HOPE CHURCH
SITTINGBOURNE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2022
CONTENTS
Page(s)
Trustees Report
Information Pages
Independent Examiners Report
Receipts and Payments Statement
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
10
Note to the Accounts
11

HOPE CHURCH SIThNGBOURNE
CHARtrY NUMBER 1186867
Trustee Report
for the period 1# January 2022 to 31st December 2022
The Trust & Trustees
Hope Church Sittingbourne is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation ICIO). registered
with the UK Charity Commission1118686*.
Hope Church Sittingbourne was officially registered as a CIO on 10 December 2019. and
this is our second submitted annual report.
Hope Church Sittingboume is a church-plant connected to Relational Mission within the
Newfrontiers family of churches.
The Trustees of the Hope Church Sittingboume CIO during this reporting period were:
Christine Monica Willmott - Chair of Trustees
Jonathan Hugh Butson - Trustee & Treasurer
Jite Ufuoma Idowu - Trustee & Safeguarding Lead
Nathaniel Tumer- Trustee
Elizabeth Gregory- Trustee
Emmanuel Samuel - Trustee
We had our first changes to our original trustees board since becoming a registered
charity..
2810412022- Nathaniel Tumer stood down as a trustee.
2810412022- Elizabeth Gregory was appointed as a trustee.
2411112022- Jonathan Butson stood down as a twstee and as treasurer.
2411112022- Emmanuel Samuel was apFyJinted as a trustee.
We are thankful for these men and women who have faithfully and diligently served the
church in serying and goveming as trustees.
When considering new Trustees. the existing board intends to invite committed church
members. who are well known to us and have the necessary character. experience and
skills needed and the time to give to this role. with the existing board all having to agree on
the appointment. All current Trustees have been DBS checked. The Trustare formulating
new procedures regarding background checks on prosFective trustees according to the
Charity Commission guidelines.
The serving trustees gave a total of £29.049 during this accounting period, with a one-off
gift of £15.000 given on 29/0412022.

HOPE CHURCH srrriNGBOURNE
CHARITY NUMBER 1186867
Trust Objectives
The object of the CIO is for the public benefit. the advancement of the Christian faith in
Sittingbourne, Kent and in such other areas as the charity Trustees may from time to time
decide.
ope Church Sittingbourne exists to grow& multiplythe HOPE of Jesus In the hearts of
everyone, everywhere, everyday.
We aspire to reproduce disclples who: Honour Jesus. Obey His Word, Pray beyond
themselvos, Everyone a wltness. We gather in homes & public places as well as weekty on
Sundays to hear & obey the Word of God. We engage wlth local social justlce & poverty
issues.
Premlses
Hope Church Sittingboume do not Current￿ lease or own any premises.
Our church office and registered CIO address is cU￿entlY the home of Gordon Watson,
the church-plant leader. This is the office base for adminislrative purposes.
Since Sunday, 2151 October 2018. Hope Church Stttingboume have gathered every Sunday
morning at our local Costa Coffee located in The Forum Shopping Centre. This has proven
to be a successful public gathering point for our growing church community.
COVID-19
Thankfully the irnpact of COVID-19 was less prevalent in 2022. enabling church life to f ind a
newnormal'and saw us meeting in person throughout 2021 with less need for online or
socially-distanced gatherings and meetings.
We were able to make use of our Family Fund to directly support families and individuals
within the church fellowship who were either sick with Covid or in financial need due to
Covid related circumstance&
Membership
The Hope Church famity continues to grow and develop healthily. We welcomed a number
of new people among us over the course of the year.
Finances
Gordon Watson continued to be our sole employee throughwt 2022.
We supported and subsidised the costs for a group of 8 people to participate in the LEAD
training course with Relational Mission.
We increased our monthly support of the Swcchia family IGood News Church Sheppey)
from E100 to £200 per rnonth.
In October 2022 we began giving a consistent monthly amount to the f¢JJr distinct
accounts towards the mission of our family of churches, Relational Mission.

HOPE CHURCH sirriNGBOURNE
CHARITY NUMBER 1186867
Reserves Policy
The Board of Trustees has established a policy to cover day-to-day cashflow and also any
f inancial liabilities in the event of a sudden and unexpected drop in income, or the closure
of the charity.
The Reserves Policy states that a figure of £S.000 should be maintained in this regard.
Overvlew of Church Lrfe and Activities
In 2022 we pioneered a new app which we called the HOPE HUB, using the popular Discord
platfomi. This app has proven to be a realty helpful resource in enabling the church to
communicate together using several different chat rooms with topics for worship. prayer.
events as well as many other aspects of daity church life.
We continued to host regular social connection points every rnonth, such as picnics, BBQS,
fish & chips nights, brunches and other social events. These connection points were a
great opportunity to integrate newcomers to the church and also to invite along people
exploring faith and to build relationship and widen community life together.
We were pleased to be able to continue throughout 2022 meeting in person in our mid-
week Households and Running Partners groups. These midweekgatherings help us
encourage and support one another towards growing together in our faith and in our daily
lives.
We continued to host monthly prdyer meetings. alternating between Breakthrough PTryer
& Encounter evenings. We find these times a great opportunity to praybeyondourse/ves'
looking for God to open the way ahead in situations and cirCumstan￿s.
In September 2022 we started a new leadership development group calEed 'Emerge
Leadership Forum,. This group meets every 618 weeks and is supported by our church
oversight of Adam Voke (Comerstone City Church. Medway) & Dave King (New Life
Church, Tunbridge Wellsl. Our hope is that over the coming month, leaders will emerge
with a clear grace and call to serve the church in the New Testament offices of deacons
and elders.
We invited Mike & Suzanne McLeister to visit us from Hope Church Borders for a ministry
weekend hosted on 21: to 24 October 2022. The McLeisters stayed with the Watsons in
their family home and S￿nt their time ministering to the church both together and
separately to the men and women. We really valued their inwt and insight as they loving
setved the church and encouraged us all in our lrfe and mission together.
We had the joy of baptising a young lady in October 2022. It was wonderful to See her
make the decision to follow Jesus in this way. It was a great tie of celebration for her family
and forthe widerchurch famity.

