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2021-06-30-accounts

Sevenoaks Gospel Trust

Report and Accounts Year ended 30 June 2021

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

SEVENOAKS GOSPEL TRUST

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

COMPANY INFORMATION

Directors / trustees Jeremy Marshall Paul Batchelor Deborah Drury Gavin Watson Mark Harding Company Secretary Deborah Drury Key staff None Governing Document Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated May 2018 Company Registration Number 11371960 Charity Registration Number 1179316 Registered Office 10 Queen Street Place London EC4R 1BE Independent Examiner Archie McDowall BA CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB Bankers

Barclays Bank PLC

Contents Page
Company Information 1
Directors' Report 2-5
Independent Examiner's Report 6
Statement of Financial Activities 7
Balance Sheet 8
Notes to the Accounts 9-14

Page 1

SEVENOAKS GOSPEL TRUST

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

The directors, who are the charity's trustees for the purposes of charity law, have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year.

Who we are

Sevenoaks Gospel Trust was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on 21 May 2018 and registered as a charity in England and Wales on 24 July 2018 under charity number 1179316 with its registered office at 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1BE. The purpose of the charity, as set out in its Articles of Association (Article 2.1), is “to advance the evangelical Christian faith, including (but without limitation) by providing grants or other funding to, and making available property for use by, churches and other Christian charities or groups in particular in the Sevenoaks area that are in sympathy with the Statement of Faith” adopted by the charity. That Statement of Faith can be found on our website (www.sevenoaksgospeltrust.org). It is intended that Sevenoaks Gospel Trust will provide a vehicle to support Christian ministry and mission in a way that is faithful to orthodox biblical teaching, regardless of any changes in fundamental doctrine within the Church of England or any other Christian denomination.

Activities during the year

Our third year of operation has largely been a year of consolidation. After purchasing 23 Beech Road, Sevenoaks in the first half of 2020, the necessary refurbishment work to both flats was completed during the autumn. We are pleased to report that the refurbishment work has resulted in significant benefits to the structure of the building and to the quality of living accommodation. St Nicholas Church, to whom the flats are leased, used the ground floor flat to house Ministry Associates. The first floor flat was not required for ministry purposes and was sub-let for a short period on a commercial basis.

Details of our activity on the grant making front are set out in the section “Grant making Activity” below.

The principal “housekeeping” activities during the year have been the preparation and adoption of Crisis Management, Reserves, Procurement and Investment Policies.

We held a meeting for supporters in September 2020, at which we updated them on progress with fundraising, on grant or funding approaches received and on the purchase of the Beech Road property. We received very helpful input. Our second annual general meeting was held on 24 November 2020 and was attended by all members of the charitable company (the five trustees together with Rev Anthony Bewes, Rev Joe Dent and Mrs Naomi de Grey-Warter). We benefited from the perspectives given by the non-trustee members.

Income

We are pleased to report that, during the course of the financial year, we received donations totalling £122,145. Several large one-off gifts were made and a number of donors have set up arrangements for regular giving. We are unable to estimate the extent to which the one-off gifts will be repeated in future years. Our only other sources of income have been rent payable by St Nicholas Church under the lease of 23 Beech Road and bank interest.

During the course of the year, St Nicholas Church engaged in a significant review of its strategy and operations. One of the objectives of that review was to encourage increased financial giving to the church. We understand that giving has indeed increased. This may have resulted, or may in the future result, in some reduction in giving to the Trust.

Page 2

SEVENOAKS GOSPEL TRUST REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

Grant making activity

The main call on our funds during the year was the remaining refurbishment of 23 Beech Road (see above). We made two grants during the course of the year. The first was a grant of £12,500 to St Nicholas Church to enable the purchase of upgraded audio-visual equipment to facilitate the live streaming of church services during the Covid 19 pandemic. The second was a grant of £6,000 to Crossteach, a charity whose objective is to teach about the Christian faith in schools. The purpose of the grant was to support the employment of a full-time worker in the schools of Sevenoaks.

The grant agreed in the last financial year of up to £35,000 in matched funding to Trinity School, Sevenoaks to assist with the building of a chapel has not yet been made due to continuing delays in the project caused by the Covid pandemic. The school expects the building work to commence shortly and we expect that our funding will be called upon at that point.

Expenditure

Apart from the cost of the refurbishment of 23 Beech Road, our total expenditure for the year amounted to £21,052 including the two grants outlined above.

