## **Darlington Baptist church annual report 2023** ## **Darlington Baptist Church** ## **Registered Ad** d **ress** Grange Road, Darlington DL1 5NH Corporation Road, Darlington DL3 6AR Charity Registration Number 1186432 ## **Trustees** The Revd V Thompson Minister The Revd B Thompson Minister Ms M Bell Trustee (re-elected March 2023) Church Secretary to March 2023 Mrs G Marshall Trustee (re-elected June 2021) Mrs J Hughes Trustee (Re-elected March 2023) Church Secretary from March 2023 Mr T Cotterill Trustee (Elected March 2022) Mr George Buchanan (Elected March 2022) ## **Property Trustees** The Baptist Union Corporation Limited Baptist House, 129 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 8RT **Bankers** Santander, Darlington **Independent Examiner** Val Carr ## **Annual Report for 2023** The trustees present their Annual Report and financial statements for 2023. ## **Structure, Governance and Management** The Charity is governed by an Approved Governing Document. Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the Constitution which requires them to meet the churches qualification on baptism. The members Meeting normally takes place on not less than 4 occasions per year and has responsibility for the overall policy of the church. In accordance with the Constitution, the members appoint a maximum of 15 trustees, who together with the Minister, Church Secretary and Treasurer (who are also appointed by the Members), are responsible for the day to day running of the church’s work and witness, and the financial and legal aspects of the charity. All members are encouraged to take an appropriate part in the spiritual and practical tasks involved in the furtherance of the charitable objective. Relevant matters may be submitted to the Church meeting by the Trustees for guidance or may be raised by members in Church meeting for further consideration by the Trustees. Though the Constitution permits decisions to be made at Church meetings by appropriate majorities, the Church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible. ## **Objectives and Activities** The principal purpose of the charity is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination to include the advancement of education, community service and such other general charitable purposes in such parts of the United Kingdom and the world as the Church shall determine. In order to achieve the principal objective, which is set out above, the Church provides a variety of activities both to its membership and to the community generally. The aim is to show the love of Jesus Christ in both word and deed and to bring people into a closer relationship with Him as living Lord. Central to the work and witness of the Church is the provision of regular public services of Christian worship. These services take place each Sunday at both 10.30 am at the Grange Road site and 6.00 pm at the Corporation Road site. There are also occasional services at other times which are advertised on the Church Notice Board and the website at www.darlingtonbaptist.org. There is a full children’s programme during the morning services. The church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community, and anybody is free to attend any of these services. The Church runs a series of life groups for the growth of faith and discipleship in both the Church building and private homes, further details of these can be obtained from the Trustees on request, or at the Sunday services of worship. The Church is responsible for a Toddler Group and a baby bank which meets in the Corporation Road Church premises on Thursday mornings, with the purpose of assisting the community and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ. From time to time the Church runs courses in parenting, and courses for people interested in discovering more about Christianity, entitled ‘Christianity Explored’ and ‘Alpha’. The Church runs various events for families and for people in need of mental health support. The church runs a regular soup kitchen and food bank. The Church Runs a café in the conservatory two days a week. The Church runs an addiction support and rehab service in the community three days a week. The Church runs an Edge centre offering support and a safe space for community engagement. The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately vetted with regard to the Disclosure and Barring Service. The church has read the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and is satisfied that the activities outlined above clearly demonstrate that the charity is providing a benefit to the public. ## **Achievements and Performance** The Church does not measure the success of its programmes only in numbers, including financial numbers, but also in less tangible areas like fellowship and encouragement. The Trustees believe that 2023 was a positive year in the life of the church, and that it will be able to