2024-12-31-accounts - The Walkergate Trust

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THE WALKERGATE TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for The Walkergate Trust CIO.

This report and the accompanying accounts have been prepared in accordance with the charity’s constitution and the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

The period of the report & accounts is 1[st] January 2024 to 31[st] December 2024.

Recruitment, selection and appointment of trustees

The management of the charity continues to be the responsibility of the trustees who are appointed under the terms of the constitution.

The number of trustees shall be not less than three and no more than five of which one must be external. During 2024 there were five trustees and there were no changes during the year.

Each trustee must agree to the “Statement of Faith” in the constitution and have appropriate skills or qualifications to aid the administration and running of the charity.

Constitution and objects

Background: On 1[st] May 2022, a new church was established, Hope Church Tyneside, which joined the Anglican Mission in England (AMiE) organisation. This step brought the advantages of external oversight & accountability as well as common purpose with a community of like-minded churches. The trustees decided to change from making ad hoc grants in support of its objects, loosely affiliated to St Oswald’s Church, to focus predominantly on supporting the work of Hope Church. To make this association transparent an application to change the charity’s objects was requested from, and approved by, the Charity Commission and the new constitution took effect on 15[th] January 2023.

During 2024 integration was completed and the charity’s entry in the Charity Commission register has been amended to make clear the close relationship between The Walkergate Trust and Hope Church.

Operating as a church CIO

During 2024 the charity continued to operate within Hope Church as one of three governing bodies, the other two being the Church Council and the Minister/Eldership team. To ensure we fulfil our safeguarding responsibilities, a trustee is designated as safeguarding lead, working alongside the Church Council’s safeguarding leader.

The Objects of the CIO are for the public benefit:

To advance the Christian faith in accordance with our statement of faith, in the United Kingdom or the world, in particular but not exclusively by supporting the work of Hope Church Tyneside;
To further such other charitable purposes (according to the law of England and Wales) as shall, in the opinion of the charity trustees from time to time, put into practice the Christian faith in accordance with the statement of faith.

The main vehicle through which the charity sought to realise these objectives during 2024 was by supporting the work within and through the congregation and ministry at Hope Church, Tyneside.

The charity’s funds were used during the year to fund the running of the church, including employment and venue costs, to fund activities undertaken by the church family for the benefit of the community, and to contribute towards the costs of Christian workers further afield whose activities are consistent with furthering our objects.

Expenditure on operating costs and grants was £63,435 in the period (2023: £64,524).

This supported the church in its internal and external ministry including:

public church services
activities for all age groups
bible studies for adults
Sunday school classes for children
regular free events for adults and children open to the whole community such as pub quizzes, craft events and children’s activity sessions
a thriving, open, parent & toddlers’ group
informal services held at a local care home
a book club
pastoral care for church attendees and the wider community – particularly at times of bereavement.

Through these activities the main objective of the charity was furthered.

Public benefit statement

The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit. They believe that the activities undertaken or supported in 2024 fully satisfy the requirement in that through the advancement of religion the spiritual, moral and ethical teachings of the Biblical Christian religion have been instilled, encouraged and developed both within the congregation of Hope Church as well as being open and freely available to everyone in the wider community.

Church membership

This year we ran more events in community venues, such as the library and a community centre. This led to an increase in the number of new participants from the local Wallsend area as well as growth in attendance at church services.

Achievements and performance

The trustees believe that the aims of the charity have been successfully achieved during the year particularly – but not exclusively – within and through the ministry and congregation of Hope Church, Tyneside.

Financial Review

The accounts for the period 1[st] January 2024 to 31[st] December 2024 are presented, ready for submission to the Charity Commission.

Total income received amounted to £60,395, the principal item being donations. Total payments amounted to £63,435. For the prior year, 2023, total income was £47,940 and total payments amounted to £64,524.

Our monthly expenditure currently exceeds our monthly income but the gap is now small and is continuing to reduce as the congregation grows. We aspire to turn the deficit into a surplus but recognise that this may be a medium term undertaking which will involve a combination of members of the church family reviewing their giving as well as growing the church family.

Our substantial reserves will be used to fund the deficit in the meantime so that we can maintain the successful programme of activities and church growth that has continued each year.

A portion of our reserves (generated from the sale of a house) is designated for future use to purchase property, should a suitable church building and location become available. We will keep under review the remaining reserves and draw a balance between providing prudently to sustain our work while we have a deficit and investing in new initiatives to further our objects. Acquiring a property remains our ultimate aim, to give us more flexibility and scope for running events and accommodating current and future staff. In the meantime, we plan to continue hiring venues suitable for the evolving size and needs of our church meetings until a permanent or leasehold site becomes available.

In respect of financial risk analysis, the accumulated funds are considered adequate to meet any unexpected financial liabilities.

Trustees' Responsibilities

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.

Risk management

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those related to operations and finance, and are satisfied that through their reviews, and the use of professional advisers, systems and policies are in place to mitigate our exposure to the major risks.

Approval

This report was approved by the trustees on 18th May 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

Matthew Keiller

The Walkergate Trust (Registered Charity Number 1182145)

Receipts and Payments for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

All figures in £s General Fund Receipts: Donations 42,158 Tax Refunds 8,825 Other 7,412 TOTAL 58,395 Payments: Staff Costs 39,470 Rent & Other Venue Costs 10,729 AMiE 2,102 Professional Fees 3,230 Activities / Events 1,810 0 Grants to Third Parties 1,090 Administrative Expenses 3,049 TOTAL 61,480 Surplus / (Deficit) (3,085) Transfers between funds 0 Balance b/f 109,493 Balance c/f 106,408	Designated Fund Restricted Fund 2024 TOTAL 2023 TOTAL
	1,600 43,758 39,352 400 9,225 8,244 7,412 344 0 2,000 60,395 47,939 1,955 41,425 37,563 10,729 9,710 2,102 1,650 3,230 0 1,810 1,530 0 1,090 11,550 3,049 2,520 0 1,955 63,435 64,524 0 45 (3,040) (16,585) 0 0 0 0
	158,626 4,341 272,460 289,044
	158,626 4,386 269,420 272,460

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on page 1.

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 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 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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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.

Mark Nicholson BA Hons (Oxon) CPFA 23 Derwentdale Gardens, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7QN 1 May 2025