2025-03-31-accounts - Brentwood Vineyard Church

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

Brentwood Vineyard Church

Report and Unaudited Accounts

31 March 2025

TRUEMAN BROWN CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS 7 FOXGLOVE ROAD SOUTH OCKENDON ESSEX. RM15 6EU

Brentwood Vineyard Church Report and accounts Contents

	Page
Trustees Report	1 - 4
Independent Examiner's Report	5
Statement Of Financial Activties	6
Balance Sheet	7
Notes To The Accounts	8 - 14

Brentwood Vineyard Church Trustees Report

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered charity name Brentwood Vineyard Church Charity registration number 1015298 Principal address Brentwood Vineyard Church Ashwells Road Brentwood Essex. CM15 9SE The trustees Mrs. Oluwarotimi Kojeku Mrs Christine Tufnell Mr Andrew Cracknell Reverend Lukas Roos

Independent examiner Trueman Brown Chartered Accountants 7 Foxglove Road South Ockendon Essex. RM15 6EU Bankers Barclays Bank Plc 75 High Street Brentwood Essex. CM14 4RP

Trustees Report for the year ending 31 March 2025

The Trustees have the pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year.

OBJECTS OF THE CHARITY

The objectives of the charity as stated in the Declaration of Trust Deed dated 23 May 1991, amended 28 August 2003 are:

To advance the Christian faith and the planting of other Vineyard churches;
To further Christian education;
To relieve sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health by the provision of funds, goods or services of any kind, including through the provisions of counseling and training in life skills;
To provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

Brentwood Vineyard Church (“bVc”) is a charitable organisation governed by a Declaration of Trust dated 23rd May 1991, as amended 28th August 2003. We have started the process to convert the existing charity to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation – this has been registered with the Charity Commission on 19 February 2019 (CIO number 1182131).

Brentwood Vineyard Church Trustees Report

Ultimate responsibility for the entity rests with the Trustees in consultation with the Leadership Team, however day to day management is delegated to the Senior Pastor(s) and decisions and responsibility for all pastoral and leadership matters reside with them. There is also oversight from Vineyard UK (VCUKI) area leaders and their national leadership team.

Rev. Lukas and Mrs. Amelia Roos were appointed as Senior Pastors on the 24th October 2009 and they are responsible for the spiritual direction of the Church. The Senior Pastors shared in January 2024 their intention of retiring from pastoral ministry; a succession process was started at that time to recruit and appoint the next Senior Pastor(s) of bVc.

A vigorous recruitment process has been undertaken for the recruitment and appointment of the next Senior Pastor(s) of bVc. This was conducted with the support and involvement of VCUKI leaders. The progress of this process were regularly communicated with the congregation. We received 18 applications from across the world. Five candidates where shortlisted for initial interview. This took place in February 2025. Two candidates where shortlisted and these interviews will take place in April 2025.

Although the church employs members of staff, individual members of the Church undertake the outworking of the Church’s vision in a voluntary capacity.

The Board of Trustees (“Trustees”) meets at least three times each year, with further meetings as required. The induction process for any newly appointed trustee comprises an initial meeting with the Chair of Trustees, where the responsibilities of the Trustees are explained after which they sign up to the statement of faith. They are also provided with a copy of the Vineyard Trustee manual following a successful DBS check.

Recruitment and appointment of trustees

Mr Andrew Cracknell has stepped down after many years of faithful service and Mrs Christine Tufnell was appointed in October 2024 as Trustee. Mrs Tufnell is a very experienced Trustee and her skill set is complementary to the team. bVc plans to increase the number of trustees once the CIO property transfer is completed.

Affiliations

Brentwood Vineyard Church is affiliated to the charity, Vineyard Churches UK and Ireland (VCUKI) that was formed with the purpose of joining together churches that hold common values and practices. It gives oversight to the pastors of Vineyard churches and facilitates church planting. It helps, serves and strengthens the churches by leading, training, resourcing, administrating and providing pastoral support to Senior Pastors. Brentwood Vineyard Church uses the name under license from VCUKI.

