Trinity Life Church, Royston
Trustees' Report and Accounts
For the period-ended 31 December 2024
Charity Registration No. 1181863
## **Trinity Life Church, Royston Contents**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' Annual Report to the Charity Commission|1-3|
|Report of Activities|4|
|Statement of Financial Activities|5|
|Balance sheet|6|
|Notes to the accounts|7-11|
|Independent Examiner's Report|12|
## **Trinity Life Church, Royston**
## **Trustees' Annual Report 2024**
## **Reference and Administrative Details**
**Charity Name** Trinity Life Church, Royston **Working Name** TLC Royston **Charity Registration Number** 1181863 **Report for the financial period** 1st January to 31st December 2024 **Address** 4 Market Hill, Royston Hertfordshire, SG8 9JL www.tlcroyston.org.uk admin@tlcroyston.org.uk
**Charity Trustees** David Clark (Chairman) Matthew Hall (resigned March 2025) Antonio Gomez Paul Brown (appointed November 2024)
## **Structure, governance and management**
**Constitution** Charitable Incorporated Organisation **Governing Document** Constitution dated 4th February 2019
**Related parties** The charity is affiliated to Plumbline Ministries and Ground Level Ministry Team and is a member of the Evangelical Alliance.
1
**Objectives and activities**
**Objects of the charity** To advance the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of Belief.
To relieve persons who are in conditions of need, hardship or who are aged or sick or disabled and to relieve the distress caused hereby.
**Public Benefit** The trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In following this guidance, the charity engages in a range of activities either on its own or with others that vary from time to time. These activities may include but are not restricted to those set out below.
**Summary of activities** The charity runs regular church meetings including Sunday morning celebration and small home-based groups.
The charity runs Community Support projects including MakeLunch which provides holiday meals for students on free school meals.
The charity provides teaching, training and pastoral care.
The charity supports Christian workers and organisations locally and around the world.
The charity makes grants to members and friends in circumstances of need.
The activities of the charity during the period are described in the attached report of activities.
**Grant making policy** Grants are made to individuals and organisations in order to further the objects of the charity as determined by the leaders of the church.
**Volunteers** The charity relies heavily on volunteers to carry out its activities.
2
## **Achievements and performance**
## **Summary**
The achievements of the charity during the period are described in the attached report of activities.
## **Financial review**
## **Reserves policy**
The charity aims to keep sufficient unallocated funds in reserve in order to maintain its charitable work and meet its regular commitments for about three months regardless of levels of income, and in order to be able to undertake occasional projects involving larger than normal expenditure.
Designated funds are excluded from reserves. Details of all designated funds are set out in Note 12 to the attached accounts.
**Current reserves** £102,257 (Unrestricted current assets not designated)
## **Declaration**
**Declaration** The trustees declare that they have approved the above
## **Signature**
**Full name** Paul Brown
**Position** Treasurer
**Date** 25/09/2025
## **Signature**
**Full name** Antonio Gomez
**Position** Trustee
**Date** 25/09/2025
3
## **Trinity Life Church, Royston**
## **Report of Activities 2024**
The majority of the church's effort and resources are put towards the first of the CIO's aims and objectives - the advancement of the Christian faith through worship, prayer, preaching, teaching, pastoral care and literature. It is our desire to see God's blessing and favour on all the people who live and work in the towns and villages of the Royston area and beyond.
The church meets regularly for fellowship, equipping, support and encouragement.
## **Overview**
The church continued to function throughout the year, working towards its stated aims and objectives. Sunday gatherings and small mid-week Life Groups continued as before.
In April 2024 Peter Chapman was appointed as Pastor of TLC. He worked with a small leadership team to move the church forward, relaunching the vision of the church in June. An Alpha Course was started as an introduction to the Christian faith and a potential way of drawing people into the church.
The church had been part of Plumbline Ministries for many years. In August 2024, the Plumbline Ministries charity was closed and responsibility for the oversight of the church was passed on to Ground Level, another registered charity.
Responsibility for the Make Lunch project was passed over to Royston Evangelical Church towards the end of the year. Dads United was closed due to lack of volunteer helpers. The Pathways to Learning project continued to operate, providing after-school tuition to disadvantaged students.
## **Finances**
The charity continues on a sound financial basis. Church collections was down slightly compared to the previous year, but income from hire of the venue, The Old Schoolhouse, increased significantly.
Paul Brown Finance Officer and Trustee
4
## **Trinity Life Church, Royston Statement of Financial Activities for the period ended 31 December 2024**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total for**
**Note**
**funds**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
Church Collections
43,165
-
43,165
Sundry Donations
14,372
72,445
86,817
Income Tax Recovered
9,975
1,109
11,084
Venue Hire Income
21,603
-
21,603
Grants received
534
14,257
14,791
**Total Donations and Legacies**
**89,649**
**87,811**
**177,460**
Bank interest
1,416
366
1,782
**Total Investment Income**
**1,416**
**366**
**1,782**
Gains on the revaluation of Fixed Assets
55,000
**-**
55,000
**Total incoming resources**
146,065
88,177
234,242
Plumbline Ministries/Ground Level
3,740
-
3,740
Mission or ministry support
9,987
15,976
25,963
Othergifts
-
1,843
1,843
**Total Gifts and Grants**
**4**
**13,727**
**17,819**
**31,546**
Employment costs
5
12,636
-
12,636
Office, Hall Rent and Rates
-
-
-
Repairs and Maintenance
1,009
3,243
4,252
Visiting speakers
1,000
150
1,150
Administrative expenses
6,144
12,141
18,285
Legal Expenses
-
-
-
Loan Interest
4,811
-
4,811
Other church activitycosts
12,008
6,881
18,889
**Total Church Activities**
**37,608**
**22,415**
**60,023**
Other governance costs
650
-
650
**Total Resources Used**
**51,985**
**40,234**
**92,219**
**Net Movement in funds**
**94,080**
**47,943**
**142,023**
Total funds brought forward
189,000
14,524
203,524
Transfers between funds
-
-
-
Total funds carried forward
283,080
62,467
345,547|**Total for**
**2023**
**£**
47,215
11,689
9,828
5,347
22,461
**96,540**
626
**626**
**-**|
|---|---|
||97,166|
||4,200
8,545
3,123|
||**15,868**|
||13,456
4,186
7,249
950
13,269
-
5,628
17,956|
||**62,694**|
||630|
||**79,192**|
||**17,974**
185,550
-
203,524|
5
## **Trinity Life Church, Royston Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024**
|**Notes**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total as at**
**funds**
**funds**
**31/12/2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible Assets
7
321,449
2,425
323,874
**Current assets**
Income tax recoverable
10
1,507
534
2,041
Debtors & prepayments
10
916
-
916
Cash at bank & in hand
102,257
60,353
162,610
**Total current assets**
**104,680**
**60,887**
**165,567**
**Total assets**
**426,129**
**63,312**
**489,441**
**Current liabilities**
Loans and overdrawn bank accounts
10,593
-
10,593
Creditors & Accruals
10
2,138
845
2,983
**Total Current Liabilites**
**12,731**
**845**
**13,576**
**Net current assets**
**91,949**
**60,042**
**151,991**
Total assets less current liabilites
413,398
62,467
475,865
Loans due after more than one year
9
130,318
-
130,318
**Net assets**
283,080
62,467
345,547
**Funds of the charity**
Unrestricted funds
223,080
-
223,080
Designated funds (unrestricted)
5,000
-
5,000
Revaluation Reserve
55,000
-
55,000
Restricted funds
-
62,467
62,467
Total funds
283,080
62,467
345,547|**Total as at**
**31/12/2023**
**£**
270,327
2,453
1,092
82,908
**86,453**
**356,780**
10,593
1,209
**11,802**
**74,651**
344,978
141,454|
|---|---|
||203,524|
||184,189
4,811
-
14,524|
||203,524|
Approved by the Trustees on:
Signed by, on behalf of all the Trustees:
Paul Brown Date: 25/09/2025
6
## **Trinity Life Church, Royston Notes to the Accounts**
**for the period ended 31 December 2024**
## **1 Accounting basis**
These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historic cost with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.
The accounts 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) issued on 16 July 2014.
## **2 Accounting Policies**
Donations, legacies and similar incoming resources are included in the accounts when the charity becomes entitled to the donation, it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources; and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Tax reclaimed on donations is included in the accounts at the same time as the gift to which they relate.
Volunteers - the value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts.
Investment income i.e. bank interest is included in the accounts when receipt is probable and the amount receivable can be measured reliably.
Liabilities are generally recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure and the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
Debtors are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount after any trade discounts. Subsequently, they are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be received.
Governance Costs include costs of preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the costs of trustees meetings and the cost of any legal advice to trustees.
Tangible fixed assets for use by the church are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £25. They are valued at cost or a reasonable value on receipt. The church does not have a policy of revaluation. Depreciation is charged to the statement of financial activity on a straight line basis over the estimated useful lives of each asset. The estimated useful lives are as follows:
|Computer Equipment -|4 years|
|---|---|
|Office Equipment -|4 years|
|Church Equipment -|4 years|
The trustees have chosen to hold the land and buildings at 4-8 Market Hill, Royston on a revaluation basis. The next revaluation is due in 2030.
7
## **3 Accountants Fees**
Included in these accounts is £540 (2023 - £520) in fees paid for the examination of these accounts. Also included is £110 (2023 - £110) for payroll services. Travelling costs are reimbursed if incurred.
## **4 Grant making**
|Purpose of gift/grant
Amounts to
Amounts to
2024
institutions
individuals
£
Mission or ministry support
3,740
27,806
31,546
Totalgifts andgrants
3,740
27,806
31,546
Gifts & grants made to institutions include the following
Institution
2024
£
Plumbline Ministries
Mission or ministry support
2,800
Ground Level
Mission or ministrysupport
940
Totalgifts andgrants
3,740
**Employees**
Number of employees
2024
Charitable activities
1.0
Total
1.0
Staff Costs
2024
£
Gross Salaries
12,150
Employer's NI Contribution
-
Employer's Pension Contribution(defined contribution scheme)
486
Total
12,636|2023
£
15,868|
|---|---|
||15,868|
||2023
£
4,200
-|
||4,200|
||2023
2.0|
||2.0|
||2023
£
12,822
-
634|
||13,456|
## **5 Employees**
There were no employees who received employee benefits for the reporting period of more than £60,000.
8
## **6 Related Party Transactions**
The church had the following transactions with related parties
|Out of pocket expenses
2024
Number of Trustees reimbursed for out of pocket expenses
1
Total amount paid to or on behalf of Trustees, £
925
Related Party
Legal Authority
2024
£
Matthew Hall
Constitution
-
Paul Brown
Constitution
3,352
Total
3,352
Gifts to related charities
Name of Charity
Relationship
2024
£
Plumbline Ministries
Matthew Hall is a trustee
2,800
Total
2,800|2023
1
589
2023
£
13,456
-|
|---|---|
||13,456|
||2023
£
4,200|
||4,200|
## **7 Tangible Fixed Assets**
|**Cost**
At 1 January 2024
Additions
Disposals
Revaluation
At 31 December 2024
**Depreciation**
At 1 January 2024
Charge for the period
On disposals
At 31 December 2024
**Net book value**
At 31 December 2024
At 31 December 2023|**Church**
**Equipment**
**£**
8,059
120
-
-
8,179
3,160
1,753
-
4,913
3,266
4,899|**PA**
**Equipment**
**£**
5,024
363
-
-
5,387
4,596
183
-
4,779
608
428|**Land and**
**Buildings**
**£**
265,000
-
-
55,000
320,000
-
-
-
-
320,000
265,000|**Total**
**£**
278,083
483
-
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||333,566|
|||||7,756
1,936
-|
|||||9,692|
|||||323,874|
|||||270,327|
A valuation of The Old Schoolhouse, 4 Market Hill, Royston was carried out on 15/7/25 by Steven Foreman MRICS.
The basis of the valuation was to comply with Section 119 of the Charities Act and establish Market Value.
The historical cost of the building is £265,000, no depreciation has been charged.
9
## **8 Pension Scheme**
The charity operates a defined contribution scheme.
The costs for the period were £486 (2023 - £634).
The allocation of the liability and expense of the defined contribution pension scheme follows the treatment of the associated employees.
## **9 Bank Loans**
|Amounts falling due within one year
Bank Loan
Amounts falling due after one year
Bank Loan|2024
£
10,593
130,317|2023
£|
|---|---|---|
|||10,593|
||||
|||141,454|
The bank loan is secured against the Building at 4-8 Market Hill, Royston.
## **10 Prepayments & Accruals**
Amounts falling due within one year
|Prepayments & accruals
2024
£
Prepayments & other debtors
916
Tax recoverable
2,041
Total
2,957
Accruals and deferred income
2,983
Accruals and deferred income
2,983|2023
£
1,092
2,453|
|---|---|
||3,545|
||1,209|
||1,209|
10
## **11 Restricted Funds**
Fund Name
Purpose
For purchase, refurbishment or long-term hire of facilities for church use.
Building For purchase, refurbishment or long-term hire of facilities for church use. Body Needs To provide financial support for members of the body of Christ who are facing particular financial difficulty or need BP & HS Rex Support for our mission partners Youth Ministry Resources for ministry with young people Make Lunch To provide projects to fight holiday hunger Make Lunch Hardware Hardware to support the Make Lunch project Wang Family Ministry Support for our mission partners Pathways to Learning Providing free-of-charge tutoring sessions to school children
Movement on Restricted Funds in the year:
|||||Transfer||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|£|Opening|Income in|Expenditure in|between funds|Closing|
||Balance|2024|2024|2024|Balance|
|Building|(4,272)|55,366|(3,317)||47,777|
|Body Needs|1,159|50|(457)||752|
|BP & HS Rex|127|3,655|(3,564)||218|
|Youth Ministry|6|-|-||6|
|Make Lunch|14,287|12,765|(16,600)||10,452|
|Wang Family Ministry|-|5,750|(5,750)||-|
|Pathways to Learning|3,217|3,902|(3,883)||3,236|
|Other|-|6,689|(6,663)||26|
|Total|14,524|88,177|(40,234)|-|62,467|
## **12 Unrestricted and Designated Funds**
|Fund Name|Purpose|
|---|---|
|Mission (Designated)|To provide emergency support to our mission partners|
|Dads United (Designated)|To designate funds for activities with Dads.|
|General Unrestricted|To spend at the discretion of the charity trustees for any purposes|
||of the charity.|
Movement on Designated and Unrestricted Funds in the year:
|||||Transfer||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|£|Opening|Income in|Expenditure in|between funds|Closing|
||Balance|2024|2024|2024|Balance|
|Mission (Designated)|5,000|-|-|-|5,000|
|Dads United (Designated)|(189)|601|(471)|59|-|
|General Unrestricted|184,189|90,464|(51,514)|(59)|223,080|
|Revaluation Reserve|-|55,000|-|-|55,000|
|Total|189,000|146,065|(51,985)|-|283,080|
11
## **Trinity Life Church, Royston**
**Independent examiners report to the trustees of Trinity Life Church, Royston Registered number: 1181863**
I report on the accounts for the period ended 31st December 2024, which are set out on pages 5 to 11.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this period under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. The charity’s gross income exceeded £25,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act
- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006 and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached
Name: Mark Plane Relevant professional qualification or body: ICAEW
Address: 2nd Floor, Apex House 30-34 Upper George Street Luton, LU1 2RD Date: 25/09/2025
12