## **THE WELCOME CHURCH, WITNEY CHARITY INCORPORATED ORGANISATION**
**Accounts – 31st December 2024**
## **THE WELCOME CHURCH, WITNEY Charity Incorporated Organisation**
Charity number: 1188780
Accounts – 31st December 2024
## **INDEX**
- 1-3. Report of the Trustees and General Information
4. Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees
5. Statement of Financial Activities
6. Balance Sheet
- 7-12. Notes to the Accounts
1.
## **THE WELCOME CHURCH, WITNEY CIO**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31st December 2024**
The Trustees are pleased to present their annual report and financial statements of The Welcome Church, Witney CIO (‘The Church’) for the year ended 31[st] December 2024 _._
## **Governance**
The Church was established as a registered charity on 26[th] March 2020 under registered charity number 1188780. It was established to receive by transfer the operations and assets of its immediate predecessor, the Welcome Evangelical Church Trust (‘The Trust’) (registered charity number 1045455). This was achieved on 31[st] December 2020. During 2021, The Trust was wound up.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (second edition) and Financial Reporting Standard FRS 102.
## **Reference and Administration Details**
The charity’s name is The Welcome Church, Witney.
Charity Registration Number: 1188780
Principal Address: The Welcome Church High Street Witney Oxfordshire OX28 6HL
## **Trustees**
The Trustees and officers who served during the year were as follows:
Mr J R Brien Mr S Brown Mr K N Hubbard Mr C A Gibson Mr M Wright
2.
## **THE WELCOME CHURCH, WITNEY CIO**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **for the year ended 31st December 2024 (** Continued)
## **Objectives and Activities**
The purpose of the Church can be summarised as:
- (i) The advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with its Basis of Faith and
- (ii) Such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the charity trustees, put into practice the Christian faith in accordance with its Basis of Faith.
The core public activity remains the provision of public worship on a regular basis. This is supplemented by groups for different ages. During 2024, the Church continued to use its premises for worship and ministry, as well as regularly providing access to worship services through the digital streaming of Sunday public worship.
In addition to Sunday public worship services, the Church operates groups for all ages and abilities during the week, as well as community engagement activities. In planning the activities of the church, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities operating for the advancement of religion.
## **Achievements and Performance**
The Church has seen positive steps in engaging with the local community, both inside the church’s premises, and outside in the community. The church’s growing activities and events provide help and support for those who may need it, as well as much need fellowship over free food. Examples of this include the annual holiday club for primary school-aged children, a weekly toddler group, ‘ _Pathways_ ’ (a weekly group for adults with learning difficulties) and a weekly Friday night youth group, where the Christian message is explained.
The membership of the church has grown over the course of the year, as has the number of people attending Sunday morning services.
The church has, for a number of years, run its own counselling service. Due to the increase in demand for counselling, and the specialist nature of this work, the trustees are working towards Welcome Counselling Service becoming a charity in its own right, which should happen in 2025.
Throughout 2024 the church continued to liaise with the local council to apply for an extension to the church building to meet the needs of a growing congregation worshipping together on Sundays, as well as to provide a more useful space for community events throughout the week. After appeal, this application was rejected in March 2025. The trustees continue to look for alternative ways in which they can meet the needs of the worshipping congregation and community.
The Church has continued to support Christian missionaries who are involved in spreading the Christian faith in different countries. This is done primarily through prayer and financial assistance. It has also continued to provide support to a number of individuals and organisations that are UK-based. This has in turn, enabled the Christian faith to be shared with individuals in this country and in some countries overseas.
## **Financial Review**
The total income for the year was £178,926 and total expenditure on charitable activities amounted to £120,408. The statement of financial activities shows a net income from unrestricted funds of £58,714 (2023: £30,489) and a net outflow of restricted funds of £196 (2023: £325). After transfers between funds the balance on unrestricted funds at the year-end was £383,421 and on restricted funds £731.