The Church remained affiliated to the 'Evangelical Alliance'; ‘Churches Together’ and the Brentwood and District Evangelical Fellowship.

Risk Management

The trustees actively review the major risks which the charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining the free reserves stated, combined with the annual review of the controls over key financial systems carried out on an annual basis will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The trustees have also examined other operational and business risks which they face and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate the significant risks. All major insurable risks are subject to normal churches' and employers' insurance. Contractual risks are reviewed before being entered into to assess whether they could significantly impact upon the Church's ability to fulfil its objectives.

Vision And Mission

A community that desires to Be with Jesus… Be like Jesus…Do what Jesus did.

Brentwood Vineyard Church Trustees Report

Review Of The Year

We have seen a few new members attending and settling into church life. The youth has grown significantly which is really encouraging. They attended the annual DTI Youth festival run by VCUKI. In fulfilling the charity objectives, the church holds Christian services on a Sunday morning, children’s and youth activities, provides charity locally across Brentwood. The church provides hardship relief both financially and through the giving of time, service and items to the local Foodbank (Trussell Trust).

In living out our vision that church is not restricted to the building, we encourage members on the last Sunday of the month to engage with friends, neighbours and colleagues in doing life together. On these Sundays, there is no corporate meeting.

Small groups continue to play an important part of our life together. These groups support and encourage faith and contribute to the life and community of the church.

We have strengthened our relationship with the local Barnardos Family Hub and support 25 families with food hampers at Christmas. This is an area that we would like to expand on in future.

We continue to be a family focused congregation and organize special events in line with the Christian Calendar to foster reflection and a greater sense of community. The spiritual life of the congregation is vital if it is to achieve its mission and vision. We are constantly mindful of the fact that we exist to bring the good news of God’s love and grace to a world in need.

The congregation has been reminded again this year that everyone needs to be involved in reaching out and touching the lives of people in their own sphere of influence. This means speaking about their faith and in practical and concrete ways, expressing God’s care by serving those in need.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Net income for the year was £39,828 (2023/24: £25,686). bVc’s income comprised a mix of regular donations from members via standing order, electronic payments, together with gift aid received in relation to those donations as well as income from rental of church premises in line with the charity objectives. Total income for the year was £109,423 (2023/24: £95,272).

Total expenditure for 2024/25 was £69,595 (2023/24: £69,586).

Reserves Policy

The trustees have considered the level of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the charity’s needs. This is based on the charity’s size and the level of financial commitments held. The trustees aim to ensure the charity will be able to continue to fulfill its charitable objectives even if there is a temporary shortfall in income or unexpected expenditure. The trustees will endeavour not to set aside funds unnecessarily.

PUBLIC BENEFIT

The charity acknowledges its requirement to demonstrate clearly that it must have charitable purposes or 'aims' that are for the public benefit.

In planning the activities of Brentwood Vineyard Church 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. The trustees believe that this report provides suitable evidence of the public benefit being provided.

TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES

The Charities Act 2011 require the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the trust and of the surplus of the trust for that period. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:

Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;

Brentwood Vineyard Church Trustees Report

Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
Prepare financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the trust will continue in existence.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the trust. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the trust and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees

Mrs Oluwarotimi Kojeku (Chair of Trustees)

23 January 2026

Brentwood Vineyard Church

Independent Examiner's Report On The Accounts

Report to the trustees of Brentwood Vineyard Church on the accounts for the year ended 31st March 2025 set out on pages 7 to 16.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission
(under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of Independent Examiner's Statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with 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 the 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 statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:-

which gives me reasonable cause that in, any material respect, the requirements:

. to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act; and

. To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act

have not been met; or

to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Trueman Brown Chartered Accountants 7 Foxglove Road South Ockendon Essex RM15 6EU

