Bolton Villas United Reformed Church Charity Registered Charity: 1180791
part of the United Reformed Church
Trustees annual report & financial statement for the year ending 31 December 2024
Bolton Villas Family Church
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Trustees' report for the year ended December 2024
Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors
Name Position Rev. Ashley Evans Senior Pastor/Chair Of Trustees Resigned January 2024 Margaret Merriweather Chair of Trustees/Elder Resigned November 2024 Marguerite Sobol Church Treasurer/Elder John Brookes Elder Jean Flerin Elder Zara Grainger-Jones Elder Appointed March 2024 - Resigned August 2024 Sarah Haley Elder Appointed March 2024 - Resigned January 2025 Karen Charlesworth Elder Appointed March 2025 Adrian Steele Elder Appointed March 2025
Charity Number
Bolton Villas United Reformed Church was an excepted Charity, but became a registered Charity, number 1180791 with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 22 November 2018.
Charity Address:
Bolton Villas Family Church, Livingstone Road, Wrose, Bradford, BD2 1PZ
Bankers
Current Account - Co-operative Bank, P.O. Box 250, Skelmersdale, WN8 6WT
Independent Examiner
Andrew Russell, APR Accountancy Services, Shan House, 80-86 North Street, Keighley, BD21 3AF
Structure, governance and management
The Charity is a trust distilled from the United Reformed Church acts (1972 and 1981) and Scheme of Union (1972) adopted 19 June 2008. The Trustees are responsible for the charity.
Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees
The Trustees of the charity are appointed by the members at the AGM and at other Church Meetings as required.
The Charity's Objectives
The object of the Charity is the advancement of the Christian faith for the benefit of the public in accordance with the scheme of union of the United Reformed Church.
Bolton Villas Family Church
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Objectives & Activities
The Charity's main activities, achievement and performance
2024 saw the Church continue with a range of activities involving use of the building which is generally being used at some point daily except for some Saturdays.
General activities involving the local community
During January to March and again in November and December we once again ran Winter Warmers on Wednesdays at teatime where people came along for free food and friendship. This was part of our aim to reach out to support our local community. We also registered as a Warm Space for which we received funding via Bradford Council.
In February we again hosted Inn Churches, providing breakfast, an evening meal and a bed for the night for homeless people for a week.
From June onwards we began a series of events under the title of Women of Wrose to attract local women. We also took part in the local Scarecrow Festival.
In July we acted as the Polling station for the General Election.
In October our Harvest Festival meal supported both the Foodbank and Caring for Life (a Christian charity in Yeadon, north Leeds).
November saw us host a charity fundraiser for a local kidney charity. A Quiz Night was held in November which again gained the support of many from our local community. Our usual Christmas Fayre was equally well supported. We also focused this year on collecting large amounts of Socks and Chocs for the Bradford Soup Run who support the homeless in Bradford.
Throughout the year, our work with Refreshed (our cafe/charity shop which is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays) has continued to be successful in terms of the number of local people who attend regularly mainly to eat in the cafe but also to shop with us. The number and relevant skills of volunteers continues to be a challenge but a new volunteer this year has brought significant improvements to the way the kitchen works. Income from this activity is proving to be vital for the general running of the Church and to support the work of our Youth Pastor.
Faith-based events
Throughout the year, Encounter Nights have continued on a regular/quarterly basis, dedicated to prayer praise and worship.
During the early months of the year we ran a course called Leading Your Church Into Growth which resulted in the intention to “Grow the Church Younger”.
At Easter we celebrated our risen Lord Jesus Christ with a Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter services. We also held our usual range of Christmas celebration services plus carols at the local pub as a united venture with the other local churches.
Our ongoing youth work has involved activities on 5 nights per week (later reducing to 4 nights per week). The Monday night group that was set up together with Bradford Council is now well settled and Bradford Council have provided some funding. It has been encouraging to see some of the older teenagers involved in various activities as part of church life. There are some volunteers from church who work with the children, but more volunteer help would be beneficial. We have agreed that our 2 part-time youth workers will be added to the payroll next year.
Bolton Villas Family Church
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Objectives & Activities (continued)
Changes in personnel
As anticipated, our Pastor, Rev Ashley Evans left Bolton Villas Family Church in February 2024. Various Synod-wide meetings are being held to support us through our new situation.
In March we elected 2 new Elders plus the new role of Mission Enabler.
In November we appointed Marguerite Sobol as Treasurer and Adrian Steele as Assistant Treasurer to work alongside our treasury team to look into all aspects of Income and Expenditure together with our external accountant who provides support and management accounts with the use of Quickbooks.
The roles of Church Secretary continue to be divided between the remaining Elders.
Future plans
In 2025 we will mark Bolton Villas Family Church’s 125th Anniversary.
Public Benefit Statement
In setting our objectives and planning our activities our Trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular the advancement of the Christian Faith.
Safeguarding
Bolton Villas Family Church takes it duties under the Children Act 2004 seriously. If a reasonable suspicion is raised about the protection of a child under the age of 18 years or of any adult seen to be at risk, then the Church will undertake its duties using its procedures. The Church has a policy to vet all those who have the responsibilities for the care of children and adults at risk within areas of its responsibilities to comply with the Protection of Children Act 1999.
Financial review
There is still a recognition of the need to find additional funding sources especially for our youth work, but the challenge is to find people with the relevant time and skills to carry out this work.
Income
Our income has reduced in 2024 compared with 2023 mainly due to a significant reduction in fundraising and donations, though we have seen an increase in giving through tithes and offerings. Income generated by Refreshed has been used to top up deficits wherever necessary but especially in relation to expenses related to youth work. Grants received included a further grant from the Yorkshire Synod’s Mission Fund to enable us to continue to employ our Youth Pastor plus £5,000 from Wrose Community Association towards the cost of the repair and replacement of some bargeboards, the cost of which was not paid until 2025. The use of the minibus became prohibitive and it was therefore scrapped.
Bolton Villas Family Church
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Financial Review (continued)
Expenditure
Salaries of both our Youth Pastor and cleaner have been increased in line with URC guidelines and the Real Living Wage.
Our expenditure has, as expected, reduced significantly due to the reduced amount that we have had to pay to Synod following the departure of our minister. There has also been less expense for the minister and the manse. However, we are aware that under certain circumstances we may be liable for 10% of costs for manse repairs.
We no longer have to pay the Kingdom Bank loan which had led to another significant decrease in expenditure.
Refreshed’s expenses increased mainly as a result of purchasing new equipment for the cafe.
As planned, a new Repair and Replacement fund was set up in 2024 to support the various projects of repair and replacement that are needed throughout the building.
We have also had significant costs in relation to a boiler replacement and roof repairs.
We continue to give generously to outside causes through our regular disbursements including £1,000.00 to Sunbridge Road Mission to support their redevelopment work plus one off giving mainly through Communion offerings.
Overall
We continue to be challenged to balance our desire to undertake more activities against having sufficient funds and also personnel to support those aspirations, especially in relation to our youth and children’s work.
Reserves Policy
The charity’s free cash reserves at the year end were £57,418 (2023 - £50,754), which includes designated funds of £38,886 (2023 - £35,200). It is the Trustees policy to maintain a balance of unrestricted funds (if possible), which equates to at least three months payments, equivalent to £23,592 to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time. The balance of £57,418 held of free cash reserves funds at the year end exceeded this target.
Funds held as agent on behalf of others
At the year-end just one fund was held on behalf of another organisation that had been received but had not been transferred to them, this is classed as agency Income & Expenditure. Otherwise all such funds had been successfully transferred.
Future Considerations
Whilst we continue to be challenged about balancing our funds and personnel against our aspirations, the Trustee have reassessed the charity’s ability to continue for the next 12 months and have concluded that no material uncertainties exist that cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to meet its liabilities as they occur.
Signed on behalf of the board of Trustees:
Marguerite Sobol (Sep 25, 2025 08:45:39 GMT+1)
Marguerite Sobol Church Treasurer Date: 25/09/2025
Bolton Villas Family Church
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Independent Examiner's report
Independent examiner’s report to The Trustees of Bolton Villas United Reformed Church Charity
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 6 to 10.
Respective responsibilities of The Trustees and examiner
As the charity 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 Trust's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. 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 Charities Act; or 2 the accounts do not accord with those 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 this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: APRussell APRussell (Sep 25, 2025 08:54:21 GMT+1)
Name: Andrew Russell FFA FMAAT
Date: 25/09/2025
APR Accountancy Services Shan House 80-86 North Street Keighley BD21 3AF
Bolton Villas Family Church
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Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31 December 2024
| Notes Receipts Tithes and offerings Fundraising and donations Gift Aid repayments Refreshed café and shop Property income Grants received Other incoming resources Bank interest Programme activity income Total Receipts Payments Synod mission & ministry fund Employment & travel expense 3 Church running costs 4 Programme activity costs 5 Support of outside causes 6 Church buildings & other assets 7 Refreshed café and shop Loan repayments Total payments Net receipts (payments) Transfers between Funds Net receipts (Payment) after transfers Cash Funds at 1 January 2024 2 Cash Funds at 31 December 2024 |
Unrestricted £ 36,158 513 7,126 - 2,223 - 1,465 - - 47,485 12,936 11,911 14,642 1,574 1,657 6,158 - - 48,878 (1,393) 4,371 2,978 15,554 18,532 |
Designated £ - 207 775 22,590 - - 2,788 - - 26,360 - 815 127 6,048 1,590 2,526 7,221 - 18,327 8,033 (4,347) 3,686 35,200 38,886 |
Restricted £ 3,970 - 580 - - 27,653 5 - - 32,208 - 24,979 1,724 458 - - - - 27,161 5,047 (24) 5,023 1,416 6,439 |
2024 £ 40,128 720 8,481 22,590 2,223 27,653 4,258 - - 106,053 12,936 37,705 16,493 8,080 3,247 8,684 7,221 - 94,366 11,687 - 11,687 52,170 63,857 |
2023 £ 39,528 4,700 9,284 23,015 3,573 24,388 7,566 32 780 112,866 20,352 38,360 16,182 11,890 5,079 9,668 5,903 9,831 117,265 (4,399) - (4,399) 56,569 52,170 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bolton Villas Family Church
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities for the year ended 31 December 2024
| Note Monetary assets Bank and cash accounts Deposit accounts Total monetary assets Agent Payments held on behalf of others Other assets Gift aid recoverable Assets used for Church purposes Minibus Church Building 8 Manse Building 8 Liabilities Independent examiner's fee Agent Payments held on behalf of others Signed on behalf of the board of Trustees: |
Unrestricted £ 18,532 - 18,532 - 8,720 - 170 - |
Designated £ 38,886 - 38,886 - - - - - |
Restricted £ 6,439 - 6,439 - 705 - - - |
2024 £ 63,857 - 63,857 251 9,425 - 170 251 |
2023 £ 52,170 - 52,170 - 8,800 625 160 - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marguerite Sobol (Sep 25, 2025 08:45:39 GMT+1)
Marguerite Sobol Church Treasurer Date: 25/09/2025
Bolton Villas Family Church
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Notes to support accounts
-
1 Accounting policies The trustees have taken advantage of section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and have prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis. There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year. No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.
-
Taxation As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates. Unrestricted funds may be used by the church for any of its ordinary purposes.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.
Restricted funds represent income which may be expended only on those restricted objects provided in the terms of a trust or bequest, or donations or grants received or invited for a specific purpose. These funds can only be spent on the specific purpose for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent must be carried forward as a balance on that fund for future expenditure on that specific purpose, or returned; it cannot be absorbed into general funds.
Fixed assets
Consecrated property and movable church furnishings
Consecrated and benefice property of any kind is not included in the Accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011.
| 2 Fund Accounting Restricted funds Defibrillator External Organisation Donations Repair & Replacement Winter Warmer Youth Pastor fund Youth Work - GAP Year Total for restricted funds Designated funds Disbursements Hardship fund Inn Churches fund Minister fund Outreach fund Refreshed Refreshed previous Youth Pastor fund Youth Work - GAP Year Total for designated funds Unrestricted funds Total overall Funds |
B/Fwd. £ 942 24 - 81 - 369 1,416 - 2,570 240 - 530 - 30,363 1,082 415 35,200 15,554 52,170 |
Receipts £ - - 5,570 1,658 24,980 - 32,208 - - 124 2,634 83 23,365 - 154 - 26,360 47,485 106,053 |
Payments £ 73 - - 1,739 24,980 369 27,161 1,440 150 364 3,288 - 7,221 - 5,449 415 18,327 48,878 94,366 |
Transfers £ - (24) - - - - (24) 1,440 - - 654 - 0 (10,654) 4,213 - (4,347) 4,371 - |
C/Fwd. £ 869 - 5,570 - - - 6,439 - 2,420 - - 613 16,144 19,709 - - 38,886 18,532 63,857 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fund details are listed over the Page
Bolton Villas Family Church
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Notes to support accounts (continued)
Fund details
Defibrillator Funds held for the installation and ongoing maintenance of a Defibrillator Disbursements Regular donations given from Church resources to External organisations External Organisation Donations Funds from Donations given specifically to external organisations Hardship fund Used to support members of the congregation in financial difficulty Inn Churches fund Funds held for the Inn Churches activities Minister fund Holding area for Minster & Synod Evangelist expenses Outreach fund Funds raised for outreach projects Refreshed Funds raised through Refreshed Café & Shop, used for Mission & Church projects Refreshed previous Remaining funds held from prior year Refreshed Café & Shop surplus Repair & Replacement Funds raised through donations for the repair of the church building Winter Warmer Project, grant funding for being a Welcoming Space Youth Work - GAP Year - DES Church allocated support for the Project prior to appointment Youth Work - GAP Year - RES Project, grant funding for youth work Youth Pastor fund - DES Funds held to support youth work Youth Pastor fund - RES Donations & Grant funding for Youth Pastor salary
| 3 Employment & travel costs Salary, PAYE & employment expenses Mileage & travel costs Ministers expenses Youth Pastors expenses Total employment & travel costs |
Unrestricted £ 11,911 - - - 11,911 |
Designated £ - 628 119 68 815 |
Restricted £ 24,979 - - - 24,979 |
2024 £ 36,890 628 119 68 37,705 |
2023 £ 33,293 4,126 941 - 38,360 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trustees remuneration & expenses
No trustee received any trustee related expenses during this year or the previous year.
