2023-03-31-accounts - River Church, Weycroft Hall

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River Church,Weycroft Hall

Report and Accounts Year ended 31 March 2023

River Church, Weycroft Hall

LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE Weycroft Hall Weycroft Axminster Devon. EX13 7LL GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO Incorporated 6th March 2018 As amended 15th March 2022 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1177447 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR V.Turner MANAGING THE CHARITY M.Russell L.Russell (resigned 13th November 2023) M. Wallis D.Rogers M.Cavaciuti

NAMES OF BANKERS

Lloyds Bank Plc

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Jaimée Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

INDEX

Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-4 Trustees' Report Page 5 Independent Examiner's Report Page 6 Receipts and Payments Account Page 7 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 8-9 Notes to the Accounts

Page 1

River Church, Weycroft Hall

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

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

Objects of the charity

The charity, which is a church, is governed by a constitution and is constituted as a charitable incorporated organisation. The charity's principal objects, as set out in its governing document, are:

The advancement of the Christian faith for the public benefit in particular but not exclusively, by providing and establishing a training and retreat centre in the area of Axminster for the local community.

Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements Church Life

We have had another excellent year, marked by slow but steady growth and a number of new initiatives.

Sunday meetings have been well-attended, including frequent visitors with no experience of church, monthly Encounter nights have continued to draw Christians from the region, and again we had summer baptisms.

Bible teaching, along with worship, has again been a significant feature of Sun meetings. We finished our sequential study through Acts (Mar- Aug), explored the 5 fold ministry gifting from Eph 4:11 (SepDec) and then worked through Joshua (Jan- Mar). Sermons are posted on our YouTube channel and prove popular to a wide audience (1884 views over the year). Opportunity has again been given to a large team of preachers, but the quality and diversity has been excellent.

Worship week-ends

International worship leader, Paul Oakley, led an Encounter night with worship week-end in early May, and then again in Oct. These enhanced all that we were seeking in terms of worshipping Jesus and hosting the Presence of God. This intentional intimacy is the source of our corporate life and empowers all of our activities.

Healing Centre Online and Sozo Ministry

The Healing centre centre continued on Zoom and in person, with some heartwarming testimonies. Later in May we ran a "Heal like Jesus" conference with internationally renowned, Tim Grant & Ian Andrews, which was well attended by many across the area from other churches too.

The Sozo ministry has also continued well, with a similar number of powerful testimonies.

In June we started a wider leadership 6 weekly meeting, to involve all those with leadership roles at River Church. It aimed to: Develop a sense of leadership cohesion, enable us to worship & pray together, enable training/ input together, enable taking stock together, give opportunity to decide together on some issues and support each other/ prevent isolation in our various ministries. In addition we formalised the Prayer Ministry team to improve our ministry and better safeguard the congregation.

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Women's Ministry

A series of popular day events have been run in conjunction with the church, "Women of Significance" and drawn attendees from a wide region.

Academy of Supernatural Life

2 of our leaders launched an 8 month course in Sep which proved transformational for those that attended. River Church helped with providing them a venue, as well as prayer support & speakers!

Red Tribe Visit

The church leader visited the project in Kenya in November and the church continues to support this amazing work with the Maasai financially and through prayer. The main leaders of Red Tribe are members of our congregation, and it is a privilege to be able to support them. They organise many mission trips to Kenya and it is a valuable part of our church life to be able to aid those in extreme poverty.

Christians Against Poverty

Closer to home, it has also been a privilege to support this across-the-churches initiative.

Outreach events

In June we hosted a Platinum Jubilee Community Celebration for the neighbourhood and friends and followed in Nov by a community Bonfire and Fireworks evening. Both were extremely popular and well-attended. But most outreach from the church is a natural overflow from the lives of the congregation into their neighbours, work colleagues, friends and families. Many weeks we have unchurched visitors attending our Sun meetings.

Fireplace Youth Work

In August we lost our excellent part time youth worker due to changes in his life but wonderfully we seamlessly employed another one. That is no mean feat with the chronic shortage of Christian youth workers nationally. Fireplace continued well and we have a small but significant number of Youth.

Ops Manager

Similarly we employed another Ops Manager in Sep in lieu of the combined Youth worker & Ops Manager who left. This part-time staff team has a great dynamic, and enables a large group of volunteers, who in turn, enable River Church to flourish.

Life Groups

3 Life groups have continued well throughout the year and provide a deeper level of relationship, ministry opportunity and personal support than is available on a Sun morning.

Outside Events

Leaders from River Church are often invited to preach in other churches, lead a Women's retreat for another church stream and serve on national events like Spring Harvest and Christian Vision for Men. This is an honour, but also a reflection on the quality of people that we have in our leadership.

