## **Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)**
## **Sharnbrook Evangelical Church (Registered Charity Number 1179954)**
## **Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements of Sharnbrook Evangelical Church CIO For the year ended 31 March 2023**
## TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2023.
## REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity Name: Sharnbrook Evangelical Church. Charity Registration Number: 1179954
(Previous Charity Name: Sharnbrook Evangelical Church Charity Registration Number: 1145375)
Place of Meeting Science Centre, Sharnbrook Upper School, Odell Road, Sharnbrook MK44 1JL Administrative Office: 14 Manor Farm Way, Sharnbrook MK44 1PH.
## THE TRUSTEES
The trustees who served the charity during the period were as follows: Brian Bennett, John Heron, Myles MacBean (from 30/11/22) & Steve Freshwater.
Elders: Rev John Heron, Dr Myles MacBean
Deacons: Mr Brian Bennett, Mr Stephen Freshwater
Independent Examiner: Monico Tunley Limited, Louise Tunley FCA CTA DChA, 19 Goldington Road, Bedford, MK40 3JY.
New elders & deacons are elected following a period of prayer, teaching or discussion on the requirements of scripture regarding the office of an elder or deacon.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Sharnbrook Evangelical Church was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Registered Charity Number 1179954), by the Charity Commission on 17[th] September 2018.
Preparations for this new body to take over from the old Sharnbrook Evangelical Church charity (Registered number 1145375) were progressed during 2018/2019, and a planned formal handover took place on 31[st] March 2019.
## OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
OBJECTIVES: The object of the CIO is, for the public benefit, to promote the Christian faith in accordance with the statement of faith, primarily but not exclusively within Sharnbrook and the surrounding neighbourhood.
ACTIVITIES: The church organised many activities during the year in support of its objects. These included Sunday worship, midweek House Groups during the daytime and evening, monthly Prayer Meetings and children and youth work.
## ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Year 1[st] April 2022 – 31[st] March 2023
A summary of the main achievements is set out below:
We hold regular Sunday meetings in the Science Centre at Sharnbrook Academy. These meetings are recorded and later uploaded to YouTube. We meet in people’s homes for House Groups, Prayer meetings, while regular Pastor on line emails were sent out to keep people encouraged and give access to online resources. Regular pastoral visiting continued and vulnerable members were supported where necessary. Regular phone calls were made by elders and their wives in support of others.
We were able to serve the local Primary School, through online assemblies and taking Christmas and Easter RE lessons for each year group. The church runs a programme for children and young people aged 3 to 16+ which are open to all, overseen by our Youth and Children’s worker, Samantha. She oversees our work with young people, which includes Sunday School with different age groups from crèche upwards. JC’s Club is an after-school club of games, craft, activities and Bible Teaching every Monday, after school in term time. This is for children in years 1-4 and held at the local lower school, Sharnbrook Primary. Uncover is a teenage group, helping young people to look at the Bible and discuss contemporary issues that they face, this is held in the minister’s home. Dad and Me is a group which support local dads to spend time with their children on a Saturday morning. Volunteers from the church help to open up the school for this group every month in conjunction with a local charity FACES (Family and Children's Early-help Services). There is no similar provision in the area.
All of these groups are open to all and operate under the church’s Child Protection Policy, and all those working with young people are required to apply for a Disclosure Statement through the Criminal Records Bureau and this is overseen by the church Child Protection Officer. We also have undertaken child protection training for our volunteers.
Many in the church ensure that older people, especially those living on their own and those who are now unable to come out of their homes to regular meetings, receive regular visits, especially if they are unwell or in hospital. This includes times of bereavement and taking communion to those who are house bound. The church also provided meals for those in need at particular times throughout the year.
We are involved in supporting our local Bedford Foodbank. Other church members are involved in their local communities in various voluntary capacities, including working with a pregnancy crisis centre. We also provided Shoebox gifts for children. We were able to take part in the Sharnbrook Village Christmas Fayre, offering Christian literature and invitations to all in the community, in addition to raising funds to support The Stables, through cake sales.
## Leadership
The church is led by Elders & Deacons, who are responsible for the spiritual oversight and overall direction of church life. During 2022-23 John Heron was employed by the church in a fulltime capacity, and John is a member of the FIEC Pastors' Network.
Outreach is not limited to Bedford, and the church supports a range of missionary work in South East Asia and in ‘Access Restricted Nations’. We receive news and pray regularly for a number of Christian workers including those working in the UK and Kosovo. Approximately
10%of gift income (and tax reclaimed) is given annually to support this work. In allocating this money we seek to support specific individuals or organisations with whom we have personal links, ideally with a local connection to Sharnbrook Evangelical Church. We favour long term commitments, and prefer to make a small number of gifts of relatively large value, in order that our giving makes a tangible difference to those we support.
## Public Benefit
The trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in deciding what activities Sharnbrook Evangelical Church should undertake. In fulfilling our charitable aims for the public benefit we have undertaken the following activities:
To advance the Christian Faith: Our regular Sunday Services, midweek House Groups and Monthly Prayer Meetings are open to all members of the public regardless of background and belief. These have been more widely accessed by those in the local community and further afield over the past year. Special Services such as our annual Remembrance Sunday or Carol Services continued.
The elders of the church are available to give counsel and support to any in need and, along with other volunteers are involved regularly in providing support to the sick and bereaved.
