CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1186689
Grace Church West Wales
Unaudited Financial Statements
31 March 2024
ELLIS LLOYD JONES AUDIT LIMITED
Chartered accountants 11 Park Square Newport South Wales NP20 4EL
Grace Church West Wales
Financial Statements
Year ended 31 March 2024
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' annual report | 1 |
| Independent examiner's report to the trustees | 6 |
| Receipts and Payments accounts | 7 |
| Statement of assets and liabilities | 8 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 9 |
Grace Church West Wales
Trustees' Annual Report
Year ended 31 March 2024
The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.
Reference and administrative details
Registered charity name Grace Church West Wales Charity registration number 1186689 Principal office Grace Court House Market Square Narberth Pembrokeshire SA67 7AU Wales The trustees L Bartholomew (Resigned 19 July 2023) P Prosser B F Davies I Watling (Resigned 23 January 2024) G J Swaffield (Appointed 1 March 2024) Independent examiner Kara Williams BSc BFP FCA 11 Park Square Newport South Wales NP20 4EL
Structure, governance and management
The charity is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) and was registered as a charity on 2nd December 2019. The CIO replaced a Charity of the same name with similar objects originating in 1988.
The Spiritual Leaders are empowered to implement the appointment of new trustees and discharge trustees by resolutions at properly constituted meetings.
The day-to-day management of the church is the responsibility of the Spiritual Leaders, as listed below:
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P Prosser - Trustee and spiritual leader;
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B Davies - Trustee and spiritual leader;
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D Jagger - Former Trustee who continues as a spiritual leader;
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I Watling - Trustee from 12th July 2022 and resigned on 23rd January 2024; and
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G Swaffield - was appointed as a Trustee on 1st March 2024.
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Grace Church West Wales
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2024
Objectives and activities
Objectives
Grace Church West Wales is established by its constitution, dated 2 December 2019. The objects of the church are:
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the advancement of the Christian faith which is achieved primarily by volunteers;
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the worship of God;
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the relief of persons who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress, or who are aged or sick; and
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the advancement of education on the basis of Christian principles.
Activities
The charity’s main base is Grace Court House in Narberth where worship events take place weekly and other events are held throughout the week for the whole community. The church is focused on serving the community throughout its activities.
Public benefit
The public benefit is served by a number of activities such as the charity hosting Pembrokeshire Foodbank and providing storage and distribution space for foodstuffs, administrative offices and volunteers who work to help feed people and their families in need in Pembrokeshire and the surrounding counties. Foodbank activities include providing food for those in food crisis, food-share and providing a warm meal through warm rooms.
The rooms at the Court House have been hired out to various community groups at an accessible hiring price. This offers different organisations and groups the opportunity to serve the town. For example, mental health charities, counselling groups, music groups, mother & toddler groups are utilising the facilities of the Court House.
Pastoral support is provided to church members and attendees, which benefits the community locally, as well as to those that we support outside the UK. In setting our objectives and planning our activities, our trustees have considered the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefits.
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Grace Church West Wales
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2024
Achievements and performance
Grace Church has had another successful year with regular services held in Narberth. Christian worship continues weekly with a warm welcome to all and specific events held for children and young people. The church has continued its activities in the community, holding events throughout the year for the local community.
Following the establishment of the new Church in Saundersfoot, we realised the necessity of rejuvenating the Church at Narberth. This year we started Growing in Grace for our small number of children. By the end of the year we had grown to six children and welcomed new parents to Church as the Church began to grow again. This set a pattern of growth which is continuing today.
We realised that a priority for us was serving our community, and the use and development of the Court House was central to this. We launched the “Lift for Narberth” project and started supporting Sound of Wales ministry in the UK.
We especially want to acknowledge the help giving to us by the annual Korean prayer mission. Twelve young people from Korea first came for a week in July 2023. This was repeated in 2024. The impact on us and the town is significant, our priorities and activities have been shaped and spurred on by these prayer mission which it is planned to repeat for July 2025. The prayer weeks have become a major catalyst of vision and development and ties into our core value of prayer. We have developed positive links with the School, the Town Council and the business community through the prayer mission.
The Court House continued hosting Pembrokeshire Foodbank administrative hub, county stores and the Narberth branch. The Cafe was used by Pembrokeshire Foodbank on Wednesday for its Community Cafe, serving freshly produced food made from donated perishable produce and served to the local community at no cost. Each Friday between December and March were allocated again for Foodbank use, for its Warm Room program, supported and promoted by Pembrokeshire County Council. This was open to the local community, providing a hot meal, refreshments, community connection and warm and welcoming environment, at no charge. Many of our church community volunteer with the Foodbank, supporting its activities.