John Brookes, a trustee of the church, is employed as a cleaner and received gross wages of £6,780 (2023: £6,397) in that role and not his role as a trustee.
Though Rev Ashley Evans was a trustee (resigned in January 2024) he was an employee of the National United Reformed Church, not the local Church. He was however paid expenses for his role as minister but not his role as trustee & Synod Evangelist.
| 4 Church running costs Gas and electricity Water Insurance Stationery & printing Publicity Purchase of equipment Subscriptions Cleaning equipment & materials Accountancy Pulpit fees Telephone/ internet Health and safety Other admin expenses Total church running costs |
4,125 342 2,934 654 237 774 620 479 1,888 700 799 243 847 14,642 |
- - - - - - - - - - 127 - - 127 |
1,540 - - - 110 - - - - - - - 74 1,724 |
5,665 342 2,934 654 347 774 620 479 1,888 700 926 243 921 16,493 |
5,069 325 2,628 145 660 555 903 610 2,892 434 1,616 133 212 16,182 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Bolton Villas Family Church
| 5 Programme activity costs Activity Travel Costs Children's activities Youth activities Training & Study Material Other events Total programme activity costs 6 Support of outside causes Age UK Bible Society Caring for Life Leprosy Mission MacMillan Cancer Support Marie Curie Other donations Prayer for Bradford Bradford North foodbank Sunbridge Road Mission We See Hope Total support of outside causes 7 Church buildings & other assets Property repairs Gardening Manse maintenance & related expense Total maintenance of church buildings |
Unrestricted £ - 223 - 60 1,291 1,574 - - 157 - - - 500 - - 1,000 - 1,657 5,442 400 316 6,158 |
Designated £ - - 5,684 - 364 6,048 - 240 600 - - - 150 120 240 - 240 1,590 - - 2,526 2,526 |
Restricted £ - - 369 - 89 458 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
2024 £ - 223 6,053 60 1,744 8,080 - 240 757 - - - 650 120 240 1,000 240 3,247 5,442 400 2,842 8,684 |
2023 £ 71 174 8,319 310 3,016 11,890 406 240 1,038 406 406 407 1,170 120 646 - 240 5,079 4,765 415 4,488 9,668 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 Assets used for Church purposes
The church building is vested in the Congregational Union as trustees and are not church assets. It is held for the benefit of Bolton Villas Family Church in accordance with the statutory trusts applicable to URC properties under the URC Acts.
For insurance purposes the church building & external storage unit are insured by the church for £3,219,875. The Church contents are insured by the church for £240,652.
The Church has a 10% share of the Manse with the remaining 90% vested in the United Reformed Church (Yorkshire Province) Trust Limited.
BV Financial Statement 2024 - Final
Final Audit Report
2025-09-25
Created: 2025-09-24 By: Gracian Daniel-Sam (gracian@danielsam.com) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAA2FtMijgulRchL9qx4eSSaMq9V49FY5Zh
"BV Financial Statement 2024 - Final" History
Document created by Gracian Daniel-Sam (gracian@danielsam.com)
2025-09-24 - 12:06:12 PM GMT
Document emailed to Marguerite Sobol (marguerite@bvurc.org.uk) for signature
2025-09-24 - 12:06:17 PM GMT
Email viewed by Marguerite Sobol (marguerite@bvurc.org.uk) 2025-09-25 - 7:43:33 AM GMT
Document e-signed by Marguerite Sobol (marguerite@bvurc.org.uk) Signature Date: 2025-09-25 - 7:45:39 AM GMT - Time Source: server
Document emailed to andy@apr-accountancy.co.uk for signature 2025-09-25 - 7:45:55 AM GMT
Email viewed by andy@apr-accountancy.co.uk 2025-09-25 - 7:53:12 AM GMT
Signer andy@apr-accountancy.co.uk entered name at signing as APRussell 2025-09-25 - 7:54:19 AM GMT
Document e-signed by APRussell (andy@apr-accountancy.co.uk) Signature Date: 2025-09-25 - 7:54:21 AM GMT - Time Source: server
Agreement completed.
2025-09-25 - 7:54:21 AM GMT