and the Council agree to a rate of deficiency contributions from churches and other employers involved in the DB Plan. Following the 2019 valuation a Recovery Plan was signed in September 2020 under which deficiency contributions are payable until June 2026. These contributions were broadly based on each employer's
Newport Pagnell Baptist Church, CIO 1175783
27
Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
membership at 31 December 2014 and increase annually in line with increases to Minimum Pensionable Income as defined in the Rules.
On 30th June 2022 the Baptist Pension Scheme signed an agreement with the insurance company Just Group (“Just”) to secure DB Plan members’ pension benefits. Just are now providing financial backing for all pensions provided through the Scheme’s DB Plan and following this transaction, the Scheme no longer has a shortfall. An updated Recovery plan was then signed in August 2022 under which recovery contributions from each participating employer in the DB Plan reduced to £1 per month from August 2022. This came to an end in October 2024 when it was determined that there was no longer a shortfall in the Scheme.
(n)
Fund accounting
Charity law requires the net assets of the Church to be accounted for within a number of funds.
Unrestricted funds
These are funds that can be used in accordance with the Church’s charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
-
i. The General Fund – this is the fund through which the general activities of the Church are recognised.
-
ii. Designated Funds - these are funds set aside by the trustees out of unrestricted general funds for specific future purposes or projects. The Church operates the following designated funds.
-
Food4Thought is a day time church service centred around a meal together
-
Boys’ Brigade, and Girls’ Brigade (youth organisations)
-
Parent & Toddler Group
-
MumCo (Monthly meeting for mothers of preschool age children focused on the mums and with childcare provision)
Restricted funds
These are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the Church’s objects. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular purposes. The Church operates the following restricted funds.
-
i. Income Funds – These are expendable funds of which the Church has the following. The income and expenditure of these funds is shown in the restricted fund column of the notes (see note 12).
-
The Charity Appeals Fund is used to administer donations payable to institutions and projects other than those amounts paid from the general fund.
-
The Be a Blessing Fund exists to provide help to people in the church family and wider community in financial need.
-
The Buildings Fund exists to administer income and expenditure related to the Buildings Development Project.
-
ii. Endowment (capital) Funds – These are permanent funds. The Church has no funds in this category.
Newport Pagnell Baptist Church, CIO 1175783
28
Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
Note 2 – Analysis of Income
| Note 2 – Analysis of Income | ||
|---|---|---|
| Notes Donations & legacies Gifts from church family Gifts from user-group members Grants income 3 Total Donations & legacies Other trading activities Sale of goods and services Income from events Lettings income Total Other trading activities Investments Interest Total Investments Other Income Proceeds from sale of assets Total Other Income TOTAL INCOME |
2024 Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ 243,108 466,722 709,830 6,728 - 6,728 600 328,348 328,948 250,436 795,070 1,045,506 4,404 253 4,657 6,845 793 7,638 26,116 - 26,116 37,365 1,045 38,410 8,523 35,380 43,903 8,523 35,380 43,903 - - - - - - 296,324 831,495 1,127,819 |
2023 (as restated) Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ |
| 222,778 176,530 399,307 8,833 - 8,833 - - - |
||
| 231,611 176,530 408,140 4,840 952 5,791 10,071 2,526 12,597 40,788 - 40,788 |
||
| 55,699 3,478 59,177 4,112 17,790 21,902 |
||
| 4,112 17,790 21,902 - 13 13 |
||
| - 13 13 |
||
| 291,422 197,810 489,232 |
Note 3 – Analysis of grants Income
| UK Gov Community Ownership Fund FCC Communities Foundation Milton Keynes City Council Milton Keynes Community Foundation The Boys Brigade - Building Stronger TOTAL GRANT INCOME |
2024 Unrestrict- ed Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ - 217,348 217,348 - 50,000 50,000 - 56,000 56,000 - 5,000 5,000 600 - 600 600 328,348 328,948 |
2023 (as restated) Unrestrict- ed Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ |
|---|---|---|
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
||
| - - - |
Of the grants received in restricted funds, these were all for the building project and of this, £43,728 was spent in the year on revenue costs associated with the project and £284,620 was spent on capital expenditure.
