Reach Church Trustees Report 1[st] April 2023 to 31[st] March 2024
Our Vision:
Everything we do is driven by our mission, vision and purpose as Reach Church.
Mission :
- To help people find their way back to God
Vision :
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Reach up – in worship and prayer
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Reach out – in love, compassion and evangelism
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Reach in – in fellowship and discipleship
Purpose :
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Releasing people into their God given destiny through community engagement & outreach
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Equipping believers through discipleship & development
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Advancing the Kingdom through church planting & missional communities
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Creating a culture of honour & purpose where everyone can thrive
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Helping hurting people find freedom and purpose in Christ.
Our Team:
At the core of Reach Church is a dedicated team of volunteers and staff who give their utmost to see God’s Kingdom established. While we have had some changes in staff as people have moved on into new roles, we still have a vibrant team of staff and volunteers who breathe life into our work of reaching people and helping them find their way back to God.
This year the trustees have continued as a small group of 3 with additional members to be recruited over the next year. Trustees are kept informed of progress in different church activities and ministries and are regularly briefed on matters of finance and compliance. Trustees are responsible for strategic decisions on vision, staffing, compliance and finance. The Trustees function in the role of “Strategic Leadership”.
In addition to our Trustee board, our Core Team make key operational decisions about how our mission and vision are achieved, alongside our staff team. The Core team organise events and outreach programmes, lead our small discipleship groups (Impact Groups), head up significant ministry areas and function as “Operational Leadership”
Church activities
During this period, we have continued to rebuild attendance and engagement following on from the pandemic. We have been encouraged by new connections being made with the community and others in the vicinity through our community outreach programmes such as Tiger Tots and the Community Garden.
The Community Garden has continued to thrive, attracting grant funding and volunteers from the local area. This project builds friendship and rapport with local people who would not normally have church on their radar. We are also working with a local High School who brings groups of children to the garden to help them develop teamwork and behaviour management strategies. We have also had a visit from The Princes Trust who brought a group of young people for 2 weeks of volunteering and work skills.
Impact Groups in people’s homes have continued to grow and develop, and while being small in number, they have developed a deeper sense of togetherness, unity and fellowship around the word of God.
Our Kids Church has been back in full swing with creche and 3 Up in the church kids rooms and TBC for teenagers taking place during the morning service in the large community hall we rent. This year we have rolled out a regular Youth evening with visits, games and discipleship. This has largely been possible due to the recruitment of our Kids & Youth Leader, working 2.5 days a week, including Sunday mornings where she also leads the Kids Church team. We have started to develop a cross-over ministry to Young Adults, with plans to develop this further in 2024/25.
We continue to encourage church family to get involved in volunteering and serving in church ministries to maintain effective ministry across the range of activities we can offer. At times we have had to consolidate Kids Church groups due to limited number of children in specific age groups and a lack of volunteers.
Our Trussell Trust Tameside East Foodbank centre is open on Wednesday mornings with hundreds of people being fed through this vital ministry as the cost-of-living crisis continues to press people’s finances. In addition to this, we have been able to give out fresh meals made in partnership with a local community group. These meals are given out at the foodbank in addition to blessing needy local people of all ages.
Our October Light Party and Christmas Special events were held in person, on site with plans to use the garden for a light trail and Christmas trail in 2004.
This year our Easter Sunday fun day was well attended by the local community and people were able to enjoy a range of crafts and games, hot food and drinks.
The Prayer Shield team have continued to cover the ministry and team throughout this period meeting via WhatsApp.
Tiger Tots continues to be successful with many new families coming through the door. This is enabling us to build relationships and refer people to other ministries. We have been successful in a grant application to help improve pre-natal and post-natal mental health through the Tiger Tots sessions. Further funding and developments are also planned for 2024/25.
We have also been successful in various funding bids through our links with Action Together and a church volunteer who has helped us to secure several grants to cover ministry and staffing costs, particularly with the garden. This has helped us continue with projects even though our income from donations has decreased.
One of our members has opened a Bereavement Cafe in order to provide friendship and support to those dealing with loss and grief. This is in the very early stages, but has also ready seen regular visitors receiving help and support. Volunteer training and further developments planned for 2024/25.
Finances.