## FINANCIAL REVIEW
The charity received income for the year of £64,881 (2022: £63,964), all of which was unrestricted. Expenditure for the year was £69,344 (2022: £65,405). The receipts and payments account for the year showed a deficit of £4,463 (2022: deficit of £1,441). Total net assets of the charity amounted to £24,878 (2022: £29, 341) which was all held as cash or bank balances.
## RESERVES
The Trustees consider that the level of reserves is appropriate. At the year end, the free reserves of the charity amounted to £24,878 (2022: £29, 341).
All funds of the charity are unrestricted in nature. The charity has no designated or restricted funds.
Approved by the trustees for issue and signed on their behalf on 11[th] November 2023.
John Heron (Trustee and Elder) Brian Bennett (Trustee and Deacon)
**SHARNBROOK EVANGELICAL CHURCH ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
**Registered Charity No: 1179954**
## **GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
|**GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|**_Receipts_**
_Incoming resources from donors_
Planned giving
Collections & other giving
Income tax recovered
_Other voluntary incoming resources_
Sundry income
_Income from charitable & ancillary trading_
Bookstall
Less: expenses
Other sundry income
_Other incoming resources_
Special gifts in
Special gifts out
_Income from investments_
Bank interest
TOTAL RECEIPTS
**_Payments_**
_Grants_
Away giving
Other giving
_Activities directly relating to the work of the Church_
Employment & housing costs - minister
Employer's Pension costs - minister (see note on page 2)
Ministers expenses (books, telephone, travel etc.)
North Bedfordshire Youth Trust
Employment & housing costs - youth worker
Employer's Pension costs - youth worker
Youth worker's expenses
Hire of premises
Worship
Insurance
Sound & music
Visiting speakers
Books
Evangelism
Youth & childrens work
Pastoral
Sundry
_Church management & administration_
Printing, postage & stationery
Subscriptions
Advertising and publications
Sundry expenses
Independent Examination costs
Payroll service fees
Legal and professional fees
Sound and visual equipment purchase
Equipment hire & maintenance
TOTAL PAYMENTS
EXCESS OF EXPENDITURE OVER INCOME
CASH BROUGHT FORWARD
CASH CARRIED FORWARD|**TOTAL**
**2023**
**£**
42,000
12,315
10,391
64,706
-
-
-
-
-
-
750
750)
(
-
175
64,881
£
**TOTAL**
**2023**
**£**
6,100
-
6,100
34,018
11,943
1,642
7,900
-
-
749
2,724
-
526
133
500
-
567
195
-
131
61,028
655
254
225
-
456
466
-
160
-
2,216
69,344
£
**2023**
**£**
4,463)
(
29,341
24,878
£|**TOTAL**
**2022**
**£**
43,988
10,018
9,901
63,907
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,210
1,210)
(
-
57
£63,964
**TOTAL**
**2022**
**£**
6,200
0
6,200
32,878
11,112
811
8,050
-
-
93
2,250
-
513
296
-
-
100
294
550
258
57,205
852
191
336
-
-
466
-
-
155
2,000
65,405
£
**2022**
**£**
(1,441)
30,782
29,341
£||
||34,018
11,943
1,642
7,900
-
-
749
2,724
-
526
133
500
-
567
195
-
131|32,878
11,112
811
8,050
-
-
93
2,250
-
513
296
-
-
100
294
550
258||
||655
254
225
-
456
466
-
160
-|852
191
336
-
-
466
-
-
155||
|||||
||||65,405
£|
||||**2022**
**£**
(1,441)
30,782|
||||29,341
£|
|||||
1
## **SHARNBROOK EVANGELICAL CHURCH STATEMENT OF ASSETS AS AT 31 MARCH 2023**
|**SHARNBROOK EVANGELICAL CHURCH**
||||
|---|---|---|---|
|**STATEMENT OF ASSETS**
**AS AT 31 MARCH 2023**
_Monetary assets_
Bank current account
Deposit account
Petty cash
_Adjustments:_
Short term loan to designated funds
NET ASSETS
Represented by:
GENERAL FUND
DESIGNATED FUNDS|**Registered Charity No: 1179954**
**General fund**
**Designated**
**funds**
**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
2,117
-
2,117
2,755
22,724
-
22,724
26,549
37
37
37
24,878
-
24,878
29,341
-
-
-
-
24,878
£
-
£
24,878
£
£29,341
24,878
-
24,878
29,341
-
-
-
-
24,878
£
-
£
24,878
£
£29,341|||
||||**2022**
**£**
2,755
26,549
37|
|||24,878
-|29,341
-|
|||24,878
£|£29,341|
|||24,878
-|29,341
-|
|||24,878
£|£29,341|
|||||
## **NOTE FORMING PART OF THE ACCOUNTS**
## **Pension Costs**
Pension Costs in the year to 31 March 2023 include £6,226 (2022: £5,582) being payments towards making good a deficit on a pension scheme of which the charity is a former member. These payments are a mandatory requirement, and are part of the Pension Trust's plans for clearing the deficit and will continue for the forseeable future. As at 30 September 2022 (the latest available valuation) the potential liability to make further contributions was considered to be £91,313.
The accounts were approved by the Trustees at their meeting on and signed on their behalf by:
B BENNETT ………………………………………………………………..
S D FRESHWATER ………………………………………………………..
2
## **SHARNBROOK EVANGELICAL CHURCH (REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1179954)**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF SHARNBROOK EVANGELICAL CHURCH**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023 which are set out on pages 1 to 2.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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 Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord 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 understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Louise Tunley FCA CTA DChA** Chartered Accountant
19 Goldington Road Bedford MK40 3JY
Date: