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2024-12-31-accounts

Member of the Baptist Union

FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH Registered Charity number 1186184

CHURCH REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

CONTENTS

Page
Trustees’ report 1-8
Independent Examiners’ Report 9
Statement of financial activities 10
Balance sheet 11
Notes to the financial statement 12-18

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

The trustees present their report together with the financial statements for the year January – December 2024

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on pages 13 & 14 and comply with the Charities Act 2011 and applicable law.

Leadership Team (Trustees) at the date of this report:

William Cuthill Susan Cuthill (retired November 2024) William Strong Lynette Nash David Mills Dermot Nelligan Karen Strong Jonathan Baker (elected November 2024) Adrian Walford (elected November 2024)

Address:-

c/o 4 Plantation Road Fakenham Norfolk NR21 8PL

Other Advisors:

Bankers Barclays Bank plc Solicitors Anthony Collins Solicitors, Edmund Street, Birmingham Independent Examiner Richard Newell, 3 Swan Court Swan Street, Fakenham

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing document:

The church was founded on 3[rd] May 1801, registered a Trust Deed on 11[th] July 1808, and is a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland. A new charitable Constitution was adopted on 22 June 2016 at a Special Meeting of the Church Members, and registered with the Charity Commission in England & Wales on 17[th] November 2016.

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

At a Special Church meeting on 15[th] September 2019, church members voted approval for moving from an unincorporated charity to a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation). Approval from the Charities Commission has been received late Dec/early January, and this new charitable came into place 1st May 2020.

Trustees/Organisation:

The current trustees are named on page 3.

The appointment of the Leadership Team and Trustees is set out in the Church Constitution.

Governance and management

The trustees are responsible for the overall governance of the church and its strategic direction and development.

Decisions are made by agreement of the trustees at regular intervals. Church Members Meetings are held three times a year and an update is given on current church affairs and finances. Minutes are taken and approved and signed at the next meeting.

Related Parties:

The church has ‘sister’ organisations, Fakenham Developments Ltd, which carries out building development activities of the church, and a registered charity Fakenham Community Support, charity number 1159268. Full details of related party transactions for the year are set out in note 10 to the accounts.

Risk Management:

The trustees have during the year continued to review the major risks to which the church is exposed and to establish systems to mitigate those risks identified not already covered by the church’s existing systems and risk management strategies and controls.

Aim and Core Values:

Aim: “To Know Jesus, and make him Known”

To see this become a reality we will:

  1. Provide opportunities for everyone to encounter with God through worship and prayer

  2. Equip people with a biblical foundation to live a Spirit-filled life

  3. Connect with our community by identifying needs and extending God’s love to all

Core Values:

Equip:

Connect

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

The church is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our church family. The Leadership Team maintains an overview of the church fellowship pastorally and the business side of the building and assets ensuring that we are available both spiritually and pastorally to the community of Fakenham and its surrounding villages. Each member of the Leadership Team has responsibilities for various aspects of church life, such as Prayer Ministry, Pastoral, Community, Administration and Finance and Life Groups.

Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer, scripture, music and preaching the word of God. We plan our activities to try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our community through:

Achievements and Performance:

We have continued in 2024 to be without a minister however have been served well by both in-house speakers as well as visiting speakers during this time.

We continue to be supported as a leadership and as a church by our moderator, Jonathan Squirrell and he has continued to provide us with good spiritual insight and direction.

Sunday Morning Services : this is a service of praise and worship and teaching where the whole church family can gather together in one place, and a place where we offer Prayer Ministry to those who would like to receive it.

We hold special services during the year for events such as Easter, Christmas, Remembrance, Harvest and each year in January we hold a service of re-commitment called a Covenant Service. Our Christmas Day collection was shared between the local Fakenham Foodbank and EP Youth in Fakenham for the benefit of the local communities.

Life Groups: small Bible study groups held at people’s homes in Fakenham and in various villages in the surrounding areas to meet together and study the Bible and pray together. The leadership continue to keep in touch with all church members either in person or by a phone call, offering fellowship and help wherever needed.

Little Fishes: this is a toddler group for pre-school children and their parents. This is a safe environment where children are provided various activities to engage with and parents have an opportunity to meet up, have a drink and socialise together, and sometimes just ‘take a breath’

CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other ) is a group of over 55’s who enjoy getting together for a cuppa, conversation, and encouragement - all with a Christian flavour, interested in experiencing more of God, we’re discovering our potential and continued purpose in life.

Corporate Prayer & Prayer meetings : Meetings for church members and prayer teams to meet corporately

Church in the Community: Fakenham is a market town and as such every Thursday the town centre is closed to traffic and a weekly market is held. The Church has a stall as often as possible within this

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

market. We offer prayer and Bible readings to anyone who wants it. We talk to everyone including the other stall holders and we have various members of the church willing to be part of that team each week.

A couple of members from the church go into one of the towns care homes to do a monthly service.

Although our CAP (Christians Against Poverty) Debt Centre closed in 2018, we do however continue to be partnered with CAP and are seeking to continue running CAP Money Coaches through our trained coaches, David Mills and Louise Rafferty, where they can offer courses on the management of money and provide the skills to budget, save and spend, hopefully to prevent people entering into debt.

Property:

Clipbush Lane – Land – Owned by Fakenham Developments Limited (FDL):

FBCC remains firmly committed to ‘Know Jesus and Make Him Known’ in Fakenham and the surrounding area.

Sadly, the planned build on the Clipbush site has not been possible to complete and so our search for suitable premises continues.

In the meantime, we continue to worship at the Community Centre on Sunday's 10:30am-12:00pm.

Training:

Our volunteer teams continue to attend courses (usually hosted by third parties) as required/requested/needed in areas such as: Parenting/Child Protection/New Mums Support/Children with Special Additional needs/Safeguarding and First Aid

Mission:

The church supports various Mission organisations around the UK and the rest of the World including:

Ecumenical Relationships

The church is a member of ‘Churches Together in Fakenham’ and joint services are held throughout the year hosted by the different member churches. This includes Good Friday, where the churches have an opportunity to take a small service in the market square area of Fakenham and declare the gospel together. There are monthly meetings held with the Clergy, Ministers and Church leaders of the town and we play an active part within that meeting. As Covid restrictions eased we were able to recommence these activities.

Suspended Activities:

There are some things, although not many, that due to not being in permanent premises which still remain suspended for the time being, but we have a view to bring back in the future. These include:

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

Volunteers

Our church continues to be blessed to have many volunteers without whom we simply could not manage to do all that we do. As a diverse community of God’s people, we range in all ages young and old.

Our volunteers carry out a wide and diverse range of activities, including speaking, life group leading, worship leading and worship team, sound and media teams, CAP money coaches and support team, prayer ministry teams, CAMEO leaders, finance and administration, Thursday market stall team, refreshments team, Sunday set-up team.

What we do as an expression of God’s love in Fakenham could not be done without each every one of our volunteers. THANK YOU ALL .

2024 Officials

Membership:

Over the year we have seen a number of new people coming to the church and are hoping that they choose to remain with us as part of our fellowship.

At the date of this report the church has approximately 32 adult members directly connected to the church.

Moderator:

Whilst we are without a minister, we continue to enjoy the support and counsel of Rev Jonathan Squirrell as our moderator during this period. Jonathan continues to meet with the Leadership team once a month. Jonathan and Paige also offer a number of teaching and training sessions for various teams throughout our church, and Jonathan continued to speak at a number of Sunday services during 2024

CIO Transition:

Following the members vote for transition to CIO earlier in 2019, work continued working with our legal team and the Baptist Union and Charities Commission to achieve the transition. Agreement has been granted from the Charities Commission and CIO status was achieved on 1[st] May 2020. By changing to a CIO this will provide added protection to both members of the Leadership team and members of the church. The transition to CIO was completed and from 1[st] May 2020 Fakenham Baptist Community Church has become a CIO with a new charity number 1186184. A vote (via zoom) and voting forms to close the old charity was completed in November 2020 and working with the legal team this was achieved in early 2021.

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

The Future:

The commencement of the building work in 2019 is a massive step forward for the church sadly, the planned build on the Clipbush site has not been possible to complete and so our search for suitable premises continue. But we believe in a God who can do immeasurably more that we can ever ask, and we are confident that as He has brought us this far he has a plan for us in these matters.

We know that God continues to answer our prayers in practical matters.

We continue to be supported by a great group of volunteers, we are still excited for what faces Fakenham Baptist Community Church in the new challenges ahead, and we believe we are the church family are ready to continue making a difference in our communities in a relevant and meaningful way which demonstrates God’s love for mankind.

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance

with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Law applicable to charitable organisations requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each

financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities during the period and of its financial position at the end of the period. In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view, the trustees should follow best practice and:

 Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently:

 Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the trust. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable organisation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Statement of disclosure to examiner:

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

Independent Examiner's Report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts for the year ended 31[st ] December 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report of trustees and examiner:

As the church'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 church's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act, and in carrying out mu 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 giving me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect:

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.

Richard Newell

3 Swan Court. Swan Street, Fakenham, NR21 9FG

06/07/2025

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31[st] December 2024

Statement of Financial activities
Unrestricted
funds
restricted
funds
property
Restricted
funds CAP
Total 2024
£
£
£
Incoming resources
incoming resources from generated funds
0
Voluntary income
0
Donations
25,602
240
0
25,842
Sales and conference fees
0
grants received
-
0
Legacies
0
Other Misc income
Total Voluntary Income
25,602
240
0
25,842
Income from Assets
0
Sale of property
0
Interest received
890
606
1,496
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES
26,492
846
0
27,338
Resources expended
Charitable activities
Direct Activity costs
24,489
0
24,489
Governance costs
Other resources uses
Purchase of land
Property selling costs
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED
24,489
0
24,489
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
2,003
846
0
2,849		 Total 2023


31,635

24,500
0
56,135


2,033
58,168
25,561
25,561
32,607

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

Balance sheet at 31st December 2024
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2024
1Accounting Policies
1.1 Accounting Convention
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the
revaluation of certain investments and include the results of the charity’s operation which are
described in the Trustees’ Report and all of which are continuing. The accounts have been prepared
in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice. (“SORP”), ‘Accounting and Reporting
by Charities;’ published in March 2005 and applicable accounting standards.
The Charity has taken advantage of the exemption in Financial Reporting Standard No1 from the
requirement to produce a cash flow statement.
1.2 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 donations and gifts and is recognised on receipt or
accrued as income as soon as practical and prudent to do so. Income tax refunds due from
income received under deduction of tax are credited in the same year as the relevant income.

Income from charitable activities includes fees receivable from donors and is credited in the
same year as the relevant income.
1.3 Resources expended
All expenditure is accounted for on an accrual basis and includes attributable VAT which cannot be
recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates:

 Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional statutory requirements of the charity and include independent examiner’s fees

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements (Continued) for the year 31[st] December 2024 1 Accounting Policies

1.1 Accounting Convention

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of certain investments and include the results of the charity’s operation which are described in the Trustees’ Report and all of which are continuing. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice. (“SORP”), ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities,’ published in March 2005 and applicable accounting standards.

The Charity has taken advantage of the exemption in Financial Reporting Standard No1 from the requirement to produce a cash flow statement.

1.2 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.

1.3 Resources expended

All expenditure is accounted for on an accrual basis and includes attributable VAT which cannot be recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates:

1.4 Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation

Items are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £400 (2018- £400) Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost or value of assets less estimated residual value, over the expected useful lives. It is calculated at the following rates:

Equipment – 25% reducing balance

Freehold property – nil (2018 – nil) Freehold property has been disposed of, and note is owned by the charity at the balance sheet time.

1.5 Investments

All surplus cash is held by the church or Baptist Union Trustees on behalf of the church, on cash deposits and bank current accounts, or in loan account to Fakenham Developments Limited.

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

1. Accounting Policies (continued)

1.6 Fund Accounting

The restricted fund comprises accumulated surpluses and deficits and is available for use at the discretion of the Charity’s objectives.

Restricted funds are created when grants or donations are received for a particular purpose, the uses of which are restricted for that purpose. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Certain property funds are restricted as to the capital values of property held within these funds. Interest arising on these funds is treated as income of the General Fund.