As previously stated, we very much continue to be in “rebuilding phase” following the pandemic. Donations are still lower than pre-pandemic levels, with grant funding continuing to be a focus, we have been successful in achieving funding to cover various outreach projects, and some salaries for garden staff members.
Conclusions .
Whilst this year has had its challenges, God has continued to provide many opportunities for sharing the gospel, both online and in-person. On the whole, people have continued to be faithful in giving and serving, enabling us to continue to reach out to the local community and support missions and other ministries.
As we continue to Reach the local community with the gospel, we still believe that the best is yet to come!
Chair of Trustees:
Andy Chadwick
Profit and Loss
Reach Church For the year ended 31 March 2024
| Profit and Loss Reach Church For the year ended 31 March 2024 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Account | 2024 | 2023 |
| Turnover | ||
| Amazon Smile | 36.28 | 41.81 |
| Church income via collections GASDS less than £30 (None Gift Aid) | 5,909.07 | 3,002.57 |
| Gift aid tax recoverable | 10,361.50 | 9,919.41 |
| Gifted income (Under Gift Aid Relief) | 35,293.02 | 36,805.83 |
| Interest Income | 1,555.50 | 1,065.56 |
| Other donated income (None Gift Aid) | 12,462.73 | 11,554.63 |
| Other Revenue | 0.00 | 250.00 |
| Room hire Income | 4,720.00 | 3,400.00 |
| Sundry Income | 1,505.90 | 0.00 |
| Children's & Youth Outreach Income (Voluntary Giving) | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Total Turnover | 71,844.00 | 66,139.81 |
| Gross Profit | 71,844.00 | 66,139.81 |
| Administrative Costs | ||
| Accounting Software Costs (Xero) | 417.60 | 388.80 |
| Admin, Stationery & Other Office Costs | 276.39 | 376.14 |
| Bank charges | 116.50 | 72.00 |
| Book Keeping and Paye record keeping | 742.00 | 170.00 |
| Buildings & Contents Insurance ic PL ins | 1,661.47 | 1,231.31 |
| CCLI copyright licence | 956.37 | 495.28 |
| Copier consumables SBS plc Sharpe | 314.06 | 265.16 |
| Copier lease (PEAC) | 587.04 | 587.04 |
| Core team development | 134.15 | 76.10 |
| Costs associated with Church Services | 1,249.55 | 375.00 |
| Donations made by Reach Church under Tithe Agreement | 5,407.37 | 3,734.88 |
| Hire of Community Centre for Children & Youth Outreach | 910.00 | 1,001.00 |
| Hospitality to the Community | 1,242.27 | (106.58) |
| House Keeping & Cleaning | 285.40 | 354.69 |
| Internet costs (Zen) | 372.04 | 336.88 |
| Legal Expenses | 4,134.60 | 1,816.80 |
| Other Evangelical & Outreach Projects | 320.32 | 5,984.36 |
| Outreach Children's & Youth Work Costs | 626.37 | 292.14 |
| Outreach Early Intervention programme (TLG) Transforming Life's for Good | 0.00 | 675.00 |
| Paye and NI payments to HMRC | 10,921.00 | 10,600.71 |
| Promotion and Advertising | 443.80 | 0.00 |
| Rent Payable Church Premises | 15,000.00 | 15,000.00 |
| Rent support | (25,000.00) | (26,000.00) |
| Repairs & Maintenance to Building | 1,715.99 | 1,465.97 |
| Safe Guarding and Vetting fees (Thirty One Eight) | 276.84 | 253.00 |
| Staff mileage expense claims | 202.00 | 229.95 |
| Staff Pension Costs | 5,304.68 | 5,164.75 |
| Staff Salaries | 39,883.33 | 40,029.22 |
| Staff Training & CPD fees | 1,089.39 | 991.60 |
| Sundry Expenditure (Small Items) | 218.47 | 307.17 |
| Telephone & Internet & IT consumables and equipment | 216.82 | 361.54 |
| Utilities Electricity | 2,178.17 | 1,167.47 |
| Utilities Gas | 4,369.89 | 1,555.62 |
| Utilities Water | 558.61 | 420.06 |
| Visiting Speakers Expenses | 600.00 | 800.00 |
| Website development | 0.00 | 165.00 |
| Total Administrative Costs | 77,732.49 | 70,638.06 |
| Net Profit | (5,888.49) | (4,498.25) |
Balance Sheet
Reach Church As at 31 March 2024