Newport Pagnell Baptist Church, CIO 1175783
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
Included in the deferred income balance of £260,000 was a grant received from The Benefact Trust in 2023 for the redevelopment of the main church / community centre building. Planning permission is expected to be received for this project in 2025 whereupon the conditions for its recognition will be met. This grant was incorrectly recognised in income in the 2023 annual accounts and has been processed as a prior year adjustment in these accounts.
Note 4 – Analysis of Expenditure
| Note 4 – Analysis of Expenditure | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Total 2024 £ |
Total 2023 (as restated) £ |
||
| Direct activities £ Support Costs £ |
Direct activities £ Support Costs £ |
||||
| Costs of generating funds | |||||
| Fundraising events | 2,976 37 |
136 2 |
3,151 | 3,167 | |
| Direct fundraisingcosts | 1,345 17 |
39,844 502 |
41,708 | 23,186 | |
| Total cost of generating funds | 4,322 54 |
39,980 504 |
44,859 | 26,353 | |
| Charitable activities | |||||
| Faith & worship activities | |||||
| Faith and worship | 164,872 14,510 |
16,961 1,351 |
197,693 | 179,473 | |
| Donations and mission | 24,439 437 |
6,769 121 |
31,767 | 55,148 | |
| Total faith & worship activities | 189,311 14,947 |
23,730 1,472 |
229,460 | 234,620 | |
| Community activities | |||||
| Church-led community activities |
30,142 3,589 |
11,881 407 |
46,019 | 39,040 | |
| Communitycentre operation | 49,782 5,927 |
29,140 997 |
85,847 | 55,972 | |
| Total community activities | 79,924 9,516 |
41,021 1,404 |
131,866 | 95,012 | |
| TOTAL CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | 269,235 24,463 |
64,752 2,876 |
361,325 | 329,633 | |
| Governance costs | |||||
| Governance activities | - 9,663 |
- - |
9,663 | 302 | |
| Total Governance costs | - 9,663 |
- - |
9,663 | 302 | |
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE | 273,557 34,181 |
104,731 3,379 |
415,848 | 356,288 |
The main activities of the charity are to operate a church according to the principles of the Baptist denomination and to operate a community centre for the public benefit. Where expenditure is directly attributable to a specific charitable activity then it is directly allocated to that activity (for example ministers’ stipends and wages to faith and worship activities).
The charity operates primarily from a single building in Newport Pagnell that serves the majority of its charitable activities from Sunday worship to church-led community groups, community hall lettings and operation for other charitable activities such as welcoming guests for the winter night shelter. Expenditure that cannot be directly attributed to one specific activity is therefore allocated as follows:
Newport Pagnell Baptist Church, CIO 1175783
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
| Activity | Apportionment methodology |
|---|---|
| Wages and salaries | Based on a time-cost analysis of the roles performed by each staff member on an individual basis |
| To determine the total proportion of building costs to be apportioned to | |
| Building costs - floor space | support costs, the floor area of the offices as a proportion of the whole |
| building is used. | |
| For costs then apportioned to the main hall and ancillary rooms this cost | |
| is then initially apportioned between church and community activities on | |
| Building costs - activity based | a people usage basis (c.300 church users a week of a total 1,200 users) and then apportioned between church-led community activities and |
| broader community activities based on the number of activities run under | |
| that banner as a proportion of the total number of activities |
Note 5 – Support Costs
| Note 5 – Support Costs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Generating Funds £ Governance £ Faith & Worship £ Community £ |
Total 2024 £ |
|
| Administration | ||
| Wages and salaries | 325 - 8,403 5,593 |
14,322 |
| IT & telecoms | - - 3,907 2,600 |
6,507 |
| Printing, postage, stationery | - - 125 83 |
209 |
| Other expenses | 233 - 1,793 1,194 |
3,220 |
| Total Administration expenses | 558 - 14,229 9,471 |
24,258 |
| Property | ||
| Utilities | - - 410 273 |
684 |
| Repairs & maintenance | - - 1,631 1,086 |
2,717 |
| Insurance | - - 148 98 |
246 |
| Total Administration expenses | - - 2,190 1,458 |
3,647 |
| Governance costs | ||
| Costs of trustee meetings | - 288 - - |
288 |
| Audit & accountancy | - 9,375 - - |
9,375 |
| Total Governance costs | - 9,663 - - |
9,663 |
| TOTAL SUPPORT COSTS | 558 9,663 16,419 10,928 |
37,569 |
Included within Governance costs is auditor’s remuneration of £8,400 (2023: £nil).