HOPE CHURCH s￿INGBOURNE
CHARITY NUMBER 1186867
Local Mission
The local Sittingboume Churches TDgether fraternal continued to meet in-person
throughout 2022.
Gordon Watson stood down as a trustee for the local Swale Foodbank from15t April 2022.
He had particular responsibility for negotiating premises contracts, drafting contracts and
policies and for developing the financial reporting and auditing infrastructure at the
charity. We continue to be a partnership church supporting the ongoing workof the Swale
Foodbank
We continued as a partner church with our local Swale CAP Debt Centre. We were invited
to contribute cakes towards the Chrtstma5 Hampers for local CAP clients.
During 2022 we invited Russell Godward (No Place Left UK) to train and equip our church in
becoming more confident and competent in our mission of sharing the good news story of
Jesus across our town. We began regularly ministering to local communities across the
town. predominantly on Saturday momings. Our hope is to continue this partnership into
2023 withfurthertraining mornings.
Gordon Watson continued to provide regular contribLrtions to our local Sittingbourne FM
radio station fortheir Word for the Day slot on Sunday momings along with other local
leaders. On 13th October 2022 Gordon stood down from contributing to the radio slot.
Partnershlp with Relational Mission
RMC & Swale Squad
We continued to engage with our local Relational Misslon Community, led by Adam Voke.
We also continue to find great encouragement and brotherhood amongst the three
Relational Mission churches in Swale.
During the summer of 2022. Gordon Watson was able to support our nearby friends al
Faversham Community Church through speaking on Sundays whilst Mike Taylor was on
furlough.
Faversham CoTnmunity Church hosted a ministry weekend with Grantley & Floss Watkins
called Naturally Supernatural in July 2022. We were thankful to be invited to attend as a
partner church and to contr41￿te a nominal gift towards the costs of the event
We were able to send two of our young people to attend the Newday Youth Festival in
August 2022 in partnershipwith our friends at New Life Church Tunbridge Wells, sharing
their camping site. their cooking facilities and entnjsting our young people to the Care of
the leaders. Our hope is to partner with thetn again in 2023 and to send a larger grDUP,
including a group of supporting leaders.
On 14th October 2022 our RMC hosted an evening worship & prayer meeting in Kings Hill
together at a local community centre. We felt privileged to be able to contri￿te towards
this event.

HOPE CHURCH sirnNGBOURNE
CHARITY NUMBER 1186867
ENOUGH prayer
There were several ENOUGH prayers gatherings online across our family of churches
throughout the year. We've loved the opportunity to pray together across nations and
time-zones for the same things at the same time.
PLANT UK stopped & Urban Ptantlng Schoot tyn
On 19" January 2022. Stef Liston (part of the Relational Mission aFX)Stolic team) took the
decision to bring an end to the PLANT UK team. Thiswas a Relational Mission initiative
helping support and encourage those who are pion￿ring (or exploring pioneering) across
the UK,
During this meeting. Stef Liston invtted Gordon Watson to serve with him in developing
new Relational Mission training initiative called 'UP: The Urt)an Planting School,,
As trustees. we were happy to offer 4-hours a week of Gordon Watsons employed time to
support and serve this new initiative on behalf of our family of churches. This decision is
reviewed at each trust&s meeting ongoing.
Summary
Following the challenges that COVID-19 presented over the past two years. we were
incrediblyencouraged to be able to stsrt to gather momentum in meeting and serving
together in-person throughout 2021
We continued to see the church community grow, this has caused us to consider exploring
relocating our Sunday moming meetings in a L8rger venue, something we will develop in
2023.
We have seen the church serve and give generously. sacrificially ané joyfully, something as
a trustee's board that we are incredibly thankful for as we make decisions towards how we
might steward our collective resources in direction from our church leadership and
oversight.