pursue its mission purposes in 2024 with renewed enthusiasm. At 31 December 2023 the membership stood at 112. Average attendance at worship services both in person and online has increased during the year, and similar increases were shown in the children’s and youth work. The Toddler Group has seen an uptake in attendance and has begun to develop a baby bank to compliment and support the work with young families in providing good quality used clothing and equipment. The soup kitchen and foodbank have seen increasing numbers of people attending. This service provides those in need with a hot meal, and where necessary a food parcel. The service has developed links with probation and other local services who are encouraging their clients to attend. A number of the service users began to attend Sunday worship and were Baptised. The addiction support service has seen increased numbers of people attending the support group and the “KEYS” rehab in the community programme. They have developed strong links with other support services in the community and are working well together. Roots has seen a number of people attend a Christianity explored course and begin attending Church. This year Roots has developed the edge centre extending their services beyond the remit of addiction to those facing mental health struggles, social isolation and in need of a place of community. They held a lunch for all local support services showcasing what the edge centre could offer, a significant number of local services attended and new opportunities for working together established. The conservatory café is now open two days a week and has a steady flow of people attending. ## **Financial Review** The Church continues to raise the funds which it needs to carry on its activities from within its own membership and congregation. Some outside funding opportunities have been sought in a bid to make upgrades for the soup kitchen, this project is ongoing. The Church expressed its part in the life of the wider church by making donations to national and international Christian organisations and societies with Christian aims and objectives compatible with the church’s own charitable purpose. The Church is heavily dependent on its membership working as volunteers in all aspects of the church’s activities, many of which run with little or no impact on the church’s expenditure, but nevertheless contribute substantially to the achievement of the church’s objectives. The financial results for the year, together with a summary of the accounting policies adopted are set out in the accompanying financial statements. The Church has agreed a reserves policy. The purpose of holding reserves is to ensure that Darlington Baptist Church has sufficient funds available to cope with financial issues that might arise, such as the need to fund an urgent property repair, an issue with staffing or the loss of income. The current reserves policy of Darlington Baptist Church is to hold approximately three months of all staff costs plus three months of running costs, to allow the church to adapt to any changes in the income or expenditure of the church. The recommendation is that approximately six months of staff costs and six months of running costs are held, but currently the church funds do not allow this level of reserves. The trustees will annually review the reserves policy with a view to reaching the recommendation over time, as funds and priorities allow. DARLINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH Registered in England and Wales as Charity No. 1186432 Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2023 Receipts 2022 2023 82451 109033 20078 13432 20473 21853 7127 1916 1570 2533 13792 12773 17580 19895 2153 1095 1540 1891 £ 185,961 7045 6578 4041 1000 7114 £ 211,739 Notes Offering Vision l Gift Day Gift Aid lfrom HMRCI Donations & Bequest Church Organisations I Initratives Property Rental Room Hire of PFemesis Raised for Other Causes Bank Interest Miscellaneous Church Specllk Funds Basement Basement RefvrtHshff*nl Roots Edge Grant Funding IThink of Yourselfj Total Recelpts 207 £ 165.527 1502 5930 13875 14 186833 Payments Ministerial Costs & Expenses Outreach Workers Youth Wother Cleaner Volunteer Placeffont Worship Pastoral Church Outreath Young People's Work Organisalions l Activities Social l Hospitslity Events S3480 22986 61028 25402 8905 4995 129 1826 292 1616 4376 1293 1643 10 1770 1880 1095 15779 7635 9801 21A3 5651 1934 1359 16600 21717 9998 3792 7504 2431 2616 292 21736 2326 £ 197,460 2968 678 519 3502 Repairs & Mainlenan¢e-PTOP & Equip Church Insurance Renial Property Costs Professional Fees Subscriptions & Fees Office. Admin, Phone & IT Sageguarding Church Tithin9 & Olher Causes Miscellaneous Church Specific Funds Basen*nl Expenses Unite Base￿￿nI Refurb Eypenses Roots Exp•nsoS Edge Think of Yoursèll Total Paym•nts 11 12 2961 1372 19080 4739 £ 160,447 2370 13 14 240 5252 474 £ 