Newport Pagnell Baptist Church, CIO 1175783
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
Note 6 – Tangible Fixed Assets
| Fixtures | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land & | Fittings | ||||
| Land & | Buildings | Plant and | and | ||
| Buildings | WIP | Machinery | Equipment | TOTAL | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Cost 01-Jan-2024 | 221,785 | 239,336 | 27,124 | 92,641 | 580,885 |
| Additions | 403,076 | 2,351 | 1,570 | 10,999 | 417,995 |
| Disposals | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cost 31-Dec-2024 | 624,861 | 241,687 | 28,693 | 103,639 | 998,881 |
| Depreciation 01-Jan-2024 | 139,675 | - | 16,964 | 44,075 | 200,714 |
| Charge for the year | 10,568 | - | 1,764 | 9,126 | 21,457 |
| Disposals | - | - | - | - | - |
| Depreciation 31-Dec-2024 | 150,243 | - | 18,728 | 53,201 | 222,171 |
| NBV 01-Jan-2024 | 82,110 | 239,336 | 10,160 | 48,566 | 380,172 |
| NBV 31-Dec-2024 | 474,618 | 241,687 | 9,966 | 50,439 | 776,710 |
Included within Land and Building WIP are monies that have been spent in connection with the Church Building Project. These assets are currently under construction and so depreciation has not commenced in the year. The refurbishment of the main hall including new roof, windows, hall refurbishment and the installation of a solar PV system were all completed in the year and assets were therefore added to Land and Buildings in the year and depreciation was commenced in line with the policy.
In 2023 the trustees identified an error in connection with the previous 3 years of financial statements whereby expenditure on the Church Building Project had been expensed through the restricted funds of the church rather than showing as an asset under construction. The impact of this error was that the trustees recognised a gain of £184,464 through the restricted funds as a prior year adjustment and are now holding this balance as WIP in Fixed Assets until the project is completed.
Note 7 – Personnel Costs
| Note 7 – Personnel Costs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full time Part time TOTAL STAFF NUMBERS |
2024 Ministry Staff Other Staff Total Staff 2 1 3 - 4 4 2 5 7 |
2023 Ministry Staff Other Staff Total Staff |
| 2 1 3 - 4 4 |
||
| 2 5 7 |
Newport Pagnell Baptist Church, CIO 1175783
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
| Salaries and wages Accommodation costs National insurance contributions Pension contributions Annual employment allowance TOTAL WAGES & ALLOWANCES Salaries and wages Training costs Travel and other expenses TOTAL PERSONNEL COSTS |
2024 Ministry Staff £ Other Staff £ Total £ 61,490 71,019 132,509 31,616 - 31,616 8,526 4,679 13,205 9,321 6,980 16,300 (3,228) (1,772) (5,000) 107,724 80,906 188,630 2024 Ministry Staff £ Other Staff £ Total £ 107,724 80,906 188,630 2,443 - 2,443 - - - 110,167 80,906 191,073 |
2023 (as restated) Ministry Staff £ Other Staff £ Total £ |
|---|---|---|
| 57,060 73,158 130,217 30,386 - 30,386 7,816 4,501 12,318 8,654 6,601 15,255 (3,173) (1,827) (5,000) |
||
| 100,743 82,433 183,176 |
||
| 2023 (as restated) Ministry Staff £ Other Staff £ Total £ |
||
| 100,743 82,433 183,176 2,201 - 2,201 493 - 493 |
||
| 103,436 82,433 185,869 |
Two trustees, Mr Peter Young and Rev. Steve Wood, received remuneration in the year in connection with their roles as Associate Minister and Senior Minister respectively. They were entitled to receive travelling expenses in connection with their roles which were declined except in connection with Mr Young’s ongoing studies at Spurgeon’s College in London as he has commenced his Minister in Training programme which he is undertaking alongside a Masters in Theology. Other than reimbursement of these travel training expenses totalling £2,443 (2023: £2,301), no trustees received any reimbursement of expenses in the current year or prior year. The total emoluments received by these two trustees was £100,846 (2023: £94,782).