23 January 2026

Brentwood Vineyard Church Statement Of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes Incoming Resources Incoming resources from Generating funds: Voluntary Income 2 Investment Income 3 Incoming resources from charitable activities 4 Other incoming resources 5 Total Incoming Resources Resources Expended Charitable Activities 6 Governance Costs 7 Total Resources Expended Net Income For The Year Reconciliation Of Funds Total Funds Brought Forward Transfer between funds Total Funds Carried Forward	Unrestricted Funds £ 53,229 588 48,000 7,606 109,423 59,433 10,162 69,595 39,828 419,845 10,487 470,160	Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - 10,815 (10,487) 328	Total Funds 2025 £ 53,229 588 48,000 7,606 109,423 59,433 10,162 69,595 39,828 430,660 470,488	Total Funds 2024 £ 61,031 107 30,200 3,934 95,272 59,480 10,106 69,586 25,686 404,974 430,660

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year and therefore a statement of total recognised gains and losses has not been prepared.

All of the above amounts relate to continuing activities.

Brentwood Vineyard Church Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025

Notes Fixed assets Tangible assets 9 Current assets Debtors 10 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year Net Assets Funds Restricted funds Unrestricted income funds Total Funds	Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds £ £ 488,867 - 378 - 56,387 328 56,765 328 (13,158) - 43,607 328 532,474 328 62,314 - 470,160 328 328 470,160 470,160 328	2025 2024 Total Total £ £ 488,867 488,176 378 139 56,715 30,619 57,093 30,758 (13,158) (12,961) 43,935 17,797 532,802 505,973 62,314 75,313 470,488 430,660 328 10,815 470,160 419,845 470,488 430,660

The notes on pages 8 to 15 form part of these accounts

Mrs Oluwarotimi Kojeku (Chair Of Trustees) Trustee Approved by the Trustees on 23 January 2026

Brentwood Vineyard Church Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025

1 Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable United Kingdom accounting standards, the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" issued in March 2005 (SORP 2005).

Cash flow statement

The Management Committee have taken advantage of the exemption in Financial Reporting Standard No 1 (revised) from including a cash flow statement in the financial statements on the grounds that the company is small.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the Management Committee for particular purposes.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.
Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified. the value of services provided by volunteers has not been in these accounts.
Investment income is included when receivable.
Incoming resources from charitable trading activity are accounted for when earned.
Incoming resources from grants, where related to performance and specific deliverables, are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.

Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates:

Costs of generating funds comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income and the costs of trading for fundraising purposes.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the accountancy fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.

Fixed Assets

Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. The costs of minor additions or those costing below £500 are not capitalised.

Brentwood Vineyard Church Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025

Depreciation

Depreciation has been provided at the following rates in order to write off the assets over their estimated useful lives.

Equipment 25% on reducing balance basis

No depreciation is charged to freehold property as the property is maintained to such a standard that the residual value is not less than cost.

Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised when there is an obligation at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are recognised at the amount the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt.

Pensions

Contributions to defined contribution plans are expensed in the period to which they relate.

2 Voluntary income

Gifts, Tithes & Offerings Gift Aid Tax Recovered	Unrestricted Funds £ 45,588 7,641 53,229	Restricted Funds £ - - -	2025 £ 45,588 7,641 53,229	2024 £ 36,493 24,538 61,031

3 Investment income

Bank Interest	Unrestricted Funds £ 588 588	Restricted Funds £ - -	2025 £ 588 588	2024 £ 107 107

Brentwood Vineyard Church Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025

4 Incoming resources from charitable activities

Room Hire 5 Other incoming resources Employers Allowance Sundry Income 6 Charitable activities Catering Costs Charitable Gifts Cleaning Costs Licences & Subscriptions Legal & Professional Postage & Stationery Repairs & Maintenance Security Salaries & Wages Depreciation Pensions Telephone Costs Travel & Hospitality Rates Utility Costs Internet Costs Subscriptions Sundry Expenses Conference Costs Health And Safety Costs	Unrestricted Funds £ 48,000 48,000 Unrestricted Funds £ 3,934 3,672 7,606 Unrestricted Funds £ 284 3,531 - 163 210 7 4,493 192 41,535 173 941 920 110 4,407 - 504 1,474 30 459 - 59,433	Restricted Funds £ - Restricted Funds £ - Restricted Funds £ - - -	2025 £ 48,000 48,000 2025 £ 3,934 3,672 7,606 2025 £ 284 3,531 - 163 210 7 4,493 192 41,535 173 941 920 110 4,407 - 504 1,474 30 459 - 59,433	2024 £ 30,200 30,200 2024 £ 3,934 - 3,934 2024 £ 222 2,188 675 159 3,345 40 1,140 414 41,535 - 941 887 763 (744) 4,396 332 1,436 1,414 301 36 59,480