The cost of refurbishment of the Beech Road property during the financial year amounted to £43,473.

Reserves

The trustees have adopted a policy of maintaining minimum financial reserves of £10,000. The yearend net current assets were £266,915.

Risks

The Risk Register adopted during the year attempts to set out a comprehensive assessment of the risks to which the Trust is exposed. These are analysed according to likelihood of occurrence and potential impact, should they materialise. We have analysed the most significant risks as:

· A material change to applicable government policy or legal or regulatory environment which might inhibit or restrict our activities. We will be monitoring the public policy, legal and regulatory environments and will obtain expert advice as necessary.

· Reputational damage resulting from adverse publicity regarding the purposes and activities of the Trust. While unlikely, we aim to mitigate the risk by monitoring public comment about the Trust or matters that may affect the Trust’s activities and will be prepared to respond as necessary.

· Legal exposure due to a conflict between the Trust’s Christian convictions and English law. Although unlikely, we aim to monitor the applicable legal environment and take advice as necessary.

· A health and safety or environmental risk arising out of our ownership of property assets. This will be mitigated by monitoring and complying with health and safety standards, maintaining appropriate records and taking out suitable insurance cover.

While the Covid 19 pandemic clearly created an uncertain environment for charities, the impact on the Trust has been limited. We have not detected a shortfall in donations due to the impact of the pandemic on supporters, nor have we seen an increased demand on our funds from churches or other charities looking for alternative funding sources.

Page 3

SEVENOAKS GOSPEL TRUST

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

Trustees

The Articles of Association set out the procedures for appointment and retirement of trustees. There has been no change to the trustees during the year. They are Mark Harding (Chairman), Deborah Drury (Company Secretary), Paul Batchelor, Jeremy Marshall and Gavin Watson.

One third of trustees are subject to retirement by rotation at each annual general meeting, but are eligible for re-election. At the 2020 annual general meeting, Mark Harding and Jeremy Marshall retired and were re-appointed. Trustees may be appointed by ordinary resolution of the company or by a decision of the trustees themselves.

Achievements and performance and public benefit

Having regard to the purpose of Sevenoaks Gospel Trust as set out above, we believe that our activities during the year have contributed significantly to evangelical Christian ministry in the Sevenoaks area. The completion of the refurbishment of 23 Beech Road has facilitated the ongoing use of the property to house staff of St Nicholas Church. The lease arrangements provide the church with very cost effective and flexible accommodation, together with the opportunity to raise additional rental funds for the church’s general purposes where the property is not immediately required for staff housing.

The Covid pandemic resulted in St Nicholas Church operating all its services and other activities online. Our grant to enable the purchase of upgraded audio-visual equipment greatly facilitated the continued ministry of the church, providing much needed support, encouragement and Christian teaching and worship during a challenging time.

Our grant to Crossteach enabled it to provide Christian input to Sevenoaks schools during the time of pandemic through its local worker, developing links that will no doubt bear much fruit in the future.

The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

Responsibilities of directors under company law

The directors are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charitable company as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, for the financial year. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

  1. select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;

  2. observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

  3. make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

  4. state whether the applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material

departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

  1. prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume

that the charity will continue in operation.

Page 4

SEVENOAKS GOSPEL TRUST

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Approval

This report, which has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies, was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Mark Harding

Date: 14 November 2021

Page 5

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF

SEVENOAKS GOSPEL TRUST ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 30 June 2021 on pages 7 to 14 following, which have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out on pages 9 and 10.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the 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 matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].

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

Archie McDowall BA CA Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland

Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB

Date: 23 November 2021

Page 6

SEVENOAKS GOSPEL TRUST

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

Note
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Investments
5
Total income and endowments
EXPENDITURE ON:
Charitable activities:
6
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
12
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
12		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
122,145
15,167
71
137,382
21,052
21,052
116,330
-
116,330
643,228
759,558		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total
Funds
2021
£
122,145
15,167
71
137,382
21,052
21,052
116,330
-
116,330
643,228
759,558		 Total
Funds
2020
£
194,128
4,311
1,254
199,693
37,437
37,437
162,256
-
162,256
480,972
643,228

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing operations.

The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account required by the Companies Act 2006.

The notes on pages 9-14 form part of these accounts.