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Summary

The life of the church isn't primarily reflected in the number and size of events, but in the depth and sincerity of the congregation's spiritual life and in their relationship with God and one another. On this basis it is a delight to report that River Church is a beautiful part of the body of Christ and visitors comment on the sense of the Presence of God, the love and the welcome. Let's pray it continues and grows! And all honour & praise to Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

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

Financial review

During the year income increased by £6,043 to £51,575, and expenditure increased by £15,052 to £61,189. As a result the cash (total funds) held by the charity decreased by £9,614, to £21,488, of which all is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.

Reserves policy

The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £26,000 (which equates to about 6 months' of budgeted unrestricted expenditure) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £21,488, and is due £13,158 gift aid (3 years of claims), therefore the charity is complying with its reserves policy.

Governance

Responsibility for setting policy and for making operating decisions rest with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity. Responsibility for the day to day operation of the charity has been delegated to a senior management team led by Vince and Clio Turner. New trustees are recruited and appointed by the existing trustees, by a majority vote, the chairman has the deciding vote in the event of a tie.

Responsibilities of trustees

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

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

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

Approval

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

D M Rogers ……………………………………………………….. Dominic Rogers

Date:_15th January 2024____

Page 4

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF

River Church, Weycroft Hall

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of River Church, Weycroft Hall ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2023 on pages 6 to 9 following.

Responsibilities and basis of report

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

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

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

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.

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

Jaimée Young

Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

Date: 18th January 2024

Page 5

River Church, Weycroft Hall

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

	General Designated Funds Funds £ £ 44,725 - 801 45,526 - 46,511 - 8,500 - 55,011 - 9,485 - 129 - 9,614 - 31,102 - 21,488 - Unrestricted Funds	2022 £
	General Funds £ 44,725 801 45,526 46,511 8,500 55,011 9,485 129 9,614 31,102 21,488
		41,549 3,983
		45,532
		38,394 7,743
		46,137
- -		605 - -
-		605 - 31,707
		31,102

The notes on pages 8 - 9 form part of these accounts.

Page 6

River Church, Weycroft Hall

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Notes A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access B Other monetary assets Other debtors Gift aid due to charity C Liabilities Falling due within one year Fee for Independent Examination	General Designated funds funds £ £ 21,488 - 21,488 - 1,304 13,158 - 14,462 - 570 - 570 - Unrestricted Funds	Restricted funds £ - - - - - -	2023 £ 21,488 21,488 1,304 13,158 14,462 570 570	2022 £
				31,102
				31,102
				1,507 5,000
				6,507
				480
				480

D Assets retained for charity's own use

The charity does not hold any assets of material value.

E Guarantees and secured debts

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

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

D M Rogers -------------------------------------------Dominic Rogers Date:__15th January 2024

The notes on pages 8 - 9 form part of these accounts.

Page 7

River Church, Weycroft Hall

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies

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

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.

2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Staff costs including youth worker salary Hire of premises Youth and Children's work Other Costs Community event 3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by other Grants for: Overseas mission Pastoral care Relief of poverty Education and training Community event Ministry gifts	Unrestricted Fu General funds £ 29,301 7,000 153 10,057 46,511 s 4,675 425 880 300 500 1,720 8,500	nds Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - -	Restricted Funds £ - - 1,681 - 1,681 - - 3,917 580 4,497	Total 2023 £ 29,301 7,000 153 11,738 - 48,192 4,675 425 880 4,217 500 2,300 12,997	Total 2022 £
					27,807 1,110 480 6,727 2,270
					38,394
					5,040 270 720 - 1,713
					7,743

The organisation supports individuals in the UK and organisations overseas in the relief of poverty, and education and training. Grants totalling £12,997 (2022: £7,743) have been made to 5 individual and 8 organisations (2022: 1 individuals and 4 organisations) during the period. The grants paid to overseas mission all relate to UK based charities who work overseas.

4 Transactions with related parties

One of the trustees, Vince Turner own and live in Weycroft Hall, from which the organisation operates. They allow the organisation to use the premises for a charge to cover running costs, receiving £7,000 (2021: £1,100) in the period. Vince and Clio Turner are the lead pastors of the church and both received a salary of £9,500. The salary is for their roles as lead pastors, not as trustees for the church. Payments totalling £1,200 were paid to Laura Russell during the year, in her role as the safeguarding lead, as permitted by the governing document.

Page 8

River Church, Weycroft Hall

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

5 Movement of funds

vement of funds
General funds Restricted funds Local community fund Church/ASL Events Total funds	Balance at 31 Mar 2022 £ 31,102 - 31,102	Receipts £ 45,526 6,049 6,049 51,575	Payments £ 55,011 - 6,178 - 6,178 - 61,189 -	Transfers £ 129 - 129 129 -	Balance at 31 Mar 2023 £
					21,488
					- 0
					0

					21,488

Restricted receipts include £5,294 ASL fees and £755 church event income. Payments include ASL grant £3,917, ASL expenses £1,631, church event payments £630.

Page 9