2 Analysis of Costs for Charitable activities and other resources

CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Manse costs
Office costs
Church activity expenses
Ministry fees
Donations to other organization
CAP Debt Centre running costs
TOTAL
OTHER RESOURCES EXPENDED
Otherpremises costs and fees		 2024
0
2,907
7,687
9,822
4,073
0
24,489		 2023
0
2,722
7,802
11,101
3,936
0
25,561

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements (Continued) for the year ended 31[st] December 2024

3 Analysis of Governance Costs
2024
Accountancy/examination & Legal
0		 2023
0
4 Net incoming resources is stated after charging
2024
Depreciation of tangible assets: owned		 2023
0
5 Tangible Fixed Assets
Equipment
cost or valuation 1st Jan 2024
2,474
at 31st December 2024
2,474		 2,474
2,474
Depreciation
2,474
charge for the year
0
TOTAL
2474
2474
0
2474
2023
£
663,593
41,895
2,654
38,248
0
657,292
6 DEBTORS
2024
£
Non-current
Fakenham Developments Limited
692,166
Less Provision of FDL property valuation
41,895
Less provision for FDL company losses
2,654
BU Trust Deposit accounts
23,134
Current
Gift Aid tax, debtors and payments in advance
0




2023
£
663,593
41,895
2,654
38,248
0
657,292
TOTAL
670,751

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

2023
0
0
0		 2023
0
0
0
8 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
At 01.01.24
Income
Expenditure
Unrestricted funds
General funds (a)
294,503
26,492
24,489
Restricted funds
CAP centre (b)
3,271
0
0
Property funds (c,d)
473,044
846
0
Cross fund (e)
1,000
TOTAL FUNDS
771,818
27,338
24,489		 At 31.12.24
296,506
0
0
3,271
473,890
1,000
774,667		 at 31.12.23
294,503
0
0
3,271
473,044
1,000
771,818

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

Notes to the Financial Statement (Continued) for the year ended 31[st] December 2024

2024 2023
Fuller trust 80,710 80,710
Holborn trust 0
Ancient trust 567 567

Additionally, the church’s Development fund amounted to £35668

The Mill Court proceeds are held for the church by the Baptist Union’s Fuller Trust, and the Manse by the BU Holborn Trust. A small portion of the net sale proceeds of Mill Court is also held under an ancient BU property trust .

9 Analysis of Net Assets between funds
Restricted
funds
Unrestricted
funds
total 2024
fund balances at 31st December are
represented by
Tangible fixed assets
Fixed asset investments
140
140
Net current assets
0
Other non-current assets
478,021
296,506
774,527
Total
478,161
296,506
774,667		 2023
140
114,386
657,292
771,818

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

Notes to the Financial Statement (Continued) for the year ended 31[st] December 2024

10 Related Party Transactions
the activities of Fakenham Developments Limited were as follows for the year
2024
Income
Property Insurance
3,048
Removal and Skip Hire
0
Toilet hire
0
Professional advice fees
0
Bank charges
60
Net realised (loss) for the year
0
Companies House fee
13
IT softwards and consumables
372
Clipbush service charge
0
Repairs & maintenance
1,280
Storage
0
Rent
0
Accountancy fees
640
Consulting
300
Expenses
5,713
The assets of Fakenham Developments at the Balance sheet date were:
Land & work-in-progress
589,945
Provision for diminution in value (unrealized)
Cash at Bank
262
Loan account with Fakenham Baptist Community Church
658,276
Provision for diminution of stock value (unrealized)
Culminitive loss
Other creditors
0		 2023
£
2,898
520
795
0
60
0
388
274
0
0
325
637
0
0
5,897
574,569
153
637,160
0

The church is the ultimate owner of this company, being 140 Ordinary Shares of £1 each. The company’s directors at the date of this report are William Strong, David Mills and William Cuthill. The sole purpose of this company is to own and develop land at Clipbush Lane, Fakenham

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FAKENHAM BAPTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] DECEMBER 2024

The Charity Fakenham Community Support (registered in 2014) received the following income and incurred expenditure in the year to 31[st] December 2024:


d expenditure in the year to 31st December 2024:
2024
Income £
Donations received -
Grant received -
Expended
Charitable Activities for the community -
Cash and Bank balances at the balance sheet date 837

The above figures are not included in the accounts of the church but are included here for completeness of an overall picture of the activities of the church ‘family’ during the year. The trustees of the charity at the date of this report were Joy Holland, Rachel Hughes, Leonie Reeve and William Cuthill.

11 Staff Costs
2024 2023
£
Salaries and wages 0 3,120
Social security and pension costs 0 0
No employee received emoluments of more than £50,000.
The average number of full time equivalent employees by
Function was: 0
Charity workers 0

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