2022-12-31-accounts - Skelmersdale Ecumenical Centre

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SKELMERSDALE ECUMENICAL CENTRE

Charity Number 1184507

Annual Report and Financial Statements

Year ended 31[ST] December 2022

Skelmersdale Ecumenical Centre

Year ended 31[st] December 2022

Reference and administrative details

Trustees Rev P Jump D Stanley Rev K Summers Mr N Mackenzie Rev M Tindsley Principal address Northway Skelmersdale WN8 6LU Bankers Nat West Bank Co-operative Bank Registered Charity Number 1184507 Independent Examiner M R Heaton FCCA FCIE DChA KM Chartered Accountants 1[st] Floor, Block C The Wharf Manchester Road Burnley BB11 1JG

Skelmersdale Ecumenical Centre

Year ended 31[st] December 2022

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

The trustees present their first report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31[st] December 2022.

The charity is a Foundation CIO registered on 19[th] July 2019, having originally been governed by a Sharing Agreement.

OBJECTS

The objects of the CIO are:- the advancement of the Christian religion for the public benefit by:

1) the promotion of fellowship between Christian churches, bodies, institutions and persons in community therewith

2) the provision, improvement, and management of the Skelmersdale Ecumenical Centre building;

3) the promotion of the Skelmersdale Ecumenical Centre building as a place of public worship to be shared by the Church of England, the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church and the North West Baptist Association (which churches and association are hereinafter referred to together as “the sharing churches”) and to be used by them either alone or jointly with each other or together with other Christian churches, bodies, institutions or persons in communion therewith; and

4) the promotion of the Skelmersdale Ecumenical Centre building as a centre for any other charitable activity which may seem to the CIO to be beneficial to the sharing churches or likely to further their common aims and interests so far as the same may be wholly and exclusively charitable.

Activities

Our key objectives for 2022 were to secure appropriate governance and reporting systems for the Centre, and ensure that it was placed on a sustainable financial footing for the foreseeable future. We are pleased to report significant progress in this respect and while such matters are to a degree, always ongoing, the trustees are satisfied that appropriate measure and strategies are now in place.

We have also continued an ongoing programme of refurbishment to bring the remaining areas of the centre up to standard. In 2022 this included significant refurbishment of the kitchen and café area and funding applications for refurbishment of the main hall, main staircase area, downstairs disabled toilet and utility area.

We have standardised our tenancy arrangements and worked with all building users to generate a more joined-up partnership approach to our community provision. This included a memorial gathering before Christmas and regular user meetings. A streamlined booking system has generated increased ad-hoc use of the premises and work is ongoing to secure full permanent tenancy in the upstairs area. While there is more work to be done, the trustees believe we have reached a place of financial stability.

We retain the vision to re-introduce regular worship at the centre and are pleased that a weekly prayer meeting has continued on Tuesdays throughout the year with ad-hoc Christmas events also being organised. The Refugee drop-in and support service continues to be run as a directly managed project, with plans in 2023 to extend this to a Winter Warm hub for all members of the community.

Skelmersdale Ecumenical Centre

Year ended 31[st] December 2022

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

Key Objectives for 2023

Having brought the SEC to a stable and sustainable position, the key concern of the trustees is to maintain and support the work already being done, offering the Centre as a key resource and place of support for the community. Alongside this, our key aspirations for 2023 are as follows:

Complete negotiations with former refurbishment contractor to complete outstanding works and finalise payment.

Refurbish downstairs toilet and utility area Refurbish main staircase area Refurbish main hall Continue and develop our refugee support project.

Introduce and provide Winter Warm Hub in partnership with Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated NHS Care Board

Introduce and develop a Community Champions Programme in partnership with Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board.

Secure additional tenancies to bring the office areas up to full capacity.

Maintain sustainable finance and management systems to ensure ongoing stability for the SEC. Work with Ecumenical Partners to further develop the Spiritual life and activities of the Centre.

