## River of Life Community Church Langney
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 March 2024
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
## **RIVER OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH LANGNEY**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 7 Offham Close Eastbourne BN23 8LU GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO - FOUNDATION Registered 12 Nov 2018 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1180649 TRUSTEES Kathy Long Mark Hayllar Patricia West (until 29 November 2023) Kevin Ashby Barbara Ashby BANKERS Barclays Bank PLC Bexhill-on Sea East Sussex INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Archie McDowall BA CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB **INDEX** Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-3 Trustees' Report Page 4 Independent Examiner's Report Page 5 Receipts and Payments Account Page 6 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 7-8 Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
## **RIVER OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH LANGNEY**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year to 31 March 2024.
## **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:
a) the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of Faith; and b) the relief of poverty
## **Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements**
To further the above objects and vision, the charity's main activities and achievements were as follows:
At the River of Life Community Church Langney, we reach out into our Community through being the hands and feet of Jesus.
## **Church Life**
As well as our Sunday service we also have regular prayer meetings, housegroups, youth work and discipleship courses.
## **Light Night**
In October 2023 we partnered with St Richard’s Church in Langney, using their building and serving over 200 adults with hot drinks
and as many children with ‘Bags of Hope ‘ from United Christian Broadcasters which contained a few sweets, puzzles, the story of Jesus and an invititation to our Christmas events in December. Members of both churches joined in and it was a great night.
## **Langney Chaplaincy**
Each Tuesday morning at the Langney Shopping Centre you will be greeted with a warm welcome and smiles. We have been able to continue our extended Tuesdays that started in 2022. The volunteer team continues to be the same as last year, but with some illness within the team we have not been able to continue with 3 on a shift. When availability allows we have 3 on a shift which means one person can walk around the shop units and check in with the shop keepers and be a presence in the shopping centre away from the table.
The number of people who stop to chat has increased slightly over the last six months with some asking for prayer. We have had fewer requests for further advice from agencies over this last year, but still have the information on the table to signpost people to if needed.
As a Chaplaincy we have also been asked to hold a Chaplaincy stall at the Armed Forces Day at the end of June in 2024.
## **Poppy Sales**
In November 2023 we spent a week selling poppies with the Royal British Legion. During the week, members of the church ran the stall from 10am – 4pm each day. We worked with some veterans who came to help out. We gave away a copy of St John’s gospel with each sale and invited people to the afternoon tea on Remembrance Day. We’ve been asked to do this again in 2024.
## **Afternoon Teas**
As a follow on to selling the poppies in Langney Shopping Centre, we held a remembrance afternoon tea which we invited the local community to. We had over 45 people attend. We had an entertainer who sang a good selection of songs, held a minute's silence and shared a focus which led to a prayer. We then held another tea in December, which was again well attended. This was a Christmas sing-a-long complete with mince pies and Christmas cake. We intend to continue these in 2024.
## **MakeLunch @ St B’s**
2023/24 has seen a steady use of Make Lunch. We have a core of families coming regularly and some new faces joining too. This year we held 10 sessions, cooking a total of 268 meals, catering for 50 individual children over the year. We have a good team of volunteers but will need to recruit more for the coming year. At Easter and Christmas the activities are set around the festivals and we also include a short ‘God spot’ before we eat each session. A short time to engage with the children and share something of the love of God. Also at Christmas we paid for tickets for families to see the local pantomime. This was very well received. In 2024/25 we want to look at ways that we can connect with parents during term times, while the children are at school.
## **Local Advertising**
We produced a joint leaflet with St Barnabas Church, detailing our events and services which was delivered to all houses surrounding the church. From this advertising we had people attend our Remembrance and Christmas services. It is something we intend to do every 3 months throughout 2024.
## **Carol Singing @ Langney Shopping Centre.**
In December 2023 we saw an increase in the number of Churches joining us for this event. In total 7 churches participated, including ourselves, compared to 5 in the previous year. We sang carols to the community of shoppers and shopkeepers, while handing out invitations to local Church Christmas Services and individually wrapped sweets and chocolates.
Shoppers and shopkeepers joined in with the singing and were uplifted by the smiles, laughter and warm greeting. Some folks came along to our Christmas events following the invitations at the Carol singing. We are doing this again in December 2024.
## **Mortain Place Care Home**
We held a service once a month at this local care home. A number of residents attended the services and commented on how much appreciated them.
Page 2
## **Bridge Café**
A social event was held every Friday afternoon at the Langney Community Centre which included offering drinks and small snacks, toys for children to play with, games and the opportunity for companionship and conversation. Responsibility for running this event was transferred from the church to the individuals involved from October 2023.
## **Shinewater Fun Day**
We ran the refreshment tent for the Shinewater Park Fun Day in July 2023. We served hundreds of drinks and lots of cake and biscuits. We were the nominated ‘lost child’ tent and were central to the activities on the day. We had good opportunities to talk with people and had the chance to pray with some people too.
In 2024 there is no planned event due to a lack of response for a team to organise the day.
## **Christmas Events**
In December 2023 we were contacted by the local school who asked if their choir could come and sing at one of our services. This resulted in over 140 people attending church on that morning. It was a fun morning and has cemented good connections with the school.
We also held a Carols by Candlelight service in the evening which was attended by over 80 people, as well as a traditional nativity service on Christmas Eve.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
## **Financial review**
During the year the charity received £49,477 in regular income. The charity made payments of £56,560 in relation to its charitable activities, resulting in a decrease in the cash held by the charity to £80,949 at 31 March 2024 of which £4,289 is restricted.