En'joy café
We relaunched the Café in August 2023 under the name of En'joy. Initially we invested in the Café to make it financially viable with a view that it will become financially self-sustaining in the future. After initial external support, it is now run as a community café with the help of church volunteers and is intended to fulfil our core purpose in promoting the Good News of Jesus Christ and is not primarily a fundraising exercise.
The Bridge Saundersfoot
During 2023/24, the Bridge Saundersfoot, was formally established and registered as a charity marking the final stage of the separation of the churches. The new church is led by Lesley Bartholomew together with other leaders as they have emerged. As had been agreed in December 2022, once the charity was registered, a donation of £39,961 was made to the new Church to give them a good financial foundation as they launched and continued our shared mission of the sharing the word of Jesus Christ and the advancement of the Christian faith.
A Lift for Narberth Project
The Court House building is in need of upgrading to better serve the community and our project "A Lift for Narberth" was launched. A generous gift of £10,000 started our fundraising efforts and by the end of the financial year, £20,033 had been raised. There is a thrilling story of fundraising to report in the next Trustees report and at the time of writing, the funds raised stand at approximately £108,000. The trustees envision a building fully accessible for everyone to use. This will entail the installation of a lift
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Grace Church West Wales
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2024
serving each of the building's floors. Once the lift is installed, this will enable more groups and people to access the facilities. A Lift for Narberth will be a way of promoting the wellbeing of the Narberth community. It will truly therefore be a lift for Narberth. At the time of writing planning consent is being sought for the lift and associated works.
Financial review
Total income during the year was £88,280 (2023: £120,629) with restricted income of £20,333, (2023: £37,226). Donations and related gift aid totalled £77,683 (2023: £104,085 including restricted gifts) and investment income of £922 (2023: £242).
Giving
We acknowledge the continued generous giving of our people during the year. A total of £77,383 having been donated by our people to support our activities. This is despite the reduced number of regular donors at Narberth due to the transfer of many to the new Church at Saundersfoot. We have no reliance on grants or outside funding and are satisfied that income levels will continue to meet the needs of the charity.
The restricted income reflects the creation of an entirely new fund to provide "a Lift for Narberth", with the balance on this fund standing at £20,033 at 31st March 2024 towards the project outlined above.
Café
Our community café, En'joy, was reopened in the year, with income of £7,793 in the year (2023: £nil). Initial set up costs and external support was used to restart the café, with costs totalling £11,795 in the year, but it is expected that the café will break even or make a small profit in future years.
Expenditure
Total expenditure during the year was £114,919 (2023: £142,915) with restricted expenditure of £433 (2023: £38,196).
£13,808 was spent on the ongoing costs & maintenance of the Court House and we expect to maintain this level of expenditure on the building for the foreseeable future to make sure it remains an attractive and functional venue for community use and the use of the Church.
During the year, there was a deficit on unrestricted funds of £46,539 (2023: £21,316). This simple fact masks a story of generous and faithful giving and reflects a one-off donation of £39,961 to the Bridge Saundersfoot, a new Church in Saundersfoot sharing our mission and to which a number of our members transferred in the year.
Whilst the charity continues to work closely with its charity partners, in discussion with these partners, members are now donating directly to the organisations and not through the Church and so gifts and donations are likely to decrease in future years.
Reserves Policy
The reserves policy is based on contractual commitments, particularly in respect of employees. Because the principal staff are on 3-month notice contract, the policy is targeted at 3 months of total salary cost. This is currently around £10,000. Any surplus in reserves will mainly be held for future capital projects.
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Grace Church West Wales
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2024
The trustees' annual report was approved on .............................. and signed on behalf of the board of 21/01/2025 trustees by:
Philip Prosser (Jan 21, 2025 17:41 GMT) P Prosser Trustee
Graham Swaffield (Jan 21, 2025 21:54 GMT)
G J Swaffield Trustee
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Grace Church West Wales
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Grace Church West Wales
Year ended 31 March 2024
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Grace Church West Wales ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
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the financial statements do 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.