Page 7

SEVENOAKS GOSPEL TRUST

BALANCE SHEET

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

Note
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
8
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
9
Cash at bank and in hand
10
CREDITORS: Amounts falling
due within one year
11
Net current assets / (liabilities)
Total assets less current liabilities
TOTAL NET ASSETS
FUND BALANCES
12
Unrestricted funds
General funds
Designated funds
Restricted funds		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
492,644
492,644
287
303,128
303,415
36,500
266,915
759,558
759,558
759,558
-
759,558
-
759,558		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total
Funds
2021
£
492,644
492,644
287
303,128
303,415
36,500
266,915
759,558
759,558
759,558
-
759,558
-
759,558		 Total
Funds
2020
£
449,170
449,170
-
231,060
231,060
37,002
194,058
643,228
643,228
643,228
-
643,228
-
643,228

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 30 June 2021.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2021 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006 however, in accordance with Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011, the accounts have been examined by an independent examiner and their report has been included in these financial statements.

The directors (who are the charitable company's trustees for the purposes of charity law) acknowledge their responsibilities for:

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and were signed on its behalf by:

Mark Harding, Chairman

Date: 14 November 2021

Company number: 11371960 Charity number: 1179316

The notes on pages 9-14 form part of these accounts.

Page 8

SEVENOAKS GOSPEL TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

1 Statutory Information

The charity is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in the United Kingdom. The company's registered number and registered office address can be found on the Company Information page.

2 Accounting Policies

These financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, under the historical cost convention.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the "Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) ("the Charities SORP"), with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland ("FRS 102"), with the Companies Act 2006 and with the Charities Act 2011. The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity as set out in FRS 102.

The principles adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below.

a) Going concern

The trustees (who are the charitable company's directors for the purposes of company law) have assessed whether the use of the going concern basis is appropriate and have considered possible events or conditions that might cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The trustees have made this assessment for a period of at least one year from the date of approval of the financial statements. In particular the trustees have considered the charity's forecasts and projections and the possible implications should projected income and / or expenditure vary unexpectedly. The trustees have concluded that there is a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue to operate for the foreseeable future. The charity therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements. In making this assessment the trustees have considered the impact of Covid-19 and have concluded that its impact on net income will not be material.

Income from donations and legacies includes:

Investment income represents income generated by the charity's assets and includes income from bank interest.

c) Expenditure

Expenditure, including irrecoverable VAT, is recognised when it is incurred or, if earlier, when a legal or constructive obligation for a payment arises provided that it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

The charity makes grants to other institutions and individuals to further its charitable objectives. Grants payable are recognised as constructive obligations arise, which is generally when the charity expresses a commitment to the recipient that can be measured reliably and then only to the extent that any conditions associated with the grant are outside of the control of the charity.

The cost of raising funds is not significant and has not been separately disclosed.

Governance costs, which are included in expenditure on charitable activities but are identified separately in the notes to the accounts, includes costs associated with the independent examination of the financial statements, compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements and any other expenditure incurred on the strategic management of the charity.

d) Fund accounting

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. Endowment funds are donations that are retained as capital in accordance with the donor's wishes. The nature of the restriction determines whether the endowments represent permanent endowments or expendable endowments.

Page 9

SEVENOAKS GOSPEL TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

Items purchased or donated for the charity's own use are capitalised when the cost of purchased items, or the fair value of donated items, is more than £1,000 and the item is expected to benefit the charity over more than one accounting period. Depreciation is charged on a straight line basis so as to write down the value of each asset to its estimated residual value (if any) over its expected useful economic life. To achieve this objective the following rates of depreciation are charged:

Freehold land Is not depreciated (because it is not consumed by use) Freehold buildings Are not depreciated (see areas of judgment below)

The carrying values of tangible fixed assets are reviewed for impairment in periods when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.

f) Taxation

The company is a registered charity; it has taken advantage of the various reliefs from taxation available to charities and no tax is payable on the charity's income.

The charity has taken advantage of an exemption conferred by the Charities SORP and has not prepared a cash flow statement.