## **Reserves Policy**
Operating surpluses are maintained in general (unrestricted) reserves in order to fund ongoing operational activity and asset replacement. Restricted reserves are maintained to fund current or future ministry activities, in respect of funds received for specific purposes.
3.
## **THE WELCOME CHURCH, WITNEY CIO**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
**for the year ended 31st December 2024 (** Continued)
## **Reserves Policy (continued)**
The Church’s reserves at the end of the 2024 year were:
Unrestricted (general use) funds: £383,421
Restricted income funds: £731
The amount of free general reserves not invested in fixed assets at the end of the year amounted to £239,811 (2023: £185,737).
The balance at the end of 2024 was higher than that required by our Reserves Policy. This should be seen in the context of the potential for significant expenditure on an extension to the church building. Significant expenditure may still be required in the context of alternatives to an extension. At present, the Trustees consider it appropriate to retain this balance.
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
The Welcome Church, Witney operates under a constitution and a church handbook. The Church’s leadership is composed of Elders, including the Pastor of the Church. Elders are supported in their responsibilities by Ministry Team Leaders, who are appointed to oversee particular activities of The Church. The Pastor acts as chair person to the Elders and to business meetings of the members of the Church. Elders also act as trustees of The Welcome Church, Witney CIO. Elders and therefore trustees are appointed by the existing Elders, and confirmed by members during a subsequent members’ business meeting.
## **Appointment of Trustees**
New trustees when elected are given details of the background of The Church in order to make them aware of current activities.
Approved by the trustees on 25th May 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
C A Gibson
………………………………….. Trustee
Witney
## **THE WELCOME CHURCH, WITNEY CIO**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Welcome Church, Witney CIO for the year ended 31st December 2024.
## **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 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:
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; or
3. the accounts 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.
A P Williams BSc FCCA A J Carter & Co Limited Chartered Certified Accountants
22b High Street Witney Oxon OX28 6RB
28th May 2025
5.
## **THE WELCOME CHURCH, WITNEY CIO**
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
_(including an income and expenditure account)_ **for the year ended 31st December 2024**
|**Income from:**
Donations (and legacies)
3
Charitable activities
4
Investments
5
Other
**Total incoming resources**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
6
**Total expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure) and net**
**movement in funds for the year**
**Transfer between funds**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
154,062
-
154,062
19,490
1,937
21,427
3,413
-
3,413
24
-
24
176,989
1,937
178,926
118,275
2,133
120,408
118,275
2,133
120,408
58,714
(196)
58,518
-
-
-
58,714
(196)
58,518
324,707
927
325,634
£383,421
£731
£384,152|**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
141,903
17,720
3,829
100|
|---|---|---|
|||163,552|
|||133,388|
|||133,388|
|||30,164
-|
|||30,164
295,470|
|||£325,634|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derives from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 7 to 12 form part of these financial statements
6.
## **THE WELCOME CHURCH, WITNEY CIO**
## **BALANCE SHEET as at 31st December 2024**
|Note
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
11
**Total fixed assets**
**Current assets**
Debtors
12
Cash at bank and in hand
**Total current assets**
**Liabilities**
Creditors falling due within one year
13
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Total net assets**
14
**The funds of the Charity**
Restricted income funds
15
Unrestricted income funds
15
Total unrestricted funds
**Total charity funds**|**2024**
**£**
143,610
143,610
11,695
232,247
243,942
3,400
240,542
384,152
£384,152
731
383,421
383,421
£384,152|**2023**
**£**
138,970|
|---|---|---|
|||138,970|
|||19,454
169,024|
|||188,478
1,814|
|||186,664|
|||325,634
£325,634|
|||927|
|||324,707|
|||324,707|
|||£325,634|
These accounts were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 25th May 2025 and are signed on their behalf by:
C A Gibson ..................................... Trustee
The notes on pages 7 to 12 form part of these financial statements
**THE WELCOME CHURCH, WITNEY CIO**
7.
## NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
**for the year ended 31st December 2024**
## 1. **Accounting Policies**
The principal accounting policies adopted, judgments and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:
## a) **Basis of Preparation**
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items being recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the notes to these accounts.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
Assets and liabilities are initially recognized at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.
## **Public Benefit Entity**
The Welcome Church, Witney CIO constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
## **Going Concern**
At the time of approving the accounts, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that The Church has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the accounts.
## b) **Income Recognition Policies**
Items of income are recognised and included in the accounts when all of the following criteria are met:
- The charity has entitlement to the funds;
- any performance conditions attached to the items of income have been met or are fully within the control of the charity;
- there is sufficient certainty that receipt of the income is considered probable; and
- the amount can be measured reliably.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once The Church has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation of donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
## c) **Donated Services and Facilities**
In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) the general time of volunteers is not recognised in the accounts.
**THE WELCOME CHURCH, WITNEY CIO**
8.
## NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
**for the year ended 31st December 2024** (continued)
## d) **Resources Expended**
- Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:
- Expenditure on charitable activities includes the cost of running the church, its ministries and associated projects _._
- Other expenditure represents those items not falling into any other heading.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.
## **Charitable activities**
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both its costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
## e) **Fund Accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the Charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the Charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for the particular areas of the Charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the Charity.
- f) **Tangible Fixed Assets**
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Freehold land and buildings 2% of buildings on a straight-line basis Fixtures and fittings 10% - 20% on a straight-line basis
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
- g) **Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amounts due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid after taking account of any trade discounts due.
- h) **Cash at Bank and in Hand** Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
9.
## **THE WELCOME CHURCH, WITNEY CIO**
## NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
**for the year ended 31st December 2024** (continued)
## i) **Creditors and Provisions**
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the Charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
## j) **Pensions**
The Charity operates a defined contribution scheme, the assets of which are held outside the Charity.
## 2. **Legal Status of the Charity**
The Welcome Church, Witney operates as a Charity Incorporated Organisation which was established by the Charity Commission on 26[th] March 2020.
## 3. **Income from donations**
|Gifts and donations
Gift aid|2024
£
128,266
25,796
£154,062|2023
£
118,321
23,582|
|---|---|---|
|||£141,903|
Of the £154,062 received in 2024 (2023: £141,903) £nil was restricted funds (2023: £nil) and £154,062 (2023: £141,903) unrestricted funds.
## 4. **Income from charitable activities**
|Welcome Counselling Services
Other church group activities
Church ministries|2024
£
9,520
3,703
8,204
£21,427|2023
£
9,420
2,839
5,461|
|---|---|---|
|||£17,720|
Of the £21,427 received in 2024 (2023: £17,720) £1,937 was restricted funds (2023: £961) and £19,490 (2023: £16,759) unrestricted funds.
## 5. **Income from investments**
|Rental income
Interest|Unrestricted
2024
£
2,037
1,376
£3,413|Unrestricted
2023
£
3,521
308|
|---|---|---|
|||£3,829|
10.
## **THE WELCOME CHURCH, WITNEY CIO**
## NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
## **for the year ended 31st December 2024** (continued)
## 6. **Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities**
|Depreciation
Pastoral staff costs
Ministry and mission
Church premises and administration costs
**Total**|2024
Total
£
11,193
41,119
48,436
19,660
£120,408|2023
Total
£
8,300
38,708
43,840
42,540|
|---|---|---|
|||£133,388|
Of the £120,408 expenditure in 2024 (2023: £133,388), £2,133 was charged to restricted funds (2023: £1,286) and £118,275 to unrestricted funds (2023: £132,102).