Except as stated above no trustee or connected person has received remuneration or expenses requiring disclosure in addition to the employee costs disclosed above as required by the SORP, certain other costs have been classified as personnel costs (including volunteers expenses). No trustee or key management personnel received emoluments in excess of £60,000 in either the current or prior year.
The number of trustees for whom the charity is making pension contributions to a defined contribution scheme is 2 (2023: 2)
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
Note 8 – Donations Made
| Note 8 – Donatons Made | ||
|---|---|---|
| Baptist Home Mission Baptist World Mission Good News for Romania Milton Keynes Bridgbuilder Trust Milton Keynes Hospital Practical support in the community Thrive Uganda Welcome MK Willen Hospice TOTAL DONATIONS |
2024 Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ 9,225 - 9,225 9,225 - 9,225 1,097 - 1,097 3,420 - 3,420 1,100 - 1,100 372 6,529 6,901 - - - - - - - 240 240 24,439 6,769 31,209 |
2023 (as restated) Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ |
| 9,225 - 9,225 9,225 - 9,225 - - - 3,420 - 3,420 - - - 225 31,343 31,568 - 544 544 275 - 275 - 332 332 |
||
| 22,370 32,218 54,588 |
Note 9 – Details of Subsidiaries
| Note 9 – Details of Subsidiaries | ||
|---|---|---|
| NPBC Development TOTAL INVESTMENTS |
2024 Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ - 100 100 - 100 100 |
2023 (as restated) Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ |
| - 100 100 |
||
| - 100 100 |
The charity owns 100% of the issued share capital of NPBC Development Limited. The company’s registered office address is the same as that of the charity. During the period the subsidiary had total income of £15,000 (2023: £50,000) and expenditure of £11,032 (2023: £46,191). All surpluses are donated back to the charity at the end of the reporting period under a deed of covenant.
Note 10 – Analysis of Debtors
| Note 10 – Analysis of Debtors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Debtors Recoverable Gift Aid Prepayments and accrued income Other debtors TOTAL DEBTORS |
2024 Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ 795 7,777 8,572 4,826 9,176 14,001 1,366 - 1,366 - 470 470 6,987 17,422 24,410 |
2023 (as restated) Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ |
| 1,935 3,971 5,906 3,556 2,013 5,570 1,301 - 1,301 - - - |
||
| 6,792 5,985 12,777 |
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
Note 11 – Analysis of Creditors
| Note 11 – Analysis of Creditors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Accounts Payable PAYE/NI Liability Pension Liability Charity Accruals Deferred income TOTAL CREDITORS |
2024 Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ 4,309 666 4,975 2,296 - 2,296 - - - 110 956 1,066 10,982 9,399 20,381 - 260,000 260,000 17,697 271,021 288,718 |
2023 (as restated) Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ |
| 3,617 290 3,907 2,952 - 2,952 113 - 113 - 1,000 1,000 - - - - 260,000 260,000 |
||
| 6,683 261,290 267,972 |
Note 12 – Movement in Funds
| Note 12 – Movement in Funds | Note 12 – Movement in Funds |
|---|---|
| Balance at 01-Jan- 2024 £ Prior year adjustment £ Balance at 01-Jan-2024 (as restated) £ Income £ Expenditure £ Transfers £ Gains and losses £ Balance at 31-Dec- 2024 £ |
|
| General Fund 117,866 - Assets 140,835 - |
117,866 282,727 (274,726) (4,769) - 121,098 140,835 - (21,457) 413,430 - 532,808 |
| Unrestricted Funds 258,702 - Boys Brigade 641 - Food4Thought 1,742 - Girls Brigade 1,855 - MOPS 434 - Parent&Toddler 1,684 - |
