Northern Gospel Project Report and Accounts Year ended August 2023
Northern Gospel Project
LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023
| ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE | ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE | Central Buildings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oldham Street | |||
| Manchester | |||
| M1 1JQ | |||
| GOVERNING DOCUMENT | Constitution dated: 8th July 2019 | ||
| CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER | 1189459 | ||
| TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR | Dr Paul Rettie | ||
| MANAGING THE CHARITY | Rachel Senior - 20 June 2023 | ||
| Timothy Simmonds | |||
| Matt Waldock - 20 June 2023 | |||
| Ralph Cunnington - Resignation - | 20 June 2023 | ||
| INDEPENDENT EXAMINER | Sarah Crispin | ||
| Stewardship | |||
| 1 Lamb's Passage | |||
| LONDON | |||
| EC1Y 8AB | |||
| INDEX | |||
| Page 1 | Legal | & Administrative Details | |
| Pages 2 - 4 | Trustees' Report | ||
| Page 5 | Independent Examiner's Report | ||
| Page 6 | Receipts and Payments Account | ||
| Page 7 | Statement of Assets & Liabilities | ||
| Pages 8 | Notes | to the Accounts |
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Northern Gospel Project
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2023
The trustees have the pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023.
Objects of the Charity
The charity is governed by a constitution and is constituted as a charitable incorporated organisation. The charity’s principal objectives, as set out in its governing document are: (1) the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of Faith exclusively by facilitating the charitable activities of the Northern Gospel Project. (2) such other charitable objects as shall, in the opinion of the charity trustees, further the work of City to City UK.
A broad range of churches across the region, united in our desire to see the North transformed. We need more healthy, thriving churches so we provide Training, Funding and Care to make that happen.
Summary of the charity’s main activities and achievements
To further the above objects and vision, the charity’s main activities and achievements were as follows:
Training
The Northern Gospel Project initiative has continued to train church planters and encourage church regulars to think about joining a plant team. Our launch Conference was held in November 2022 and saw more than 25 different churches represented and over 130 attendees between Friday and Saturday with 100% of those who provided feedback stating they’d attend another Northern Gospel Project event.
At the beginning of March, Landon Paul led a Music Ministry Training Day that equipped music teams on how they can think intentionally about leading music in worship services. There will be more Hive events like this in the future.
We had Pete Dray, Bob Letham and Ray Evans lead Pastor’s Days. These were well-attended (12-20 pastors from across tribes and denominations) and covered Evangelism, Systematic Theology and church leadership. More conservative pastors tend to attend the theological days while more charismatic pastors attend the leadership and mission days. A good number of pastors attended all three.
The Incubator Course provides a rigorous church planter training course for those planting churches in the north of England with modules that begin with theological foundations of gospel ministry and move toward increasingly complex leadership topics that follow the
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typical lifecycle of a new church. Pete Evans and Eric Duong have now been trained and will co-lead the upcoming Incubator course alongside Andy Weatherley.
Funding
Last year We did not receive any applications to the fund. We plan to publicise the fund again next year with applications closing in May 2024. We do not currently know of any new church plants this year (and this is reflected in the cohort for Incubator) that was due to start September 2023 but was postponed until January 2024.
Care
Gospel Coaching was provided for planters enrolled on the City to City Incubator using coaches trained and accredited by Church Multiplication Ministries. A number of other church planters throughout the UK were also coached by coaches working through the Northern Gospel Project and Jon Cawsey is now our Coaching Coordinator.
Prayer for Church Planting was birthed out of seeing the momentum building to plant churches and that focused prayer was the next step. It’s an opportunity to pray specifically for more churches to be planted in Manchester with church and movement leaders from across the denominational/church-style spectrum led by our Prayer Coordinator Duncan Bell.
The idea for Noon Time Prayer was also birthed out of the prayer meetings given the desire to pray for our city. This will take place 12:00-13:00 every weekday in January 2024.
The Manchester Planters Collective continued to meet in person. Eight church planters were involved and it was an invaluable resource for training, encouragement and mutual accountability. We are praying for the Planters Collective to grow in the next few years.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Rachel Senior and Matt Waldock were appointed as trustees to lend their skills and expertise to the Northern Gospel Project. Ralph Cunnington resigned as trustee and started as Director in September 2023.
Financial Review
Funds previously held in Designated and Restricted Funds by City Church Manchester CIO were transferred to Northern Gospel Projects bank account during this financial year. Funds transferred totalled £54,078.12.
During the year income increased by £24,976.75 to £25,126.75 and expenditure increased by £11,164.09 to £11,169.09. As a result the cash held by the charity increased by £68115 to £68260, of which £32,260 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
Reserves Policy
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The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £3071 (which equates to about 3 months’ of unrestricted expenditure) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and/or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £15,129 and the charity is complying with its reserves policy.