206,598 £ 168,310 DARLINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH General Fund B•lanc• *8 at 1 January 2023 Add Vision Fund as al 01101r23 Basen*nt Res Fund as al 01101r23 Total Receipts PaYff￿nts to Restricted Funds Intergsl on BU Account £ 24.816.39 Restrlcted Funds Basement- General Fund Church Conth"butson Add.. Receipts Less: Payments Less.. Spend on Unts (50% of costl B•lanu as at 31 0¢￿m￿r 2023 19079.70 6000.00 210791 $9 9137.54 2,500.00 7045.07 -2967.90 -338.93 6.23824 Church Contrlbulion lo Basan￿t Total Pay￿Ents Income for Restricted Funds Transfer to Reserve Fund 8alance as at 31 Do¢ombor 2023 -251)O.C -2C6597.57 -25777.98 -5000.00 £ 30.89S.39 Basement- Refurb Fund B*lanc• as at 1 January 2023 d- Receipts Less- Payff*nts Balan¢6 *8 at 31 D•cemb•r 2023 6139.59 6S77.55 -519.36 £ 12.197.78 Vision Fund Balance a¥ at 1 January 2023 Transfer to General Fund Balanco as at 31 D•comb•r 2023 19079.70 -19079.70 Balanc• as at 1 January 2023 Add- Receipts Less- Pay￿nts Less". *nd on Unite150% of costi Balance as at 31 D•￿mb•r 2023 6.713.69 4041.38 -3501. -338.93 6,914.18 Basement Reserve Fund Balanco as at 1 January 2023 Less- Transfer to General Fund Balan¢9 a$ at 31 tyecomber 2023 6,000.1)O -6 000.00 Edge Receipts PayrrEnls Balanc• a$ at 31 D￿eMber 2023 1,000.00 -996 00 ReseNe Fund Bolan¢o a$ at 1 January 2023 Add Transfef from General Fund Balance a8 at 31 December 2023 £ 35.1)00.00 5,000.00 £ 40.000.00 Think of Yourn•lf Gfanl Fund Less.. Paynpnts Balan¢• ¥$ •131 D•comb•r 2023 7114.00 474.46 6.639.54 BU Bank A¢￿Unt Opening Balance Interest Balanc• al at 310o¢emb•r 2023 50000.00 946.72 £ $0,946.72 Grocery Store Fund 1,000.00 DARLINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH Amendments agreed by Trustees - 2023 The balan￿ on the Vi$i¢)n Fund transferred to General Fund. AJI donations to Vision Fund & gift aid [￿oIpts add8d to General Fund. Basement Reserve Fund transferred to Gengfal Fund twrds salary (x)sts of Ouireach Workers. Miriisterail hours to be Increased from 3 days per **ek to 4 days per *ek for 1 minister. Estimated cost of £5000 per annum. Youth Worker would be appointed for 15 hcAJrs per week Estiffoted cost £10000 per annum. AJI inconE received tovrards running of Base￿￿￿1 Hub & Café will be retained in Basement General Fund. Al expenses, excluding salary & salary related rLJsts will be charged against this fund. AJI income re￿iVed towards the refU￿IShft￿t of Ba8errnnt Hub & C8fé wll be retained in BaSe￿Ent Refurb Fund. Al exFenses will bg charged against this fund. AJI incoff* received towards rijnning of Roots will be retsin8d in Roots fund. Al expenses, excluding salary & salary rel*d ￿sts wll be thargod against this fvnd. I costs ralating to Unite initiakn've will be splrt equalty bell￿n 8asement General Fund & Roots. Following tho resignation of the Youth 5 hours per V•Eek funding wll be used to fund an AdnNn oificEr for 2 rTrJnth8 in 2023 £5000 would be transferred from General Fund to Re8er¥e FurKI on 31112r2023. A new project Edge has been set up with a prsvate donation to cover initial o)sts. Funding was received from NHS North East & North Currbria io run Think of Yourself proio¢L A Baptist Union Bank &count woukl be opened lo deposrt. excess funds. £50,000 has been deposited in 3 rr￿nth rKJb'ce w)unL Tithing.. Dartington Baplisl Church has agr￿d to give 10% of its unrestricted incorn to Gwd Causes.. In 2023 it was agreed lo split this equally betr**en 4 charities. However one charity Telumed the donatson so during the year tsthing was distributed be￿0&n 3 charitie$ with the remaining quarter undistn"buted plus the Fxjrtion retumed by the (l)arity. It was agreed that the undi5tributed alr￿n1 should be s&nt to the 3 existing charities alrnady supported by the church. DARLINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH Assets and Liabilities at 31st December Assets 2022 2023 Bank and other Cash Santander Current Account Santander Deposrt Account BU 3 Month Notice Account 4821.26 93927.11 2922.02 50020.37 50946.72 £ 98.748A7 £ 103.889.11 rties hekl for h rch's own use CoTporation Road church building (nominal value) Grange Road church building (nominal value) 8 Tower Road, Darfington (insured value) 42 Kielder Drive, Darfington (insured value) 200.0 200,000 2(Kl.OfyJ 200,0 250.0 250,OIJO 180.000 230,000 830,OC(I 880,000 ToLg1 Assets £ 928.748.37 £ 983.889.11 Llabllltles Total Llabllltles ILL Slgned on behalf of Trustees of Darlington Baptlst Church DARLINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH Notes to the Accounts Basls of Accounts - The Accounts have been prepared on a Recelpts and Payments Ba819 and in accordance with Seclion 133 Charities Act 2011. Church Spg¢ifi¢ Fund8 l Offerings The majority of giving com8s direety into the bank a￿unt. Cash is 8190 given during services 8t both sites. 2 Vb51on l Glft Day The Church Family were encouraged to have a VL8K*n fof the fubjre of Darfington Bapbsl Churth. 