Kara Williams
Kara Williams (Jan 21, 2025 21:59 GMT)
Kara Williams BSc BFP FCA Independent Examiner
11 Park Square Newport South Wales NP20 4EL 21/01/2025
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Grace Church West Wales
Receipts and payments accounts
Year ended 31 March 2024
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | ||||
| funds | funds | Total funds | Total funds | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Receipts | |||||
| Donations and legacies | 3 | 57,350 | 20,333 | 77,683 | 104,085 |
| Charitable activities | 4 | 9,675 | – | 9,675 | 8,473 |
| Investment income | 5 | 922 | – | 922 | 242 |
| Other income | 6 | – | – | – | 7,829 |
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| Total income | 67,947 | 20,333 | 88,280 | 120,629 | |
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| Payments | |||||
| Expenditure on charitable activities | 7 | 114,486 | 433 | 114,919 | 142,915 |
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| Total payments | 114,486 | 433 | 114,919 | 142,915 | |
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| Net movement | (46,539) | 19,900 | (26,639) | (22,286) | |
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| Transfers between funds | (133) | 133 | – | – | |
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| Net receipts | (46,672) | 20,033 | (26,639) | (22,286) | |
| Reconciliation of funds | |||||
| Cash funds brought forward | 70,008 | – | 70,008 | 92,294 | |
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| Cash funds carried forward | 23,336 | 20,033 | 43,369 | 70,008 | |
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The notes on pages 9 to 12 form part of these financial statements.
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Grace Church West Wales
Statement of assets and liabilities
31 March 2024
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | |
| Cash funds | |||
| Current account | 43,369 | 70,008 | |
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| Total cash funds | 43,369 | 70,008 | |
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| Funds of the charity | |||
| Restricted funds | 20,033 | – | |
| Unrestricted funds | 23,336 | 70,008 | |
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| Total charity funds | 8 | 43,369════════ |
70,008════════ |
These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on ........................, and are signed on behalf of the board by: 21/01/2025
| Philip Prosser (Jan 21, 2025 17:41 GMT) | Graham Swaffield (Jan 21, 2025 21:54 GMT) |
|---|---|
| P Prosser | G J Swaffield |
| Trustee | Trustee |
The notes on pages 9 to 12 form part of these financial statements.
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Grace Church West Wales
Notes to the Financial Statements
Year ended 31 March 2024
1. General information
The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and a registered charity in England and Wales (Charity No. 1186689). The address of the principal office is Grace Court House, Market Square, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, SA67 7AU, Wales.
2. Basis of preparation
The accounts have been prepared using the receipts and payments basis and in accordance with the Charities Act 2011.
3. Donations and legacies
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Donations | |||
| Donations received | 50,194 | 20,333 | 70,527 |
| Gift aid recovered | 7,156 | – | 7,156 |
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| 57,350 | 20,333 | 77,683 | |
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|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | |
| Funds | Funds | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Donations | |||
| Donations received | 58,308 | 37,226 | 95,534 |
| Gift aid recovered | 8,551 | – | 8,551 |
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|
| 66,859 | 37,226 | 104,085 | |
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4. Charitable activities
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2024 | Funds | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income from charitable activities | 282 | 282 | 1,761 | 1,761 |
| Contribution to Courthouse overheads | 1,600 | 1,600 | 6,712 | 6,712 |
| Cafe income | 7,793 | 7,793 | – | – |
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|
| 9,675 | 9,675 | 8,473 | 8,473 | |
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Grace Church West Wales
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2024
5. Investment income
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2024 | Funds | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Rental income | 839 | 839 | 45 | 45 |
| Bank interest receivable | 83 | 83 | 197 | 197 |
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| 922 | 922 | 242 | 242 | |
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| Other income | ||||
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
| Funds | 2024 | Funds | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Insurance claims | – | – | 7,829 | 7,829 |
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| Expenditure on charitable activities | by fund type | |||
| Total | ||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Funds | Total Funds | |
| Funds | Funds | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Café operations | 8,518 | - | 8,518 | - |
| Insurance | 2,653 | - | 2,653 | 2,367 |
| Employee costs | 22,953 | - | 22,953 | 37,244 |
| Services and Resources | 5,362 | - | 5,362 | 15,048 |
| Ministry Gifts and expenses | 2,358 | - | 2,358 | 2,140 |