258,702 282,727 (296,184) 408,661 - 653,906 641 7,087 (6,477) (300) - 951 1,742 810 (773) - - 1,779 1,855 2,908 (2,960) 270 - 2,073 434 1,326 (1,116) 300 - 943 1,684 1,465 (227) (1,600) - 1,321 |
| Designated Funds 6,356 - |
6,356 13,596 (11,554) (1,330) - 7,068 |
| Total Unrestricted Funds 265,057 - Charity - - Be a Blessing 7,664 - BuildingFund 1,062,435 (260,000) |
265,057 296,324 (307,737) 407,331 - 660,975 - 135 (240) 240 - 135 7,664 2,131 (6,604) - - 3,191 802,435 829,229 (101,266) (407,571) - 1,122,827 |
| Restricted Funds 1,070,099 (260,000) |
810,099 831,495 (108,110) (407,331) - 1,126,153 |
| TOTAL FUNDS 1,335,157 (260,000) |
1,075,157 1,127,819 (415,848) - - 1,787,128 |
Transfers between the Building Fund and the Assets fund relate to expenditure on fixed assets in the year that was incurred in line with the objectives of the restricted fund.
Transfers between the General Fund and the Assets fund relate to expenditure on fixed assets that are smaller in nature such as purchase of worship or IT equipment for example.
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Annual Trustees Report and Consolidated Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2024
Note 13 – Related Party Transactions
Transactions with other Baptist bodies
Newport Pagnell Baptist Church is an independent charity. The custodian Trustee of Lovat Hall is the Baptist Union Corporation Limited which is charity number 249635, and which is controlled by the Baptist Union Council. No fees are payable for this service. The church is also a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, and the Central Baptist Association.
The church incorporated a development company, Newport Pagnell Baptist Church Development Limited (company number 11934841), in 2019 with the purpose of undertaking a design and build contract for the development of the church building. Certain payments were made to this company in connection with that contract.
The church engage a close relative of a trustee and a close relative of a subsidiary director for fundraising services in connection with the Building Development Project. The two individuals have the professional skills, competencies and experience to perform these roles as expected.
| Unrestricted Funds £ Designated Funds £ Restricted Funds £ |
Total 2024 £ |
Total 2023 (as restated) £ |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription to Baptist Union of Great Britain 1,075 - - Donations made to the BU Home Mission 9,225 - - Donations made to the BU World Mission 9,225 - - Insurance provided by Baptist Insurance Coy.PLC 2,659 - 1,555 Payments to Baptist Ministers' Pension Fund 10 - - Payments to NPBC Development Ltd - - 11,032 Payments to fundraising services - - 26,820 |
1,075 9,225 9,225 4,214 10 11,032 26,820 |
967 9,225 9,225 2,466 12 46,191 20,556 |
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE 22,195 - 39,407 |
61,601 | 88,642 |
Note 14 – Reconciliation of net cash from operating activities
| Net movement in funds Adjustments for: Depreciation 6 Interest income Sale of fixed assets (Increase) / decrease in debtors Increase / (decrease) in creditors Increase /(decrease)in def. inc. Total adjustments Net cash from operating activities |
2024 Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ 395,917 316,054 711,971 21,457 - 21,457 (8,523) (35,380) (43,903) - - - (195) (11,438) (11,633) 11,015 9,731 20,746 - - - 23,753 (37,086) (13,333) 419,671 278,967 698,638 |
2023 (as restated) Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ All Funds £ |
|---|---|---|
| 3,349 314,059 317,408 16,237 - 16,237 (4,112) (17,790) (21,902) - - - 2,652 2,265 4,917 2,207 (3,346) (1,138) - 260,000 260,000 |
||
| 16,984 241,129 258,114 |
||
| 20,334 555,188 575,522 |
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