2023-12-31-accounts - Affirm: Baptists Together For LGBT+ Inclusion

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

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From: 1[st] January 2023 To: 31[st] December 2023 Charity name: Affirm: Baptists Together for LGBT+ Inclusion

Charity registration number: 1183976

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The promotion of equality and diversity for the public benefit by: (a) supporting and affirming people identifying as LGBT+ and those questioning their sexuality or gender identity within churches in Great Britain, particularly those in membership of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Baptist Union of Wales or the Baptist Union of Scotland or which refer to themselves as Baptist (“the churches”) by giving pastoral support (b) working for the acceptance of loving same- sex relationships as one of a number of ways of living faithfully, through engaging in constructive discussions in the churches; (c) promoting knowledge and mutual understanding of human sexuality and gender identity in the churches through discussion, study and the sharing of people’s stories; (d) supporting and standing in solidarity with those churches that include and affirm LGBT+ Christians by providing theological resources and networking opportunities
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	Attending events as speakers/advisers Continuing to invite members to transfer their subscriptions to the new bank account, and encouraging new memberships and donations. Continuing to expand our reach to support Baptist ministers, and LGBT+ Baptists through challenging conversations in the life of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. Preparing educational and promotional material.

Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	Seeking new volunteers and trustees and including them in developing the charity. Management of bank account, overall strategy and direction of the charity.
Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	Throughout 2023 we continued to transition from the old membership and supporter model to the new. We have been an instrumental component in the national conversations regarding ministerial accreditation and same-sex relationships, and been involved both at national leadership and grassroots level dialogue. We have continued to build relationships with churches and individuals, supporting them in their theological and practical understanding of LGBT+ inclusion in the life of the Baptist church.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	At the end of the period the charity held £1,021 of unencumbered funds
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Funds are held in preparation for events and activities. As there are no paid staff at present, there are no ongoing liabilities
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	As above
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	As above
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	Nil
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	None

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	CIO
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Founding Trustees and then Election or Co-option

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:


Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Affirm: Baptists Together for LGBT+Inclusion
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number	1183976
Charity’s principal address	c/o 26 Farthing Drive Letchworth Garden City SG6 2TR

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Revd Dawn Cole-Savidge	Co-Director
	Luke Dowding	Chair
	Andrew Fitchett	Co-Director
	Martin Stears-Handscomb	Treasurer
	Esther Ruddle	Trustee

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets None held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of	Name	Address
adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date	Andy Fitchet
	Luke Dowding
	Chair	Trustee
	16.10.24
	16.10.24

Affirm: Baptists Together for LGBT+ Inclusion	Affirm: Baptists Together for LGBT+ Inclusion	Affirm: Baptists Together for LGBT+ Inclusion	1183976
Receipts andpayments accounts				CC16a
For the period from	01/01/2023	To	31/12/2023

Section A Receipts and payments

A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 518 878 8 - - - - - 1,404 - - - 1,404 213 100 70 - - - - - - 383 - - - 383 1,021 - - 1,021	Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Total funds to the nearest £ 518 878 8 - - - - - 1,404 - - - 1,404 213 100 70 - - - - - - 383 - - - 383 1,021	Last year to the nearest £
Brought forward	518				720
Subscripions and donations	878				200
HMRC Gift Aid	8				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	1,404				920

A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
	-
	-				-
*Sub total*	-				-
*Total receipts* A3 Payments
					920

Trustees Travel	213				110
Trustees Acccomodation	100				-
Website and IT	70				87
Stall Hire	-				150
PublicityMaterials	-				55
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
**Sub total **	383				402

A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)
	-
	-
**Sub total **	-				-
*Total payments* *Net of receipts/(payments)* A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end *Cash funds this year end*
					402

	1,021	-	-	1,021	518
	-	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	-
	1,021	-	-	1,021	518

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

10/10/2024

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets	Signature Details Details Held at Bank Details Details *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details	Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 1,021 - - - - - 1,021 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Luke Dowding Andy Fitchet	Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			-
			-
			-
			OK
			Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			When due (optional)






			Date of approval
		Luke Dowding	16.10.24
		Andy Fitchet	16.10.24

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

10/10/2024