| Outreach costs | 3,277 | - | 3,277 | 4,069 |
| Rental of Premises | 8,937 | - | 8,937 | 8,055 |
| Court House expenses | 10,276 | - | 10,276 | 8,837 |
| Court House repairs | 3,232 | - | 3,232 | 9,848 |
| Administration | 2,292 | - | 2,292 | 2,737 |
| Bank charges | 60 | - | 60 | 121 |
| Subscriptions & fees | 615 | - | 615 | 641 |
| Purchase of van | - | - | - | 5,390 |
| Support costs – accountancy | 2,096 | - | 2,096 | 828 |
| ───────── | ───────── | ───────── | ───────── | |
| 72,629 | - | 72,629 | 97,325 | |
| Gifts and grants | ||||
| Discretionary Gifts and Grants | 1,896 | - | 1,896 | 6,535 |
| Frederick & Reeba India | - | 433 | 433 | 5,125 |
| Mission Gifts | - | - | - | 2,303 |
| Ukraine Refugees support | - | - | - | 2,402 |
| Fishermen’s Rest Malawi Bridge | - | - | - | 29,225 |
| The Bridge, Saundersfoot | 39,961 | - | 39,961 | - |
| ─────── | ───────── | ───────── | ───────── | |
| Total gifts and grants | 41,857 | 433 | 42,290 | 45,590 |
| ────────── | ────────── | ────────── | ────────── | |
| Total expenditure | 114,486 | 433 | 114,919 | 142,915 |
| ══════════ | ══════════ | ══════════ | ══════════ |
6. Other income
7. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type
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Grace Church West Wales
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2024
8. Analysis of charitable funds
Unrestricted funds
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At 1 | At 31 | ||||
| April 2023 | Receipts | Payments | Transfers | March 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | 70,008 | 67,947 | (114,486) | (133) | 23,336 |
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|
| At | |||||
| At | 31 March 202 | ||||
| 1 April 2022 | Receipts | Payments | Transfers | 3 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | 91,324 | 83,403 | (104,719) | – | 70,008 |
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| Restricted funds | |||||
| At 1 | At 31 | ||||
| April 2023 | Receipts | Payments | Transfers | March 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Missions general | – | – | – | – | – |
| Frederick & Reeba India | – | 300 | (433) | 133 | – |
| Ukraine Refugees | |||||
| support | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fisherman’s Rest - | |||||
| Bridge construction | – | – | – | – | – |
| A Lift for Narberth | – | 20,033 | – | – | 20,033 |
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| – | 20,333 | (433) | 133 | 20,033 | |
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| At 1 | At 31 | ||||
| April 2022 | Receipts | Payments | Transfers | March 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Missions general | – | 2,303 | (2,303) | – | – |
| Frederick & Reeba India | – | 4,266 | (4,266) | – | – |
| Ukraine Refugees | |||||
| support | 970 | 1,432 | (2,402) | – | – |
| Fisherman’s Rest - | |||||
| Bridge construction | – | 29,225 | (29,225) | – | – |
| A Lift for Narberth | – | – | – | – | – |
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| 970 | 37,226 | (38,196) | – | – | |
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Grace Church West Wales
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2024
8. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)
Missions General
This is a fund dedicated to Mission work at home and abroad. The funds are distributed at the discretion of the Spiritual Leadership.
Frederick & Reeba India
Grace Church has a longstanding relationship with an Indian pastor and his wife who run and support a number of projects in Bangalore including a pastor’s support group and a women’s sewing workshop relieving poverty and reinforcing the spread of the Christian gospel in the area.
Ukraine Refugees Support
The Church has a long-standing contact with Marek a Bishop of the Church in Poland and when the Ukraine crisis occurred it was decided that we would support the work among the refugees being undertaken in Poland through the church there.
Fisherman’s Rest - Bridge Construction
The Fisherman’s Rest is a food and education community development project in Malawi with which the church has had links for many years. A bridge granting access to the work was destroyed in 2022, by cyclone Ana, and funds were collected and sent on toward rebuilding the bridge.
A Lift for Narberth Project
A Lift for Narberth Project is our fundraising project for the upgrade of the Court House. The trustees envision a building fully accessible for everyone to use. This will entail the installation of a lift serving each of the building's floors and will enable more groups and people to access the facilities. The restricted fund represents donations made towards the project.
9. Related parties
During the year, two Trustees were employed by the charity and were paid a total of £8,333 (2023: £35,000). Both trustees ceased their employment in the year. The remuneration was not for their roles as trustees but for other roles that they are fulfilling for the charity. No other trustees were paid in the year for being a trustee or for providing any professional advice or services to the charity.
There were no expenses claimed by any of the trustees in the current or prior year.
One connected person, being a close family member of a Trustee, was employed by the charity and paid a total of £572 (2023: £nil) for work undertaken on behalf of the charity.
Total donations by trustees without conditions were £19,082 including £6,582 towards restricted funds (2023: £14,968).
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