Public benefit

The trustees confirm that we have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit reporting in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

The Receipts and Payments Account and Statement of Assets and Liabilities are on page 7.

Unrestricted balances at the year-end amounted to £14,908. A grant received from the local authority of £37,650 was received in October 2022 and is being expended in 2023-2024.

The charity aims to hold 3 months expenditure in unrestricted funds. The centre is financed by a combination of grants. Contracts, donations as well as rental income from centre users both regular and adhoc. A more comprehensive review of reserves and financial stability is planned for the coming few months.

Skelmersdale Ecumenical Centre

Year ended 31[st] December 2022

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Trustees

The trustees as listed on page 2 are appointed by the Church of England, North Western Baptist Association, Methodist Church and United Reformed Church, each of whom is entitled to appoint up to three trustees.

Day to day running of the Centre is by a Centre Manager.

Governing document

The charity is governed by its Constitution of 19[th] July 2019 as amended 11[th] May 2022.

Structure

The trustees meet meet regularly to discuss matters relating to governance and finance and delegate a number of responsibilities to a centre management group to steer the direction of the Centre.

Risk management

The Trustees have introduced a risk management process to assess business risks and are implementing systems to mitigate these risks. Internal risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures or authorisation of all transactions and projects and to ensure consistent quality of delivery for all operational aspects of the Charity. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of staff, volunteers, clients and visitors to the premises. These procedures are periodically reviewed to ensure that they still met the needs of the Charity.

The Centre seeks to follow recognised safeguarding processes.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 30th October 2023 and signed on its behalf by:

Rev P Jump

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF SKELMERSDALE ECUMENICAL CENTRE

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31[st] December 2022.

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 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 matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

(1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
(2) the accounts do not accord with those 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.

M R Heaton FCCA FCIE DChA KM 1[st] Floor, Block C, The Wharf Burnley Lancashire BB11 1JG

30th October 2023

SKELMERSDALE ECUMENICAL CENTRE

Year ended 31[st] December 2022 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

Unrestricted Restricted funds funds £ £ Receipts Grants received 8,875 - Grant – Reaching Communities 26,664 Grant – West Lancs BC 37,650 Donations/other 26,570 Closure of CFB investment 3,492 Rental charges 51,332 90,270 64,314 Payments Staff costs 29,771 26,664 Utilities 19,789 Professional fees 30,298 Other costs 31,761 Delivery costs 13,332 Loan repayments 1,858 126,801 26,664 Net receipts/(payments) (36,531) 37,650 Cash funds brought forward 50,629 - Cash funds this year end 14,908 37,650 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES Total 31.12.22 £ CASH FUNDS Bank current accounts Unrestricted 14,908 Restricted 37,650 Property– Ecumenical Centre Held on Trust Other debtors – Big Lottery Restricted 27,681 Other creditors - Construction Restricted 27,681 Bank loan Unrestricted 11,444	Total funds £ 8,875 26,664 37,650 26,572 3,491 51,332
	154,584
	56,435 19,789 30,298
	31,761
	13,332
	1,858
	153,465

	1,119
	50,629
	51,748
	As at 31.12.21 £ 50,629 27,681 27,681 13,100

Approved by the trustees and signed by:

Rev P Jump

30[th] October 2023

SKELMERSDALE ECUMENICAL CENTRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1 Basis of preparation
These accounts have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with the Charities Act 2011.
2 Fund Accounting
(a) Unrestricted funds are those that can be expended at the discretion of the trustees in the furtherance of the objects of the charity
(b) Restricted funds are those that may only be used for specific purposes. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor.
3 Taxation

The charity is not liable to tax on its charitable activities.

The charity is not registered for VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the expense to which it relates.
4 Transactions with trustees
No remuneration nor expenses were paid to trustees, or any persons connected with them during the year or previous year.
5 Restricted funds

The purpose of this restricted funds is explained in the Trustees Annual Report.