| Account | Account | 31 Mar 2024 | 31 Mar 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Assets Cash at bank and in hand UnityCurrent account Virgin Current Account CharityBank Deposit account Nat West bank Savings Account Total Cash at bank and in hand Prepayments and accrued income Year end adjustmentgeneralprepayments and accruals Total Prepayments and accrued income Gift aid recoverable Rent deposit Total Current Assets Creditors: amounts falling due within oneyear Legal fee accrual vis"Geldards"est of WIP vis lease Rounding Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net Current Assets (Liabilities) Total Assets less Current Liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year Outreach Community garden fund Total Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year Net Assets Capital and Reserves Restricted Reserves M60 Food Bank Restricted Fund - LotteryFundingAwards for All Restricted Fund - Postcode LotteryGarden Grant Restricted fund(Community gardengrant) Restricted fund Benefact Trust Grant Restricted fund Best startgrant Restricted Fund CommunitySafetyGrant Restricted Fund GMEF Gardengrant Restricted fund house hold supportgrant Restricted Fund Winter Pressures 22-23 Total Restricted Reserves Profit and loss account Current Xero Retained Reserves Current Year Earnings General reserves Fund Total Profit and loss account Total Capital and Reserves |
105,048.45 | 53,099.52 | |
| UnityCurrent account | |||
| Virgin Current Account | 7,563.96 | 0.00 | |
| CharityBank Deposit account | 83,961.88 | 82,406.38 | |
| Nat West bank Savings Account | 75,134.10 | 85,134.10 | |
| Total Cash at bank and in hand Prepayments and accrued income |
271,708.39 | 220,640.00 | |
| Year end adjustmentgeneralprepayments and accruals | 0.00 | 3,520.95 | |
| Total Prepayments and accrued income | 0.00 | 3,520.95 | |
| Gift aid recoverable | 3,274.90 | 0.00 | |
| Rent deposit | 2,500.00 | 2,500.00 | |
| Total Current Assets Creditors: amounts falling due within oneyear |
277,483.29 | 226,660.95 | |
| Legal fee accrual vis"Geldards"est of WIP vis lease | 3,330.12 | 3,330.12 | |
Rounding |
(0.03) | 0.00 | |
| 3,330.09 274,153.20 274,153.20 996.08 |
3,330.12 | ||
| 223,330.83 | |||
| 223,330.83 | |||
| 1,546.21 | |||
| 996.08 273,157.12 |
1,546.21 | ||
| 221,784.62 | |||
| M60 Food Bank | 150.40 | 590.00 | |
| Restricted Fund - LotteryFundingAwards for All | 19,852.26 | 7,291.99 | |
| Restricted Fund - Postcode LotteryGarden Grant | 5,248.29 | 0.00 | |
| Restricted fund(Community gardengrant) | 215.41 | 0.00 | |
| Restricted fund Benefact Trust Grant | 26,900.00 | 0.00 | |
| Restricted fund Best startgrant | 9,995.50 | 0.00 | |
| Restricted Fund CommunitySafetyGrant | 1,221.26 | 1,146.64 | |
| Restricted Fund GMEF Gardengrant | 8,307.16 | 0.00 | |
| Restricted fund house hold supportgrant | 703.01 | 5,931.87 | |
| Restricted Fund Winter Pressures 22-23 | 11.79 72,605.08 |
383.59 | |
| 15,344.09 | |||
| Current Xero Retained Reserves | 14,131.53 | 18,629.78 | |
| Current Year Earnings | (5,888.49) | (4,498.25) | |
| 192,309.00 | 192,309.00 | ||
| 200,552.04 | 206,440.53 | ||
| 273,157.12 | 221,784.62 |
Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees of Reach Church
For Accounting Period to 31[st] March 2024
I report on the accounts of the charity which are set out on pages following this report.
Respective responsibilities of trustee and examiner
The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts.
The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordance with general directions given by the examiner’s statement Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and section 386 of the Companies Act 2006
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
have not been met; or
- to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
John MacDonald
FMAAT
Dated 30[th] of June 2024
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