Brentwood Vineyard Church Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025

7 Governance costs

Unrestricted
Restricted
Funds
Funds
2025
£
£
£
Insurance Costs
3,586
-
3,586
Mortgage Interest Charges
5,676
-
5,676
Independent Examiners Fees
900
-
900
10,162
-
10,162
8
Staff costs and numbers
2025
£
Gross Wages & Salaries
37,601
Employers' National Insurance Costs
3,934
Pensions
941
42,476
Employees were engaged in the following activities:
2025
No.
Activities in furtherance of the organisation's objects
1
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000 (2024 : Nil).

2024
£
3,023
5,973
1,110
10,106
2024
£
37,601
3,934
941
42,476
2024
No.
1

9 Tangible fixed assets

Cost At 1 April 2024 Additions Surplus on revaluation Disposals At 31 March 2025 Depreciation At 1 April 2024 Charge for the year Surplus on revaluation On disposals At 31 March 2025 Net book value At 31 March 2025 At 31 March 2024	Land and buildings £ 488,176 - - - 488,176 - - - - - 488,176 488,176	General equipment £ - 864 - - 864 - 173 - - 173 691 -	Total £ 488,176 864 - - 489,040 - 173 - - 173 488,867 488,176

Brentwood Vineyard Church Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025

10 Debtors

Unrestricted Funds £ Trade Debtors 14 Sundry Debtors 364 378 11 Cash at bank and in hand Unrestricted Funds £ Barclays Business Current Account 4,097 Barclays Business Premium Account 52,290 56,387 12 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Unrestricted Funds £ Accruals 6,900 Mortgage 6,061 Sundry Creditors 197 13,158 13 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year Unrestricted Funds £ Mortgage 62,314 62,314	Restricted Funds £ - - Restricted Funds £ - 328 328 Restricted Funds £ - - Restricted Funds £ - -	2025 £ 14 364 378 2025 £ 4,097 52,618 56,715 2025 £ 6,900 6,061 197 13,158 2025 £ 62,314 62,314	2024 £ 14 125 139 2024 £ 2,584 28,035 30,619 2024 £ 6,900 6,061 - 12,961 2024 £ 75,313 75,313

Brentwood Vineyard Church Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025

14 Restricted funds

Balance At 1 April 2024 Transfer Balance At 31 March 2025	People In Need £ 328 - 328	Building Fund £ 10,487 (10,487) -	Total £ 10,815 (10,487) 328

Purpose of Designated Funds

People In Need

An emergency fund to assist parishioners who have fallen on hard times.

15 Unrestricted income funds

Balance At 1 April 2024 Incoming Resources Resources Expended Transfer from other funds Balance At 31 March 2025 Analysis of net assets between funds Restricted Income Funds: People In Need Building Fund Unrestricted Income Funds: General Funds	Tangible fixed assets £ 488,867 488,867	General Fund £ 419,845 109,423 (69,595) 10,487 470,160 Net current assets/ (liabilities) £ 328 - - (18,707) (18,379)	Total £ 419,845 109,423 (69,595) 10,487 470,160 Total £ 328 - - 470,160 470,488

16 Analysis of net assets between funds

Brentwood Vineyard Church Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025

17 Trustee remuneration and related party transactions

No members of the Board Of Trustees received any remuneration during the year.

No trustee or other person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity during the year (2024 - £Nil).

18 Post-balance sheet events

The charity is in the process of being incorporated as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).