## 7. **Net income/(expenditure) for the year**
|_This is stated after charging:_
Depreciation
Independent examiner's fee|2024
£
11,193
1,080|2023
£
8,300
1,080|
|---|---|---|
## 8. **Analysis of staff costs and trustee remuneration and expenses**
|Salaries and wages
Pension costs|2024
£
43,950
1,881
£45,831|2023
£
41,490
1,775|
|---|---|---|
|||£43,265|
No employees had emoluments in excess of £60,000 (2023: Nil). Pension costs are allocated to activities in proportion to the related staffing costs incurred and are wholly charged to unrestricted funds.
During the year, one trustee (or any persons connected with them) received remuneration of £37,620 (2023: £35,490) and pension contributions of £1,881 (2023: £1,775) from the Trust in respect of services related to the mission of the church, as opposed to services as trustees.
With this exception, the charity trustees were not paid, nor received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2023: £nil). They were paid expenses of £530 during the year in relation to telephone costs. No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2023: £nil).
The total amount of donations received without conditions from trustees or other related parties was £11,255 (2023: £9,330) with restricted donations totalling £54 (2023: £125).
11.
## **THE WELCOME CHURCH, WITNEY CIO**
## NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
**for the year ended 31st December 2024** (continued)
## 9. **Staff numbers**
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
|2024|2023|
|---|---|
|Number|Number|
|2|2|
## 10. **Related party transactions**
There were no further related party transactions that need to be disclosed.
## 11. **Tangible fixed assets**
|Cost:
As at 1 January 2024
Additions
Disposals
As at 31 December 2024
Depreciation:
As at 1 January 2024
Charge for year
Depreciation on disposals
As at 31 December 2024
Net book value:
As at 31 December 2024
As at 31 December 2023
12.**Debtors**
Other debtors
13.**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Other creditors
Accruals|Freehold
land and
buildings
£
150,000
-
-|Fixtures
and fittings
£
56,195
15,833
-
72,028
34,725
8,693
-
43,418
£28,610
£21,470
2024
£
11,695
£11,695
2024
£
2,300
1,100
£3,400|Total
£
206,195
15,833
-|
|---|---|---|---|
||150,000||222,028|
||32,500
2,500
-||67,225
11,193
-|
||35,000||78,418|
||£115,000||£143,610|
||£117,500||£138,970|
||||2023
£
19,454|
||||£19,454|
||||2023
£
734
1,080|
||||£1,814|
12.
## **THE WELCOME CHURCH, WITNEY CIO**
## NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
**for the year ended 31st December 2024** (continued)
## 14. **Analysis of net assets between funds**
|Tangible fixed assets
Cash at bank and in hand
Other net current assets/(liabilities)
**Total**|General
Designated
Restricted
Fund
Funds
Funds
Total
£
£
£
£
143,610
-
-
143,610
231,516
-
731
232,247
8,295
-
-
8,295|
|---|---|
||£383,421
£-
£731 £384,152|
## 15. **Analysis of charitable funds**
## **Analysis of movements in restricted funds**
|Youth Mission Fund
Pathways
**Total**|Balance
Incoming Resources
Funds
01.01.24
resources
expended
Transfers
31.12.24
£
£
£
£
£
376
-
-
-
376
551
1,937
(2,133)
-
355
£927
£1,937
£(2,133)
£-
£731|
|---|---|
Pathways - is an active fund. It raises funds for its own use or for expenditure that is related to its activity (the provision of persons with a learning or physical disability).
Youth Mission Fund - is moneys gifted in the past to provide travelling support to young people who were taken on ministry trips overseas. This activity has not occurred during recent years.
## **Analysis of movements in unrestricted funds**
|General fund
Burkina Faso
Kate Royal
Development fund (designated)
**Total**|Balance
Incoming
Resources
Funds
01.01.24
resources
expended
Transfers
31.12.24
£
£
£
£
£
324,603
174,065
(115,247)
-
383,421
104
-
(104)
-
-
-
2,924
(2,924)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|
|---|---|
||£324,707 £176,989£(118,275)
£-
£383,421|
Burkina Faso - a fund set-up to aid a pastoral visit.
Kate Royal - to fund a minister in Burkina Faso for street children.