2023 Trustees Report
Charity Name: FAITH LIFE CHURCH – GRANTHAM
Charity number: 1176246 Primary address: 41 Castlegate Grantham Lincolnshire NG31 6SS
Trustees for the year ending 31 December 2023:
Jenny James [Chair] Lee Gallaher Lydia Gallaher Susan Chappell Jon Lowe Mark Walmsley
Purpose:
The Purpose of Faith Life Church – Grantham, for the public benefit, is the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of Faith, in such ways as the Charity Trustees may decide.
Aims & Objectives:
We want to help our existing members to know God better and also equip them to help others to enjoy a life-transforming relationship with God.
We believe that God is a good God and that we can be like him in our thoughts, words and actions.
Church Services:
We hold regular, weekly services that are open to all. Our worship services are held every week on Saturday morning, 10.30am - 1pm at Retro House, Swingbridge Road, Grantham. We provide drinks and biscuits before and after the service, free of charge.
There is a dedicated children’s church called ‘Superkids’ for children up to sixteen years of age.
We also run ‘Lifegroups’ during the week. These groups take place on different days and times during the week, in homes and other locations. Our Lifegroups provide Christian teaching and time for fellowship.
We have an ‘official’ church WhatsApp social media group so members can encourage and pray for each other.
Children’s Events:
This year we organised both Easter and Christmas and alternative Halloween (light party) children’s celebrations.
Serving the Community:
Dysart Park:
Faith Life Church members form a large part of the team which organises and runs events in a local park. Pastor Lydia is the Chairperson of the Dysart Park Action Group, and she works closely with our local authority Parks Manager and Parks Community Engagement Officer. The main event we organise is a Family Fun day in July, a free event, that attracts around 6,000 people.
Schools Work:
Pastor Lee has continued to lead collective worship at Little Gonerby Infant School on a bi-monthly basis.
Chaplaincy:
Pastor Lee continued his work as a Volunteer Chaplain for Lincolnshire Police Force. He visits our local police station every Tuesday, taking in home-baked treats and a small dose of care and encouragement. This is another way that we seek to serve our community.
Overseas Support:
In 2023 Faith Life Church continued its support for Brighter Futures International Trust [Registered Charity in England and Wales No.1110823] to support them financially in their work helping those affected by poverty, disease, disability and prejudice in the Vizianagaram District of India. We raised £1300 through offerings.
Local Support:
In 2022 Faith Life Church continued its support for Lightspace [Registered Charity in England and Wales No.516836]. Lightspace is an independent ecumenical charity working in many of the primary schools in Grantham providing the children an opportunity to hear about the Christian faith in an approachable and age appropriate way. We raised £1000 through offerings. We have also started hosting their trustee meetings at our church.
NEW premises:
This has been our first full year in our current location, renting from Gardner Douglas Sports Cars Ltd, on Swingbridge Rd, in Grantham. We began the year with two large offices and a storage room and by the end of the year we had added another storage room and another office to our rental agreement, which we use as a dedicated space for our children’s church.
Having space that we rent full-time, instead of just one morning a week, we have been able to run church training seminars, host meetings for local church leaders and run Lifegroup meetings, prayer meetings and social events in our own place.
Faith Life Church Grantham
Financial Activities
January - December 2023
| TOTAL | |
|---|---|
| Income | |
| 4030 Gift Aid | 3,932.61 |
| 4040 Tithes & Offerings | 31,870.31 |
| Tithes & Offerings 2022 (deleted) | 628.70 |
| Total 4040 Tithes & Offerings | 32,499.01 |
| Total Income | £36,431.62 |
| TOTAL | £36,431.62 |
| Expenditures | |
| 5000 Running Costs | |
| 5000/1 Rent | 7,786.71 |
| 5000/2 Bills & Insurance | 1,320.51 |
| 5000/3 Equipment & Furnishings | 3,716.95 |
| 5000/4 Accounting & Banking | 492.90 |
| 5000/5 Hospitality & Refreshments - Adults | 926.72 |
| 5000/6 Hospitality & Refreshments - FLKids | 1,481.60 |
| 5000/7 Media & IT | 1,044.53 |
| 5000/8 Office Expenditures | 654.33 |
| 5000/9 Other Miscellaneous Running Costs | 29.50 |
| Total 5000 Running Costs | 17,453.75 |
| 5010 Outreach | |
| 5010/1 FLCG Events | 734.63 |
| 5010/2 Dysart Park Events | 497.56 |
| 5010/3 FLCG Social Events | 164.85 |
| 5010/5 Other Outreach Expenses | 23.30 |
| Total 5010 Outreach | 1,420.34 |
| 5020 Discipleship | |
| 5020/1 Adult Training & Resources | 500.23 |
| 5020/2 FLKids Training & Resources | 348.91 |
| 5020/4 Other Discipleship Expenses | 184.88 |
| Total 5020 Discipleship | 1,034.02 |
| 5030 Leadership Costs | |
| 5030/1 Pastoral Support | 3,967.62 |
| 5030/2 Senior Leader Retainer | 6,000.00 |
| 5030/3 Leadership Training & Resources | 1,148.80 |
| 5030/4 Other Miscellaneous Leadership Costs | 79.40 |
| Total 5030 Leadership Costs | 11,195.82 |
| 5040 Sowing | |
| 5040/3 Church Sowing | 9,045.70 |
| 5040/4 Support Gifts | 2,109.71 |
| Total 5040 Sowing | 11,155.41 |
| Total Expenditures | £42,259.34 |
| NET OPERATING INCOME | £ -5,827.72 |
| Other Income | |
| 4010 Cashback Credit | 10.23 |
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Accrual Basis Tuesday 10 December 2024 08:03 pm GMT+00:00
| TOTAL | |
|---|---|
| 4020 Events | |
| 4020/1 Dysart Park Events | 692.05 |
| Total 4020 Events | 692.05 |
| 4050 Bank Interest | 182.55 |
| 4060 Miscellaneous Income | 393.44 |
| Total Other Income | £1,278.27 |
| NET OTHER INCOME | £1,278.27 |
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | £ -4,549.45 |
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Accrual Basis Tuesday 10 December 2024 08:03 pm GMT+00:00
Independent examlnerfs report to the trustees of Faith Life Churth Registered Charity no: 1176246 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Farth Life Church for the year ended 31" December 2023. Responslbilities and basls of report As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparatlon of the accounts In accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under settion 145 of the 2011 Att and in carryin8 Out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under sertion 14515)Ib} of the Act. Independent examlnerfs statement I have completed my examlnatlon. I confirm that no materlal matters have come to my attentlon In connertion wlth the Èxamination givin8 me cause to believe that in any material respett: l. accounting records were not kept in respert of the Trust as required by sectlon 130 of the Act; or 2. 2. the accounts do not atrd with those records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn In this report In order to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reached. 51gned: Name: Mrs Nicola Lwhtttaker Date: 6 November 2024