3 GIftAld from HMRC The total claim received was £23972 & was distn"buted over alIc￿ted funds. £2119 of this anK)unl has been alk>r*ted to Restricted funds and the balance to Churth Specific Funds 4 Donationts & 8oqu8¥ts Donations were re￿iVed towards the ￿$ts on Holiday Club. Donations were also received towards the costs of 'Joint Church Venlures, No bequests were received in 2023 5 Rental Prop•rt103 8 Tower Road {lenanledl 42 Kielder Drive Itenanledl Church House Rent received regularly Rent r￿1Ved regularty Currentty Y￿an1 as not in a habitsble state to let. 6 Bank Int•r•st A 3 rr￿nth noti￿ ae£ounl was opened wth BU & £946.72 Interest has been received. The interest rate of the Santander account has also improved giving a 5ignFfi¢anl in¢xease in bank interest received. 7 MSn18tsrlal Costs & Expen8 Ministerial hours ￿Pre incr8awJ to 1.4 from February 2023. 8 Outr•ach Workern Now wholety fvnded from church fij1￿. 9 Youth Work•rn Youth **ykers were eryioyed from March 23 for 15 hours week. 5 Hours per V￿ek became vacant from November 23. The remaining 10 hours per week *ere used to end of 2023 10 Volunt•er Pl•c•mont The placenwt rbot contsnue in 2023 11 Repalrn & Malntgnan Significant V*Drk was carried on the fire alann & electrical systems at Grange Road site. The arched windcAv to the rear of Grange Road had lo be teplac*d due lo significant damage. 12 Profosslonal F•e8 This include5 I￿rk ￿lating to the church becoThNng a Charitable Incorporated Organisation ICIOI 13 Mi•¢•ll•n•ou• This indude5 the Baptist Pension$, D8fecil Repair eonlribution. H(Mever Since August 2022 has been reduced lo £1 per monlh. 14 Re8trfcted Funds AEI prc¥ects not directty funde¢J through church financral income are shown sepafalely. New inili*ives stsrted ¢Juring 2023 & il is antiopated these wll ujntinue to grow as funding is received to cover anb"cipated ￿Sts. DARLINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH Assets held for the Church's own use I properts'es are owned legalty by the 8apts.sl Union Co￿*ration Lirrmteil IBUCI, as trustee. Thg Church is the current benefiaary under the trusts and will remain so while the Church continues to operate as a menknr church of the BaP￿'St Union. The residLsary beneficiaries under the trusts are various'Baptist related. organisations. As a trust b8n&fi¢iary. th8 church has no rMJht to di¥w of any of the prope￿e$ and use the sale proceeds freely. Any such prcteeAs would be held by th& BUC in aC￿dance with the temB of the trusts. The prope￿.¢$ a￿ shovm below with their current insured value. The aciual values of tho two ChU￿h buildings and their contents will be substantially l¢)wer than their in$uran¢e values. The acbjal valLtes of 8 To￿T Road and 42 Kielder Drive are likely to be somewhat lO￿T than their Insuran￿ ￿alueS. No'sale. valuations have been obtained for any of the properties. Nc¥ninal valuations of £200,OCQ for of the church buildiThJs have been in¢ludod in th8 Accounts. 11 must be slress&J that these are no￿n￿ values and no'sale, valuations have been obtsined. Th& insurance values for 8 Tcr•¥er Road and 42 Kiekler Drive have been included in th$ A¢￿￿nts. The Grange Road churth building incoryx)ratss Church House ho**ver il is eJJrrenlly not in a habitable state 50 unoccupiecl. 8 Tower Road and 42 Kielder DriN* afe let on assured shorthold tenancies. Current Insured Valu Corporation Road churth bulldlng. O•rllnglon Building Organ Contents PA EqU1pn￿nt 6.450.761 325,955 286.841 18,813 7.082,370 Grang• Road church building. Darfington Building Contenls 5.971,505 167,413 6.138,918 8 Tower Road. Darllngton 42 Klelder Drlve. Darllngton 250.000 230,000 480.OIXI £ 13,701,288 Penslon Scheme Liabillty The Church is an employer participats.ng in a pension Sche￿ known as the Baptist PansKJn Scheme I'lhe SchenK'I, which is adnmnistered by the Pen&on Twstee IBaptisl Pen&on Trust Limited}. The sche￿ is a separate legal entty and the assets of the Scherr a￿ held separately from those ofthe Churth the other parlicipating eThyloyer. Following an agreemènt an Insurance Conwany the 1$ in surplus. The Defecil Repair Contributions We￿ ceduc8d lo a nominal £1 per nK)nth in AugL$8t 2022. The church no longer ha5 any defeat liabil Reserve Fund The purpose of holding a reseNes fund is to ensure that Darlington Baptisl Church has sufficient funds available lo cope finan¢ial issues that rrighl 8rsse. suth as the need to fund urgent property repair5. an issue wth staffing or the loss of incGmE. Currenly thg balance in the Reser¥e Fund wll cover approxmately 4 n￿nthS staff and running costs. The recomn￿ndat1On is to hold appr0￿matelY six ff￿1th$ (x)sts so the Reserve Fund wll be increased annually. However the trustees are awe￿ that the V•Y)r* of the church must continue and d￿$ not want lo accunwlate large financ4al balances. whth may give the impression that Darlington Baptist Churth is not m*ing the best use of its resour￿$. ##