Hope Church Sittingbourne
Information Page
Bankers:
Nat West Bank plc
PO Box 209
Sittingboume
Kent
ME10 4AU
Independent Examiner
Mr Rob Trice MAqT
210 lfjng George Road
Chatham
Kent
ME5 OPH

Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of Hope Church Sittingbourne
This Report on the accounts of the Church for the year ended 31 De￿mber 2022. which are
set out in this annual report, is in respect of an examInat￿}n carried out under s.145 of the
Charities Act 2011 ("the Act").
Respectlve responsibilities of the Trustees and the examiner
As Trustees you are responsible for the preparatK)n of the accounts. you consider that the
audrt requirement of section 144(2) of the Act does not apply. It is my responsibility to issue
this reDOrt on those accounts in accordance wtth the Act.
Basls of this report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the
Charity Commission under section 144{5)(b) of the Act. That examination includes a review
of the accounting records kept by the Chariiy and a comparison of the accounts with those
records. It also includes consKlering any unusual items or disdosures in the accounts and
seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The pmcedures
undertaken do not provide all the eviden￿ that woukl be required in an audit. and
conseauentlv I do not exDress an audit ODinion on the view aiven bv the aGcounts.
Ind6p6ndent Examinerfs statement
In connection with my examinatK)n, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gNes me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
- to keep accounting records in accordance wtth section 130 of the Act. and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and cornply with
the requirements of the Act have not been met., or
(2} to which. in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Robw fric
15th March 2023
Mr Rob Trice MAAT
210 King George Road
Chatham, Kent, ME5 OPH
Page 8

Hope Church Sittingbourne
Receipts & Payments Account - Year Ended 31 December 2022
RECEIPTS
2022
2021
Gimng (Gift￿ded)
Giwng (Non Gift Aid8dl
HMRC Grft Aid repayment
Financial SupFM)rt
ACTS 435 incom8
Refunded eypendtiure
Other incom8
Special offering
33.893.00
17.674.07
8.268.77
3.500.00
32,043.00
3,228.50
8,147.31
2,000.00
1,280.00
1,373.19
14.48
134.C
175.80
TOTAL RECEIPTS
63,516.32
48,220.48
PAYMETr￿S
2022
2021
Employee wages arid salaries
P8nsion
Travelling
Hotel and Accomodation
Printing
Office Stationery & Admin
Internet Charges
Computer & sofiwarè
Mobil8 Charges
Business Insurance
Equipment
Books bought
Sunday Costs
FO￿ & drink
Tilh8 lo Rela￿nal Mi5sKJn
Family Fund
Gift {vi811ing speakers)
Gift {missional support)
Gift (special offebing)
Gift (pastoral reasons)
Mission trips
CAP Life Skills
Miscellaneuos exp￿SeS
Subscriptions
DBSISafeguarding
Training Costs
Conference kn'ckets
VenuelHall hire
Independent examiner
ACTS 435 expenditure
Office Equipment and ￿- cost
Events
27,003.09
2,065.05
1.265.60
99.00
226.75
121.88
248.02
952.22
255.79
300.78
169.1x1
220.17
509.89
336.53
27.918.87
1.421.55
1.006.00
33.62
156.79
350.50
1,450.32
224.26
282.26
703.57
51.55
195.37
886.74
1.485.00
2.120.00
150.00
324.77
300.00
720.00
161.72
229.00
141.25
2,586.¢XI
245.00
3.377.30
200.00
827.77
860.00
1,320.00
733.40
465.53
202.00
129.00
6,381.88
230.56
2,726.75
200.00
1,130.00
480.49
151 98
1,350.56
TOTAL PAYMENTS
48.803.09
50,125.58
Exces8 of Receipts over Expènditure
14.713.23
{1,905.101
General Fund Balance brought forward
6.246.59
8.151.69
General Fund Balance carried foroyard
20,959.82
6,246.59
Page 9

Hope Church Sittingbourne
Statement of Assets and Liabilrties - As At 31 December 2022
2022
2021
Bank Balances
- #1 Main AGcount
- #2 Hope CAP Funds
- #3 Training & Futur8 Staffing
#4 Building Fund
- #5 CrisislFamily Fund
3.951.82
144.80
1.416 00
15.(KJ2.00
445.20
3.765.34
2Q14.80
1,928.50
345.95
20.959.82
Assets
OffiGe Equipment and IT - cA)st
1,286.38
1.134.40
SIGNED VIA ILOVEPDF
D4196577-34 62-48F9-9A46-5509C8ADA8CF
0310412023
..2023
ned
behalf of Ho
Church Slttln
bourne
Pag• 10

Hope Church Sittingbourne
Notes to the Accounts- Year Ended 31 December 2022
1. Th6 accounts have been pr8par8d using the receipts and paymenls basis.
2. Funds Movement Note
Brought
Forward Recolpts Payments Transfèrs
Carried
Forward
Unrestrict8d Funds
3,765.34 63,396.32 (48.209.84) (15,000.001 3,951.82
Hope CAP Funds
204.80
660.00
{720.00)
144.80
Training & Future Slaffing Fd 1.928.50
2.537.50 (3.050.00)
1,416.00
Building Fund
2.00
15.0(M).00 15,002.00
CrisislFamily Fund
45.95
145.20
ACTS 435
300.00
745.
{645.75}
6.246.59 67.338.82
52.625.59
20,95g.82
Page11