3 Donations and legacies

Donations and legacies
Donations and grants receivable
Income from charitable activities
Rental property income		 2021
£
122,145
122,145
2021
£
15,167
15,167		 2020
£
194,128
194,128
2020
£
4,311
4,311

4 Income from charitable activities

Investment income
Bank interest 2021
£
71
71		 2020
£
1,254
1,254

Page 10

SEVENOAKS GOSPEL TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

6 Charitable expenditure

a
Costs incurred directly on specific activities
Grants payable (note 6c)
b
Costs incurred on support & administration
Governance costs
Cost of independent examination
Subscriptions and professional fees
Insurance
Bank charges and other costs
Total expenditure		 2021
£
18,500
18,500
2021
£
1,500
1,500
225
730
98
2,552
21,052		 2020
£
35,000
35,000
2020
£
1,500
1,500
200
737
-
2,437
37,437

In addition to the fees payable for the preparation and examination of the accounts, the charity paid no other fees to Stewardship.

c
Grants payable
Grants for churches
Grants for education
The comparatives for the previous year are as follows:
Grants for education
The charity's principal grants to institutions comprised:
The PCC of St Nicholas, Sevenoaks
The Cross Teach Trust
Trinity School Sevenoaks		 Institutions
£
12,500
6,000
18,500
Institutions
£
35,000
35,000		 Individuals
£
-
-
-
Individuals
£
-
-
2021
£
12,500
6,000
-
-		 2021
£
12,500
6,000
18,500
2020
£
35,000
35,000
2020
£
-
-
35,000
35,000

7 Analysis of staff costs, the cost of key management personnel and trustee remuneration and expenses

No trustees received employment benefits in either the current or preceding year.

Page 11

SEVENOAKS GOSPEL TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

8
Tangible fixed assets
Cost
At 1 July 2020
Additions
Disposals
At 30 June 2021
Accumulated depreciation
At 1 July 2020
Charge for the year
At 30 June 2021
Net book value
At 30 June 2021
At 1 July 2020		 Freehold
Property
£
449,170
43,473
-
492,644
-
-
-
492,644
449,170		 Total
2021
£
449,170
43,473
-
492,644
-
-
-
492,644
449,170

During the year to 30 June 2020 a residential property (23 Beech Road Sevenoaks) was purchased and is included in fixed assets at cost, including acquisition and refurbishment costs..

9
Debtors: falling due within one year
Insurance rent receivable
10
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank
11
Creditors: liabilities falling due within one year
Accounts preparation and independent examination
Other creditors
Grant obligations		 2021
£
287
287
2021
£
303,128
303,128
2021
£
1,500
-
35,000
36,500		 2020
£
-
-
2020
£
231,060
231,060
2020
£
1,500
502
35,000
37,002

Page 12

SEVENOAKS GOSPEL TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

12 Funds

During the year the movements in the charity's funds were as follows:

General Unrestricted Funds
Total Funds		 Opening
balance
2021
£
643,228
643,228		 Incoming
resources
2021
£
137,382
137,382		 Outgoing
resources
2021
£
(21,052)
(21,052)		 Transfers
in the year
2021
£
-
-		 Gains and
losses
2021
£
-		 Closing
balance
2021
£
759,558
759,558

Analysis of net assets by fund

The assets and liabilities of the various funds were as follows:

ysis of net assets by fund
assets and liabilities of the various funds were as follows:
Fixed assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Current liabilities		 General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
492,644
-
287
-
303,128
-
(36,500)
-
759,558
-
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-		 2021
£
492,644
287
303,128
(36,500)
759,558

In the previous year the movements in the charity's funds were as follows:

General Unrestricted Funds
Total Funds		 Opening
balance
2020
£
480,972
480,972		 Incoming
resources
2020
£
199,693
199,693		 Outgoing
resources
2020
£
(37,437)
(37,437)		 Transfers
in the year
2020
£
-
-		 Gains and
losses
2020
£
-
-		 Closing
balance
2020
£
643,228
643,228

Analysis of net assets by fund

The assets and liabilities of the various funds were as follows:

General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
Fixed assets
449,170
-
Cash at bank and in hand
231,060
-
Current liabilities
(37,002)
-
643,228
-
13
Capital commitments
Refurbishment of 23 Beech Road, Sevenoaks
Contracted for but not provided for by the balance sheet date
(because the related assets had not been delivered by the year-end)
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
2021
£
-		 2020
£
449,170
231,060
(37,002)
643,228
2020
£
32,076

Page 13

SEVENOAKS GOSPEL TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

14 Transactions with related parties During the year the charity:

15 Events since the year end

None.

16 Members

Each member of the company commits to contribute if the charity is wound up an amount of £10.

Page 14