Trustees’ Responsibilities
The Charities Act 2011 requires trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the CIO and the surplus of the CIO for that period. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently
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Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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Prepare financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the trust will continue in existence.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the CIO. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the CIO and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Jun 24, 2024
Approved by the Trustees on ………….…….…….……………
TsIMMONDS
Signed on behalf by Trustee ………………………………………….. TsIMMONDS (Jun 24, 2024 16:41 GMT+1)
Printed Name: Timothy Simmonds
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
Northern Gospel Project
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Northern Gospel Project ('the charity') for the year ended 31 August 2023 on pages 6 to 8 following.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 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 2011 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:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Sarah Crispin
Sarah Crispin (Jun 25, 2024 10:54 GMT+1)
Sarah Crispin ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Jun 25, 2024
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Northern Gospel Project
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023
| Notes Income receipts Donations Income from courses and events Income from Churches Transfer from Partner Church Total receipts Payments Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly - 2- Cost of Generating Funds Total payments Net of receipts / (payments) before transfers Transfers between funds - 3- Net movement in funds Cash funds as at last year end Cash funds at this year end A |
Unrestricte | d Funds Designated Funds £ |
Restricted Funds £ |
2023 £ |
2022 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Funds £ |
||||||
| - - - - |
1,117- -- 12,000- 11,191- 24,308- 24,308- 6,765- 6,765- 6,765- 17,543- 2,480- 15,063- 145- 15,208- |
- -- - 3,010- - -- - 15,887- - 18,897- - 18,897- - 4,324- - 4,324- - 4,324- - 14,572- - 2,480- - 17,052- - -- - 17,052- |
- -- - -- - 9,000- - 27,000- - 36,000- - 36,000- - -- - -- - -- - 36,000- - -- - 36,000- - -- - 36,000- |
- 1,117- - 3,010- - 21,000- - 54,078- - 79,205- - 79,205- - 11,089.69- - 11,090- - 11,090- - 68,115- - -- - 68,115- - 145- - 68,260- |
- 150- - -- - -- - -- |
|
| - | - 150- |
|||||
| - | - 150- |
|||||
| - | - -- - 5- |
|||||
| - | - 5- |
|||||
| - | - 5- |
|||||
| - - |
- 145- - -- |
|||||
| - - |
- 145- - -- |
|||||
| - | - 145- |
The notes on page 8 form part of these accounts.
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Northern Gospel Project
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023
| Notes A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity C Liabilities Falling due within one year Taxes due Fee for Independent Examination Total |
Unrestricted Funds General Designated funds funds £ £ - 15,208- - 17,052- - 15,208- - 17,052- - 274- - -- - 274- - -- - 79- - -- - 600- - -- - 679- - -- - 679- - -- |
Restricted funds £ - 36,000- - 36,000- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- |
2023 £ - 68,260- - 68,260- - 274- - 274- - 79- - 600- - 679- - 679- |
2022 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - 145- |
||||
| - 145- |
||||
| - -- |
||||
| - -- |
||||
| - -- - -- |
||||
| - -- |
||||
| - -- |
D Guarantees and secured debts
The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
TsIMMONDS
TsIMMONDS (Jun 24, 2024 16:41 GMT+1)_____ Timothy Simmonds
Date:_____Jun 24, 2024
The notes on page 8 form part of these accounts.
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Northern Gospel Project
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023
1 Accounting policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
| - 2- Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Employment costs (see note 4) Legal and Professional Fees Staff and Volunteers Hospitality Speakers Fees Administrative Costs Accommodation and Travel Expenses Advertising and Promotional Conference materials e.g. name tags, banners - 3- Movement of funds General funds Designated funds Incubator Fund Conference Fund Director Fund Restricted funds City Renewal Fund Total funds |
- 2- Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Employment costs (see note 4) Legal and Professional Fees Staff and Volunteers Hospitality Speakers Fees Administrative Costs Accommodation and Travel Expenses Advertising and Promotional Conference materials e.g. name tags, banners - 3- Movement of funds General funds Designated funds Incubator Fund Conference Fund Director Fund Restricted funds City Renewal Fund Total funds |
Unrestricted Fund General funds £ |
s Designated funds £ |
Restricted Funds £ |
Total 2023 £ |
Total 2022 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Employment costs (see note 4) Legal and Professional Fees Staff and Volunteers Hospitality Speakers Fees Administrative Costs Accommodation and Travel Expenses Advertising and Promotional Conference materials e.g. name tags, banners vement of funds General funds Designated funds Incubator Fund Conference Fund Director Fund Restricted funds City Renewal Fund Total funds |
- 4,400- - 900- - 1,370- - 12- - 84- - 6,765- Opening balance £ - 145- - -- - -- - -- - 145- |
- -- - 100- - 1,214- - 1,125- - -- - 425- - 375- - 1,085- - 4,324- Receipts £ - 24,308- - 7,479- - 1,830- - 9,587- - 18,897- - 36,000- - 36,000- - 79,205- |
- -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- Payments £ - 6,765- - -- - 4,324- - 4,324- - -- - -- - 11,090- |
- 4,400- - 1,000- - 1,214- - 1,125- - 1,370- - 437- - 459- - 1,085- - 11,090- Transfers £ - 2,480- - 2,480- - 2,480- - -- - -- - -- |
- -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- |
|
| - -- |
||||||
| Closing balance £ - 15,207.92- - 7,479- - 14- - 9,587- |
||||||
| - 17,052.25- |
||||||
| - 36,000- |
||||||
| - 36,000- |
||||||
| - 68,260- |
||||||
| Designated Funds Incubator Fund - expenses related to Incubator training course Conference Fund - expenses related to annual conferences Director Fund - expenses related to Director Role and general payroll Restricted Funds |
Designated Funds Incubator Fund - expenses related to Incubator training course Conference Fund - expenses related to annual conferences Director Fund - expenses related to Director Role and general payroll
Restricted Funds
City Renewal Fund - restricted to funds for new church plants
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