## **Reserves policy**
For the year ended 31 March 2024 the trustees determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £39,050 (which equates to about 12 months' of unrestricted essential expenditure) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. Essential expenditure includes operating costs, such as those relating to employment, as well as those required by law, such as the annual Independent Examination. At the period-end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £76,661 and 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. New trustees are recruited and appointed by the existing trustees, with input from the leadership team, by a majority vote.
## **Risk statement**
The charity is exposed to various risks - be they operational, financial or reputational. The trustees review the charity's activities regularly to identify significant risks and, where possible, they take appropriate measures to mitigate those risks.
## **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:
K Long K Long (Aug 30, 2024 13:07 GMT+1)
………………………………………………………..
Kathy Long
Date: Aug 30, 2024
Page 3
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **RIVER OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH LANGNEY**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of River of Life Community Church Langney ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2024 on pages 5 to 8 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: 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
2. 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.
## Archie McDowall
Archie McDowall (Aug 30, 2024 15:49 GMT+1)
Archie McDowall BA CA
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Aug 30, 2024
Page 4
## **RIVER OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH LANGNEY**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
|Notes
**_Income receipts_**
Donations
Grants
Gift aid receipts
Other income
Interest
**_Capital and similar receipts_**
**_Total receipts_**
**Payments**
2
3
**_Total payments_**
Transfers between funds
**Net movement in funds**
**Cash funds at this period end**
A
Cash funds brought forward
Net
of
receipts
/
(payments)
before
transfers
Grants
paid
in
relation
to
charitable
activities undertaken by others
Payments in relation to charitable activities
undertaken directly|Unrestricted
Funds
£
38,665
-
4,727
969
902
45,262
-
-
45,262
44,950
5,597
50,547
(5,285)
(1,240)
(6,525)
83,185
76,661|Restricted
Funds
£
3,104
1,110
-
-
-
4,214
-
-
4,214
3,878
2,135
6,013
(1,798)
1,240
(558)
4,847
4,289|Total
2024
£
41,769
1,110
4,727
969
902
49,477
-
-
49,477
48,828
7,732
56,560
(7,083)
-
(7,083)
88,032
80,949|Total
2023
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||31,579
600
4,162
1,150
179|
|||||37,670|
|||||64,110|
|||||64,110|
||||||
|||||101,780|
|||||41,439
12,552|
|||||53,991|
|||||47,789
-|
|||||47,789
40,243|
|||||88,032|
The notes on pages 7 - 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 5
## **RIVER OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH LANGNEY**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
|**A Cash funds**
Bank operating accounts
Bank deposits
Petty cash
**B Other monetary assets**
Gift aid due to charity
**C Liabilities**
Unbilled fee for Independent Examination
PAYE due
Unpaid expenses at period end
Pension deductions due to be paid over
**D Assets retained for charity's own use**
Equipment|Unrestricted
funds
£
1,468
75,189
3
**76,661**
7,191
**7,191**
570
303
271
129
**1,273**|Restricted
funds
£
4,289
-
-
**4,289**
-
**-**
-
-
-
-
**-**|Total
2024
£
5,757
75,189
3
**80,949**
7,191
**7,191**
570
303
271
129
**1,273**
Value
2024
£
10,612
10,612|Total
2023
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||8,735
79,287
10|
|||||**88,032**|
|||||4,715|
|||||**4,715**|
|||||894
325
96
129|
|||||**1,444**|
|||||Value
2023
£|
|||||11,550|
|||||11,550|
The trustees have used insurance values as an approximation for current values.
## **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:
K Long K Long (Aug 30, 2024 13:07 GMT+1) -------------------------------------------Kathy Long
Date: Aug 30, 2024
The notes on pages 7 - 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
## **RIVER OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH LANGNEY**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **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 and grants which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors and funders; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
|General
funds
£
**2**
**Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly**
Employment costs (Note 4)
32,892
Premises hire
3,025
Church activities / ministry expenses
3,365
Teaching, training & conferences
728
Subscriptions
763
Travel
525
Repairs & maintenance incl. equipment
818
Administration costs
1,312
Insurance
564
Accounts and examination
960
'Make Lunch' costs
-
44,950
**3**
**Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others**
Grants for:
Overseas mission
5,597
Local mission
-
5,597|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
1,651
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,226
3,878
2,135
-
2,135|Total
2024
£
32,892
3,025
5,016
728
763
525
818
1,312
564
960
2,226
48,828
7,732
-
7,732|Total
2023
£|
|---|---|---|---|
||||27,928
3,490
3,390
160
408
346
1,076
1,625
738
894
1,384|
||||41,439|
||||12,392
160|
||||12,552|
## **4 Transactions with related parties**
The charity had two part time employees during the year. Its activities are generally carried out by volunteers.
Kathy Long, a trustee, received a sum of £960 (2023 : £960) for her role as Treasurer as permitted by the governing document.
No amounts were paid to any other trustee or to any person connected to them other than reimbursement of expenditure incurred on behalf of the church.
Page 7
## **RIVER OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH LANGNEY**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **5 Movement on funds**
|Opening
Balance
£
**Restricted funds**
Mission fund
-
Hardship fund
-
Langney Chaplaincy
211
'Make Lunch' project
4,636
Special collections
-
**Total Restricted**
4,847
**_General Funds_**
83,185
**Unrestricted, general funds**
83,185
**Total Funds**
88,032|Receipts
£
855
1,681
242
1,436
-
4,214
45,262
45,262
49,477|Payments
£
(2,135)
(1,641)
(10)
(2,226)
-
(6,013)
(50,547)
(50,547)
(56,560)|Transfers
1,280
40
-
-
-
1,240
(1,240)
(1,240)
-|Closing
Balance
£
-
-
443
3,846
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||4,289
76,661|
|||||76,661|
|||||80,950|
The 'Make Lunch' project includes grant income for specific elements of the project; the charity has complied with all aspects of the funding.
Page 8